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    In Depth

    Transcript Of Historic Feb. 1/05 Council Proceedings Re LB Airport Permanent Terminal Area Facilities Expansion


    (February 5, 2005) -- LBReport.com posts below an extended transcript (unofficial) of salient portions of the historic February 1, 2005 City Council proceedings regarding expansion of LB Airport's permanent terminal area facilities.

    LB Councilmembers indicated they are prepared to support Airport management Alternative #2 -- smaller than management's preferred choice but larger than Airport management proposed in Sept. 2003 -- as the primary Environmental Impact Report (EIR) sizing alternative.

    In an detailed presentation of over twenty minutes delivered without the assistance of power points, 8th district Councilwoman Rae Gabelich opened on the item jointly agendized by her along with Councilmembers Patrick O'Donnell and Tonia Reyes Uranga and substantively supported from its outset by Councilman Frank Colonna.

    The agendized item sought to move ahead with the EIR process using Alternative 2 -- the sizing officially proposed in the City's official Notice of EIR Preparation in September 2003 -- as the largest desired project for EIR review purposes.

    Councilwoman Gabelich's presentation included an unflinching recitation of past city management actions. At the conclusion of Councilwoman Gabelich's presentation, the Council Chamber audience -- filled to overflowing -- gave her an extended standing ovation.

    A breakthrough compromise occurred during the Council proceedings when Councilmembers Val Lerch, Laura Richardson and Bonnie Lowenthal indicated they were persuaded by the arguments offered in support of the Gabelich, O'Donnell & Reyes Uranga item and were prepared to support Alternative #2...but were reluctant to do so before February 8 (a date previously indicated by management for a vote). Vice Mayor Jackie Kell said that in her two campaigns for elective office she stressed her support for quality neighborhoods and that principle would guide her Feb. 8 decision...but stopped short of explicitly backing Alternative 2.

    Councilman Dan Baker was absent for the meeting. City Manager Jerry Miller was attending a League of CA Cities event for city managers and was represented by Assistant City Mgr. Chris Shippey.

    The Council Chamber was filled beyond capacity. An overflow room was opened to accommodate the crowd.

    LBReport.com appreciates the work of city staff in providing access to closed captioning text which, after our independent review, some corrections and editing, enabled production of our unofficial transcript below with considerable speed.

    We have also included a hyperlinked index making it easier for readers to navigate to points of interest. Clicking on the hyperlinked section should jump to the indicated text in a separate window.

    As always, our transcript is unofficial, compiled by us; not all speakers or their comments are included; ellipses indicate deletions.

    Hyperlink index
    Click to jump to section; close window to return to this page

    [begin text]

    Councilwoman Rae Gabelich: OK, EVERYBODY RELAX BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ME A WHILE.

    FIRST, I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HOW WE GOT HERE TONIGHT.

    ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, IT WAS THE SECOND TWO-HOUR STUDY SESSION ON AIRPORT EXPANSION PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL. DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS THERE WAS LIMITED DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. EIGHT OF THE NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN TERMINAL SIZE.

    FOLLOWING THAT MEETING ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12, I DRAFTED A MEMO ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN COLONNA TO THE CITY MANAGER TO PRODUCE BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT...I'LL READ IT.

    "WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST STAFF TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO ALTERNATIVE TWO AS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 4. THE PURPOSE IS TO EVALUATE THIS ALTERNATIVE AS THE MAXIMUM BUILDING PROPOSAL AND TO REVIEW THE FEASIBILITY OF TWO ADDITIONAL BUILD ALTERNATIVES BETWEEN THE NO-BUILD PROPOSAL AND THE NUMBER TWO ALTERNATIVE THAT COULD REDUCE BUILDING 10% OR MORE."

    IN ADDITION TO THAT WE WANTED TO SEE DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD ENHANCE AND SHOW MORE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.

    WE WOULD LIKE SUGGESTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE OFF-SITE LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE WITHIN REASONABLE PROXIMITY TO ANY NEWLY MODIFIED TERMINAL AND FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS.

    THAT WAS ON JANUARY 12.

    ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 13 I RECEIVED A MEMO FROM MR. MILLER DENYING THE REQUEST AND ASKED THAT IT BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL WITH ALL OTHER MATERIALS ON FEBRUARY 8.

    I RECEIVED THIS TOO LATE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THAT MEMO SAYS:

    FOLLOWING A CAREFUL READING OF THE MEMO AND A MEETING TODAY OF PUBLIC WORKS, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO INCLUDE...YOUR MEMO ALONG WITH OTHER BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION IN THE MATERIALS TO BE GIVEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FEBRUARY 8, 2005, AIRPORT TERMINAL DELIBERATIONS.

    AS YOU KNOW THIS MEETING WILL ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE SCOPING OF THE PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR AIRPORT TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF THEIR COUNCIL, THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE ACCEPTED, REJECTED OR REVISED TO ADD TWO SMALLER ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSIDERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE E.I.R.

    EVEN THEN HOWEVER, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT CONCEPTUAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THAT WHICH IS NEEDED TO ASCERTAIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF AN ALTERNATIVE IS GENERALLY NOT DONE TO CLAIMS THAT A PROJECT HAS BEEN PREDESIGNED PRIOR TO COMPLETION AND CERTIFICATION OF THE E.I.R.

    STAFF WILL RESPECTFULLY TAKE UNDER ADVISEMENT YOUR VIEW AND BEGIN ASSESSING WHAT STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN WERE I DIRECTED BY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH YOUR REQUEST.

    ON MONDAY, JANUARY 24 I WROTE A MEMO TO MR. MILLER.

    IN RESPONSE TO YOUR MEMO, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR DESIRE TO WAIT UNTIL THE FEBRUARY 8, 2005 MEETING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE E.I.R. SCOPE.

    I, ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER COLONNA, WAS REQUESTING THE FURTHER DETAILS ON ALTERNATIVE TWO WITH TWO SMALLER ALTERNATIVES IN ORDER TO HAVE THE INFORMATION AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON FEBRUARY 8.

    I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE PROCESS MOVING AND WAS HOPING TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY DELAYS BY REQUESTING THE INFORMATION IN ADVANCE OF THAT DATE.

    I WANT TO WORK TOWARDS A CONSENSUS PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE AIRPORT USERS AND THE IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS. I BELIEVE THAT THE PLAN RECOMMENDED BY SIX OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS AND PREPARED BY CITY STAFF AND HNTB DOES NOT WORK TOWARDS REACHING A CONSENSUS PLAN.

    THE CURRENT PROPOSED PROJECT IS A 133,000 SQUARE FOOT PLAN WHICH IS 380% LARGER THAN THE CURRENT PERMANENT FACILITIES AND 75% LARGER THAN THE ORIGINAL N.O.P. [Notice of Preparation for EIR] ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER 2003.

    EIGHT OF THE NINE COUNCILMEMBERS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN TERMINAL SIZE. ALREADY THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DELAYS TO THIS PROJECT. CITY STAFF PROCEEDED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IN 2003 WITH THE PREMISE THAT IT COULD EXPAND THE AIRPORT WITHOUT AN E.I.R. ONCE STAFF LEARNED THAT AN E.I.R. WAS LEGALLY REQUIRED, THE FIRST NOTICE OF PREPARATION, N.O.P., WAS ISSUED FOR A 75,960 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY. THE ORIGINAL N.O.P. WAS THEN DISREGARDED SO THAT THE PROCESS COULD BE REFERRED TO THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    SINCE YOUR PREFERENCE IS TO RECEIVE COUNCIL DIRECTION BEFORE PREPARING ANY FURTHER ALTERNATIVES, WE WILL BRING SUCH A REQUEST BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL.

    I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE A WORKABLE SOLUTION REACHED FOR THE AIRPORT TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS IN AS EXPEDITIOUS A MANNER AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE DECISION ON THE E.I.R. SCOPE SHOULD NOT BE REACHED WITHOUT THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO ALL OF THE OPTIONS WITH THIS THOROUGH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU TO REACH A CONSENSUS PLAN ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

    AND THIS WAS COPIED TO ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

    WE WERE DARK ON THE 25TH. THAT'S WHEN WE HAD THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES MEETING.

    ON JANUARY 27 I SUBMITTED ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES ITEMS NUMBER 20 AND 22 AS THEY READ TONIGHT.

    THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION, A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, HOURS OF PHONE CALLS, AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND DELAY THE PROCESS OF THIS AIRPORT PROJECT. ALSO THAT THERE ARE MOVES THAT WILL TRIGGER THREATS FROM THE F.A.A.

    NONE OF THIS IS TRUE.

    I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN APRIL OF 2004 FROM OUR [Ass't City] ATTORNEY MR. MIKE MAIS AND FROM OUR AIRLINE ATTORNEY MR. GATZKE.

    THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE THREATS AGAINST THE AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY ORDINANCE. ACCORDING TO MR. MAIS, THE F.A.A. IS NOT LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING DIRECTLY TO DISTURB THE ORDINANCE. THE F.A.A. DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BRING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING AGAINST THE CITY IF IT DETERMINED THAT THE CITY WAS SOMEHOW UNFAIRLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST A PARTICULAR AIRLINE OR A GROUP OF AIRLINES.

    HOW DO THE PROPOSED TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS RELATE TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE? IS THE CITY REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT ANY IMPROVEMENTS? MR. MAIS STATED THAT THERE IS NO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT BY THE F.A.A. OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY THAT THE AIRPORT MUST BUILD THIS PROJECT TO ACCOMMODATE ITS PERMITTED ACTIVITY LEVEL.

    MR GATZKE STATED THAT IT WOULD BE HIS OPINION THAT IF THE CITY DECIDED TO DO NOTHING RELATIVE TO TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS, IT WILL NOT MAKE THE ORDINANCE MORE VULNERABLE.

    I JUST WANT TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT JEOPARDIZING OUR NOISE ORDINANCE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO FIND BALANCE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF THE AIRPORT.

    IT IS MR. GATZKY'S OPINION THAT NONE OF THOSE GRANT ASSURANCES WE HAVE RECEIVED, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WOULD REQUIRE ADEGSAL FACILITIES AND THERE IS NO OTHER PROVISION OF FEDERAL LAW THAT EXPRESSLY REQUIRES THE CITY TO BUILD ANYTHING OR TO MAKE ANY PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT TO THE FACILITY. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT NO ONE HAS EVER WON ON THAT PROPOSITION [from] MR. GATZKE, OUR AIRPORT LEGAL COUNSEL.

    I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE DELAYS. IN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2003, 400 RESIDENTS SPOKE TO THE N.O.P. PROJECT. 400 PEOPLE EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR WISHES ABOUT WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF THE E.I.R. IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE E.I.R. SCOPING WAS REFERRED TO THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION ["AAC"] TO REMOVE FROM THE TABLE THROUGH ELECTION TIME.

    DECEMBER 2003, THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACCEPTED PROJECTS UNDER 100,000 SQUARE FEET FOR THEIR REVIEW. I REVIEWED THAT TAPE TODAY, THE DECEMBER 2 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AND MR. SALK [AAC then-chair] STOOD AT THE PODIUM AND HE SAID AS HE WAS ACCEPTING HIS RESPONSIBILITY, HE SAID WE ARE A FACT-FINDING GROUP THAT IS GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE AIRLINES, AND THE F.A.A. WE'LL GO DOWN THE CENTER. NO BIAS. HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL ASPECTS. OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AREAS OF COMMUNITY TO TURN A PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY. WE WON'T PLEASE EVERYBODY. THERE WILL BE COMPROMISES. BUT WE WILL START WHERE THERE IS AGREEMENT.

    I DONT BELIEVE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE A.A.C. START WHERE THERE IS AGREEMENT.

    [Public Works Director] CHRISTINE ANDERSON SAID THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO FIND A COMFORT LEVEL SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

    WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REVIEWING ALL OF THE MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED. WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS [the AAC] IS AN ADVISORY BOARD, AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE COUNCIL.

    OCTOBER 3 OF 2003, COUNCILWOMAN RICHARDSON REQUESTED A CUMULATIVE HEALTH REPORT. IT'S STILL NOT HERE. IT'S BEING COMPILED WITH OUTDATED MATERIAL BUT IT'S STILL NOT HERE.

    ON THE 14TH OF OCTOBER WE ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK ON DECEMBER 2 WITH A COST AND CONTENT FOR A HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS WERE SUPPOSED TO COME BACK AT THAT SAME TIME AS WELL.

    BACK TO DECEMBER 2ND COUNCIL MEETING. MR. MILLER APOLOGIZED. HE MISUNDERSTOOD. JACKIE [directed to Vice Mayor Kell], YOU ASKED FOR A STAND-ALONE REPORT ON AIRPORT POLLUTION AND THE EFFECTS ON OUR RESIDENTS. YOU ASKED THAT IT BE RETURNED IN 45 TO 60 DAYS. OUR CITY MANAGER STATED THAT THAT HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN OTHER MOTIONS. THROUGH THE CHAOS AND THE CONFUSION, THAT STANDALONE REPORT WAS SET ASIDE. WE STILL DONT HAVE IT.

    SO THE A.A.C. BEGINS THEIR PROCESS IN JANUARY OF 2004. IN EARLY 2004, THE AIRPORT STAFF HIRES HNTB. IN JUNE 2004 HNTB PRESENTS THE STAFF RECOMMEND DESIGN.

    IN JULY 2004, ONE OF THE A.A.C. MEMBERS REQUESTED TWO SMALLER ALTERNATIVES SUPPORTED BY TWO OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

    IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION VOTES 6-3 TO RECOMMEND THE STAFF RECOMMENDED FACILITIES PLAN THAT IS 30% LARGER THAN THE N.O.P. PLAN THAT THEY BEGAN WITH. IT WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER OF 2004.

    THE DELAYS TO DATE HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THE PAST COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF, NOT BY THE COMMUNITY, NOT BY HUSH AND NOT BY ME.

    AN E.I.R. IS A TOOL FOR DECISIONMAKERS. IT ALSO IS A MEANS TO HOLD YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. THERE IS NO DEADLINE. THERE IS PROCESS, AND THE PROCESS AND THE INTENT SHOULD BE TO GET IT RIGHT FOR THE BEST OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

    BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE E.I.R. PROCESS, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO REVIEW ALL DESIRED ALTERNATIVES. IT IS APPROPRIATE TO START WITH THE PREFERRED SIZE, FOLLOWED BY ALTERNATIVES.

    THE PREFERRED SIZE OF THE PROJECT IS GIVEN THE MOST ATTENTION IN THE E.I.R. REVIEW. THE ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT GIVEN THE SAME WEIGHT OF EVALUATION.

    I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN THAT DOES THIS DAILY. WE MUST DECIDE, WHAT IS OUR PREFERENCE WHAT CAN OUR CONSTITUENTS LIVE WITH THE 133,000 SQUARE FEET SUPERSIZE THAT IS LARGER THAN WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY IN 2003, THAT THREW US ALL UP IN ARMS BACK THEN? OR, PERHAPS, THE MORE REASONABLE YET ACCOMMODATING AAC RECOMMENDATION OF ALTERNATIVE TWO.

    IF FURTHER GROWTH IS DESIRED DOWN THE ROAD, THEN A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DEC [Declaration] CAN BE USED FOR LIMITED INCREASES.

    A QUOTE FROM THE E.I.R. EXPERT I SPOKE WITH TODAY, "IT IS WISE TO CAREFULLY DEFINE THE PROJECT AND THE OBJECTIVES, IF NOT, BY THE TIME YOURE INTO THE PLAN YOU MAY BE SO DEEP THAT YOU WANT TO VIOLATE CEQA."

    TODAY WE MUST DECIDE, THE MORE CONTROVERSY THAT WE CREATE BY STARTING THIS PROJECT WITH A FACILITY THAT IS TRIPLE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY -- TRIPLE -- THE MORE MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST AND THE MORE TIME ITS GOING TO TAKE. SO I SAY THAT WE PICK OUR BATTLES WISELY.

    I'D LIKE TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH OUR STAFF ABOUT THE SAFETY AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT WE HAVE AN INADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY. FOR GPU'S, GROUND POWER UNITS. THEY ALLOW THE AIRPLANE TO BE PLUGGED IN WHILE THEY'RE AT THE GATE VERSUS RUNNING THE ENGINE WHICH WASTES FUEL AND CREATES ADDITIONAL POLLUTION.

    I ALSO WAS INFORMED THAT WE HAVE AN INADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY THAT HAS CAUSED OUTAGES ON OUR GLIDE SLOPE AND LOCALIZER. THATS A SAFETY HAZARD. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING PUT AT RISK IF WE DONT HAVE THE POWER TO PROVIDE THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR AIRLINES?

    NOW COMFORT AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT. WHY ARE WE NOT DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO AVOID LEAKING ROOFS AND WATER SETTLING AT THE BASE OF JETBLUE RAMPS TO THE AIRCRAFT? WHY ARE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH PUDDLES?

    IT'S NOT MY FAULT. WHY AREN'T THEY [Airport Mgt.] DOING SOMETHING SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING ON AN AIRPLANE WITH FIVE HOURS WITH WET FEET? I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SMARTS ON OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THAT.

    I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONSULTING SOMEBODY FOR BETTER DRAINAGE FLOW THROUGH THE WALKWAY AREAS.

    WHAT ABOUT THE R.F.P. FOR CONCESSIONS UPDATE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON FASTER TRACK, IT WAS PROPOSED TO HAVE STARTED A YEAR AGO?

    AND THE TENT CITY TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT DOING THAT. WE CAN GIVE THEM A MORE CARED-FOR EXPERIENCE SO THAT OUR CUSTOMERS MAY ACTUALLY ENJOY BEING HERE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS E.I.R. PROCESS. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT AIRPORT STAFF SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TODAY AND YESTERDAY.

    NOW BACK ON TRACK, EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE AS INDIVIDUALS, AS A COMMUNITY, AS A GOVERNING BODY HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WHAT I AM ASKING TONIGHT IS THAT WE MAKE THIS DECISION ON THE SIZING OF THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT BASED NOT ON SIMPLY EMOTION FROM EITHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT ON A VISION AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LONG-TERM IMPACTS, BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, THIS GROWTH WILL HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES AND ULTIMATELY THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

    TODAY, WE HAVE AN AIRPORT THAT SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMMODATES 41 COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS EVERY DAY. BY OUR NOISE ORDINANCE, WE MUST BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADDITIONAL 25 COMMUTER SLOTS. EVEN THOUGH STAFF HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO NOT MARKET THESE VACANCIES, I'M SURE MANY OF YOU READ AMERICA WEST HAS IDENTIFIED AN INTEREST IN SECURING TWO OR THREE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

    WE MUST HAVE A PLAN, A PLAN THAT THE CITY, THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES AND THE AIRPORT TENANTS CAN LIVE WITH. THIS PLAN SHOULD DEFINE PROTECTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, EFFICIENCY OF SERVICE AND RETURN TO THE CITY.

    I HAVE PLANNING DOCUMENTS FROM OUR STAFF, FROM 2002 TO PRESENT THAT ASK FOR ANYWHERE FROM NINE AIRCRAFT PARKING POSITIONS TO TODAY'S HIGH OF 16 FOR THE SAME 41/25 FLIGHTS.

    FROM THE CURRENT HOLD ROOM SPACE OF 6,500 SQUARE FEET TO A MAXIMUM OF 30,070 SQUARE FEET.

    FROM OFFICE OF SPACE OF 12,000 SQUARE FEET TODAY TO 35,470 SQUARE FEET FOR TOMORROW.

    THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT THIS AIRPORT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR US. MANY LIKE TO REFER TO THE WORDING IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN UNDER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THAT STATES, DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR LAND USE AT THE AIRPORT THAT MAXIMIZES THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY.

    YET IT ALSO STATES, DEVELOP A CITYWIDE PLAN FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT THAT ENSURES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

    THE 2010 STRATEGIC PLAN MENTIONS AIRPORT FOUR TIMES, QUALITY OF LIFE EIGHT TIMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS 77 TIMES.

    JOBS. REALIZING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AT OUR 41 FLIGHT SLOT REQUIREMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGING MANY OF THESE JOBS ARE AT ENTRY LEVEL, WHAT IS THE PROJECTION FOR ADDING MORE WORK FORCE?

    CONCESSIONS. ONSITE RETAIL? MAINTENANCE? BASED ON THE INCREASE IN JOBS SINCE THE FILLING OF ALL 41 FLIGHT SLOTS, WHAT ECONOMIC SURGE HAVE WE EXPERIENCED? OUR PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER ALLUDED TO A GAIN IN REVENUE TO THE CITY OF $25 MILLION. THIS AIRPORT GROWTH PROCESS BEGAN IN 2001, YET IN 2004 WE FOUND OURSELVES AS A CITY TO BE IN OVER $100 MILLION IN DEBT.

    SALES TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY FOR EXPANDED CONCESSIONS. WHAT IS THE FORMULA TO PROJECT WHAT THIS MEANS? WHEN WE HAVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, THEN WE DECIDE IF THAT IS WHERE WE PUT OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD ECONOMIC RETURN OR COULD POSSIBLY FOCUSING ON NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL IMPROVEMENTS BE A MORE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD BENEFIT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CHAMBER TO TAKE THAT ON. (Applause)

    I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS IN SUPPORT OF JETBLUE. IN JULY 2001, THE OFFICE OF OUR [former] CITY MANAGER IDENTIFIED TO JETBLUE AIRWAYS A COMMITMENT OF $44,130,000 IN AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO BE DELIVERED BY 2003. THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN THE COMMUNITY WAS FIRST REALIZING THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE JETBLUE AGREEMENT.

    I COULD READ YOU SPECIFICS, BUT I'LL SPARE YOU. NO, I'M GOING TO DO IT. THEY WERE PROMISED RENOVATED TERMINAL BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AIR CONDITIONING. REPLACEMENT OF TERMINAL HOLD ROOM, CARPET, PAINT, FURNITURE IN ADDITION OF HISTORICAL MOTIVE FACADES TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2001. CONSTRUCT HOLD ROOM ADDITION TO BE COMPLETED IN 2002. CONSTRUCT BAGGAGE CLAIM FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2002. CONSTRUCT NEW FOOD COURT, HISTORICAL PLAZA AND NEW GROUND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES TO BE COMPLETED IN 2003. CONSTRUCT A PARKING STRUCTURE TO BE COMPLETED IN 2003.

    NO WONDER JETBLUE IS UPSET. I WOULD BE UPSET TOO. WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO OUR BARGAIN.

    JETBLUE HAS BEEN PROMISED MUCH AND IS UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET WITH THE POOR PROGRESS, HOWEVER JETBLUE CAME HERE KNOWING THE CONSTRAINTS AND THE COMMUNITY ATTITUDE.

    I SUPPORT JETBLUE HAVING A SAFE, EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENT TO DO THEIR WORK, BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THEM THAT AS A CORPORATION, THEY AS A CORPORATION ARE NOT CONSTITUENTS OF LONG BEACH BUT TENANTS OF OUR FACILITY. THEY ARE HERE, AND WE WILL SERVE THEM, BUT IT IS THIS COUNCIL THAT WOULD DECIDE THE PARAMETERS OF THIS EXPANSION THAT WILL INFLUENCE OUR CITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

    AS STATED EARLIER, I HOPE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS PRIOR TO THE BUILDING OF THE NEW TERMINAL.

    I SPEAK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, PARTNERSHIP, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL, NOT THE BAD DEALS FROM THE PAST.

    SIZING IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF OUR HIGH TAX-PRODUCING NEIGHBORHOODS, OF BIXBY KNOLLS, LOS CERRITOS, CAL HEIGHTS AND LOS ALTOS. IF WE DO NOT PROTECT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IT WON'T BE TOMORROW, IF WON'T BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, BUT IF AND WHEN...THAT AIRPORT STARTS TO GROW BECAUSE THE DEMAND REGIONALLY IS ON US TAKING MORE TRAFFIC, THEN WE ARE GOING TO START TO LOSE THE BASE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF INCOME FOR OUR GENERAL FUND.

    SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE ASKING, AND THAT IS THAT WHEN WE REVIEW ON FEBRUARY THE 8TH ALL OF THE OTHER MATERIALS THAT ARE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE E.I.R., THAT WE DO THE FOLLOWING:

    THAT WE CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE TWO, THE SMALLER AND MORE RESPONSIBLE MODERNIZATION PLAN PRESENTED BY HNTB TOTALING 102,980 SQUARE FEET AS THE LARGEST ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERED WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS: A MAXIMUM OF 11 GATES AND 12 AIRCRAFT PARKING POSITIONS.

    THE NEXT POSITION TO LOOK AT WOULD BE THE ORIGINAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION FROM SEPTEMBER 22ND OF THE N.O.P. TOTALING 93,500 SQUARE FEET.

    A STAFF-GENERATED ALTERNATIVE SMALLER THAN THE N.O.P. AND AN ALTERNATIVE THAT MAKES EXISTING TEMPORARY FACILITIES PERMANENT FOR A TOTAL OF WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, 58,320 SQUARE FEET AND THEN FINALLY, AS IN ALL E.I.R's A NO-BUILD OPTION.

    I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

    [Audience applause with standing ovation, continues for roughly half a minute]

    Councilman O'Donnell: ...WE HAVE A RESPONSIBLE PIECE OF POLICY IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT. AND I WANTED TO MAKE THIS CLEAR. I RESPECT THE WORK OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THANK THEM FOR PRESENTING THEIR WORK TO US IN EARLY JANUARY IN FACT, TONIGHT WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADOPT ONE OF THEIR PROPOSALS, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME MESSAGES OUT THERE WE HAVENT RESPECTED THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION, AND I THINK IN FACT WERE VERY MUCH RESPECTING IT WHEN WE ADOPT ALTERNATIVE TWO, WHICH IS THE SMALLEST OF THEIR PROPOSALS.

    I WILL NOT ASK FOR PERMISSION TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR BUILDING CONSENSUS. OUR PROPOSAL OUR PROPOSAL IS REASONABLE, NOT RECKLESS. TONIGHT'S VOTE IS SIMPLE. IT'S SIMPLE. YOU ARE EITHER ON THE SIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR YOU ARE NOT...

    I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENT ON BOTH SIDE OF THIS ISSUE AND I THINK THIS FINDS AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE, AND THE SIGN OF A GOOD COMPROMISE IS WHEN NEITHER SIDE GETS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. AND I THINK THIS IS SUCH A CASE, AND THIS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE. LETS MOVE FORWARD.

    ...

    Councilman Val Lerch: ...MR. [City Attorney] SHANNON, IF WE VOTE TONIGHT ESSENTIALLY THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND TO FIND WHETHER OR NOT WERE GOING TO HAVE 133 [thousand square foot proposal] OR NOT, IS THAT CORRECT?

    City Attorney Shannon: WELL THAT'S NOT QUITE TRUE. YOU STILL HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS COUNCILMEMBER GABELICH POINTS OUT FOR THE FULL SCOPE OF THE E.I.R. AND OTHER ISSUES BUT IN ALL FAIRNESS, ALTERNATIVE TWO...IS THE SMALLER ALTERNATIVE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE THAT HAS CAUSED DISAGREEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING IS WOULD IT BE FAIR TO VOTE TONIGHT ON WHAT IS THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE AND I WOULD PREFER TO WAIT TO SEE IF ANYONE ARTICULATES A BASIS, ANYONE COMES TO THE PODIUM TO ARTICULATE A BASIS TO ESTABLISH THAT IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO MAKE A FINAL VOTE TONIGHT ON THIS ALTERNATIVE TWO, AND THEN, TO MAKE IT AND THEN TO SUGGEST TO YOU WHETHER YOU SHOULD VOTE TONIGHT BASED UPON THOSE ARGUMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF NOBODY COMES FORWARD AND SAYS, OK, THIS NEEDS TO GO OVER UNTIL NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE NEED MORE TIME TO PREPARE AN ARGUMENT AND TO GIVE A FULL VETTING TO THIS ISSUE, IF NOBODY COMES FORWARD, THEN IT'S CERTAINLY FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE TONIGHT, AND AGAIN, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT PROCESS. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, SOMEONE ARTICULATES A BASIS FOR WAITING UNTIL NEXT WEEK, IT MIGHT VERY WELL BE FAIR TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK BEFORE YOU CONSIDER FINAL VOTING...

    Councilman Lerch:...I BELIEVE THAT NOBODY'S EVER PROVEN TO ME SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL, OTHER THAN THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR VEINS AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND THE BOEING PROJECT OUT THERE, WHY WE NEED AN AIRPORT IN THIS CITY IN THE FIRST DARN PLACE. [applause] BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS...WE SHOULD NOT SEND THE MESSAGE TO OUR COMMISSIONERS TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WORK WITH US AS A CITY AND GIVE US ADVICE, THEIR PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE WE DO TONIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD COME BACK AND WE TALK NEXT WEEK...

    NEXT WEEK I WILL NOT BE ON THE SIDE OF 133, BUT WE OWE THAT DUTY TO OUR COMMISSION TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY...

    Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga: ...AS A THIRD SIGNATORY ON THIS ITEM...IT'S NOT AS IF WE'VE IGNORED THE AAC RECOMMENDATIONS. ON JANUARY 4, WE'VE HAD AN AIRPORT E.I.R. TERMINAL FACILITIES PRESENTATION THAT DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED INCLUDING THE 250 PAGES OF MINUTES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL, SO WE HAVE NOT IGNORED THE WORK OF THE AAC, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY SEVENTH DISTRICT [AAC member] CAROL SOCCIO, THAT I WANT TO THANK. SHES NOT A HUSH2 MEMBER BUT SHE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRPORT.

    I HAVE CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I MEAN, IN MY DISTRICT, AND AFTER REDISTRICTING I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE BIXBY AREA AS WELL, THE BIXBY HIGHLAND AREA AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THATS WHY I SIGNED ONTO THIS ITEM AND I AM HOPING WE WILL CONSIDER THAT TODAY...

    Councilman Frank Colonna: ...I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT BECAUSE I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER GABELICH ON THE ORIGINAL MEMO, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AGENDIZED AT THAT TIME, BUT I THOUGHT THAT PRUDENTLY IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO INFORM THE CITY MANAGER OF HER REQUEST BY TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE AIRPORT AND ALSO TO EXPRESS THE OPINION THAT AFTER HOURS OF DISCUSSION AND MANY, MANY HOURS OF COMMUNITY INPUT THAT I FELT IN MY OWN POSITION THAT I WAS QUALIFIED TO MAKE A FINAL DISPOSITION AS TO WHAT I FELT COULD BE THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF STARTING A PROCESS.

    BECAUSE AS THOSE OF US THAT HAVE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, YOU HAVE THE "NO BUILD" AND THEN YOU HAVE THE LARGER SIZE, WHICH LARGER SIZE COULD BE BY DEFINITION WHAT THIS COUNCIL CHOOSES THE LARGER SIZE TO BE...

    ...THERE IS NOTHING CAST IN STONE HERE IN TERMS OF WHEN THESE TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS CAN OCCUR, AND I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TONIGHT AND I AM PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE IN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE TONIGHT.

    JUST FOR MY OWN BACKGROUND, I GREW UP AT 3615 LEMON, AND I REMEMBER AS A YOUNGSTER LOOKING UP IN THE SKY AND WATCHING THOSE GLOBEMASTERS JUST HANGING THERE AND SHAKING THE HOUSE, I MEAN INORDINATELY. MY PAPER CORNER WAS AT LEWIS AND 36th (I DELIVERED THE PRESS-TELEGRAM) SO I'M VERY MUCH FAMILIAR WITH AIRPORT NOISE AND WHAT IT DOES TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS...

    ...I THINK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL HAS A GENUINE FEELING THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AT THE SAME TIME UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A FLYING PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO WHEN THIS FIRST AIR FIELD WAS BUILT AS DAUGHERTY FIELD.

    NOW THAT BEING ALL SAID, I AM SUPPORTING THE ALTERNATIVE TWO AS THE HIGHER END. MY BIT OF CONCERN HERE IS THAT IN BEING TRUE TO WHAT MY POSITION WAS IN SUPPORTING THE ALTERNATIVE TWO WAS THAT IT WAS THE 11 AIRCRAFT GATES AND WE HAVE A STUDY OF AIRCRAFT PARKING POSITIONS OF 14 TO 15. AND AS I COMMUNICATED TO COUNCILMEMBER GABELICH OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT I FELT THAT FOR SAFETY PURPOSES ALONE, IF NOTHING ELSE, BECAUSE WE STILL MAINTAIN OUR OPTIONS, THAT WE CERTAINLY CAN STUDY FROM 12 TO 15 PARKING POSITIONS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT. WE'RE DESIGNING BASICALLY A HORSESHOE-SHAPED TERMINAL, AT LEAST TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW THE SAFETY ISSUES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT FORWARD TO US WHEN WE STUDY THE E.I.R., SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE IN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FLEXIBILITY...

    MY POSITION IS, I WANT TO BUILD A SMART, SAFE, EFFICIENT, STREAMLINED TERMINAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE FLYING PUBLIC, MEANING MANY OF US HERE, AND ALSO THE NECESSITY WHEN WE TOOK ON THESE ISSUES OF ACCEPTING GRANTS FROM THE FAA, AND ENGAGING IN AIRPORT OPERATIONS AS WE SEE IT TODAY...

    I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE THAT ON THE ALTERNATIVE TWO, AND I'M ASKING AND WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT LATER, IS THAT WE MAINTAIN SOME FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AIRPORT PARKING POSITIONS, AND IF WE TAKE THE POSITION OF BETWEEN 12 TO A MAXIMUM OF 15, THAT WE GET THE SAFETY REPORTS BACK AS TO AIR QUALITY, BECAUSE AIRPLANES COULD BE TAXIING AND WAITING FOR A PARKING POSITION TO CREATE ADDITIONAL AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS AT THE AIRPORT...

    THE SECOND IS, WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF A FULL COMPLIMENT OF 66 LONGRANGE AND COMMUTER FLIGHTS, AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT THAT ARE SITTING AT THE AIRPORT TERMINALS OR WAITING ON THE TARMAC TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK AND WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE ALL AGREED TO THAT IT IS 41 FLIGHTS AND 25 COMMUTER...SO I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO JUSTICE TO HONORING OUR OPTIONS, BUT I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE ALTERNATIVE TWO. [Applause]

    ...

    Vice Mayor Jackie Kell: ...I HAVE HAD TWO ELECTIONS TO BE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND I ALWAYS HAD ON MY SIGNS, QUALITY NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST. THAT WAS ALWAYS MY MESSAGE ON MY YARD SIGNS [applause]...I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE FINAL VOTE TO BE NEXT WEEK, BECAUSE I ALSO WANT COUNCILMAN BAKER TO BE HERE. I WOULD LIKE THE WHOLE COUNCIL TO BE HERE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MUCH STRONGER VOTE THAN IF YOU CAN COME BACK AND SAY THE WHOLE COUNCIL VOTED ON THIS...

    Public Testimony
    .

    Harry Pope: ...I AGREE THAT YOU OUGHT TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE NEXT WEEK WITH THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF OPTIONS. I THINK THE BASE CASE THAT WAS PROPOSED IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK ALTERNATIVE TWO IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK ALTERNATIVE ONE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE NO BUILD OR DO-NOTHING OPTION, JUST FIX WHAT YOU HAVE GOT, SHOULD BE YOUR BASE CASE AND IT SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.

    AND THEN YOU HAVENT EVEN CONSIDERED THE OTHER OPTION THAT I THINK MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WOULD SUPPORT. THAT IS, BULLDOZE THIS SUCKER AND SHUT IT DOWN...(laughter and applause)...

    Janet Richardson: ...EVERYONE HERE AGREES THAT THE NOISE ORDINANCE MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE CHALLENGE THAT WILL SOMEDAY COME, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO POSITION THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO BEST DEFEND THAT CHALLENGE AND PROTECT THIS ORDINANCE. NOW, THE STAFF-PROPOSED EXPANSION WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY CREATE CAPACITY FOR FAR MORE THAN THE CURRENT 41 + 25 FLIGHTS DESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE AND YOUR AIRPORT ATTORNEY, MR. GATZKE, HAS SAID THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS EXPANSION IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ORDINANCE. I'M TELLING YOU THAT THE CREATION OF EXCESS CAPACITY AS THE STAFF RECOMMENDS WILL HARM YOUR ABILITY TO DEFEND THE ORDINANCE AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA YOU'LL NEED TO PROTECT YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES.

    YOU DON'T HAVE DATA ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE AIRPORT AND OF THE ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS THAT THIS EXCESS CAPACITY MIGHT ALLOW. YOU DONT HAVE DATA ON THE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES OR OTHER DETRIMENTAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS. YOU DONT HAVE DATA ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. AND GIVEN THAT LACK OF DATA, IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR YOU TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM NECESSARY TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE THE 41 PLUS 25 FLIGHTS, REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELING PUBLIC AND MAKE THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT A NICE GATEWAY TO OUR LOVELY CITY. [applause]

    NOW, BRIEFLY, WITH RESPECT TO COUNCILMAN LERCH'S PROPOSAL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT NO ONE WHO FOLLOWED THE A.A.C. PROCESS COULD POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE LARGEST POSSIBLE EXPANSION WERE DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR OPINIONS HEARD. AND SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL TONIGHT...

    John Willard: ...IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, INCLUDE IN THAT STUDY...WHAT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT WOULD BE TO BUSINESS OF EXPANSION AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE TRAFFIC AND WITH THE IMPACT IT HAS ON PROPERTY VALUES...I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS...

    I'M ALSO FOR A SMALLER TERMINAL. THE SMALLER THE BETTER. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT BELIEVE THAT THE LARGER YOU GET, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE ONTARIO, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS BIG SPACE AND THEYRE GOING TO TRY TO FILL IT UP WITH FLIGHTS TO JUSTIFY IT BEING THERE...

    Lou Anne Bynum [Governing Board Chair, LB Area Chamber of Commerce]: ...WE HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU OUR OFFICIAL POSITION REGARDING THE AIRPORT EXPANSION AND YOU'VE GOT INFORMATION ON THAT. TONIGHT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FULL SCOPING OF THE E.I.R., AND ALSO, IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME, I WANTED TO MENTION THE LEGAL OPTIONS THAT YOU'LL BE SEEKING, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE LINKED.

    WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU PROCEED WITH THE FULL SCOPING OF THE E.I.R. AS WELL AS ALL THE ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE TAKEN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDED BUT WE ARE WILLING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THAT PROCESS WILL LEAD TO, AND WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON FEBRUARY 8TH...

    THE COMMUNITY HAS GONE THROUGH TWO YEARS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF EXTENSIVE WORK, AND THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS GONE TO EXTENSIVE WORK AS WELL. WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT THAT COMMITMENT AND CONSIDER THE MERITS OF EVALUATING THE FULL RANGE OF SIZING ALTERNATIVES FROM ZERO TO THE MAXIMUM AND INCLUDE THE FULL STUDY PRIOR TO ANY DESIGN PROJECT THAT YOU MIGHT SUBMIT...

    THE NOISE ORDINANCE IS A CRITICAL CONCERN TO ALL OF US, THE CHAMBER INCLUDED. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE ORDINANCE, AND I THINK HOW WE INTERPRET PROTECTING THE ORDINANCE IS WHERE SOME OF US PROBABLY DIFFER, AND THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, IF YOU DONT MIND, THE LEGAL OPTIONS. THAT IS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TONIGHT. YOU'RE ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE OPTIONS THAT WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND THE NOISE ORDINANCE.

    YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION. WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU'RE ASKING TO WEIGH IN ALL THE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION. IF YOUR INTENT IS TO ENSURE THAT A LEGAL OPINION WOULD HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO PROTECTING OUR PRIZE ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WOULD WANT TO COVER ALL THE PLANS AND THE FULL E.I.R. THAT YOU HAVE ASSESSED ALL POSSIBILITIES WHERE YOU HAVE SOLID LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THE ORDINANCE AND ALL POSSIBILITIES WHERE THERE MAY BE WEAKNESSES THAT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO CONTEST THE ORDINANCE.

    YOU CANT GET THAT UNLESS YOU LOOK AT THE FULL E.I.R. SCOPING FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT YOU NEED. BY ALLOWING THAT TO TAKE PLACE AND GOING AHEAD WITH THOSE LEGAL OPINIONS, YOU'LL HAVE THE DATA AND INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.

    I JUST WANT TO SAY TOO THAT THE CHAMBER STANDS READY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AND TO PROTECT THAT ORDINANCE AND TO WORK WITH YOU AS WELL TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS.

    John Deats: ...RAE, YOU DID YEOMAN'S WORK ON THIS AND I ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH COUNCILMAN COLONNA'S COMMENTS. I THINK HIS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT MAYBE LOOKING AT MORE PARKING POSITIONS FOR AIRPLANES DOES MAKE SENSE. AND WITH THAT I JUST ASK YOU TO ASK THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TO PASS THIS AND ACT ON IT TONIGHT...

    Paul Gutierrez: ...I'M A RESIDENT OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT AND A PROUD MEMBER OF LONG BEACH HUSH2, SO I FOR THE PRESS-TELEGRAM WHO WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE SOME KIND OF STRANGE PEOPLE AND DON'T REALLY REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE CITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM HERE TO HELP DISPEL THAT KIND OF RUMOR...

    I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE TOLD US WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUILD ANYTHING, AND WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT HAVE WORKED IN FORCING MORE FLIGHTS ONTO AIRPORTS ARE WHEN THEY REFUSE TO USE ALL OF THEIR CAPACITY, AND THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN BURBANK, THATS WHATS HAPPENED AT ALL THE OTHER AIRPORTS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FORCE TO TAKE MORE FLIGHTS, SO IN SPITE OF WHAT THE PRESS TELEGRAM MAY HAVE WANTED TO SAY TODAY, IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME, IF WE MAKE EXCESS CAPACITY WE WILL HAVE MORE FLIGHTS...

    Kristy Ardizzone [JetBlue Airways]: ...I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE SO MUCH IN MY LIFE IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR DAYS, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A PARTICIPANT AND CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS AS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND TO CONTINUE TO GIVE INPUT, DATA, RECEIVE IT, LISTEN TO STUDIES, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT COMES FROM THE R.F.P. AND THE BIDS FROM THE CONCESSIONS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES OUT THAT WILL ENHANCE OR HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY IS NEEDED OUT THERE.

    WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE [February] 8TH., HAVE BEEN. WE SUPPORT FROM THE NO BUILD ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN AND WE'D CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT COMES BACK THAT WE HAVENT LOOKED OR THAT WE HAVENT BEEN AWARE OF TO THAT POINT.

    AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY POINT FROM MR. SHANNON, BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAVE BEEN PREPARED ALL THE WAY LONG FOR FEBRUARY 8TH. SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING IF ANYBODY WANT IF ANYONE OBJECTS TO THIS GOING TONIGHT, YES, JETBLUE VEHEMENTLY OBJECTS TO THIS GOING TONIGHT. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR WEEKS NOW TO DISCUSS THIS OPTION AND THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE PREPARED FOR FEBRUARY 8TH, WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT PREPARED FOR TONIGHT, AND SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT, AND WE ARE WOULD LIKE TO GO ON THE RECORD, THAT WE HOPE THIS CONTINUES FOR FEBRUARY 8.

    Councilwoman Gabelich: ...MAY I ASK A QUESTION?...KRISTY, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JETBLUE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATIVE SIZING? DO YOU THINK THAT THE SIZE IS WHAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO?

    Kristy Ardizzone, JetBlue Airways: I'M NOT THE EXPERT IN THAT. WE DO HAVE EXPERTS THAT DO. PROPERTIES, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THEM HERE THAT'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT BUT WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS AND PEOPLE THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS WOULD GO THROUGH AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, JUST TODAY ALONE, I'VE HAD THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS: "WOULD YOU DO THIS? WOULD YOU DO THAT? WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS?" I CAN'T SPEAK IN FIVE MINUTES FOR SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS OUR WHOLE COMPANY. WE DON'T WORK THAT WAY AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT YOU WOULD WORK THAT WAY EITHER.

    Councilwoman Gabelich NO. I GUESS WHAT I'M REALLY ASKING YOU IS WOULD, THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS, JETBLUE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE A VIABLE, EFFICIENT TERMINAL TODAY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SIZE IS?...

    Ms. Ardizzone: IT'S NOT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SIZE IS. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR ALL ALONG IS FUNCTIONAL, ADEQUATE FACILITIES, AND IF YOU'RE TALKING DO I KNOW A SPECIFIC SQUARE FOOTAGE, OR WOULD WE BE AMICABLE TO LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE, OF COURSE WE'RE AMICABLE TO LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT'S PRESENTED TO US AND WE CAN TAKE BACK TO OUR OWN EXPERTS AND OUR OWN CONSULTANTS...

    Councilwoman Gabelich: ...AND ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS EVEN LARGER THAN WHAT YOU HEARD PROPOSED A YEAR AGO. IS THAT ACCURATE?

    Ms. Ardizzone:: YOU MEAN LARGER THAN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION?

    Councilwoman Gabelich: THE N.O.P....

    Ms. Ardizzone: NOBODY'S EVER COME BACK TO ME WITH THAT.

    Councilwoman Gabelich: NO. THE N.O.P. THE ORIGINAL....YOU DONT REMEMBER THAT..

    Ms. Ardizzone: OF COURSE I REMEMBER IT.

    Councilwoman Gabelich: THANK YOU.

    ...

    Jeff Landgrabe [sp?], JetBlue Airways: ...I'M WITH JETBLUE AIRWAYS, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE SIZE OF IT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.

    ...WE AT THIS POINT DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IS BECAUSE THE E.I.R. STUDY HAS NOT GONE DOWN TO SAY WHAT IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE A FEW MINUTES AGO SAID BUILD EXCESS CAPACITY AND THEY WILL COME. DO WE KNOW WHAT EXCESS CAPACITY IS? WHERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT SAYS "THIS IS EXCESS" AND "THIS IS NOT EXCESS." "THIS IS JUST RIGHT." WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I HAVE NOT HEARD IT YET. AND

    ...AND I WILL REITERATE WHAT KRISTY SAID, THAT JETBLUE DOES OBJECT TO THIS MOTION...

    Doug Haubert: ...I LIVE IN THE 4TH DISTRICT AND I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION. I WAS ONE OF THE THREE MEMBERS WHO VERY ADAMANTLY AND I THINK VERY STRONGLY OPPOSED THE MASSIVE SIZE OF THE LARGEST PROJECT, THE PROPOSED PROJECT. AND I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WENT ON AND WHAT DIDN'T GO ON AT THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION LEVEL, AND SINCE I HAVE THREE MINUTES TONIGHT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT IN A LOT OF DEPTH.

    BUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO I HAD THE PLEASURE TO ATTEND THE [Mayor's] STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AND THE AIRPORT ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED IN THAT SPEECH. AND IT WAS STATED THAT CITY NEEDS TO BUILD A CONSENSUS AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONSENSUS.

    THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION FAILED IN CREATING A CONSENSUS. THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION PUT FORTH A SIZING ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT, 133,000 SQUARE FEET, THAT CAN'T BE DESCRIBED WITH ANY OTHER WORD OTHER THAN MASSIVE.

    THE ANALOGY USED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLONNA, I THINK, IS ACTUALLY VERY ACCURATE AND THAT IS IF YOU SHOWED THE PUBLIC A 22 LANE FREEWAY, OF COURSE THERE IS GOING TO BE ANXIETY. OF COURSE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO POINT FINGERS AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT'S UNREASONABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BURDEN WAS PUT ON THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT'S REASONABLE HERE TONIGHT. I WISH THAT MORE OF THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT THE COMMISSION LEVEL SO THAT THE COUNCIL COULD HAVE SOMETHING BEFORE IT THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS FELT SAFE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FELT THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED AND THE END RESULT IS ONE THAT WE COULD ALL LIVE WITH.

    RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT I THINK A SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF THIS POPULATION CANNOT LIVE WITH. THEY WILL NOT ALL THEIR CITY TO BE DESTROYED BY BEING OVERCOME BY A LARGER AIRPORT.

    THE STATEMENT A MOMENT AGO BY THE JETBLUE REPRESENTATIVE IS THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT ALL DESIRED ALTERNATIVES. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I ARGUE WITH THAT STATEMENT. YOUR JOB [to the Council] IS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE DESIRED ALTERNATIVES ARE AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT A GIGANTIC TERMINAL THEN YOU WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF PUSHING THIS OFF TO ANOTHER DATE, ALLOWING ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES TO GO FORWARD AND LET'S JUST LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM L.A.X. TO JOHN WAYNE DOWN TO ALL THE PROJECTS, LET'S JUST LOOK AT ALL OF IT BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL THE PROJECTS. WELL, THE IMPORTANT WORD IN THAT STATEMENT WAS ALL DESIRED ALTERNATIVES.

    THIS COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE A DECISION. THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION, IT WAS TOLD TO ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LOOK DOUG, WE'RE JUST AN ADVISORY BODY. IT'S THE COUNCIL THAT'S GOING TO PICK THE SCOPE OF THE E.I.R. WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE IN THAT PROCESS. YOU HAVE HAD TWO WORK SHOPS AND I THINK THAT IT'S YOUR JOB TO PICK THE SCOPE OF THE EIR AND TO ELIMINATE ALL UNDESIRED ALTERNATIVES. YOU NEED TO DO THAT SO THIS THING CAN MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DIVIDING THIS CITY.

    THIS CITY IS DIVIDED. MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIVIDED AND I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS WHO AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS IS JUST UNREASONABLE AND I'LL USE THE WORD IRRESPONSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN USED BEFORE, BUT I THINK IF THE PROCESS RESULTS IN A RESPONSIBLE CONSENSUS-BUILDING APPROACH I THINK THAT THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE BENEFITED...[applause]

    Linda Sopo: ...I LIVE IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT IN A LOVELY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT JACKIE [Kell] REPRESENTS...TONIGHT IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME I HAVE COME HERE AND, NO PUN INTENDED, I ACTUALLY FEEL A "RAE" OF HOPE. [applause].

    ...MY CONCERN IS CONSTITUENTS. WE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. HAS ANYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PEOPLE HOLDING OFF ON REMODELING THEIR HOUSES NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE? [applause}

    ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS I GET SO FRUSTRATED WHEN THE PAPER TALKS ABOUT, WE GEE HOW CAN YOU TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES [when} PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING UP AND UP AND UP. WELL THAT'S THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS...

    ...WE JUST RECENTLY REMODELED OUR KITCHEN AND BOUGHT OUR HOUSE SEVEN YEARS AGO AND OUR CHILDREN WERE SMALLER THEN IT'S A LOVELY HOUSE...BUT THEY HAVE THESE LITTLE TINY KITCHENS THAT THEY BUILT. I DONT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE THINKING...WE PLANNED [to remodel] OUR KITCHEN...I WANTED TO BUST OUT A WALL SO BADLY. I WOULD LOVED TO HAVE INCREASED THE SIZE OF MY KITCHEN 380%. (laughs). IT DIDNT HAPPEN. WE DISCUSSED IT. WE LOOKED AT IT. WE LOOKED AT THE RAMIFICATIONS AND GUESS WHAT WE DID. WE KEPT THE KITCHEN THE SAME SIZE. WE RECONFIGURED, WE UPDATED. WE MADE IT BEAUTIFUL. AND YOU KNOW, THE FUNNY PART IT FEELS BIGGER TO ME NOW BECAUSE THE LAYOUT WORKS BETTER AND NO WALLS GOT KNOCKED OUT...(cheers build).

    Joe Sopo: ...PATRICK, TONIA AND RAE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TONIGHT. (applause) RAE, YOU WERE WONDERFUL...

    YOU KNOW, EARLIER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FROM THIS AIRPORT. WE GOT 41 FLIGHTS, WE'VE HAD 41 FLIGHTS FOR A WHILE. WHAT ECONOMIC ENGINE? HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE WE IN THE RED? WHERE IS IT? I DON'T SEE IT. SOMEONE COULD COME UP HERE AND TAPDANCE AND HAVE A LOT OF INITIALS PAST THEIR NAME BUT I DON'T SEE IT OUT THERE.

    WHAT I DO SEE IS, ORANGE COUNTY, THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT EL TORO, SO A FELLOW BY THE NAME OF LARRY BALES [sp]. LARRY BALES IS AN AUDITOR, APPAIRSER...HE PUT TOGETHER A STUDY ABOUT LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUE AND LOSS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ATTRIBUTED TO EL TORO AIRPORT NOISE. NOW, MY QUESTION IS, HOW COULD THEY LOSE MONEY AND WE GAIN MONEY? I DON'T GET THAT. (applause).

    IT MAKES A RELL SIMPLE STATEMENT (paraphrases)...PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A NOISE IMPACTED AREA, THEY DON'T LIKE TO RECREATE THERE, THEY DON'T LIKE TO SHOP THERE. THEY DON'T LIKE TO GO TO PARKS THERE. THEY DON'T LIKE TO LIVE THERE.

    SO, I HAVE GIVEN THIS COPY TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN STACKS THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED BEFORE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO YOU BUT IT POINTS OUT THE LOSS OF PROPERTY TAX AND LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUES. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY ON THAT...

    ..THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE G.P.U.S, THE GROUND POWER UNITS. NOW I SPENT FOUR OR FIVE HOURS AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE DISCUSSED PIER J. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COLD IRONING,....TURNING OFF THOSE ENGINES OF THOSE SHIPS OUT THERE THAT ARE SPEWING ALL THAT BLACK PARTICLE MATTER ALL OVER OUR BASIN HERE. AND IT WAS REAL IMPORTANT FOR YOU THAT THEY DO THAT.

    BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT SOMETHING CALLED G.P.U.S OUT THERE, GROUND POWER UNITS, AND THEY'RE NOT HOOKED UP TO ELECTRICITY BECAUSE THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY OUT THERE. AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY [planes not hooked up to GPUs] BURN 38 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL PER HOUR, 22 HOURS PER DAY. AND THEY'RE POLLUTIN'. AND THE PLANES ARE OFF [not connected to GPUs] AND THEY're POLLUTIN' OUR AIR OUT THERE. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE'S DISCUSSING AND JET BLUE WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED AND SO WOULD I.

    [and another thing]...J.T. POWERS RATES OUR SMALL, QUAINT, CONVENIENT AIRPORTS NUMBER ONE OM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THANK YOU.

    Steve Koenig: ...I LIVE WITHIN THE THIRD DISTRICT...I THINK I REPRESENT THOSE WHO ARE COMING INTO THE AREA, I HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW, YOUNG CHILDREN, PRESCHOOL AGE, AND THAT ARE ACTUALLY REVITALIZING PORTIONS THAT IS AROUND THE AIRPORT.

    AND TWO ECONOMIC POINTS THAT I WANTED TO HIT ON THAT REALLY HIT HOME WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF ME. ONE IS THE CONCERN AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES, ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE OF REMODELING. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EFFORT GOING IN. ALL OF US WITH SMALL LITTLE CHILDREN WITH THE SMALL HOUSES, WE HEARD ABOUT SMALL KITCHENS. THERE IS A LOT OF US THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH REMODELING AT THIS CURRENT TIME. THOSE ECONOMIC IMPACTS. IT DOESNT ONLY GO TO THE PLUMBERS AND THE ELECTRICIANS AND THE FRAMERS THAT ARE BUILDING THE HOUSE. IT GOES TO THE MORTGAGE BROKERS, REALTORS, IT REALLY DOES SPREAD OUT DEEPLY IN THE COMMUNITY. WITH THIS BREED OF CONSTITUENCY AS MYSELF COMING IN, I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE ECONOMICALLY CONSIDERED.

    I THINK A SECOND ONE THAT I DIDN'T HEAR IN THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT DID CONCERN ME A LITTLE BIT IS THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT MINI GANT ELEMENTARY [school] WHICH IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST SCORING SCHOOL IN THE AREA, IT RIVALS LOS ALAMITOS, ORANGE COUNTY, IT'S ONE THE ONLY ONES WITH THE GREATER THAN 900 STANDARDIZED SCORES YET THE CONCERNS AROUND WHAT THE AIRPORT IN THE LANDING PATH DOES FOR THAT WHICH IS IN MY MIND A SHOWCASE EDUCATIONAL AREA AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I MOVED INTO THE LOS ALTOS AREA NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED...

    Mike McCarty: ...I'M IN THE THIRD DISTRICT..I'M LOOKING AT DOING A MAJOR REMODEL OF MY HOUSE, AND SPENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, ADN WE HAVE SMALL KIDS AND WE'RE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE'VE PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD BECAUSE WE'RE A CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE WITH THE LARGER AIRPORT, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MORE FLIGHTS. WE MOVED INTO THE AREA, WE KNEW THERE WERE FLIGHTS AND WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE AMOUNT OF FLIGHTS, THE AMOUNT OF NOISE THAT IS AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. IT IS MANAGEABLE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD BALANCE. SO I THINK THAT KEEPING THAT CURRENT LEVEL WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR THE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.

    THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THE PROPOSED SIZE OF THE AIRPORT EXPANSIONS. I THINK ONE OF THE PROPONENTS [points] OF MAKING IT LARGER WAS TO MAKE IT MORE STREAMLINED, TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF A MORE EFFICIENT AIRPORT OUT THERE, AND A LOT OF CREDIT GOES TO COMPANIES LIKE JETBLUE...ALL MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, RELATIVES WHO HAVE EVER FLOWN THROUGH LONG BEACH HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISES ABOUT HOW IT IS A VERY EFFICIENT AIRPORT, EASY TO GET IN AND OUT, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MAKING IT LARGER CAN IMPROVE THAT.

    ...

    Kevin McAchren [LB Airport Ass'n]: ...I THINK WE DON'T NEED TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER HERE TONIGHT. I THINK WE NEED IN PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLAN THAT WAS RECOMMEND OUT OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION AFTER OVER NINE MONTHS OF STUDY, THE PREFERRED PLAN WAS ACTUALLY A COMPROMISE TO BEGIN WITH. BECAUSE AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE INDUSTRY, FAA RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES, AND AGAIN THOSE ARE IDEAL SITUATIONS, ARE ABOUT TWICE THE 133,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPOSAL. SO I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO TONIGHT ESSENTIALLY IS OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION...BUT I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ALTERNATIVES...

    George Keeler [sp?], JetBlue Airways: I'M THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF PROPERTUES FOR THE WESTERN REGION FOR JETBLUE...I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF ANY AIRPORT EXPANSION.

    WE BELIEVE IN THIS 41-25 [noise budgeted flights in ordinance] AND WE THINK IT NEEDs TO BE PROTECTED. WHAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF IS MODERNIZATION. WE WANT SOMETHING THAT ADEQUATELY SUPPORTS OR OPERATIONS THERE AND ADEQUATELY SUPPORTS THE TRAVELING PUBLIC AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS WHAT THE ENTIRE ISSUE IS HERE...

    WE, AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION, ADVISED THEM TO NOT GET HUNG UP ON THE SIZE OF A ROOM, ON THE WINDOWS, ON THE PAINT, THE COLOR SCHEMES OR ANY OF THE MINOR DETAILS, BUT TO LOOK AT THE LONG RANGE PLAN AT HOW YOU SUPPORT THAT 41-25, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IF YOU ARE ADEQUATELY SUPPORTING THAT 41-25, THEN YOU DO HAVE A STRONG DEFENSE DWEN ANY OUTSIDE ATTACKS ON THAT.

    I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN HUNG UP ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE NEW TERMINAL OR THE SHAPE OR THE COLOR OR ANY OF THAT. WE WANT SOMETHING THAT WORKS.

    I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF THE BIGGEST PLAN OR THE SMALLEST PLAN BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE AIRLINES. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M PROBABLY MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM BECAUSE I HAVE ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS. BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT AMERICAN AND AMERICAN WEST AND HORIZON AND ALASKA ARE NOT HERE AND I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO ANY OF THEM. SO I DONT KNOW WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE OR HOW THEIR OPERATION IS GOING TO WORK IN THE FUTURE. BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE THIS THING TO NEXT WEEK. WE'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF LIMITING THE SIZE IN ANY WAY AT THIS POINT THIS TIME. I THINK ALL SIZES NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

    I THINK COUNCILMAN COLONNA...HAD THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. LET'S NOT DECIDE WHAT SIZE OR WHAT NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES WE NEED. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT WORKS AND THAT'S THE SIZE YOU NEED. IT ISNT FOUR, IT ISN'T 12, IT ISN'T 18, IT ISNT A SET NUMBER UNTIL WE REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

    WE CANT PARK AIRPLANES BEHIND AIRPLANES AND GET THE FIRST ONE OUT BY TAXIING OTHER PLANES OUT OF THE WAY. I DOESN'T WORK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. SO WERE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES OUT THERE ON THE AIRPORT, TRYING TO OPERATE A SAFE OPERATION. WE'RE DOING IT. WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE. THANK YOU.

    Clark Stever [sp?]: ...IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT A SECRET TO ME NOR DOES IT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN A SECRET TO MOST OF THE COMMUNITY OF WHAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TONIGHT. ON THE CONTRARY, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS THROUGH THE WORK OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY HAVE CERTAINLY TURNED OUT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME...THAT THIS TH IS A VERY APPROPRIATE THING TO VOTE ON, OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT THIS EVENING...I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HERE. I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN FOR WHAT ARE THE ACCEPTABLE LIMITS OF THIS AIRPORT.

    AS OUR PARTNERS AT JETBLUE HAVE POINTED OUT MANY TIMES, THIS IS NOT JETBLUE'S AIRPORT. THIS IS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S AIRPORT. (applause) SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.

    Mike Kowal: ...I'M WITH LONG BEACH HUSH. THERE'S BEEN SOME ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DIALOGUE TONIGHT AND IF WE DON'T RESOLVE ANYTHING ELSE TONIGHT...MY WISH IS THAT THE LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM PUT RAE'S (Councilwoman Gabelich) STATEMENT VERBATIM IN THEIR PAPER TOMORROW SO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY GETS AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOIN' ON AT THE AIRPORT. (applause). SHE TOTALLY LAID OUT THE HISTORY OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW NOW IS WHERE WERE GOING. AND OF COURSE THIS IS A GIANT STEP IN THIS STRATEGY IF INDEED THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO MAINTAIN OUR NOISE ORDINANCE...

    ...I WANT TO GET THE VOTE GOING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD STEP, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN...

    ...MY OTHER HEARTACHE AND I WANT YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER THIS AND THINK ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT IT AND REFER TO STAFF OF COURSE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT SAID BY STAFF MANY, MANY TIMES, IF YOU WANT TO PUSH A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH AN AIRPORT, IF YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE FLIGHTS, ADD GATES. GATES ARE WHAT CONTROLS THE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING THROUGH AN AIRPORT. SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO BE CAREFUL ON HOW MANY GATES WE ALLOW THIS AIRPORT TO HAVE IF WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND IT...

    Tom Warnke [sp?]: ...THE MAXIMUM THAT WE ARE EVEN CONTEMPLATING IS ALTERNATIVE TWO, SO WHY BOTHER WITH AN EIR THAT GOES ANY FURTHER THAN THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. (applause) THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

    Chris Gruber [sp?]...I'M IN RAE'S [8TH] DISTRICT. AND I WANTED TO REPRESENT A POINT OF VIEW THAT I DON'T THINK'S REALLY BEEN HEARD TONIGHT. MAYBE IT SPEAKS TO SOME OF [Councilman] FRANK COLONNA'S CONCERNS...

    ...A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR MY COMPANY COME FROM WEST L.A., THEY COME FROM BRENTWOOD. AND THEY COME TO LONG BEACH BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE AIRPORT. THEY LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS. IT SUITS THEIR NEEDS. IT'S ATTRACTIVE. IT'S CONVENIENT. AND THEY DONT FEEL THE NEED TO HAVE IT LARGER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME TONIGHT. NOBODY WANTS IT LARGER...

    I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH TAKING A PIECE OFF THE TABLE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT. SO THAT NEXT WEEK, WE CAN FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER. LET'S NOT WASTE TIME ON THINGS THAT DON'T. LET'S FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT DO. THANKS.

    Carol Soccio:...[member of THE AIRPORT ADVISORY AND ACTUALLY SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN THIS EVENING. THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR MAXIMIZING SMALL SPACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY WHICH IS ONE THING THAT I KNOW WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON AT ALL YET. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT MIKE KOWAL IT'S NOT GATES BUT IT'S PARKING POSITIONS THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY THAT AT AN AIRPORT.

    Dan Freelow: ...I FIRST FLEW OUT OF LONG BEACH AIRPORT ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO, WALKING ACROSS THE TARMAC WITH MY DAD WAS REALLY NEAT AND FLYING IN ON JETBLUE NOT TOO LONG AGO, WALKING ACROSS THE TARMAC AGAIN WAS REALLY NEAT.

    I'M A BUILDER...YOU DONT NECESSARILY NEED TO ADD ON TO MAKE GOOD USE OF WHAT YOU HAVE. I ALSO FEAR THAT YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

    ...I THINK WE OUR HERE, THE ECONOMIC COUNSEL, THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO. WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE LONG BEACH WHAT IT IS. MONEY OR PEOPLE THAT MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE AIRPORT, VERY FEW OF THEM ARE HERE, AND THEY DON'T LIVE HERE. THEY COLLECT OUR MONEY AND THEY SPEND IT SOME SOMEPLACE ELSE FOR THEMSELVES.

    AS FAR AS EXPANDING THE AIRPORT, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE CENTURY CORRIDOR. THINK ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOODS ALL THE WAY UNDERNEATH...TWO MINUTES A PLANE. THINK ABOUT THE CENTURY CORRIDOR.

    WE DON'T NEED A BIGGER AIRPORT, WE NEED A BETTER AIRPORT. REWIRING, SOME PAINT, POLISH THE FLOORS FIX THE PUDDLES. PLEASE. THANK YOU.

    Lenny Perez [sp?]: I TEACH IN LENNOX CALIFORNIA, RIGHT WHERE THE 105 AND 405 COME TOGETHER SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT AN AIRPORT [LAX] CAN DO TO A COMMUNITY. I NEACH A CLASSROOM THAT HAS NO WINDOWS BECAUSE ITS TOO NOISUY TO HAVE WINDOWS ON OUR CAMPUS.

    IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT. IF YOU GO BACK 20 OR 30 YEARS, IT WASN'T LIKE THAT, BUT AS THE AIRPORT EXPANDED, THOSE THINGS HAD TO HAPPEN. IF YOU LOOK AT PROPERTY VALUES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE I FEACH, THEY'RE VERY, VERY LOW. THAT WAS ONCE A GREAT COMMUNITY, THE HAWTHORNE LENNOX AREA. BUT AGAIN AS THE AIRPORT EXPANDED OVER THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS, YOU SAW PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU SAW PROPERTY VALUES GO DOWN. IT'S NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS BECAUSE OF THE AIRPORT EXPANSION OVER THERE.

    IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HOW WE BENEFIT IN LENOX, THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTORS TO LENNOX ARE PROBABLY THE TWO STRIP CLUBS THAT WE HAVE IF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE AN UNINCORPORATED IN LOS ANGELES BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS US BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER.

    I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. IF YOU DO EXPAND, LONG BEACH, I'M AFRAID WHAT HAPPENED TO LENNOX AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HAWTHORNE COULD HAPPEN TO LONG BEACH AS WELL. I TEACH IN LENOX BUT I COME HOME TO LONG BEACH BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE IT HERE AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE IT CHANGE. (applause)

    Councilwoman Laura Richardson: ...FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBERS GABELICH, O'DONNELL AND URANGA ON YOUR PASSION AND HARD WORK OF THIS ISSUE. I THINK YOU HAVE ALL BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THIS COUNCIL TO A GREATER DEGREE OF THE AIRPORT'S IMPACT OF IT, SPECIFICALLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I HAVE APPRECIATED THIS LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

    SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I DO CONCUR HOWEVER WITH COUNCILMEMBER LERCH....A HEARING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE SCHEDULED, TO HEAR ALL THIS INFORMATION AND TO SAY OK, WELL, TODAY WE WANT YOU TO MAKE A DECISION, I JUST AM AT LOSS FOR THAT REQUEST AT THIS TIME...

    HOWEVER I WILL SAY THAT I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE GAINED A FAN AND A SUPPORTER. I'M NOW SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS. I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT TYPICALLY I DO ORDER "BIG GULPS" SO THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING WITH THIS CUP HERE. [Supporters of Alternative Two distributed large cups stating "Don't Supersize LGB."]

    I'M PREPARED TO SAY TONIGHT THAT I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING, I WOULD SAY I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST COMPONENTS ON "SUPERSIZING"...BUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF THE THINGS THAT THE COLLEAGUES I'VE MENTIONED HAVE SAID, GIVEN THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY MADE BY THE PUBLIC, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS VERY STRONG LEGITIMACY IN WHAT YOU HAVE SAID AND SO I HAVE RECONSIDERED MY POSITION AND I THINK YOU WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT I PLAN ON DOING NEXT WEEK ON YOUR BEHALF. (applause)

    ...KIND OF LIKE THAT SAYING "YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY." I WILL SAY TONIGHT, THAT IF WE IN FACT HAVE A COMPROMISE, WHICH I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR WE DO BECAUSE I HAVE NOT MET WITH NEITHER ANY THREE OF THE AUTHORS OF THIS ITEM TONIGHT, I HAVE NOT MET WITH ANY OF THEM. SO IF WOULD IN FACT DO HAVE A COMPROMISE ON ITEM NUMBER TWO OF THE PROPOSAL, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE THIS NEXT WEEK AND IF THAT'S WHAT WE THINK WORKS BEST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS WE'LL ADDRESS THE EFFICIENCY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE THE AIRPORT, YOU CAN COUNT ME ON BOARD WITH THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY HEAR THAT THAT IN FACT IS THE COMPROMISE AND THAT THIS ISNT JUST "LET'S DOWNSIZE TO NUMBER TWO AND THEN IN A YEAR WERE GOING TO BE DOWN AND BE DOWN AGAIN TO LET'S GO SMALLER THAN TWO." AND IF THAT REALLY IS THE COMPROMISE. IF THAT REALLY DOES ADDRESS ON BOTH ISSUES, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING THE TEAM THAT WOULD DO THAT.

    ...I WILL REITERATE I THINK YOU GAINED A SUPPORTER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK AMD HOPEFULLY SUPPORTING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I'VE HEARD THIS EVENING.

    Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal: I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EDUCATING ME TONIGHT AND I KNOW THAT WITH THE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE TONIGHT FROM MOSTLY DISTRICTS FOUR AND SEVEN AND EIGHT, THAT YOU PROBABLY RESPECT REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THAT AREA AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME TONIGHT. SO THAT REALLY IS VERY COMPELLING TESTIMONY, THAT YOU WANT TO PRESERVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I WANT TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

    I ALSO WANT TO THANK MIKE KOWAL AND JOE SOPO WHO VISITED WITH ME SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HELPED ME TO REALIZE THAT WHILE THE FIRST DISTRICT IS NOT IMPACTED BY THE AIRPORT, THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO EACH OTHER'S NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I KNOW AND I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF MY NEWFOUND CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR YOU AND WHAT THE ANXIETY OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD RENOVATE YOUR HOUSES AND WHERE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALSO BE AWARE OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNTDOWN COUNCILMEMBER O'DONNELL AND I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, ABOUT THE CROWDED NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MULTIFAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DENSITY THAT WE WANT TO IMPROVE.

    AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WITH OUR SUPPORT OF YOU THAT YOU WILL ALSO BE THERE FOR THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

    I DO HAVE A REQUEST QUESTION FOR MR. SHANNON AND THAT IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAPACITY OF THE AIRPORT COULD LEAD TO A CHALLENGE OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE.

    City Attorney Robert Shannon: I HAVE TO SAY THAT QUESTION IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER. ANYONE CAN CHALLENGE THE ORDINANCE FOR WHATEVER REASON, FOR A GOOD REASON, FOR A BAD REASON. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT NOTHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE OR IS CONTEMPLATING DOING, IN MY LEGAL OPINION PUTS THE ORDINANCE AT RISK. ALL I CAN DO IS GIVE YOU A LEGAL OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OUR ORDINANCE IS SOLID, WHETHER IT'S AT RISK. I AM TELLING YOU THAT IN MY LEGAL OPINION, IT IS NOT AT RISK.

    NOW, CAN SOMEBODY CHALLENGE IT? THEY CAN CHALLENGE IT; ANYONE CAN CHALLENGE IT; AN AIRLINE CAN CHALLENGE IT; THE FAA CAN CHALLENGE IT; THEY CAN CHALLENGE IT FOR A GOOD REASON; THEY CAN CHALLENGE IT FOR A TOTALLY INADEQUATE REASON.

    I AM ALSO TELLING YOU HOWEVER THAT IF IT IS CHALLENGED, IT WILL WITHSTAND A CHALLENGE BASED UPON THE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TAKEN IN THE PAST AND IS CONTEMPLATING TAKING IN THE FUTURE.

    BUT TO MORE DIRECTLY DEAL WITH YOUR QUESTION, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY SOMEBODY WILL OR WILL NOT CHALLENGE AN ORDINANCE BASED UPON A PARTICULAR ACTION OR INACTION.

    Councilwoman Lowenthal: I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THE NOISE BUCKET AND MAINTAINING THOSE LIMITS. AND ENSURING THAT WE DO NOT LOSE ANYTHING RELATED TO THE OUTCOME OF THAT SETTLEMENT. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED JUST TODAY RELATED TO THE LNG [Liquefied Natural Gas] SITING [proposed facility in the Port of LB] AND THAT IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION...FERC IS HOPING TO TAKE OVER ALL OF THE SITING OF AN LNG FACILITY, ONSHORE LNG FACILITIES IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AND IT'S ASKING CONGRESS FOR THAT AUTHORITY.

    AND SO, MY BIGGEST CONCERN WOULD BE RELATED TO CAPACITY, THAT THE F.A.A. COULD SOMEDAY COME AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE OVER WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE AND IGNORE THAT NOISE BUCKET. AND I KNOW WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT WON'T HAPPEN, BUT LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE LNG SITING, TAKING AWAY FROM OUR LOCAL CONTROL...

    ...I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID TONIGHT IS REALLY COMPELLING AND JUST LIKE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RICHARDSON HAS SAID, I THINK NEXT WEEK, WHEN WE TAKE EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT AND WE WILL HAVE FULL RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS, I WILL MAKE MY DECISION THEN, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING A ONE WEEK DELAY.

    Councilwoman Gabelich: [To] THE LENOX SCHOOLS GENTLEMAN, THE TEACHER. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. I KNOW THAT EL SEGUNDO CLOSED DOWN A SCHOOOL LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE NOISE AROUND THE AIRPORT. AND I THINK YOUR MESSAGE SAYS TO US WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE LONGTERM VISION. IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS DECADE, EVEN, IT'S ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR KIDS HAVE KIDS. AND WHAT DO WE WANT? DO WE WANT LONG BEACH TO BE FILLED WITH HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS OR DO WE WANT THAT TO BE A POSSIBLE LEGACY FOR THEM.

    LAURA,...I BELIEVE IT IS COMPROMISE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WAIT FOR THE STUDY TO BE DONE AND ALL THE OTHER A.A.C. RECOMMENDATIONS OF STUDIES THAT HAVE TO BE DONE...WE'RE NOT VOTING ON A SIZE TONIGHT. WE'RE VOTING ON THE PERMAMETERS OF THE STUDIES...

    ...THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD WEREN'T INCLUED IN NEXT WEEK [Feb. 8 scheduled item]. THEY NEVER WOULD BE ADDRESSED IF WE HADN'T BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TONIGHT. THAT'S WHY IT ENDED UP ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT...

    ...HAVING ATTENDED COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE THE COUNCIL WAS VOTING ON AIRPORT ISSUES, I HAVE WATCHED THROUGHOUT CHAOS AND THE CONFUSION, NOTHING HAPPEN. JUST LIKE I IDENTIFIED EARLIER WHEN JACKIE ASKED OVER A YEAR AGO FOR A STUDY TO BE DONE, AND BY THE TIME STAFF WAS FINISHED TALKING TO HER, SHE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ON ITS WAY...NO, ITS NOT. IT'S GOING TO BE RECOMMEND NEXT WEEK BY THE A.A.C. BUT THE REPORT THAT YOU ASKED FOR OVER A YEAR AGO HAS NOT EVEN BEEN ADDRESSED. THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TONIGHT. BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE FACING ALL OF THAT NEXT WEEK AND HAVE ALL OF YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

    SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE TWO AS THE LARGEST AND I'LL SPEAK MORE LATER. THANK YOU.

    ...

    Vice Mayor Kell: ...AS I SAID BEFORE, WHEN I RAN TWO TIMES AND WON HANDSOMELY, I MIGHT ADD, I ALWAYS SAID I WAS FOR QUALITY NEIGHBORHOOD PEN AND JOE SOPO, LINDA SOPO, WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE FIFTH DISTRICT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE IN WHICH TO RESIDE. AND I WANT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE AS QUIET AND AS COMFORTABLE AND AS PEACEFUL AS POSSIBLE. I WANT YOU TO HAVE A QUALITY NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THE FEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT MORE FLIGHTS OVER YOU. AND THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN MY VOTE ON THE [Feb] 8TH. (applause)

    ...

    Councilman Frank Colonna ...I'M GOING TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH ON THIS HERE, BECAUSE I FAIRLY WELL HAVE DISCUSSED BY POSITIONING ON THIS...I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING, BUT THAT I DON'T SEE THAT THE COUNCIL, IF IT COMES TO A VOTE TONIGHT, IN MY OPINION, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY ENERGY AND THE WORK THAT COUNCILWOMAN GABELICH HAS DONE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT VOTES IN MY OPINION NOW TO DECIDE THIS EVENING.

    BUT THAT BEING SAID, MANY OF YOU, FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING AND WATCHING, HAVE INDICATED AS MIKE HAD POINTED OUT THAT YOU WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK. SOME OF YOU RENDERED SUPPORT TO THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZING AND BRINGING THIS TO A RATIONAL APPROACH SO THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE ON WITH AN E.I.R. AND GET SOME WORK DONE. AND I VALUE THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT, AND IT WAS MY MEMO TO COUNCILMEMBER GABELICH OVER THE WEEKEND, BECAUSE WE DO TALK A LOT AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS EVENING, IS THAT I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL SUPPORT, BECAUSE AS A GOOD FRIEND WHO HAPPENS TO BE A CITY ATTORNEY THAT I SPOKE WITH HERE, AND I WON'T MENTION NOT HERE THEIR NAME, IS YOU HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF ANYTHING, IT CERTAINLY MAKES A BIGGER DIFFERENCE THAN WHEN YOU HAVE A FRACTURED VOTE.

    AND WITH THAT, I WAS PREPARED TO VOTE TONIGHT BUT I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE AIR THIS EVENING. AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION...TO DELAY THIS VOTE ONE MORE WEEK IN ORDER THAT WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL AND I BELIEVE FROM SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT YOU HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, I PERSONALLY WILL BE EAGER TO HOLD THEM TO THAT COMMITMENT NEXT WEEK AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL SEE A VERY POSITIVE OUTCOME FROM THIS CITY COUNCIL.

    AND THAT'S MY MOTION, MADAM MAYOR, TO DELAY THIS ONE WEEK...

    ...

    Councilwoman Gabelich: I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT IF THIS IS HELD OVER UNTIL NEXT WEEK THAT THIS GETS DISCUSSED PRIOR TO ANY SCOPING OF THE E.I.R., SO THAT IF THIS IS ADOPTED LIKE EVERYBODY IS SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORT, THEN WHAT THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO DO IS DELAY THE SCOPING OF THE E.I.R. BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE THESE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED.

    Councilman Colonna: I CAN RESPOND TO THAT...THIS COUNCIL ESTABLISHES POLICY. AND IT ESTABLISHES ON ANY TUESDAY NIGHT WHAT IT IS DESIREOUS TO DO, EVEN TO THE DIRECTIVES IN ADVANCING AN ENVIRONMENT IMPACT REPORT AND ITS SCOPING. IS THAT NOT CORRECT, MR. SHANNON?

    City Attorney Shannon: THAT IS CORRECT.

    Councilman Colonna: THANK YOU. SO I WILL INCORPORATE THAT IN MY MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER GABBELICH, THAT THIS IS FIRST UP TO BAT AND THAT THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS, THOSE WHICH YOU BROUGHT FORWARD TONIGHT, IS THE FIRST OPENING OF DISCUSSION AND THAT RECORD COULD NOTE THAT.

    City Attorney Shannon: AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE UNDERSTOOD, AND THIS WAS MY CONCERN, ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OFFAIRNESS AND PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF JETBLUE'S COMMENTS, THAT ALL PARTIES HAVE A FULL AND FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS MADE ON ANY OF THE ISSUES INCLUDING THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN R20.

    Councilman Colonna: YES, BUT THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL AT THE NIGHT OF THE HEARING OF NEXT WEEK SO THIS WILL BE THOROUGHLY VETTED AND I WANT TO RESPECT ALL THE EFFORT AND WORK THAT COUNCILWOMAN GABELICH HAS ONE IN THIS EFFORT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS INTACT AND NOT CHANGED IN ANY WAY. BUT THAT THE MATTER BE JUST DELAYED ONE WEEK SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN WITH THE PROCESS THAT MAKES THE TIRE ENTIRE COUNCIL COMFORTABLE WITH THE DISCUSSION AND GOING FOWARD WITH A VOTE. THAT'S MY MOTION.

    ...

    Councilwoman Gabelich: OK. I'M GOING TO COMPROMISE AND HONOR THE PROCESS.

    Councilman O'Donnell: I'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS TONIGHT. I'll BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS PREPARED TO VOTE TO PROTECT MY NEIGHBORHOOD TONIGHT AND I DON'T WAIVER ON THAT. BUT GIVEN THE FACTS, THE DYNMAICS THAT HAVE DONE ON TONIGHT, I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE.

    Vice Mayor Kell: ...WHEN WE HAVE COUNCILMEN BAKER HERE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE STRONGEST VOTE OF ALL. OK. WERE GOING TO HAVE A STRONGER VOTE NEXT WEEK.

    City Clerk Herrera: THE MOTION CARRIES 8-0.


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