CITIES WIN NUMBERS GAME : BURBANK, GLENDALE TO KEEP 818 AREA CODE.

Byline: Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writer

It might not be as catchy as Beverly Hills 90210, but Burbank 818 has a nice ring to it.

At least that's what the California Public Utilities Commission decided Tuesday, when it ruled that Burbank and Glendale could keep the 818 area code when communities to the east get a new one next summer.

The five-member commission voted unanimously, with one member absent, to grant requests from both cities to remain 818 along with the San Fernando Valley.

A commission spokeswoman said the group was swayed by public outpouring against the change, and civic leaders' arguments that the communities should keep 818 because of their strong connection with the Valley to the west - rather than the San Gabriel Valley, which will switch to 626 in June.

``They apparently made some arguments that seemed very persuasive,'' said PUC spokeswoman Kyle DeVine.

The commission also voted to allow La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta to remain in the 818 area, but turned down a request by Monterey Park in the San Gabriel Valley to do the same.

Burbank and Glendale officials cheered the commission's decision.

``It's a real victory for everybody involved. We could not be more thrilled,'' said Burbank City Councilman Ted McConkey. ``It shows you the good guys do sometimes win.''

Glendale Councilwoman Mary Ann Plumley attributed the victory to the efforts of business people and residents in both communities, as well as a last-ditch visit she and Burbank Mayor Bill Wiggins made to commissioners in Sacramento last week.

``We had the legal arguments, but we felt the personal contact was very important,'' Plumley said.

The Area Code Relief Coalition, which includes major industry players like MCI Telecommunications and the California Cable Television Association, had asked the PUC to adopt a configuration for the 626 area code that included Burbank and Glendale with the San Gabriel Valley.

The area code change was needed, officials said, because the 818 area code is running out of phone numbers.

Glendale and Burbank officials argued that their communities were largely thought of as belonging to the San Fernando Valley. And, they said they had more economic ties to the San Fernando Valley than the San Gabriel Valley.

They also argued that it would be costly to the cities and businesses in the area to update their phone systems, stationery and business cards.

``It would be tremendously expensive,'' Plumley said.

The cities paid a combined $75,000 to lobby against the area code change, McConkey said.

``It was worth it,'' he said. ``It's going to save that much just to the city alone.''

The cities had the support of some major television and movie studios located in Burbank, officials said, as well as the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

As an alternative to the original plan, Burbank and Glendale officials had asked the PUC to consider allowing current phone customers to keep the 818 area code, and assign the 626 area code to new customers only.

The commission rejected that proposal last month, saying the technology to accommodate what they called ``overlay zones'' was not available.