The Gustine City Council is expected on Tuesday to award a contract for the demolition of nine aging hangars at the city’s municipal airport, following years of deferred maintenance and funding challenges.

The hangars, part of a group of 15 city-owned structures, have deteriorated beyond repair, according to a recent evaluation by city departments. Officials said the buildings, constructed with weathered wood and lightweight sheet metal, are no longer structurally sound and pose safety concerns.

In 2021, the council considered a $622,535 repair plan for eight of the hangars, but the project was deemed financially unfeasible. Since then, conditions have worsened, prompting the city to pursue demolition as a first step toward future redevelopment.

The city released an initial bid packet in early 2025 but rejected all submissions on April 30 after discovering potential owl nesting at the site. Following guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies, the city revised the project timeline to avoid nesting season and reissued the bid packet on July 10.

The updated packet included additional environmental and structural information, standardized forms, and clarified submission requirements. Two bids were received by the July 31 deadline: Joe’s Landscaping of Newman submitted a bid of $36,800, while Don Lawley Company Inc. of Stockton submitted a bid of $39,810.

City staff determined both bids were responsive. If approved, the contract would likely be awarded to Joe’s Landscaping, the lowest bidder. The total contract, including a 10% contingency, would not exceed $40,480. The project is expected to be completed within 20 working days of the city’s notice to proceed.

While the Federal Aviation Administration does not fund hangar demolition, recent changes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allow for potential funding of new hangar construction. City officials said demolition must be completed before any future construction can begin.