Airport commission adopts five‑year method for monthly utility fees at Rio Vista Airport

The Rio Vista Airport Advisory Commission on a recorded voice vote approved a five‑year methodology for adjusting monthly utility fees at the Rio Vista Airport and recommended the change to the city council.

Staff presented the proposal as a way to prorate last year’s PG&E and propane bills across unmetered hangars and office suites, allocating shares by square footage and four building quadrants. Staff said the methodology follows the city’s annual Public Works study of energy invoices and would apply only to units without individual meters; commercial hangars with their own meters remain on separate bills.

The proposal prompted questions from commissioners about how vacant suites are handled and whether tenants have individual control over HVAC settings. Staff explained the city uses a centralized building control system that manages heating and cooling from city hall and that vacant suites (Suite C and Suite D, per staff comment) are billed to the city until reoccupied.

During public comment, resident Sue Clark asked the commission to delay the vote and reexamine how larger corporate hangars were treated in the rate sheet. Staff responded that commercial hangars are listed at the bottom of the rate sheet ($29.90 and $29.94 were cited as examples) and that those hangars pay their own PG&E bills because they have individual meters; T‑hanger rates and other size classes are shown as line items (one example cited: $30.37 for a basic T‑hanger).

Chair moved the motion to adopt the proposed methodology; Vice Chair Edmondson and Commissioner Magaha voted in favor. Commissioner Butler was recorded as absent. The motion passed.

The next procedural step is for the commission to forward the recommendation to the City Council for final approval.