TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the monthly Airport activities reports. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
As requested, the following is a report on various activities at the Long Beach Airport.
Airport Passenger, General Aviation and Cargo Activity - The October 2005 Monthly
Airport Activity Report (Attachment 1 ) provides monthly and year-to-date statistics for airline
passengers (total and enplaned), aircraft operations by user category, and cargo carrier
tonnage. The statistics in general show a 3.7% increase in year-to-date passenger activity
(2,561,363 vs. 2,471,062). Total passenger counts for September were 239,334 compared
to last year's 250,454, a decrease of -4.4%. Monthly general aviation operations compared
to last year were up 14.6%, (26,757 operations vs. 23,345). Monthly cargo volumes were
down 8.3% (4,541 tons vs. 4,951).
Noise Activity - The October 2005 Monthly Airport Noise Statistics Report (Attachment 2)
includes four separate reports with current month and year-to-date totals. The four reports
are as follows:
- Noise Complaints - Summarizes noise complaint information for commercial and
non-commercial operations.
- Noise Complaint Plot Map - Identifies the origin of the complaint.
- Noise Violations - Summarizes violations for airline and non-commercial
operations. Provides a complete listing of each violation, includes violator's name,
date and time of violation, aircraft types, aircraft noise level, and the time specific
allowable noise level.
- Commercial Late Night Activity - Summarizes activity between 10:00 p.m. to
11 :00 p.m. and 11 :00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. by airline.
The Airport's Noise Office receives and investigates noise calls and complaints from local
residents and residents who live outside of Long Beach. In October, the Noise Ofice
received 1,129 complaints from citizens compared to 831 complaints received in the
previous month. It should be noted that 18 individuals, utilizing a common e-mail
attachment, generated 882 of the 1,129 complaints. The 18 e-mail lists, which included
complaints for the entire month of September, were received October 30 through November
7, 2005.
In an effort to ensure that complaint activity is processed accurately and in a timely fashion,
Airport staff has encouraged complainants to submit complaints as the activity occurs, as
opposed to batch processing of complaints. Additionally, complainants have been apprised
that effective December 12, 2005 they are able to enter complaints directly into the Airport's
database and receive an immediate acknowledgement of their complaint.
Further analysis of the noise complaints revealed the following:
- Total number of complainants: 106
- 78% (882 of 1,129) of the complaints were generated by 18 individuals;
- 89% (1,008 of 1,129) of the complaints were related to operations between 10:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
- 0.7% (8 of 1,129) of the complainants reside in Seal Beach or Huntington Beach.
This above referenced information is displayed on the Airport's website (www.Igb.orq).
Other Airport Activity
Terminal Area Improvements Project - Release of the Draft EIR
The Airport Terminal Area Improvements Project Draft EIR was released to the public the
week of November 7. The Draft EIR is available for review on the City's website
in the Environmental Planning office on the 5 floor of City Hall.
Concerned parties were provided several options for responding to the Draft EIR. The
options included the submittal of verbal or written comments at one of the three
community meetings held on November 29, December 3, and December 5. Written
comments may also be submitted via mail to Angela Reynolds, Planning Officer, City of
Long Beach, Planning and Building Department, 333 W. Ocean Blvd, 4'h floor, Long
circulated for review until January 30, 2006. All comments received by the end of the
review period will be responded to as part of the Final EIR
A joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Cultural Heritage Commission was held
December 15, at 11:00 a.m., in the City Council chambers, to review the Draft EIR
contents.
Automated Noise Complaint System - Effective December 12, 2005, Internet users are
able to enter complaints directly into the Airport's database. Access to the automated
complaint system will be located on the main page of the Airport's website at
www.lqb.orq. Complainants will receive an immediate acknowledgement of their
complaint.
Allocation of Commuter Slots - It is forecasted that full utilization of all commuter flight
slots will yield approximately 800,000 additional annual passengers. At this time, only
one of those slots is being flown; America WesVUS Airways to Phoenix.
Three commuter flight slots have been allocated to and performance-bonded by Delta
Airlines, to be flown for them by SkyWest Airlines, beginning in March, to Salt Lake City.
The remaining 21 commuter flight slots are currently available. Nineteen of those flight
slots had been allocated as Conditional Slots (non-performance-bonded, good for a
maximum of 90 days) in September to Smooth Flight Holdings. Those 19 slots were
forfeited on November 30,2005, when performance bonds were not provided to convert
the Conditional Slots to Final Slots (which must be actually flown within 180 days). It is
our understanding that there is continuing interest by Smooth Flight Holdings in the
commuter slots, however, aircraft delivery schedules required a change in their business
plan implementation schedule.
Public Affairs Activities
Aviation Historical Updates - Throughout 2005, Airport staff worked with
representatives of the Long Beach Historical Society, the Long Beach Library, California
State University, Dominquez Hills Archival Department, and relatives of Long Beach's
esteemed aviators to compile the "2006 Legends of Long Beach Aviation Calendar." The
calendar recognizes the contributions of Long Beach's earliest and finest aviators, and
documents significant Long Beach aviation milestones. A limited number of calendars
are available at each of the Long Beach libraries. Requests for the calendar may also be
Additionally, staff has completed the restoration of the Airport Terminal Historical photo
exhibit located on the first and second floors of the Terminal building. Over the years the
exhibit sustained considerable damage from prolonged exposure to the sun. Each of the
photos were restored. diaitallv archived and re-huna under protective glass.
Final plans are underway to add a second exhibit to the existing 2"d floor exhibit.
Michael Siembieda, resident of the 3rd District, has donated his private collection of over
200-model aircraft to the Airport. The aircraft in the exhibit include scale models of the
Wright Flyer, a C-17, a DC-3, and the B-17 bomber. The addition of this exhibit will
greatly enhance the Airport Tour experience for our preschoolers up to our seniors. The
new exhibit is scheduled to open in early February.
Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association held its 1 Annual "Snow in Bixby"
event on Sunday, December 4. The Airport served as an event sponsor for the fifth
consecutive year. Airport staff also distributed information on the recent upgrades to the
noise monitoring system, the Internet flight tracking system WebTrak, the Draft EIR
review process, and handed out copies of the "2006 Long Beach Aviation Legends
Calendar."
4th District Annual Snow Day - The Airport has been invited to be an event sponsor
for the 1' Annual 4'h District Snow Day in Whaley Park, Saturday, January 21. Airport
staff will distribute general Airport information, information on the Internet flight tracking
system WebTrak, and updated EIR information.
Airport Community Information Center - Construction of the Airport Center and the
relocation of the Airport's Public Affairs/Public Information Staff is expected to be
completed by December 30,2005.
Military Flight Activity - The Airport has been advised that two B-1B bombers will
arrive and depart from Long Beach Airport during the week of January 2, 2006. The BI
B bombers will be participating in the annual Rose Bowl festivities. Each incident will
exceed the allowable noise limits. However, per the City's Airport Noise Ordinance,
military aircraft operations are exempt from violations.
Holiday Parking - The Airport's customer parking demand forecast for the Christmas
holiday indicates that there will not be adequate capacity to accommodate parking needs
within the Airport's existing parking areas. On November 22, 2005, City Council
approved a lease agreement with Long Beach City College to utilize a portion of their
Veterans Stadium parking lot in order to accommodate the additional parking needs.
Customers will be notified of this additional parking via electronic signage and distribution
of flyers at the Airport, along with an update posted on the Airport's website. The Airport
Bureau has also entered into a Purchase Order agreement with The Abbey Company to
utilize approximately 200 spaces in their 4403 Donald Douglas Drive parking structure,
which are temporarily available due to subtenant vacancies.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS