Livermore Airport To Get Major Upgrade

Livermore City Council Chambers, Monday, November 25th

The Livermore City Council unanimously approved one of the biggest upgrades of the Livermore Airport since it was built in its current location in 1965.

The council approved a plan to replace the airport terminal, a restaurant residing in the new facility, and construction by Five Rivers Aviation of Fixed Based Operator facilities.

Concerns by local residents under the airport's flight paths were voiced in council by Pleasanton Resident Angelina Summers who told the council that planes fly so low she can read the numbers on them and took great issue with the noise they produce. Summers was one of two speakers who opposed approval of the plan.

Mayor Marchand also read a letter sent by Mary Kay Williams concerning how the Environmental Impact Report. In her letter, Williams' stated her belief that the EIR, completed in 2010, was obsolete. Marchand went to Acting City Attorney Jason Alcala who told the council he had reviewed the report, and stated it was still in effect. The Mayor went on, in reply to the Williams letter stating that the EIR had done with a much larger FBO facility in mind.

A parade of pilots who spoke in support of the upgrade noted that the Livermore Airport, while being one of the best to fly into, was significantly lacking in facilities to maintain aircraft locally, and would, in fact, reduce pollution due to the current need to fly aircraft to other airports in order to maintain them. The pilots also complained that bringing in any passengers to Livermore Airport is a problem largely because of the lack of adequate facilities, including bathroom facilities. Pilots also characterized the airport as an “Economic Engine” and that revenue could only improve with added facilities.

Pete Sandhu of Five Rivers Aviation is hopeful that his company will be able to break ground in time to begin operations by the end of 2014. Also planned is the replacement of the underground fuel tanks within the next five years. Sandhu characterized the current tanks as an “Environmental Nightmare.” Sandhu also aid that many of the services provided by Five Rivers will help the airport be more of an economic asset to Livermore than it currently is. Five Rivers Aviation has a 35 Year Contract with the Livermore Airport with an option for renewal.

The new administration building will be built by Diede Construction Inc., the same company that built the current City Hall and Livermore Public Library at the Civic Centre, and will include Chef Chacon's Vineyard Table restaurant as part of the project.

The Administration building will replace the Dan Lee Terminal which was built in 1969. The Livermore City Staff Report characterizes the old terminal as “no longer cost effective to retain.”

Financially, the Council expects that the nearly six million dollar cost of the project will be entirely funded from the Airport Enterprise Fund, but anticipates that the Airport Enterprise Fund Annual Profit Margine will decrease from $600,000 a year to $200,000 with the project under way.

In 2012 there were 130,000 Take Offs and Landings at the Livermore Airport. The Peak of Operations was in 1994 with over 280,000 Take Offs and Landings.

The Layout of the project is available on the City of Livermore Website as is the City Council Agenda with the relevant Staff Report.