BURBANK : Council Raises Fines for Parking Violators

Fines for overtime parking and street-sweeping violations have been raised from $17 to $25 by the Burbank City Council.

Last week, the council voted 3 to 1 to approve the increase, with Councilman Dave Golonski dissenting and Councilwoman Susan Spanos absent. Golonski did not want to raise the fines for street-sweeping violations, which were also given their own classification in city codes.

“The $17 is enough incentive to not leave your car on the wrong side of the street,” Golonski said. The increase for street-sweeping violations was not a part of the original action, but was added by Vice Mayor Bill Wiggins.

The lot on Palm Avenue across from the AMC Burbank 14 Theaters extended its parking limits from two to four hours and, in last week’s council meeting, longer time limits for the parking garage for the theater and at Orange Grove Avenue were also approved.

The City Council also approved--by a 3-1 vote--petting zoos and plant nurseries as conditional uses for four properties in the Rancho neighborhood. Those uses had been excluded because of an oversight when the Rancho Master Plan was adopted earlier this year, according to city officials.

“It is somewhat unfair, to be honest with you,” Councilman Bob Bowne said in opposing the action. He said the Rancho Master Plan “sharply restricted opportunities for development” of many of the properties in the neighborhood. The master plan is intended to preserve and define the neighborhood’s uniqueness, which includes many single-family properties that allow horses.

In other business, council members announced that they were seeking candidates to fill an open seat on the Traffic and Transportation Committee. The spot opened up two weeks ago when the council named committee member John Dominguez to the Park and Recreation Board.

The deadline for applications is Jan. 3. The appointment will be made Jan. 11 for the term that expires in June.