The Public Works Committee Aug. 11 advanced a package of aviation‑related ordinances to full council, including a lease renewal for property at the Kansas City Lee's Summit Regional Airport, a federal grant amendment for runway/taxiway work, a new on‑call professional engineering agreement and a Specialized Aviation Service Organization (SASO) agreement for flight training.

Joel Arrington, airport manager, described the items. He said the ground lease renewal with BFRE LLC (known locally as the “Lease on the Honda”) would extend an existing lease on adjacent parking property for a six‑year term with an option for a second six‑year term; staff reported the price will be reset to fair market value at each renewal following appraisal. Arrington also said that MoDOT informed the city of additional available federal funds and the committee advanced an amendment to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission state block grant agreement adding $71,550 to the Runway 11/29 Taxiway Bravo and Charlie reseal, joint‑seal and remarking project; Arrington said additional federal money will also support a terminal project.

On professional services, staff explained the city is replacing a long‑standing on‑call aviation engineering consultant contract. Arrington said three firms responded to the RFQ and that an interview panel (airport staff and public works/engineering personnel) recommended HDR Inc. for a one‑year on‑call engineering and planning agreement with up to four one‑year renewals. Arrington said the selection was based on a combination of experience and alignment with near‑term airport projects; he noted CMT (Crawford, Murphy & Tilly) has been the on‑call firm for more than 20 years and remains the engineer on record for the terminal project.

The committee also advanced a two‑year Specialized Aviation Service Organization (SASO) agreement permitting Rebel Aviation Inc. to provide flight training at the airport; Arrington said Rebel has operated at Lee's Summit since 2016 and rents city hangar space.

Each ordinance was advanced to full council by unanimous committee roll calls. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the role of MoDOT in handling FAA funds, the on‑call selection panel composition and whether incumbent firms would remain involved in projects where they are engineer of record.

No final contract values were changed by committee; the grant amendment amount was stated in the ordinance language as $71,550. The on‑call agreement was described as having no fixed dollar amount and varying by project; Arrington said fees will depend on project scope.