On January 11, 2016, City Council approved Amendment 23 with Morrison-Maierle, Inc., the Airport's contract engineering firm, to design the Airport's new Storm Water Detention Pond D infrastructure. The Pond D Storm Water System will enhance the collection and conveyance of storm water from the airfield, specifically the areas between Taxiway A and the main Runway.  This multi-phased project will be advertised during April and bids are scheduled for opening on April 26, 2016.  An important part of this project will be the 24 inch underground drainage pipe that must run from the new Pond D infrastructure to Alkali Creek.  In order to get from Airport property to the Sun Valley Drive Right-of-Way (ROW), the Airport's pipe must cross approximately 550 feet of private property.  The Airport has met with the land owner, Sandra A. Rietz, and worked out an acceptable easement for the pipe's installation and on-going maintenance.  Since the height elevation from the Airport's property to the Sun Valley ROW is approximately a 120 foot drop that includes a sandstone rock face, the pipe route will be bored so as not to disturb the rock face.  Once the pipe reaches the Sun Valley ROW, the rest of the pipe will be installed using traditional trenching methods.

City Council may:

• Approve the Easement with Ms. Rietz so that this important project can be completed; or
• Disapprove the Easement, delaying the project, and provide staff with guidance on how to proceed.

There is no financial impact for the easement.  The cost of the pipe installation from the Airport's property to Alkali Creek is estimated at $1,232,000 and the multi-phase project is estimated at $4,500,000. The project will be paid for with a combination of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant funds and Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) funds.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the easement with Sandra A. Rietz and authorize the Mayor to execute the easement document.