Agenda Item Wording:
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Ordinance authorizing an Airport Lease Agreement - Introduction of the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-02 authorizing the City Manager to execute an airport lease agreement between the City of Visalia and the United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration.
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Deadline for Action: None
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Jody Miller, Airport Manager, 713-4282, Jody.Miller@visalia.gov; John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, 713-4323, John.Lollis@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-02 authorizing the City Manager to execute an airport lease agreement with the United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration in its current location at the Visalia Municipal Airport Business Terminal for antenna and equipment space for a term of ten (10) years at the lease rent rate of seven hundred and twenty dollars ($720.00) monthly for a period of ten (10) years starting May 1, 2026 and continuing through September 30, 2036.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia and the United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first signed a lease agreement in 1996 for antenna and equipment space supporting the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS). The most recent lease, No. DTFAWN-12-L-0005, was executed on October 1, 2011, and expired on September 30, 2015. Since then, both parties have continued operating under a year-to-year arrangement and now seek to enter into a new lease agreement for the continued use of the property and existing facilities.
The “AWOS” is a crucial element to safe and efficient airfield operations and the equipment held in this space as well as the accompanying antenna are what powers the entire system.
Staff recommends the adoption of the new lease in lieu of exploring alternative tenants as the “FAA” and the equipment in the space allow the use of the navigational aide systems at the airport ensuring safe flight operations even in inclement weather. These systems are essential to the continued attraction of private jet, charter, and air cargo traffic to the airfield.
Fiscal Impact:
The Airport would receive eight thousand six hundred and forty dollars ($8,640.00) annually in the form of monthly payments of seven hundred and twenty dollars ($720.00) throughout the term of the lease. There are no annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases throughout the lease as the FAA does not allow increases for equipment and antenna space rentals.
Prior Council Action:
September 2011: Council authorized an Airport Lease Agreement between the City and the FAA for Antenna and Equipment Space used for the airfield “AWOS” system
Alternatives:
City Council could decline authorization of the lease and direct staff to further negotiate the proposed lease.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-02, authorizing the City Manager to execute an airport lease agreement between the City of Visalia and The United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration for the specified terms and rent rate.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments:
1. Draft Ordinance No. 2026-02
2. Draft Airport Lease Agreement
3. Airport Lease Agreement - October 1, 2011
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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