Downtown plan with heights up to 300 feet reviewed; comments get attachments

A public hearing on a conditional use permit and development review (Project No. 26-0003272, agenda) to let Super WYLD open an indoor family entertainment center, with a children's playground, trampolines, ball pits, slides, arcade-style games, party rooms and arts-and-crafts rooms, in a vacant 13,506-square-foot tenant space downtown on San Fernando Boulevard. No alcohol was proposed, and food service is only for paying patrons. The decision sets whether the business can open and what hours it may keep. Staff found it exempt from CEQA review as a minor interior alteration of an existing facility. The commission approved it, extending the allowed closing time to 10 p.m. every day. 00:03:26

• A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution approving the conditional use permit and development review for Super WYLD at 330 N. San Fernando Blvd., amending condition 13 to allow business hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week; seconded by an unidentified commissioner. Result: passed, 5-0. 00:27:53

• City staff presented for staff that the site is a 13,506-square-foot tenant space next to a previously approved amusement use inside a larger building 00:05:06
• City staff described planned features including trampolines, ball pits, slides, arcade-style games, party rooms and arts-and-crafts rooms 00:08:16
• City staff said food and beverage service would serve only patrons, not the general public, and no alcohol sales were proposed 00:08:16
• City staff gave the proposed hours as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 00:09:18
• City staff reported that no members of the public attended the required development review community meeting, held October 20, 2026, and staff had received no public comments 00:11:29
• City staff said staff found the project categorically exempt from CEQA under the existing-facilities exemption 00:11:29
• The applicant's representative asked that the business be allowed to stay open until 10 p.m. occasionally for special events such as a glow night 00:13:18
• The applicant's representative said the operator worked with the city on using the space for a FIFA fan zone and is ready to submit building permits 00:13:18
• A commissioner asked staff whether the conditions would need to change to allow a 10 p.m. closing 00:16:26
• City staff suggested amending condition 13 to set both closing times at up to 10 p.m. and said staff had no problem with it 00:16:48
• A commissioner asked whether the arcade games would be gambling-style or ticket-prize games 00:17:16
• The applicant said there would be games of skill and no gambling-type or ticket-based games, just free play for kids 00:17:36
• A commissioner asked whether the center would be open to the public or only for private parties 00:18:36
• The applicant's representative said it would be open to walk-ins, with a reservation system and timed tickets of about two hours to manage capacity 00:18:57
• A commissioner asked whether the storefront windows would stay clear or be covered 00:20:51
• The applicant's representative said windows would stay clear, with paint changes and a sign but no major facade changes 00:20:58
• A commissioner stressed that San Fernando is a corridor where storefronts should engage pedestrians 00:21:19
• The applicant said the windows would be covered with marketing vinyl during construction, before opening 00:21:35
• The applicant's representative answered a capacity question by saying the fire department would set occupancy at the building-permit stage 00:22:04
• A commissioner asked how the business would make sure children leave with the adult they came with 00:22:42
• The applicant's representative described a reception desk with turnstile entry and said children cannot be dropped off 00:23:07
• The applicant said parents must sign a waiver listing parent and child names, birthdays and ID 00:23:44
• The applicant explained that a planned Sherman Oaks location was delayed because its building needed fire-system upgrades 00:24:46
• A commissioner supported the project, saying it would bring foot traffic to a section that has been vacant, and backed the 10 p.m. closing 00:26:08
• A commissioner supported the project, thanked the applicants for answering safety questions, and said Burbank needs child services 00:27:14

Staff asked the commission for feedback on the draft Downtown Transit Oriented Development Specific Plan (Project No. 18-0003736), the result of a six-year planning effort, as a follow-up to an August study session. The plan would rezone downtown to allow mixed use and housing nearly everywhere, set building heights from 40 feet near single-family homes up to 300 feet in a freeway overlay, and replace much of the current case-by-case planned development and development agreement process with by-right heights plus development review. That would shape what can be built around the Metrolink station, the Burbank Town Center mall, and the San Fernando corridor. Staff said a draft program environmental impact report is expected to be circulated later this year, with adoption hearings by spring 2027. This was a note-and-file item and no vote was taken. 00:28:09

• Note and file the report; no motion made. Result: no action. 01:17:07

• A commissioner said they had to leave the meeting for a private matter before the item began 00:28:47
• A commissioner disclosed having spoken with members of the public about the plan 00:29:16
• City staff said the session follows up on the August study session and seeks input on how well draft policies match the community vision 00:29:51
• City staff acknowledged a letter received that day from the union Unite Here and asked that it be part of the record 00:31:56
• City staff said the draft program EIR is in internal review and expected to be circulated publicly later this year 00:32:56
• City staff said the plan and environmental analysis should be finalized in early 2027, with adoption hearings by spring 2027 00:33:58
• City staff said the plan aims to address the city's jobs-housing imbalance with more housing, including workforce and affordable housing 00:33:58
• City staff said the union's hotel development agreement request was also made at the last study session and would be considered for the final draft 00:37:56
• A commissioner backed requiring development agreements for hotels, arguing downtown should be heavy on housing 00:38:26
• A commissioner objected that the mall and areas west of it appeared on a map as retail and services, and said they should be mixed use 00:38:26
• A commissioner said the owner of the former IKEA building had expressed interest in large-scale housing there 00:39:28
• A commissioner favored breaking up the mall site into smaller, walkable, mixed-use blocks 00:40:28
• City staff clarified that the map showed current land uses, not zoning, and that nearly all of downtown would allow mixed use 00:41:13
• City staff said housing in the industrial areas west of the freeway, such as the Victory corridor, would be allowed only through a state preemption process 00:41:13
• City staff said heights would reach about 100 feet near the station, 60 feet at the plan's edges, and 40 feet next to single-family homes 00:42:11
• City staff translated 60 feet as roughly four commercial or five to six residential stories 00:42:47
• City staff pointed to the plan's height map, with a core maximum transcribed as 205 feet and a freeway height overlay allowing taller buildings 00:44:50
• City staff noted, and staff confirmed, that the current Burbank Center plan already allows that maximum height, with a discretionary permit 00:46:48
• A commissioner urged a specially noticed meeting with a walking tour of the plan area before it returns for approval 00:47:15
• City staff said staff are trying to find a date for a walking tour and will coordinate with the city attorney's office 00:48:25
• A commissioner agreed with the walking tour idea, saying the plan is hard to visualize 00:48:56
• City staff said discretionary review would apply only in the freeway overlay, up to 300 feet with a CUP, with an AUP for the range transcribed as 205 to 250 feet and other heights by right 00:49:56
• City staff said projects built to by-right heights would still go through development review, keeping community oversight 00:49:56
• A commissioner said they didn't see a problem with hotels in the area, noting hotels near transit help visitors without cars 00:50:49
• A commissioner argued that buses on First Street and the coming BRT, not Metrolink, are the realistic transit anchor downtown 00:51:51
• A commissioner asked that the plan do more to treat buses as the main way people arrive downtown and to welcome bus riders 00:52:51
• A commissioner agreed Metrolink serves work commuters but said that covers a narrow part of the day 00:53:38
• A commissioner asked staff to clarify the two options shown for the mall site 00:54:36
• City staff said the mall illustrations are a vision, not a plan of what will be built 00:55:04
• City staff described options for reconnecting San Fernando Boulevard through the Town Center as a street or a pedestrian paseo 00:55:38
• City staff said pre-development applications proposing housing have been filed for the IKEA property 00:56:36
• City staff noted that some in the community want the enclosed mall kept as a cool refuge for people without air conditioning 00:56:36
• A commissioner asked whether any feasibility study had been done on the mall options 00:58:04
• City staff said the mall's developer has reviewed the concepts and given feedback, and the plan aims for flexibility within set standards 00:58:52
• A commissioner endorsed the short-block, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented concept and questioned keeping the mall mainly for air conditioning 01:03:33
• A commissioner noted that many people, especially seniors, use the mall for walking in the mornings 01:04:18
• A commissioner asked what the city's financial role would be, such as issuing bonds 01:05:18
• City staff said the city cannot fund the housing itself; the plan changes zoning and streamlines review, and private owners propose the projects 01:05:39
• City staff said larger downtown projects have usually gone through planned development and development agreement processes taking two to three years, which the plan aims to replace 01:07:48
• City staff pointed to the implementation chapter's funding tools, including enhanced infrastructure financing districts and a possible expansion of the downtown business improvement district 01:10:00
• City staff cited state infill infrastructure grants as one way to pay for off-site improvements for housing 01:12:06
• A commissioner asked what would trigger the first project under the plan 01:14:07
• City staff said that after adoption, projects that meet the standards would get streamlined review backed by the program EIR 01:14:23
• A commissioner asked whether the plan sets a target for low- or moderate-income units 01:16:08
• City staff said the plan relies on state housing requirements and the city's 12% inclusionary requirement rather than its own target, and that an inclusionary update is under way 01:16:22

Routine approval of the minutes from the commission's October 12, 2026 meeting. 01:17:07

• A commissioner moved to approve the minutes (transcribed as a motion to accept the amendments); seconded by a commissioner. Result: passed, 4-0. 01:17:46

Staff previewed the items scheduled for the commission's next meeting. 01:18:10

• City staff announced two items for November 9: a beer-and-wine conditional use permit for a pizza restaurant at 109 Prospect, and comments on a subsequent EIR for a project 01:18:21

• General oral communications: no speakers or callers.
• Super WYLD hearing (item 1): no speakers or callers, and staff reported no written communications.
• Downtown TOD Specific Plan (item 2): one in-person speaker, a representative of Unite Here Local 11. The speaker welcomed more housing in the plan area and urged the city to require development agreements for hotel projects there. The speaker said roughly 60 to 65 percent of Burbank hotel rooms were built under development agreements and cited Glendale, Buena Park and Santa Monica as models. The union also submitted a letter, handed to commissioners at the dais.

• Next Planning Commission meeting is November 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. Two items are scheduled: a beer-and-wine conditional use permit for a pizza restaurant at 109 Prospect, and comments on a subsequent EIR for a project.
• Downtown TOD Specific Plan: the draft program EIR is expected to be circulated for public review later this year, and presentations to boards and commissions continue through December. Staff expect to finalize the plan and environmental analysis in early 2027, with Planning Commission and City Council adoption hearings by spring 2027.
• Staff are trying to schedule a publicly noticed walking tour of the downtown plan area for the commission, coordinated with the city attorney's office.
• Super WYLD: the applicant plans to submit building permits soon, and the fire department will set occupancy at that stage. The applicants mentioned a spring opening; the year is garbled in the transcript, apparently 2027.

In the 4:00 p.m. session the council honored city employees marking 20, 25, 30 and 35 years with the city. Among those named were Patrick Prescott (Community Development Director) (20 years), Jennifer Becker (Financial Services Director) (25 years) and Marisa Garcia (Parks and Recreation Director) (35 years). The ceremony fell during the city's Employee Appreciation Week. 00:13:04

• A council member opened the ceremony honoring employees reaching 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service. 00:13:04
• City staff honored a recreation supervisor who started in 1991 as a Parks and Recreation work trainee and has been a supervisor since 2001. 00:40:01
• The city manager noted that it was Employee Appreciation Week at the city. 00:44:41
• The city manager recounted the 35-year career of the Parks and Recreation director, who was appointed director in 2019. 00:45:42

City staff read seven announcements. The general municipal election is November 3, 2026. Measure C would raise the city's hotel tax from 10% to 12%, which staff said could bring in about $3 million a year for city services. Measure CC would amend the charter to allow more flexibility in future election methods, and Measure CD asks whether council elections should switch from at-large to by-district. BurbankBus fares will be free on election day. The city has a new online film permit process, and the council will hold a public hearing on the Media District Specific Plan update on November 10. 02:06:38

• City staff announced a new streamlined online film permit application process. 02:06:38
• City staff announced a November 10 council public hearing on the Media District Specific Plan update. 02:07:39
• City staff announced that BurbankBus rides will be free all day on election day. 02:08:43
• City staff explained that Measure C would raise the hotel tax from 10% to 12%. 02:08:43
• City staff said Measure C could raise about $3 million a year for public safety, parks and other services. 02:09:45
• City staff explained that Measure CD asks whether council elections should move from at-large to by-district. 02:09:45

As part of Employee Appreciation Week, the council honored the city's 2026 Firefighter of the Year (a firefighter-paramedic), Police Officer of the Year (a sergeant), and Employee of the Year (a member of the Public Information Office). 02:10:43

• City staff credited the Firefighter of the Year with leading the department's Matterport camera training project. 02:12:38
• City staff said the honoree had made an outsized impact in about three years on the job. 02:13:40
• City staff said the sergeant's property crimes unit made more than 100 arrests and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen property. 02:16:14
• City staff described the sergeant helping evacuate residents from an apartment fire in Glendale in May, which earned him a lifesaving medal. 02:17:21
• City staff praised the Employee of the Year for building a fire information webpage on her own initiative during the 2025 Bethany Fire. 02:22:21

After general public comment, the city manager and council members gave brief responses. These covered a resident whose electric service had been disconnected, changes to the written public comment system, and several of the speakers' points. 02:54:36

• The city manager said Burbank Water and Power had been trying to reach the resident whose power was disconnected and would work out an arrangement to restore service. 02:54:52
• The city manager said changes had been made since the last meeting so that attachments can be submitted with public comments, with more detail to come later in the meeting. 02:54:52
• A council member told a commenter that one of the leaders shown on his map of South America had since lost his election. 02:56:50
• A council member thanked the commenter who spoke on SB 79 for researching state legislation. 02:58:19
• A council member thanked a commenter for sharing the 866-Our-Vote election protection resource. 02:59:02

The council approved routine items in one vote: minutes for all six bodies; a $213,000 state traffic safety enforcement grant and $334,625.76 in state COPS public safety funds for the Police Department; a $1,000,000 Metro Proposition C agreement to buy a battery-electric BurbankBus vehicle; a $6,220,000 Metro Measure M grant for the Downtown Burbank Sidewalk Enhancement Project; an amended license agreement with the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority so BurbankBus can serve the new airport terminal; and 15 student appointments to the Youth Board. 02:59:59

• Motion to approve the consent calendar (mover and seconder not identifiable from the transcript); Konstantine Anthony (Council Member) abstained on items 7 and 8 (the traffic safety grant and the COPS funds) and voted yes on the rest. Result: passed, 5-0; 4-0-1 on items 7 and 8 (agenda). Abstained: Konstantine Anthony (Council Member). 03:02:19

This is the annual policy that governs how the City Treasurer invests the city's pooled funds; the treasurer's later report put the portfolio at $757 million as of June 30, 2026. The treasurer said the changes were based on a review with MGT advisors and current state law. Among them: new fiscal training and Form 700 disclosure language; rules on which brokers and portals may be used; measuring compliance with portfolio limits at book value instead of market value; longer allowed commercial paper maturities (397 days), with commercial paper capped at 25% of the portfolio; a cap on single purchases of generally 0.75% of the portfolio; an explicit ban on stocks, ETFs, REITs, annuities and negative-earning instruments; an objective ESG screen for corporate issuers; and a monthly liquidity requirement raised to $154 million. 03:02:36

• Motion to approve the 2026 Investment Policy as proposed (mover and seconder not identifiable from the transcript). Result: passed, 5-0. 03:28:09

• The city treasurer said the update came from a comprehensive review done with MGT advisors. 03:03:26
• The city treasurer described a new state requirement that local agency officials complete fiscal and financial training. 03:04:33
• The city treasurer explained that compliance with portfolio percentage limits will be measured at book value, because market value fluctuates. 03:07:50
• The city treasurer said state law now allows commercial paper maturities of up to 397 days, but the city will cap commercial paper at 25% of the portfolio. 03:08:55
• The city treasurer explained that the city has long bought about $3 million at a time, and the new language ties purchase size to portfolio size. 03:08:55
• The city treasurer read the new per-purchase cap of generally 0.75% of portfolio market value. 03:11:00
• The city treasurer said the policy now states that stocks, ETFs, REITs and annuities are not allowed. 03:13:05
• The city treasurer described a new objective ESG screen that bars buying from issuers the city's ESG data provider rates as lagging. 03:15:11
• The city treasurer said the monthly liquidity requirement rises to $154 million from $127 million, based on the latest budget. 03:17:39
• Konstantine Anthony (Council Member) asked for plain definitions of book value and market value. 03:18:58
• The city treasurer said the city does not currently buy commercial paper because its yields are not attractive. 03:21:10
• A council member asked how the city decides when to sell a corporate bond early instead of holding it to maturity. 03:21:37
• The city treasurer said such decisions are made with both investment committees, citing a downgraded Intel bond the city held to maturity and U.S. Bank bonds it sold during the banking crisis. 03:22:14
• A council member voiced appreciation for the ESG policy. 03:23:35
• A council member asked whether the ESG change had any immediate effect or was preventive. 03:24:00
• The city treasurer said there was no immediate concern; the change codifies existing practice for the future. 03:24:26
• Konstantine Anthony (Council Member) asked whether the process for consulting the committees before exiting an investment is written down. 03:25:12
• The city treasurer said she can act alone in an emergency, that major noncompliance must be reported to council liaisons and the committees, and that she is open to adding more specific language. 03:26:02

The treasurer's report on the city's investments as of June 30, 2026. It was noted and filed with no vote. The treasurer said the portfolio had grown to $757 million, earned a 3.69% yield in June, and brought in $2.1 million in interest that month. She highlighted a $100,000 purchase of Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority bonds tied to the new terminal, and reviewed economic conditions, including rising delinquencies on multifamily housing loans. 03:28:21

• Note and file the June 30, 2026 investment portfolio report. Result: no action. 03:56:25

• The city treasurer reported that the portfolio had grown to $757 million. 03:28:54
• The city treasurer reported a June yield of 3.69%, which she called in line with other cities. 03:30:03
• The city treasurer reported $2.1 million in interest income in June. 03:30:03
• The city treasurer highlighted a purchase of airport authority bonds that financed part of the new terminal. 03:30:03
• The city treasurer reported that multifamily loan delinquencies had risen sharply. 03:37:42
• The city treasurer noted that the Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points last month. 03:38:47
• Zizette Mullins (Council Member; Vice Mayor) asked why air travel demand stays high despite higher fuel prices. 03:40:40
• The city treasurer pointed to rising net worth among the top earners and continued low unemployment. 03:41:39
• Zizette Mullins (Council Member; Vice Mayor) raised concern that further rate increases would add pressure on the housing market. 03:42:40
• Konstantine Anthony (Council Member) suggested that people priced out of buying homes are spending on travel instead. 03:45:30
• A council member pointed to the multifamily delinquency and value figures, attributed them partly to pressures on housing providers, urged colleagues to weigh them, and said they would not take part in that topic. 03:46:56
• A council member asked how to separate earnings gains caused by market conditions from those caused by investment strategy. 03:47:58
• The city treasurer credited both a conservative, disciplined approach and higher rates. 03:48:34
• A council member asked whether an AI bubble bursting would affect the city's investments. 03:50:34
• The city treasurer said the city holds bonds from large tech companies she does not expect to fail, and holds bonds to maturity, so market swings don't matter. 03:51:23
• The city treasurer said the airport bond holding is only $100,000 because the bond is hard to find, and that it reflects the ESG policy's push to invest locally. 03:53:38

Council members reported on meetings and community events they had attended since the last meeting. 03:56:25

• Konstantine Anthony (Council Member) reported visiting a new Burbank publisher of mostly dual-language education books. 03:56:38
• A council member reported attending a California Film Commission board meeting about the current round of film tax credits. 03:57:47
• A council member reported meeting with the police chief on license plate readers and said they had led to two carjacking arrests since the last meeting, with no breach of the system. 04:00:01
• Zizette Mullins (Council Member; Vice Mayor) reported meeting Armenia's consul general in Los Angeles to discuss a possible sister city with Armenia. 04:00:55
• Zizette Mullins (Council Member; Vice Mayor) reported meeting with the BWP general manager about water and power policies. 04:04:05
• A council member reported that the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments supports Metro providing seven-day service from the North Hollywood station to the new airport terminal. 04:06:27
• A council member said that if Metro provides that service, the city would no longer need to run its own. 04:06:27

Zizette Mullins (Council Member; Vice Mayor) had asked on October 13 for a report on how written public comment is handled, after public concerns that email attachments were not being included in agenda packets. Instead of a vote to place the item on a future agenda, the city manager reported changes already made: eComments now accept attachments, emails sent directly to the council will get an auto-reply pointing to the official eComment portal, and staff is working on changing the submission window for public hearing comments. 04:08:28

▶ Hear it Written public comments can now include attachments · 0:36

• No motion was made; the request was discussed and no vote was taken on adding it to a future agenda. Result: no action. 04:13:03

• The vice mayor said the request followed public concerns about email attachments being left out of agenda packets. 04:08:44
• The city manager reported that eComment submissions can now include attachments, effective immediately. 04:09:21
• The city manager said users may attach up to three documents of up to 10 megabytes each. 04:09:21
• The city manager said emails sent directly to the council will get an auto-reply directing senders to the eComment portal for the official record. 04:09:21
• The city manager said staff needs more time to change the submission period for public hearing comments and will report back. 04:10:25
• The vice mayor asked that the auto-reply explain that agenda-related comments should go through the link. 04:11:58
• The vice mayor welcomed the changes as a way to steer the public toward eComment. 04:13:03

• Nine people spoke in joint general public comment, all in person, with no remote callers; each had up to three minutes.
• Two speakers tied to the housing-provider group Burbank Fair Housing, which is campaigning as Don't LA My Burbank, responded to criticism of the group at the previous meeting. They rejected the MAGA label, described the group's party makeup, criticized the Democratic Socialists of America and outside-funded groups in the election, and defended its leader's residence just across the Glendale border.
• One speaker, using the Spanish interpreter, urged Latino voters not to fear voting and warned that socialism has failed in Latin American countries.
• One speaker said candidates are spreading misinformation about SB 79. She argued that dedicated bus lanes on Olive would trigger state upzoning near BRT stops, said Metro sued Burbank and not the other way around, and urged the council to keep pushing for mixed-flow lanes.
• One speaker praised the library and cultural arts staff for free programs supporting the entertainment industry, raised concern about job losses from studio mergers, and shared an election protection hotline and a November 7 day of action.
• One speaker again asked the city to pursue a wage ordinance for airport hospitality workers like Los Angeles' Olympic wage. The speaker said Burbank airport workers earn $17 an hour versus $32 elsewhere, and cited safety concerns about overworked staff.
• One housing provider urged the city to help small landlords keep older units affordable through lower permit fees, grants, rebates or low-cost loans, rather than rent caps and rent registries.
• One resident said her electric service had been disconnected for nearly thirty days, calling it a health hazard, and asked for direction; the city manager said BWP staff would contact her during the meeting.
• One resident asked the city to restore longer written public comments before the Media District Specific Plan and final EIR hearing, arguing that the current limits are unrealistic for a document thousands of pages long and could invite a lawsuit.

• Next regular council meeting is Tuesday, November 10, 2026, which will include a public hearing on the Media District Specific Plan update.
• General municipal election is November 3, 2026, with Measure C (hotel tax increase from 10% to 12%), Measure CC (charter flexibility for election methods) and Measure CD (whether to switch to by-district council elections); BurbankBus fares are free all day on election day.
• Staff is finalizing this week the auto-reply language for emails sent to the council and will share it with council members.
• Staff will report back on changing the submission period for public comments on public hearings, after the city clerk returns from training.
• BWP staff were to contact the resident whose electric service was disconnected to arrange restoration.
• Metro's board is considering seven-day service from the North Hollywood station to the airport, which the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments supports.
• Talks on a possible sister city with Armenia await a recommendation from Armenia's consulate in Los Angeles.
• The treasurer said she is open to adding more specific language on the committee process for selling investments early, if the council wants it.