More than 600 guests gathered at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport convention center on Thursday, October 15, for the Burbank Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City Address & Luncheon. Presented by Mayor Tamala Takahashi, the event highlighted the past year’s accomplishments and the partnerships behind them under the theme “Burbank is Better Together.”
The audience included representatives from local public offices, police and fire departments, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, the entertainment and media industries, and the Burbank Unified School District. Nonprofits, community organizations and small business leaders also joined the luncheon, which offered a department-by-department look at the services residents rely on and the projects shaping Burbank’s future.
The Chamber highlighted its own role in supporting local businesses through networking mixers, promotional opportunities and assistance navigating city processes. Among the achievements shared was CEO Jamie Keyser Thomas’s work helping secure 20 grants of $10,000 each, bringing $200,000 to local eateries in partnership with Restaurants Care, a safety-net program of the California Restaurant Foundation that provides financial relief and grants to California’s food and beverage workers and independent restaurants. The Chamber also described its efforts to help members understand and use artificial intelligence through educational conversations.
Mayor Takahashi took the stage to present on the different city departments.”There is so much that makes Burbank special: our neighborhoods, our businesses, our creativity, our history, and the many opportunities ahead of us, but at the heart of it all are the people who make this city what it is,” said Takahashi. “As we cover some of the amazing accomplishments over the past year, I want you to remember that they reflect what is possible when we work together towards a shared vision. That is what this year’s theme, Better Together, is all about.”
She shared that the Burbank Parks and Recreation department reported securing more than $2.7 million in grants for senior services, playgrounds and sports programs. Over the summer, the department offered more than 180 camp sessions serving over 6,000 participants. Its Powerchair Soccer Program received a $26,000 Community Champions Grant from the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 host committee to expand access to youth sports. Burbank also launched the San Fernando Valley’s first trail accessibility program at Stough Canyon, using an all-terrain Trackchair to help people with mobility disabilities experience the trail.
Burbank Public Library reported more than one million visits and hosted nearly 2,500 programs during the past year, alongside career assistance through its Job Connect services. “As a former library board member and a longtime volunteer of the library, I am so excited to see their growth and impact on our state,” said Takahashi. A partnership with the University of Redlands Los Angeles, formerly Woodbury University, introduced a three-part Media Industry Expo series supporting career development in entertainment. The department also highlighted its new bookmobile and progress on the Central Library and Public Plaza project, where more than 13,000 community members have voiced their input and are helping shape plans for a new library, gathering areas, city offices and expanded public open space.
The Public Works update focused on the infrastructure and environmental services that keep the city functioning every day. Burbank is currently the only city in California to use a three-step sorting system to convert about 63 tons of green waste into compost daily, helping to remove contaminants. Highlights included electric collection vehicles, and sidewalk and sewer improvements. The Recycle Center’s Waste Warrior program also gives residents a closer look at waste and recycling operations, helping them understand what happens after materials leave their homes.
The Burbank Police Department reported an average emergency response time of three minutes and 31 seconds, as they work the front lines to keep our community safe. Its Burbank Mental Health Evaluation Team expanded availability to six days a week, working with nonprofit partners, homeless outreach teams and the library’s social worker to connect people with support. The team responds to 911 calls and police encounters that involve mental health crises or homelessness and help on-site with de-escalation and connecting individuals with resources.
The Burbank Fire Department earned reaccreditation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and maintained its ISO Class 1 rating, the highest classification. The Emergency Management Division received statewide recognition for its emergency support trailer, while a new dedicated Emergency Operations Center strengthened the city’s disaster preparedness capabilities. The department also hosted the second annual Tri-City Women’s Fire Academy, offering hands-on training and exposure to careers in the fire service.
Takahashi also presented on the Burbank Water and Power sharing that the department is one step closer toward long-term reliability and its goal of a 100% zero-carbon power supply by 2040. A new agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority will diversify Burbank’s water supply and strengthen reliability. The address also cited $5.3 million in grant funding for that will be invested in the infrastructure to keep providing residents with affordable and reliable services, and recognition of the prohibition of gas-powered blowers in Burbank.
Community Development’s work in the city this past year has included support for businesses opening or expanding in Burbank with the help from their Business Concierge Program. “Across the city, new businesses continue to choose Burbank as the place to be. Exciting new additions have joined our business landscape, including Scum and Villainy Cantina, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Sky Zone, and Equinox,” said Takahashi. “These businesses not only create jobs and attract visitors, but also contribute to the experiences that make Burbank a destination for residents and guests alike.”
The city also welcomed the arrival of companies such as Hallmark Media and Mad Engine Global. “Their arrival further strengthens Burbank’s reputation as a creative and entertainment hub, bringing new opportunities to the media capital of the world,” added Takahashi. This year Burbank celebrated the opening of Warner Bros. Studios’ The Ranch Lot, with 16 soundstages and production offices which has been selected as the International Broadcast Center for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, placing Burbank at the center of worldwide coverage.
As the media capital of the world, the city has been working hard to make Burbank filming accessible for the entertainment industry through supportive programs like their film concierge and Creative Industry Task Force. More than 570 film permits were processed during the year, and Burbank became an official regional film partner of the California Film Commission.
Housing is always a big topic in Burbank, and Takahashi provided updates on the INTRO on Front Street, a development with 573 rental homes and plans for public open space connecting the Magnolia Boulevard bridge to downtown. Other projects highlighted included Aero Crossings at the former Fry’s Electronics site, housing along Riverside Drive, and workforce and affordable housing opportunities.
Through its partnership with Burbank Housing Corporation, the city is also advancing The Village at Fairview, a planned 60-unit affordable housing development, and Home Again LA also celebrated the groundbreaking of their new access center. The project will bring supportive services together in one location, helping families connect with housing assistance and resources for long-term stability. In total these new projects will add over 700 new housing unites to the City of Burbank.
Another major milestone came just two days before the luncheon, when Hollywood Burbank Airport’s new replacement terminal opened on October 13. The 355,000-square-foot facility retains 14 gates while providing expanded passenger space and modern amenities. The address recognized the years of coordination among airport leadership, public agencies, project teams and skilled workers that brought the terminal to completion.
Throughout the address, Takahashi connected Burbank’s progress to the people who live and work here, from neighborhood business owners to the employees delivering city services. With a new airport terminal open and preparations for LA28 ahead, the luncheon brought many of those partners into the same room to consider the work still to come.
