CAA: GA News, "Redlands, California airport security results in flap"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, October 2, 2002

Airport security results in flap
Redlands council puts vote on hold
By TERESA ROCHESTER
The San Bernardino (CA) Sun


Onerous, flawed and not business friendly.

That's how more than a dozen tenants at Redlands Municipal Airport
described the facility's new $104,518 security system to the City
Council on Tuesday night.

After some tense moments between council members and speakers, the
council agreed to hold off voting for an implementation policy for the
security system.

With the support of the city's public works director and the police
chief, the council opted to arrange for a special joint meeting with the
city's Airport Advisory Board to hash out solutions to some of the
tenants' concerns.

"From a police perspective, we need to have a meeting with some of the
folks here because I think they have valid points,' said Police Chief
Jim Buerrmann. 

Some tenants, who ranged from hangar owners to flight school operators,
have long objected to aspects of the new security plan that was
implemented in July.

Security gates and surveillance cameras were installed, and a
comprehensive application must be filled out to receive gate-access
cards.

Many of the tenants who spoke Tuesday night complained that the system
hindered their customers, families and friends from entering the
airport.

The application form, they said, asked for unnecessary and intrusive
information. 

Another concern was for those who could not bring their cars into the
airport because the walk from the front entrance to some of the
businesses was close to a quarter of a mile.

"The security system being considered tonight offers no live security,'
said Eric Paul. "It puts a fence between businesses and their
customers.'

Under the airport security plan, two access gates will have surveillance
cameras posted and will open only with an access card. 

The 14 other gates leading into the airport will be closed.

That move has prompted anger and defiance by businesses who lease space
at the airport.

Redlands Hangar Owners Association and Aerodynamics have refused to
close their gates, which city staff members say is a violation of the
new security policy.

City staff said it was necessary to have the policy in place because it
calls for the city to have the exclusive right to control all accesses
to the airport. 

The policy would also mandate that gate cards would be issued only to
people who completely fill out the application, which was recently
modified.

While council members agreed to postpone the issue, they urged that it
be brought back for a vote quickly.

"This has been an issue since I've been on the council,' said Mayor Pro
Tem Susan Peppler. "We've been at this for three years.'


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