March 22, 2004

ASAP21 Letter to SDCRAA dated 3-19-04

March 19, 2004

Mr. Joe Craver, Chairman
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
P.O. Box 82776
San Diego, CA 92112-2776

Re: Airport Site Selection, New GIS Sites

Dear Chairman Craver,

We wish to commend the Authority for its efforts to ensure complete thoroughness in searching for an airport site by instructing your consultant team to complete a comprehensive study of the region?s terrain using recently developed GIS mapping technology. We understand that several new potential ?green field? sites may be identified through this process.

Our organization hopes that these sites will receive a public review in a manner consistent with the Phase I screening process. Therefore, we recommend that the SDCRAA follow the same procedures, or a similar process, as used in the previous Phase I screening, including the opportunity for public comment. We suggest that you consider the following actions:
1. SDCRAA reconvene the 32 member Public Working Group
2. SDCRAA directs the current consultant to collect data and prepare presentations on each of the new GIS sites consistent with data prepared for Phase I screening.
3. Consultant and facilitator present new GIS sites and Phase I screening criteria to the Public Working Group
4. Public Working Group reviews data in accordance with the screening criteria and provides comment/recommendations on the new GIS sites to
SDCRAA.
5. SDCRAA Board then reviews the Public Working Group comments and recommendations and determines which GIS sites would be advanced to the
Phase 2 study.

There are advantages to following the earlier Phase I study process; these include consistency in the process and the ability to allow for public comment. Additionally, use of the Public Working Group enables SDCRAA to cite public input regarding decisions the Authority may make regarding the GIS sites. The review can be accomplished in a timely manner, avoiding any delay in the current schedule and
requiring no more than two meetings of the Public Working Group. Such a process will ensure an opportunity for public comment and that the new GIS sites that move forward will have received the same level of scrutiny as sites that had previously been selected for further review.

The only identified disadvantages involve the additional workload on SDCRAA staff to coordinate the Public Working Group meetings and prepare the necessary documentation, and a possible cost increase for consultant work.

We hope that you will give these recommendations your serious consideration.


Sincerely,



Ray Robbins
Chairman, 2004
John Chalker
President and Founding Chair



Cc: ASAP21 Board
Thella Bowens, President/CEO SDCRAA

Last Updated: April 12, 2005

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