Douglas County approves update to Minden Tahoe Airport master plan, awards planning work to JUB Engineers

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 25 approved a work order with JUB Engineers to update the Minden Tahoe Airport master plan and authorized county staff to execute the contract documents. Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward after presentations from county staff and the selected planning firm.

County Community Services staff said the project will be paid primarily with a Federal Aviation Administration grant; the work order caps JUB’s scope at $585,054, with the county’s local share reported at about $29,253. County staff and JUB described the update as a standard 10-year master-plan cycle that will produce an updated airport layout plan, an aviation-demand forecast, a GIS survey and a public-engagement program.

The plan update is intended to identify maintenance and capital priorities, verify compliance with FAA advisory circulars and grant assurances, and formalize projects the county may pursue with FAA funding. Neil Frazier of JUB told the board that an updated airport layout plan is “probably the most important piece of the whole thing” because it guides future capital requests to the FAA.

Why it matters: The master plan shapes long-range capital work and the airport’s relationship to surrounding land uses. Commissioners and public commenters repeatedly raised questions about whether the airport should retain a rural, community focus rather than expand toward commercial service. Supporters of gliding and other local aviation activities urged the county to prioritize hangar utilities, restrooms on the airport’s east side and infrastructure that sustains existing users.

What the county said: Heather MacDonnell, Community Services director, said the FAA grant that makes the project possible was accepted by the board in September and that the planning process will include stakeholder interviews, at least two public open houses and multiple technical-advisory meetings. MacDonnell also said Douglas County will assist with public outreach through its public information officer.

Public response: Airport users and advisory-committee members told commissioners they support an update but urged the county to avoid planning that would make the facility a commercial or reliever airport for Reno. Jim Lee and Robert Tremblay, members of the Airport Advisory Committee, asked the county to steer the plan toward supporting glider activity, so-called “taildragger” aircraft and small-airfield uses. Several speakers asked the county to make clear in the new plan that a control tower or full commercial service are not intended outcomes.

Next steps: JUB and county staff plan to start outreach and data collection immediately and to publish a project website and an airport use survey. The work program schedule shared with the board envisions stakeholder interviews, technical-advisory meetings, at least two public open houses and FAA review points during the drafting process. Commissioners said they expect to review and approve the final plan before it is submitted to the FAA.

Outcome: Motion to approve work order 001 with JUB Engineers and authorize county staff to execute required documents passed unanimously (motion by Commissioner Gardner; second by Commissioner Tolbert).