TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney and City Manager to review and report back to Council within 45 days, regarding the Long Beach Airport Noise Ordinance with respect to: the current fine structure for late night flights; the recent history of late night violations; and the City's
"bridge time" policy.
DISCUSSION
The LGB Noise Ordinance, which is the result of a 1995 consent decree and subsequent council action, makes Long Beach Airport (LGB) one of the strictest noise-controlled airports in the United States. LGB is located in the middle of an urban area and our community is struggling to find the balance between the protection of neighborhood quality of life and the impacts of operating a regional airport with an increasing passenger load.
The Noise Ordinance - and corresponding "noise bucket" - currently allows for 41 commercial flights and 25 commuter flights during the hours of 7am and 10pm. However, flights that arrive one hour after or before the curfew are considered to be "bridge time" flights. City policy and Council direction as to how these flights will be subject to the noise ordinance appears to be subjective and may need clarity.
The community continually makes demands for the City to increase the penalties for violations so as to discourage late night flights. Many believe that the current fines do not discourage or prevent late night violations and that a heftier penalty would be more effective.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER PATRICK O'DONNELL
FOURTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER TONIA REYES URANGA
SEVENTH DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN RAE GABELICH
EIGHTH DISTRICT