Klamath Falls council backs F‑35 support, airport grants and roadway transfers near Kingsley Field

Klamath Falls — On May 4 the Klamath Falls City Council approved a package of airport- and defense-related measures, including a letter supporting basing the F‑35A Lightning II training unit at Kingsley Field, authorization to enter a National Guard cooperative agreement for munitions-facility design work, and grant applications to advance airport planning and infrastructure.

Council indicated consensus to send a letter supporting the potential basing of the F‑35A at Kingsley Field. Airport manager Colin Grandandy described multiple cooperative agreements the city has executed on behalf of Kingsley Field and said the facility sustainment repair and modernization cooperative agreement under consideration would fund design work for an F‑35 munitions assembly conveyor pad and storage facility. “It is 100% funded by the National Guard Bureau and the city receives an agent fee to administer the contract,” Grandandy said. The council authorized the city manager to execute the agreement as presented.

Separately, the council authorized staff to submit a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant application to pay for a market analysis, route forecasting and a strategic recruitment plan aimed at restoring air service; the application amount was authorized not to exceed $50,000. Grandandy explained the study would establish catchment-area demand data airlines require to evaluate service to the airport.

The council also approved submission of an FAA Airport Improvement Program application to rehabilitate the North General Aviation parking apron. Staff said that area currently has the lowest pavement condition index on the airfield and that delaying work could require closing sections of the apron. The project cost and match figures were stated in the record (transcript contains the figure as "1,368,4215" with a 5% match noted); staff said the city’s 5% match would be required.

On a related infrastructure matter, staff presented a request for Klamath County to jurisdictionally transfer three roadway segments near the regional airport (Joe Wright Road, Altoont/Alt Drive and Summers Lane) to the city. City staff said the transfer will simplify land-use review and that prior county maintenance and a payment tied to earlier improvements (approximately $180,000) were part of the arrangement. The council moved and approved the transfer request.

Votes at a glance: Council approved a letter supporting F‑35 basing at Kingsley Field (consensus); authorized the FSRM cooperative agreement for munitions-facility design; authorized SCASDP grant submission up to $50,000; authorized FAA AIP grant submission for the North GA apron rehabilitation; and requested jurisdictional transfer of three road segments from the county to the city.

City staff said next steps include finalizing agreement documents with the National Guard Bureau, preparing grant applications and working with county staff to complete the roadway transfer paperwork. The council asked staff to return with implementation details and to prioritize tasks that align with application deadlines.