Report Prepared by: Ken Elwin, Director of Public Works, and Janet E. Young, Manager, Merced Regional Airport
Title
SUBJECT: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FY 2016 - 2020 Airport Capital Improvement Plan and FY 2016 Grant Application
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider approval of the amended FY 2016 - 2020 Airport Capital Improvement Plan; and approval of FAA grant application for Fiscal Year 2016, and accepting grant funds.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving amended Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) for Fiscal Year 2016 - 2020; and,
B. Approving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA grant) application for Fiscal Year 2016; 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 $116,286 and appropriating the same to account 461-1303-667.65-00; and,
D. Authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant funds and submit the required documents 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 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 2015-2020 ACIP was previously approved by the City Council. The proposed amended ACIP covering the period 2016 - 2020 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 proposed revision to the ACIP addresses the revision necessitated by the FY 2016 grant opportunity. The 2016 ACIP includes the three components for which grant funds were requested for Fiscal Year 2016, all of which were considered favorably by the FAA and are described below.
FAA Grant Proposal
A draft grant application for FY 2016 in the amount of $116,286 was submitted in December 2015, and revised in late April 2016, following extensive discussions with the FAA. The FAA advised the Airport in early August 2016, that dollars were available to fund the requested grant to fund certain remarking work already accomplished on runway/taxiway rehabilitation (pavement maintenance); certain runway/taxiway rehabilitation (pavement maintenance) for remarking work not completed; and for preparation of a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, the preparation of which is mandated by the FAA.
Since the deadline for submission of the application extended into spring 2016 and required extensive discussions with the FAA, and since the City did not know if the application would be accepted, the City Manager submitted the grant application package to preserve eligibility for the funding with the understanding that the City was 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, with assistance from the staff of the City Engineer and Airport staff. Remarking labor is being accomplished by Airport personnel. All compensation for the consulting firm will be borne by the grant. Funding for the $116,286 FAA grant requires a 5% City match of $6,120 which will be borne by the earlier approved City appropriation for the mandated remarking work at the Airport.
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 $116,286 FAA grant requires a 5% City match of $6,120, which will be borne by the previously approved appropriation by the City Council for FAA mandated remarking at the Airport. All compensation for Airport consultant will be covered by the grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) for FY 2016-2020
2. FAA Grant Application
3. Grant Agreement
4. Certification and Disclosure Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest