Part 150 Index Retlaw
Page Van Nuys Airport pageSubject: UPDATE - 6-21-01 VNY PART 150 MEETING, RETLAW, and the NON-ADDITION SUIT
To: Parties Interested in Van Nuys Airport Noise From: Gerald A. Silver, Pres. Homeowners of Encino Stop the Noise! Coalition email: gsilver@sprintmail.com
This report includes a number of items related to Van Nuys Airport (VNY) including a brief news item regarding the lawsuit against the Airport by aviation companies seeking to block implementation of the stage 2 non-addition rule at VNY. We believe that this is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to block any effort by the City to institute a PHASE-OUT of noisy jets at VNY.
Of most importance is the FAILED effort by LAWA to jam through the completion of the VNY Part 150 Steering Committee recommendations. The plan that LAWA sought to execute was to hurriedly wrap up the work of the Steering Committee on June 21st, and then IMMEDIATELY rush it through the BOAC only three days later on June 26. They likely would ignore all of the Steering Committee's recommendations and replaced them with their own weak, watered-down measures.
But the scheme FAILED! LAWA was not able to hold the Steering Committee meeting on June 21 as planned, because of a lack of a quorum. This prevented them from closing out the Steering Committee's work and then rushing the matter to the BOAC for final approval on June 26th. As a result, more Steering Committee meetings will be necessary and these will be before a reconstituted Steering Committee and BOAC, hopefully more receptive to the residents.
This is the second FAILED scheme by the lame-duck BOAC. Their attempt to jam through the RETLAW project also backfired. Once elected officials and the public found out about the backroom deal to lease RETLAW without the benefit of completing the Master Plan or public awareness, they screamed loud and clear. Thus the BOAC was not able grant the long term lease for major expansion at VNY. See the news stories below.
Thursday, June 21, 2001 |Los Angeles Times
Critics had protested that a decision on a 5.8-acre vacant parcel was being rushed.
By PATRICK MCGREEVY, Times Staff Writer
Bowing to growing pressure, including protests from two powerful congressmen, the president of the Los Angeles Airport Commission has postponed an
11th-hour vote on a controversial lease at Van Nuys Airport. The decision by commission President John J. Agoglia to accept bids up to Aug. 3 was welcomed by some city officials and potential bidders, while others said it did not go far enough. The postponement follows a letter by Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) to Los Angeles World Airports urging a delay pending completion of an airport master plan. "We feel it is premature to consider lease proposals when the Master Plan has yet to be finalized," the letter said.
Other critics said the mayor-appointed commission was trying to rush the lease through for a friend of Mayor Richard Riordan by scheduling approval for June 26, four days before Riordan leaves office. After the Airport Commission allowed just 28 days to submit proposals for the 5.8-acre property, Univision owner Jerry Perenchio joined businessman Clay Lacy in submitting the only bid.
Others said the short period for submitting proposals made it impossible to participate. Lacy [One of he plaintiffs in the federal case to block limiting noisy stage 2 aircraft] recently said he has eyed the vacant property for years and would like to use it to park about 12 aircraft, including jets, served by his adjacent aviation business.
That could jeopardize the Airtel Plaza Hotel next door, said Councilman Hal Bernson. The delay announced by Agoglia was welcomed by Bernson, who has proposed a moratorium on any new development at the airport until a master plan is approved. "I support it," Bernson said of the delay. "That thing was just being pushed through too fast."
James Hahn takes over as mayor on July 1 and has the power to replace the Airport Commission. In a letter to Councilman Joel Wachs on Wednesday, Agoglia conceded that the growing demands for a delay played a role in the decision on the property at 7335-7337 Valjean Ave. "In light of the many requests for additional time, the (Request for Proposal) process has been extended and the new due date for submitting proposals is Aug. 3,"
Agoglia wrote. Officials for Los Angeles World Airports had said they were not trying to rush the lease for political reasons but wanted to approve an agreement for the economic benefit of the airport. Agoglia did not return calls for comment Wednesday but said in the letter that the commission wanted to provide more time for public input into the use of such an important parcel. "A balance between potential impacts to the community and activities that serve to sustain the viability of the airport is of paramount importance," he wrote.
The action did not satisfy every critic. James Dunn, president and chief executive of the Airtel Plaza Hotel, said at least 90 days should be provided for competitors to submit proposals. "They are heading in the right direction, but it's not enough time," Dunn said. The delay also did not satisfy Gerald Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino and a member of the city's advisory council at the airport. "It's not enough to postpone it a month," Silver said.
"What they have to do is wait until the master plan is adopted." Copyright © 2001 Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - The Los Angeles (CA) Daily News
By Rick Orlov VAN NUYS -- City Councilman Hal Bernson said Tuesday the Airport Commission should postpone awarding a lease at Van Nuys Airport until a new mayor and City Council take office and can seek a permanent solution to new development at the facility.
Bernson, whose Northwest Valley district abuts the northern border of the airport, said the city should enact an interim control ordinance for all development at the airport until a master plan is put into effect.
"We want to make sure that if there is any development out there, that it is the type that is called for in a master plan and not push things through at this late date," Bernson said.
The Airport Commission is scheduled to consider a lease next week for a vacant 5.4-acre parcel of property at 7335 Valjean Ave., near the Airtel Hotel.
Council members who represent the area in and around the airport, along with businesses and local residents, have opposed the lease, which is being sought by Jerry Perenchio, owner of Univision, and MC Group, which is partly owned by Michael Milken. Both are close associates of Mayor Richard Riordan.
Riordan aides have said the mayor has not urged that action be taken before he leaves office on June 30.
Los Angeles World Airports 1 World Way P.O. Box 92216 Los Angeles California 90009 2216 Telephone 310 646 5252 Facsimile 310 646 0523 Internet www.lawa.org
June 19, 2001
The Honorable Joel Wachs Councilmember, Second District City of Los Angeles 200 North Main Street, Room 402 Los Angeles, CA 90012
Re: Van Nuys Airport--Request for Proposals Related to Property Located at 7335-7 Valjean Avenue
Dear Councilmember Wachs:
This is in response to your letter dated June 5, 2001, in which you expressed concern over the due date for the Request for Proposals (RFP) related to the above referenced property.
In light of the many requests for additional time, the RFP process has been extended and the new due date for submitting proposals is August 3, 2001.
Formal notification to those who previously expressed interest, as well as the general public will be provided to ensure that all have the opportunity to participate in the process.
A balance between potential impacts to the community and activities that serve to sustain the viability of the airport is of paramount importance to LAWA. LAWA is committed to ensuring that the overall process is thoughtfully pursued.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this project, and please feel free to contact LAWA as this project progresses.
Sincerely, / s / John J. Agoglia, President Board of Airport Commissioners JJA:JLR:rh cc: Board of Airport Commissioners L Kennard P. Green R. Janisse S. Birk M. Albers J. Romo
Wednesday, June 20, 2001 | Los Angeles Times
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A federal judge has rejected the first of three constitutional challenges to city laws that limit high-noise jets at Van Nuys Airport, a Los Angeles official said Tuesday. Aviation companies based at the airport had sued the city for limiting all but about 50 of the noisier, older "Stage 2" jets from being based at the airport after
2011. But in a decision announced Monday, U.S. District Judge Steven Wilson found that the city has the right to limit such planes to reduce airport noise, Assistant City Atty. Bret Lobner said. The case will continue Monday with a hearing in federal court. Copyright © 2001 Los Angeles Times
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