CC SR 20210316 E - Green Hills Flyover Partnership agreement
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/16/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to include a Peninsula flyover as part of the 2021
Green Hills Memorial Day Observance.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a report not to pursue a Peninsula flyover this year as the 2021
Green Hills Memorial Day Observance will likely be canceled, and to explore a
Peninsula flyover for 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
Amount Budgeted: None
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. March 17, 2020 Staff Report (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In December 2019, Mr. John Linder asked City Council about the possibility of hosting
an airshow event in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. The Council directed Staff to
research this suggestion as a potential supplement to the City’s existing Fourth of July
event.
Staff subsequently contacted Dennis Lord, Chairman of the Aviation Commission for the
County of Los Angeles, to discuss this possibility. Mr. Lord, who has managed multiple
air shows throughout California and is familiar with Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos
Verdes Peninsula, raised a number of concerns which are detailed below.
The City Council discussed the concerns raised by Mr. Lord at its March 17, 2020
meeting (Attachment A). The staff report detailed the following concerns about
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including an airshow at the Fourth of July Celebration and recommended against an
airshow:
• Parking and traffic logistics
• Security
• Risk exposure and increased insurance coverage
• Lengthy Federal Aviation Administration approval process
The City Council did not take any action regarding an airshow or flyover at the Fourth of
July Celebration which was eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City Council did direct Staff to explore the option of a flyover over the Peninsula as
part of an expansion of the Green Hills Memorial Day Observance event. The Memorial
Day Observance, which typically attracts between 3,500 to 5,000 attendees, includes
flyovers by various military branches and skydiving demonstrations. The 2020 event
was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the event coordinator, Jennifer Olveras, recently
informed Staff that it was highly likely that the 2021 event would be cancelled as well
due to COVID-19-related concerns and restrictions, particularly the current limit of 100
people allowed at Green Hills. She noted that annual Torrance Armed Forces Day
parade has already been cancelled and she anticipates that Green Hills Board would
follow suit and vote to officially cancel the event by mid-March.
Besides the likely event cancellation, Ms. Olveras noted the timing for RPV hosting a
flyover is not feasible. She typically contacts the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
for review and approval 8-9 months in advance of the event. This approval process
takes place before she submits the request to the various military branches to be placed
on their eligibility list. Any change to their request for FAA review could extend the
process and most likely be denied. Lead time before Memorial Day is only two-and-a-
half months and only three-and-a-half months before the Fourth of July.
Ms. Olveras also noted that simply piggybacking on Green Hill’s existing flyover
approval is not a practicable option based on her over twenty ye ars of experience
coordinating the event and working with the FAA and military branches. The FAA
approves a request for a particular event and flight pattern. A separate application
process would need to be submitted for an additional flyover. She noted that there is
typically no charge for military flyovers.
Due to the factors listed above, particularly the likely cancellation of Green Hills
Memorial Day Observance event, a flyover of the Palos Verdes Peninsula is not
recommended at this time. Staff will revisit an expanded flyover in 2022, unless
otherwise directed not to by the City Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
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1. Direct Staff to continue exploring expansion of Green Hills Memorial Day
Observance to include a Peninsula flyover.
2. Take other action as deemed appropriate.
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/17/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to review a report regarding the addition of an air
show event to the City’s Fourth of July event
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Provide direction to Staff regarding the proposed addition of an air show event to
the City’s Fourth of July event.
FISCAL IMPACT: None at this time.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, Recreation and Parks
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Director of Recreation and Parks
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In December 2019, Mr. John Linder asked the City Council about the possibility of
hosting an air show event in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. The Council directed
Staff to research this suggestion as a potential supplement to the City’s existing Fourth
of July event.
Staff subsequently contacted Dennis Lord, Chairman of the Aviation Commission for the
County of Los Angeles, to discuss this possibility. Mr. Lord has managed multiple air
shows throughout California and is familiar with Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos
Verdes Peninsula. Mr. Lord detailed two typical scenarios for aerial events: air shows
and flyovers.
Air Shows
The cost and complexity of an air show varies substantially based on the number and
type of aircraft involved, the extent of acrobatic maneuvers, and the location of the
aircraft in relation to event attendees. Air shows require additional personnel with
specific credentials to manage airspace supported by additional resources such as
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radar services. Waivers from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations are
often required. An experienced aerial coordinator would work with the City to develop a
comprehensive plan, which would be submitted to the FAA for review and potential
approval. Depending on the proposed activities and location of the air show, waivers of
existing FAA regulations and restrictions may be required.
An approved aerobatic practice area is located off the coast near Point Vicente,
although FAA regulations for operating in that area do not permit aerobatics under 1500
feet. Lowering that aerobatics floor would require an FAA waiver , which would increase
the costs. This is a higher level than most air show aerobatics, but Mr. Lord opined that
maneuvers could be performed above 1500 feet and still be visible from the coastline.
Flyovers
Flyovers are simpler to coordinate and less expensive than an air show. Coordination
with airspace control may or may not be required based on the location of the event and
the affected air space. Similar to the air show process, a plan would need to be
developed by an aerial coordinator and submitted to the FAA for review a nd approval.
Flyovers of City Hall/Point Vicente Park could occur with a minimum altitude of 1 ,000
feet above ground level (AGL) higher than the highest point within 2,000 feet
horizontally. Mr. Lord stated that those flyovers could be combined with offshore
aerobatics. Other options could include flag banner tows, formation overflights and
parachute jumps, which are often scheduled to coincide with performances of the
national anthem.
Mr. Lord did not recommend a full air show due to significant challenges with ingress
and egress concerns, limited parking availability and potential impacts on
neighborhoods. The Fourth of July event, which draws approximately 2,500 to 3,000
people, already requires substantial parking at City Hall, as well as several shuttle stops
and overflow parking at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The addition of an air
show, even a modestly-sized one, would present severe logistical challenges and would
likely require additional Sheriff’s Department personnel to handle security and traffic
issues. Logistical impacts and challenges would be similar at Whale of a Day, the City’s
other large special event.
Mr. Lord estimated that a flyover could cost between $8,000 to $15,000 depending on
the type of aircraft. Military aircraft may be available at no cost. Sponsorship possibilities
can also be explored to defray the City’s costs. The Fourth of July event’s patriotic
theme would fit with a well-timed flyover. A flyover would not be an additional event, but
a supplemental “added attraction.” Static aircraft could also be on display at the event
for the public’s education and enjoyment.
Insurance
Mr. Lord cautioned that liability and obtaining sufficient insurance coverage are
significant concerns that often become deal breakers for air shows and flyovers. Staff
reached out to the City’s insurer, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority
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(CJPIA), to discuss coverage. CJPIA’s recommendation was not to have an air show
due to the high level of exposure, emphasizing that while air shows and flyovers often
occur without crashes, when accidents do take place , the results are often catastrophic,
involving loss of life and serious injuries. CJPIA recommended a minimum of $30 million
of aircraft liability coverage, but still cautioned that if losses exceeded that amount the
City would be responsible. CJPIA referenced the 2011 Reno air show disaster, which
resulted in 11 deaths, almost 70 injuries and numerous lawsuits. CJPIA also noted that
it does not provide coverage for flyovers. In addition to insurance coverage and FAA
waivers and permits, due diligence would require the City to obtain aircraft maintenance
records, pilot training records and the age of all aircraft involved in the flyover or air
show.
CONCLUSION:
Due to the logistical impact on an already well-attended event such as the Fourth of July
and the insurance concerns detailed above, Staff does not recommend an air show. If
the City does want to include an airspace element at a future Fourth of July event, a
contract with a vendor to provide a modest, patriotic flyover in conjunction with a static
display of aircraft at the City’s helipad would be a preferred approach. The potential
fiscal impact of a typical flyover could cost between $8,000 and $15,000 depending on
the type of aircraft. Expenses for additional staff and Sheriff’s services are unknown
until an event is detail defined. These additional expenses are not currently included in
the Department’s budget.
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