1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 25, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Michael Albanese, Chief of Police
BY: Courtney Padgett, Police Administrator
SUBJECT: Approval of a Helicopter Maintenance and Operations Lease Between the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and the City of Burbank and the City of Glendale
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a joint agreement between the City of Burbank and the City of Glendale with the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority to lease a facility for the maintenance and operations of helicopters for the Joint Air Support Program (JASU).
BACKGROUND
The Burbank Police Department (Department) operates a law enforcement air support unit to provide public safety services for the community. These services include airborne crime suppression efforts and strategies , response to crimes in progress and other criminal incidents, coordination of ground resources, assistance with special operations for City departments and regional law enforcement partners, and support to other first responders for equipment and supply insertion during natural disasters , rescue operations, and other critical incidents.
Since 2007, the cities of Burbank and Glendale have combined resources to operate the JASU. The collaboration has enabled both cities to be more efficient and economical by equally distributing all program costs while enhancing the level of airborne law enforcement services for each community. Prior to 2007, each city separately owned, operated, maintained, and funde d its own air support program, to include helicopters, personnel, and operati ng costs, however collaborated in 1991 to pursue a joint facility capable of housing and meeting the needs of both cities’ air support programs.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
2 DISCUSSION
Since 1993, the cities have utilized a facility located at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, leased from the Burbank -Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (Airport Authority). Th e 13,300 square foot facility is leased for the purposes of storing, maintaining, and operating the air support unit’s three MD520 NOTAR® helicopters. In addition to the large hangar bay used to house the helicopters and perform aircraft maintenance, the facility has a large mechanic’s workshop, office space, training room, locker rooms, and break area.
The building is equipped with a generator to maintain power and sustain operations in the event of an emergency and is designed to withstand earthquake forces. The facility is in very good physical condition and the space is more than sufficient to adequately manage all aspects of the JASU program.
In consideration of the enhancement and promotion of the public safety services being served by the law enforcement use of the facility, the Airport Authority generously provides the facility at no rental cost to the City of Burbank or City of Glendale. The cities provide monetary support for the operating costs of the facility, to include utilities (water, gas, heat, electricity, telephone, internet, etc.) , routine maintenance and repairs, and landscape services.
In December 1992, t he Council approved the current lease agreement for a duration of 30 years, effective January 1, 1993, and expiring on December 31, 2023. The proposed new 30-year agreement will cover the period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2054. While there is updated language to the agreement provisions, the proposed new 30-year agreement will continue to be at no rental cost to the cities of Burbank and Glendale. The proposed agreement is also under review and is pending approval by the City of Glendale.
3 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of the helicopter maintenance and operations lease agreement has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the envi ronment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal.
Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no rental cost to the City to lease the facility. The City equally divides all operating costs for the facility, including utilities, maintenance and repairs, and landscape services, with the City of Glendale. During Fiscal Year 2021-22, Burbank’s portion for the facility operating costs was $14,806.55. There is sufficient funding in the Department’s approved Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget to continue to cover the operating costs under the proposed agreement. Operating costs for future years under the lease agreement will be included in the Department’s proposed annual budgets for Council’s review.
CONCLUSION
The JASU is an integral component of the City’s public safety system and is a force- multiplier for the Department’s ground patro l units to efficiently respond to incidents, apprehend suspects, and protect the community. The facility leased from the Airport Authority is provided at no rental cost to the City and provides an optimal location to continue to fully support the services and needs of the air support program.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Helicopter Maintenance and Operations Lease