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Council continues consideration of Van Nuys Airport noise measure to gather more information
Summary
Council members asked staff for more information and continued action on a state bill addressing noise enforcement at Van Nuys Airport; the item was continued one week to April 18 for further review and coordination with county and state officials.
The Los Angeles City Council continued consideration of proposed changes to state airport-noise enforcement that would apply specifically to Van Nuys Airport.
Council Member Misakowski (Miss Misakowski) introduced the item and asked CLA staff and the Los Angeles Airport Department to explain the bill’s scope. CLA staff and airport representatives said the proposed measure would amend state airport noise regulations and apply only to Van Nuys. The CLA’s analyst said the county is responsible under state law for enforcing state noise rules and had not received requests for extra enforcement in the Van Nuys area.
Several council members, including Misakowski and Feuer, urged more time to review the legislation and its implications. Speakers raised concerns that Van Nuys’ mix of aircraft — including older, stage-2 heavy aircraft — and the airport’s location in a densely populated urban area could justify different treatment from other general-aviation airports, but others warned about preemption and federal rules that could limit local authority.
Mark Adams of the Los Angeles Airport Department cautioned that the amendment’s enforcement mechanism could create additional costs for the city or county; council members suggested amending the bill to seek state funding for enforcement if the state imposes new duties.
After discussion, the council agreed to continue the item for one week to allow staff to analyze legal responsibilities (including SB 90 reimbursement questions), clarify county enforcement authority, confer with the state senator’s office, and return with suggested amendments. The council set the continuance date for Tuesday, April 18.
