Burbank

The City of Burbank (the City) and the State of California (the State) appeal from a summary judgment entered in favor of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. The trial court found that because the City had delegated its powers under Public Utilities Code section 21661.6 to the authority, the City was without power to enforce the statute as against the authority. The trial court erred, and we reverse the judgment.

Procedural and Factual Background

In 1977, the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena entered into a joint powers agreement pursuant to Government Code section 6500, to acquire and operate the Burbank Airport, which had been privately owned and operated for many years before that. For that purpose, the joint powers agreement created the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (the Authority), which was empowered by Government Code section 6546.1, among other things, to acquire, operate, repair, maintain, improve and administer the airport.

The agreement was amended twice in 1978 and once in 1980. In 1991, the original agreement and the amendments were consolidated into a single amended agreement. As last amended, the agreement gives the…