Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Chico airport commission to talk parking fees again

CHICO — Following up on the 2012 work plan, the Chico Airport Commission will continue talking about possible fees at the airport.

An ad hoc committee of the commission has been studying the feasibility of charging a vehicle parking fee in the airport terminal lot.

The commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers, 421 Main St.

The commission is also studying designating a tie-down area for visiting aircraft, and collecting a fee for that as well.

Considering such fees were identified in the commission's priority list for its annual work plan.

At a meeting in October, the commission discussed a terminal parking fee to add revenue to the airport's budget.

But it also heard public objections at the idea, which could alienate even more travelers to choose another airport. Travelers from the north state often head south to the Sacramento airport. United Express flights out of Chico end in San Francisco.

In October, the commission asked for more study of the concepts, which included a fee of $5 daily for car parking, and fees range from $5-$20 for four to 24-hour tie down, depending on the size of the visiting aircraft.

The committee talked about an "honor system" for paying the parking fee, with a box inside the terminal, as well as placing Fortress Street, which fronts the airport parking lot, on "no parking" status.

A vehicle parking fee could offer the city potential revenue of $104,000 annually, with an implementation  cost of $5,400, an earlier study indicated.

The committee surveyed other communities about their airport fees, finding airports such as Sonoma County, Stockton, Redding and Sacramento charge for parking.

In another agenda item, long-time airport commissioner Bob Koch submitted his letter of resignation because of a move out of the city limits.


Source:  http://www.chicoer.com

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