Sebastian City Council approves FAA grant for airport apron expansion project

The Sebastian City Council meeting on June 9, 2025, focused on several key initiatives, including airport expansion, lease agreements, and environmental resilience planning.

One of the most significant discussions involved the approval of a resolution to accept a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for the design phase of an expansion project at the Sebastian Municipal Airport. City Manager Sabo explained that the current apron area, which accommodates aircraft parking, is limited to six spaces. The expansion aims to double this capacity to twelve spaces, addressing the needs of both transient and local aircraft. The project is expected to enhance airport operations and improve visitor access. The council unanimously approved the resolution, allowing the city manager to execute the grant agreement.

In conjunction with the grant approval, the council also considered a contract with Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering for the design work related to the apron expansion. This firm has previously worked with the airport and will assist in securing additional FAA funding for the construction phase. The city’s financial contribution to this project is expected to be approximately $5,121, significantly reduced due to increased federal funding.

The meeting also addressed a lease extension for Connection Air LLC, a local charter service that has occupied office space in the airport terminal since January 2024. The council approved the extension for another year, allowing the company to maintain its presence at the airport while it develops new hangar facilities on-site.

Additionally, the council approved a resolution to accept a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant for a resilient planning project. This grant will fund the development of an adaptation plan based on a previously completed vulnerability assessment, focusing on improving infrastructure along the lagoon and shoreline.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the city’s commitment to enhancing airport facilities and addressing environmental resilience, with all proposed measures receiving unanimous support from council members.