To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tennis Wick (707) 565-1925, Claudette Diaz (707) 565-7387
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Airport Land Use Commission Appointments
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the Appointments of Ben Pahlavan and Gary Helfrich to the Airport Land Use Commission to serve terms beginning June 3, 2025, and ending May 7, 2029. (Countywide) :
end
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors are responsible for appointments to over 75 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces. Vacancies and upcoming expiring appointments are posted on the County’s list of Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website:
<https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f>.
Permit Sonoma requests that the Board of Supervisors approve appointments of two County representatives, Ben Pahlavan and Gary Helfrich, to serve on the Airport Land Use Commission for terms beginning June 3, 2025, and ending May 7, 2029.
Discussion:
The California Public Utilities Code <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=PUC&tocTitle=+Public+Utilities+Code+-+PUC> (Section 21670) requires that every county which has an airport operated for the benefit of the general public or is served by a scheduled airline establish an Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) to provide for the orderly development of air transportation, ensure compatible land uses around airports, and protect the public health, safety and welfare.
The Sonoma County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) <https://permitsonoma.org/boardscommissionsandcommittees/airportlandusecommission> consists of seven members as follows: two representing the County of Sonoma; two representing the cities in the County; two appointed by the public airport managers in the County; and one representing the general public as appointed by the other six commissioners. Each commissioner’s term is four-years at which point they should be re-appointed or replaced. Commissioners volunteer their time and are not compensated.
The ALUC has the following authority and duties:
1. Assist local agencies in ensuring compatible land uses in the vicinity of airports;
2. Provide for the orderly development of air transportation while protecting the public health, safety, and welfare;
3. Prepare and adopt a comprehensive airport land use plan; and
4. Review the plans and actions of local agencies and airport operators.
The ALUC currently has three vacancies: two County representatives, and one general public representative. The vacancies were published on the ’Countys Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website <https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f>.
|
Member |
Role |
Term |
|
Todd Lands |
City Selection Committee |
04/14/2022 to 04/14/2026 |
|
Sam Salmon |
City Selection Committee |
05/01/2023 to 05/01/2027 |
|
Arthur Hayssen |
Airport Managers |
02/02/2021 to 05/31/2025 |
|
Douglas Lumgair |
Airport Managers |
05/14/2024 to 05/14/2028 |
|
Vacant |
County Representative |
|
|
Vacant |
County Representative |
|
|
Vacant |
General Public |
|
County Appointments to the Airport Land Use Commission
Since July 2023, six applications by members of the public have been received through the county website to fill open vacancies. Three of those applicants have been appointed to serve as members of the Commission by the City Selection Committee and Airport Managers. Permit Sonoma requests that the Board appoint the following individuals to the Sonoma County Airport Land Use Commission to serve terms beginning June 3, 2025, and ending May 7, 2029. The following two applicants were selected based on their experience and familiarity with local zoning laws and land use policies.
• Ben Pahlavan, County Representative
o Ben Pahlavan has aviation experience and is a private pilot in Sonoma County. Ben has experience with planning and land use matters and is familiar with local zoning laws.
• Gary Helfrich, County Representative
o Gary Helfrich is a retired land use planner who previously served as the staff liaison for the Airport Land Use Commission. Gary has extensive experience with local zoning laws and land use policies.
Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
Not Applicable
Fiscal Summary
Not Applicable
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Not Applicable
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Not Applicable
Attachments:
Attachment 1 Recommended Applications
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None