Part 150 IndexTo: Parties Interested in Van Nuys Airport Noise From: Gerald A. Silver, Pres. Homeowners of Encino Stop the Noise! Coalition email: gsilver@sprintmail.com RE: VNY PART 150 UPDATE REPORT This is a report on the VNY Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Steering Committee Meeting held - May 29, 2001, at the Airtel.
Please note: these are not the official minutes of the meeting.
On the whole the residents made a lot of progress in this meeting. I wish to thank each of you who attended the Steering Committee meeting and spoke out. Without your help we would not be able to achieve the progress that we did.
The meeting opened with a protracted debate on the order of the items to be addressed on the Agenda. Wayne Williams (Feuer) [Sherman Oaks HOA] argued that the various noise mitigation measures that were on the table should be discussed first and not buried in a "technical committee". Fortunately the Chair, Mark Shaffer agreed. This prevented the items from being kept from public discussion and debate.
The following actions took place:
The Steering Committee voted unanamously to adopt the 18 noise mitigation measures submitted by G. Silver that were ALSO recommended for approval by the BOAC. These items are listed below: [see LAWA handout .
ITEM # 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26.
Note that the Committee adopted the language as submitted by G. Silver [text that follows the number], rather than the text listed under "Recommendations." Thanks to Charles Brink, who insisted that the language following each number, rather than LAWA's recommendations be adopted.
Laura Shell (Yaroslavsky), moved that the language in the measures below be improved. She asked that wherever the terms, SHOULD or COULD appear that they be changed to SHALL or WILL. This would make the recommendations imperative. This motion was approved unanamously by the Steering Committee.
These 18 measures, join the previously adopted 26 original measures from 990, and will go on to the BOAC for approval.
Next the Steering Committee took up those items that were NOT recommended for approval by the BOAC.
ITEM # 5. This measure, not recommended by the BOAC, called for a cap on the number of Stage 3 jets that could be based at VNY.
This measure was APPROVED by the Steering Committee, by a 7 to 6 vote, for inclusion in the final recommendations to the BOAC.
ITEM # 6. This measure, not recommended by the BOAC, called for expanding the Part 150 noise contour maps to include the 60 and 55 CNEL contours. This measure FAILED to be approved by the Steering Committee. Much of the objection came from Maury Laham (LAWA) who felt that it would place a burden on residents.
On the contrary, it would have been extremely useful to residents because it would identify a larger area of noise impact than now is acknowledged by the Airport. I am sorry to say that the measure lost by one only vote. If Deuk Perrin (Chick) had supported the measure, rather than opposed it, it would have passed. The absence of Tom Henry (Joel Wachs) from the meeting also helped sink this measure.
ITEM # 7. This measure, not recommended by the BOAC, called for establishing "Noise Sensitive Areas" around VNY. These would request pilot to voluntarily avoid sensitive areas, or fly at least 2000 ft. above ground level to minimize noise. This measure was strongly opposed by the pilots on the panel. The measure FAILED by a 6 to 5 vote. I am sorry to report that Don Schultz (Riordan) [Pres. of Van Nuys Homeowners Assn.] voted with the aviation block to oppose establishing "Noise Sensitive Areas" around VNY
The meeting was then adjourned without taking up: ITEMS # 10, 13, 17, and 18.
The substance of these item involve equalizing departure routes, adopting an "airport influence area", the 12,500 weight limit on charters and air taxis and a total night curfew on ALL jet arrivals AND departures. These measures hopefully will be taken up at the next Part 150 Steering Committee meeting, whenever it meets.
THERE IS NO DATE SET FOR THE NEXT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING. [Now set for 6-21-01]
It will likely occur after the June 5th election. A new Mayor will appoint a new BOAC and this will change the makeup of the Steering Committee.
Credit for the progress in this meeting needs to go to those elected officials that appointed representatives to the panel that totally supported residents concerns. These officials deserve your thanks...send emails to:
Congressman Brad Sherman (David Tierney) david.tierney@mail.house.gov (Cong. Sherman/David Tierney)
Congressman Howard Berman (Gerald A. Silver) bob.blumenfield@mail.house.gov (Congress. Howard Berman-Bob Blumenfield)
Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski (Kenneth Millman) llevy@council.lacity.org (Cindy Miscikowski/Lisa Levy Buch)
Councilman Mike Feuer (Wayne Williams) council5@c05.ci.la.ca.us (Councilman Mike Feuer)
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (Laura Shell) lshell@bos.co.la.ca.us (Super. Yaroslavski-Laura Shell)