July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Airport Future To Headline City Council Meeting This Tuesday:

The year 2015 is around the corner, meaning it is almost high time for the City of Santa Monica to decide how to proceed with Santa Monica Airport (SMO). This Tuesday, the City Council will discuss the airport’s future at its meeting.

With about 15 months left on the clock until a 1984 agreement between City Hall and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expires, the council could be putting the wheels in motion to take definitive action of whether SMO will continue to operate as is or be shut down in some capacity.

Yet with a recent federal decision disputing Santa Monica’s claim to ownership of airport property, neither City Hall nor the FAA appears to be any closer to an affirmative decision of how to move forward.

“For years, community members assumed that the City could close the Airport in 2015 when the 1984 agreement with the federal government will expire,” City staff stated in a report to council members. “However, it is now clear that legal disputes about the City’s authority to close the Airport will inevitably extend well beyond 2015, and their outcome is uncertain. Beyond the legal controversies, some level of environmental assessment would likely be required to close all or part of the Airport and that would take time.”

Though definitive action on the future of SMO may not come about by July 1, 2015 as previously advertised, City Hall hopes to use the potential extra time in coming to a resolution to its advantage.

“This time can be used to begin preparing potential work plans clarifying the scope of work that would be necessary,” City staff stated, adding it hopes the council will take advantage of the extra time to “begin formulating work plans related to possible closure.”

Accordingly, City staff and council members will discuss several SMO-themed topics this Tuesday, including the possible preparation of conceptual renderings of a smaller airport, determining whether to eliminate or place conditions on flight schools, exploring the limitation or elimination of fuel sales, and looking into how to either close SMO or reduce its adverse impacts.

“The FAA contends that the City cannot close the Airport when the 1984 Agreement expires because the City will remain obligated to operate the Airport by both the last grant that the City accepted for Airport improvements in 1994 and by the Instrument of Transfer,” City staff stated. “As to the grant, the FAA contends that it obligates the City until 2023, while the City contends that the last grant was made on June 6, 1994 and expires on June 5th of this year.”

City staff continued even if it were not obligated to keep SMO open until 2023, the federal government maintains the 1948 Instrument of Transfer requires Santa Monica “to operate the Airport in perpetuity.”

Should a federal judge determine the FAA grant agreements do not expire until 2023, SMO would remain open for at least nine more years – longer if issues pertaining to the Instrument of Transfer are not resolved within that time.

“If the FAA ultimately prevails in its argument that the Instrument of Transfer requires the City to operate the Airport in perpetuity, the City will not be able to unilaterally close the Airport,” City staff stated.

As to where the Santa Monica stands with SMO, City staff states the airport definitely must remain open for now since the 1994 grant conditions still have yet to expire and the 1984 Settlement Agreement continues through June 30, 2015.

“Definitive City action to close all or part of the Airport will very likely result in the FAA and likely also the aviation community instituting legal proceedings,” City staff stated. “The exact nature of their actions cannot be predicted with certainty and would likely depend on exactly what action the City took.”

The council will begin fleshing out the City’s options of SMO’s future next week. However, the discussion is just the tip of a massive iceberg as City staff predicts the legal fight over the airport’s future will take several years.

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...