Code Reviser’s Note:

The findings stated with Ord. 859 are:

WHEREAS, the City of Madras (the “City”), an Oregon municipal corporation, owns and operates the Madras Municipal Airport (the “Airport”) pursuant to ORS 836.200; and

WHEREAS, the Airport promotes a strong economic base for the City and surrounding region by facilitating transportation and encouraging trade opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the Madras City Council (the “City Council”) desires that the Airport attain financial self-sufficiency in order to continue providing cost-effective aviation facilities; and

WHEREAS, the City incurs costs and makes capital investments in connection with its operation of the Airport, including, without limitation, supplying fuel inventories, pumping facilities, lighting, runway maintenance, personnel, wildlife control, financial management, an Automated Weather Observing System, long-term improvements, tie downs, and parking areas, all of which are paid for by the City, taxpayers, and grants obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), Oregon Department of Aviation, and other federal, state, and local sources; and

WHEREAS, ORS 836.210 allows Oregon municipalities to establish charges, fees, and tolls for the use of municipal airports; and

WHEREAS, the FAA has directed airports to ensure that any rates, fees, rentals, and other service charges imposed on aeronautical users of airports for aeronautical uses are at fair market value; provided, however, such rates, fees, rentals, and other service charges should not be expected (in general) to finance all public airport operations; and

WHEREAS, it is also important that taxpayers do not unknowingly subsidize private enterprise; and

WHEREAS, to help ensure that taxpayers are not unknowingly subsidizing Airport users and to assist the Airport in becoming self-sufficient, the City Council has determined the need to follow the example of other airports in Oregon and begin charging certain fuel flowage and into aircraft fees.