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Wasilla board reviews draft fee increases tied to Resolution 23-01; staff warns FAA grant eligibility depends on rates
Summary
Staff presented an updated financial review recommending changes in lease and transient rates (approximately 10¢ per square foot for lease rates; tie-downs $40/$75; transient parking $10/day or $200/month) and said the plan will be submitted to FAA and city council as part of the budget cycle.
The Wasilla Airport Advisory Committee reviewed an updated financial analysis and a draft resolution regarding airport fees on Nov. 20, as staff outlined recommended rate changes and next steps toward city council and FAA review.
Mister Shaw told the committee that the prior advisory work in 2023 was revisited and run through the master‑plan financial review and consultants (HDL and Northern Economics). He said the updated recommendation largely reflects the advisory board’s earlier suggestion and that the resolution “supports an increase to 10¢ per square foot for lease rate for hangar lease rates,” and standardizes other fees, including tie‑downs and transient parking.
Shaw summarized the proposed fee schedule included in the packet: approximately 10¢ per square foot for lease rates, tie‑downs at $40 per month without electricity and $75 per month with electricity, and a transient day parking rate of $10 per day or $200 per month. He said the financial package will be submitted to FAA for review and then presented to the city council alongside budget materials.
Staff emphasized that FAA grant programs expect airport rates to be consistent with market comparables; if rates are too low the FAA could withhold certain grants or ACIP eligibility. Shaw said the consultants pulled data from comparable airports (Palmer, Willow, Birchwood, Merrill Field among others) and that the advisory board can use a budgeting tool (Water Worth, transitioning to UniWorth) to model impacts of different rate choices on revenue, capital projects and long‑term operations.
Tenants and board members pressed on comparability. Harry Zola, an airport tenant, said earlier community opposition did not prevent the board from passing a prior increase and asked that staff rehost or email the comparative data packet. Shaw said the packet is available and staff will provide it.
There was no formal vote on adopting a new resolution at this meeting. Shaw said the next steps are completing internal finance department scheduling, feeding the final master‑plan financials into the modeling tool, and presenting to council for review in the upcoming budget cycle, at which point the advisory board may consider an amended resolution for recommendation.
