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Title:
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HEARING to consider adopting Resolution No. 2025-280 for new rates and charges for the Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. (Greg Baer, Airports Director)
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To: Board of Supervisors
From: Greg Baer, Director of Airports
Report Title: Hearing to Consider New Rates and Charges for Buchanan Field Airport and Byron Airport.
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. OPEN the public hearing, ACCEPT public testimony, and CLOSE the hearing.
2. ADOPT Resolution establishing new hangar waitlist fee and gate access control card fee at the Buchanan Field Airport and Byron Airport.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Airports Division operates as an Enterprise Fund and finances all of its operating costs from rents and other fees. The revised fee schedule is intended to cover costs for new and existing services provided by the Airports Division. The new Hangar Waitlist Fee and Gate Access Control Card Fee are expected to generate an additional $9,500 annually for the Airport Enterprise Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The most recent rates and charges for the County Airports were adopted on October 16, 2018, and include Consumer Price Index (CPI) escalators every 3 years. Two new fees are being introduced: a Hangar Waitlist Fee and a Gate Access Control Card Fee.
The County's Airports Division owns, maintains, and rents out 185 aircraft hangars comprised of small T-hangars and larger box hangars. Like most airports, County Airports staff maintains hangar waitlists for those desiring to house their aircraft at Buchanan or Byron Airport, or move to a different hangar based on size, location, or price point. Typically for airports, there is an administrative fee charged to be placed on a waitlist, and it's also common for an annual maintenance fee to be collected to account for the staff time required to manage the waitlists.
The County has not yet had an established fee to maintain these lists that require staff's routine attention. As evidenced through the County's current practices, a free waitlist program inherently results in individuals remaining on a list who may not fully intend to accept a hangar when offered, resulting in an artificially long waitlist. Airports management and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) consider the waitlist details for certain business decisions; therefore, the waitlist accuracy is important. A waitlist program that includes annual updates by applicants as well as a maintenance fee will result in more precise waitlists. The Hangar Waitlist fee will consist of an initial $40 fee with an annual maintenance fee of $30. The Aviation Advisory Committee is recommending the establishment and implementation of this fee.
The Airports Division currently charges a deposit for airport access gate cards that can be refunded. This system incurs significant staff time from the issuing of access cards and the issuing refunds for deposits. The Airport is requesting to terminate the deposit system in place and, instead, institute a $30 user fee for airport access gate cards. The institution of this fee will work towards achieving the County Airport's dual goals of recovering its costs to operate the airports and sustain economic self-sufficiency as an enterprise fund.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the action is not approved, the current rates and charges will remain unchanged at the Buchanan Field Airport and Byron Airport and potential revenue generation will be missed.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF APPROVING RATES AND CHARGES FOR BUCHANAN FIELD AIRPORT AND BYRON AIRPORT.
WHEREAS, there is a need to establish new rates and charges for hangar and gate access services provided at Buchanan Field Airport and Byron Airport in order to allow the County's airports to continue to be financially self-sustaining, as required by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and
WHEREAS, the Director of Airports has developed a schedule of rates and charges for the use of the County's airports and their facilities, taking into account the FAA Policies regarding the Airport Rates and Charges and the California State Controller's Office Division of Accounting Standards and Procedures for Counties; and
WHEREAS, FAA Policy 2.1 (Federal Register Vol. 61, No. 121, RIN 2120-AF90, Docket No. 27782) permits rates and charges to be set by resolution; and
WHEREAS, notice of hearing of the proposed rates and charges was published twice in the manner set forth in section 6062a of the Government Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County as follows:
1. The Board hereby establishes those rates and charges shown on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein.
2. The Board finds the adoption of the rates and charges established by this resolution is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, section 15273(a)(1) and (2).
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors at a regular meeting held on September 9, 2025.