CCMIN 08172021 - Laserfiche WebLink

the airport, the proposal from KaiserAir, the types of noise studies that can be generated, and what can be expected in the future. Mr. Dolan reported KaiserAir approached the City of Livermore and proposed to add a new Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility on a 45-acre parcel at the airport. KaiserAir intends to use the facility to store and service aircraft that they use to provide charter flights out of the Oakland International Airport and the Sonoma County Airport. The application has not yet been submitted for Livermore Planning Commission's review. When KaiserAir does seek approval from the Planning Commission it will be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at which time there will be a document that the city will review for adequacy and input. Mr. Dolan noted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has exclusive authority in regulating airspace and prescribes air traffic regulations on the flight of aircraft. Livermore implemented some voluntary measures but cannot prescribe the regulation of aircraft coming into and leaving the airport. He advised this has been frustrating to those suffering from the noise impacts however, as a public use airport and with grant funding Livermore is obligated to operate that way for at least 20 years. Livermore has implemented a Voluntary Nighttime Noise Policy which encourages those using the airport to refrain from flying between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Livermore has also encouraged aircraft to adhere to the recommended Visual Flight Rules (VFR) which directs flights away from developed areas in Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton. Mr. Dolan reported the Cities of Pleasanton and Livermore adopted a joint resolution to address airport noise. The resolution called for several actions including the establishment of a community forum for stakeholders, installation of improved technology to track planes, providing information on noise reduction efforts to residents, coordination between the two cities on noise studies, and quarterly meetings of the Livermore-Pleasanton Liaison Committee. A noise study was completed in 2015 at which time Pleasanton was invited to select and secure noise monitoring locations in the community. They were able to increase the number of monitoring locations based on historic locations and find areas of concentrated complaints for a total of seven sites. Studies were completed in May 2021 with the next being scheduled for November. Preliminary data shows the average noise levels have gone up minimally in some locations but have also gone down in other locations and none of them approach Pleasanton's standard for compatibility with residential uses. No data on noise levels from individual events have provided been provided to date. Mr. Dolan reported the data reflects an upward trend in the number of flights. Staff recommends continuing to encourage the City of Livermore to convene the Livermore-Pleasanton Liaison Committee to facilitate discussion about noise concerns to the Livermore City Council, work with their staff on the current and future airport noise studies, review the KaiserAir Project proposal once submitted with special emphasis on reviewing the CEQA aircraft noise analysis, and encourage the City of Livermore to acquire and utilize new technology to track incoming and outgoing overflight paths to improve the effectiveness of their voluntary nighttime flight restrictions and flight path programs. In response to Councilmember Narum, City Manager Nelson Fialho reported the last time the Livermore-Pleasanton Liaison Committee met to discuss the item was in 2011. In response to Councilmember Narum, Mr. Johnson reported older noisier jets have been phased out of the fleet by regulation but it does not mean that those types of jets are not flying in and out of the airport on a single-event basis. He explained one of the key things that needs to be done in the noise study is to look at the fleet of airplanes that are making use of the airport today, what their noise signature is like, and impact in the Pleasanton community. The noise study is critical to know if older planes are still flying or have been taken out of service. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 12 August 17.2021