HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2002Minutes Airport Advisory Board October 15, 2002
Board members present are Don Rottle, Ron Wanttaja and Chairman Bill Peloza.
Members absent are Bud Buchanan and Rodger Campbell.
Staff: Paul Krauss, Planning Director; Mark Ellingson, Interim Airport Manager;
Carolyn Brown, Secretary
Guests: Jamelle Garcia, Ray Richcreek, and C.J. Bouchard
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Peloza at 8:00 am.
The September minutes were read and approved.
Planning Director Paul Krauss briefly discussed the Airport's interim manager position.
The position will remain this way until possibly in the spring. At this time Mark Ellingson,
the Safety Manager for the City, will be the acting airport manager.
Brief discussion of the Global Positioning System (GPS) letter. Planning Director
Krauss said the Airport has had a Master Plan since 1995. Planning Director Krauss will
call Caryl Keys with the FAA or Candy Harvey of Harvey Field regarding the GPS issue.
The City Council approved an expenditure of $12,000 to replace, paint and cover
headers on hangars 2 & 7. Found some problems on buildings 6 & 7. Mark Ellingson
said some problems were superficial and were able to be covered. Mark documented
some that some of the boards had rot and Hangar 7 really showed deterioration.
Planning Director Krauss added that some were replaced 2 years ago. The cost to
replace 5 is $12,000, which is a lower per unit cost then previous purchases. The roof
project bids came in high this time. In the past it was approximately $75,000 a building.
This time the bids came in at $95,000 and Iow bid was disqualified because of a lack of
experience. The Architect will re-write the bid. The City may have to re-bid in the spring
if the next go round is still high. Planning Director Krauss proposed to give more time in
the bid for the selected contractor to schedule the work.
The Airport Master Plan will be discussed at the November 6 Planning Commission.
The rates and charges are available for review in the agenda packet. It also includes
the minimum standards. The letter for review of the Master Plan amendments has been
reviewed by City Council and the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission felt
that the airport h'as a noise problem and wants a second hearing on the Master Plan.
Planning Director Krauss stated that there should be no problem at the hearing. The
City will still have airport noise with the helicopters. The helicopters have moved east of
town for the most part, to practice hovering.
Planning Director Krauss spoke on the information from The Puget Sound Regional
Conference's (PSRC) update and they have responded to Planning Director Krauss
regarding his earlier comments. Chairman Bill Peloza wanted to know if the PSRC has
any authority as to what airports need. Planning Director Krauss answered they have
influence as to which airports receive grant money. Planning Director Krauss said he
would forward, to the FAA, the letter from PRSC. Chairman Peloza added that anything
we can use to get FAA's attention we should use. Planning Director Krauss then
Page 1
Minutes Airport Advisory Board October 15, 2002
commented that a good model is in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul. The airports
were operated as a group as a public system.
Next on the agenda is a complaint letter from Hangars Unlimited (HU) to the FAA.
Planning Director Krauss thinks that by now it may be resolved. HU is one of the
leassors and building on the hangar row at the north end. When the City was starting to
lease ground at the Airport, the City Council established 2 ground lease rates. One was
40c a foot for the north end of the Airport. The City recently made major investments in
infrastructure, drainage and SEPA application. HU leases the ground up to the taxi
lane. Some ground elsewhere on the airport is leased at the lower rate of 24c because
it has amortized or the developer is paying for the infrastructure such as drainage and
gravel. NW Hangars is building off the end of building 8. They are just extending the
building. HU wrote the City saying the City is charging different people at different
rates. Planning Director Krauss answered yes this is true, but is well known, based
upon facts and adopted in public session. HU was invited to a city meeting but didn't
attend a Municipal Service meeting as invited in order to discuss the rates. Ranning
Director Krauss has written a letter to their attorney. The attorney for HU then wrote
letters to the FAA. Planning Director Krauss has spoken with Paul Johnson at the FAA
to let him know what is going on. Planning Director Krauss also notifiedHU that the City
is willing to have the attorneys talk. HU wanted to be charged for land under the hangar
and not the land up to the taxi lane. The AAB then discussed the builders at the airport.
Planning Director Krauss said all are leasing or using their space. Planning Director
Krauss also thinks HU has all their spaces sold. Chairman Peloza stated that it is now
up to HU to respond.
Chairman Peloza asked about the $3 security fee. Planning Director Krauss said the
City needs to bid to finish the fencing and then bring back the information to the board.
Jamelle Garcia asked if there was any chance to obtain state money? Planning Director
Krauss that is what we used to build the current fence. The area by the Fished ITC
building still needs to be completed. Chairman Peloza asked if the $3 fee covers the
contract fee for the security company? Planning Director Krauss said contract with
Argus (the security company) exceeds the fees by a small amount. Planning Director
Krauss added that the City had been collecting the fee when there was no security
company contract in place and generated a small surplus. Chairman Peloza said he
would like to see if the fee is paying for the security company. The question was raised
about the loss of tiedown tenants. Could this contribute to a shortfall for the security
cost? Planning Director Krauss said hangar space is in short supply and yet, tiedown
space is available all over the county. Planning Director Krauss would like to convert
more tiedown space to hangar space. The number of based aircraft has been fairly
constant. The fee is paid per aircraft, not per tenant, added Planning Director Krauss,
when the hangars are leased for 18 aircraft there should be a $3 fee for each airplane.
Planning Director Krauss said the numbers were figured on the based aircraft.
Discussion of a new airport information pamphlet. Mark had the 1969 pamphlet and the
pamphlet from Thun Field. Mark said that the City just needs to update their old
pamphlet. Chairman Peloza stated that the Board needs to mail something out now.
Mark said Airport had issued the NOTAM on the flight pattern altitudes and over the
Super Unicom. Chairman Peloza said he would like to inform the tenants with Mark's
letter and let them know later the do's and don'ts and include the Airport diagram. Ron
Page 2
Minutes Airport Advisory Board October 15, 2002
added that the main thing is to get out the altitude changes. Jamelle stated the Airport
needs to keep the tenants informed. Auburn Flight Service (AFS), publishes a quarterly
news letter. The Board discussed the aircraft traffic downtown and over the vicinity of
the hospital. Neither the Airport nor the City have received any complaints. Mark said
his letter will go to all tenants with the does and don'ts, and new mapping with ceiling
limits. He will also advise that the 1969 rules and regulations are being updated to a
formal booklet.
Delinquent accounts was the next item to be discussed. Chairman Peloza said the
current delinquency is a little over $13,000. In April it was a litle over $18,000.
Actually looking at a $11,000 delinquency. It is improving since April. Chairman Peloza
added that the City should take a little stronger action. The group then discussed
evicting tenants from hangars. Mark stated there is a waiting list for hangars. Mark also
discussed the process for collecting delinquent accounts. Mark has not seen past
documentation, but he has been talking to the city Legal department regarding chaining
down and auctioning off an airplane. The section is Title 14 and has been adopted into
City code. Mark said Title 14 needs to be posted at the airport. Also, tenants need to
be notified of the process. But the process also needs to be flexible. Mark needs to
have a good documentation process. He will come back to the next meeting with a plan
for handling this situation and will also work with finance to update the data base.
Chairman Peloza this will also work with the tenants who are overdue. The RCW is very
specific about the steps the City can take. Don Rottle said any letter should be very
specific.
A printed copy of City web site was given to board members. They also discussed the
AirNav.com website. The manager of the airport can provide information for that site.
The winter schedule for sweeping is usually once a month per Planning Director Krauss.
Mark will find out if that is adequate.
Nothing new regarding 15th Street NW Park and Ride status.
The emergency kit item was tabled for the next meeting. At this time Jamelle has
emergency items at the Auburn Flight Service building.
Briefly about the taxiway cracks. Mark stated that the wider ones have been filled and
sealed but the bumps can still be felt. The taxiways have not been filled just the areas
by the hangars.
Mark will meet with finance to obtain quarterly finance report.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 am.
Respectively submitted
Carolyn Brown, Secretary
Page 3