To: Board of Supervisors
From: Aviation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Humboldt County Department of Aviation to Apply For, Accept, and Secure Funding Made Available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Grant (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County Director of Aviation, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents related to the CARES Act Grant including without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to apply for, accept and secure funding made available through the CARES Act Grant;
2. Authorize the Department of Aviation - Director to sign the Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 for each of the six airports; and
3. Authorize the Department of Aviation - Director, or designee, to sign future amendments to this agreement thereto after review by County Counsel and Risk Manager.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Federal Funds
DISCUSSION:
On April 14, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed the County of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) grant amounts by airport location. The CARES Act grant provides approximately $10 billion to support U.S. airports experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This funding will be distributed to airports to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The FAA has directed that an airport owner/sponsor may use these funds for any purpose for which airport revenues may be lawfully used. CARES grant recipients should follow the FAA’s Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenues (“Revenue Use Policy”), 64 Federal Register 7696 (64 FR 7696), as amended by 78 Federal Register 55330 (78 FR 55330). The Revenue Use Policy document defines permitted and prohibited uses of airport revenue. In addition to the detailed guidance in the Revenue Use Policy, the CARES Act makes clear that the funds may not be used for any purpose not related to the airport.
Specifically, the FAA noted that the funds are to be used to:
• Keep airports in reliable, safe operation to serve the aviation industry, the travelling public, and support the economy.
• Keep airport and aviation workers employed.
• Keep airport credit ratings stable.
The Humboldt County Department of Aviation airports have been awarded up to the following amounts through the CARES Act:
• California Redwood Coast Humboldt County Airport (ACV) - Sixteen Million Nine Hundred Seventy-Four Thousand Ninety-Two Dollars ($16,974,092).
• Murray Field Airport (EKA) - Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000).
• Rohnerville Airport (FOT) - Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).
• Garberville Airport (O16) - Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).
• Dinsmore Airport (D63) - One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
• Kneeland Airport (O19) - One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
Accordingly, staff recommends that your Board adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County Director of Aviation, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents related to the CARES Act Grant including without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to apply for, accept and secure funding made available through the CARES Act Grant. Staff also requests your Board to authorize the Department of Aviation Director, or a designee thereof, to sign the Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 for each of the six airports and to sign future amendments to this agreement thereto after review by County Counsel and Risk Manager.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the attached resolution will bring up to Seventeen Million Forty-Six Thousand Ninety-Two Dollars ($17,046,092.00) of federal funding to Humboldt County to support the airports as their revenues have been drastically impacted by COVID-19 public health emergency and will enable the airports to continue operating. There is no impact to the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service ; providing for and maintaining infrastructure supporting business; workforce development and creation of private-sector jobs; protecting vulnerable populations, managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services; and seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County needs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Humboldt County Director of Aviation, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all documents related to the CARES Act Grant including without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to apply for, accept and secure funding made available through the CARES Act Grant. However, this alternative is not recommended because without these funds the Department of Aviation would become largely dependent on General Funds to continue operating all six airports.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Authorizing the Humboldt County Director of Aviation, to execute any and all documents related to the CARES Act Grant including without limitation, professional services agreements, necessary to apply for, accept and secure funding made available through the CARES Act Grant
2. Applications for Federal Assistance SF-424
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: Click or tap here to enter text.
Meeting of: April 28, 2020
File No.: 20-514