TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Scott Miller, Public Works Director / Airport Manager
SUBJECT:
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Red Bluff Municipal Airport, Apron Expansion Design Project - LJA Consultants Task Order 1 Authorization
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RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
recommendation
Approve Task Order 1, in the amount of $139,200, with LJA, Inc. to perform the Apron Expansion Design and Bidding Services Project and authorize the Public Works Director to sign the Task Order.
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SUMMARY:
The Red Bluff Municipal Airport is in need of an apron expansion that can accommodate, and separate from fixed-wing aircraft, multiple large helicopter parking. Task Order 1 from LJA, Inc. will provide consulting services to design plans and specifications for the apron expansion, including 2 helicopter parking pads, and to provide construction bidding services.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
At the September 1st, 2026 City Council meeting, Council authorized acceptance of the FAA AIG grant for the apron expansion design in the amount of $128,250.
At the July 23rd, 2026 City Council meeting, Council authorized a 3-year, with up to 2 1-year extensions, Professional Services Contract with LJA, Inc. to perform Airport Consulting Services.
DISCUSSION:
The Red Bluff Municipal Airport is in need of an apron expansion that can accommodate, and separate from fixed-wing aircraft, multiple large helicopter parking. The Red Bluff Airport has seen a steady increase in helicopter operations over the years. It is an attractive location as Red Bluff has support services and provides a separation from large fixed-wing traffic that is encountered at the two larger nearby airports of Redding and Chico. Red Bluff has also served as a temporary emergency helibase for Cal Fire and the US Forest Service for nearly half of California’s largest and costliest wildfires. The location for the expansion and helicopter parking is a portion of the primary initial location for the temporary emergency helibase. By providing an improved hard surface for helicopters to land and operate from, is going to improve safety by eliminating debris (dirt, grass) from being blown around during take-offs and landings and provide increased physical separation from fixed-wing aircraft which can become damaged from nearby rotor-wash.
The proposed apron expansion is one half of the total apron expansion that is shown on our FAA approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Due to available airport entitlement grant funding, the overall project will be phased as separate projects with future separate Council approvals. The first phase, is the current southern design project, followed by construction, then design of the northern portion, followed by construction. Throughout the stages of design, the Airport Commission and stakeholders will be consulted for input during the regular public meetings.
Staff recommendation is for City Council to authorize the Public Works Director / Airport Manager to sign and execute the attached Task Order 1 from LJA, Inc. in the amount of $139,200. The executed Task Order 1 will permit the design and preparation of the construction documents and specifications necessary to advertise for a new Request for Proposals (RFP). Once the design of the project is complete, staff will return to City Council for the authorization to advertise the RFP based upon those documents at a later meeting.
CITY FISCAL IMPACT:
LJA’s Task Order 1 in the amount of $139,200.00 includes all administration, engineering and construction bid management to develop an RFP for construction which will be reimbursed through, in portion, federal and state grant funding. The AIG entitlement is similar to FAA AIP entitlement funding where a 10% local match is required where the City share would be equal to $13,920. That amount could be further offset by California Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division AIP companion grant program dependent on available funding. Staff will contact CalTrans and if available, will return to Council to process the grant.
The funding for the Red Bluff Municipal Airport Apron Rehabilitation will be provided from Fund 55 Aviation-Department 55 Capital Outlay Account #55-55-720XXX-XXXX. There will be no General Fund Impact.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 8394-2601 RBL-TO1_Apron Expand_D