Agenda Item Wording:
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Accept Federal Grant Funds for New Airfield Sweeper - Authorize the conditional acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration grant in the amount of $385,999 for the acquisition of a new airfield sweeper, and appropriate additional funds of $162,032 to increase the capital budget to $430,688.
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Deadline for Action: None
Submitting Department: Administration - Airport
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Jody Miller, Airport Manager, 713-4282, Jody.Miller@visalia.city, John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, 713-4323, John.Lollis@visalia.city
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to accept a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant in the amount $385,999, and appropriate additional funds of $162,032, to increase the project's capital budget to $430,688 to fund the acquisition of a new airfield sweeper on the conditional basis of the grant being as outlined in this report once the official offer is received by the FAA. Staff is preemptively bringing this to Council as the FAA now requires all grant offers be officially accepted within two (2) weeks of its offer.
Background Discussion:
An up-to-date and fully-functional airfield sweeper is critical to maintaining safe and orderly flight operations, as it is the main tool used to remove debris that can be dangerous to flight operations. Visalia Municipal Airport's current sweeper is more than twenty (20) years old, and between increasing maintenance costs and outdated technology, it is no longer feasible to rely on it to function as necessary and required.
Airport Division staff in conjunction with Brandley Engineering and the City's Purchasing Department have recently completed a Request for Bids (RFB) process to begin the procurement of its replacement. This replacement was in the Council's approved Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Capital Budget which $268,656 was rolled over to this current year, thus needing the appropriation of $162,032 of...
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