Monterey County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
• Agency Response
Regional Airport The Honorable Stephanie E. Hulsey*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 3 findings
F1
A summary of noise complaints is only available inside monthly board packets making it difficult for the public to find and review them, adding to community misunderstanding. Response: Agree in part; Disagree in part. The MPAD agrees that the noise complaints are placed in each Board agenda which is publicly available on MPAD's website for the public to access. MPAD disagrees that the current location of the noise complaints adds to the community misunderstanding related to aircraft noise. However, MPAD agrees that certain changes in the placement and listing of noise complaints may provide additional transparency beyond what the Airport is currently providing to the public.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
MPAD create a more visible area on its website that shares public complaints and MPAD's response to them within 72-hours of receipt by October 31, 2024. Response: Will be implemented, in part; Will not be implemented, in part. MPAD will create a more visible area on its website that will share noise complaints on or before October 31, 2024. In most instances, MPAD staff will respond to noise complaints within 72 hours, but certain complaints may take additional time to adequately respond.
F2
MPAD's complaint response is not well understood by the community causing frustration. Response: Agree. MPAD agrees that its noise complaint and response procedure is not well understood by the community causing some frustration.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
MPAD create a more prominent statement on its website explaining the parameters regarding a 24/7 airport specific to noise management by August 31, 2024. Response: Will be implemented.
F3
Although the MPAD has community relations committees, these committees do not effectively communicate, involve, or educate the public regarding air traffic noise resulting in community complaints and dissatisfaction. Response: Agree in part; Disagree in part; MPAD has various committees which comply with the Brown Act, regularly post agendas and are open to the public. The Air Carrier Service - Marketing - Community Relations Committee is tasked with reviewing of noise complaints and recommending policy for the Board to approve. The Air Carrier Service - Marketing - Community Relations Committee will review current practices and will determine if policy modifications are warranted and, if so, such policy modifications will be proposed for consideration by the Board.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
MPAD create and approve an internal written policy and procedure for responding to citizen noise complaints by August 31, 2024. Response: Will be implemented.
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.