REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL March 16, 2017 FROM: JERRY P. DYER, Chief of Police Police Department BY: RICHARD TUCKER, Lieutenant Traffic and Special Response Section SUBJECT: ..Title Authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a lease agreement between the City of Fresno and Signature Flight Support Corporation for the continued lease of office and hangar space used by the Fresno Police Department's "Skywatch" Air Support Unit at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. ..Body RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Council authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a three-year lease agreement with Signature Flight Support Corporation for the continued lease of office and hangar space located at 4941 E. Andersen, Suite B-101, at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed office and hangar space will be used by the Fresno Police Department's "Skywatch" Air Support Unit. No other existing Police Department facilities are available for the Air Support Unit. The airport location is critical for the purposes of flight operations. The office and hangar space is necessary for the Air Support Unit's operations and to store the Department's two helicopters and airplane. Monthly lease payments for the first year of the three-year term are $2,800.00 per month, which is a $50.00 per month increase from the prior lease agreement. Under the terms of the lease agreement, Signature Flight Support Corporation will have the option to increase the lease payments by 3% for the second and third year of the term. BACKGROUND The Fresno Police Department's "Skywatch" Air Support Unit has been leasing the property at 4941 E. Andersen since 1996. The 6,230 square feet of office and hangar space continues to meet the needs of the Air Support Unit. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts projects where there is no change in existing use because the space being leased has historically been used for office and hangar space. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable because this is not a contract for goods, services, or public work of improvement. FISCAL IMPACT The cost of the lease payments have been appropriated in the general fund for FY17. Attachment: Copy of Tenancy Permit