Willits Municipal Code Ch. 2.40 Airport

The Willits city airport commission shall consist of five members, none of whom shall be officials or employees of the city. The five members shall be appointed by the mayor with approval of the city council. The terms of all members of the airport commission now serving shall expire on May 1st of the year in which they are currently due to expire. Thereafter, three terms expire in odd-numbered years and two terms expire in even-numbered years.

(Ord. 12-02 § 2: Ord. 88-8 §2).

A. The terms of all members of the airport commission now serving shall expire on May 1st of the year in which they are currently due to expire, and their successors shall be appointed as set forth in Section 2.40.010.

B. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this chapter, any commissioner who absents himself from any three consecutive regular meetings of the airport commission, unless excused from such attendance by consent of the airport commission, expressed by action of record in its minutes or who is absent for a total of five regular meetings of the commission in any six-month period without the consent of the commission so expressed of record, shall thereby automatically forfeit his or her position or office as a member of the airport commission, and the name of the person shall be automatically removed from the membership of the commission immediately after the adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting or of any such fifth meeting in any such six-month period, as the case may be, at which such commissioner has not appeared.

C. The chairman or the secretary of the commission shall thereupon promptly notify the city council, and any such person so ceasing to be such commissioner of fact; whereupon the vacancy so created shall be filled by appointment as contemplated under the provisions of Section 2.40.010.

(Ord. 85-4 §2; Ord. 83-3 §1).

A. The airport commission shall hold one regular meeting each month on a date and at an hour to be fixed by the commission, and hold adjourned regular meetings and special meetings at such times as circumstances shall require. The airport operator or manager shall attend all regular meetings of the airport commission, furnish necessary information, data, maps and records, submit proposals and recommendations, and provide technical assistance and advice as required.

B. As an advisory agency to the city council, the airport commission shall have the duty and power to:

1. Study, consider and develop long range plans for the ultimate development of the Willits municipal airport, giving due regard to any master plan adopted by the city, and to federal and state regulations;

2. Ascertain the type of service to be rendered and keep abreast of developments in the aviation industry so as to be able to inform the city council on all pertinent matters concerning airports, airport law, and aviation generally;

3. Study and recommend on matters relating to airport improvements, including methods of financing and lease arrangements;

4. Review and recommend on special permits and proposals, as required, that deviate from the airport development plan;

5. Submit to the city council such plans as may seem desirable for the present and future operation of the Willits municipal airport;

6. At least once each month supply a copy of the minutes of the commission meetings to the city council and make information available to other commissions and officials of the city as required, and at least once a year report its ongoing activities to the city council and make information available to other commissions and officials of the city as required;

7. Coordinate planned activities with other agencies not under jurisdiction of the city;

8. Perform other related duties as directed by the city council.

(Ord. 83-15 §2; Ord. 60-1 §2).

The following rules and regulations for the use and conduct of Willits municipal airport are adopted:

A. Willits Municipal Airport shall be conducted as a terminal facility for the promotion and accommodation of air commerce and shall be operated as a public terminal.

B. The airport shall be open for public use during daylight hours until otherwise ordained by the airport manager and subject to such restrictions due to inclement weather, the conditions of the landing area, the presentation of special events and like causes as may be determined by the airport manager.

Public services shall be available at the time set by the airport manager.

C. The airport manager shall use his best judgment in all discretionary actions and will act as liaison between the city council and the parties involved, subject to the duties of the airport commission of the city.

D. Special services may be rendered or special facilities may be provided thereat on such terms as the airport manager may prescribe from time to time. No person shall use the airport as a base for the carrying on of commercial activities, for the carrying for hire of passengers, freight, express or mail, for instruction in aviation in any of its branches, for the sale of fuels, refreshments or any commodity or for any other commercial purpose unless a permit has been granted theretofore by the city.

E. The use of the airport or any of its facilities in any manner shall create an obligation on the part of the user thereof to obey all the regulations provided in this chapter.

F. The privilege of using the airport and its facilities shall be conditioned on the assumption of full responsibility and risk by the user thereof, and he shall release, hold harmless and indemnify the city, the city council, their officers and employees from any liability or loss resulting from such use as well as against claims of third persons as against those of the person so using their airport. The exercise of the privilege of use shall constitute an acknowledgment that the city and city council maintain said airport in a governmental capacity.

G. The air traffic rules promulgated by the Federal Aviation Agency and/or the Civil Aeronautics Board of the United States of America and presently in effect are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part of these regulations as fully in all respects as if particularly set forth at the place.

H. No person, not properly certified by Federal Aviation Agency and no aircraft not similarly certified, shall operate on or over the airport; provided, that this restriction shall not apply to public aircraft belonging to the government of the United States, or to a state, territory, possession or any political subdivision, nor to any aircraft of a foreign country operated under permission of the federal government.

I. No person shall navigate any aircraft over, land upon or take off from, or service, repair or maintain any aircraft on the airport or conduct any operation on or from the airport otherwise than in conformity with these rules and regulations and those of the Federal Aviation Agency.

J. Aircraft not licensed under federal, state or local laws may use the airport and its facilities if they are built under the present "ultra light" concept and will comply with all federal aviation agency rules or special rules for these aircraft as may be formulated by the governing bodies of the city of Willits as to equipment, traffic pattern and ground rules. At no time will the special rules afforded "ultra light" aircraft compromise the safety of all other aircraft using the Willits Municipal Airport.

K. The airport manager shall have authority to take such steps as may be necessary for the landing, policing and protection of the public present at the airport, subject to the review of the city council.

L. No person shall take or use any aircraft, parts or accessories thereof, or tools or other equipment owned or controlled by any other person and stored or otherwise left at the airport without consent of the owner or operator thereof or other satisfactory evidence of his right so to do.

(Ord. 83-15 §§3—5; Ord. 66-7 §1).

The following rules and regulations for the use and conduct of Willits Municipal Airport are adopted:

No person shall operate any vehicle or travel on the airport property by any manner except on roads, paths, walks, and areas provided for that particular means of travel. No obstructions shall be permitted on any road, path, or walk without permission from the airport manager or their designee. No person shall enter upon the paved runway of the Willits Municipal Airport, except when engaged in lawful business in the operation of aircraft or in assistance to operators of aircraft.

(Ord. No. 2025-05, § 3, 10-10-25)

The city council shall, with the advice of the airport commission, establish operational and other regulations, by resolution from time to time. All such regulations, as well as a copy of the current airport ordinance contained in Willits Municipal Code Chapter 2.40, shall be posted in a conspicuous public place at the Willits Municipal Airport.

(Ord. 83-15 §7).

The airport manager shall recommend additional rules and regulations to the city council and shall fix the rates and charges for services rendered and materials to be supplied by the city, subject to appeal and review by the city council.

(Ord. 83-15 § 8).

A. Any airport tenant or person operating or handling aircraft in violation of the regulations set forth in this chapter, commencing with Section 2.40.030 and any regulations promulgated hereunder, including those provided at Section 2.40.040, or refusing to comply therewith, may be removed or evicted from the airport by or under the authority of the airport manager; and upon the order of the city council may be deprived of the further use of the airport and its facilities for such length of time as may be deemed necessary to ensure safeguarding of the same and the public and its interest therein.

B. Any person, firm or corporation who violates or refuses to abide by any provisions set forth in Section 2.40.030, Section 2.40.040, or any of the rules and regulations set forth herein, or pursuant hereto, or any of the provisions or law provided therein, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 83-15 § 9).

(Ord. No. 2025-05, § 3, 10-10-25)