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Home My WebLink AboutCC AG PKT 2005-02-28 #G AGENDA REPORT DATE: February 28, 2005 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager FROM: Christy Teague, Senior Planner SUBJECT: Proposed Joint Aviation Operations Center at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base SUMMARY OF REQUEST: At the February 14, 2005 City Council meeting, Council Member Ybaben requested the City of Seal Beach officially respond to the proposed expansion of helicopter uses at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. BACKGROUND: At a Base Realignment Closure (BRAC) meeting held in El Segundo on January 11, 2005, Captain James Di Giovanna of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Aviation Bureau gave a presentation of a proposal to bring the Los Angeles County and various county, state and federal agency helicopter operations to the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. The proposed facility, led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, to expand helicopter uses at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos would include $20 million construction of: • 15,000 sq. ft of administrative offices, training, conference Emergency Operations Center and maintenance offices • 60,000 sq. ft. aircraft maintenance area • 21,600 sq. ft of airplane hangar space • Ramp space for 26 helicopters • 12,000 gallon aviation fuel tank • Parking for over 100 vehicles si) Cr The proposed Joint Forces Operations Center could include the following agencies: • Federal Department of Homeland Security • Federal Department of Justice • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (8 aircraft, 10 -12 personnel) • Federal Customs (potential 1 -2 aircraft) • State office of Homeland Security • State Office of Emergency Services • California Highway Patrol (3 aircraft, 8 -10 personnel) • Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (19 aircraft, 70 personnel) • Orange County Sheriff's Department (2 aircraft, 6 -8 personnel) • Several other agencies were listed as "transient agencies." A special meeting of the Los Alamitos City Council was held on February 3, 2005, to hear public comments on the proposal to expand helicopter operations in a new Joint Aviation Operations Center at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. At that meeting, several Seal Beach citizens from College Park East and the Old Ranch neighborhoods, as well as a representative from Dana Rohrabacher's Office, representing Seal Beach citizens as part of California's 46 Congressional District, spoke in opposition to expanded helicopter usage. Speakers especially were opposed to the idea of Los Angeles County helicopters, currently operating from the Long Beach Airport, bringing their fleet of helicopters to the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. In addition to noise and operating hour concerns, speakers expressed fears of air traffic and safety and health issues associated with increased helicopter emissions. At its regular meeting held February 7, 2005, the Los Alamitos City Council voted to take a position of non - support for the helicopter base. The City Council also directed the City Manager to "take all prudent and necessary steps to make the position known, to communicate with appropriate federal, state and local officials in furtherance of the policy, and to keep the Council and the community informed about the status of his efforts in these matters." Intensification of helicopter and other aviation uses at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base would negatively affect Seal Beach residents in several neighborhoods. If the expansion proposal is implemented, thousands of Seal Beach residents would be impacted by increased noise at all hours of the day, significant increases in local air traffic, and possible health safety issues from airborne fuel emissions. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve proposed Resolution No. , with any revisions determined appropriate by the City Council. Receive and fiie staff report. / le Christy D. Tea I e, AICP Senior Planner NOTED / / APPROV I/ 1 ee o B. Bahors i, City Manager Attachment: Proposed Resolution Agenda Item Attachment 1 Proposed Resolution SEA( \�OOPPOR F9 �4� C /� �; ' , oe yP" Q ' ` J 4� F9 � �� ',, , ,,, U NTY,�P� CITY HALL 211 EIGHTH STREET SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90740,: ,, (562)4312527 - • www.ci. seal-beach.ca.us, . -r = . March 2, 2005 Colonel Lisa Haskins Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base 4522 Saratoga Avenue, Bldg 15 Los Alamitos, CA 90720 Dear Colonel Haskins, On February 28, 2005, the Seal Beach City Council passed Resolution No. 5309 in opposition of a proposal to expand helicopter use at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department's proposal would increase helicopter traffic over Seal Beach neighborhoods. Our residents have voiced their concerns regarding health and safety impacts and are opposed to any increase in air traffic noise over their homes. They are greatly concerned that increased use of the base by non - military operations would negatively impact property values. The City of Seal Beach continues to support the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and its military operations, but considers the proposed expanded use of the facility to be detrimental to the surrounding community. Therefore, the City Council has gone on record to oppose any additional programs that would increase air traffic over the City of Seal Beach. cerely, Paul Yost Mayor City of Seal Beach � n ,- - o E SEAl 9 �� iC ° �GORPORgT,:o qe lI, ftt D 1Qi c -----g ..' GP CITY, HALL 211 EIGHTH STREET ' SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNL4'90740, (562) 431 -2527 • www.ci:scal beach; ca us March 2, 2005 The Honorable Dana Rohrabacher 46 Congressional District 2338 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Rohrabacher, On February 28, 2005, the Seal Beach City Council passed Resolution No. 5309 in opposition of a proposal to expand helicopter use at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department's proposal would increase helicopter traffic over Seal Beach neighborhoods. Our residents have voiced their concerns regarding health and safety impacts and are opposed to any increase in air traffic noise over their homes. They are greatly concerned that increased use of the base by non - military operations would negatively impact property values. The City of Seal Beach continues to support the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and its military operations, but considers the proposed expanded use of the facility to be detrimental to the surrounding community. Therefore, the City Council has gone on record to oppose any additional programs that would increase air traffic over the City of Seal Beach. Sincer Paul Yost Mayor City of Seal Beach SEA( o Oc celitik iv F y 21 '� , NTV � P � CITY HALL 211 EIGHTH STREET SEAL BEACH, .CALIFOI ■1A 90740 r* � (562).431 2527 3 www ?seal -beach ca us March 2, 2005 Henry Taboada, Interim City Manager City of Los Alamitos 3191 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA 90720 Dear Mr. Taboada, On February 28, 2005, the Seal Beach City Council passed Resolution No. 5309 in opposition of a proposal to expand helicopter use at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department's proposal would increase helicopter traffic over Seal Beach neighborhoods. Our residents have voiced their concerns regarding health and safety impacts and are opposed to any increase in air traffic noise over their homes. They are greatly concerned that increased use of the base by non - military operations would negatively impact property values. The City of Seal Beach continues to support the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and its military operations, but considers the proposed expanded use of the facility to be detrimental to the surrounding community. Therefore, the City Council has gone on record to oppose any additional programs that would increase air traffic over the City of Seal Beach. ►er ly, Paul Yost Mayor City of Seal Beach