VENICE COUNCIL VOTES TO APPROVE AIRPORT PLAN

THE VENICE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 6-1 TODAY TO APPROVE THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EARLIER IN THE MONTH.  COUNCILMAN JIM BENNETT WAS THE LONE DISSENTER.  THE AIRPORT IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR NEARLY $21 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENT GRANTS WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR REPAIRS TO RUNWAY FOUR-TWENTY TWO AND THE MOVING OF RUNWAY THIRTEEN THIRTY-ONE AND THE DRIVING RANGE THAT IS IN THE SAFETY ZONE.  SEVERAL RESIDENTS VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN, WITH MANY WANTING TO SEE THE AIRPORT DOWNGRADED FROM A “C” TO A “B” FACILITY, WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE SIZE OF JETS THAT USE IT.