HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2.21 OrdinanceKITTITAS COUNTY
AIRPORT DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA DATE: March 7, 2023
TOPIC: Ordinance Amendment
ACTION REQUESTED: Public Hearing to consider Approving an Ordinance
Amendment
LEAD STAFF:
David D. Ohl
RECOMMENDATION:
to consider Approving an Ordinance Amendment
BRIEFING SUMMARY:
- During a study session it was agreed that the airport director would pursue a
change to County Code to allow the board to delegate some leasing authority.
- The Prosecutor’s office has drawn an Ordinance Amendment that will allow for
the board to delegate, via resolution some leasing authority to the Airport
Director.
- The Airport Director will request a public hearing for the board to consider
approving the Ordinance Amendment.
BACKGROUND:
During a recent study session, the proposition of delegating some leasing authority to the
Airport Director was discussed to reduce the amount of administrative actions that had to
be brought before the BoCC. After working with the Prosecutor’s office an Ordinance
Amendment has been drafted to give the board the authority to delegate some of these
leasing actions in the future to the Airport Director. A public hearing will be requested
for the board to consider the amendment for approval.
DISCUSSION:
Due to resolution 2022-043 dated 15 February, 2022 all County owned T-Hangar leases
will be one year in length. Due to this resolution, every February currently the Airport
Director will need to bring 12 T-Hangar leases before the BoCC for approval. This is a
lengthy process for the board and would become repetitive in nature year after year. The
Ordinance Amendment would allow the Airport Director to renew the annual lease of the
T-Hangars and sign them in lieu of the BoCC. This would eliminate the need for the
board to have to consider 12 T-Hangar leases at a public hearing every February.
Currently all land leases at the airport contain language that increases the rent of those
leases every 5 years. At this time, each amendment increasing the rental rate needs to be
brought before the BoCC for approval. However, the Ordinance Amendment allows the
BoCC through a resolution to sign the amendments for the 5 year rent escalations without
board approval. The 5 year rent increases have already been agreed to in the original
leases by the tenants, so the amendments to increase the rates is an administrative action
and does not constitute a new lease or a change in any of the other language in the current
leases. By approving the Ordinance, this will again save the board time and remove
another administrative task from their purview.
Per the Ordinance to County Code, the two above actions and any other delegation of
leasing authority must be approved through resolution by the BoCC. This does not
change the process of bringing all new land leases at the airport of County property
before the board for consideration and approval.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There are no fiscal impacts to the County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2.81.060 of the Kittitas County Code