HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-11; City Council; ; McClellan-Palomar Airport -Action PlanIt should be noted that the City of Carlsbad has long been host to the county's regional airport
facility. Over time, communication between the county and city regarding airport operations
has been inconsistent. In anticipation of increased airport traffic and the county's master
planning effort, it has become apparent that our city and our residents need better
communication and information regarding the county's airport operations. Current practices do
not appear to adequately fill that need and do not provide appropriate accountability to the
residents or the city. Based on staffs initial outreach to the county, staff believes a variety of
strategies are available to both parties to remedy this.
Preliminary discussions with county staff, and the community input received during a public
meeting held on June 19, 2018, have informed the following list of potential action items, which
are presented for City Council discussion. Staff is seeking Council direction to work with the
County of San Diego to address specific actions to improve the working relationship between
the county and city, and to address community concerns regarding McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell will provide a detailed overview of each of the potential action items
presented below.
McClellan-Palomar Airport
Potential Action Items
The city would work with the county to identify potential action items that demonstrate agency
cooperation and set forth our respective commitments and obligations to address community
concerns regarding the operation and future development of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
Staff would seek to address the following issues:
A. Airport Governance & Decision-making
a. Create a Joint Powers Agency for the city and county to operate the airport jointly,
or share responsibility for airport operations and future development; or
b. Create an Airport Commission, with representatives appointed by the city, to review
and make recommendations on all significant expenditures and airport projects to
the County Board of Supervisors; or
c. Amend the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee to include representatives
appointed by the city.
B. Impact Mitigation
a. Land Use
i. County to secure city approvals for new land uses or development on airport
property.
ii. County to work with the city for orderly acquisition of property within
runway protection zones and follow requirements of the California Public
Utilities Code.
September 11, 2018 Item #5 Page 2 of 4
b. Noise
i. County to fully and aggressively enforce existing noise rules.
ii. County to strengthen VNAP procedures.
iii. County to prohibit aircraft operations greater than the Design Group of the
existing Airport except with prior permission required (PPR). Adopt a PPR
rule which limits oversize aircraft to ,500 operations per calendar year.
iv. County to comply with city's limits on construction hours.
v. County to allow city to review and comment on construction noise mitigation
plans.
c. Transportation
i. In addition to Transportation and Traffic Mitigation Measures provided in
Draft PEIR, County to implement the following additional mitigation
measures requested in city's Draft PEIR comment letter.
a. Develop a site/employer-based TDM plan.
b. Contribute fair-share payment towards constructing Palomar Airport
Road/Camino Vida Roble intersection improvements to mitigate
project's cumulative impacts.
d. Biological Resources
e. GHG
i. County to implement mitigation measures identified in Draft PEIR, as
modified by City's comments on recirculated Biological Resources section.
i. County to implement mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, which can be derived from the County of San Diego Climate Action
Plan, City of Carlsbad Climate Action Plan, SANDAG's San Diego Forward
regional plan Final EIR, and suggestions included in the Airport Master Plan
EIR Climate Change Technical Report, including electric-powered Ground
Power Units and Ground Support Equipment.
f. Aesthetic and Visual Resources
i. County to work with city to design and install landscape improvements along
Palomar Airport Road and within runway protection zones (on-and off-
airport) to blend with nearby land uses.
ii. County to implement landscaping measures addressed in city's comments on
Draft PEIR, including:
a. Install appropriate landscaping, including trees, larger screen shrubs
and native seed mix on sloped and flat areas along Palomar Airport
Road and El Camino Real.
September 11, 2018 Item #5 Page 3 of 4
b. Install plantable walls if wall heights exceed six feet.
c. Install suitable irrigation system to allow new plantings and seed to
establish and thrive.
d. County to allow the city to review, comment on, and approve the
landscaping and screening of future retaining wall(s).
g. Hazards
i. County to comply with all applicable state and local laws and regulations
related to construction on landfills.
C. Information and Transparency
a. County to install improved noise monitoring and flight tracking system to provide
real-time access to data through a user-accessible web interface;
i. County to coordinate with City in design and procurement of system.
b. County to institute a regular monthly report on noise.
c. County to work with the City to design an enhanced public information and
disclosure program to keep the public informed on a continual basis about Airport
impacts and the status of Airport development plans.
Fiscal Analysis
i. County to commit to coordinating with the city regarding planned major
construction activities, so that residents and businesses can be informed of
such activities in a timely manner ..
No city funding is being requested.
Next Steps
Staff will meet with the County of San Diego to discuss the potential action items identified
above (among others that might arise during discussions, or as directed by the City Council),
to address community concerns regarding the operation and future development of McClellan-
Palomar Airport.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
This item does not qualify as a "project" under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, as it does not result in a direct or reasonably
foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Public Notification
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code
Section 54950 et seq.), published and distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date
and time.
September 11, 2018 Item #5 Page 4 of 4
•
To:
From:
Re:
Date:
Carlsbad Mayor and City Council; Scott Chadwick, City Manager; Jason Haber;
Celia Brewer
Ray & Ellen Bender
Comments on Carlsbad September 11, 2018 City Council Agenda Item #5 Staff
Report re: McClellan-Palomar Airport and Presentation of Kaplan Kirsch
Rockwell (KKR)
Monday' September 10, 2018 [2018 Bender Comments on Carlsbad Sept 18 MP KKR L~ttcr]
We provide our general comments below on the Carlsbad staff recommendation to work
with the County on improving McClellan-Palomar Airport (MPA) development and
operation. Attachment A to this letter comments on specific staff recommendations.
To Be Effective, Staff's Recommendations Need to Include Deadlines and
Alternative Carlsbad Actions if the Deadlines are Not Met
In the absence of the 35-year history of the county consistently ignoring and
circumventing the Carlsbad council and staff related to MPA development and operation.
staffs recommendations might make sense.
Given that history, it appears that Carlsbad is either trying to delay community opposition
until it dies or naively inviting the county lion to devour Carlsbad once again.'
Deliberate avoidance of the community is shameful. Naivete is a sign that new Carlsbad
council leadership is required.
County has no incentive to cooperate with Carlsbad absent deadlines and future Carlsbad
actions adverse to the county. We suggest some at the end of this letter.
Carlsbad Credibility
Prior to the time the county recirculated portions of its Draft Programmatic EIR in June,
Carlsbad accepted the county claim that the 2018 PMP projects remained within the
existing Palomar airport footprint on the northwest corner of El Camino Real and
1 Just a few examples of the forever ongoing bait and switch tactics of the county, which Carlsbad has
naively accepted and/or conspired with for 35 years include:
•
County's failure for 35 years to permanently landscape the airport property perimeters -an
eyesore in Carlsbad's scenic corridor:
County's l 997 failure to present its last twenty year Palomar Master Plan to the Carlsbad Council
for review despite county's initial promise to do so;
County's conversion of Palomar from a General Aviation airport to an FAA Part l 39 commercial
airport despite Carlsbad CUP l 72, Conditions 8 and I I:
County's failure to cooperate with the last Joint Powers Agreement that Carlsbad presented to
county in the 1990s;
County's 2018 PMP statement that county has no obligation to comply with Carlsbad planning or
zoning.
County's adoption ofan MP Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP), which county fails to
monitor in a meaningful way.
Palomar Airport Road. Accordingly, Carlsbad seemed inclined to accept the county
claim that such projects did not constitute an airport expansion. Even though state law
(PUC§ 21664.5) and Carlsbad's Municipal Code(§ 21.04.148.1 entitled Expansion)
respectively say that runway extensions are airport expansions as are expansions of use.
Let's chalk that up to Carlsbad's law firm (Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell/ KKR) being
unwilling to contradict a very old unsupported Carlsbad City Attorney comment made
without any apparent analysis and no awareness of the noted PUC section.
That deference disappears when you read the county recirculated draft PEIR. The facts
quite simply are:
• As county's revised biological and GHG analysis shows in its June 2018
recirculated PEIR portions, the relocation and installation of $8.6 million of
navigational aids on the NORTHEAST corner of ECR and PAR [which is outside
the CUP 172 premises] constitutes a material runway extension element.
• The proposed improvements are on county not FAA land. The FAA cannot alter
the NORTHEAST biological habitat or create other impacts without a county
lease for the area.
• County cannot extend its runway 800 feet without the FAA changing the
navigational aids.
• The FAA' s documents confirm that bird strikes are a major concern to operating
aircraft. FAA documents confirm that navigational aids including lighting can
easily disrupt birds, especially in the sensitive biological areas on the
NORTHEAST corner of ECR and PAR. The county MP notice to aircraft pilots
expressly warns them of substantial bird activity at certain times of the year.
• The MP airport property on the NORTHWEST corner of ECR and PAR is within
the city of Carlsbad. Accordingly, Carlsbad can no longer claim in good faith that
the county proposed PMP improvements are not an airport expansion outside the
CUP 172 premises. County recognized this in its June 2018 recirculated PEIR
after conceding that CEQA required analysis of its biological and GHG impacts
on the NORTHEAST corner.
If Carlsbad expects the community to believe that it would negotiate in good faith and/or
take more aggressive action with the county, Carlsbad needs to acknowledge at the
September 1 1, 2018 council meeting that the county's 2018 PMP runway extension does
constitute an airport expansion requiring Carlsbad CUP 172 review.
Deadlines and Future Aggressive Carlsbad Actions
Carlsbad and county can immediately show their good faith by agreeing that the Board of
Supervisors will not consider the county's PMP and Final PEIR until Carlsbad and
2
•
county have exhausted the efforts laid out in Carlsbad staffs recommendations for the
9/11/18 council meeting. The delay causes county no harm. County concedes its
operations will remain significantly below past levels for many years. Moreover,
California Pacific Airlines (proposed new operator) and other air carriers have stated at
P AAC meetings that they do not require a longer runway for their operations.
Carlsbad and county need to also agree to a final deadline to resolve the issues of
concern. Perhaps March 1, 2019. History repeatedly shows that county agrees to a
process, leads Carlsbad on, and then drops the issue -without unfortunately any past
Carlsbad meaningful follow-up.
If county fails to so agree, then the actions Carlsbad needs to take include the following:
1. County's PMP and PMP Final PEIR -Notify the county of Carlsbad's intent to
challenge county's PMP and PMP PEIR as non-compliant with Government Code
Requirements and CEQA Requirements.
2. CUP 172 -Notify the county that its runway extension does constitute an airport
expansion requiring Carlsbad CUP 1 72 review.
3. PMP Review -Notify the county that the Government Code and/or PUC require
the county to present its 2018 PMP to the Carlsbad city council for review.2
4. ALUC Participation -Carlsbad needs to provide meaningful information to the
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) Airport Land Use
Commission related to property within Carlsbad's jurisdiction related to the PMP
projects. Recall that several months ago, several Carlsbad property owners
appeared at the Carlsbad City Council and said, in essence, that they had lost $ 1
million by building a first rate office building in an impacted area, now ALUC-
limited to low occupancy, low-level uses. The most important input Carlsbad
could provide is to support the position that when the ALUC acts to restrict
property within Carlsbad, the ALUC needs to give actual notice to affected
property owners, not just a virtually invisible, newspaper small print back-page-
buried legal notice.
5. FAA Communications -As a result of the county consistently ignoring
Carlsbad, Carlsbad needs to (i) notify the FAA of this problem, (ii) list specific
instances (examples include those in Footnote 1 above), and (iii) state its
opposition to converting McClellan-Palomar from a B-II airport.
6. DOT CalTrans Division of Aeronautics -PUC§ 21664.5 requires the CalTrans
Division of Aeronautics to consider a Palomar Airport runway extension as an
airport expansion -even if Carlsbad turns a blind eye. Carlsbad needs to notify
2 When Carlsbad held its February 2018 meeting discussing the PMP, we provided specific relevant
sections. We leave to KKR and the Carlsbad City Attorney the appropriate references needed in the
proposed Carlsbad-county letter.
3
the Division of Aeronautics Chief, Gary Cathey, that Carlsbad opposes a county
runway extension until Carlsbad has resolved important airport-related issues with
county.
7. Regional Water Quality Board -Carlsbad needs to request two things from the
California San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
a. Order No. 96-13. County once or twice a year reports the level of various
contaminants in the Unit 1, Unit 2, and Unit 3 Closed Palomar Landfills
comprising more than 20 acres of land within the city of Carlsbad.
Routinely, county reports various contaminant levels ranging from several
hundred to more than one thousand percent greater than the objectives the
R WQCB set in Order 96-13. In 2017, a lower level R WQCB staffer noted
this ongoing problem and requested the county to prepare its remediation
plan.
County did not address this issue in its PMP DPEIR. Since landfill
pollutants can migrate off site into Carlsbad ground waters, Carlsbad
needs to verify whether county continues to fail to meet Order 96-13 water
quality objectives.
b. Landfill Water Quality Migration Issues. Page 39 of the Carlsbad staff
Evaluation of Palomar Acquisition report concluded3
Landfill:
• Without County Board Supervisor intervcnti0n and/or regulatory enforcement. poor
ma111tenancc and property dctcnorntion may he an ongoing issue at Palnnrnr.
• The likely reasons there has heen inadequate ground water monitnnng al the nirport
are: (!)the lack of enforcement by RWQCB; and (2) the threat of required abatement
adion if ground water flow direction is cstahlished and the landfill is tied directly to
the Dry Weather Tc~t results.
• Without greater RWQCB oversight, our ground water degradation and storm drain
test n:sults ,v1ll likely continue.
In addition, page 3 7 of the Carlsbad staff report expressed concerns about
Landfill contamination migrating off site. It appears that Carlsbad staff has not
monitored the R WQCB efforts for some time and has failed to explore whether
Palomar landfill contaminants migrate off site. That might be fine if R WQCB
actions showed active enforcement of Palomar landfill problems. As noted
above, the record does not reflect that. County has simply reported extreme non-
compliance for twenty years without resulting R WQCB enforcement action.
8. EPA -Palomar Airport Lead Contamination. Carlsbad needs to ask the EPA
to follow up on its 2016/2017 lead study. We understand that the EPA found
3 See Carlsbad AB 15,841 for the Council meeting of7-25-00.
4
,,'
Palomar Airport to be one of the most lead polluting smaller airports in the
country. The county disputed this result by moving the test locations when
county performed its own study a few months after the EPA study. It is unclear
whether the EPA accepts the county subsequent analysis. What is clear is that
anyone driving the perimeter road on the airport readily smells aviation fuel
throughout much of the drive.4 County does not address this issue in its PMP
PEIR.
9. End City Services Including Fire Service to the Airport -In 1979, when
county asked Carlsbad to rezone the airport property and issue Conditional Use
Permit, the record reflects that county's goal was to obtain city services. Since
county has now said in its PMP and PEIR that it need not comply with Carlsbad
zoning and planning laws, the county should no longer receive city services. We
recognize this is a difficult issue but it should be explored to impress upon the
county the seriousness of Carlsbad's intent.
10. Scheduling a Carlsbad Vote on Whether the Community Supports Airport
Expansion. County's PMP proposes projects exceeding $100 million even
though (i) county predicts MP operational levels 30% less than twenty years ago;
and (ii) even though country created the land for its proposed runway extension
by violating FAA grants by using airport property for non-airport purposes,
namely 14 years of dumping trash in Palomar canyons. Carlsbad voters are
entitled to express their opinion as to whether expansion burdens outweigh
expansion benefits.
4 In theory, leaded aviation fuel for GA aircraft wil I not be sold after 2018 ends. However, we understand
that lead additives to add to the in theory ''leadless" aviation fuel remains readily available. In other words,
owners of GA aircraft prefer to buy lead additives than replace or recondition GA aircraft.
5
Attachment A
To Bender 9/10/18 Comments on Carlsbad Staff Report, Item 5,
Related to McClellan-Palomar Airport at the 9/11/18 Council Meeting
Below we reproduce several pages from the Carlsbad staff report. We italicize the staff
comments. We comment in [bold bracketed type] to highlight our comments.
A. Airport Governance & Decision-making
a. Create a Joint Powers Agency for the city and county to operate the airport jointly, or
share responsibility/or airport operations andfuture development; or
b. Create an Airport Commission, with representatives appointed by the city, to review
and make recommendations on all sign(ficant expenditures and airport projects to the
County Board of Supervisors: or
c. Amend the Palomar Airport Advisory Commillee to include representatives appointed
by the city.
[Bender Governance & Decision-making Comments:
• Joint Powers Agreement. Carlsbad tried this in the past and failed. Carlsbad
could not even produce the relevant file when the public requested it from
Carlsbad -only a copy of the proposed JP A.
• Airport Commission. We need more detail to comment intelligently. We
would support a standing City Council Committee with members from both
the business and non-business communities to regularly review airport
issues.
• PAAC. We thought Carlsbad already had the right to a PAAC member.
The appointed member should commit to represent both business and non-
business community interests. ]
B. Impact Mitigation
a. Land Use
i. County to secure city approvals for new land uses or development on airport property.
ii. County to work with the city for orderly acquisition of property within runway
protection zones and follow requirements of the California Public Utilities Code.
h. Noise
6
i. County to fully and aggressively enforce existing noise rules.
ii. County to strengthen VNAP procedures.
iii. County to prohibit aircraft operations greater than the Design Group of the existing
Airport except with prior permission required (PPR). Adopt a PPR rule which limits
oversize aircraft to 500 operations per calendar year.
iv. County to comply with city's limits on construction hours.
v. County to allow city to review and comment on construction noise mitigation plans.
[Bender Impact Mitigation Comments:
• Land Use. The proposed Carlsbad language is ambiguous and also an
obvious attempt to "end run" the meaning of the term "expansion."
•
o City's proposed language ("approval for new land uses or development
on airport property'~ has two major flaws. First, simply as a matter of
grammatical construction, does the adjective "new" modify only
"land uses" or also "development?" Carlsbad would simply
perpetuate the ongoing dispute as to what "expansion" means with a
dispute as to what new uses or development means.
o More fundamentally, county and probably Carlsbad would assert that
serving aircraft is an existing use and any land use or development
associated with aircraft is an "old" use, not a "new" use.
o Conclusion: Referring back to the "credibility" issue that Carlsbad
has, when language like that above is proposed, the public has to
wonder if the wool is fast descending over their eyes.
Noise. Over the last seven months, KKR has several times suggested (our
opinion) that the law forbids most of the steps that KKR now suggests
taking. For instance:
o County noise enforcement. How does county legally "enforce" the non-
mandatory?
o Strengthen VNAP. How? KKR needs to specifically include in its
9/11/18 presentation how that is possible if it is voluntary. Questions
include:
• What would the FAA object to?
• How (if at all) would the California Pilot's Bill of Rights
frustrate enforcement of the VNAP (such as by limiting
identification of aircraft or pilots not complying)?
7
• How (if at all) does the lease relationship between county and
tenants legally alter objections that the FAA might otherwise
have?
o Prohibit Operations Greater Than Design Group. Two flaws burden
this suggestion.
• First, KKR, the FAA, and County seem to have repeatedly said
that no one on the ground can limit aircraft using an airport.
The pilot decides. KKR needs to explain at the 9/11/18 meeting
how and why this suggestion works.
• Second, if the county designates the airport as a D-111 or even a
C-111 airport, less than 1 % of the projected flights would
exceed the design group.
• Conclusion: Seems like a "false-hope" delay tactic. )
o Flight Schools and Noise: A more effective noise limitation
mechanism would be to limit flight school operations. Ironically, the
Carlsbad council is considering this matter on the day pilots trained
at U.S. Flight schools crashed into the World Trade Center towers.
Flight schools operations are especially irksome because they can
involve multiple noisy passes over resident houses.)
c. Transportation
i. In addition to Transportation and Traffic Mitigation Measures provided in Draft PE!R,
County to implement the.following additional mitigation measures requested in city's
Draft PE!R comment letter.
a. Develop a site/employer-based TDM plan.
h. Contribute fair-share payment towards constructing Palomar Airport Road/Camino
Vida Roble intersection improvements to mitigate project's cumulative impacts.
[Bender Transportation Comments:
• TDM Plan. We assume TDM refers to a Traffic Demand Management Plan.
All mitigation would be helpful. We note, however, that if even 1000
employees work at the airport, the projected passenger levels of either
300,000 or 500,000 annual passengers will cause Palomar related road traffic
heavy congestion far in excess of a miserly TDM program.
• Fair Share Payments for Traffic improvements. We support.)
d. Biological Resources
8
i. County to implement mitigation measures identified in Draft PEIR, as modified by
( 'ity's comments on recirculated Biological Resources section.
/Bender Biological Resource Comments: We support. But Carlsbad has not noted the
impact of many navigational aid lighting impacts from the proposed $8.6 million
relocation of the lights to the NORTHEAST corner of ECR and PAR./
e. GHG
i. County to implement mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
which can be derived.from the County o[San Diego Climate Action Plan, City
of Carlsbad Climate Action Plan, SANDA G's San Diego Forward regional
plan Final EIR, and suggestions included in the Airport Master Plan EIR
Climate Change Technical Report, including electric-powered Ground Power
Units and Ground Support Equipment.
!Bender GHG Comments:
•
•
•
The suggestions sound meaningful on the presumption that the noted
documents list helpful measures. It appears that using electric-powered GPU
and GSE will only marginally offset increased GHG.
It appears that only two measures would materially limit GHG .
o Ration the time between Palomar takeoffs and landing to avoid dual
aircraft idling on the runway simultaneously.
o County purchases GHG credits -just as the private sector is expected
to do when it increases GHG.
o As I recall the Palomar numbers -despite county's artful attempt to
reduce GHG emissions to a de minimis level -the GHG levels in
absolute terms will increase from 200% to 400% over the 2016
baseline levels.
In short, county MP operations will put a substantial dent in Carlsbad's
ability to achieve its 2015 Climate Action Plan.J
f Aesthetic and Visual Resources
i. County to work with city to design and install landscape improvements along Palomar
Airport Road and within runway protection zones (on-and ojfairport) to blend with
nearby land uses.
ii. County to implement landscaping measures addressed in city's comments on Draft
PEIR, including:
a. Install appropriate landscaping, including trees, larger screen shrubs and native seed
mix on sloped andflat areas along Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real.
9
h. Install plant able walls tf wall heights exceed six feet.
c. Install suitable irrigation .system to allow new plantings and seed to establish and
thrive.
d. County to allow the city to review, comment on, and approve the landscaping and
screening o.ffuture retaining wall(.5).
(Bender Aesthetic and Visual Resources Comments:
•
•
•
•
County Airport Perimeter Landscape Improvements. We support. However,
Carlsbad public records obtained show (i) a 25 year history of county
ignoring Carlsbad landscaping requests, (ii) a history of Carlsbad failing to
seriously pursue its scenic corridor demands including by the Carlsbad
Council failing to request a joint meeting of the County Board of Supervisors
and Carlsbad City Council to resolve the issues.
There is no evidence in the record to show that Carlsbad has ever required
county to prove that there is in fact trash underneath the Palomar perimeter
slopes -an excuse county consistently uses to avoid planting the slopes.
Moreover, there are no landfills on the county Northeast airport
unlandscaped parcels.
Plantable Walls. Carlsbad refers to walls greater than 6 feet high. That is
misguided. Carlsbad refers perhaps only to new retaining walls that county
plans to relocate its runway; Carlsbad should be insisting on plantable walls,
whatever the height, if County continues to insist that its landfill slopes can
not be permanently landscaped. At least drivers passing the ugly slopes
would have a pleasant wall to look at.
Permanent Irrigation. Agree.]
g. Hazards
i. County to comply with all applicable state and local laws and regulations related
to construction on landfills.
(Bender Hazard Comments:
• Many legal cases routinely hold that a person meeting minimum
governmental regulatory standards may still cause substantial harm and be
guilty of negligently operating.
• Water Quality. As noted in our general letter comments, county has not met
the Regional Water Quality Control Board Order No. 96-13 water quality
10
•
• ..
•
•
objectives for more than twenty years. In fact, the contaminant levels exceed
the objectives from as high as 200% to more than 1000%.
Water Quality. Carlsbad needs to insist that the RWQCB demonstrate that
sufficient monitoring wells have been properly located at the Palomar
premises to assure that more than 20 acres of landfill contaminants are not
migrating into Carlsbad ground waters -especially once county, as it plans,
starts drilling several hundred holes, each 20 to 50 feet deep, through the
Palomar landfills.]
Lead. In approximately 2016, the EPA found that Palomar was one of the
more lead polluting smaller airports. The county found more favorable
results by moving the testing sites. Anyone touring the airport by being
driven on the runway perimeter road knows leaded aviation smells permeate.
Carlsbad needs to review both the EPA and county tests and assess the extent
of a continuing problem.
C Information and Transparency
a. County to install improved noise monitoring and flight tracking system to provide real-
time access to data through a user-accessible web interface;
i. County to coordinate with City in design and procurement of system.
b. County to institute a regular monthly report on noise.
c. County to work with the City to design an enhanced public information and disclosure
program to keep the public informed on a continual basis about Airport impacts and the
status c~f Airport development plans.
i. County to commit to coordinating with the city regarding planned major construction
activities, so that residents and businesses can be informed of such activities in a timely
manner.
I Bender Transparency Comments:
•
•
We support the noted measures .
However, true transparency would involve a citywide vote to determine if the
residents expanding the airport [10,000 passengers to 500,000 passengers). Carlsbad
has adopted the two goals of maintaining a small-town-feel and supporting business.
At some point, those goals conflict. The Carlsbad residents, not five council
members should decide which value is more important.)
11
Palomar Airport History
if\ ' 1.,0 .r ,·~ ~ ·::Ft-~
9/11/18
te 1970's the County asked the City of Carlsbad for city services to include "fire suppression"
1978: The City annexed the airport property.
1979 The County asked Carlsbad to issue a Conditional Use Permit (CUP172) to define development conditions.
Aug 12, 1980: the City Council adopted ordinance 21.53.015 signed by Mayor Ron Packard, after a citizen petition was
presented in July 1980 when there was a threat by the county to include two runways. The initiative established that
"voter authorization required for airport expansion." I have this document.
Sept. 24, 1980: The Conditional Use Permit 172 was passed by the Planning Commission 6-0 (1 absent) signed by the
Planning Commission Chair Edwin Schick jr. In Condition #11, "the existing designation of the airport as a General
Aviation Basic Transport Airport shall not change unless an amendment to this CUP is approved by the Planning
Commission. I have this document.
March 6, 1884: Resolution 7530 was passed and signed by Mayor Mary Casler (a 5-0 vote by the Council), designating
that Palomar Airport is designated as a General Aviation facility, and that Ordinance #9558 requires a vote of the people
before any zone change, general plan amendment or other legislative enactment necessary for the expansion of the
airport. And the City General Plan is predicated upon the continued operation of the airport as it is currently
designated. I have this document.
½ April 3, 1984: Resolution 7558 was passed and signed by Mayor Mary Casler (5-0 vote by the Council), requesting a Joint l' Powers Agreement with other affected cities to formally define and limit the level of operations and nature of airport
{/ facilities through a binding agreement enforceable by all parties" stating in part "Whereas there is substantial concern
I;,. aynong the citizens of this city concerning the possible expansion of the Palomar Airport by an increase in operations or \f' iDtr"mprovement ... which would thereby lead to an increase in airport noise and greater safety risks to the detriment of the
~I\ citizenry ... " Including "provisions preventing expansion of airport facilities such as the addition of a second runway,
\' extension of the existing runway, upgrading of airport facilities ... in order to obtain a Certificate of Operation from the
FAA." Also including provisions for a maximum SEN EL in any residential area of 78 dBA. I have this document.
Oct. 30, 1984: I have document #10 Board Order #6 signed by Dona Trumble for the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
stating "the Board of Supervisors requested the Chief Administrative Officer to report on Supervisor's Ecker'ts
recommendation relating to a proposed Joint Powers Agreement with the Cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos,
and Vista limiting growth of McClellan Palomar Airport for Board consideration with an analysis of the proposal." The
proposal was granted a 30 day extension. (Vote 5-0 for the extension). Continued to Dec. 18, 1984. I have this
document.
December 4, 1984: Agenda Item Board of Supervisors. "In response to your (the BOS) request, the Chief Administrative
Officer has written to the City Managers of Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista and Oceanside requesting more information
pertaining to their cities concerns and desires relative to McClellan Palomar Airport. This information has not been
received." I have this document. Could it be that the Cities dropped the ball or the County never acknowledged receipt
of requested information?
Dec. 18, 1984: A document was established for a Joint Powers Agreement and presented to the County and Supervisor
Eckert including the County of San Diego and the Cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista. I have the
UNSIGNED draft. In short it states "The County Agrees it 1. Will not apply for full airport operating certificate without
the unanimous consent of the Cities, 2. Will not construct a second runway at McClellan-Palomar Airport, 3. Will NOT
EXTEND THE RUNWAY at McClellan-Palomar Airport, ..... " I have this document. Unsigned by the county.
1990's: without first asking Carlsbad to modify CUP 172 condition 8 and 11, the County asked the FAA to reclassify
Palomar Airport as an airport regularly handling commercial aircraft. This essentially reclassified the General Aviation
designation to a FAA Part 139 commercial airport.
1997: County approved the Airport Master Plan and failed to present this to the Council for review despite
-2-
11/3/04: Zoning Change from L-C (limited control) to M (Industrial) and for a conditional use permit to allow the
operation of the existing Palomar Airport Facility. Planning Commission resolution 1698 (passed 6-0). I have this
document.
Note: date uncertain, but the County removed the noise monitor from north Carlsbad which measured noise (decibels)
of aircraft between 0-SOOft. Therefore we have low flying aircraft 24/7 currently that is not measured by the County
online Webtrak program. [webtrak.emsbk.com/crq]
The New 2018 Proposed Palomar Airport Master Plan:
1. _The County's adoption of an MP Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP) which fails to monitor in a
meaningful way.
2. Proposes to extend the runway from 4897 ft to 5698ft, only 4 ft shorter than John Wayne International despite
the extension onto an unstable Landfill.
3. The Land Use compatibility plan (LUCP) on the County's website states that this runway extension is in actuality
an expansion.
4. The County's PMP statement that the county has no obligation to comply with Carlsbad Planning or Zoning
Faviola Medina
From:
Sent:
Cc:
Subject:
Council Internet Email
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 9:59 AM
City Clerk; Jason Haber
FW: September 11 meeting
City Council Members,
This email came in yesterday late afternoon.
Andi
From: Kathy Fellows
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 3:34 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: September 11 meeting
Dear Council members:
I'm writing concerning the MCCLECLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT ACTION PLAN to be presented at today's meeting. I am a
Carlsbad resident who is concerned about the additional noise that might come about because of the
expansion. Because of the 24 hour use of runways, I appreciate the steps you've taken to speak on behalf of Carlsbad
residents to address the noise and other concerns.
Thank you,
Katherine Fellows
Carlsbad CA 92008
ACTION PLAN:
OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING IMPACTS OF MCCLELLEN-PALOMAR AIRPORT
Peter J. Kirsch
September 11, 2018
1
·:_\
City of
Carlsbad
California
TODAY –
Action Plan
Community Listening and
Feedback Meeting
City Comments on
Supplement
County Supplemental Program DEIR
City Comments
County Master Plan and Program DEIR
How we got here
Action plan
Work with the County to identify
action items that
–demonstrate City/County
cooperation and
–set forth commitments and
obligations to address community
concerns
3
Governance and
Decision Making
Information
and
Transparency
Impact
Mitigation
ACTION
PLAN
Three parts
Airport governance and decision-making
1.Create a Joint Powers Agency for the City and
County to operate the airport jointly, or share
responsibility for airport operations and future
development; or
2.Create an Airport Commission, with
representatives appointed by the City, to review
and make recommendations on all significant
expenditures and airport projects to the County
Board of Supervisors; or
3.Amend the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee
to include representatives appointed by the City.
5
Impact mitigation –Land use
1.County to secure City approvals for new land uses
or development on airport property.
2.County to work with the City for orderly acquisition
of property within runway protection zones and
follow requirements of the California Public Utilities
Code.
6
Impact mitigation - Noise
1.County to fully and aggressively enforce existing noise
rules.
2.County to strengthen VNAP procedures.
3.County to prohibit aircraft operations greater than the
Design Group of the existing Airport except with prior
permission required (PPR). Adopt a PPR rule which limits
oversize aircraft to 500 operations per calendar year.
4.County to comply with City’s limits on construction hours.
5.County to allow City to review and comment on
construction noise mitigation plans.
7
Impact mitigation -Transportation
1.County to implement transportation and traffic
mitigation Measures provided in Draft PEIR.
2.Develop a site/employer-based TDM plan.
3.Contribute fair-share payment towards
constructing Palomar Airport Road/Camino Vida
Roble intersection improvements to mitigate
project’s cumulative impacts.
8
Impact mitigation –Biological resources
1.County to implement mitigation measures
identified in Draft PEIR, as modified by City’s
comments on recirculated Biological Resources
section.
9
Impact mitigation -GHG
1.County to implement mitigation measures to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
–These can be derived from the County of San Diego
Climate Action Plan, City of Carlsbad Climate Action Plan,
SANDAG’s San Diego Forward regional plan Final EIR,
and suggestions included in the Airport Master Plan EIR
Climate Change Technical Report, including electric-
powered Ground Power Units and Ground Support
Equipment.
10
Impact mitigation -Aesthetic and visual
resources
1.County to work with City to design and install landscape
improvements along Palomar Airport Road and within
runway protection zones (on-and off-airport) to blend with
nearby land uses.
2.County to implement landscaping measures addressed in
city’s comments on Draft PEIR, including:
–Install appropriate landscaping, including trees, larger screen shrubs and
native seed mix on sloped and flat areas along Palomar Airport Road and
El Camino Real.
–Install plantable walls if wall heights exceed six feet.
–Install suitable irrigation system to allow new plantings and seed to
establish and thrive.
–County to allow the City to review, comment on, and approve the
landscaping and screening of future retaining wall(s).
11
Impact mitigation -Hazards
1.County to comply with all applicable state and local laws
and regulations related to construction on landfills.
12
Information and Transparency
1.County to install improved noise monitoring and flight tracking system
to provide real-time access to data through a user-accessible web
interface.
–County to coordinate with City in design and procurement of system.
2.County to institute a regular monthly report on noise.
3.County to work with the City to design an enhanced public information
and disclosure program to keep the public informed on a continual
basis about Airport impacts and the status of Airport development
plans.
–County to commit to coordinating with the City regarding planned
major construction activities, so that residents and businesses can be
informed of such activities in a timely manner.
13
Discussion
Peter J. Kirsch
15
16
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