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)q j45 <br /> MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT <br /> BETWEEN KITTITAS COUNTY AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY <br /> REGARDING CO-SPONSORSHIP OF BOWERS FIELD AIRPORT <br /> This Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) is intended to establish the basic principles Kittitas <br /> County (County) and Central Washington University (CWU), hereinafter referred to as the <br /> "Parties" or"Party", will employ in order to determine if co-sponsorship/joint operation of <br /> Bowers Field Airport is in the best interest of both Parties. <br /> I. BACKGROUND <br /> The Bowers Field Airport is a public-use facility, owned and operated by Kittitas County. It is <br /> designated as a general aviation facility according to the National Plan of Integrated Airport <br /> Systems, and also identified by the Washington State Airport System Plan to provide a general <br /> aviation service-level role. The County is charged with maintaining and operating the airport in <br /> accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant assurance agreements,to ensure <br /> continued safety and efficiency as a federally supported facility. The facility was first deeded to <br /> the County in 1947. <br /> In 1990, CWU began its Flight Technology program, a four-year degree program. The County <br /> and CWU entered into a lease for use of property at Bowers Field commencing March 1, 1992 <br /> and ending February 28, 2067 for the purpose of conducting Flight Technology or other <br /> Engineering or Technology related educational programs. CWU later assumed Midstate <br /> Aviation's lease with the County for the county-owned Main Hangar Building and ground lease <br /> for training, maintenance, and vehicle parking on November 8, 2016. Finally, CWU and the <br /> County amended the November 8, 2016 lease to include Fixed-Base Operator Services provided <br /> by CWU on December 19, 2017. CWU continues to utilize Bowers Field as its primary facility <br /> for the Flight Technology program and its operations there represent the majority of aviation- <br /> related activity at the airport. <br /> Recently, the County and CWU have been actively engaged in discussions regarding long-term <br /> operations considerations of Bowers Field and CWU's planning for expansion of the Flight <br /> Technology program. CWU has expressed concerns regarding the County's decision to close <br /> runway 7-25 and its ability to be more involved in the overall long-range planning decisions <br /> regarding improvements and operations at the airport. The County has expressed concerns about <br /> level of service demands, inadequate financial resources to sustain and improve facilities and <br /> safety considerations of current infrastructure. In addition, CWU has identified and expressed a <br /> desire to keep their Flight Technology program at Bowers Field. Likewise, the County has <br /> expressed that it is also in the County's interest that CWU's Flight Technology program remain <br /> at the Airport. <br /> In recognition of the mutual interests of both Parties, the County and CWU have decided to <br /> consider a co-sponsorship or joint operating agreement for Bowers Field Airport. <br /> Kittitas County and Central Washington University agree, as follows: <br />