Author: helgacarr

The Los Angeles City Council Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the LAX modernization plan Thursday, October 7th, and the full Los Angeles City Council will review and vote on the plan Tuesday, October 19th. Approval of the LAX plan requires support from ten of the 15 City Council members. If the City Council approves the plan — which would include a “green-light/yellow-light” consensus proposal initiated by local Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski — the “noncontroversial” portions of the LAX plan would be built at a cost of approximately $3 billion. Proposed noncontroversial green-light projects include a people mover, a consolidated rental car facility, an intermodal transportation center, and moving the southernmost runway 50 feet closer to El Segundo to help eliminate aircraft incursions. Los Angeles World Airport chief financial officer Karen Sisson told the council committee that revenue generated by airline landing fees — approximately $100 to $110 million annually — gate rental, cargo and maintenance facility rental, and airport concessions would pay for the modernization plan. LAX charges some of the lowest landing fees at major U.S. airports. At LAX, fees include $2.71 per thousand pounds of landing weight — as compared with JFK Airport in New York City, which charges $8 to $9 per thousand pounds of landing weight, Sisson said. Sisson said that the cost to the airlines for each departing passenger at LAX is...

The Los Angeles City Council Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the LAX modernization plan Thursday, October 7th, and the full Los Angeles City Council will review and vote on the plan Tuesday, October 19th. Approval of the LAX plan requires support from ten of the 15 City Council members. If the City Council approves the plan — which would include a “green-light/yellow-light” consensus proposal initiated by local Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski — the “noncontroversial” portions of the LAX plan would be built at a cost of approximately $3 billion. Proposed noncontroversial green-light projects include a people mover, a consolidated rental car facility, an intermodal transportation center, and moving the southernmost runway 50 feet closer to El Segundo to help eliminate aircraft incursions. Los Angeles World Airport chief financial officer Karen Sisson told the council committee that revenue generated by airline landing fees — approximately $100 to $110 million annually — gate rental, cargo and maintenance facility rental, and airport concessions would pay for the modernization plan. LAX charges some of the lowest landing fees at major U.S. airports. At LAX, fees include $2.71 per thousand pounds of landing weight — as compared with JFK Airport in New York City, which charges $8 to $9 per thousand pounds of landing weight, Sisson said. Sisson said that the cost to the airlines for each departing passenger at LAX is...

A new lawsuit has been filed against the county, alleging that the county illegally regulates boating in Marina del Rey, illegally obtains funds from boaters in Marina del Rey by inspecting and giving citations and imposing fines, and knowingly causes vessels to be seized for violations under a county ordinance the county should not have adopted as it is worded. A taxpayer class action lawsuit was filed Wednesday, September 29th, in Los Angeles Superior Court against the County of Los Angeles, alleging that the county violated the California Harbors and Navigation Codes by adopting a 1999 county ordinance that violates California state law. The plaintiffs — represented by attorney Richard Fine — are the Coalition to Save the Marina, Inc. a California nonprofit corporation, Donald Klein, an individual, Steve Wyman, an individual, and Stuart Hoffman, an individual. The lawsuit is based on an August 20th letter from David L. Johnson, acting deputy director of the State of California Department of Boating and Waterways to Stan Wisniewski, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors of Beaches and Harbors. The letter states: “Los Angeles County has exceeded its authority under Harbors and Navigation Code Section 660 by adopting this ordinance as it is currently worded.” The letter states that the State Department of Boating and Waterways was not informed of an ordinance adopted by the county in...

The Los Angeles City Council approved the final environmental impact report for “The Village at Playa Vista Phase II” Wednesday, September 22nd, in a 10-1 vote. The final City Council approval for the final phase of the project comes nearly three decades after the Playa Vista project was first proposed in 1976 by the Summa Corporation. Of the councilmembers present, only Los Angeles Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa voted against the Playa Vista Phase II project. “We are approving a project that we just don’t have enough information about,” said Villaraigosa. Steve Soboroff, Playa Vista president, said the project has been improved over the years, and would add jobs and housing to the area. Jack Kyser, the chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, said he is in favor of the project, and that the Playa Vista development will help begin to alleviate the city housing crisis. Several individuals opposing the project said lawsuits would be filed in response to the approval. Playa Vista officials noted that in recent years, 19 lawsuits have been filed against various aspects of the Playa Vista project and the Playa Vista developer has won every one of the 19. A petition of more than 6,000 signatures was presented by Tom Ponton on behalf of the Mar Vista Community Council, Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council, and other organizations and residents in the area....