Title
Airports, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board take the following actions pertaining to the New Beacon Tower and Beacon Project at the Georgetown Airport, Airport Capital Improvement Program Project 35402010:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Contract Documents and Plans;
2) Authorize advertisement for construction bids;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program;
4) Delegate signature authority to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer to sign Federal Aviation Administration Form 5100-110, Request for FAA Approval of Agreement for Transfer of Entitlements, for a portion of the Airport Improvement Program funding for the Project;
5) Delegate signature authority to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer to sign Federal Aviation Administration Form 5100-132, Project Plans and Specifications - Airport Improvement Program Sponsor Certification for the Project; and
6) Delegate signature authority to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer to sign all future Federal Aviation Administration Form 5100-110, Request for FAA Approval of Agreement for Transfer of Entitlements, and to sign all requests to transfer Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant funds, as needed for future fund transfers, subject to County Counsel review, approval, and signature on the form, as required.
FUNDING: Federal Aviation Administration Grant (95%) and General Fund (5%) with the potential for a reduced General Fund contribution due to the potential for a Caltrans Airport Improvement Program Matching Grant.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On January 18, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the New Beacon Tower and Beacon Project (Project) at the Georgetown Airport is Categorically Excluded pursuant to FAA Order 1050.1F as it relates to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. On November 18, 2024, the FAA determined that the portion of the Project to replace an existing vehicle gate at the Georgetown Airport is Categorically Excluded pursuant to FAA Order 1050.1F as it relates to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. The California Environmental Quality Act Categorical Exemption for this Project was recorded by the County’s Recorder-Clerk on March 5, 2025.
In July 2023, the County received an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant from the FAA for the design of this Project. In September 2023, the County received an AIP matching grant for design of this Project from the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics (Caltrans).
The Project is included in the 2024 Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP), approved by the Board on November 5, 2024 (Item 32), and is in accordance with the current Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the Georgetown Airport.
The 2024 ACIP makes use of all existing FAA AIP and Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) grant funds. To accomplish this and account for the grant funding expiration dates, the 2024 ACIP includes FAA AIP and AIG grant fund transfers between the Placerville Airport and the Georgetown Airport. The Placerville Airport has $58,610 in FAA AIP entitlement funds that will expire in September 2025. These funds are beyond what is needed to fund the Placerville Airport Install New Airport Beacon and Tower project for which the Airports Division is applying for a 2025 FAA AIP design grant. The Airports Division would like to transfer the $79,500 in FAA AIP entitlement funds from the Placerville Airport to the Georgetown Airport to use for the Project. The Airports Division requests that the Board delegate signature authority to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in the Chief Administrative Office to sign the required FAA form to accomplish this transfer.
To streamline ACIP project delivery, the Airports Division also requests that the Board delegate signature authority to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer to sign all future FAA Form 5100-110, Request for FAA Approval of Agreement for Transfer of Entitlements, and to sign all future requests to transfer FAA AIG grant funds, as needed for future fund transfers, subject to County Counsel review, approval, and signature on the form, as required.
The Project design is complete, the Plans and Contract Documents have been prepared, and the Project is ready for construction.
The proposed Project includes the following:
• Construct a new tower foundation at the existing tower site.
• Erect a new 55-foot tip-down beacon tower.
• Replace old beacon system with a light-emitting diode (LED) medium intensity rotating beacon.
• Replace electrical service with new cable and required grounding.
• Disassemble and remove existing beacon tower, including disconnecting existing electrical power.
• Install new gates and a portion of fence at the Georgetown Airport entrance to provide security to the new beacon and beacon tower.
The new beacon tower is needed to modernize the existing facilities which may be over 50 years old, and which require extensive maintenance. The condition of the existing tower and the scarcity of replacement parts make maintaining the beacon difficult. Expensive beacon maintenance provides only temporary solutions and would be eliminated with the new beacon tower. The new beacon and beacon tower will improve safety of operations at the Georgetown Airport. The new gates will provide security and protection to the new beacon and beacon tower.
The construction for this Project is located outside the airport fence so there is no impact to the airfield except for the potential to affect the airport electrical systems. Appendix A, Construction Safety and Phasing Plan, in the Contract Documents requires the contractor to have the existing airport electrical systems operational each night and only allows for daytime outages with Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued. The risks of affecting airport operations for this Project are minimal.
On December 26, 2024, Airports Division staff submitted a preapplication for a FAA AIP grant for Project construction and construction management. The FAA’s process requires that actual bids be submitted to the FAA prior to award of a construction grant. Once the bids are received, Airports Division staff will assemble a package, including the bid summary and the bid proposal of the apparent lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, for submittal to the FAA for its approval to award the construction contract. Final grant applications based on the bid price are due to the FAA by May 1, 2025.
As a condition of receiving federal grant funding, the County must establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. The program ensures that DBEs, as defined in Part 26, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in federally-funded contracts. The attached DBE Program requires County approval and will meet the federal requirement.
Airports Division staff will return to the Board for consideration to award the construction contract, pursuant to FAA recommendation. Given the FAA’s typical grant cycle, the Airports Division staff anticipates scheduling the construction contract award in Summer of 2025.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to:
1) Not approve the Plans and Contract Documents.
2) Not authorize advertisement for construction bids.
3) Cancel the Project. Note: The Board has previously approved the Project in the ACIP and annual budget processes.
Should the Board choose any of the above alternatives, it will result in the loss of FAA grant funds which expire at the end of the Federal Fiscal Year on September 30, 2025.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 23-1228 - July 25, 2023 - Approve FAA AIP design grant and Caltrans AIP matching design grant.
Legistar file 24-1891 - November 5, 2024 - Approve the 2024 ACIP.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk Management, Federal Aviation Administration
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact or change to Net County Cost associated with this item. The Board will not obligate the County with the current requested action. The obligation will result from the subsequent action of awarding the bid and approving and accepting the FAA AIP grant for construction and construction management of the Project. The Engineer's Estimate for the construction phase of the Project is $235,230. The Project is eligible for 95% construction phase funding through the FAA AIP grant program. The 5% local match is currently slated to be provided by the County’s General Fund and will be included in the Georgetown Airport budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. Airports Division staff intends to apply for a Caltrans AIP Matching Grant, which, if received, would fund 5% of the FAA grant amount. If the County is awarded a Caltrans AIP Matching Grant for this Project, a portion of the General Fund funds will be replaced with the Caltrans matching funds.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on page 7 of the construction Plans for the Project and forward to Procurement and Contracts, Attention: Tyler Prince.
2) Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on page 3 of the DBE Document, Attachment C, and forward to Procurement and Contracts, Attention: Tyler Prince.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Jennifer Franich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Airports Director