Paso Robles council moves forward with Airport Commission

Paso Robles city leaders on Tuesday night took the first steps toward creating an Airport Commission that would take on some planning and management duties — part of a city plan to encourage economic development at the municipal airport.

Paso Robles City Council members voted 5-0 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would replace the existing Airport Advisory Committee with a seven-member commission. Unlike the committee, the commission would take on specific planning and management duties at the airport.

More than a dozen residents spoke at the meeting, many of whom own aircraft or hangars at the airport. Some spoke in favor of the commission, while others said they see it as an unnecessary layer of government.

“If you enact this commission, I will sell my hangar and move off the airport,” said Dennis Lyons, who also maintains three antique aircraft at the facility.

Council members considered the commission at their Sept. 20 meeting, but public speakers’ disapproval and Councilman Fred Strong’s absence caused them to delay a vote.

After hearing stakeholders’ concerns in September, city staff provided council members with two bylaw models Tuesday. The existing Airport Advisory Committee approved the first set of bylaws, which would give the commission the power to approve some business outright, including certain leases, construction project designs and special events.

The alternate model, developed by city staff, would allow the commission to make recommendations to the City Council rather than directly approve most items. In both cases, commissioners would be appointed by council members.

Council members directed staff to tweak the alternate model and bring it back for consideration at their Oct. 18 meeting after some speakers suggested they’re more comfortable with a less powerful commission.

Though this model gives the commission less say-so, it would still function much like the city’s Planning Commission — it would make recommendations on leases and long-range planning, and would directly approve construction project designs, advertising and promotions.

Lyons, who’s been involved with the airport for decades, said he thinks the facility is already well-managed and doesn’t need a new governance model.

“It runs better the fewer people that are involved,” Lyons said after the council’s vote.

Others who spoke said they see the commission as a way to shake up the “stagnant” state of development at the airport.

“I see a great need for this commission, mainly because of what I’ve heard tonight,” said Jerry Takier, who serves on the Estrella Warbird Museum board of directors. “You know what I’ve heard? Ideas. What’s going to make this airport work is more ideas. And if the commission is given that commission — to procure ideas and bring those to the City Council — then it will be well worth the effort to properly form this Airport Commission.”

Some speakers also said they preferred the alternate governance model chosen by the council because it gives the commission less control over the airport.

“I think the big concern with a lot of the stakeholders at the airport was the creation of a commission that had all this power,” said Ken Butts, who serves on the Airport Advisory Committee. “They could decide any type of lease. ... I think you guys are on the right track with boiling this down, defining it.”

Council members’ discussion mainly focused on the role of the commission and who would be allowed to serve.

“I think what the main purpose was all along was to have more authority in whatever we call it as a governing body,” Councilman John Hamon said. “I do agree that we could help facilitate issues with some governance, but not entirely.”

Councilman Steve Gregory said he could envision a commission that’s initially tied to the city but could evolve into a more independent body.

“I’m a property rights person,” Gregory said. “I don’t like red tape. And it may appear that a commission is that, but it’s really the opposite of that. ... The process is to help speed things up and help things move along. And I think the commission is a good way to start that.”

Council members eventually agreed to approve the first reading of the ordinance creating the commission. They also directed staff to draft bylaws using the alternate, less powerful model, with stipulations regarding membership. Out of the seven members, four must be airport stakeholders, and four must also be Paso Robles residents.

The council will vote on the bylaws and approve a second reading of the ordinance at its Oct. 18 meeting.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Paso Robles council moves forward with Airport Commission."