Burbank City Council candidates debate district elections
Measure CD would keep City Council elections at-large or shift to districts through at least 2030, changing how voters choose their representatives.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — candidate question 1, police department announcements, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
One candidate argued that districts could give more people a voice; others said at-large elections let every voter choose from every council candidate.
One ballot question could change whom Burbank voters elect. At a Burbank City Council candidate forum, candidates took opposing positions on Measure CD, which asks whether the city should keep electing council members at-large or move to district elections through at least 2030. The question asked candidates to identify their district and explain how they would serve both district residents and the city as a whole.
The first candidate to answer opposed district elections. She said tying each representative to a district could make it harder for residents to seek help from other council members. She did not know which district she lived in. The next candidate agreed, arguing that districts make more sense in larger cities and that at-large elections give voters a say in every council seat.
A third candidate said districts could give more people a voice and make it easier for candidates to speak directly with voters. He said he lived in the south end Hillside district and, if the city moved to districts, would want the mayor elected at-large to balance citywide interests. The final candidate opposed the change, saying districts would narrow the pool of candidates voters could choose from. Fire voters, Measure CD presents the choice the candidates debated: keep a citywide vote for council seats or elect representatives by district.
Police Department Announcements: Awards Event, Recruit Graduations, and Coffee with a Cop
At the Burbank Police Commission, a Burbank Police Department representative reported on an awards event, recruit training and a community gathering. The representative said the police foundation’s event recognized work by department personnel that often goes unnoticed. They thanked the staff who planned and ran it, describing the effort as time-consuming.
The representative said two recruits graduated from academy training in August. Three more were expected to graduate at the end of the month. The update covered recruits still in training as well as those who had finished; the Burbank Police Commission was not asked to make a staffing decision.
The representative said Coffee with a Cop was scheduled for October 7 at 10:00 a.m. at a restaurant. Commissioners briefly clarified the location during the announcements. These were updates to the Burbank Police Commission, not proposals for approval, and the commission took no vote.
Council candidates weigh housing near transit stops
At a Burbank City Council candidate forum, candidates weighed SB 79’s higher-density housing rules near major transit stops against concerns about neighborhoods. Some favored concentrating homes near transit, while another called for broader development; one candidate questioned how dedicated bus lanes could affect parking and nearby streets.
The approaches could shape where new homes are built and how streets near transit stops are used.
Council candidates outline competing street priorities
At a Burbank City Council candidate forum, candidates discussed how streets should serve drivers, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists. Proposals included safer separation between travel modes, updated street designs and closer attention to how transportation changes affect residential neighborhoods.
Street design choices affect whether residents can walk, bike and drive safely near their homes.
Council candidates explain general fund pressures
At a Burbank City Council candidate forum, Nikki Perez described the general fund as taxpayer money the city can use differently from grants and other restricted funds. Other candidates raised concerns about a projected deficit, discretionary spending and a proposed hotel tax increase.
How the city handles the general fund affects money available for daily services and future projects.
Council candidates propose solar and storage options
At a Burbank City Council candidate forum, candidates proposed solar panels, battery storage, rebates and other ways to strengthen the city’s energy supply. One criticized the prospect of restarting natural gas generators, while Nikki Perez said solar needs to be paired with storage and other technologies.
Those choices could affect how Burbank Water and Power supplies electricity and manages costs for customers.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
BURBANK had 39 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEForum Conclusion and Voting Information (Los Angeles County). The forum concluded with thanks to candidates and staff and provided Los Angeles County voting information, including registration deadlines, vote-by-mail timelines, drop box deadlines, and vote center dates and hours leading up to November 3.
- GOVERNANCECandidate Question 3: Budget Transparency and Public Engagement. Candidates proposed ways to increase transparency and public input in the budget process, including additional hearings, better online access to materials, Zoom participation, outreach communications, and neighborhood listening sessions.
- GOVERNANCECandidate Question 13: LA 2028 Olympics Opportunities and Challenges for Burbank. Candidates discussed how Burbank could prepare for and benefit from LA 2028, including filling commercial vacancies, marketing local businesses, transit and active transportation readiness, labor and wage issues, hotel development control, and leveraging Warner Bros. broadcasting.
- GOVERNANCEOpen Round: JT Parr. Parr discussed ALPR concerns as a cross-ideological issue, noted different vendors beyond Flock, reflected on entertainment industry uncertainty and new media, suggested cannabis retail as potential revenue, and reiterated that housing and good schools are central to Burbank’s future.
- GOVERNANCECandidate Question 10: Improving Communication and Public Engagement. Candidates proposed changes to meeting times, expanded Zoom use, neighborhood-based meetings, direct contact methods, 311 app enhancements, and outreach to seniors and residents who may miss online communications.
- GOVERNANCEClosing Statements: Mike Van Gorder. Van Gorder described himself as an urban planner and progressive candidate focused on affordability, tenant protections, missing middle housing, removing ALPR/Flock, and building a coalition, citing support from unions and progressive organizations and emphasizing dignity as a shared value.
- GOVERNANCEClosing Statements: Eddie Pollen. Pollen shared his family’s history in Burbank, emphasized preserving opportunity for the next generation through affordable housing and homeownership pathways, protecting local businesses and the entertainment industry, improving City Hall responsiveness, and making streets safer while addressing climate issues.
- GOVERNANCEClosing Statements: David Donahghue. Donahghue described his family background and civic involvement, warned about Sacramento housing mandates and infrastructure costs, and said he would work to restore local control over housing, traffic, and energy policies while protecting neighborhoods and local businesses.
- GOVERNANCEClosing Statements: Nolan Southerntherland. Southerntherland said he loves Burbank and wants it accessible to immigrants, families, and working people, stated he is not a career politician and does not take money from developers, police unions, fossil fuel companies, or corporate interests, and directed voters to his website and social media for detailed issue positions.
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