REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: HENRY THOMPSON, Director of Aviation
Airports Department
BY: FRANCISCO PARTIDA, Assistant Director of Aviation
Airports Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with RS&H California, Inc., to provide additional professional airport planning and environmental consulting services to prepare and implement an Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement Work Plan for Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the amount of $175,500 (Council District 4).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with RS&H for additional design services required to complete the implementation study for an Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) for Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in the amount of $175,500. The second Amendment to the agreement includes additional services to assist with Section 106 and Section 4(f) consultations related to the existing ATCT at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, specifically related to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The existing ATCT at FAT is more than 61-years-old, well beyond its useful life and must be replaced to meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. RS&H is providing consulting services to develop and implement an ATCT replacement work plan that will facilitate completion of the planning and environmental tasks necessary to successfully achieve FAA approval and funding for the design and construction of a new ATCT. This amendment authorizes additional services to assist with Section 106 and Section 4(f) consultations related to the existing ATCT at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, specifically related to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process required by the Federal Aviation Administration, and paths forward to position the Airport to receive grant funding for design and construction of a new ATCT.
BACKGROUND
The FAT ATCT was commissioned in 1962 when the "new" Terminal was constructed on the south side of the airfield. The tower is owned by the City, leased to the FAA and staffed with FAA Air Traffic Controllers. Over the years the facility has begun to show its age. It is experiencing overall deterioration with undersized and obsolete electrical infrastructure, inadequate HVAC systems, an unreliable elevator, and sub-standard Information Technology infrastructure. The Tower does not meet current Building Codes, ADA requirements, environmental sustainability measures or FAA Standards. Due to the age, nature of deficiencies and importance of remaining fully operational it will be necessary to construct a new ATCT while the existing Tower remains in service. Over the past 20 years, the Airports Department (Department) has made several attempts to replace the ATCT. But due to lack of funding and coordination requirements with the FAA, the project has not been able to move forward.
The Department, with FAA Air Traffic Organization support, is actively pursuing funding opportunities for replacement of the ATCT but must complete a myriad of FAA required tasks to be eligible to receive initial funds. The Department is working to complete this project in an expedited manner, meeting the requirements necessary to position the project to qualify and compete for consideration of available Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. This current effort to acquire federal funding for a new tower must happen now because the availability of BIL funding ends in Federal fiscal year 2026. An accelerated process is the only feasible way to meet FAA’s requirements and apply for the grants before funding expires.
The intent of the previously awarded contract was to facilitate an FAA siting study, prepare a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, update the Airport Layout Plan, develop a conceptual Tower design and site plan, prepare necessary NEPA/CEQA environmental documentation, develop rough order of magnitude cost estimates for design and construction, create a project schedule, identify funding opportunities and assist with preparing and submitting grant applications.
During project development it was determined that the Airport along with RS&H could complete many elements of the siting study in advance of submission to the FAA and reduce the time and cost for the FAA to complete the siting study. The scope of work needed was not part of the original contract, therefore, on October 19, 2023, the Council approved the first amendment to the consultant agreement in the amount of $329,179 for the additional consulting services necessary to perform 3-D modeling, preliminary siting study, prepare and submit a siting report to the FAA, task necessary to expedite the planning and environmental services required for preparation and implementation of the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Replacement Work Plan.
Additionally, due to the complexity of the project and strict federal requirements, FAA, Airports and RS&H have identified additional labor-intensive tasks under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) that require this contract to be amended to include the scope of work. With this amendment the total amount of the consultant agreement will be $867,264. Upon completion of this phase of the Project the Department will be prepared to apply for and receive grant funding and move to select a design consultant or advertise a request for qualifications to choose a design-build team.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this Amendment to the consultant agreement with RS&H as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, this item does not qualify as a "project", as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable as this is an amendment of an existing contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Project is part of Airports ongoing commitment to ensure FAT is operationally efficient and is properly positioned for local and regional growth. The Project is included in the City's FY 2023 budget. There is no impact to the General Fund from this action.
Attachments:
Second Amendment to Consulting Services Agreement with RS&H
RS&H CA, Inc Consultant Agreement (Executed) 2-15-2023
RS&H First Amendment to 2-15-2023 (Executed) 1-26-2024