1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Ken Berkman, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: First Step Report on the City’s Preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Potential Establishment of a Mayor’s Task Force
RECOMMENDATION
1. Note and file; or
2. Direct staff to provide regular updates to City Council regarding the City’s preparation for the 2028 Olympics, and/or
3. Provide other direction to staff regarding the City’s preparation efforts and the potential creation of a task force.
BACKGROUND
At the June 25, 2024, City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Takahashi requested a first step report on the City’s preparation for the 2028 Olympics. At the August 27, 2024, Council meeting, the Vice Mayor requested that the report also include the potential creation of a task force to support planning for the Olympics.
In March 2025, City staff commenced preparation for the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, to be held in Los Angeles (LA), by forming an internal Planning Committee (Committee). This Committee is comprised of staff from multiple Departments, including Burbank Water and Power, the City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office -Public Information Office, Community Development, Fire, Parks and Recreation (P&R), Police, and Public Works. The City is actively engaging with outside stakeholders, such as the City and County of LA , the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing C ommittee, and cities throughout the region, with the effort collectively titled “88 for 28” referencing the 88 regional cities working collaboratively on Olympics planning.
2 The Committee’s initial focus has included the topics of transportation and mobility, economic development opportunities, and creating Olympic -related engagement opportunities within the community, such as hosting public viewing parties during the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Burbank is in the early stages of planning how the City can contribute and be involved with the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The following is an overview of recent activities and planning efforts.
Tourism, Hospitality and Promotion
• The Hollywood Burbank Airport could potentially be designated as an official LA28 airport, making it a convenient access point for athletes, staff, and tourists. • The City’s Visit Burbank is exploring partnerships to offer hotels and event spaces for athletes, staff, and visitors.
• Additional promotional efforts, such as advertising at the airport and citywide welcome banners.
• The City is planning to host public viewing parties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These events aim to foster a sense of unity and excitement, allowing residents and the greater community to experience the spirit of the Games together.
Transportation and Mobility
• Transportation and mobility will be a major priority, with regional Mobility Hubs planned across the LA County region.
• The City is working with Metro and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to understand Burbank ’s role into regional transportation strategies.
• For all transportation related efforts, the goal will be to serve the influx of visitors in the short -term while ensuring improvements meet the long -term needs of residents.
Inclusivity and Adaptive Sports
• P&R has been proactive in expanding adaptive sports programs to support athletes of all abilities , aligning with the broader goal of fostering an inclusive environment in anticipation of the 2028 Paralympic Games. • Plans are underway to align the 2028 Burbank Adaptive Sports Expo with the Paralympic Games schedule, creating synergy between local events and the international sporting calendar.
• The City has extended offers to LA28 organizers to host Paralympic athletes and provide practice facilities, contributing to the overall infrastructure and support network for the Games.
3 Potential Mayor’s Task Force
Staff has initiated a proactive, coordinated effort to prepare the City for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics . As described above, the City is actively participating in regional planning and undertaking a broad range of internal planning initiatives involving multiple departments. A s these efforts continue to take shape, staff is committed to ensuring Council remains actively involved in shaping the City’s direction and priorities. While forming a task force has been considered, at this stage in the planning process and with many regional efforts still in development, staff recommends that continued collaboration with regional partners and internal stakeholders, along with regular updates to City Council, provides the most effective approac h to the City’s planning efforts.
Staff’s provision of regular updates (to be provided at regularly scheduled Council meetings at a minimum of once per quarter ) to the entire Council body will allow staff to share progress on local and regional initiatives, obtain feedback, and seek input and direction from Council as needed to ensure alignment with citywide goals and priorities.
Staff will continue to assess the option and potential benefits of a task force as planning evolves and as more defined opportunities for City and community engagement emerge.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The actions discussed and contemplated in this report have no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378 (general policy making is not considered a project under CEQA) .
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this first step report.
CONCLUSION
City staff have been actively engaged in planning efforts -both internally across departments and externally with regional partners -to ensure Burbank is well -positioned for the 2028 Olympics. Although the formation of a task force was considered, at this time staff recommends that staff continue its assertive approach to collaborative planning and that City Council direct staff to provide regular updates to Council on the City’s preparation and planning efforts. Regular updates will ensure that the full Council remains actively involved in guiding these efforts, with consistent opportunities to provide input, ask questions, and offer direction as planning progresses.
ATTACHMENT
None.