Airport committee pushes professional management RFP, hangar expansion and a tenant maintenance fee as funding tools

The City Council received an extended informational update on airport initiatives including a draft RFP to solicit professional airport management, a proposed tenant common-area maintenance fee, pending hangar reversion choices and near-term capital projects.

City staff and committee members said the airport currently operates with very lean staffing and that several municipalities contract with private aviation-management firms to increase professional capacity and expand airport revenue. The airport committee plans to issue draft RFPs to test market interest in professional management or revenue-sharing arrangements; staff said responses will help determine whether outsourcing or hybrid-management models are viable for Lincoln.

Committee members and staff outlined a proposed common-area maintenance (CAM) fee to create a dedicated, modest recurring revenue stream for maintenance and services at the field. Suggested uses include increased landscaping and janitorial service, airfield lighting and gate maintenance, refueling equipment, security cameras, large-scale weed abatement, regular runway and taxiway sweeping, above-ground storage-tank maintenance and a dedicated pavement-maintenance fund. Staff described a tiered approach that would charge tie-downs, T-hangars and larger private hangars different monthly rates; staff gave example amounts in discussion (e.g., tie-downs ~$30/month, T-hangars ~$50/month, larger hangars higher) but said final rates remain under study.

The council heard an update on an Executive Hangers of Lincoln project expected to add roughly 30 hangars, with construction anticipated to begin later in 2025 and extend into the latter part of that year. Staff also said a large group of ground leases is approaching reversion this December, requiring decisions about whether to accept reversion of buildings to city ownership, renew or renegotiate leases, or pursue sales and ground leases that shift maintenance obligations.

Other items discussed included special-event planning (Wings of Wheels and Lincoln Speedfest), runway and pavement funding needs, and security upgrades. Chief Alves and other staff noted that pilots and tenants raised security concerns after several break-ins; license-plate readers exist at some airport points but tenants requested additional monitoring. Staff proposed forming a small tenant advisory committee to review CAM revenues and spending priorities.

Staff also provided a schedule update for the John Sachs Memorial: concrete has been poured, plaques are in production, and staff tentatively scheduled a public unveiling for June 8, pending coordination with the family.

Ending: The council received the update and directed staff and the airport committee to proceed with the RFP process, further development of CAM fee options and continued coordination on hangar reversion and upcoming construction projects.