By Olin Ericksen
Staff Wrier

February 27 -- Following a similar flight plan to last year’s, a bill was introduced Friday in the State legislature which may end up measuring alleged pollution and its effect on neighbors surrounding Santa Monica Airport. This time, though, regional and local lawmakers hope to be on the same page.

On the final day to submit bills, Assembly member Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance) introduced bill AB-700 -- known as a spot bill -- even as he continues unprecedented closed door meetings with Santa Monica and other regional legislators to craft the specifics of the proposed law.

"Honestly, we are not sure what we are going to do with this bill this year," David Ford Lieu's chief of staff told The Lookout Monday.

The bill would, in effect, save a space for a specific bill that must be introduced before April 17.

"We just have a place holder now," Ford said. "We're pretty well set on doing something though"

The bill comes nearly eight months after a controversial bill that singled out Santa Monica airport to keep tabs on jet traffic died in the state legislature. That bill, AB 2501, was opposed by Santa Monica and former Assembly member Fran Pavely, because it targeted the Santa Monica airport and funding was not specified in the bill.

This year, Lieu's office has met twice with representatives from newly elected Assembly member Julia Brownley's office, Senator Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles Council member Bill Rosendahl and City officials, including City manager Lamont Ewell, to come up with a joint plan.

"We are going to try and find a way to make this work for everyone involved," said Ford, who characterized the infighting amongst legislators last year as "incredibly contentious."

This is the first time legislators and City officials from Santa Monica have met with lawmakers from beyond the city’s borders to discuss the concerns of residents who live near the airport.

"The meetings were very heartening for us to have everyone together on the issue," Ford said.

While noise and safety issues continue to be a factor for neighborhood groups adjacent to the airport, the bill will likely focus on gathering data for pollution, although the specifics are not clear, Ford said.

"What our supporters want is an assessment of the health risks," he said.

One major hurdle all involved say may be difficult to clear is that the general aviation airport, which has seen a surge in jet traffic in the last decade, is under Federal Aviation Authority control.

"The one thing to remember is that in a certain respect, there is only so much that the State can do in regards to the airport," said Ford. "Many last year saw (the bill) as a way to lead to the closure of the airport, but we can't do that because it is under Federal jurisdiction."

To begin moving forward and getting Federal officials on board, there are plans in the works to invite U.S. Congressional members Jane Harman and Henry Waxman to attend closed meetings akin to those held February 9 and 23, City officials said.

A structured task force may also evolve which includes neighborhood groups, but that may be a further down the road, officials said.

April 27 is last day for policy committee to meet to discuss the new bill.