Agenda

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C. 5

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Keith Freitas, Airports Director
Date:	March 2, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Grant Funds Available for Buchanan Field & Byron Airports from FAA through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA)

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/02/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Keith Freitas (925) 681-4200

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 2, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Director of Airports to submit applications to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for grants for capital improvement projects and/or operating revenue expenditures for Byron Airport and/or Buchanan Field Airport to enable the County to participate in the economic stimulus funding specifically being made available to airports as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA).

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors or the Director of Airports to sign one or more Statement of Acceptance, or similar document, to accept grant funds from the FAA as part of CRRSA.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no negative impact on the General Fund. Grant funds would be deposited in the Airport Enterprise Fund and used to fund operations at Buchanan Field Airport and Byron Airport. The grants would not need to be repaid and would be subject to standard FAA grant assurances.

BACKGROUND:

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) was passed by Congress and signed into law on December 27, 2020. As part of CRRSA, $2 billion in economic stimulus has been made available to airports, through the FAA, to support airports in the United States. The funding provides airports with funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this board order is to ensure that Contra Costa County has the ability to apply for and accept CRRSA funds for both County airports.

Typically, the FAA issues about $3 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants annually. In April 2020, the FAA issued $10 billion in CARES Act relief funds, through which Contra Costa County accepted $1,122,000 in grants for both Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. Now the FAA has been provided an additional $2 billion in CRRSA relief funds.

Revenue at the County’s airports is generated by ground leases, hangar rentals and usage fees. These revenues pay for the airports’ operating expenses, including airport management, operations, and facility maintenance. Many of the airports’ tenants are small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the economic fallout of the Coronavirus. As a result, staff anticipates County airports’ revenues and cash flow will suffer until there is a complete economic recovery.

The grant funds being made available to airports under CRRSA is money that the Airports Division can use to fund operations, including paying salaries. The FAA has already indicated it will make approximately $13,000 and $57,000 in CRRSA grant funding available to Byron Airport and Buchanan Field Airport, respectively.

Byron Airport and Buchanan Field Airport continue to be significant economic engines and to provide jobs growth opportunities for Contra Costa County. The grant funds available through CRRSA will strengthen the ability of the County’s airports to continue these trends during the next 12 months.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County may not receive the FAA grant funding made available to Byron Airport and Buchanan Field by CRRSA. This may result in lost economic and jobs opportunity for Byron Airport, Buchanan Field and Contra Costa County.