HomeMy WebLinkAbout58-15 RESOLUTION 58-15
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS URGING THE
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO
ADDRESS AIRCRAFT NOISE IN LOS ALTOS
HILLS
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a transition to
the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) to standardize arrival and
departure routes through the use of GPS-based technologies in 21 identified
metroplexes,which are regions with multiple airports serving major metropolitan areas.
WHEREAS, the Northern California Metroplex includes four commercial airports,San
Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Mineta
San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF).
WHEREAS, as part of the transition to NextGen, the FAA recently changed the flight
paths followed by commercial aircraft flying into and out of SFO, OAK, and SJC,as
well as other airports in the Northern California Metroplex under a project the FAA
calls the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the
Metroplex(NorCal OAPM).
WHEREAS, according to the FAA, the NorCal OAPM consists of new procedures and
technologies to establish more direct flight routes intended to significantly improve
safety,efficiency,and reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions.
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2014,the FAA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact
that NorCal OAPM would not have any significant noise impact on communities
and surrounding areas based on inadequate sound metrics which do not reflect
disturbance on the ground.
WHEREAS, the noise generated by flights in the Northern California Metroplex is
impacting residents in certain are as of the Town of Los Altos Hills. The
considerable increase in the number of flights overhead each day and the lower flight
altitudes result in a significant increase in the amount of aircraft noise experienced on
the ground.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,by the Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills the
following:
1. The City Council requests the FAA immediately mitigate the increased aircraft
noise at ground level in Los Altos Hills caused by the NorCal OAPM project by identifying
all short-and long-term solutions and the expected timetable for their implementation.
2. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills requests the FAA, as part of
the above analysis of aircraft noise mitigation measures,raise immediately the altitude of all
flight paths over our city, reduce the number of night time flights into SFO, and, as part of
the longer-term solutions,reconfigure the final approach paths so that descent over the bay
is maximized.
Resolution 58-15 Page 1
3. The Town requests that the FAA urge Congress to amend the FAA
Modernization and Reform Act to eliminate the availability of a categorical exclusion
and bar the presumption of no significant effect on the quality of the human
environment that currently apply to navigation performance and area navigation
procedures.
4. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills requests that the Congress of
the United States implement statutory changes to the FAA that require more robust
community engagement before flight paths are changed, more accurate measures of noise
experienced on the ground,and independent research onthe impacts of aviation noise on
health and learning.
5. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills requests that the
FAA continue to meet with community representatives and impacted residents from
Palo Alto to discuss further and address these matters.
6. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not meet the
definition of a project under Section 21065 of the California Environmental Quality
Act and, therefore, no environmental review is necessary.
The above and foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of
Los Altos Hills at a special meeting held on the 14th day of October, 2015 by the following vote:
AYES: Corrigan, Harpootlian,Radford, Spreen, Waldeck
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
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Courteâ–ºay C. `"orrig. or
ATTEST: _ , _
-_ Deborah Padovai City Clerk
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