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Oakdale approves FAA grant acceptance to design runway safety-area markings at municipal airport
Summary
The City Council authorized the city manager to accept a federal grant to pay 95% of the design phase for runway safety-area markings; the city will cover a roughly 5% local share from airport capital funds if the grant proceeds.
The Oakdale City Council on Aug. 4 authorized the city manager to accept and execute an FAA grant agreement for the design phase of a runway safety-area marking project at Oakdale Municipal Airport.
Tyler Hendon, the airport manager and senior engineering technician, told the council the design phase is estimated at $113,200 and that the FAA would fund 95% of eligible costs (about $107,504 in staff’s estimate). The city’s share for the design phase was listed on the record as $5,660 and would be paid from the airport capital improvement fund if the grant is formally awarded.
Hendon said this action covers design only; the construction phase would be pursued with a separate Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant and staff expects the construction grant is likely given the airport’s guaranteed funding status but is not guaranteed. He also said if the city performs the design and later does not receive construction funding, the city would not be legally required to construct the project solely because it completed the design phase.
Why it matters: runway safety-area markings are intended to meet FAA standards for identifying safe zones and movement areas on the airfield and can reduce runway incursions. The council’s pre-approval was requested because the FAA typically gives a limited window to accept a grant once offered.
Council action: The council voted 4–0 to authorize the city manager to accept and execute the FAA grant agreement for the design phase. Council members asked staff about the likelihood of follow-on construction funding and were told the city would typically be responsible for about 5% of construction costs if awarded, with federal and state programs covering the remainder.
Ending: The design authorization clears the path to apply for and, if available, accept the construction grant in a later phase. Staff said the design is required to pursue the construction funding and that the airport has previously identified the item on its infrastructure list.
