Burbank : Airport Panel OKs Night Meetings

Citing the need to improve its public image, the board of commissioners overseeing Burbank Airport has agreed to televise its meetings and to convene at night instead of Monday mornings.

The changes were approved unanimously Monday by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, which was forced to scrap its plans for acquiring land to build a new, larger terminal because of opposition from the Burbank City Council.

By holding future meetings at night and videotaping them for broadcast later in each of the three cities, one airport commissioner said he hopes to give the public greater input into the authority’s decision-making process and eventually reach a consensus on what kind of new terminal should be built.

“It’s good governance, it’s cost-effective . . . and it helps remove the distrust and resentment we know is out there in the community,” said Commissioner William Paparian of Pasadena.

In the past 16 years, the Airport Authority has held only 17 meetings at night. The board’s first and only televised session was held in January to allow the public to voice concerns about airport expansion.

On Monday, commissioners agreed to begin meetings on Wednesday or Thursday nights as soon as possible, but probably not before mid-May, said airport spokesman Victor Gill.

Burbank Mayor Bill Wiggins said he was pleased with the developments.

“I commend the Airport Authority wholeheartedly for taking this step, for offering an olive branch to the citizens of Burbank,” Wiggins said.