Hanford City Council Recap 4/28/26

Welcome And Meeting Overview

You're listening to a special episode of the Hanford Insider Podcast, featuring a wrap-up of recent City Council actions with Mayor Mark Kyrus. Hello, Hanford. I'm Mayor Mark Kyrus. Here's a quick recap of what your city council worked on at our April 21st meeting. We started the evening with an important and forward-looking discussion about parks and recreation in our community. Council reviewed a potential ballot measure that could fund major investments in parks and community facilities, projects that would benefit residents of all ages and significantly improve the quality of life in Hamford. These include efforts like expanding Hidden Valley Park, completing Heroes Park, and exploring a new multi-generational community center. We heard passionate public comments on these items, and after a thoughtful discussion, Council voted to move forward with professional polling as the key next step. This polling will help us better understand community priorities and gauge voter support before making any final decisions. Importantly, the cost of the polling,$33,250, will be fully covered by the Trust for Public Land, which has partnered with the city on this effort. The council also reviewed three potential funding options that could ultimately go before the voters general obligation bonds, a partial tax, or a sales tax measure. Each option has different benefits and considerations, and no final decision has been made. That choice will come back to council after polling results are completed. Next, the council took action to strengthen and beautify our city by adopting the Urban Forest Master Plan. This plan will guide how we grow and maintain our tree canopy for years to come. As part of that effort, we also designated a portion of 10th Avenue as a major city gateway. That means new trees will be planted in this corridor, and the city will take on responsibility for maintaining those trees, enhancing both the appearance and environmental health of this entry point in the Hanford. As a reminder, you can view the plan at www.hanfordca.gov slash UFMP. We also made a significant and complex decision about the future of the Hanford Municipal Airport, the only general aviation airport in Kings County. Council approved moving forward with the construction of a new airport fueling island, which will provide both aviation gasoline and jet fuel. This is a major investment. The total costs are estimated to be$2.88 million. Before making that decision, we carefully reviewed two financial scenarios. One with both AV gas and jet fuel, and one with AV gas only. Under the full service option with jet fuel, the city is making a larger upfront investment, but the long-term outlook is stronger. Based on conservative estimates, this option could bring the airport close to breaking even annually with about$13,000 operating cap. By contrast, the Afgas only portion would have required a smaller initial investment, about$1.77 million, but would result in a significantly larger ongoing deficit estimated at around$86,000 per year. Both scenarios show that the airport is not expected to fully cover its costs right away. However, restoring reliable fuel service is critical. Right now, the airport has gone without aviation gasoline since late 2025 and without jet fuel for more than two decades. That lack of service limits our airport use, reduces emergency response capabilities, and impacts economic activity tied to aviation. Fuel availability is a fundamental service. It supports more aircraft operation, attracts business activity, and helps position the airport as a viable regional asset. This was a thoughtful decision by the council, balancing financial realities with the long-term value of maintaining and improving critical infrastructure in our community. We look forward to showing you our new and improved airport down the road, or should I say, runway. Thank you to everyone who participated in the meeting and shared your input. We value your engagement and your voice in shaping Hanford's future. Our next City Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Thank you for watching and staying informed. Until next time.