Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - Declaring the City of Madison Common Council’s Intent to Submit Submitting Comments to A Resolution on the Air National Guard as Part of the F-35 Operational Beddown Environmental Impact Statement.
Body
WHEREAS, the Air National Guard has operated a base at Truax Field since the late 1940s, has over five hundred full time personnel and a $99.3 Million local annual economic impact; and,
WHEREAS, Truax Field is located at the Dane County Regional Airport; and,
WHEREAS, the 115th Fighter Wing located at Truax Field conducts state and federal missions including responses to natural disasters and catastrophic events, completes approximately 3000 flights per year, and has executed 5 combat deployments over the past 10 years; and,
WHEREAS, the 115th Fighter Wing provides Fire, Crash and Rescue service for Dane County Regional Airport; and,
WHEREAS, on February 7, 2018, the Air National Guard issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for F-35 Operational Beddown; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed F-35A aircraft would replace the F-16 aircraft located at Truax Field; and,
WHEREAS, the Air National Guard has selected Truax Field in Madison as one of two of five alternative installations for a squadron of 18 F-35A aircraft and two backup aircraft; and,
WHEREAS, after hearing concerns from residents, City of Madison Alders from the North and East Ssides of Madison organized a public listening session on February 28th at the East Side Community Center to discuss the proposal; and,
WHEREAS, Alders and community residents attended the Air National Guard scoping meeting on March 8th at the Crown Plaza; and,
WHEREAS, some residents are looking forward to the F-35 Beddown, others have expressed concerns and questions about the potential environmental impacts of the F-35 operations at the Truax Field in Madison; and,
WHEREAS, the Alders have collected information and comments related to the environmental concerns regarding the F-35 Beddown; and,
WHEREAS, no other representative governmental body has weighed in on the scope of the EIS on behalf of residents living in the vicinity of Truax Field,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison Common Council intends authorizes Common Council President Marsha Rummel to submit comments the environmental concerns raised by residents at the February 28, 2018 listening session and in follow-up communications to the Air National Guard as part of the F-35 Operational Beddown Environmental Impact Statement; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison Common Council will submit comments based on the feedback from Madison residents. Those the questions and comments submitted collected by Alders include but are not limited to the: 1) flight paths and plans, 2) the noise impacts especially on low-income neighborhoods and vulnerable communities, 3) the environmental impacts of operations and maintenance of the F-35s including air pollution and runoff into Starkweather Creek, and 4) safety concerns related to crashes and munitions; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison Common Council believe that community involvement is important; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City of Madison Common Council will remain engaged throughout the entire Environmental Impact Statement process to ensure that residents are represented in the decision making process.