Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Housing Airport topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters urge continued support for stalled housing project and dispute airport contracting
Summary
Public commenters told the Atwater council that a proposed affordable-housing project lost a private developer due to funding gaps and that a long-running fixed-base operator at Castle is closing after an RFP; Supervisor Derek McDaniel defended the fairness of the procurement process.
During public comment the council heard a series of local appeals.
Robert Waldau, a landowner behind the planned 6-acre project, told the council that Chelsea's investment group has "decided not to move forward with the project" and asked the city to remain supportive and inquisitive as the capital stack and HCD engagement are pursued. "One of the largest funding sources for this project is supportive of local aquifer and those people who are employed in that industry," Waldau said, and he urged staff to dedicate more time to exploring how the project could proceed.
Linda Dash complimented the finance director's budget presentation and urged the council to find a way to hire two more police officers, saying voters had expected Measure B to produce more officers rather than cover past-due bills.
An unnamed commenter described the closure of a long-running fixed-base operator (FBO) business at Castle after 26 years and accused a "backstabbing tour" led by Supervisor McDaniel and an RFP process that downgraded the company's knowledge and experience in scoring. The commenter said they placed third on the RFP and questioned whether veteran and local-business considerations were applied.
Supervisor Derek McDaniel responded, saying the RFP process was fair and that he had visited other FBOs at the direction of the procurement authority; he said he had previously defended the incumbent company (Gemini) at board discussions and objected to being accused of wrongdoing. "It was a fair process," McDaniel said.
The mayor closed public comment after the exchanges and moved the meeting to council updates.
