PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND AND IMPLEMENT THE AIRPORT VOLUNTARY CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indicated that qualified aeronautical applicants may experience extended wait times for airport access under the current leasing process, along with other concerns the County is in the process of resolving with FAA’s guidance. As part of that compliance process, the County is amending and resubmitting the Voluntary Corrective Action Plan to address concerns and resolve outstanding grant compliance issues, including implementation of a new leasing process for airport property.
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DEPARTMENT: Airport
PREPARED BY: Name: Andrew McBean
Title: Airport Director
REQUESTED BY: Andrew McBean
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
On November 9, 2023, the County was notified by the FAA, Southern Regional Office - Airports Division, that a 14 CFR Part 13 Complaint was filed. A Part 13 Complaint is an informal complaint process that is a public method of reporting possible compliance violations against an airport where the FAA evaluates the facts surrounding the Complaint, identifies possible sponsor violations, if any, and offers assistance to resolve the Complaint in a manner consistent with the airport’s Federal obligations. On December 30, 2025, in response to the Part 13 Complaint, the Board approved a Voluntary Corrective Action Plan for submission to the FAA which identified available parcels to accommodate aeronautical activities.
On August 19, 2026, the FAA outlined that, under the current RFP process, some qualified aeronautical applicants may experience extended wait times before airport access can be accommodated or otherwise be disadvantaged in obtaining reasonable access to airport property. The FAA highlights that failure to accommodate qualified aeronautical users in a timely manner is noncompliant with the County’s federal obligations.
Staff recommends that the County modify its airport leasing process in accordance with the airport’s approved Master Plan and Commercial Minimum Standards for aeronautical activities and issue a Request for Qualifications from prospective tenants for the Monterey Road parcels in accordance with the process described in Exhibit A. Following the pass/fail review and qualification process, staff will further engage in direct negotiations with respondents pursuant to that process to facilitate the timely accommodation of aeronautical users. Staff further recommends that the County amend and resubmit the Voluntary Corrective Action Plan to address all outstanding compliance issues and continue implementing the corrective action items set forth therein.
ISSUES:
Noncompliance with Federal Obligations.
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board authorize staff to amend the Voluntary Corrective Action Plan to refine and subdivide parcels to accommodate a diversified range of aeronautical uses, commence the updated solicitation process described in Exhibit A, and submit a revised Voluntary Corrective Action Plan to the FAA.
Move that the Board authorize staff to reserve the ±11-acre Public Works site for light general aviation uses and to establish reservation system and future waiting list for light general aviation facilities on the site once the facilities to be constructed are under design.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Provide further guidance to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☐Other: