SHALL THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE OPPOSE SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL AIR PASSENGER SERVICE AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT?

Background: Last year a private company proposed scheduled passenger service at the Jefferson County Airport (the "Airport"). The Louisville City Council voted to oppose such flights and later joined with Superior and Westminster in sharing the cost of legal action to bar scheduled air travel service at the Airport.

Those in FAVOR say:

-- Scheduled commercial passenger service will bring increased noise, congestion, and environmental hazards. Property values will decline. The disturbance will adversely affect people in the area as well as the wildlife found in nearby open space.

-- The Airport's Master Plan, dated January 1988, establishes an assumption that no air carrier service is contemplated in the planning period which extends to the year 2007.

-- The Airport Authority has signed Avigation Easement Agreements with the owners of Rock Creek Ranch and other parcels. The Rock Creek Easement Agreement terminates if aircraft size or passenger usage increases over the amount described in the Master Plan or if the airport noise exceeds certain limits.

-- An Arapahoe County judge ruled that Centennial Airport could prohibit or limit air carrier service. FAA regulations state that such action may be taken if "necessary for the safe operation of the airport or necessary to serve the civil aviation needs of the public." Jeffco and Centennial airports are governed by the same rules.

-- DRCOG'S Regional Aviation System Plan designates DIA as the region's air carrier airport through the year 2010. Jefferson County Airport is identified as a general aviation reliever airport. In the draft update of the plan, these roles remain the same through 2020.

Those OPPOSED say:

-- Louisville has no right to interfere in the operation of an airport in another county. Louisville is outside the Airport Influence Area.

-- The Airport Authority states that it will not seek the required certification or upgrade the facilities to accomodate planes with more than 30 seats. Presence of a scheduled passenger carrier will not open the door to frequent flights of larger aircraft.

-- The Airport has received federal money, and the federal grant assurances apply. In this Federal Aviation Administration regulation, the Airport specifically agrees to be available "for public use on fair and reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination, to all types,kinds and classes of aeronautical use."

-- Travelers could benefit by convenient and lower-cost service to destinations such as Grand Junction or Steamboat.

-- The economy of the area would improve with increased employment opportunities.

-- Given the number of operations now at the Airport, there would be only marginal increases in noise and traffic due to scheduled flights of turboprop planes.

-- The ballot measure doesn't specify what form the city's opposition might take, or put any dollar limit on expenditures.