Featured

Gnoss Field to receive repairs and new pavement with help of federal grant

Published

7 years ago

June 23, 2017

The runway at Marin County’s Gnoss Field Airport, located three miles north of Novato, is showing signs of deterioration and will require a complete pavement renovation.

On June 20, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the rehabilitation plans and the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) will move forward with managing the project, provided that the County receives Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funds for construction. The work will require the airport to close for approximately four or five weeks starting in September.

The construction cost estimate for the improvements is $1.68 million with an additional $225,000 in construction management and testing costs, of which the FAA grant will cover 90 percent. Local funds, mainly from airport tenants’ hangar fees, will be used to pay for the remaining 10 percent financed over four years. Actual costs will be known once the project goes through the construction bidding process in August.

The runway, measuring 3,300 feet long and 75 feet wide, was constructed in 1968. A pavement inspection in June 2016, conducted by the consulting firm Mead and Hunt, Inc., determined that the runway is showing signs of deterioration, such as cracking and sagging, and that previous crack repairs are failing. The County received a separate FAA grant last year to finance the design of the runway rehabilitation. The consulting firm concluded that the airport’s single runway required renovation to adequately continue serving the air traffic needs.

The proposed rehabilitation is more than new pavement. The base structure under the runway will be leveled and rebuilt and several distressed taxiway sections will be improved.

The result will enhance overall safety by providing a smooth surface with improved grading, drainage and pavement markings. Separately from this rehabilitation project, Gnoss’ potential runway extension project is still under FAA consideration for a future date.

“The improvements will provide a better experience for the airport’s users and will also open up new possibilities for future aviation services,” said Dan Jensen, Gnoss Field Manager. “This is a much-needed step in ensuring the longevity and functionality of Gnoss Field.”

Due to the nature of the required materials and work process, construction will need to be completed before the weather turns and temperatures drop this fall. The project will be conducted under an intensive schedule and the runway will need to be closed to accommodate the timeline. It is anticipated that the closure will last for 30 to 40 days, starting sometime in mid-September, depending on the timing of the FAA grant.

DPW personnel will work closely with the airport tenants and users to minimize the impact and communicate the progress.
Gnoss Field, on the eastern side of Highway 101 and Mount Burdell, handles about 85,500 flight operations per year and is a popular destination for both business and pleasure pilots. The airport occupies 120 acres and is open 24 hours a day.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.