Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout26 - Resolution & Position Statement Regarding JWACITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item 26 June 2t 2007 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Homer Bludau, City Manager 949/644 -3000 or hbIudau @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Council Consideration of Resolution Stating Unifying Principles for JWA Coalition Cities Adversely Affected by John Wayne Airport's Aircraft Arrivals and Departures ISSUE: Should the City Council adopt the attached resolution and Position Statement regarding John Wayne Airport (JWA)? RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the resolution and accompanying Position Statement stating the principles which are already reflected in the City Council's Airport Policy A -17. DISCUSSION: Background: In 1985, the City of Newport Beach entered into a Settlement Agreement with County of Orange, the Airport Working Group (AWG) and Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON), to resolve a lawsuit involving the adequacy of the County's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) evaluating a new terminal and increases in commercial air carrier operations at John Wayne Airport. The Settlement Agreement established limits on the following: the number of noisiest commercial aircraft (73 daily); the number of annual passengers (8.4 million annual passengers — MAP); the number of loading bridges (14); and the square footage of terminal facilities (337,000). In 2002, the four parties involved in the original agreement entered into an amended Settlement Agreement which included the following terms: increased the maximum number of average daily departures of the noisiest commercial aircraft departing JWA daily from 73 to 85; increased the MAP to 10.3 until 2011 and then to 10.8); increased the number of loading bridges from 14 to 20; and eliminated the limitation on facility size. The 2002 amendments to the Settlement Agreement were actively supported by Newport Beach and the five other cities that are closest to the commercial air carrier departure and arrival corridors. These five cities — Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim and Orange — and Newport Beach became known as the Corridor Cities. In July 2006, the City Council adopted a comprehensive policy (Policy A -17) relative to JWA. Policy A -17 recognizes that "the Corridor City coalition was a major force in Board approval of Council Consideration of Resolution Stating Unifying Principles for JWA Coalition Cities Adversely Affected by John Wayne Airport's Aircraft Arrivals and Departures June 26, 2007 Page 2 the 2002 Amendments" and that the "City Council should continuously pursue support for each component of this Policy from ... the Corridor City coalition." The residents of Newport Beach approved similar language when they approved the General Plan Update. To implement the General Plan and Policy A -17, staff prepared a "Position Statement" that is consistent with both and presented the Position Statement to the Aviation Committee, AWG and AirFair for review and comment. The Aviation Committee, AWG and AirFair recommended the City Council pursue Corridor City approval of a slightly revised Position Statement (referenced in the attached resolution). The Newport Beach City Manager and City Attorney met with the City Managers and City Attorneys from the Corridor Cities on June 8t' and discussed ways to become a stronger, more unified group in terms of our mutual interests in protecting our communities' quality of life. We proposed the "Position Statement" as a unifying measure that would identify our common interests and enable us to collectively achieve the stated goals and objectives. We also agreed to consider expanded membership for any city willing to adopt the Position Statement. The obvious benefit of creating a stronger coalition among our cities is to develop greater political strength and greater ability to achieve our mutual objectives. For example, the city managers and city attorneys agreed that we need to actively support the development and implementation of plans that would provide rapid and convenient transportation alternatives — such as rail — for Orange County air passengers to underused out -of- county airports such as Ontario. The Corridor Cities City Managers and City Attorneys voiced unanimous support for becoming more unified in studying and participating in such issues. Each of the other five cities' City Managers and City Attorneys will consider taking the Position Statement to their respective City Councils for adoption. The Newport Beach City Manager agreed to prepare the first resolution and bring it to our City Council for adoption. Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require environmental review. Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Submitted by: Homer Bludau City Manager Attachments: Resolution Position Statement 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2006- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ADOPTING A JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT COALITION CITY POSITION STATEMENT WHEREAS, the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Newport Beach are the communities most directly impacted by noise generated by air carriers operating in the John Wayne Airport (JWA) arrival and departure corridors, and these cities have previously worked together as a coalition (JWA Coalition), and with the cooperation of the Board of Supervisors, to obtain amendments to the JWA Settlement Agreement; and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors and the Airport Director are to be commended for making decisions and operating JWA in a manner that balances the County's air transportation needs with residents' quality of life; and WHEREAS, JWA is, and will always be, incapable of serving all Orange County (County) air transportation demand and that there is no viable site in the County for a second commercial airport; and WHEREAS, air transportation demand in the County and the Southern California region now exceeds supply and that shortfall is likely to grow over time, as will the time necessary to travel to certain regional airports; and WHEREAS, this inability of JWA to accommodate all County air transportation demand, the importance of air transportation to the region's economy and the anticipated growth in regional air transportation demand are among the factors that may result in pressure to modify JWA or the rules related to aircraft operations, and WHEREAS, the JWA Coalition must always be prepared to respond to any proposal to expand JWA and must be proactive in the search for ways to satisfy more of Orange County's air transportation demand without any expansion of JWA; and WHEREAS, the JWA Coalition has drafted a "Position Statement" that reflects the basic principles of each city regarding JWA facilities and operations, as well as regional plans and transportation solutions that address air transportation issues throughout Southern California; and WHEREAS, the JWA Coalition believes that its cities need to continue to work cooperatively with one another, with the Board of Supervisors and with other communities to ensure that decisions regarding JWA facilities and operations are consistent with the principles outlined in the Position Statement and to thereby protect and maintain their constituent's quality of life; and WHEREAS, the JWA Coalition acknowledges that many other Orange County cities are also impacted by noise, traffic or aircraft emissions stemming from aircraft operations at JWA, and that all Orange County communities have an interest in the level of service at JWA; and WHEREAS, the Citizen's Aviation Committee, Airport Working Group (AWG) and AirFair have each reviewed and approved the Position Statement and have recommended City Council approval and implementation of the Position Statement; and 3 WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the Position Statement is consistent with, and implements, the recently approved City Council Airport Policy (Policy) that outlines a comprehensive strategy to protect Newport Beach residents from adverse impacts caused by John Wayne Airport (JWA); and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the Position Statement is consistent with, and implements, the General Plan Update approved by the voters in November 2006. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby approves the Position Statement attached as Exhibit A. SECTION 2. The City Council hereby authorizes the Mayor, City Manager and City Attorney to take whatever action is necessary or appropriate to implement the Position Statement, including obtaining other public agency approval and implementation of the Position Statement. SECTION 3. The City Council hereby reaffirms its commitment to implement all components of the JWA strategy outlined in the General Plan and the Policy and staff is directed to take whatever action is necessary or appropriate to ensure full and timely implementation; ADOPTED this 26'" day of June 2007, STEVEN ROSANSKY Mayor of Newport Beach ATTEST: LAVONNE HARKLESS City Clerk �t CORRIDOR CITY COALITION POSITION STATEMENT INTRODUCTION The cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Newport Beach are the communities most directly impacted by noise generated by air carriers operating in the John Wayne Airport (JWA) arrival and departure corridors. In 2000, these cities became known as the Corridor City Coalition (Coalition) because of their collective support for amendments of the JWA Settlement Agreement. The Coalition believes that continued involvement in decisions related to JWA and regional air transportation service is essential to maintain the high quality of life currently enjoyed by their residents. BACKGROUND JWA is, and will always be, incapable of serving all Orange County (County) air transportation demand and there is no viable site in the County for a second commercial airport. Air transportation demand in the County and the Southern California region now exceeds supply and that shortfall is likely to grow over time. The Coalition commends the Board of Supervisors and Airport Director for operating JWA in a manner that balances the County's air transportation needs with residents' quality of life. However, the Coalition must always be prepared to respond to any proposal to expand JWA and must be proactive in the search for ways to satisfy more of Orange County's air transportation demand without any expansion of JWA. UNDERSTANDING The Coalition agrees these actions are necessary to protect their residents: • Oppose any expansion of JWA beyond its current (2007) footprint; • Oppose a second air carrier runway or extension of the existing runway; • Oppose any significant reduction in general aviation operations/ facilities; • Oppose any change to air carrier or general aviation noise ordinances; • Ensure that regional plans are consistent with the legal and practical constraints on air carrier service at JWA; • Oppose any attempt by out -of county entities to assume any ownership of, or operational control over, JWA; • In cooperation with the Board and other public agencies, actively support development and implementation of proposals that enable Orange County residents and businesses to conveniently access underused out -of- county airports using roadway improvements and air passenger rail links. OTHER AGENCIES While Coalition members may be the communities most impacted by aircraft noise, all Orange County cities have a significant interest in JWA service levels and impacts. The Coalition encourages these communities to become "Coalition Supporters" by adopting this Position Statement. The Coalition will communicate regularly with, and seek input from all Coalition Supporters. S