TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to have the Long Beach Airport Director work with the Airport Advisory Commission, community members and airport stakeholders to develop a long-range master plan for the Long Beach Airport.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
Most airports, whether they are large commercial airports or small general aviation airports, have airport master plans.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) describes the goal of a master plan as providing "guidelines for future airport development which will satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner, while at the same time, resolving the aviation, environmental and socioeconomic issues existing in the community."
Of the 15 largest airports in California, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the only one without a master plan. As a result, there is no public document outlining the City's vision for the airport that is arrived at through a collaborative process with the community, airport stakeholders, Airport Advisory Commission and City officials.
The master plan will help produce plans, policies and mitigation programs that would provide an appropriate balance between the community, passenger, environmental and economic interests. Without an articulated long-range vision, the Airport is subject to external pressures to pursue certain development objectives and opens itself up to suspicion and mistrust among certain airport stakeholders, including impacted communities.
The elements of a master plan typically include: pre-planning; public involvement; environmental considerations; existing conditions; aviation forecasts; facility requirements; alternatives development and evaluation; airport layout plans; facilities implementation plan; and financial feasibility analysis. The LGB Master Plan would not only look at the terminal and airfield, but also develop a long-range outlook for the other business uses at the Airport.
FISCAL IMPACT
No impact to General Fund, impact to Airport Fu...
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