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Representatives of the Livermore Airport Commission shared an annual update during Monday night’s City Council meeting, offering insights into the group’s main projects completed throughout 2023.
The Airport Commission compiles its yearly review to give city leaders and the public an in-depth look at data, policies and updates from the previous calendar year. Acting airport manager Benedict Stuth led the presentation to council.
“Last year, the Airport Commission fulfilled its job of approving, advising and completing community outreach projects,” said Stuth during the meeting. He explained the main projects and policies the commission oversaw in 2023.
“They worked on approving the Airport Development Policy (and) the airport hangar policy update. They provided direction on the airport minimum standards for commercial activity, the Casper Noise Monitoring System installation and activation, the Fly Quiet Fly Friendly program, updating airport signage and addressing noise concerns, as well as conducting the airport open house,” he said.
Where operations are defined as a landing or take off of an aircraft at the airport, 2023 saw 181,176 total operations. While the historical high for the airport operations was marked in 1993 with 282,261, Stuth noted the numbers have been increasing since taking a dip in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The airport is an asset to the Tri-Valley community,” Stuth told the council. “It provides air tours, flight training and aircraft maintenance. It also supports aviation and stem education through multiple youth programs. It supports law enforcement, disaster relief services for the Tri-Valley area and is able to provide access to emergency medical flights.”
In 2024, the commission plans to give direction on the Airport Land Use Development Analysis as well as other additional projects that may arise.
Following the council meeting, Stuth further discussed the report’s details with Livermore Vine.
“Some of the things that we’ve done here at the airport to address noise concerns is to further flesh out the noise abatement portion of our website,” Stuth said. “We’ve also put up signage around the airport reminding pilots to fly quietly and to abide by our noise friendly procedures for operation of an aircraft such as turning up early, bringing the throttle levels back, and also voluntarily abiding by our nighttime noise curfew.”
Stuth told Livermore Vine that the advisory body is also currently looking to fill a vacancy.
Typically, the commission is made up of five members each serving four year term lengths with a two term limit. Right now, there are only four commissioners.
“We have two candidates that have filled out applications for the vacancy. We’re currently in review of those applications. After that review, we would make a recommendation to the City Council and there would be an appointment that would follow based on that,” said Stuth. “The two applicants we are considering have never served on the airport commission before.”
The city did not provide further details about who the two applicants are or the planned timeline for filling the commission vacancy as of Tuesday evening.
