Grants Help Watsonville Municipal Airport Projects Take Flight
New and exciting construction projects are taking off at Watsonville’s Municipal Airport. Projects, totaling over $1.6 million, range from building and runway renovations to hanger reconstruction. The funding sources for these projects include grants from the Federal Aviation Agency and the State of California as well has investments by private leaseholders.
During the past year, the Airport staff established successful working relationships with Federal and State agencies including the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure endangered plant species such as Santa Cruz Tarplant, found on Airport property are not adversely impacted. Staff is also working with and local environmental organization, Watsonville Wetlands Watch. The goal of these partnerships is to develop a Tar Plant mitigation strategy that allows airport construction projects to move forward while protecting and improving critical habitat for an endangered species.
Taxiway Charlie Reconstruction
“The Watsonville Municipal Airport has three important construction projects in the pipeline over the next few months.” said Airport Manager Rayvon Williams. “Chief among these is an $800,000 reconstruction of a vital access point to the crosswind runway. Reconstruction of Taxiway “Charlie” is an important safety action which has been delayed for sometime due to environmental challenges.” The crosswind runway is used when weather conditions on the main runway are unfavorable for safe take-offs and landings.
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The Watsonville Airport is home to the largest remaining population of a protected species, the Santa Cruz Tarplant. The new multi-agency agreement allows for reconstruction of the 1,350 foot paved taxiway that meets FAA design standards while ensuring that critical habitat for the Santa Cruz Tar Plant is not adversely impacted. “What’s different this time around is the Airport has taken a dual approach to ensure that we achieve habitat mitigation and preservation while enhancing airport safety.” Williams explained.
In January of this year airport management completed a formal FAA application for an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant specifically for infrastructure projects. Project specifications were developed, bid packets made available and by mid-August, GraniteRock Company dba Pavex Construction Division was awarded the contract by City Council for the taxiway reconstruction project. The work is slated to begin in October with estimated completion in December, 2013.
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The Watsonville Municipal Airport is home to the largest remaining population of the Santa Cruz Tarplant, which has bright yellow flowers, a sticky resin on its leaves to retain moisture and blooms in late summer after most native meadow plants have died back. The successful partnerships among regulatory and environmental agencies will ensure that both the City’s Airport and its Tarplant population will have conditions to thrive. The new mitigation plan includes habitat protection measures such as sharing the Airport’s seed bank population with Watsonville’s Wetlands Watch “Tar Plant Hill” restoration site adjacent to our town’s wetlands.
United Flight Services
Within one hundred yards of the taxiway reconstruction is the planned new construction of a 14,500 square foot maintenance hangar by United Flight Services (UFS). UFS is investing $600,000 in the building which will be constructed on land leased from the Municipal Airport. The planning and permit preparation for the new hangar facility have been in the works for several years but as of late August the long-standing environmental concerns related to old underground fuel tanks have been resolved and the site is cleared for construction. Construction permits are close to final approval.
United Flight Services general manager Laura Mohler said the new hangar will replace the old trailer the business is using as an office and will enable mechanics to work on aircraft with a roof over their heads. ”Getting the hangar built will be a huge advantage to all of us,” Mohler said. Not only will the new facility improve the working conditions for our mechanics but is also expected to attract more business. Many pilots prefer to see their planes locked inside at night, Mohler said.
“We see the new United Flight Services facility as a key maintenance FBO (Fixed Base Operator) strategically located at the center of the airport.” said Williams. “The new hangar and offices round out the offerings to based tenants, and will continue to bring maintenance dollars and employment to Watsonville. The UFS facility will continue to offer a range of aviation services, including aircraft inspections and maintenance, aircraft rental and flight instruction, but now in a modern and spacious facility.
Pacific Golf Centers
For over ten years the Watsonville Airport Driving Range, located at 101 Ranport Road, has served as the only full service golf driving range practice facility in Santa Cruz County. The Driving Range serves a dual purpose as a recreational offering and as a clear zone or “safety buffer” during aircraft take-off or final approach to land at the Airport.
In an effort to bring more value and capacity to the Driving Range facility, airport management determined a different operating model was required. In previous years, the Driving Range partnered with various individuals to manage the facility. The results of these efforts were mixed and as a result airport management determined an outsourcing to a professional golf operation would be beneficial.
By “outsourcing” the driving range facility the Airport can achieve two important goals. Primarily, airport management can focus on its core responsibilities and reassign resources to day-to-day airport operations. Secondly the airport division can reduce operating and maintenance expenses and the on-going resource commitments.
In June of 2013 Airport Management developed a comprehensive Request for Proposal to solicit interested parties to recommend the best solution to manage the Airport Driving Range. A number of interested parties requested copies of the proposal and surveyed the facility during a “Property Review” meeting.
Pacific Golf Centers (PGC) was awarded a long term ground lease by the Watsonville City Council and will begin a $250,000.00 renovation project this October with a planned opening date of December, 2013. PGC will renovate the existing site resulting in a completely new and upgraded golf practice center, a golf teaching academy, golf retail shop and a “19th Hole” Tap House.
“Pacific Golf Centers is excited to be in Watsonville. Our commitment to the community is not only identified by our level of investment but our willingness to sign a long term agreement. We expect to be a partner with the Watsonville Airport for years to come,” stated Pacific Golf Centers General Manager, Patrick Dean.
Reconstruction, construction and renovation. There’s a lot of activity commencing at the Watsonville Municipal Airport this fall. By year end, the airport will be safer, offer additional services and continue to be an economically viable part of the city, county and the national airspace system.
