Monterey Regional Airport under noise regulation controversy
MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) - The Monterey Peninsula Airport District voted to repeal three ordinances on Wednesday.
Those at the meeting were not too pleased, even though the ordinances were voluntary to begin with.
Neighbors mentioned the noise levels affecting their quality of life and that it did not feel as though the board is listening to them or addressing their concerns.
From the top of the meeting, the general council advised the board to repeal three noise ordinances because if the airport fully enforced them, it could be subject to losing funding or litigation on a federal level.
There were some people in the crowd who supported the board getting rid of the ordinances.
"I wish we could leave them in place, but we just can't," Scott Huber, district general council. said. "Creative solutions to this problem is really where we need to focus all of our energy and attention"
And even after dozens of public comments advocating to keep them, the council voted to repeal all three.
"You're trying to undermine these protections with your rescinding of these noise and safety ordinances with disregard for the community," one neighbor said during public comment.
Ultimately, the board said they were between wanting to do more to help but not being able to control the regulations the FAA makes the airport follow.
"I represent the public but I am bound by the law," Jonathan Ahmadi, director of Monterey Peninsula Airport District, said.
The chair of the district, Carl Miller, said that the board does not have the power, but they try to work with the airport's federal partners to bring forth effective laws.
The vote ended 5-0.
"I'm extremely disappointed," Nancy Runyon, a member of the Monterey Fly Safe Coalition, said. "These planes rattle the pictures on my walls, and I can feel them in my throat. And there's no way I can just ignore them."
Runyon said the MFSC will "most likely" be bringing a lawsuit against the district board following this vote.
