Airport Commission

Airport Commission — April 4, 2024

This was a regular monthly meeting of the Petaluma Airport Commission, held at City Hall. Chair Margand was absent; all other commissioners attended, with Commissioner Domich joining via Skype. No public comment was received.

Approval of Minutes

The commission approved the minutes from the February 1, 2024 regular meeting. No discussion was noted.

Council Update

Councilmember Nau reported that a recently completed police audit has led to the hiring of a new police chief. She also noted that the upcoming City Council agenda would include action on hangar rates and the FY25 budget, as well as a discussion about D Street improvements to create safer routes for school children.

Ad Hoc Subcommittee Reports: Hangar Rates and Demand

Commissioners McGaw and Sasser presented findings from their ongoing research into hangar rates, demand, and comparable airports. Key findings included:

Commissioner Domich emphasized the importance of maintaining a waiting list of active aircraft owners — not just names — to get a realistic picture of true demand. He also noted that over 750 aircraft are registered in Sonoma County, though some may be registered out of state, meaning the actual local number could be higher. The subcommittee will continue compiling data.

Commissioner Comment

Commissioner McGaw mentioned that he and former Commissioner Barry Lawrence plan to reach out to new interim department heads over the summer to familiarize them with the Airport Commission's role and responsibilities. He also shared a lighthearted note that a high school student who watched a recorded Commission meeting described the body as "a very efficient machine."

Airport Manager Report

Airport Manager Dan Cohen provided a wide-ranging update:

Finances: Revenue through February 29, 2024 stands at over $1.4 million against $1.5 million in expenditures, but a $500,000 payment received in November means the airport expects to end the fiscal year in the black. The FAA will reimburse $475,000 to the airport for the Ramp Reconstruction Project.

Airfield Access Policy: The airport is developing a policy requiring a $1 million liability insurance policy for non-tenant aircraft seeking 90-day airfield access. Risk Management and Legal have confirmed this level is consistent with other non-commercial agreements. The FAA is still finalizing its position, so the City will wait before making this official policy — but the $1 million requirement will remain regardless of the FAA's determination. An online consent form for non-tenant aviators is already in place. Several existing tenants have expressed concern about uninsured aircraft on the airfield.

Unleaded Fuel: Manager Cohen reported that no unleaded aviation fuel products are currently ASTM certified, making them too experimental for the airport to offer due to liability concerns. Major oil companies have not yet backed these products. When a compliant product does become available, it would replace — not supplement — current fuel. Commissioners raised concerns about the limited number of STCs (Supplemental Type Certificates) required to legally use new fuels, which could initially limit the customer base; Commissioner Sasser noted that AOPA estimates an STC will cost roughly the equivalent of one full tank of fuel.

Staffing: The senior ramp attendant, Rob, has departed after five years of service. Recruitment for a replacement is underway.

Hangars: No hangars are currently available to lease, though some are expected to open in coming months. The airport is working to resolve situations where tenants have not provided proof of aircraft ownership or insurance, and will focus next on addressing derelict aircraft occupying hangar space.

Capital Projects: The two confirmed near-term projects are the Taxiway A Rehabilitation and the South Taxilane B Rehabilitation (design phase), with construction expected to extend into 2026. Together these projects involve $2.1 million in matching grants from the FAA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Fuel Farm project remains on hold, likely revisited in FY26. The Airport Hangar Feasibility Study is included in the FY25 budget with a tentative agreement to proceed. Hangar Row 2 repairs are nearly ready to go out to bid (May), and the Hangar 18C door replacement is moving forward — the door has been delivered, installation funding awaits FY25 budget approval, and two entities have expressed interest in leasing the commercially zoned hangar. Beaver Avionics has a tentative start date of late August to begin offering services at the airport.

Councilmember Nau asked whether the airport could recover back rent from its insurer for the three years Hangar Row 2 was unusable; Manager Cohen directed the question to Risk Management and Legal for follow-up.

The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

Key Takeaways