STATEMENT OF MAYOR BILL WIGGINS

September 26, 2000

          In 1 997 the City found itself in a situation where our partners in the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport were reluctant to talk to us about the airport, even though the long running dispute over expansion of the airport had become acrimonious and divisive.  As a result we sent letters to many of the residents of Glendale and Pasadena asking them to urge their elected officials to sit down and talk with us. 

The staff of the State Fair Political Practices Commission took the position that such mailings violated State law and Commission regulations because the Council members individually signed the letters supposedly giving them a political benefit if they ever ran for office in those areas.  We disagreed because we believed strongly that there was no political benefit to any Burbank elected officials.  Had the letters been signed, “The Burbank City Council” rather than using the individual names, it would not have been construed as a violation.

          We have finally exhausted our administrative appeal remedies and the FPPC has continued to disagree with our position.  We considered the possibility of seeking judicial review of their decision, but the majority of the Council has concluded that even though we feel that the mailings were appropriate under the circumstances, and met the purpose and intent of the law, it is time to pay the $6,000 penalty imposed, put this matter behind us, and move forward.  Mr. Kramer still feels that since we don't think we did anything wrong we should not pay the fine.  However, we have concluded, on a 4-1 vote, not to pursue court review of the recent FPPC decision.