fwd: council file: 20 - 0538 reduce the hours or close the...

5/13/2020 City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: Council File: 20 - 0538 Reduce the hours or close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and...

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Fwd: Council File: 20 - 0538 Reduce the hours or close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer community1 message

John White <[email protected]>To: City Clerk Council and Public Services <[email protected]>

Mon, May 11,2020 at 9:33 AM

Please add to council file 20-0538 as a communication from the public

----------Forwarded message----------From: Thomas Materna <[email protected]>Date: Mon, May 11,2020, 9:22 AMSubject: Council File: 20 - 0538 Reduce the hours or close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer communityTo: <[email protected]>Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>

Dear Members of the LA City Council,

I ask that you vote “no” on Agenda Item 13 that is coming before you on Tuesday, May 12th - “Approval of CEQA Categorical Exemption and extension of VNY Customs Office Arrangement with Signature Flight Support, LLC.” (Council File: 20 - 0538).

It's time to phase-out this program given the ever-growing incremental air traffic volume and accompanying negative environmental impacts/risks it has brought to the community since it was launched in 2015. The operations of a Customs Office at VNY is hardly an essential service needed by the community given the nearby alternative for both passengers and cargo at LAX.

The Task Force voted to recommend reduced hours at the customs office

Specific community concerns about the proposed action include:

• There are not any health screening procedures for international arrival visitors at VNY please move the CBP office to LAX so they can be screened properly

• Customs Office related flight traffic at VNY is adding to the noise pollution, health impacts, and environmental risks associated with VNY airport operations overall

• VNY Customs Office hours aren't constrained by evening or weekend curfews even though it appears that terms such as these could be dictated by LAWA if they so choose

• The VNY Customs Office has long be known by LAWA to be of concern to the community yet they pushed forward with this renewal proposal with minimal public notice before the BOAC vote, chose not to brief the VNY Citizens Advisory Council prior to finalizing their recommendation, and failed to hold a single community engagement forum

• There was not an opportunity for any of the Valley Neighborhood Councils to evaluate whether to submit a Community Impact Statement on this matter due to the secretive nature of LAWA's actions in the

https://mail.google.com/mail/b/ALGkd0ypgXsPHEOTykiIgKP_CahALXXJEGPH6Ru18Orh20q8EHjY/u/0?ik=5c67953004&view=pt&search=all&permthi... 1/2

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https://mail.google.com/mail/b/ALGkd0ypgXsPHEOTykiIgKP_CahALXXJEGPH6Ru18Orh20q8EHjY/u/0?ik=5c67953004&view=pt&search=all&permthi

5/13/2020

month's leading up to this vote, the expedited push this week for City Council approval, and the restrictions placed on Neighborhood Council Meetings due to the Covid pandemic.

City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: Council File: 20 - 0538 Reduce the hours or close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and.

• The BOAC granted a CEQA Categorical Exception in support of this motion even though the facts clearly don't support such a decision per the City of Los Angeles CEQA Compliance Guidelines. (The environmental circumstances associated with VNY operations have significantly changed since the Customs Office was initially granted a CEQA CATEX in 2015 relative to jet volumes, flight paths, noise patterns, pandemic health risks, etc. As such, the guidelines prohibit a directed contract without further study and community involvement)

• This “work around” Customs Office arrangement with the VNY Airport Operators designed to allow them to avoid LAX as a Port of Entry is causing the City to miss out on landing fee revenues direly needed given the projected budget shortfalls in the years ahead. (An EA and Economic study would clearly demonstrate that the City and its residents would be better served if VNY Charter Operators were not provided this type of “special arrangement subsidy” and instead focused their business models on domestic flights.)

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. Unlike many other airport related issues that seem to be under the sole control of the FAA, this decision appears clearly within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles City Council. As you may be aware, the Long Beach City Council denied a similar request for a private Customs Office arrangement from Jet Blue in 2017 based on the complaints/concerns of their residents.

We certainly hope you will vote “no” and help restore at least some peace, quiet, and more healthy living conditions to the residents of the San Fernando Valley.

Warmest regards,

Tom Materna

Senior Energy Consultant

Cell: 818-585-2061



5/13/2020 City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: Please vote on Tuesday to close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer community


Fwd: Please vote on Tuesday to close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer community1 message


Mon, May 11,2020 at 2:12 PM

Please attach to CF 20-0538 as a communication from the public

----------Forwarded message----------From: Llyswen Franks <[email protected]>Date: Mon, May 11,2020, 1:57 PMSubject: Please vote on Tuesday to close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer community To: [email protected] <[email protected]>Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>


Please vote no on Agenda item 13 in your meeting on Tuesday May 12th “Approval of CEQA Categorical Exemption and extension of VNY Customs Office Arrangement with Signature Flight Support, LLC." (Council File: 20 - 0538).

There is no reason to continue this program, especially with the increase in air traffic volume and negative environmental impacts it has brought to the community. The Customs Office also presents a danger during the current pandemic as there is not adequate screening - LAX is much better suited to handle the safety issues involved.

The Task Force voted to recommend reduced hours at the customs office, but I feel this is not enough based on the above, it should be moved to LAX.


• There are no health screening procedures for international arrival visitors at VNY. Please move the CBP office to LAX so they can be screened properly.

• Customs Office related flight traffic at VNY is adding to the noise pollution, health impacts, and environmental risks associated with VNY airport operations overall.

• VNY Customs Office hours aren’t constrained by evening or weekend curfews even though it appears that terms such as these could be dictated by LAWA if they so chose.

• The VNY Customs Office has long been known by LAWA to be of concern to the community yet they pushed forward with this renewal proposal with minimal public notice before the BOAC vote, chose not to brief the VNY Citizens Advisory Council prior to finalizing their recommendation, and failed to hold a single community engagement forum.

• There was no opportunity for any of the Valley Neighborhood Councils to evaluate whether to submit a Community Impact Statement on this matter due to the secretive nature of LAWA’s actions in the month’s leading up to this vote, the expedited push this week for City Council approval, and the restrictions placed on Neighborhood Council Meetings due to the Covid pandemic.

• The BOAC granted a CEQA Categorical Exception in support of this motion even though the facts clearly don’t support such a decision per the City of Los Angeles CEQA Compliance Guidelines. (The environmental circumstances associated with VNY operations have significantly












5/13/2020

changed since the Customs Office was initially granted a CEQA CATEX in 2015 relative to jet volumes, flight paths, noise patterns, pandemic health risks, etc. As such, the guidelines prohibit a directed contract without further study and community involvement)

City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: Please vote on Tuesday to close the customs office at Van Nuys airport for a quieter and safer community

• This "work around” Customs Office arrangement with the VNY Airport Operators designed to allow them to avoid LAX as a Port of Entry is causing the City to miss out on landing fee revenues direly needed given the projected budget shortfalls in the years ahead. (An EA and Economic study would clearly demonstrate that the City and its residents would be better served if VNY Charter Operators were not provided this type of "special arrangement subsidy” and instead focused their business models on domestic flights.)


Sincerely,

Llyswen Franks

Sherman Oaks Hills

818-970-9745



5/13/2020 City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: May 12, 2020 - Agenda Item #13


Fwd: May 12, 2020 - Agenda Item #131 message


Mon, May 11,2020 at 3:27 PM

please attach message below to CF 20-0538 as a communication from the public

----------Forwarded message----------From: Reception Desk <[email protected]>Date: Mon, May 11,2020 at 2:38 PM Subject: May 12, 2020 - Agenda Item #13To: [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <councilmember.harris-dawson@ lacity.org>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>. [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>


We ask that you vote “no” on Agenda Item 13 that is coming before you on Tuesday, May 12th - “Approval of CEQA Categorical Exemption and extension of VNY Customs Office Arrangement with Signature Flight Support, LLC.” (Council File: 20 - 0538).

It's time to phase-out this program given the ever-growing incremental air traffic volume and accompanying negative environmental impacts/risks it has brought to the community since it was launched in 2015. The operations of a Customs Office at VNY is hardly an essential service needed by the community given the nearby alternative for both passengers and cargo at LAX.


• Customs Office related flight traffic at VNY is adding to the noise pollution, health impacts, and environmental risks associated with VNY airport operations overall

• VNY Customs Office hours aren't constrained by evening or weekend curfews even though it appears that terms such as these could be dictated by LAWA if they so choose

• The VNY Customs Office has long be known by LAWA to be of concern to the community yet they pushed forward with this renewal proposal with minimal public notice before the BOAC vote, chose not to brief the VNY Citizens Advisory Council prior to finalizing their recommendation, and failed to hold a single community engagement forum

• There was not an opportunity for any of the Valley Neighborhood Councils to evaluate whether to submit a Community Impact Statement on this matter due to the secretive nature of LAWA's actions in the month's leading up to this vote, the expedited push this week for City Council approval, and the restrictions placed on Neighborhood Council Meetings due to the Covid pandemic.










































5/13/2020

The BOAC granted a CEQA Categorical Exception in support of this motion even though the facts clearly don't support such a decision per the City of Los Angeles CEQA Compliance Guidelines. (The environmental circumstances associated with VNY operations have significantly changed since the Customs Office was initially granted a CEQA CATEX in 2015 relative to jet volumes, flight paths, noise patterns, pandemic health risks, etc. As such, the guidelines prohibit a directed contract without further study and community involvement)This “work around” Customs Office arrangement with the VNY Airport Operators designed to allow them to avoid LAX as a Port of Entry is causing the City to miss out on landing fee revenues direly needed given the projected budget shortfalls in the years ahead. (An EA and Economic study would clearly demonstrate that the City and its residents would be better served if VNY Charter Operators were not provided this type of “special arrangement subsidy” and instead focused their business models on domestic flights.)

City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: May 12, 2020 - Agenda Item #13

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. Unlike many other airport related issues that seem to be under the sole control of the FAA, this decision appears clearly within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles City Council. As you may be aware, the Long Beach City Council denied a similar request for a private Customs Office arrangement from Jet Blue in 2017 based on the complaints/concerns of their residents.


Sincerely,

Lori Caden

Sherman Oaks Resident

CADEN Executive Assistant & Office Manager // [email protected]

Caden Concepts13412 Ventura Blvd. #300 Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 323-651-1190 ext. 225 // cadenconcepts.com

John A. White Legislative Assistant Transportation Committee



http://cadenconcepts.com/


5/13/2020 City of Los Angeles Mail - Fwd: May 12, 2020 - Agenda Item #13

Trade, Travel, and Tourism Committee (213) 978-1072

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