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Council declines to adopt resolution upholding Speltz appeal; airport commission lease stands
Summary
After debate, the Chico City Council voted not to adopt a resolution that would have upheld an appeal by Speltz and overturned the Airport Commission's approval of a lease with Aeroflight; the commission's approval therefore remains in place.
The Chico City Council voted on agenda item 2.3 on whether to adopt a resolution upholding an appeal by an appellant identified in the record as Mr. Speltz. If adopted, the resolution would have reversed an Airport Commission decision approving a lease for Aeroflight to occupy a hangar. After discussion, the motion to adopt the resolution failed and the Airport Commission's approval remains in effect.
Council members and staff debated whether adopting the resolution would renegotiate or negate a concluded negotiation with Aeroflight. "They did go through the process, obtained airport commission approval. They are still interested. They are looking to expand their operations, in Chico. So they've already signed the agreement," said City Manager Sorensen, reporting on the company's status.
Council Member Holly said she had concerns that not all factual material was available to council and asked for more time to consider evidence submitted by the appellant. "I just feel that not all the factors were probably properly communicated to council," she said during the discussion.
City Attorney John Lim reported that council had recessed into closed session earlier in the evening and that staff had briefed council on several matters; he said "direction was provided, no final action was taken" on closed-session items. The council clarified that a yes vote on the resolution would adopt the resolution upholding the appeal; a no vote would let the Airport Commission's prior decision stand.
A motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded, and council members then voted. After counting and clarification, the mayor announced that the motion to adopt the resolution upholding the appeal did not pass, so the Airport Commission's approval of the lease with Aeroflight stands. The meeting record shows disagreement and requests for more deliberation from some council members; the council may place the item back on a future agenda for reconsideration if a member moves to do so.
The council did not take further action on the lease during the meeting. Any future council action to revisit the appeal would be processed through the council agenda process and, if reopened as a public hearing, would become part of the administrative record.
