LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors heard an update Tuesday regarding Lampson Field 2010 Capital Improvements. Brent Siemer, director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) provided information pertaining to current activities, airport planning and funding.
Siemer said the county received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for an Airport Layout Plan Narrative Report Update and a Pavement Maintenance Management Plan (PMMP). Siemer said however, FAA failed to process the Narrative Report Update (NRU) grant request and the county will have to resubmit for Fiscal Year 2001 funding. He said while work on the NRU is delayed, the consultant has begun work on the PMMP and should have it completed by the end of December.
Seimer said that rough grading of the 15-acre development site was programmed for next summer. However, FAA staff has now advised that rough grading can not be a stand-alone project. “They have recommended that we advance the construction of the navigational aide and consider phased completion of grading and paving of a portion of the site,” he said, adding that solution would most likely include full construction of the eastern end of the tie-down apron, connection to the existing taxiway, a public parking lot and full development of the access road to Sky Park Drive. He said there is not adequate time for the DPW to develop a preliminary plan for the project by end of the calendar year FAA deadline for 2011 construction.
“Therefore, the DPW will accelerate the construction of the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS II),” Siemer said. “This will meet with great approval of our local pilots and provide timely response to the recommendation of the 2009-10 Grand Jury.”
Siemer said that the Community Development Department (CCD) needs a detailed project description before it can prepare an initial study for the Lampson Business Park Wastewater Transmission Line Project. He said while the transmission line has already been reviewed pursuant to CEQA, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) description needs to include the details of a collection system for the airport and the properties surrounding it; detail of the pre-treatment and pumping facility and its location; and preliminary design of alternative off-site systems for evaluation.
Siemer said the agreement between the county and the City of Lakeport requires Lake County Water and Wastewater Agency (LACOSAN) to receive additional flows into the Northwest Regional Wastewater Collection System. Approximately 1,200 feet of eight inch pipe would need to be installed along with the addition of new motor starters and larger pumps at two pump stations. Seimer said design and construction cost estimates for this have been requested.
“As a result of these potential significant cost issues, LACOSAN is suggesting that the board may wish to explore other options for wastewater service for the airport such as an on-site septic system,” Siemer stated. “While this alternative would receive full funding approval from FAA, it does not achieve the board”s goal to provide the area with domestic sewer service.”
Seimer said that there is a current designation of $750,000 of Fiscal Year 2004 Consolidation Appropriations Act funds is for a wastewater collection system. He said the designation has proven to be quite limiting for the county”s use. Staff has been working with Congressman Mike Thompson in requesting congressional revision of the designation with the desire to expand its use to address a regional wastewater solution for the airport and the existing and future businesses surrounding Lampson Field.
“The bottom line is that Congress can not approve a technical amendment to this specific designation that would allow these funds to benefit anything but the Lampson Field Airport,” Siemer stated.
Siemer said the board”s options include using the designation “as-is,” which would allow for the construction of a wastewater collection system that will service only the Lampson Field Airport. “The system can be expanded in the future if necessary to serve other properties in the future, but the original design and construction must be a stand-alone project for the airport property,” he said. “However, even the cost of a stand-alone system is expected to exceed the $750,000 designation.”
Siemer said the board could choose to modify the designation to “Lampson Field Airport Utilities.” “An amendment such as this would allow the FAA to reimburse the county for the cost to develop a complete water system and extend power, telephone and cable service,” he said. “This technical amendment would only be useful if other funding was found to pay for the region”s cost of the transmission line.”
The final option for the board is to seek a new designation of the funds.
