BILL TEXT

Amended in Assembly July 3, 2008

Introduced by Assembly Member Lieu

(   Principal coauthor:   Assembly Member Brownley   )

Relative to the Santa Monica General Aviation Municipal Airport

Legislative Counsel’s Digest

AJR 37, as amended, Lieu

Santa Monica General Aviation Municipal Airport

    This measure would respectfully memorialize the Federal Aviation Administration to engage in a collaborative process to review flight operations at the Santa Monica General Aviation Municipal Airport, and the role that the airport plays in the regional transportation system.

Fiscal committee: no.

    WHEREAS, The Santa Monica General Aviation Municipal Airport (SMO) is situated on the border separating the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles; and

    WHEREAS, SMO is one of the most residentially encroached airports in the entire nation; and

    WHEREAS, Jet operations at SMO have increased from less than 2,000 in 1983 to more than 18,500 in 2007 this year; and

    WHEREAS, Flight operations at SMO are often hindered or delayed by the proximity of the airport to the Los Angeles International Airport; and

    WHEREAS, The safety of the residents who live in proximity to the airport, both in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, is a prime concern of the officials who represent the area at the various levels of government; and

    WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has primary jurisdiction over all aspects of air travel aviation in the United States; and

    WHEREAS, The FAA is currently reviewing the safety of flight operations at SMO; now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the FAA to engage in a collaborative process   to review the safety of flight operations at SMO, and the role that SMO plays in the regional transportation system; and be it further

    Resolved, That the legislature encourages the FAA to engage in an open and transparent process that includes input from the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles, appropriate local and state elected officials, and affected community organizations; and be it further

    Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the FAA to honor the decision of the City of Santa Monica to increase safety precautions at SMO and restrict the use of Class C and D aircraft  class C and D aircrafts at SMO; and be it further

    Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Administrator of the FAA, to the United States Secretary of Transportation, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.