This week #17 on the council agenda, staff is asking the city council to approve a $350,000.00 study for the requested customs facility at Long Beach Airport.
You can see the details in the attachment at the site below:
http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2540132&
What is alarming is the 2013 study completed by Frasca & Associates was roughly $35K. The seated council chose not to vet that document publicly and yet now may approve a contract that will cost 10X that figure.
Jacobs Engineering is headquartered in Pasadena and also has local offices in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Though this particular contract is being awarded to their Texas location. The contract will include participation from several other firms including Frasca & Associates.
The Jacobs Engineering website sends up many red flags for us. This is an excerpt from the aviation website page:
Our aviation teams help clients and their customers prepare for a smooth take-off and landing at international, regional, and municipal airports around the globe.
Starting with aviation planning, site development, and asset management to architecture and engineering design through to construction support, commissioning and long-term facilities management, we are able to help our clients connect all of the critical aspects of their facility to provide an excellent experience for their traveling customers.
In the U.S., we have worked in more than 80 commercial airports and in the past 15 years we have successfully delivered 12 major aviation programs totaling more than $15 billion.
This proposed study was to determine the financial feasibility and impacts upon our communities. Not to open the door to an entity that supports and builds for airport growth.
This agenda item, to approve a significant budget for yet another study, allows the council to instead receive and file this proposed project. Let's see if the council has been listening to the residents who are impacted daily by airport activities.
We are not asking you to attend this council meeting because there are several "hot topics" on the agenda and do not want to burden you with giving up your entire evening (unless of course you feel compelled to join us). The HUSH board will attend and speak to concerns that have been expressed since this was first initiated in 2013.
What Can You Do ?
- You can call and/or write every council office and the mayor to state your position on this proposal.
- You can request a LBNF lawn sign.
- You can volunteer to host a coffee meeting at your home to help spread the factual message.
- You can involve yourself in the April 2016 election for districts 2,4,6 and 8. Campaigns are always in need of volunteers!