HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 99-071RESOLUTION NO. 99-71
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FORA REGIONAL
AIRPORT PLAN FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles Department of Airports has initiated a revision of the Master
Plan for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which anticipates expanding its passenger activity
from a current 60 million passengers per year to an expected 98 million passengers per year and
its cargo activity from its current 1.8 million tons per year to an expected 4.2 million tons per year;
and
WHEREAS, expanding LAX's passenger and cargo activity as proposed will greatly
increase the number of flights and nearly double ground traffic going to and from LAX; and
WHEREAS, communities in the vicinity of LAX which already experience enormous adverse
environmental impacts from the operations of the airport can expect greatly increased noise and
air pollution from overhead aircraft, and greatly increased congestion and air pollution from ground
traffic, especially from dramatic increases in the activity of diesel trucks around the airport; and
WHEREAS, airport officials estimate the LAX improvements will cost as much as $12 billion,
not including the costs of transportation improvements required to facilitate access to LAX which
will be paid for by regional tax payers; and
WHEREAS, there are many other commercial airports in Southern Califomia, some with
significant histories as commercial airports, and some recently converted to commercial or joint
military and commercial airports; and
WHEREAS, several of these airports are located in areas of Southern Califomia expected
to experience the greatest growth in population and employment over the next twenty years, while
LAX in nearest to communities expected to experience the least growth in the same period; and
WHEREAS, developing airport capacity near high growth communities rather .than
concentrating airport development at LAX may be an environmentally superior, lower -cost and
more equitable strategy for serving future growth in air commerce in Southern California; and
WHEREAS, the development of these regional airport resources will help spread jobs and
economic development opportunities more equitably throughout the region, and reduce the public
health and environmental burdens on communities near LAX.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
The City of Palm Desert calls upon the communities of Southern Califomia, including the
City of Los Angeles; the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bemardino, Riverside, and
Ventura; the State of Califomia; and our congressional representatives to join together in
developing a Regional Airport Plan for Southern Califomia that constrains LAX to operate within
the capacity of its existing facilities and develops the capacity of the many other commercial
airports in Southern California to serve the expanding air commerce marketplace.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert City
Council, held on this 8th day of July , 1999, by the following vote,
to wit:
AYES: Benson, Crites, Ferguson, Kelly, Spiegel
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ROBERT A. SPIEGEL, M 0
ATTEST:
1/
;/
SHEILA R. GILLIGAN, CLERK
CITY OF PALM DESE CALIFORNIA
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DAVfD J E,RGVIN, CITY ATTORNEY