8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be pulled by a Councilmember from the Consent Calendar and considered separately.
8G.
General Services – Approve Contract Services Agreement, Appropriate Funds for Site Preparation for an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at Torrance Municipal Airport – Zamperini Field and Adopt California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Categorical Exemption Pursuant to Section 15301. Expenditure: $710,600 (Non General Fund).
Name
Jim Gates
Comment 05/28/2025 04:16 PM : (For)
Hon Mayor and Members of the Torrance City Council:
I urge approval of Item 8G, the installation of an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS). An AWOS installation was originally recommended to the City Council in a letter from the Torrance Airport Association on January 18, 2021.
Multiple surveys of Torrance Airport customers have listed installation of an AWOS system as THE HIGHEST PRIORITY for airport safety improvements.
As a pilot approaches a destination airport, he/she needs some critical current information to make a safe arrival:
·
Altimeter setting (so that the pilot has accurate information about clearance from obstacles and can fly the traffic pattern at the correct altitude above the ground)
·
Wind direction, speed and gusts (so that the pilot can prepare to apply the appropriate procedures to counter them)
·
Ceiling and visibility (so the pilot knows if he/she can legally and safely approach and land at that airport)
·
Runway in use (so that the pilot can safely merge into any existing traffic) ·
Common traffic advisory frequency (so that the pilot can announce her/his location and intentions to other traffic and can understand other aircraft locations and intentions)
When the control tower is operating, this information is provided via recorded announcements over a frequency published for that airport (the Automatic Terminal Information SystemATIS). When there is no control tower or when the tower is closed, current information is only available if there is an AWOS system at that airport. Although every other airport in the Los Angeles Basin has an AWOS, Torrance Airport DOES NOT!
Please approve this critical safety system for the Torrance Airport. 1 PUBLIC COMMENT REPORT
FOR AGENDA ITEM 8G
5/28/2025
Subject: Public comment Item 8G, Council Agenda for 6/3/2025 (AWOS approval)
Hon Mayor and Members of the Torrance City Council:
I urge approval of Item 8G, the installation of an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS). An AWOS installation was originally recommended to the City Council in a letter from the Torrance Airport Association on January 18, 2021. Multiple surveys of Torrance Airport customers have listed installation of an AWOS system as THE HIGHEST PRIORITY for airport safety improvements.
As a pilot approaches a destination airport, he/she needs some critical current information to make a safe arrival:
Altimeter setting (so that the pilot has accurate information about clearance from obstacles and can fly the traffic pattern at the correct altitude above the ground) Wind direction, speed and gusts (so that the pilot can prepare to apply the appropriate procedures to counter them)
Ceiling and visibility (so the pilot knows if he/she can legally and safely approach and land at that airport)
Runway in use (so that the pilot can safely merge into any existing traffic) Common traffic advisory frequency (so that the pilot can announce her/his location and intentions to other traffic and can understand other aircraft locations and intentions)
When the control tower is operating, this information is provided via recorded announcements over a frequency published for that airport (the Automatic Terminal Information System--ATIS).
When there is no control tower or when the tower is closed, current information is only available if there is an AWOS system at that airport. Although every other airport in the Los Angeles Basin has an AWOS, Torrance Airport DOES NOT!
Please approve this critical safety system for the Torrance Airport.
Jim Gates
Torrance homeowner and airport customer for 52 years
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