TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Manager to delay any action regarding requests for an international customs facility at the Long Beach Airport until receiving further direction from the City Council; and direct City Manager to delay any request for direction regarding a customs facility until 90 days after full representation on the City Council is completed.
DISCUSSION
A commercial airline operating at the Long Beach Airport has publicly indicated an interest in building a customs facility at the Airport to allow for international flights.
International flights at the Long Beach Airport could potentially have significant impacts on the operations and finances of the Airport, as well as on the quality of life of neighborhoods throughout the City. This issue must be fully and publicly vetted by the City Council before any action is taken with a request for a customs facility.
A number of council districts are impacted by flights at the Long Beach Airport, and residents in the Fourth Council District are among the most impacted. The flight path of many flights landing at Long Beach Airport is directly over homes in the Fourth District.
The City Council declared a vacancy in the Fourth Council District on December 16, 2014. A special election is scheduled to elect a new Fourth District Councilmember on April 14, 2015.
It is important for the entire City, including those neighborhoods directly impacted by operations at the Airport, to be represented before discussion on a request for a customs facility is held.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT