EIR No. 25-003Pacific Airshow
City Council Meeting
September 2, 2025
EIR No. 25-003 (Pacific Airshow)
Analyzes and discloses the potential environmental impacts associated with the Pacific Airshow Project Description includes new airshow activities
Impacts – EIR analyzes 6 environmental impact areas
Significance of impacts based on established thresholds In CEQA terms, impacts categorized as:
No impact
Less than significant
Less than significant with incorporation of mitigation measures Potentially significant
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation Measures identified to reduce level of significance or minimize less than significant impacts (wildlife hazards & biological monitoring) Significant and Unavoidable Impacts – potentially significant impacts that cannot be feasibly mitigated to a less than significant level
Topical Issues Analyzed
Issues Analyzed in the Initial Study and determined to have No Impact or LTS Impact Aesthetics
Agriculture and Forestry Resources
Cultural Resources
Energy
Geology & Soils/Mineral Resources
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Hydrology and Water Quality
Land Use & Planning
Population & Housing
Public Services
Utilities & Services systems
Wildfire
Issues Analyzed in the EIR
Air Quality
Biological Resources
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Noise
Transportation
Tribal Cultural Resources
Significant and Unavoidable Impacts
Air Quality
Operation emissions estimates from increased mobile source emissions (i.e. – vehicle trips) would continue to exceed daily emissions thresholds for criteria pollutants VOC, Nox, CO Hazards & Hazardous Materials
Emergency evacuation
Lack of significance thresholds
Difficult to assume the wide range of possible emergency conditions, number and location of increased population during airshow activities, and probable increase in response times Emergency response measures recommended to compliment the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and airshow evacuation plan Noise & Vibration
Noise and vibration from multi-day music festival would exceed established noise standards Mitigation is proposed to minimize impacts, but would remain significant
Alternatives
CEQA requires an EIR to identify and analyze a reasonable range of alternatives to the project that would:
Feasibly obtain most of the objectives of the project
Avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project, as proposed The Draft Program EIR evaluated 3 Alternatives:
Alternative 1: No Project/ No Airshow
Assumes no airshow would occur for the foreseeable future Required by CEQA
Alternative 2: 2023 Airshow – assumes 2023 version of the Airshow with none of the new airshow activities described in the project description Alternative 3: Reduced Project – assumes reduced size of Airshow with no military aircraft or equivalent noise-producing jets
Final EIR
Includes Draft Program EIR (made available for public review from February 20th through April 7th) Comments on the Draft Program EIR
Responses to comments on the Draft Program EIR
Text changes to the Draft Program EIR
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Statement of Overriding Considerations
If the lead agency determines that it is infeasible to mitigate a significant environmental impact, the agency must adopt a “statement of overriding considerations.” The lead agency finds that specific overriding economic, legal, social, technological, or other benefits of the project outweigh the significant effects on the environment.
Airshow Event Agreement
Pursuant to the lawsuit filed by Pacific Airshow, LLC following the 2021 Oil Spill, and based on the Settlement Agreement signed on May 9, 2023, the City has agreed to terms with the Pacific Airshow for a multi-year Airshow Event Agreement.
Agreement Summary
CONTRACT DETAILS
Term
10 year term with 3, five year renewals, not to exceed 25 years.
Parking Spaces
Reduced from 3,500 to approximately 3,000
Restoration Fees
To be completed annually by Pacific Airshow
Permit Costs
No charge to Pacific Airshow
Personnel Costs
To be paid by City
Environmental Impact Report
EIR and ongoing mitigation monitoring paid by City. CEQA amendments due to change in scope paid by Pacific Airshow.
Additional Terms
Pending resolution of current litigation, both parties may be required to renegotiate terms. 2025-2030
After 2030
Parking Revenue
Pacific Airshow collects parking revenue from City Lots City will retain $10 per space sold by Pacific Airshow. In 2031, price retained by City will increase by CPI annually.
RV Camping Revenue
Pacific Airshow collects parking revenue from City camping spaces City will retain $100 per camping space sold by Pacific Airshow. In 2031, price retained by City will increase by CPI annually.
Agreement Summary
Pacific Airshow Obligations:
Obtain annual Specific Event Permit from the City in advance and secure all necessary federal, state, and local permits (FAA, Coastal Commission, Alcohol Beverage Control, etc.).
Restore event area after each show at the expense of Pacific Airshow.
Comply with all applicable laws and City rules for the duration of the agreement.
Require liability waivers from all event participants in a City-approved form.
Provide all operational resources including equipment, supplies, volunteers, staff, event setup, teardown, and technical needs.
Use local suppliers where reasonably possible and legally permissible.
Maintain required insurance coverage ($10M per occurrence / $10M aggregate general liability) naming City as additional insured.
Agreement Summary
City Obligations:
Grant Pacific Airshow exclusive event rights for an annual airshow in Huntington Beach, disallowing competing airshow or aerial performance events during the term of the Agreement.
Work with Pacific Airshow on event dates, ensuring the event does not occur between March 15–Sept 15 to protect Bolsa Chica nesting season.
Provide Pacific Airshow exclusive use and monetization rights for City parking Waive City fees and costs for all public safety fees [marine safety, police, fire, etc.], application fees, permit fees, beach maintenance fees, setup & take-down fees, banner placement fees, public works, electrician/electrical, and restroom maintenance/cleaning fees, road and street closure fees, pollution prevention fees, etc).
Assist Pacific Airshow in mitigating third-party costs by providing City resources for public safety, public works, and operational needs when possible.
Indemnify Pacific Airshow for CEQA challenges caused or undertaken by the City.
Recommended Action
A) Recommend certification of EIR No. 25-003 because:
It adequately analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with the Pacific Airshow Identifies project alternatives pursuant to CEQA
Provides mitigation measures to lessen the project’s impacts Has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
B) Approve CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations
Recommended Action
C) Approve and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to Execute the Airshow Event Agreement Between the City of Huntington Beach and Pacific Airshow, LLC for the management and operation of the Pacific Airshow D) Provide authority to the City Manager and City Attorney to amend On-Call Contract for ESA to appropriate an additional $250,000 for the Airshow Environmental Impact Report and ongoing mitigation monitoring, bringing the on-call contract total to $1,100,000
Questions?