From: Paul Clark
To: Sanchez, Diana; CMAR ([email protected]); Paul Clark
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: City Council 09232024 Item 8A
Date: Monday, September 23, 2024 8:10:27 AM
City Council.
As I discussed back when the planning for the Mill Site was being done, the importance of the GP airstrip has and is being totally overlooked.
I recall GP regularly bringing in the Citation jets, once a Lear jet.
The 3000-foot (as I recall) runway is an asset that would NEVER be approved again, but the staff and council of three at the time, did not agree. It is still a huge asset. Suppose we had a terrible disaster? Fixed wing aircraft or even helicopters may be able to land even when Little River or the hospital is fogged in. The Coast Guard could land and use the airstrip in search and rescue operations. I have heard no talk about this for years now. But now this multimillion-dollar asset of the community is about to be swept under the rug again. I suggest the request be declined, not because of who wants this, but because it may well be a huge asset when desperately needed. The railroad tunnel being blocked and the potential of all the roads being blocked again is a real possibility during a high rain year. Look at your disaster plan, it’s on the shelf somewhere with all the other plans. Think this through for the community. There is no good reason to abandon this airstrip. The uses it could be used are unlimited. Hopefully, you will appreciate the importance of aviation to a community like the Mendocino Coast.
Paul Clark