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TOP STORY:
Council plots its course
Traffic, the environment, conservation loom large in goals listed by council members as they meet to discuss the coming year.
By Chris Wiebe
CITY HALL — The newly organized Burbank City Council met Saturday to set a course for the coming year, outlining recurring policy objectives like reducing traffic and furthering sustainability goals while also introducing long-term visions.
Among the goals outlined by Mayor Marsha Ramos, who asked the each council member to generate 10 items for the goal-setting workshop, were updating the city's general plan — establishing guidelines for land use, transportation and protecting air quality — and promoting a "sustainable" community with a healthy balance of economic, social and environmental components.
To further that balance, Ramos voiced her support for the city's ongoing efforts to move toward zero waste and underscored the need for a conservation program in Burbank, as well as allocating funding for eco-friendly products and vehicles.
Highlighting the importance of facilitating a healthy local economy, Ramos also proposed pursuing new programs that would promote small businesses and start-ups in Burbank.
Vice Mayor Dave Golonski stressed the need to carry through on infrastructure improvement and pursuing environmentally conscious policies in city programs that have already been introduced. Last month the Public Works Department presented a comprehensive report on the city's recent strides and remaining challenges in pursuing those goals.
"If you look at both infrastructure and the sustainability, there are initial efforts, but there're a lot more details that need to be fleshed out — that's the bottom line," he said. "There's 38 different components in the sustainability plan and we have to prioritize and figure out what the funding implications are and what we're going to do in year one."
Reducing traffic congestion was on Golonski's list, along with recommendations that the city contract with an outside party to conduct a comprehensive review of traffic circulation in Burbank.
The city's Traffic Department has been working to improve traffic flow throughout the city and a second set of eyes could shed light on what else can be done to improve circulation, he said.
"Our traffic department is busy scheduling these things and dealing with these day-to-day issues," he said. "So sometimes it's hard to get the opportunity to really step back and look at the big picture."
Traffic issues and supplying adequate parking were also among Councilman David Gordon's stated goals, as well as protecting residential neighborhoods from unsuitable development.
In particular, Gordon called for a restoration of the Rancho Master Plan, which was weakened as a result of a zone text amendment that allows for larger developments than recommended in that plan.
Interest in the plan was rekindled recently during the hearing process for a proposed Whole Foods market on Main Street and Alameda Avenue, which was ultimately defeated.
In addition, Gordon said he wanted to see changes to how development projects are reviewed, in particular, that any changes made to a project by the council be returned to the Planning Board and reopened for a public hearing before final approval.
Gordon also reiterated a desire to see free citywide WiFi access in Burbank.
Newly elected Councilman Gary Bric, a former Traffic and Transportation Committee member, emphasized the need to pursue efforts to reduce traffic congestion, one of the cornerstone issues of his recent campaign.
Improved synchronization of traffic lights and plans for multi-phase signals, which can adjust their timing according to traffic flow, are steps in the right direction that ought to be continued, he said.
"We've really come a long way — I know it's hard to believe — with the traffic, but by expanding on what we've done, we can keep the traffic flow going as well as to be expected," he said.
Bric also said he would like to see more information communicated to the public regarding disaster preparedness, or what residents should do in the event of a crisis.
In concurrence with many of her colleagues, newly elected Councilwoman Anja Reinke voiced support for continued environmental strides in the context of providing city services.
Reinke also included in her list of goals two visions she voiced during her campaign, establishing a Fine Arts Council that would promote the arts in Burbank, as well us looking into the feasibility of a Burbank trolley that would loop around the city, improving mobility through public transportation.
CHRIS WIEBE covers City Hall and the courts. He may be reached at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at chris.wiebelatimes.com.
Among the goals outlined by Mayor Marsha Ramos, who asked the each council member to generate 10 items for the goal-setting workshop, were updating the city's general plan — establishing guidelines for land use, transportation and protecting air quality — and promoting a "sustainable" community with a healthy balance of economic, social and environmental components.
To further that balance, Ramos voiced her support for the city's ongoing efforts to move toward zero waste and underscored the need for a conservation program in Burbank, as well as allocating funding for eco-friendly products and vehicles.
Highlighting the importance of facilitating a healthy local economy, Ramos also proposed pursuing new programs that would promote small businesses and start-ups in Burbank.
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"If you look at both infrastructure and the sustainability, there are initial efforts, but there're a lot more details that need to be fleshed out — that's the bottom line," he said. "There's 38 different components in the sustainability plan and we have to prioritize and figure out what the funding implications are and what we're going to do in year one."
Reducing traffic congestion was on Golonski's list, along with recommendations that the city contract with an outside party to conduct a comprehensive review of traffic circulation in Burbank.
The city's Traffic Department has been working to improve traffic flow throughout the city and a second set of eyes could shed light on what else can be done to improve circulation, he said.
"Our traffic department is busy scheduling these things and dealing with these day-to-day issues," he said. "So sometimes it's hard to get the opportunity to really step back and look at the big picture."
Traffic issues and supplying adequate parking were also among Councilman David Gordon's stated goals, as well as protecting residential neighborhoods from unsuitable development.
In particular, Gordon called for a restoration of the Rancho Master Plan, which was weakened as a result of a zone text amendment that allows for larger developments than recommended in that plan.
Interest in the plan was rekindled recently during the hearing process for a proposed Whole Foods market on Main Street and Alameda Avenue, which was ultimately defeated.
In addition, Gordon said he wanted to see changes to how development projects are reviewed, in particular, that any changes made to a project by the council be returned to the Planning Board and reopened for a public hearing before final approval.
Gordon also reiterated a desire to see free citywide WiFi access in Burbank.
Newly elected Councilman Gary Bric, a former Traffic and Transportation Committee member, emphasized the need to pursue efforts to reduce traffic congestion, one of the cornerstone issues of his recent campaign.
Improved synchronization of traffic lights and plans for multi-phase signals, which can adjust their timing according to traffic flow, are steps in the right direction that ought to be continued, he said.
"We've really come a long way — I know it's hard to believe — with the traffic, but by expanding on what we've done, we can keep the traffic flow going as well as to be expected," he said.
Bric also said he would like to see more information communicated to the public regarding disaster preparedness, or what residents should do in the event of a crisis.
In concurrence with many of her colleagues, newly elected Councilwoman Anja Reinke voiced support for continued environmental strides in the context of providing city services.
Reinke also included in her list of goals two visions she voiced during her campaign, establishing a Fine Arts Council that would promote the arts in Burbank, as well us looking into the feasibility of a Burbank trolley that would loop around the city, improving mobility through public transportation.
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