Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure And Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves land‑use license with U.S. Air Force for Fresno Air National Guard operations
Summary
The Fresno City Council approved a land lease and license agreement with the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard for continued operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, a staff member said the airport receives roughly $208,000 annually under the joint‑use arrangement.
The Fresno City Council on Aug. 28 approved a land lease and license agreement with the U.S. Air Force and the California Air National Guard for operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (File ID 25‑1144). The item had been moved from the consent calendar for discussion; airport staff said the agreement is a standard joint‑use arrangement that supports Guard operations while producing recurring revenue for the airport.
Interim Airports Director Francisco Partida told council the airport receives approximately $208,000 per year under the airfield joint‑use arrangement for access to runways, taxiways and ramp areas. He said the amount is subject to periodic negotiation (the existing arrangement includes an approximate 3% annual increase) and that staff will seek fair‑market adjustments when the next contract review occurs. Partida also said airport staff has explored Department of Defense (MILCON) funding possibilities to offset airfield reconstruction costs but that there is not an established process to combine military construction funds with civilian airport projects; outreach to DOD contacts is ongoing.
Why it matters: The agreement preserves a long‑standing federal partner presence at the municipal airport and generates measurable revenue for airport operations. Council members asked whether the city is legally required to enter the agreement (it is not) and whether it had imposed additional, non‑operational conditions; staff and the city attorney said the document is a standard lease/license and does not contain unrelated policy conditions.
Action and vote: Council approved the lease/license agreement after discussion; the item passed on voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Ending: Airport staff will continue outreach on possible federal funding options for airfield projects and will seek fair‑market adjustments at the next contract renegotiation.
