Port of Oakland - Newsroom

OAKLAND, ALAMEDA, BERKELEY, Calif, (October 1, 2002) - The Port of Oakland, the City of Alameda, Citizens League for Airport Safety and Serenity (CLASS), and Berkeley Keep Jets Over the Bay Committee (KJOB) announced final agreement on the Airport Development Program (ADP), a $1.4 billion, multi-year expansion program now partially underway at the Oakland International Airport (OAK).

The agreement resolves challenges to the ADP by the City of Alameda, CLASS, and KJOB and will allow the Port of Oakland to implement the ADP at OAK and will provide for moving forward with a master plan for all future developments over the next twenty years.

The agreement establishes a permanent committee comprised of representatives from the three community groups who will be actively involved in the ADP. This will also give community groups a voice in drafting the airport’s Master Plan and in approaching the Federal Aviation Agency with proposals for noise mitigation. “We’re pleased to be a formal part of the Master Planning process which is to consider the future of the airport over the next 20 years. We’ve built a new relationship where our concerns can be brought to the attention of the Port on an ongoing basis,” said Barbara Tuleja, president of CLASS.

An earlier agreement, reached in November 2001, limited the expansion of cargo facilities, thereby reducing the number of nighttime flights and restricting changes to the North Field runways.

“This agreement achieves our objective of creating an environmentally sound development program that incorporates significant community input. I look forward to continuing the work and dialog with our community partners,” said Tay Yoshitani, executive director, Port of Oakland.

The agreement means that the airport can now expand to meet the region’s growing transportation needs. Originally designed to handle 7 million passengers annually, passenger volume will exceed 12 million in 2002. “We’re looking forward to moving ahead with the Airport Development Program and to building a cooperative vision for both the airport and our neighbors,” said Frank Kiang, president, Board of Port Commissioners.

Agreement Reached on Expansion of Oakland International Airport October 3, 2002.

Comments from all the involved parties concurred.

“This agreement signals that an era of cooperation, not confrontation, has commenced. It is clear we can accomplish more by working together than we can by continuing in the courtroom,” said Clement Shute, CLASS attorney.

“The settlement agreement addresses residents’ concerns about existing aircraft operations and gives the community a measure of certainty regarding future impacts, while promoting responsible, long-term planning for decades to come,” said Alameda City Attorney Carol Korade.

“KJOB is very pleased that the Port has agreed to establish a permanent noise monitoring system in Berkeley in recognition of wide-spread concern about single event jet noise over our city,” said John Shordike, attorney for KJOB.

Acting Alameda Mayor Al DeWitt concurred saying, “My only regret is that [former Alameda] Mayor Appezzato isn’t here to see the realization of his vision for a collaborative relationship between the Port of Oakland and residents of Alameda.”

The agreement ensures that the airport will continue to contribute to the region’s economic vitality by generating jobs and business revenue. In 2000, the airport generated $4.5 billion in business revenue and $120 million in state and local taxes. In the same period, the airport generated 10,700 direct aviation-dependent jobs, along with 7,900 other jobs for a total of 18,600. By 2010, the projected business revenue will approach $6 billion and the total number of jobs generated will reach 20,900.

In addition, approximately 1,600 construction jobs will be created by the expansion project. Thanks to the Local Business Utilization Policy adopted by the Port of Oakland, Board of Port Commissioners, 20 percent of these construction jobs will go to local residents.

A formal signing of the agreement will take place among the parties on Tuesday, October 8, 2002 at noon at the Port of Oakland, 530 Water St. Contact Midori Tabata at 510 627-1187 for further information.

Copies of the Agreement are available from the Port of Oakland and the City Attorney’s Office in Alameda. For further information, contact: Port Attorney David Alexander at 510-627-1241; Port Director of Aviation Steven Grossman at 510-627-1127; Alameda Assistant City Manager Rob Wonder at 510-748-4505; CLASS attorney Clement Shute, Esq. at 415-552-7272; KJOB attorney John Shordike at 510 526-0582.


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