SR-08-27-2013-13A13-A
August 27, 2013
Council Meeting: August 27, 2013 Santa Monica, California
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE — MEMORANDUM
To: City Council
From: Councilmember McKeown
Date: August 27, 2013
13-A: Request of Councilmember McKeown that, pursuant to the Airport
Commission's recommendation of July 3rd, that the Council express the
City's support for legislation intended to control helicopter noise over
Greater Los Angeles, specifically two federal bills:
- S.208, Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013
(Sen. Feinstein)
- H.R.466, Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013
(Rep. Schiff)
and one proposed State action:
- SJR 7, Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013 (Sen.
Lieu and Sen. Pavley)
and convey our support to appropriate state and federal legislators, our
Governor, and our President.
13-A
August 27, 2013
Public Works Department
--- __ 1685 Main Street, Room 116
Santa Monica, CA 90401
R (310) 458-8221
City
(�81101oL'10� (310) 576-3598 fax
�
DATE: July 3, 2013
TO: Santa Monica City Council
FROM: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Airport Commission's Recommendations
During the June 24, 2013, Airport Commission meeting, the Commission approved unanimously
the following two recommendations to Council:
® Motion by Commissioner Rubin and seconded by Commissioner Mark urging the City
Council to support the federal legislation SB 208 and the House bill 456.
® Motion by Commissioner Donald and seconded by Commissioner Goddard
recommending that the City Council [support] the Ted Lieu Joint Resolution [Senate
Joint Resolution No. 7 Relative to the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act
of 2013].
Reviewed By:
_ a,—
Martin Pastucha
1
Elected officials introduce bill to quiet helicopter noise in Los Angeles neighborhoods
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• News
Elected officials introduce bill to quiet helicopter noise in Los Angeles neighborhoods
By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/13/13,11:38 AM PDT I
8/16113 12:12 PM
Legislation to quell cormnercial helicopter noise across Los Angeles crashed and burned last fall when author Rep. Howard Berman
lost his seat in Congress.
But the phoenix rose again Monday with a new bill aimed to relieve Angelenos from their helicopter headaches.
"The residents in these areas deserve peace and quiet," said Rep. Adam Schiff, co-author of the second bill, in a statement. "If the FAA
won't act, Congress must pass this legislation to give residents the relief they need."
The new bill, sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, D -Calif., would require the Federal Aviation Administration to
regulate local noise caused by low-flying commercial choppers.
The Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act, would regulate the flight paths and minimum altitudes for nonemergency
helicopters across L.A. County.
This include the sometimes disruptive news, celebrity tour and paparazzi whirlybirds that can hover over homes in the Hollywood Hills
and beyond.
Unlike the Berman bill, the new legislation requires any FAA regulation to increase safety and minimize scheduled commercial aircraft
delays.
It also requires the federal agency to craft its regulations with input from communities and helicopter operators.
Emergency responders such as police, fire and military helicopters would be exempt.
"L.A. County residents suffer from high levels of disruptive, low-flying helicopter traffic over their neighborhoods," Feinstein said.
"This bill would address that problem." -
Helicopter noise has shared the L.A. backdrop for decades. But it was during the so-called Carmaggedon closure of the 405 Freeway in
July 2011 that irritation hit its zenith.
With the hush of the freeway came a rush of media, paparazzi and touring choppers - and a crush of complaints to Berman's office.
Officials say celebrities have been followed. Crime scenes have been swarmed. The Rose Bowl has been overrun. And the Hollywood
http://www.dallynews.com/general-news/20130204/elected-officials-Introduce-bill-to-quiet-helicopter-noise-in-los-angeles-neighborhoods Page 4 of 15
Elected officials introduce bill to quiet helicopter noise in Los Angeles neighborhoods
Bowl has been buzzed during concerts.
8/16/13 12:12 PM
Last fall, hundreds of residents turned out for an FAA helicopter noise hearing in Sherman Oaks to say they were up to their ears in
helicopter rotor noise. They complained the FAA hasn't clone enough to subdue the racket.
The FAA, which regulates the skies overhead, is expected to release a report in May on recommended ways to quiet the them. The new
helicopter noise bill was joined by Los Angeles Congressmen Henry Waxman and Brad Sherman. If passed, it would require the FAA
to set flight paths and minimum altitudes within a year.
"I hear complaints about helicopter noise from ... Malibu to Brentwood to Benedict Canyon," said Waxman, who represents the 33rd
District. "FAA regulation of the thunderous helicopter traffic over L.A. is long overdue.
"And if the FAA won't act, Congress must."
dana.bartholomew@dailynews.com
818-713-3730
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Bill Text - SJR -7 Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.
i�di'l/�'
alp%f� LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
r _ i
SJR -7 Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013. (2013-2014)
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 05, 2013
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE -2013-2014 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced by Senator Lieu
(Coauthor(s): Senator Pavley)
(Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Muratsuchi, Ting)
March 13, 2013
8/16/13 12:15 PM
No. 7
Relative to the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 7, as amended, Lieu. Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.
This measure would urge the Congress to enact and the President to sign the Los Angeles Residential
Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.
Fiscal Committee: no
WHEREAS, Residents across the County of Los Angeles suffer intrusive and disruptive low-flying helicopter
traffic above their neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles is home to a unique and very large concentration of scenic, historic,
entertainment, and transportation venues, .including movie studios, movie stars' homes, outdoor
entertainment facilities, the coastline, Griffith Park, the Hollywood sign, and many others, that generate
extensive helicopter tours engaged in sightseeing activity; and
WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles has a high concentration of media helicopters engaged in monitoring
traffic conditions, following car chases, and filming celebrity events, which often involve hovering for
extended periods of time; and
WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles is home to the world's leading civil helicopter manufacturer, which
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.govlfaces/biIlNavClient.xhtmI?bill_id=201320140SJR7&search_keywords= Page 1 of 2
Bill Text- SJR -7 Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.
conducts extensive helicopter flight testing in the region; and
8/16/1312:15 PIA
WHEREAS, The unique terrain of canyons and valleys in the County of Los Angeles often amplifies noise from
helicopters in otherwise quiet residential areas; and
WHEREAS, Helicopternoisein the County of Los Angeles interrupts daily life for many residents by
interfering with the ability to hear conversations, the television, the radio, or the telephone, and disrupting
sleep cycles; and
WHEREAS, Despite multiple efforts from several community and homeowner organizations in the County of
Los Angeles to address these disturbances, helicopter traffic in the County of Los Angeles is not currently
regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or any other agency; and
WHEREAS, The FAA requires a specific minimum flying altitude for fixed -wing aircraft, but it does not require
a specific minimum flying altitude for helicopters; and
WHEREAS, The absence lack of effective regulations for commercial helicopter operations in the County of
Los Angeles negatively impacts the safety and quality of life of the county's residents; and
WHEREAS, The State of California is preempted by federal law from adopting altitude, flight path, and other
necessary regulations to mitigate the impacts of commercial helicopters; and
WHEREAS, There is a lack of clarity as to the rulemaking authority of the FAA; and
WHEREAS, Two companion measures in Congress, Senate Bill No. 208 and House-e€-Rep+eseR fives Bill No.
456, known as the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013, would require the
Administrator of the FAA to prescribe regulations for helicopter operations in the County of Los Angeles that
are needed to address residents' concerns over safety, noise, and other associated impacts; and
WHEREAS, The following local government entities in the County of Los Angeles have recently voted to
support the proposed federal legislation or its predecessor, the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise
Relief Act of-Z�2011: the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Hermosa Beach, the
City of Lomita, the City of Palos Verdes Estates, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, the City of Redondo Beach,
the City of Rolling Hills Estates, and the City of West Hollywood; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature supports
the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013 (S. 208 and H.R. 456) and respectfully
memorializes the Congress of the United States to promptly pass and President Barack Obama to sign that
legislation; and beitfurther
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice
President of the United States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.govlfaces/bilINavClient.xhtmI?bill_id=2013201405JR7&search keywords= Page 2 of 2
From Politico.com
LA's noisy helicopters targeted in transportation bill
By Kathryn A. Wolfe
8/7/13 4:24 PM EDT
Foes of helicopters buzzing over Los Angeles have found a new vehicle in
their fight to curb the flights: the fiscal 2014 transportation bill.
Tucked into the Senate's bill is a provision inserted by Sen. Dianne
Feinstein (D -Calif.) directing the DOT to address noise and safety issues
created by prodigious helicopter traffic over populous Los Angeles
County.
Specifically the provision would ask that the agency study and adjust the
air routes that currently exist above Los Angeles to help minimize
helicopter noise on residential areas and develop best practices. If, after a
year, the DOT can't show that the quality and safety of the area has been
improved through voluntary measures, the bill would require the agency
to start developing a rule to address the issue.
Feinstein, along with other California Democrats Sen. Barbara Boxer and
Rep. Adam Schiff, say the helicopter traffic above the entertainment
capital of the world is fueled by news choppers or paparazzi looking to
catch a glimpse of celebrities. In February they introduced a bill that
would require the FAA to create flight paths for helicopters and establish
minimum altitudes within a year.
"LA County residents suffer from high levels of disruptive, low-flying
helicopter traffic over their neighborhoods. This bill would address that
problem by requiring the FAA to create regulations for how helicopters
operate in the skies above Los Angeles," Feinstein said in a statement
when the bill was introduced. "In addition to reducing noise, this bill
would increase safety and minimize commercial aircraft delays while
exempting first responders and military aircraft from its limitations."
Matt Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International, has said
legislation is "absolutely the wrong solution" because it "usually results in
unintended consequences, inclusive of degradation of safety and
inefficient use of the airspace." He called for a solution to be achieved
through a working group of those involved in the issue.
Of course, the provision attached to the Senate's transportation spending
bill is dependent on the fate of the bill itself, and before the Senate
recessed for August its prospects looked slim. The bill failed a key vote
on moving forward, tanked by Republican opposition to the bill's
spending levels.
But that doesn't mean it's the last chance for the provision. It could be
attached to a continuing resolution or an eventual omnibus bill when
Congress returns in September.