The Simple Version
Why district elections are good for Burbank
Here it is in plain English — the way we’d explain it to a neighbor over the fence.
Today, you vote city-wide
Right now all five Council members are elected by the entire city at once. To win, a candidate has to run a campaign across all of Burbank — which takes big money, big name recognition, and big connections.
Districts split the city into five neighborhoods
Burbank would be divided into five districts, and each one elects its own Council member — someone who actually lives in your part of town.
Regular people can run — and win
When you only campaign in your own neighborhood, a race costs a fraction as much. You don’t need to be wealthy or well-connected — just willing to knock on your neighbors’ doors. It opens the door to people with a heart to serve, not just the biggest checkbook.
Your council member is your neighbor
They know your streets, your schools, and your concerns — and you know exactly who to call. Every part of Burbank gets a voice, and no neighborhood gets left behind.
The Settlement
What the City agreed to
Instead of fighting to the end, the City of Burbank agreed to put the question to the people. Under the settlement signed in April 2026:
- ➤It goes on your ballot. The City will place a measure on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot to amend the City Charter and switch City Council elections from at-large to by-district — together with the district map (“Map 130”) drawn during the City’s 2023 districting process.
- ➤The voters decide. The change only takes effect if Burbank voters approve it. If they do, the first by-district City Council elections begin in 2028.
- ➤Attorneys’ fees and costs. The City agreed to pay the plaintiff a total of $150,000 to cover his attorneys’ fees, costs, demographer charges, and expenses — the price of the litigation the City chose not to keep fighting.
- ➤Case closed. With the agreement signed, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice and the July 2026 trial was called off.
The Filings
The full court record
Sixteen principal filings, in the order they happened. Each one opens in a viewer right here — read, print, or download without leaving the page.
The pleadings
Oct 2023 – Sept 2024The City’s demurrer to the Complaint
January 2024The City’s demurrer to the First Amended Complaint
April – May 2024The City’s demurrer to the Second Amended Complaint
July – August 2024Later filings & resolution
2025 – 2026At a glance