GILLESPIE FIELD – NEW 50-YEAR AVIATION LEASE WITH MITRE AVIATION, L.P. AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 2)

The County of San Diego has approved a new 50-year aviation lease with Mitre Aviation, L.P. for Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California, effective September 1, 2025, and set to expire on August 31, 2075. The lease permits the lessee to continue existing operations without expanding the facility’s footprint, while authorizing significant infrastructure upgrades including modernization of aging hangars, improvements to ramps and taxiways, and the installation of energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, LED lighting, and an updated HVAC system. All proposed capital improvements beyond the initial scope must be submitted to the Director of Airports for approval and are subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), specifically exempted under Section 15301 as minor alterations to existing facilities without significant expansion. No federal contract clauses, funding codes, accounting identifiers, or procurement-specific provisions apply, as this is a local government real property lease rather than a federal acquisition. The lease does not include specified financial terms, pricing data, or payment instructions, and no formal contracting officer, COR, or COTR roles are designated in the documentation. Key contacts include Jamie Abbott, Director of Airports, and Jeff Kashak, Environmental Planning Manager, who oversee implementation and compliance. The project was formally noticed and exempted under CEQA on August 27, 2025, with filings submitted to the County Clerk and the state’s electronic CEQA portal, but no competitive bidding, evaluation factors, or offeror certifications were part of the process.