Staff updates commission on airport development projects, grants, hangars and finances

Airport staff provided a broad operations and development update covering current and planned capital projects, grant status, hangar occupancy and preliminary financials.

Key project updates: staff said Taxiway Bravo was finished ahead of schedule and the project is awaiting final invoicing; Taxiway Delta rehabilitation remains at 75% design after electrical-layout issues were found, and the FAA indicated it will not have grant funds to start Delta this fiscal year. Staff described the Delta project as likely to be phased because available FAA funds accrue over multiple years and the project is roughly a little over $5 million in total.

Staff said PAPI (precision approach path indicator) replacement documents were finalized and will be published for 30 days of bidding, and that one PAPI power-control unit will be moved outside the object-free area requiring trenching work. A Windcone (wind indication) project and redesign of airfield lighting are moving forward while grant applications to ADOT are being prepared.

On facilities, staff reported they have engaged an engineering firm (CNS Engineering) to perform an assessment of Hangars A, B and M (World War II-era structures); the assessment will review roof, ceiling, electrical and fire suppression systems and will produce prioritized recommendations and cost estimates beginning in November. An ALP change and environmental submission were filed for a new private hangar at 4650 Flight Line Drive; staff is awaiting FAA response and noted potential impacts if a federal shutdown affects FAA processing.

Staff summarized hangar occupancy: all five executive hangars occupied with six on the wait list; B and C hangars have one vacancy and six on a wait list; D hangars have three vacancies and one on the wait list; all 10 covered tie-downs are occupied with no active wait list.

Finance snapshot: staff reported combined airport and industrial park revenues of roughly $255,000 and combined expenses of about $288,298 as of August (reporting lag acknowledged). Staff noted a $102,000 hangar-assessment expense drove much of the airport’s current expenses and said that additional pavement work will likely draw another $200,000 from the budget. Staff also reported fuel sales have slowed: jet fuel sales were about half of last year (down from ~38,000 gallons to about 17,000 gallons) while Avgas (general aviation) remained up versus last year.

Economic and industrial park updates included: the Route 66 Northern Arizona Council of Governments Brownfields Phase 1 environmental assessment (EA) on a former landfill covering parts of the airfield and industrial park is ongoing, with Phase 1 expected by year end and a possible Phase 2 EA to evaluate buried materials; an Arizona Commerce Authority grant-funded RFP for industrial park road repairs was posted on Oct. 13 with bid closing Nov. 28 and planned council approval Jan. 6; Patriot Rail has discussed potential rail extensions on city property that would be installed and paid for by the private rail operator with cost recoupment mechanisms tied to private clients.

Staff said they will arrange tours of the industrial park and advanced manufacturing training center for commissioners upon request.