HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2010-03-08 #EAGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 8, 2010
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: 0 - David Carmany, City Manager
SUBJECT: SUPPORT LETTER - FEDERAL FUNDING FOR JOINT
FORCES TRAINING BASE (Miller)
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for reconstruction of the runways at
the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Bases and send to Congressman Ed
Royce with copies to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Congressman Dana
Rohrabacher
BACKGROUND:
The City of Los Alamitos is requesting $17,000,000 funding for the "Airfield
Runway Reconstruction Project — Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base
(JFTB) as a partner of the Base. Runway 4R -22L is a 5,900 -ft. runway with nine
(9) active taxiways, and approximately 1,000,000 sq. ft. of ramp and aircraft
parking space. The runway was originally constructed in 1944 and has suffered
significant damage due to seismic activity in the area. The runway was closed to
most air traffic in January 2009 due to an increase in Foreign Object Debris
(FOD) which was determined to be detrimental to aircraft during normal take off
and landing procedures.
The Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) provides the most significant point of
departure for California National Guard units deployed overseas, and serves as the
headquarters facility for the California Department of Emergency Services. The
runway is essential to both functions and will prove invaluable during a regional
public emergency. More significantly, Runway 4R -22L is the only military runway
between Santa Barbara and San Diego capable of handling "heavy" military
aircraft. Reconstruction of the runway would extend the strategic military value of
the JFTB for an additional 20 years, thus providing protection from closure as a
result of a future BRAC process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
Agenda Item E
Page 2
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for reconstruction of the runways at
the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Bases and send to Congressman Ed
Royce with copies to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Congressman Dana
Rohrabacher
Attachments:
A. Support Letter
March 8, 2010
The Honorable Ed Royce
House of Representatives, 40 District
1110 East Chapman Avenue, Suite 207
Orange, CA 92866
Re: Appropriations Request for Airfield Runway Reconstruction Project
Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) runway 4R -22L
Dear Congressman Royce:
I am writing on behalf of the city of Seal Beach to request your assistance in obtaining $17 million in
needed funding for repairs to runway 4R -22L located at the Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) in
Los Alamitos. As you know, we believe strongly that the 8000 -foot runway at the JFTB is a critical
component of the long -term strategic viability of the Base. Accordingly, we were deeply concerned
to learn that the runway has not been functional since January 2009.
By way of history, we learned earlier this summer that • the runway was closed to fixed wing
operations due to "unacceptable levels of Foreign Object Debris (FOD)," which consisted mainly of
fragmented pavement. The JFTB commissioned an "Airfield Runway Seismic Damage Evaluation
and Repair Study," which was completed in June 2009 by PBS&J. The Study evaluated and
estimated costs for a variety of alternatives with regard to the repair of the runway that, if
implemented, could cost $17 million. Runway 4R -22L is a 5,900 foot runway with nine (9) active
taxiways and approximately 1,000,000 sq. ft. of ramp and aircraft parking space. The runway was
originally constructed in 1944 and has suffered significant damage due to seismic activity in the
area.
The JFTB provides the most significant point of departure for California National Guard units
deployed overseas and serves as the headquarters facility for the California Department of
Emergency Services. The runway is essential to both functions and will prove invaluable during a
regional public emergency. More significantly, Runway 4R -22L is the only military runway between
Santa Barbara and San Diego capable of handling "heavy" military aircraft. Reconstruction of the
runway would extend the strategic military value of the JFTB for an additional twenty (20) years, thus
providing protection form closure as a result of a future BRAC process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at anytime.
Sincerely,
David Sloan
Mayor
cc: Congressman D. Rohrabacher, 46 District
Congresswoman L Sanchez, 47 District