HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-19-2002Minutes Airport Advisory Board November 19, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Peloza at 8 am.
Board members present are Bud Buchanan, Rodger Campbell, & Ron Wanttaja.
Staff: Paul Krauss, Planning Director; Mark Ellingson, Interim Airport Manager; Carolyn Brown,
Secretary
Guests:
Jamelle Garcia, Ray Richcreek, Jan Bouchard, John Gallo
Approval of the October 15 minutes: In the first paragraph that states Mark Ellingson will be the
action Airport Manager in the interim, delete the word action. In the fourth paragraph and on the
first line, the November 6 meeting by the Planning Commission and delete the sentence that
starts "The AAB should..." In the second paragraph on page 2, delete the first sentence and in the
2® sentence add the word security after the $3. Delete the third sentence. Several minor typos
were also corrected. Rodger Campbell moved to accept the minutes as corrected and was
seconded by Mark Ellingson. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
1. The board reviewed a letter from the FAA to Hangars Unlimited. This letter supports the City's
position regarding the issues with Hangars Unlimited.
2. The roof repair status of hangars 2 and 7 was addressed by Airport Manager Ellingson. He said
there will be a pre-construction meeting on December 3. Bids have been accepted at this point.
The bids are good for 45 days. Airport Manager Ellingson added that the bid came in at $205,000,
Planning Director Krauss thinks it will be closer to $220,000. That will be a little over the budget of
$150,000-190,000.
Board member Wanttaja brought up the point that the roof repairs took such a long time the last
time and the people were not happy, as they still had to pay the hangar fee when their planes
were parked outside. Would it be possible to receive a break in the fee this time? Chairman
Peloza asked if a penalty clause could be added? Planning Director Krauss said probably not
now. Airport Manager Ellingson asked how does the board feel about displacing tenants to the tie
down area? Should a tie down fee be charged instead of the hangar fee? The board agrees to
this. Ray Richcreek would like some advance notice as to time frame.
3. Staff met with the Planning Commission at their November 6 meeting to discuss the Master
Plan. The City Council approved the Plan at the November 18 Council meeting.
4. The board reviewed the letter to Jan Olson regarding the GPS approach. Discussed that the
graph used has "slant lines" on it and no one is sure how to read the graph. Chairman Peloza said
on the second page of the letter it talks about "day only GPS and day/night use GPS". Does this
mean that day GPS is what the Auburn Airport is going to get? Airport Manger Ellingson said the
FAA felt there was not an adequate survey for the nighttime minimums. Chairman Peloza asked if
the Airport gets the daytime GPS will it be able to move onto the nighttime and do we need a
survey for the nighttime use? Airport Manager read from the letter and said if necessary they will
survey for the nighttime use. He believes that W&H Pacific is working on the nighttime survey.
W&H Pacific provides the expertise and the City will have to be the one to push the FAA for the
GPS. Chairman Peloza said the purpose of the letter is to provide W&H Pacific's opinion on the
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survey. Jamelle Garcia said the survey was in 1999. Airport Manager Ellingson said he will follow
up with W&H and find out about the day/night survey issue. Chairman Peloza asked Airport
Manager Ellingson to talk to Jan Olson and ask him exactly what do we need to move this process
along? Jamelle added it has been 6 years since the process was started.
5. Chairman Peloza asked Board member Wanttaja his opinion on the letter from Classic
Helicopter. Board member Wanttaja replied that he sent Classic a draft of his report after the
meetings with the helicopter groups. He received no response from the groups. Chairman Peloza
asked Planning Director Krauss if there was any need to respond? Planning Director Krauss said
their response did not seem to be in a cooperative form like he thought it should be. Jamelle
discussed two situations that did seem a little inappropriate to his staff and added that the
helicopter pilots are still not talking on the radio. Planning Director Krauss there is a guideline that
indicates that a radio is not required for helicopters. For airplanes yes, but a helicopter maneuvers
differently. Board member Wanttaja said from an FAA standpoint rotary aircraft will stay away
from fixed wing. Planning Director Krauss added that maybe only choice is to keep records and
notify FAA. Jamelle said yes FAA will need dates, times and specific incidents. Planning Director
Krauss said to get a more cooperative conclusion he would like to see a response to the points in
the Classic letter. Chairman Peloza suggested that Board member Wanttaja respond. Board
member Wanttaja said it would be difficult to refute each point. Planning Director Krauss and
Chairman Peloza said ask them (the helicopter pilots) to use common sense, safety, courtesy.
Board member Wanttaja to draft a new letter and will respond point by point.
6. Airport Manager Ellingson has reviewed the delinquent rental fees process needed to seize an
aircraft. At this time the City is not fulfilling it's position according to the RCW Title 14. At this time
the only thing the City is not doing is posting a notice in the Airport office. The City needs to
document a policy and have it posted before the City can legitimately seize an aircraft. Chairman
Peloza added that there is a current delinquency that needs to be resolved.
Jamelle asked if any contact has been made with the tenants? Airport Manager Ellingson said
just through finance. Chairman Peloza said finance sends out letters to the delinquent tenants. If
possible, the City needs to put some type of pressure on the tenant. Airport Manager Ellingson
will try to work on this month. He will post the section of the code and make a copy and send to
delinquent tenants. Planning Director Krauss said we are obligated to send out a certified letter,
but would like the plane chained down. Technically supposed to notify the tenant first. Jamelle
said also a lien can be put on plane. Airport Manager Ellingson will go through the list with airport
staff.
7. Airport Manager Ellingson said the airport tenant letter will go out with the November billing
cycle.
8. Airport Manager Ellingson and Board member Wanttaja are still working on the orientation
package and letter. Also on an update of ORD #2396 dated October 1969. The leter will be the
"does and don't" letter. Also, still working on the rules and regulations. Chairman Peloza asked if
there is some way a schedule could be put in place? Airport Manager said the letter of the does
and don'ts, and the maps could go out in two weeks. Chairman Peloza said he will set an
estimated completion date of 12-3-02.
9. Planning Director Krauss has been in touch with Cayla Morgan with the FAA.
They have programmed Auburn as an entitlement airport. $450,000 has been programmed with
$150,000 now and $300,000 for next year. $150,000 will be for the security fencing and the bids
and specs for runway will also come out of that. $300,000 will be for next year's runway resurface.
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Chairman Peloza and Planning Director Krauss toured the airport recently. Chairman Peloza
asked if there is some way to fill cracks to stop the runway erosion underneath? What the is
liability to the City regarding an event that could cause the City to be financially responsible?
Jamelle said the asphalt could be a concern since that is owned by the City. Board Rodger
Campbell asked about the machine that was purchased by the Airport? Planning Director Krauss
said it does work well on the taxiways, but he doesn't know if it would work well on the larger
cracks. Airport Manager Ellingson said he would find out if there is a way to fill before it is sealed.
The City would like to find a way to fix the problem before something happens. Airport Manager
Ellingson added that man-power at the airport has always been a problem. At this time, the
Airport is playing catch-up on projects. He will also check into techniques and fillers. Chairman
Peloza would still like to have the city street engineer look at the cracks and give an opinion on the
cracks and what will happen if they aren't taken care of. Airport Manager Ellingson said he will
check with street repair department.
Ray Richcreek added a comment that American Concrete has come up with a poured slurry that
will last 25 years.
10. Planning Director Krauss said the Quarterly Finance Report for the Airport should be available
by the next meeting.
11. Regarding the AirNav.com web site, Chairman Peloza said it needs an aerial view.
Airport Manager Ellingson stated that an aerial photo has been added to tl-e site. He asked
everyone to look it over and give there opinion. Board member Wanttaja will bring back a copy to
next meeting.
12. Planning Director Krauss stated that he has concluded the security fee for the tenants is OK
as is. The City still needs to change the billing to reflect that each aircraft be charged. Planning
Director Krauss the tenants are supposed to have been charged the fee as per based aircraft.
One bill goes to each tenant that has multiple based aircraft.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Does the AAB want to get the U.S. Customs Operations at the Airport resurrected? Board
member Campbell asked what is the advantage of having an office at the Auburn airport?
Planning Director Krauss people with flights to Canada could stop at Auburn. He added that the
cost was minimal. The question is will Customs ever allow these at small airports again. In theory
a person called ahead and let Customs know the arrival time. Jamelle said it is actually a great
program for someone going to Canada because you have to be pre-registered. Planning Director
Krauss said the City volunteered for this and was approved, but after 9-11 these small customs
bases were closed. Chairman Peloza asked the board if they want to pursue? Planning Director
Krauss would like to find out where the customs operation stands. Airport Manager Ellingson will
make a phone call to customs to see if the program is going to be reinstated.
2. The Pollution NPDES document comes from the Federal government via the state department
of ecology. Planning Director Krauss said the City gets a bill every year for a permit. The City is
obligated to maintain a permit, and also must have a pollution prevention plan. The reason is that
a large land holding is required to have an NPDES permit regarding water discharge, such as
Boeing. Our staff has developed how we treat runoff'and contain spills. They do an inspection of
basins, and the stormdrains have oil separators, and the Fire Department has spill containment
equipment. Also, staff inspect ponds daily for bird attraction.
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3. A letter from Auburn Flight Service dated 10-16-02 was reviewed. It requests amendments to
Airport plan. Planning Director Krauss has the amendments and will be working on it.
4. The winter sweeping schedule was discussed. Airport schedule is once a month. Airport
Manager Ellingson said the contractors working on the hangars are supposed to be keeping their
work areas clean. Planning Director Krauss said he will talk with airport staff and if contractors
don't respond we need to inform them that City will bring in their own contractor and charge to the
builder. He said he often goes out to the airport at noon and the construction areas are pretty
messy. Staff does inspect the area for nails, etc. PlanningDirector Krauss said Hangars NW are
basically nearing completion. The Vandenberg project has a way to go. Hangars Unlimited now
has the steel up. Jim Jacobsen also has steel up.
Planning Director Krauss continues to get inquiries about building more hangars. At this time he
would like to reserve the far south end of the Airport for high visibility, and high-end buildings. The
row where CG Aviation is has space and staff has shown a proposed tenant the site. The next
row is immediately south of Bldg 8, but probably not deep enough to build hangars and the City
may negotiate with Jamelle for some of his area. Jamelle thinks there may be a few feet to work
with. Jamelle added that everything left on the east side should be considered for commercial.
Board member Wanttaja said the best tiedown area is the east side as there is more car traffic and
lights up the area.
A motion to adjourn was made by Airport'Manager Ellingson. Board member Campbell seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 9:25 am.
Respectively submitted
Carolyn Brown, Secretary
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