The CASMAT petition in support of the Airport Commission recommendations has now closed.  In all there were a total of 1,812 signatures.  After eliminating duplicate signatures by the same individual, this number was reduced to 1,687.  The pie chart below shows the distribution of signatures by ZIP code for the signatory’s residence:

CASMAT petition signatures by ZIP code

In all 64% of all signatures (1,076) were from Santa Monica, 50% from the 90405 ZIP code alone (which actually contains SMO).  Other significant wedges in the pie were 14% for the 90066 ZIP code (Mar Vista) and 12% for the 90291 ZIP (Venice), both of which are under the SMO pattern flying loop.  The 90064 ZIP code, which is primarily impacted by landings and jet fumes, constituted 6% of the signatures.

SMO and surrounding ZIP codes

On-line signatures contained address, e-mail, and other details, which were used to verify the signatory.  In addition, a significant number of petitions were submitted by mail in response to various flyers and petition inserts in local newspapers.  The text of the petition read as follows:

1. LEGAL MINIMUM. The City should continue to observe City Council Resolution 6296 to effect the closure of the airport as soon as is practicable. Until such time, the City should observe its agreements related to the operations of the airport and condense the aviation operations in the smallest area legally permissible and to do the legal minimum required to safely fulfill those obligations. 2. LANDING FEES PAID BY ALL USERS. The City should, as soon as practicable, charge landing fees to all airport users. The aviation tenants at the airport are subsidized by discounted rents so there is no reason to abate fees to locally based operators. Under the Grant Assurances, the City is required to charge rents and fees to make the airport as self sustaining as possible. 3. INCREASE LANDING FEES TO COVER AVIATION COSTS. The City should, as soon as practicable, increase landing fees to cover the cost of aviation operations and maintenance of the airport property. Currently the city subsidizes aircraft operations with rents from facilities and with public funds which are not required under the Grant Assurances. Under the Grant Assurances, the City is required to charge rents and fees to make the airport as self sustaining as possible. 4. TOXIC TORT LIABILITY INSURANCE. The City should, as soon as, practicable require toxic tort liability insurance from all aviation operators using Santa Monica Airport. As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt policies to protect itself against liability and enhance the human environment and retains proprietary authority under the 1984 Agreement with respect to lessees and users of the airport. 5. FLIGHT OPERATIONS PERMIT. The City should, as soon as practicable, require a flight operations permit for each aircraft operation. This will allow the City to insure each aircraft operator is in compliance with the City’s policies and provide the ability to conduct a security check on the operator given the airport’s proximity to Los Angeles International Airport and strategic buildings. As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt policies to protect itself against liability and enhance the human environment and retains proprietary authority under the 1984 Agreement with respect to lessees and users of the airport. 6. DECLARATORY RELIEF. The City should, as soon as practicable, request declaratory relief related to its ability to close the airport pursuant to City Council Resolution 6296 based upon: i) the termination date of the 1994 Grant Agreement which expires on June 28, 2014, but the FAA maintains continues until August 26, 2023; ii) the perpetuity provision in the 1948 Instrument of Transfer; and iii) the requirement in the 1984 Agreement to operate the airport until July 1, 2015; 7. NON-ADDITION RULE. The City should, as soon as practicable, enact a ‘Non-Addition Rule’ similar to the law passed in 2000 and successfully defended in 2001 by the City of Los Angeles for the Van Nuys Airport, but that includes all aircraft so as to not discriminate against any class of aircraft; As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt policies to protect itself against liability and enhance the human environment and retains proprietary authority under the 1984 Agreement with respect to lessees and users of the airport. 8. OPERATION REDUCTION RULE. The City should, as soon as practicable, enact a ‘Helicopter Operations Reductions Rule’ similar to the law passed and successfully defended by New York City in 1998, but that applies to all aircraft so as to not discriminate against any class of aircraft. As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt policies to protect itself against liability and enhance the human environment and retains proprietary authority under the 1984 Agreement with respect to lessees and users of the airport. 9. REMOVE THE 1949 QUITCLAIM PARCEL FROM AVIATION USE. The City should determine its rights, whether by declaratory relief or legislative action, to remove from aviation use as soon as practicable after July 1, 2015, should it so desire, the westerly 18.629 acre parcel quitclaimed to the City in 1949 that is not a part of the General Aviation Parcel and not governed by the 1948 Instrument of Transfer. The 1984 Agreement requires that the City to maintain a 5,000 foot runway but upon its expiration on July 1, 2015, that obligation expires and the City, as the owner of the 1949 quitclaim parcel, can remove it from aviation use. 10. DISCONTINUE NON-ESSENTIAL AVIATION RELATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES UNTIL FUTURE OF THE AIRPORT IS DETERMINED. The City should, as soon as practicable, discontinue all non-essential aviation related capital expenditures until the City Council determines the future use of the Airport. As a proprietor, the City has the responsibility to maintain the aviation facilities as the airport but is not compelled to do so in a wasteful manner in the event the City determines that it will reduce or discontinue operations at the airport. 11. DISCONTINUE LEASING SPACE TO ALL INDUSTRIAL TENANTS WITH BUSINESS ACTIVITIES INCOMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORING LAND USES. The City should, as soon as practicable send notice of termination to existing lessees and discontinue leasing space to all aviation and industrial tenants engaged in activities incompatible with neighboring land uses including the sale of aviation fuel and other hazardous materials. As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt policies to protect itself against liability and enhance the human environment and retains proprietary authority under the 1984 Agreement with respect to lessees and users of the airport. As a proprietor, the City has the right to adopt ordinances and regulations applicable to lessees and users of the airport to protect itself and the users of the airport. The City has the right to ban aviation and light industrial tenants that generate pollutants and environmental impacts that negatively affect neighboring land uses. 12. REMOVAL OF THE 1949 QUITCLAIM PARCEL FROM AVIATION USE. The City should remove from aviation use as soon as practicable after July 1, 2015, the westerly 18.629 acre parcel quitclaimed to the City in 1949 that is not a part of the General Aviation Parcel and not governed by the 1948 Instrument of Transfer. The 1984 Agreement requires the City to maintain the existing runway configuration and a 5,000 foot runway but upon its expiration on July 1, 2015, that obligation expires and the City, as the owner of the 1949 quitclaim parcel, can remove it from aviation use.