Commission hears March ARB compatibility update; members flag drone and energy resiliency issues

Simon Hausman briefed the commission on the March Air Reserve Base compatible use study and takeaways from the Installation Innovation Forum, describing three priority areas raised at the conference: drone encroachment, cybersecurity, and energy/resiliency.

Hausman said drone operations are a growing community problem because base security has no jurisdiction over operators standing outside base boundaries. “Most communities don’t have an ordinance against operating drones,” he said, and he recommended local jurisdictions and city attorneys examine ordinances that would give law enforcement more tools to address unsafe operations near airfields.

Hausman also summarized cybersecurity as an ongoing concern and said energy and resilience were central topics. He relayed a forum claim that certain AI search operations consume roughly 10 times the energy of a standard search and described discussions at the forum about battery storage, small-scale nuclear and geothermal options to ensure base continuity of power.

Commissioners debated the practical limits of the Airport Land Use Commission’s (ALUC) authority. Several members noted the commission is a land-use advisory body without power to pass ordinances and that concrete regulatory steps must come from cities and the county. Commissioner Richard Stewart reported conversations with the County Administrative Officer indicating the March joint powers authority would continue as an airport authority funded by cities and possibly landing fees.

Members agreed the crash video shown during oral communications underscored the commission’s mandate to seek compatible uses near airports and the need to remind local jurisdictions of safety risks when high-intensity uses are proposed near airfields.

Hausman and commissioners recommended further coordination with local jurisdictions and monitoring of Air Force and federal guidance on encroachment and resiliency.