Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  25-000459

 

MEETING DATE:

06/24/25

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

5

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

John Wayne Airport   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Charlene V. Reynolds (949) 252-5183 

 

 

Evanna Barbic (949) 252-5232

 

 

Subject:  Approve Bond Financing and Related Documents for Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc.

 

     ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

          Concur

Approved Agreement(s) and Resolution(s)

Public Hearing

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost:  N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:           

Sole Source:   No

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

   Funding Source:    See Financial Impact Section

County Audit in last 3 years: No

   Levine Act Review Completed: Yes

 

    Prior Board Action:         3/8/2022 #21, 1/12/2021 #S42B, 9/15/2020 #S21A, 8/11/2020 #11

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

1.

Open the public hearing and receive public comments pursuant to Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, regarding the proposed issuance of California Municipal Finance Authority revenue obligations for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of certain Fixed Base Operation Aviation Facilities, not to exceed $120,000,000, for the benefit of Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc.

 

2.

Close the public hearing.

 

3.

Adopt a Resolution approving the issuance of California Municipal Finance Authority to issue revenue obligations for the purpose of financing the cost of the acquisition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of certain Fixed Base Operation Aviation Facilities, not to exceed $120,000,000, for the benefit of Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc.

 

4.

Approve and execute Third Amendment to the Northwest Full-Service Fixed Base Operation Lease with Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. to facilitate the financing of the improvement project effective upon Board of Supervisors approval, through December 31, 2055.

 

5.

Approve and execute the Consent to Assignment of Interest in Lease from Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. to Clay Lacy Santa Ana, LLC.

 

6.

Approve and execute the Guaranty of Lease Obligations by Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. in favor of the County of Orange.

 

7.

Approve and execute the Indemnification Agreement by Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. in favor of the County of Orange.

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Adoption of the Resolution and approval of the Third Amendment and associated documents to the Northwest Full-Service Fixed Base Operation Lease will allow Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. to facilitate the financing of its improvement project through the issuance of revenue obligations.

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

On June 25, 2019, the Board of Supervisors (Board) certified Final Program Environmental Impact Report 627 (EIR 627), along with the associated CEQA Findings of Fact, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Statement of Overriding Considerations. The Board also approved the Proposed Project, including specific land use requirements.

 

Subsequently, on September 10, 2019, the Board authorized the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) and model leases for Fixed Base Operators (FBO) for the following parcels: (1) Northeast Full-Service FBO, (2) Northwest Full-Service FBO, and (3) Southwest Limited-Service FBO. A total of nine proposals were received on December 19, 2019. 

 

Selection and Award of Full- and Limited-Service FBOs

 

On August 11, 2020, the Board reviewed the submitted proposals and selected three FBOs for lease negotiations: Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. (Clay Lacy) for the Northwest Full-Service FBO; Aviation Consultants, Inc., doing business as ACI Jet (ACI Jet), for the Northeast Full-Service FBO; and Jay’s Aircraft Maintenance, Inc. for the Southwest Limited-Service FBO. 

 

On September 15, 2020, the Board awarded leases to Clay Lacy and ACI Jet for their respective Full-Service FBOs. Both leases commenced on January 1, 2021, with 35-year terms ending on December 31, 2055. On November 3, 2020, the Board awarded the Limited-Service FBO lease to Jay’s Aircraft Maintenance, Inc.  

 

First Amendment to Lease

 

On January 12, 2021, the Board directed the Airport Director to amend and execute revised leases with ACI Jet, Clay Lacy, and Jay’s Aircraft Maintenance, Inc., removing the following provision: “LESSEE shall not permit the operation of a Regularly Scheduled Commercial User as defined in section 2.40 of John Wayne Airport’s Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation, as may be amended from time to time. 

 

The First Amendment to each FBO lease was subsequently executed.

 

 

Second Amendment to Lease

 

On March 8, 2022, the Board approved the Second Amendment to Clay Lacy’s lease, allowing modifications to its site plans and corresponding conceptual plans. The revised site plan included reconfiguring space allocated to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), designating it as a shared space within a new community hangar.

 

Financing of the Improvement Project by the California Municipal Finance Authority

 

Adoption of the Resolution and approval of the Third Amendment to the Lease (Lease) will allow Clay Lacy to finance its improvement project through the issuance of revenue obligations (Obligations) by the California Municipal Finance Authority (Authority), in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $120,000,000. The proceeds of which will be loaned to Clay Lacy and will be utilized for the following purposes:

 

1.

The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, installation, and equipping of certain portions of FBO aviation facilities at John Wayne Airport (JWA), including:

 

 

· A customer terminal building (approximately 6,500 square feet),

 

 

· Four hangars, including associated office space (approximately 123,000 square feet of hangar space and approximately 27,000 square feet of office space), and

 

 

· Additional hangar, office, and ramp space to be located at JWA

 

2.

Payment of capitalized interest on the Obligations;

 

3.

Funding of one or more reserve funds for the Obligations; and

 

4.

Payment of certain issuance costs in connection with the Obligations.

 

The County of Orange (County) will be the owner of the improvement project, which will be leased and operated by Clay Lacy.

 

Clay Lacy has requested that the Authority issue one or more series of tax-exempt revenue obligations, and loan the proceeds to support its FBO aviation improvement project.  The Authority has extensive experience issuing billions of dollars in bonds on behalf of public, private, and nonprofit entities throughout California. 

 

Since the Clay Lacy improvement project will be located within the geographical jurisdiction of the County, Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code requires the Board to hold a public hearing and approve both the Clay Lacy Project and the issuance of the revenue obligations.

 

Third Amendment to Lease

 

The Third Amendment will revise Lease Section 3.01, Leased Premises, by including language stating that upon the full and final completion of the improvement project by Clay Lacy, the County will assume ownership of the improvements constituting the facilities. The facilities will continue to be leased to and operated by Clay Lacy.

 

Assignment, Guaranty, and Indemnification

 

Section 8.01 of the Lease requires the County’s written consent to a transfer of Clay Lacy’s interest in the Lease. Clay Lacy seeks Board approval to assign and transfer to Clay Lacy Santa Ana, LLC (Assignee) all its rights, title and interest in the lease. The assignment does not relieve Clay Lacy of its Lease obligations. The assignment does not relieve Clay Lacy of any interest, responsibility, or liability in or under the terms of the Lease. Both Clay Lacy and Assignee will be fully responsible for complying with all provisions of the Lease and will both be directly liable for all obligations under the Lease. 

 

In addition, Clay Lacy shall execute a Guaranty of Lease Obligations in favor of the County, which shall guaranty the full and faithful performance of all terms and provisions of the Lease. 

 

In addition to the indemnification language in Section 11.02 of the Lease, Clay Lacy will also execute and enter into an Indemnification Agreement, which will provide additional protection in favor of the County. 

 

Compliance with CEQA: This project is a necessarily included element of the project considered in Final EIR No. 627, certified by the Board on June 25, 2019, and Addendum No. PP-22-0001 for Amendment No. 1 to EIR No. 627, adopted by the Board on March 8, 2022, which adequately addressed the effects of this action. These documents adequately addressed the effects of the proposed project. No subsequent changes have been made to the project; no substantial changes have occurred in the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken; and no new information of substantial importance to the project that was not known, could not have been known, or have become known when EIR No. 627, Amendment No. 1 to EIR No. 627, and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program were certified and adopted; therefore, no further environmental review is required. 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

There is no financial impact or liability to the County of Orange. Clay Lacy shall reimburse Fund 280 in an aggregate amount of $210,000 for all costs incurred in connection with the processing of any associated documents, including but not limited to, all County’s staff time and attorney fees incurred in connection with this Lease, and any associated assignments, guaranties, resolutions, and public hearing notices.

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A – Resolution - Approving Revenue Obligations
Attachment B – Internal Revenue Code Section 147
Attachment C – Third Amendment to Northwest Full-Service FBO Lease with Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc.
Attachment D – Consent to Assignment of Interest in Lease
Attachment E – Guaranty of Lease Obligations
Attachment F – Indemnification Agreement