Michael R Hastings

Complaining that a record $1 million in campaign spending during the recent municipal election was an "obscene abuse of the political system," Burbank Mayor Michael R. Hastings has called for limits on expenditures during local elections. Hastings, who did not run in this year's April election, said he was particularly angered by the spending of longtime political rival Mary Lou Howard, who listed $185,007 in expenses during her unsuccessful bid to win a fourth council term.

Michael Hastings, former Burbank mayor, has resigned from the Burbank Airport Commission, citing increased business demands. "If I can't give 100%, I don't want to kid anybody," said Hastings, who had been on the commission for 2 1/2 years. Hastings' resignation was effective immediately. Hastings said he recently changed jobs, and can no longer afford the five or six hours each week the commission requires.

With the election of Tim Murphy, the Burbank City Council will be controlled by members who favor slowing development, city officials and developers said Wednesday. However, the same people disagreed on whether the slow-growth majority will establish new city policy on development. "This city is almost as slow as it can get in terms of growth," said Chuck Cusumano, a Burbank developer. "There have been so many restrictions put in during the last three years, on parking and on how much you can put on property, that there's not a lot more they can do."

The normally placid and friendly proceedings of the City Council took a divisive turn this week when two council members engaged in an angry exchange over the recent resignation of Phil Fife from the Planning Commission. The heated exchange between Councilman William J. Doane and Councilwoman Marilyn Bruce Hastings on Monday night lasted only a few moments, but it marked an unusual public display of the deep division that exists over development issues in Seal Beach.

In an ambitious bid to create jobs and reduce smog, a group of Los Angeles elected officials, entrepreneurs and labor unions is seeking to make Burbank the hub of a future electric car industry in Southern California. A driving force in the campaign is a Monrovia aerospace firm that is coordinating an effort to build a prototype high-tech electric vehicle later this year with components from California manufacturers.

Burbank City Councilman Michael Hastings failed to inform most of his council colleagues that he has a potential conflict of interest on a proposed $100-million sports arena project that had come before the council this year. Rather than reveal the potential conflict, Hastings left the council chamber before discussion of the arena proposal Feb. 4 and did not return until after the vote.

Michael Hastings, former Burbank mayor, has resigned from the Burbank Airport Commission, citing increased business demands. "If I can't give 100%, I don't want to kid anybody," said Hastings, who had been on the commission for 2 1/2 years. Hastings' resignation was effective immediately. Hastings said he recently changed jobs, and can no longer afford the five or six hours each week the commission requires.

The normally placid and friendly proceedings of the City Council took a divisive turn this week when two council members engaged in an angry exchange over the recent resignation of Phil Fife from the Planning Commission. The heated exchange between Councilman William J. Doane and Councilwoman Marilyn Bruce Hastings on Monday night lasted only a few moments, but it marked an unusual public display of the deep division that exists over development issues in Seal Beach.

A proposed ordinance that would have dramatically slowed residential development in Burbank was shelved by the City Council after several developers and council members denounced it as "illogical and damaging." Councilman Robert R. Bowne said the ordinance, introduced by Mayor Michael R. Hastings, could create apartment shortages and was "the kind of thing that could end up ruining this community."

Burbank Mayor Al F. Dossin and Councilwoman Mary E. Kelsey will run next year for second terms on the City Council. Dossin, 59, who filed his nomination papers Thursday, said he wants to be in office to participate in the development of a controversial 41-acre lot in downtown Burbank and to oversee operation of the Public Service Department. "If I pulled out now, I feel like I would be a traitor," he said. "I just hope the people feel I have done a fine job."

Burbank City Councilman Michael Hastings failed to inform most of his council colleagues that he has a potential conflict of interest on a proposed $100-million sports arena project that had come before the council this year. Rather than reveal the potential conflict, Hastings left the council chamber before discussion of the arena proposal Feb. 4 and did not return until after the vote.

In an ambitious bid to create jobs and reduce smog, a group of Los Angeles elected officials, entrepreneurs and labor unions is seeking to make Burbank the hub of a future electric car industry in Southern California. A driving force in the campaign is a Monrovia aerospace firm that is coordinating an effort to build a prototype high-tech electric vehicle later this year with components from California manufacturers.

Complaining that a record $1 million in campaign spending during the recent municipal election was an "obscene abuse of the political system," Burbank Mayor Michael R. Hastings has called for limits on expenditures during local elections. Hastings, who did not run in this year's April election, said he was particularly angered by the spending of longtime political rival Mary Lou Howard, who listed $185,007 in expenses during her unsuccessful bid to win a fourth council term.

With the election of Tim Murphy, the Burbank City Council will be controlled by members who favor slowing development, city officials and developers said Wednesday. However, the same people disagreed on whether the slow-growth majority will establish new city policy on development. "This city is almost as slow as it can get in terms of growth," said Chuck Cusumano, a Burbank developer. "There have been so many restrictions put in during the last three years, on parking and on how much you can put on property, that there's not a lot more they can do."

Burbank Planning Board Commissioner Paul Downing resigned this week, saying he was frustrated with the City Council's refusal to consider his nominee to fill a vacancy on the board. The resignation from the Planning Board was the second in a month and the third in two months. Graham Ritchie, the previous chairman of the board, resigned because of business obligations. Gary Yamada resigned in April, saying he was too "burned out" to continue.

The Burbank City Council said Tuesday it will seek the support of Los Angeles and Glendale for a proposal to extend Amtrak service to Burbank. A consultant for the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission told city officials that the Amtrak route between downtown Los Angeles and San Diego could be extended to Chatsworth via Burbank. Amtrak now operates eight trains a day between Los Angeles and San Diego.