The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors agenda for Tuesday August 12, 2008 has been published. They will be considering the legal options for the closure of RHV. (They may just accept the report and take no further action at this meeting.) Click on the links below to see the documents. Note in particular the ending sections of the legal options document:
“4. The County May Seek Congressional Relief
Notwithstanding the FAA’s position as outlined above, the County may seek relief through its congressional delegation. The City of Rialto, California, for example, was able to secure a provision in a federal transportation bill that directed the FAA to permit Rialto to close the Rialto Municipal Airport, with certain restrictions on the proceeds of the sale of the property.
CONCLUSION
Should the Board determine that it wishes to pursue the sale or lease of the Reid-Hillview Airport, the legal procedures would be extremely complex and lengthy. In addition to the administrative processes of the FAA and possible ensuing litigation, the County would be required to adhere to CEQA processes.”
You can bet that Supervisor Alvarado is working as hard as she can to get Representatives Lofgren and Honda to legislate away the contracts.
Here’s agenda item 41:
“41. Consider recommendations relating to Reid-Hillview Airport.
Possible action:
- Under advisement from March 18, 2008 (Item No. 17): Accept report from the Office of the County Counsel relating to legal options relating to Reid-Hillview Airport.
- Direct the Administration and/or County Counsel to take any action the Board deems appropriate.
- Accept report from the Roads and Airports Department relating to grants accepted from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for acquisition and development of Reid-Hillview Airport.
Transmittal CC02 081208 : Report Back on Legal Options Relating to Reid-Hillview Airport
Transmittal RA05 081208 : Reid-Hillview Airport Grant History
Map of Reid-Hillview Airport Property Parcels (Miscellaneous)
Reid-Hillview History Summary (Miscellaneous)
Reid-Hillview Airport Grant Summary 1962-present (Miscellaneous)”
Here’s the link to the full agenda on the County’s website:
http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/scc/boardagenda?contentId=52914c96e3a9b110VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____&agendaType=BOS%20Agenda
I highly recommend that you read the Legal Options document in its entirety.
John Blair
Vice President
Coalition for Responsible Airport Management & Policy