Airport Agency Accused of Failure to Report Spending

A week after the state Fair Political Practices Commission accused the city of breaking state campaign rules in a dispute with Burbank airport, documents show the agency is attempting to reach a negotiated settlement with the airport for similar violations.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority is charged with three counts of violating the state political reform act for its failure to report spending $7,503 in public funds on a newsletter advocating the authority’s position on a proposed airport parking tax initiative, documents show.

The FPPC contends that the airport authority did not report to the commission its expenditure of public funds on a ballot issue, as state law requires.

Commission documents indicate that the agency is trying to reach an agreement that would include a $6,000 fine. If the issue cannot be settled, the matter could eventually land in front of an administrative law judge.

Commission spokesman Gary Huckaby refused to comment on the documents or confirm whether the airport was under investigation, as the documents say. An airport spokesman confirmed that the newsletters were sent to Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena residents last year, but disputed claims that the airport broke the law.

The FPPC last week charged the Burbank City Council with violating campaign rules by using $29,000 in taxpayer money to pay for mailers that urged the residents to pressure their city councils to negotiate with Burbank in a dispute over airport expansion.

Burbank and its council members could pay fines totaling $6,000 if a judge rules in favor of the agency on all counts.