City staff to seek short-term, split-operations lease after airport authority's appraisal raises Airport Park rent

Justin Glenn, Lewiston's facilities parks and recreation director, told the City Council on Nov. 3 that the airport authority is proposing a large increase in the annual lease for Airport Park following a recent appraisal.

Glenn said the city's current renewal-based rate is about $12,213.53 but the airport authority's recently appraised value is $84,800, an increase Glenn described as roughly $70,000'$72,000 over the renewal rate. He noted the city had previously paid a rate of $49,190 between FY2019 and FY2025 for portions of the park and that FAA grant-assurance requirements for non-aeronautical airport property require fair-market-value appraisals.

Glenn described Airport Park as about 16 acres with four softball fields, a basketball court, volleyball and tennis/pickleball space, a batting cage and a pump track. He said the park generated roughly $16,000 in non-appropriated revenues last year (including about $6,000 in fees from Lewiston Little League) but incurred roughly $27,000 in direct operating costs in the same period. Glenn emphasized heavy community use (he estimated about 140,000 annual visits) and outlined four courses of action: 1) maintain operational control and offset increases by reducing other city contributions; 2) not renew the lease and return the property to the airport authority; 3) Glenn's recommendation — split the park into operational zones, pursue a short-term (one-year) gap lease, and seek private or public partners for portions of the park; and 4) absorb the cost (status quo). He recommended option 3.

Councilors asked how the city would pay rent on property the city partially owns. Gary Peters, identified as airport board president, explained that because the facility is a jointly-owned airport authority the FAA requires non-aeronautical parcels be leased at fair market value. Councilors also discussed whether improvements made by the city would increase future appraisals and how CPI escalators would affect multiyear terms. Glenn said a one-year short-term lease would buy time to negotiate and explore partnerships; he and the city attorney will pursue negotiations and return to council with a proposed resolution or agreement.

The work session did not include a formal vote on lease terms. Several councilors — including Councilor Speickelmeyer, Councilor Wright, Councilor Forsman, Councilor Parchment and Kelsey Klein — voiced support for pursuing option 3 and directing staff to negotiate with the airport authority.

Next steps Glenn outlined: staff will meet with the airport authority, refine the spatial split and pricing proposals, confirm any needed additional appraisals, and return to council for formal approval of any lease or resolution.

Why it matters: a move from a roughly $12,200 renewal rate to an $84,800 appraised rate materially affects the parks budget and could require reallocations, partnership agreements or changes to the city's operating model for Airport Park.