Board adopts policy barring new commercial "through‑the‑fence" airport access agreements

Riverside County supervisors on Tuesday adopted a resolution directing county airports not to enter into, adopt or consider new commercial through‑the‑fence (TTF) agreements for county‑owned airports. The measure, passed with amendments, passed by a 4‑0‑1 vote.

The board’s action follows an extended presentation from Angela Jamieson, Riverside County’s director of airports, who told supervisors that commercial TTF deals — agreements that would allow adjacent property owners direct access to airport facilities while keeping ownership of improvements off‑airport — risk violating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant assurances, create unfair competition for on‑airport tenants and could imperil federal and state grant funding the county uses for airport improvements. “Allowing through‑the‑fence exposes our tenants and the county to really substantial financial risk,” Jamieson said.

The measure’s nut graf: County staff and a wide cross‑section of airport tenants warned supervisors that TTF arrangements could divert revenue away from airport tenants who underwrite airport operations and capital projects and might jeopardize millions in FAA and Caltrans grants that…