Residents press council on airport noise and safety; ask city to take position in related case

Residents urged the City of Carlsbad to do more about aircraft noise and safety during public comment. Don Betro presented monitoring statistics and said the numbers show substantially increased nighttime activity and elevated sound levels; he asked the council to "take a stand in the court case." Glenn Bernard also raised safety and neighborhood concerns tied to tree plantings and other local hazard issues.

Betro told the council the group's monitors recorded about "275 nighttime flights, that's over 9 a night. That's almost, 3 times as much as there used to be before the large jet. 85% of the flights over 65 decibels" and that nearly half of events were over 75 decibels. He said aborted flights and near misses are being documented and asked the council to make the city's position known in litigation that may question whether the airport's expanded operations required further city oversight.

Glenn Bernard raised separate but related safety concerns, telling the council that trees planted close to roadways and private property are "flammable" and could elevate fire risk in certain neighborhoods. Bernard repeated worries about project cost escalation and urged more scrutiny of city‑led plantings.

No staff response to the specific monitoring figures was recorded in the meeting transcript; Betro said the figures come from "our monitors." Councilmembers thanked speakers and later discussed related county and regional venues where the issue is being addressed; a councilmember noted a recent letter to the County Board of Supervisors concerning Palomar Airport safety and emergency response.