Download THE AFTERMATH OF RIALTO

THE AFTERMATH OF
RIALTO
BACKGROUND
 Declining
operations
 Closure of Norton AFB/Opening of San
Bernardino International
 Cash strapped city
 May 2004 report on options for the airport,
including closure/relocation
 July 2004 Ontario AOPA Pilot Town
Meeting
 December
2004 FAA report on state of the
airport/noncompliance
 January 2005 public workshop on future of
the airport
 FAA and AOPA contacts regarding closure:
“The airport is federally obligated, so it
can’t and won’t close.”
 Political contacts
 City
announces plan to sell the airport to
Lewis-Hillwood for development
 Summer 2005: “The Stealth Amendment”
 August 2005: Congress passes the
highway funding bill, including amendment
authorizing closure of Rialto Municipal
Airport
 September 2005: City announces plans
for redevelopment of the airport site
The Players
 The
City of Rialto
 The State of California
 The Federal Aviation Administration
 The AOPA
 Congressional Delegations
 Airport Tenants and Users
 Lewis
Operating Corporation
 Hillwood Investment Properties
 Global Cargo Network
 Boeing Company
 Media
 The Planning Group
The Legislation
United States shall release all restrictions…on
the use…or closure of the Rialto Municipal
Airport
 The City of Rialto will pay the United States 45%
of the current fair market value of the property
 This amount will be used at a Part 139 airport
located within 10 nautical miles of Rialto
Municipal Airport that was on the DOD base
closure list of 1988

 The
City of Rialto retains the remaining
55% of the current fair market value
 City shall pay to the United States 90% of
the unamortized portion of any federal
development grant for airport facilities
other than land
 United States not responsible for any
environmental cleanup
What Went Wrong
(Or Right if You’re the City)
 Big
time politics
 Lack of understanding of the importance of
the airport within the general community
 Lack of local airport support organization
 Lack of local political support for the
airport
 Lack of local opposition to the closure of
the airport
What’s Next?
 Or
perhaps, who’s next?
 Who is supporting your airport?