Oakdale pre-approves FAA design grant for runway safety-area markings; city share $5,660

The Oakdale City Council on Aug. 4 authorized the city manager to accept and execute a Federal Aviation Administration grant to fund the design phase of a runway safety-area marking project at Oakdale Municipal Airport.

Tyler Hendon, senior engineering technician and airport manager, told the council the design phase is critical to update runway markings to current FAA standards and to resolve nonconformance issues related to the grading and an irrigation channel east of Runway 28. Staff estimated the design-phase cost at about $113,200; Hendon said the FAA typically funds 95% of eligible costs and that the city’s share for the design phase would be $5,660, available in the airport capital improvement fund.

Council members asked whether a subsequent construction grant is likely; staff said the construction phase would be pursued through a separate Airport Improvement Program grant and that Oakdale’s guaranteed funding history makes approval likely, though not guaranteed. Council members also asked whether the city would be required to do construction if a later construction grant is denied; staff said the city is not obligated to proceed with construction if funding is not secured.

A brief public-comment exchange raised general questions about other grants; staff responded that departments routinely seek grants and that this preapproval is required because grants sometimes must be accepted on a short timeline. The council voted 4–0 to adopt the resolution authorizing acceptance and execution of the FAA grant agreement for the design-only phase.

The design approval clears a key step toward improving runway markings and helps position the airport to apply for follow-on construction funding.