Council approves ordinance expanding Melbourne Airport Authority power to hold and dispose property

The Melbourne City Council on Aug. 12 approved Ordinance 2025-38 to expand the Melbourne Airport Authority’s authority to acquire, hold and dispose of real property in its own name subject to council approval.

The ordinance amends Chapter 12 (Aviation) of the city code by creating two new sections, 12-148 and 12-149, spelling out a process and conditions under which airport-owned or airport-managed property may be titled in the authority’s name rather than the city’s. Staff and airport representatives said the change responds to past practice where property used for airport purposes has been held in the city’s name and to a recent airport contract that raised title questions.

“Given the constraints of some of the deals, time frames and other things, it’s sort of the best way forward,” city attorney Mitchell Conley said in explaining the ordinance and a small requested wording revision to subsection (a) of the new section 12‑148. Conley said the airport authority asked to change language that tied property transfers strictly to federal restrictions; the revised language would read that the property is “obligated to either be used as aviation property or for the benefit of the airport.”

Council members asked how the change would affect oversight and whether every transaction would come back to council. Conley said property purchases by the authority would still return to the council for approval on a case‑by‑case basis, but would not follow the same acquisition procedure used when the city itself takes title. He said the change could also make it administratively easier for the city and the airport authority to clean up historic title issues and produce clearer surveys of airport jurisdictional boundaries.

Council Member LaRusso moved approval for first reading; Council Member Kennedy seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The ordinance will return for second reading and formal adoption.

The ordinance text and the airport authority’s requested wording change will be incorporated for second reading; staff said the change will be shown on the next agenda when the council takes final action.