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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />CITY COUNCIL AIRPORT COMMITTEE <br />November 7, 2008 <br />9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. <br />San Leandro City Hall <br />835 East 14th Street <br />San Leandro, California <br />Sister Cities Gallery <br />HIGHLIGHTS <br />Committee Members: Mayor Santos, Councilmember Starosciak and Councilmember Prola <br />City staff present: Steve Hollister, Interim City Manager; Kathy Ornelas, Community <br />Relations Representative; Kathleen Livermore, Planning Manager <br />Public present: Dwayne Oslund, Airship Ventures; Amanda Fenton, Townsend Public <br />Affiars; Dave Mills, Business Jet Center; Larry Galindo, Rob Forrester, <br />Michael Vistonti, Rob Fettter, Joshua Polston, Port of Oakland; Carmen <br />Fewless; Wafaa Aborashed; John Manuel; Francois Gallo; Red <br />Wetherill; Dave Needle. <br />The meeting was called to order at 9:03 a.m. <br />1. Presentation by Airship Ventures Regarding the Dirigible Operation Coming to the <br />Airport's North Field in November <br />Dwayne Oslund, Facilities Manager for Airship Ventures, gave an overview of the zeppelin <br />operation that will be operating at the airport's North Field. Reportedly, the aircraft are quiet <br />enough that the ground crews are not required to wear ear protection when maneuvering the <br />aircraft; they should make no more noise that a common twin-engine propeller airplane. The <br />plan is for there to be 10-12 sightseeing flights out of the Oakland Airport Thursdays through <br />Sundays -about 19 per month. The typical destination will be the Golden Gate Bridge or the <br />Napa Valley, with a preferred departure and arrival route over the Oakland Estuary, avoiding <br />neighborhoods. The airships will also operate from Moffat Field and will use a shoreline <br />approach when coming up to the Oakland Airport, 2-3 times per month. The safety record of <br />this particular generation of zeppelins is accident-free in Europe and Asia. <br />Because the airships can ascend vertically, they can reach an altitude of 1,000' over airport <br />property. However, their flight speed is equivalent to about 35 mph, so they will move slowly <br />once at altitude. Their size is larger and taller than a 747 airplane. <br />Comments from Committee members, staff and the audience related to safety and neighborly <br />flight operations. Councilmember Starosciak would like to get a report back to the Committee <br />