"Discussions over how to pay homeowners who will be affected by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's expansion"

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Payback/ First, the good news - Discussions over how to pay homeowners
who will be affected by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Airport's expansion
The Miami (FL) Herald


Broward County's Aviation Department and representatives from 48
airlines are scheduled to start talks today over how to reimburse
homeowners affected by the expansion of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International Airport.

But some county leaders thought today's talks would actually settle the
reimbursement issue, not begin the process.

''I certainly was under the impression there was a final vote [today],
and that it was a binding vote,'' Broward Commissioner Lori Parrish
said.

But a Friday memo from Broward County Attorney Edward Dion said the
aviation department can't be the agency to get the airlines' final
approval for any reimbursement plan.

''The aviation department hasn't been authorized to get a vote,'' Dion
said on Wednesday.

``Only the [county commission] has the authority to do that.''

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

Dion's memo drew further skepticism from airport expansion opponents,
including some who feel airlines are hesitant to increase their landing
fees to pay for reimbursements to homeowners.

''I want [a decision] sooner than later,'' said Broward Commissioner
John Rodstrom, one of two who voted against the airport's expansion.
``If we're not going to find this out [today], then when?''

Tom Jargiello, the aviation department's acting director, said Dion's
office interpreted the Dec. 9 commission airport expansion vote in a way
that doesn't give the department the authority to get a final vote with
the airlines.

A ballot drafted by the aviation department would have asked airline
representatives to vote ''for'' or ''against'' a move to implement a
program to reimburse property owners living in areas with sound readings
above 60 DNLs -- a decibel measurement used by the Federal Aviation
Administration.

That won't happen today.

''We wanted to be assured the meeting would follow the direction of the
[county commission],'' Jargiello said.

Today's meeting is the first significant step toward setting up a
program that would pay homeowners impacted by a higher noise level from
the expansion of the airport.

Results of the discussion will be presented later to the Broward County
Commission.

HIGHER LANDING FEES

While seeking to aggressively meet deadlines during the convoluted
expansion process, Jargiello said he will ask airlines today for a
''timely response'' to the reimbursement process.

Representatives of the airport's two largest carriers expressed concerns
to The Herald last month over an increase in airport landing fees.

Delta Airlines, the airport's top passenger carrier, said it was seeking
more details on the reimbursement plan.

Southwest Airlines expressed reluctance to pass on increased landing
fees to customers.


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