Title
Resolution to Approve a Land Lease between the City and the Federal Aviation Administration for the Air Traffic Control Tower Located at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a land lease agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) located at 875 Airport Drive.
The 2000 lease agreement with the FAA is set to expire on September 30, 2020. The FAA has leased the land and owned the ATCT at this location for approximately 50 years to serve the public in providing safe airspace to the greater Ann Arbor area. The FAA constructed the office building connected to the ATCT in the early 2000’s. The proposed land lease is for a twenty year term with no renewals. Like all FAA ATCT’s, there is no compensation for the land lease but the air traffic control services are provided at no cost.
The Ann Arbor ATCT provides airspace management and direct control of aircraft movements at the airport from 8 am to 8 pm seven days a week including holidays. In 2019, this included over 76,000 operations (takeoffs & landings) from the Ann Arbor Airport and thousands of additional flights that went through the airport’s airspace. As an airport with many flight schools, having an ATCT is a great learning tool for future pilots. The ATCT employs approximately 15 FTE federal employees.
A separate agreement covering the FAA-owned navigational aids, communication, and weather systems located at the airport is also on the Agenda City Council for consideration.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The proposed land lease for the ATCT has no impact on the Airport’s Operating and Maintenance budget since we currently receive no compensation under the existing agreement.
Staff
Prepared by: Matthew J. Kulhanek, Fleet & Facilities Manager
Reviewed by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has leased land for an Air Traffic Control Tower at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport for approximately 50 years and the current 20 year lease agreement with the City will expire on September 30, 2020;
Whereas, The FAA has expressed a desire to continue leasing the land and providing airspace management and direct control of aircraft movements at the airport to provide a safe airspace for the greater Ann Arbor area; and
Whereas, The term of proposed land lease agreement for the Air Traffic Control Tower is for an additional 20 years with no renewals;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the proposed land lease agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for the Air Traffic Control Tower located at 875 Airport Drive;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to sign said lease agreement upon approval as to form by the City Attorney, and upon approval as to substance by the City Administrator; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be directed to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.