Title
An Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
Body
Issue/Request:
An Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
Key Issues:
• On February 28, 2023, City Council adopted Resolution 23-04 authorizing the submittal of an application for entry into the Federal Contract Tower Program.
• On August 5, 2024, the City was notified the application into the Federal Contract Tower Program was accepted.
• Prior to air traffic control services beginning at the airport, a permanent structured control tower must be constructed, and the City must sign a Tower Operations Agreement.
• Because the design of the air traffic control tower is about to commence, the FAA has requested the City execute the Tower Operations Agreement.
Proposed Committee Motion:
I move to recommend to City Council approval of An Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for a second reading of an Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of an Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
Background:
As part of the Phase 2 Master Plan Update for the Kansas City - Lee’s Summit Regional Airport, a feasibility study was conducted for an Air Traffic Control Tower, ATCT. As part of the feasibility study, a preliminary Benefit/Cost, B/C, ratio was determined utilizing the aviation traffic forecasted in the adopted Master Plan Update. The B/C ratio was calculated to be 1.08. As a result, City Council adopted Resolution 23-04 authorizing the submittal of an application for entry into the Federal Contract Tower Program.
On August 5, 2024, the FAA provided the City with a letter confirming the Airport’s status as a candidate for the FCT program. The candidate status allows the City to begin seeking and using federal funds under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for subsequent ATCT development tasks. Attaining candidate status allows the Airport to use federal funds toward the development of a control tower with the understanding that federal procurement requirements will be followed and the finished facility will meet the FAA’s minimum standards for ATCT siting, design, and equipment.
The FAA also stipulates several conditions that must be met by the City before the Tower can be commissioned.
1. Select a site that meets the FAA’s criteria for assuring it is suitable for conducting ATC operations.
2. Design and construct the ATCT facility meeting FAA design criteria.
3. Provide ATCT equipment according to a prescribed Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
4. Enter into a Tower Operating Agreement (TOA) with FAA for the operations and maintenance of the ATCT facility.
The FAA currently requires the Airport Sponsor to meet these conditions within seven (7) years of the FCT candidacy notification without having to recalculate the Benefit/Cost ratio and requalify as a candidate.
While developing the Scope of Work for the final siting and design of the ATCT, staff and the city’s aviation consulting engineer, HDR, met with the FAA to ensure all necessary items were being addressed in the proposed scope of work. During this meeting, the FAA requested the City to execute the Tower Operations Agreement. Though the ATCT design is progressing, with use of federal grants, and the design will better position the City to acquire additional grants for the ATCT construction, there is no identified funding for ATCT construction at this time and the City continues to seek grants for funding the ATCT construction as one of several legislative priorities.
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Presenter
Mike Anderson, Deputy Director of Public Works, Operations
Recommendation
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of An Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Air Traffic Control Tower Operations Agreement by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri (City), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement for the same.
Committee Recommendation
Committee Recommendation: [Enter Committee Recommendation text Here]