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TO: Mayor and City Council
Santa Monica, California, October 18, 1976
FROM: City Staff
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SUBJECT: Recommendation of Airport Commission, ficRFf:.dlve.
regarding Public Hearing, Wednesday, October 13, 1976.
Yntroduction
This report is pursuant to the Airport Commission recommendations
in response to Airport Commission member James Hoyt's August 6,
1976 letter to City Council, relative to imposing additional
restrictions on airport operations,
(Copy of letter included in attached information sheets).
Background
Airport Commission member James Hoyt, on approximately August 6, 1976,
submitted to City Council, his letter, as president of the Sunset Park
Property Owner's Association, outlining in detail their proposed.
imposition of additional restrictions on airport operations.
City Council on August 24th, 1976, referred the letter back to the
Airport Commission for review and consideration, and raqueated the
staff to set up a joint meetiAg with the Airport Commission.
In response to City Council's request, the Airport Commission, on
September 22nd, 1976, formally considered (Mr, Hoyt's) letter - and
set October 13, 1976 to hold a public hearing on the matter. Zt was
felt by tha Commission that a Public Hearing, wherein evergone would
be given an equal opportunity to express their views, would provide
T0: Mayor and Council -2- October 18, 1976
Background
the Co~isaion with the community input that would aid them is assessing
the matter and come forward with a reasonable, meaniggful recommendation.
The October 13th Public Hearing was held and twenty-one persons spoke;
Four in favor of imposing additional airport restrictions; seventeen
spoke out sag inst further restrictions, citing the already severe economic
lose to the community and decline of the airport due to the current restric-
ted operations.
Followigg the close of the Public Hearing and lengthy discussion by the
Airport Commission, Commissioner Vaughn moved to recommend to City
Council that Commissioner Hoyt's letter proposing additional airport
restrictions, be rejected (with the exception of a displaced threshold)
as costly to the operation of our Airport and unfair to the fixed base
operators and tenants on the field; and further that the Council make a
£irm decision to develop the Airport and encourage a profitable facility
by welcoming all airplanes that can meet our present noise standards;
or any noise. standards the Federal Aviation Administration, State or
Federal Government, may program in the future.
Seconded by Coauniasioner Bambrick and passed with Commissioners Hoyt and
Roney votic~g "No".
Alternate Solutions
Nona-recommended.
TO: Mayor and Council -3- October 18, 1976
Reco®endation
It is recommended by the Airport Commission that Commissioner Hoyt's
letter proposing additional airport restrictions, be rejected (with
exception of a displaced threshold) as costly to the operation of our
airport and unfair to the fixed base operators and tenants on the
field; and Further that the council make a firm decision to develop
the Airport and encourage a profitable facility by welcoming all
airplanes that can meet our present noise standards; or any noise
standards the Federal Aviation Administration, State or Federal
Government, may program in the Future.
Seconded by Commissioner Hambrick and passed with Commissioners
Hoyt and Roney voting 'TIo",
Prepared by: C. V. Fitzgerald
CVF:rh
attachments;
1. Airport Director's October 13, 1976 Staff Report to
Airport Com<sissiot;.
2, Letters from .fixed base operators, and bear-Siegler Corp.
3. Co~iasioner James Hoyt's August 6, 1976 letter to City
Council.
~.
STAFF REPORT
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNLI, OCTOBER 13, 1976
T0: AIRPORT COMMISSION
FROM: C. V. FITZGERALD, AIRPORT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: AIRPORT 'COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976,
re: AIRPORT/AIRCRAFT RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER HOYT,
PRESIDENT, SUNSET PARK PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, IN HIS AUGUST 6,
1976 LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL.
INTRODUCTION
THIS STAFF REPORT IS IN RESPONSE TO THE AIRPORT COMMISSION°S REQUEST
FOR INFORMATION THAT,WOULD AID .THE COMMISSION IN ASSESSING THE INPUT
OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT THE OCTOBER 13TH PUBLIC HEARING AS INDICATED
ABOVE, AND THE ECONOMIC/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FURTHER AIRPORT/AIRCRAFT
RESTRICTIONS,
BACKGROUND
fNER TID: PAST TEN YEARS, SANTA MONICA AIRPORT HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES
ENVIRONMENTALLY TN THE PIELD OF AIRCRAFT NOISE: IT HAS BANNED TFiE
JETS FROM THE AIRPORT; INSTALLED A-$ 60,000.00 NOISE-MONITORING SYSTEM;
INSTITUTED STAFF NOISE - ABATEMENT PROCEDURES IN COOPERATION WITH F.A.A.;
RAISED MINIMUM PATTERN ALTITUDES; CITED VIOLATING PILOTS INTO COURT;
WORKED CLOSELY WITH AIRPORT NEIGHBORS IN AIRPORT NEIGHBOR "FORUMS"
(CHAIRED BY CITY MANAGER WILLLAMS) IN SINCERE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS TO
REDUCE NOISE ANNOYANCES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE -AND YET TO
STILL PRESERVE A STRONG VIABLE AIRPORT WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. THE AIRPORT TODAY, IS MEETING THE
STATE NOISE STANDARDS THAT IS PROJECTED FOR CALIFORNIA AIRPORT BY 1985: -
AND IS BEING OPERATED IN FULL ACCORDANCE WITH ALL FEDERAL AND STATE
REGULATIONS GCNERNING AIRPORT.
T0; AIRPORT CaZ4iiSSION -2- OCTOBER 13, 1976
BACKGROUND (Continued)
AS FOR THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THE COIN - THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS ARE
PERTINENT TO THE FACTS;
1. TEN YEARS AGO THE AIRPORT HAD APPROXIMATELY 525 AIRCRAFT BASED
AT THE PORT, TODAY WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 350 AIRCRAFT. THOSE
THAT LEFT THE FIELD WERE SUBSTANTIALLY THE HIGH VALUE BUSINESS-
PRODUCING CORPORATE - EXECUTIVE TYPE AIRCRAFT WHO MOVED TO OTHER
LESS - RESTRICTIVE AIRFIELDS. IN 196k THIS OFFICE PROJECTED THAT
SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, BY 1975; WOULD HAVE AN ESTIMATED
625 AIRCRAFT BASED AT THE PORT - PRIOR TO RESTRICTIONS.
2. TEN YEARS AGO THE CITY -.OPERATED AIRCRAFT FUELING FACILITY, ALONE,
SOLD CVER ONE MILLION GALLONS OF AIRCRAFT FUELS PER YEAR - NETTING
~ THE CITY OVER $100,000,00 ANNUALLY FRQI THAT OPERATION ALONE.
TODAX THE SAME FACILITY SELLS LESS THAN 600,000 GALLONS OF AIRCRAFT
FUELS PER YEAR AND SAYD OPERATION YS STRUGGLING HARD TO NET $50,000.,
PER YEAR, FOR THE CITY - IN INFLATED DOLLARS,
3. TEN YEARS AGO, THE CITY OPERATED AIRCRAFT TIEDOWN OPERATION BROUGHT
IN EXCESS OF $100,000, IN YEARLY REVENUE TO THE CZTY, TODAY - THAT
REVENUE STANDS AT APPROXIMATELY $50,000.
4, THE DOUGLAS MUSEUM'S $REE USE OF 1/2 OF THE CITY-OWNED HANGAR
REFLECTS AN ANNUAL AIRPORT REVENUE LOSS TO THE CITY IN EXCESS OF
$25,000,
T0: AIRPORT COhQ1ISSiON -3- OCTOBER 13, 1976
BACKGROUND (Continued) '
5. LOSS OF $140,000. PER YEAR WHEN DOUGLAS, IN"1975, GAVE UP ITS
LEASE ON THE SO ACRES OF AIRPORT LAND.
6. THE MAIN REASON THE AIRPORT STILL CONTINUES TO REFLECT A HEALTHY
REVENUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY GENERAL FUND IS THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE EX-NAVY RESERVE FACILITY INTO A LUCRATIVE OFFICE RENTAL
FACILITY NOW KNOWN AS THE SKY COMMCRCE BUILDING OCCUPIED BY PRYME
TENANTS SUCH AS LEAR-SIEGLER CORP.; - AND THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT
HOLDING COSTS DOWN TO THE BARE MJCNIMtDt WITHOUT SACRIFICING OPER-
ATING EFFICIENCY.
7. IF FURTHER DECIBEL (db.) RESTRYCTIONS WERE YMPOSED AT THE PORT:
95 DB'S MAXIMUM (SENEL) WOULD VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE THE MAJOR
CORPORATE - EXECUTIVE AIRCRAFT FROM THE AIRPORT'SUCH AS LEAR-
SIEGLER'S GRUMMAN I, AND HILTON CORPORATIONS GRUMMAN I, MOST OF
THE AERO-COMMANDERS, QUEEN-AIRE AND KING-AIRE'S OF THE BEECH-
CRAFT LINE, PERHAPS 20 TO 30 OF SUCH AIRCRAFT WOULD BE BARRED
FRC4+1 USING THE AIRPORT. (NOTE s) LEAR-SIEGLER ALONE PURCHASES
APPROXIMATELY 6,000 GALLONS AIRCRAFT FUEL, A MONTH, FROM THE
CITY - AND RENTS A CITY-OWNED HANGAR FOR $18,000. PER YEAR -
IN ADDITION TO THE $100,000. THEY PAY ANNUALLY TO THE CITY IN
RENTAL OF THEIR PORTION OF THE SKY COMMERCE BUILDING.
IT MUST ALSO BE FURTHER NOTED, THAT A CORPORATE-YNDUSTRLAL PARK
DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE AIRFIELD WOULD ATTRACT TOP-
CALIBRE FIRMS OF THE LEAR-SIEGLER'TYPE - WHO T00 - WOULD HAVE AN
T0: AIRPORT COMMISSION -4- OCTOBER 13, 1976
BACKGROUND (Continued)
7. AIRCRAFT, OR FLEET OF AIRCRAFT, OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE
TYPE.)
8. IF DECIBEL RESTRICTIONS WERE REDUCED TO 90 db's - AN ADDITIONAL
ESTIMATED 150 TO 175 AIRCRAFT WOULD BE BARRED FROM USING THE PORT.
THIS WOULD ELIMINATE SUCH BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL AIRCRAFT AS BEECH
BONANZA'S, CESSNA 310'5, 411'S, PIPER APACHES, PIPER NAVAJOS, ETC,
9, TF DECIBEL RESTRICTIONS WERE REDUCED TO 85 db'a - AN ADDITIONAL
230 TO 250 AIRCRAFT WOULD BE BARRED FROM THE FIELD, THE AIRPORT
WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY CLOSE,
10. ATTACHED ALSO ARE LETTERS TO THE COMMISSION FROM THE FIXED BASED
OPERATORS ON THE FIELD -AND OTHER MAJOR AIRPORT TENANTS,
11. THE AIRPORT HAS LOST THE INDUSTRIAL GIANT - McDONNELL-DOUGLAS
CA+IPANY TO LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND LOST A MAJOR AIRCRAFT DISTRIB-
UTOR TENANT SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO VAN NUYS AIRPORT (WESTERN COMMAN-
DER, INC, - WHO, INCIDENTALLY, SOLD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AIRCRAFT
WHILE HERE ON SANTA MONICA AIRPORT.) MANY OTiIER MAJOR FIRMS, JANSS
CORPORATION, ETC, HAVE LEFT THE FIELD - MAINLY DUE TO AIRPORT RESTR-
ICTIONS -AND LACK OF SUCH NEEDED AIRPORT FACILITIES AS A TERMINAL -
ROTEL RESTAURANT CQ~SPLEX.
ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS
1. THE AIRPORT C~AIISSION, IN THE PAST, HAS
DEVELOPMENT
OF THB NORTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT - AND THE SOUTH-EAST PORTION OF THE
T0: AIRPORT COMMISSION -5- OCTOBER 13,.1976
ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS (Continued)
1. THE PORT - YNTO A CORPORATE/INDUSTRIAL PARK AND A SKY CO1•PII:RCS
CENTER ENCOMPASSING A TERMINAL-OFFICE-HOTEL-RESTAURANT FACILITY.
SUCH A DEVELOPMENT WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY ATTRACT INDUSTRY - CORPORAT-
IONS - GENERATE PAYROLLS AND TAX DOLLARS, TiIE COMMISSION COULD
RE-AFFIRM THESE GOALS TO THE COUNCIL AT THEIR FORTHCOMING JOINT
MEETING.
2, THE JET BAN COULD BE LIFTED AND ALLOW THE °QUIET JETS° TO TAKE
ITS PLACE ALONGSIDE ALL THE OTHER TYPE AIRCRAVT THAT MEETS THE
CURRENT 100 db MAXIMUM (S,E,N,E,L,) THE AIRPORT C~iMISSZON COULD
RECOrII4END TO COUNCIL TO AMEND THE NOISE ORDINANCE TO .ELIMINATE
THE TOTAL BAN ON JET AIRCRAFT-AND ALLOW TItOSE WH0 MEET THE
100 db, MAXIMUM (S,E,N,E,L,), TO COME BACK ON THE FIELD.
(NOTE; CURRENTLY, TiIE CESSNA CITATION JET CAN OPERATE WITHIN
TiiE 100 db. RANGE, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW).
3. THE AIRPORT COMMISSION COULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT NO FURTHER
RESTRICTIONS BE LEVIED AGAINST AIRPORT OPERATIONS.
(NOTE: IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT ADOPTION OF THE ABOVE THREE
ITEMS COULD PROVIDE THE CATALYST FOR RE-BIRTH OF THE PORT AND
ITS ADJACENT AREA INTO A TOP-RANKING, TOP-REVENUE PRODUCING AIRPORT/
INDUSTRIAL PARK FACILITY - WITH ITS MAXIMUM/CAPACITY FOR JOBS, PAY-
ROLLS, TAXES, AND ASTHETIC BENEFITS THAT COULD GREATLY CONTRIBUTE
TO THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY).
4. THE AIRPORT CCN4fISSI0N~C0ULD RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THE IMPOSITION OF
ADDITIONAL AIRPORT RESTRICTIONS.
PREPARED BY: C. V. FITZCERALD
,.