L.A. RESIDENTS SEEK INCLUSION.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs on Friday sent more than 600 postcards from the public to federal officials asking that the city be included in any negotiations over the expansion of the Burbank Airport terminal.

Wachs also sent a letter to Jane Garvey, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, citing a letter she wrote saying that all impacted communities should be involved in the negotiations.

``As you know, Los Angeles residents account for a vast number of those affected by air traffic noise, the Airport Authority's noise contour maps and statistics notwithstanding,'' Wachs said. ``It is my sincere hope that future attempts to resolve this matter will include the City of Los Angeles as a full partner in the process.''

The postcards were part of a campaign launched by the Studio City Residents Association asking the FAA to include Los Angeles as part of the expansion talks.

Wachs and other Los Angeles officials have argued they should be part of the process since most of the takeoffs and landings from the facility are over the city.

The cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena have representatives on the board of the Airport Authority, which runs the airport.

Following years of dispute, a tentative agreement for construction of a larger terminal building was approved by the Airport Authority when the deal was unveiled in August. The Burbank City Council still has to give its final approval.

In recent days, Garvey said in a letter to Burbank officials that the tentative agreement is workable but flawed because it proposes closing the passenger terminal at night.

This week, the Burbank City Council declined to put a measure on the ballot for a public vote to impose limits on expansion. Citing technical shortcomings with petitions submitted for the ballot measure, the council said it would find another way for the public to vote on the issue.

The petitions called for a ballot measure that could force the city of Burbank, the Airport Authority and the airlines to agree to curfews, flight caps and noise reduction requirements as part of any expansion.