Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20-2002Minutes for the Airport Advisory Board meeting February 20, 2002 Airport Advisory Board Members City Staff ~ ' Rodger Campbell Joe DeJoie Bud Buchanan Bill Peloza Paul Krauss, Planning Director Airport Manager Anderson, Airport Manager Carolyn Brown, Secretary Don Rottle is absent MEETING DATE: February 20, 2002 TIME: 5:30 PM. PLACE: Auburn Airport @ the Auburn Flight School Office Chairman Rodger Campbell called the meeting to order. The first item on the agenda is new airport land leases. Planning Director Paul Krauss stated that since the 40new hangars have been built, staff has been working with the City Council to build more. Staff is now working to get signed leases through the private sector. The Airport has 30-35 spaces for aviation related spaces and Bill Vandenburg has leased some of this space. Hangars Unlimited has committed to 35-40 condo hangars. The City will pursue Individual leases with private parties. The City Council has approved a ground lease for Voudray to lease hangar space. There is hangar space for 85 airplanes. The 40 hangars the City built were leased right away. Board member Joe DeJoie asked if the waiting list was empty. Planning Director Krauss stated that there are different waiting lists for old hangars and new hangars. Board member Bill Peloza asked how the waiting list is controlled. Airport Manager Airport Manager Anderson stated that there are usually numerous people on the list that are called and they have the option of taking the first opening or rejecting it and going back to the end of the list to start over. Board member Peloza asked if those names could be identified on the next report. Airport Manager Anderson said that with the new 3 leases, the Airport will be adding $75,000 to $80, 000 in lease revenue. Jamelle Garcia asked about the outside tiedowns, as they are looking pretty bare. Airport Manager Anderson stated that he was not sure where tiedown tenants are going. Planning Director Krauss said that one of the ground leases is with CG Aviation, and the City is willing to entertain options. John Gallo asked if the fire department wanted that comer of the Airport. Planning Director Krauss said yes they had looked at an airport site. John Gallo asked if fire insurance would be less if they were closer. Planning Director Krauss stated the fire station is close at 10t~ NE Minutes for the Airport Advisory Board meeting February 20, 2002 2 location, but not in the right location for the Lea Hill area. The station wants to be moved further NE. Also, the 10th NE fire station has done away with the Medivac pad, which is now in the transient tie down area. Board member PeloZa then asked how many transient tie downs are there? Airport Manager Anderson said there are about 26. Board member Peloza then asked what would the transient tie down activity be in the summer?. Airport Manager Anderson responded there are not many even if an event is in the area. Rent is $2 a night. Board merjlJ3er Peloza asked if is it convenient enough to have the transient tiedown area? John Gallo stated the Airport could let them rent for $5 and if they get gas then it is free. Airport Manager Anderson said that $2 is about the going rate for a towered field, or a little more if there is access to a coudesy van or other amenities. The second agenda item is regarding the FAA grant for runway overlay. The City has applied for an FAA capital improvement $450,000 grant for the overlay. It is budgeted by the FAA for 2003. If another project at another airport does not go through, then Auburn will get the money sooner. Board member Peloza asked if there is a time line for the project. Once the funds come through, the time line starts with the engineers per Airport Manager Anderson. As soon as the money is in the FAA budget, the City can present a package for work. The board then discussed the FAA budget process. Board member Peloza asked how often we contact the FAA and Airport Manager Anderson replied as often as possible. As an example Airport Manager Anderson sent the FAA a letter regarding the GPS sometime ago, and the FAA has not been responding. Airport Manager Anderson sent a second letter asking for a response. The Airport's district office has contacted the FAA and the FAA will not sign off until the district office signs off on the Layout Plan. But · Airport Manager Anderson said he is actively pursuing the GPS. Board member Peloza asked if the City would receive any additional revenue if the airport had the GPS. Planning Director Krauss said it is unknown. The only thing is the GPS allows the airport to be used during bad weather conditions. Then there would be the option to have bigger aircraft use airport, which would increase fuel sales. Airport Manager Anderson discussed the recent survey results. 70 surveys out of over 200 that were mailed, were returned. The majority of responses wanted the 1000-foot traffic pattern. The standard throughout the country is 1000 feet. Jamelle Garcia said it is recommended for noise abatement and safety in the aeronautical manual. The local airport here still uses 800 feet where 1000 feet is the accepted flight pattern for other airports. Board member Peloza asked how the board could make this change. Airport Manager Anderson said a form is submitted to the FAA and a notum. Board member Peloza made a motion that based on the survey conducted by the City of Auburn the Board would like to proceed on the change to the 1000-foot level. Board member Joe DeJoie seconded the motion. The motion was approved. Airport Manager Anderson commented on his helicopter operations letter mailed out to Classic Helicopters and Helicopters NW and he has asked them to set up a meeting, early in March, with who ever would like to participate and discuss issues Minutes for the Airport Advisory Board meeting February 20, 2002 3 with the helicopter companies. Board member Peloza asked what would be accomplished by this meeting. Airport Manager Anderson said the important issue is safety. John Gallo asked what happened after the first discussions. Airport Manager Anderson said he has sent a copy to Dave Wunch and is on record with the FAA. Board member Peloza would like to see a signed agreement. Airport Manager Anderson said it would be a letter of understanding. Jamelle Garcia stated there needs to be better communication. Discussion from the audie_n_ce regarding the noise issue that helicopters are responsible for. Chairman Rodger Campbell asked Airport Manager Anderson to be sure to bring this up at the meeting. The next item is AFS fuel disCount agreement. At this time the City maintains the retail fueling at the Airport. Anyone who wishes can fuel his or her own aircraft. AFS uses about 50% of fuel that is used at the Airport. Planning Director Krauss discussed the background of the current fueling operation and as the primary funding for the airport. The City basically charged AFS a flowage fee of .05c a gallon for the past five years. AFS has expanded the business as agreed. On April 2, 2002 the current agreement is expiring. Planning Director Krauss, Airport Manager Anderson, and Jamelle Garcia are working on new agreement. Planning Director Krauss has asked finance for guidance. The Mayor's thoughts are the City should go into a one year agreement @ $0.15 over cost. The discussions are continuing and all are close to reaching an agreement. This agreement will provide some extra income for the Airport. The City would consider other such agreements if they reach a lO,000-gallon minimum flow. The City is proposing a $0.15 over wholesale cost for one year. Board member Peloza made a motion to accept staff's recommendation of $0.15 over wholesale for one year and will recommend this to the City Council. Board member Buchanan seconded the motion. Chairman Campbell concurred. Board member DeJoie recused himself. Board member Peloza asked to discuss the ordinance governing the Auburn Advisory Board meetings. He said he would work on revising this ordinance. The next agenda item is the budget report format. Airport Manager Anderson led the discussion on the format that finance uses for the budget. He said he would be working with Lee Hall, the Assistant Finance Director for the City of Auburn. Planning Director Krauss said it is important to note that the Airport is an Enterprise Fund and is a closed system for accounting. If the Airport has a profit, the money has to be reinvested into that fund only. From the Airport's day of creation it has operated from leases, fuel, grants and is basically self-supporting. Planning Director Krauss said that six or seven years ago, staff saw that the Airport needed maintenance. Working with the City Council, staff put together a work program to renovate the airport. The fuel facility was upgraded, hangar roofs were repaired and the Airport purchased some land. Most of the building maintenance has been done, and this summer it will be finished. Money is budgeted for replacement of the canvas roll up doors on the nOrth side of the hangars. The cracks are scheduled for repairs and the City has contracted for sweeping. With investments and new revenue sources, the Airport looks pretty secure at this time. Minutes for the Airport Advisory Board meeting February 20, 2002 4 Board member Peloza said after reading the budget it looks like the Airport is in the red for $88,000 for 2001. Planning Director Krauss said the bank account is not a good marker and the money is invested. Also, grant money is shown as income, but it is all committed. Board member Peloza said it appears the Airport is looking at a $58,000 deficit for 2002. Planning Director Krauss said the net change is in working capitol and is all invested in infrastructure. Airport Manager Anderson then discussed the itemized fuel sales by month and how 9-11 affected fu__el and flights. The City has also provided the new leases with a grace period for ground rent until they could fill the hangars. Lease collected is 40c a foot on the leased hangars. Board member Peloza stated he is still not sure as to the bottom line. Planning Director Krauss said that if investing stopped and the Airport was just working on operations, the operations would just break even. Planning Director Krauss said he would set up a meeting and include Shelley Coleman, Finance Director for the City of Auburn, to discuss the budget. John Gallo would like to see a simplified profit and loss statement and Board member Peloza agrees. Planning Director Krauss stated that after the hangars were built and the bonds sold, the City came in about $70, 000 under contract and then turned around and put the remainder into the roofs. He added that in the future is 23 acres that the Airport is bringing on line for development. Board member DeJoie asked what is miscellaneous revenue'line? It has not been carried forward and shows $10,000 for 2002. Airport Manager Anderson stated that the year 2001 is not closed out yet. Board member Peloza asked about the sweeping and how often pilots would like to see the runways cleaned. Twice a month was the general consensus. After the sealing process would probably need only once a month. Board member Peloza asked why City staff couldn't run the sweeper? Planning Director Krauss stated the Airport has tried, but other department staff time is limited as well as is the use of equipment. Planning Director Krauss found that a private contractor was pretty inexpensive @ $1500. Board member Peloza would like staff to look into using a sweeper once a month. Planning Director Krauss agreed and would like to see more sweeping in the summer. General comments are about the degradation of the runway surface summer and winter. Also, tenants are still picking up nails that were dropped during the roofing repairs. Also, the taxiway in front of the hangars is degrading and also needs' resurfacing. Airport Manager Anderson said the Airport should have the funds available. But the FAA doesn't consider the seal coat as construction and wouldn't consider as applicable for grant money. Airport Manager Anderson said the last time there were two types of sealant. The seal coat, with granules in it, can be classed as construction. Discussed the product White Top as an option. It is a little more expensive, but is supposed to last 25 years. Also helps to define the actually landing surface, and not just an overlay, but a two to four inch process. Staff will report back at the next meeting on the overlay. Board member Peloza would like to suggest cleaning once a month. Airport Manager Anderson will come back to the Board with cost and a time schedule. Board member Peloza asked if we are creating more problems by sweeping and creating more dust and rocks? The tenants and board members discussed this. Airport Manager Anderson is now in the process of soliciting consultants. Minutes for the Airport Advisory Board meeting February 20, 2002 5 A new meeting time was discussed. Board member Peloza moved to keep the meeting on the 3r~ Wednesday of the month at 8:00 am. However, Planning Director Krauss stated he has to leave at 8:30 am for the City Director's meeting. Board member Peloza then moved to change the meeting time to the 3~ Tuesday @ 8:00 am @ CitY Hall. Board member Buchanan seconded the motion. Board member DeJoie commented that he would still like to meet at night, because__most people work during the day. Planning Director Krauss said we could still schedule meetings at the Airport in the evening. Board member DeJoie added that he would like to meet @ noon. Jamelle Garcia volunteered the use of his classroom on Fridays. The Board voted to change the meeting time to the third Tuesday of the month and 8:00 am and the vote was 2 yes and 1 no. Motion passed and the next meeting will be March 19 at 8:00 am at City Hall. Planning Director Krauss introduced Chris Greytak and John Voudray as new land lessees. The audience discussed the tenant improvements on the open hangars. Would the City be agreeable to tenant improvements? Whatever the tenant has invested could revert back to the City. Planning Director Krauss said also, regarding the security issue, the City is not totally satisfied with the current security company. Staff is now in the process of looking for a new security company. The audience reported on various incidents. Jamelle Garcia stated that he has never seen the security company that is now working for the City. Planning Director Krauss said a new firm should be on board in the next 30 days. Airport Manager Anderson answered a question about gate locks and a punch card system. It was noted that the gates are open a lot, and that the one by the AFS office is opening and closing on its own. Jamelle Garcia asked about the Alaska Airplanes flying club, which has about 75 members. He would like to start'a club and would like to find if there is any interest. Airport Manager Anderson indicated that he has not talked to anyone about such a club. There are plans to complete the security fence on the west side of the Airport. Planning Director Krauss is trying to get the FAA to provide grant money. Board member Peloza asked how long is the area on the west side that needs to be fenced? Airport Manager Anderson said it is about 4500 and the cost is $16.00 a linear foot. Also, Airport Manager Anderson said the City is trying to lease the Metro Park & Ride area at 15th Street NW. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm.