Agenda Item Wording:
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Conditional acceptance of Federal Aviation Administration grant funds, with appropriation upon award - Authorize the conditional acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $201,020 for the design phase of the Tiedown Apron A3 Reconstruction Project at the Visalia Municipal Airport, and authorize the appropriation of grant funds upon award and the local match of $10,580 from the Airport Fund.
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Agenda Date: 8/3/2026
Prepared by:
Jody Miller, Airport Manager, (559)713-4282, Jody.Miller@visalia.gov
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, (559)713-4323, John.Lollis@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to conditionally accept a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) in the amount $201,020 towards approved CIP project for the design phase of the Tiedown Apron A3 Reconstruction Project at the Visalia Municipal Airport, and appropriate the grant funds upon award and the local match of $10,580 from the Airport Fund (Fund 411).
Background Discussion:
Maintaining surface movement areas is vital to the safe and expeditious movement of air traffic at any airport and is a requirement to ensure future FAA funding. This design phase of the proposed Tiedown Apron A3 Project at the Visalia Municipal Airport will ensure that the Airport remains on track for the planned future construction phase of the project which would allow completion prior to the age of the current surface causing any issues in compliance with FAA regulations.
New FAA policy provides airports with a brief two (2) week time period to accept any grant funding offers, which is the necessity for staff to preemptively present this item to the Council seeking conditional authorization to accept the grant funding offer within the grant acceptance deadline. The conditional authorization to accept the grant is contingent upon the grant offer being consistent with the terms found within this report. Should there be any changes to the terms or conditions of the FAA grant funding offer, staff would again present this item to the Council for consideration of approval prior to requesting a new FAA grant funding offer. Once the grant has been formally offered and accepted, staff will return to Council to authorize the award of the project.
Fiscal Impact:
Originally this project was scheduled and approved for Fiscal Year 2027-28 in the amount of $262,000 (CP0845), however, the FAA has advanced funding to fill gaps in its fiscal programming. The project total cost has been reduced from $262,000 to $211,600 which was confirmed by the FAA and an independent design firm. The Airport would receive $201,020 in FAA grant funds to fund the design phase of the upcoming Tiedown Apron A3 Reconstruction Project. Total project cost of the design phase is $211,600, which the remaining $10,580 in project funding from local Airport funds.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Alternatives:
City Council could not authorize the acceptance of the FAA grant funds and Airport staff would explore other avenues to fund the design phase of the Tiedown Apron A3 reconstruction project.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to conditionally accept a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) in the amount of $201,020 for the design phase of the Tiedown Apron A3 Reconstruction Project at the Visalia Municipal Airport, and authorize the appropriation of grant funds upon award and the local match of $10,580 from the Airport Fund (411).
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 8/3/2026
Attachments:
Application for Federal Assistance
Summary of Project Costs
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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