::: COMMUNITY NEWS

(May 1) "It's time to resolve the issue," James E. Michel, Caltrans aviation safety officer, told the county staff and supervisors. (Click photo for larger image.)

County orders 10 trees removed at airport -- and saves daytime flight operations

Published Wednesday, May 1, 2002 Sacramento County supervisors Tuesday ordered that 10 trees be removed at the southwest end of Rancho Murieta Airport's runway, allowing the airport to continue daytime operations.

Previous coverage • State says airport trees must be cut by May 31 or all flights will be halted (April 26, 2002)

Sidestepped, at least for now, is the question of 69 more trees along one side of the runway. Those oaks, black walnuts and cottonwoods have been cited by the state as a safety hazard and must be removed or trimmed in order for the airport to resume nighttime operations.

The airport's night operations have been suspended for a year because of the encroachment of trees. Daytime operations faced a state order to address tree issues by May 31 or be shut down too.

File photo There are 69 trees along the runway at Rancho Murieta Airport, and 43 have been tagged for removal. (Click photo for larger image.)

Speaking of that deadline, Arthur J. Negrette, attorney for the airport, told the supervisors, "We're basically starting a 30-day countdown for airport closure. Probably most of our tenants would leave -- our businesses, the maintenance operations, the flight school. ... (It) would work a severe hardship on them." "It's time to resolve the issue," said James E. Michel, Caltrans aviation safety officer. "I'm sure the airport would like to get the issue resolved and get on with their business. I know their tenants would." He added, "We can document back to 1970 that the trees have been an issue. ... Now it's to the point where a more permanent solution has to be found."

Michel said when the airport opened in 1970, it was approved for daytime operation only. Lights -- and night operations -- were added in 1976, he said.

About a dozen people connected to the airport made the trip downtown to attend the late-morning session. Two Murieta residents -- Mike Maloney and Dick Valladao -- addressed the supervisors.

In questioning Michel, Supervisor Roger Dickinson established that the state's safety requirements could be met -- and daytime operations could continue -- merely by cutting 10 oak and cottonwood trees at one end of the runway.

County officials said they had misunderstood the issue, believing that the 69 trees had to be addressed in order to avoid a complete shutdown of the airport.

"That's a very different issue. ... I don't think we have a problem taking care of the trees at the end of the runway," said John O'Farrell, administrator for the Community Development and Neighborhood Assistance Agency.

Negrette added, "I do want to emphasize that having our whole permit reinstated is essential to us. ... We are in the process of transferring the airport. We have a sales contract that will probably fall apart if we're not able to transfer the airport as an entire entity -- a 24-hour operation -- as opposed to just a daytime airport."

The airport is owned by the estate of businessman Fred Anderson, who died in 1997.

Supervisor Roger Niello said he could support cutting the 10 trees at the end of the runway, but dealing with the 69 that flank the runway is "more problematic."

Officials asked the staff to return within 60 days with options to deal with the problem of the other trees. Of the 69 trees, 43 are listed to be removed.

The facility's 3,800-foot runway was the first piece of the Rancho Murieta development.