Report Prepared by: Janet E. Young, Interim Manager, Merced Regional Airport
Title
SUBJECT: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FY 2015 - 2020 Airport Capital Improvement Plan and 2015 Grant Application
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider approving the Merced Regional Airport five year Capital Improvement Program, approving the FAA grant application for Fiscal Year 2015, and accepting grant funds, if awarded.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving annual Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) for Fiscal Year 2015 - 2020; and,
B. Approving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA grant) application for Fiscal Year 2015; and,
C. Approving acceptance of grant funds and increasing the Airport Capital Improvement Fund revenue account 461-1303-321.10-00 in the amount of $124,260 and appropriating the same to account 461-1303-667.65-00, if awarded; and,
D. Transferring $1,540 from Fund 561 to Fund 461 and appropriating the same to account 461-1303-667-65-00 for the required grant match; and,
E. Authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant funds and submit them to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt the motion as recommended by the Airport Authority; or
2. Modify the action; or,
3. Direct further staff work; or,
4. Deny the action.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200; Merced Municipal Code Section 2.36.20.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
This item aligns with the City Council priority for “Economic Development”.
DISCUSSION
Airport Capital Improvement Plan
The Merced Regional Airport is required to provide a detailed list of all potentially eligible Airport Capital Improvement Projects (ACIP) that require federal assistance to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) San Francisco Airports District Office annually for consideration. The list is derived from recommendations from the FAA Airport Compliance Specialists, City and FAA Engineering Departments, State of California DOT/Cal-Trans Aviation Office, Merced Regional Airport consultants, the Regional Airport Authority and Airport staff. The ACIP has been approved by the Regional Airport Authority.
The ACIP does not obligate the City of Merced to perform. It provides the FAA a list of potentially eligible projects that require Federal grant assistance for completion and the ACIP list may be modified at any time by the sponsor. Since the ACIP plan is a dynamic list, it can be readily altered, provided that modifications to proposed capital projects are consistent with the Airport Layout Plan approved in February 2013. The ACIP includes two projects for which grant funds were requested for Fiscal Year 2015, however only one was considered favorably by the FAA and is described below.
FAA Grant Proposal
A grant application for the amount of $130,800 was submitted on June 12, 2015, for Fiscal Year 2015 at the invitation of the FAA. The FAA advised the Airport on June 9, 2015, that dollars were available to fund a grant to update the Pavement Maintenance and Management System (PMMS) which entails preparation of a pavement condition report and an assessment of the current condition of pavements at the Merced Regional Airport. The update will enable the airport to optimize the pavement service life by adopting the most economical and efficient maintenance and rehabilitation strategies, as well as serve as a tool to identify and prioritize areas of pavement repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects for future years. As noted on the ACIP list, this PMMS project was one of two listed for Fiscal Year 2015. The City was informed in early 2015 that the FAA would not consider funding the second proposed project.
Since the deadline for submission of the application was June 12, 2015, the City Manager submitted the grant application package to preserve eligibility for the funding with the understanding that the City is not obligated to proceed with the application and that no financial obligations were incurred pending review and approval by the City Council. This item seeks approval of the grant application and authorization for the City Manager to execute and submit all necessary documents required for completion of the FAA grant application and acceptance process. The grant proposal has been approved by the Regional Airport Authority.
The grant proposal was prepared and will be administered and accomplished by the Airport full service consulting firm, RS&H, with assistance from the staff of the City Engineer and Airport. All compensation for RS&H will be borne by the grant.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
ACIP
There is no initial cost to the City from the ACIP. Capital projects for which funding may be sought in future years would entail a commitment of 5% matching funds for each FAA grant awarded.
FAA Grant Proposal
Funding for the $130,800 FAA grant requires a 5% City match of $6,540. The grant proposal provides that $5,000 of this amount can be addressed as an in-kind contribution of airport staff labor, leaving $1,540 to be borne by the Airport from available funds. All compensation for Airport consultant RS&H will be covered by the grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) for FY 2015-20
2. Grant Application