June 10, 2025
Agenda Item No. 10
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Grace K. Leung, City Manager - 949-644-3001, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Tara Finnigan, Assistant City Manager - 949-644-3035, [email protected] TITLE:
Resolution No. 2025-31: Amending the Structure, Membership, Roles and Responsibilities of the Aviation Committee ABSTRACT:
The City Council established the Aviation Ad Hoc Committee earlier this year to review and make recommendations regarding the structure, membership, roles and responsibilities of the Aviation Committee. The ad hoc committee completed its review and is recommending that the City Council approve changes to the composition, qualifications and duties of the Aviation Committee.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; b) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-31, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Amending the Structure, Membership, Roles and Responsibilities of the Aviation Committee; and c) Direct the City Clerk to initiate the process for filling the vacancies on the Aviation Committee pursuant to the Maddy Act and City Council Policy A-2.
DISCUSSION:
At its February 25, 2025 meeting, the Newport Beach City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-10, establishing the Aviation Ad Hoc Committee to review and make recommendations regarding the structure, membership, roles and responsibilities of the Aviation Committee. The City Council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman and Councilmembers Michelle Barto and Noah Blom to serve on the ad hoc committee.
The City Council formed the Aviation Committee in 1979 and has altered its structure and responsibilities seven times over the ensuing years to effectively address changing issues related to John Wayne Airport that have the potential to impact the Newport Beach community.
Thus, the Aviation Ad Hoc Committee’s review and discussions largely concerned the City of Newport Beach’s current and near-future aviation-related interests and concerns, and the technical expertise needed to help augment the efforts of the Council, staff and consultants to address them. Maintaining the protections provided under the 1985 John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement will continue to be the City’s top priority. Aviation noise mitigation efforts, as well as preparing for the advent of Advanced Air Mobility and planning for its local implementation will also be important focus areas for the City.
With these priorities in mind, the ad hoc committee is recommending changes to the size, composition, member terms and responsibilities of the Aviation Committee. The description of the Aviation Committee, included in Attachment A to Resolution No. 2025-31, reflects the proposed changes. They are also summarized below.
Membership
Current: 15 members, including two City Council members, one representative of each Council district, one member of the general aviation community, one resident of Newport Coast (if the District 6 representative is not a Newport Coast resident), one at-large member, and the presidents of the Airport Working Group, Stop Polluting Our Newport, and Citizens Against Airport Noise and Pollution.
Proposed: Seven members, including two Council members and up to five citizen appointees. (The proposed, reduced size is consistent with other City boards, committees and commissions.) Term
Current: Six years.
Proposed: Four years. (The proposed, four-year term is consistent with the member terms of other City boards, committees and commissions.
Qualifications of Citizen Members
Current: Must be a resident of Newport Beach, be a registered voter in the city, and bring specific expertise to the committee that may be unavailable within the City.
Proposed: Must be a resident of Newport Beach, be a registered voter in the city, and possess expertise and professional experience in an aviation or airport related field such as airport or air carrier operations, aircraft design and engineering, airport design and planning, aviation law, aircraft noise and emissions, Advanced Air Mobility / emerging technologies, airline piloting, commercial real estate, or a similar related field.
Purpose & Responsibilities
A revised and expanded list of Aviation Committee responsibilities (shown in Attachment A to Resolution No. 2025-31) reflects, among other things, the ad hoc committee’s interest in having the Aviation Committee provide technical guidance to the City as it monitors and negotiates an extension of the John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement and develops an Advanced Air Mobility Strategy.
Should the City Council agree with the Aviation Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations and adopt Resolution No. 2025-31, the term of all current Aviation Committee members would expire effective June 30. The City Clerk’s Office would commence the process for filling the committee vacancies in accordance with City Council Policy A-2.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – Resolution No. 2025-31
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Resolution No. 2025-31: Amending the Structure, Membership, Roles and Responsibilities of the Aviation Committee June 10, 2025
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