2 Key Topics You Missed At The Calabasas City Council Meeting

CALABASAS, CA —Did you miss Wednesday's Calabasas City Council Meeting? Here's a round-up of some of the key topics.

Air Traffic Noise Control

A 2017 change in Federal Aviation Association flight patterns put a flight route over parts of Calabasas, creating public frustration about the resultant air traffic noise and pollution in the city.

At Wednesday's council meeting, the council discussed endorsing a piece of federal legislation called the Quiet Communities Act of 2021, a bill that seeks to re-establish an official government office to develop and monitor, conduct research and educate on state and local noise control.

This agenda item was expected to garner significant public interest, and the Calabasas public did not disappoint — six individuals spoke on the nuisance created by air traffic noise and the changed FAA flight patterns, calling on the council to ask Congressman Ted Lieu to host a town hall and fight the pattern change.

The council approved a letter addressed to Lieu, who has cosponsored the Quiet Communities Act of 2021, that asks Lieu to advocate for three key additions to the bill: that the bill require FAA to notify any affected communities of flight pattern changes, followed by sufficient time for public comment and a discussion of alternative routes. The council will continue discussing a request for Lieu to lead a town hall on the issue.

A representative from Quiet Skies Woodland Hills, an organization that educates and pushes citizens to fight against FAA air traffic noise and route changes, spoke about how the city should best move forward, suggesting the city council push Lieu to make more targeted legislation.

Other towns, such as nearby Malibu, have also struggled with air traffic noise, and Councilmember Alicia Weintraub suggested the council consult Malibu as well.

Clean Power

Clean Power Alliance Senior Director of External Affairs Sherita Coffelt explained the city's upcoming move to a 100 percent renewable electricity default rate, discussing the budgeting, timeline and sustainable benefits of the switch.

The council voted in February to automatically enroll Calabasas energy consumers in a 100 percent renewable electricity default rate, which will be an increase from the existing 36 percent clean energy rate, according to a news release from the City of Calabasas. The program, Coffelt explained, will result in carbon reductions that are equivalent to taking 13,097 cars off the road and planting 995,864 trees.

Coffelt explained that the automatic enrollment will occur on Oct. 9, but constituents will still have the option to opt out and choose from three lower cost but less sustainable options. She also explained that CPA provides multiple budgeting programs to assist any individuals who would like to make the sustainable choice but may struggle to afford it. CPA will do multiple rounds of outreach before Oct. 9.

Many cities in Southern California have moved to this more sustainable energy option as part of the state's efforts to have a carbon-free electric system by 2045.

Multiple members of the community applauded the program.

“The climate impacts are making me truly — not remotely exaggerating — frightened for the future of our kids,” Calabasas local Andy Schrader said. He added: “Thanks again to the council for strong leadership in taking the 100% renewable default, [it’s a] really really important time to be doing that.

The council also voted to adopt three key ordinances and confirm a contract dealing with houselessness, which you can read more about on Patch.