Residents press county involvement as airport leases and flights expand; airport association promotes youth event

During non-agenda public comment, resident Hope Nelson urged the council to press the county over recent commercial airline lease approvals at Palomar Airport, warning that the community's concerns had not been adequately addressed as commercial flights in the area increase.

"What say has Carlsbad had in all of this? What acknowledgment has the county extended to Carlsbad to seriously address our issues together?" Nelson asked, recounting county votes that approved multi-airline operations and reporting that flight counts at Palomar have increased through successive leases.

No county official responded at the meeting; Nelson's remarks were made as a public comment and did not prompt council action during the session.

By contrast, Dr. Gary Gonsalves, who said he sits on the Palomar Airport Association board of directors, used his public comment time to announce Youth Aviation Day at Palomar Airport on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. He said the event has grown from about 35 initial attendees to roughly 900 last year and could attract up to 2,000 this year. He described volunteer-run learning stations, aircraft displays, and a raffle that may include a flight in a private jet.

Council received the comments but took no formal action on the airport lease concerns at this meeting.