Key Documents:

Original FAA Northern California Feasibility Study: Executive Summary, Report and Appendices. The feasibility study was conducted by the FAA in response to citizens complaints and pressure from Congressional Representatives Eshoo, Farr and Speier.

Final Report of the Select Committee - The Select Committee was formed by the congressional representatives to respond to the FAA study and ensure representation from each congressional district. Further background, Committee members and their recommendations are contained in the report.

SFO Community Airport/Community Roundtable Report - The Roundtable report was submitted to the FAA within the same time frame of the Select Committee report. The Roundtable submitted their report in response to the FAA's feasibility study.

Further information can be found on Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's dedicated website on Airplane Noise in the 18th Congressional District

 

Background Documents and Timeline: 

June 13, 2018

City Council Staff Report Resolution to Join the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz Community Roundtable (Download)

 

City Council Staff Report on Airplane Noise Status Update (Download)

 

May 5, 2018

Policy & Services Committee and Staff Recommendations on Next Steps for Airplane Noise (Download) 

Council Memo Policy & Services Committee and Staff Recommendations on Next Steps for Airplane Noise (Download)

 

June 19, 2017 (Download)
City Council Staff Report and Draft Letter to the United States Department of Transportation

May 23, 2017 (Download)
Policy and Services Committee Staff Report

May 17, 2017 (Download)
Eshoo, Speier, Panetta Statement: Update on FAA Response Regarding Aircraft Noise

March 15, 2017
Mayor Scharff, Vice Mayor Kniss, along with Councilmembers Wolbach and Fine met with FAA officials during the National League of Cities Conference.

November 17, 2016 (Download | Video)
Final Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA

November 3, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA

October 27, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA

October 13, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA

October 10, 2016 (Download)
Letter from City Manager James Keene to the Select Committee

September 29, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA

September 1, 2016 (Download)
Vice Mayor Greg Scharff comments to Select Committee including updated Historical Noise Assessment by Freytag and Associates.

September 1, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA.

August 18, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA.

August 4, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA.

July 25, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo to County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors regarding arrivals and departures specific to San Carlos Airport. 

July 22, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA.

July 20, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, and Woodside in response to FAA Feasibility Study

July 15, 2016 (Download | Video)
Select Committee Working Meeting with FAA.

July 7, 2016 (Download)
Letter from City Manager James Keene to Select Committee further defining recommendations and adding a few more suggestions to mitigate airplane noise; including the initial draft of the Historic Noise Assessment which was revised on September 1, 2016. See above.

June 29, 2016 (Video)
Select Committee Meeting in Santa Clara County

June 21, 2016 (Download)
Letter from FAA to City Manager James Keene in response to City's letter to the FAA regarding concerns about modifications to flight paths over Palo Alto related to San Carlos Airport.

June 15, 2016 (Video)
Select Committee Meeting in San Mateo County

June 8, 2016
Community Meeting held at Cubberley Community Center where staffed and consultants reviewed changes to flight paths and impact to noise from those changes. 

May 26, 2016
SFO Community Roundtable Technical Meeting. For further information please visit their website.

May 25, 2016 (Video)
Select Committee meeting in Santa Cruz County

May 18, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo to Community regarding FAA's Feasibility Study and encouraging residents to contact Select Committee with feedback.

May 14, 2016 (Download)
Quiet Skies Norcal Summit in Los Altos where presentations by local resident noise groups occurred. Agenda was structured to react to FAA Feasibility Study which was no release in advance of meeting. Agenda reverted back to general update and discussion about noise groups proposed solutions or guiding principles.

May 11, 2016 (Download)
Los Altos Community Forum where presentations occurred by local resident noise groups followed by a panel discussion.

May 6, 2016 (Download)
Select Committee meeting held at SFO. Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian was selected as Chair along with San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine and Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold as Vice Chairs.

April 27, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo to Community regarding Airplane Impacts Mitigation Act

April 18, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo, Congresswoman Speier, and Congressman Farr to FAA Select Committee Members.

April 12, 2016 (Download) 
Letter from Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

April 6, 2016 (Download)
SFO Staff Presentation at SFO Community Roundtable Meeting regarding their meeting with Northern California TRACON

April 4, 2016 (Download) 
Updated FAA Initiative to Address Noise Concerns of Santa Cruz/Santa Clara/San Mateo/San Francisco Counties 

April 4, 2016 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo, Congresswoman Speier, and Congressman Farr Release Announce New Select Committee on South Bay Aircraft Noise 

March 30, 2016 (Download) 
City of Palo Alto Letter to FAA Western Regional Administrator Glen Martin and Air Traffic Manager Don Kirby regarding Modifications to Flight Paths at San Carlos Airport and Possible Changes that could adversely affect Palo Alto Citizens 

March 15, 2016 (Download) 
Caltrans Division of Aeronautics Email to Palo Alto Airport Manager regarding Ad Hoc Class B Airspace Advisory Committee 

March 7, 2016 (Download)
FAA Presentation to Elected Officials and Community Representatives regarding Initiative's Feasibility Study Overview 

March 4, 2016 (Download)
Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo to Cities Association of Santa Clara County

March 2, 2016 (Download) 
City of Palo Alto Letter to FAA Western Regional Administrator Glen Martin responding to FAA Initiative of November 16, 2015 

February 8, 2016 (Download) 
Staff Report and Approval of a Contract With Freytag & Associates in the Amount of $237,500 for Airplane Noise Assessment & Mitigation; and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2016, Offset by a Reduction of $237,500 From the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve 

February 3, 2016 (Download) 
SFO Community Roundtable Staff Report regarding Palo Alto’s induction in organization

February 3, 2016 (Download) 
City of Palo Alto Letter to SFO Community Roundtable 

February 2, 2016 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Farr Letter to FAA Western Regional Administrator Glen Martin regarding Palo Alto joining SFO Community Roundtable 

January 25, 2016 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Farr Letter to Quiet Skies Summit 

December 9, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo’s Letter to Palo Alto Mayor Karen Holman 

November 16, 2015 (Download) 
FAA Initiative to Address Noise Concerns of Santa Cruz/Santa Clara/San Mateo/San Francisco Counties 

November 16, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo, Congresswoman Speier, and Congressman Farr Release FAA Response to Congressional Inquiries about Aircraft Noise 

November 6, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo’s Unveils Legislative Package to Reform FAA 

October 9, 2015 (Download)
FAA Technical Exchange Meeting with FAA Operations Support Group and Representatives from Bay Area Advocacy Groups with Congressional Districts 17 and 18 including Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

September 3, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo’s Letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

August 24, 2015 (Download) 
Approved Palo Alto City Council Resolution No. 9543 

August 24, 2015 (Download) 
Staff Report for the Policy & Services Committee; Staff Recommendation that the City Council Authorize a Request for Proposals for; a Technical Study of Increased Air Traffic Noise, to Designate a Council Member to act as a Liaison to Engage in Regional Mitigation and Advocacy Efforts, Adopt a Resolution Urging the Federal Aviation Administration to Address Increased Aircraft Noise in Palo Alto, and Direct Staff to Engage in Additional Outreach, Coordination and Advocacy Activities Regarding Aircraft Noise 

August 21, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Farr Letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

June 29, 2015 (Download)
Congresswoman Eshoo Letter to Community

June 15, 2015 (Download) 
Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus Letter to Congressman Shuster and Congressman DeFazio 

April 15, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Farr Letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

April 10, 2015 (Download) 
Congresswoman Eshoo’s Letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

February 10, 2015 (Download) 
Staff Report - Discussion and Direction to City Manager Regarding Air Traffic Noise Impacts on Palo Alto Citizens 

September 12, 2014 (Download) 
Congressional Letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta 

May 29, 2014 (Download) 
Mayor's Letter to SFO Community Roundtable, Request to Include the City of Palo Alto as a Voting Member of the San Francisco Airport Community Roundtable. 

May 2, 2014 (Download) 
Mayor’s Letter, City of Palo Alto Comments on the FAA Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex Draft Environmental Assessment Document Release 

April 29, 2014 (Download) 
Staff Report: Discussion and Direction to City Manager Regarding City of Palo Alto Response to the FAA Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Regarding the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (NorCal OAPM) 

Historical Timeline of City Activity (Download)