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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-2003MINUTES OF THE AUBURN AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD FOR MAY 13, 2003 The May 13, 2003 meeting of the Airport Advisory Board was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chairman, Bill Peloza. Board Members present were Bud Buchanan, Rodger Campbell, Don Rottle. Ron Wanttaja, excused absence. Staff present were Planning Director Paul Krauss, Interim Airport Manager Mark Ellingson, and Carolyn Brown, Secretary. Guests present were Lorelei Mesic and Mark Napier with W & H Pacific, John Gallo and Ray Richcreek. A motion was made by Rodger Campbell to accept the minutes of April 15, 2003 meeting as read. It was seconded by Bud Buchanan and motion was carried. OLD BUSINESS: The first item on the agenda is the status of the Remote Transmitter. Planning Director Krauss sent an e-mail letter to the attention of John M. Sibold, Director of the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division. Planning Director Krauss stated that he hasn't had a chance to contact Thun Field. The FAA does have a list of airports that have requested remote transmitters, but the funding is way behind. The cost of a remote transmitter is approximately $100,000. Planning Director Krauss asked John Gallo if he would talk to his AOPA contacts. Once the airport receives the Global Positions System (GPS) they will go to the front of the line for the Remote Transmitter. Item 2 is a report on airport security and the new service contract. Interim Manager Mark Ellingson stated that the security company, Washington Merchant Patrol, is now on board. He has heard reports that after hours the security people are approaching people at the airport to check them out. Airport staff has also said the security people come on duty early in order to introduce themselves. Chairman Peloza added that the firm was recommended by Police Chief Kelly. Third on the agenda is status on the airport privatization request for qualifications (RFQ). The information has been mailed out and advertised in the newspaper. Planning Director Krauss and Finance Director Shelley Coleman will meet with applicants as the proposals are received. It is also a goal of the City to keep current staff if the search for a management firm is successful. Chairman Peloza asked if Interim Manager Ellingson is being released from temporary duties at the airport. Planning Director Krauss said there is no large emphasis of management at the airport. Planning Director Krauss added that he assumes, depending on the interest, the City Council will make a decision by the end of summer. Chairman Peloza reflected that the airport has been without a "full time" Airport Manager for sometime now, although Mark Ellingson has been doing a great job wearing "several" hats. Planning Director Krauss answered that the City is pleased so far with the temporary management and the Board concurs. Interim Manager Ellingson said he has other duties with his primary job in Human Resources. Item 4 is the account status of the delinquent tenants. Chairman Peloza stated that at the last council meeting the City wrote off $2,400.00 in past due accounts. The current delinquent tenant statement indicates a slight increase in past due accounts, however, it is much improved over the past several months. Interim Manager Ellingson has contacted some of the delinquent tenants. A few of the tenants in arrears are making payments. He also stated that the tenants in arrears receive a bill. Chairman Peloza asked if a letter from the City Attorney could accompany the bill. Interim manager Ellingson said a notice and the RCW are posted at the airport office. Chairman Peloza suggested that the staff continue to maintain pressure on the delinquent accounts for receipt of past due rental fees. PAGE 1 MINUTES OF THE AUBURN AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD FOR MAY 13, 2003 Item 5 about hangar row 9 was discussed elsewhere on the agenda. Regarding item 6, Planning Director Krauss will double check on the Aircraft Noise Abatement signage, but he is sure the request for the signs has gone to the sign shop. John Gallo stated that the AOPA signs are in place around the airport. Item 7 is the Russian aircraft relocation plan. Interim Manager Ellingson said that staff is still working out a way to move the planes. He said it may take some bulldozing to level the area on the west side of the airport. Aisc, they have to be sure the planes are not in the obstacle free area of the runway. Chairman Peloza recommended that staff meet or write a letter to the owner of the aircraft to discuss the deteriorating condition of the aircraft and to seek resolution, i.e., move the aircraft to a different location with no cost to the City or repair the aircraft's cosmetic condition. Planning Director Krauss discussed the status of the hangar construction projects. Bill Vandenberg has now started working on his project again. Phase 1 is occupied, and now working on stage 2. John Vodrey has been getting permits to start his building. The Jacobsen project is looking good. Hangars Unlimited (HU) appears to have tenants in place, but there are several liens against the project. HU still claims to plan to build phase 2. Phase 2 is receiving payments and it is hard for them to get subcontractors. Aisc, Planning Director Krauss is looking into a request from an attorney who has indicated that there is a lease on the property, which was filed about 20 years ago. The City is still working on the new hangar row. At this time most private units are sold or rented. The last item, 9 the update on the airport resurfacing project has been moved to new business. NEW BUSINESS Discussion of the Airport RFP will be included with presentation from W & H Pacific. 1. An e-mail letter was sent to Mr. John Sibold (and Stan Allison ) with WSDOT, inviting them to tour the airport and discuss the need for assistance on new fencing, GPS and remote transmitter. Chairman Peloza asked if there is anything else the City can do and Planning Director Krauss answered that we will just keep calling and keep the need a top priority. 2. For the on-airport signage, Planning Director Krauss has a committee working on a new sign ordinance for the City. The Airport does not fit the standard mold as far as signage. The current regulations do not fit the area. There have been some complaints from other businesses that the Airport has been allowed to put signs on the fences. Planning Director Krauss wants the AAB to discuss what would be acceptable signage for the Airport. Should signs be on the buildings themselves, doors, hangar-ends, the size, etc. Should it be the same as retail space in a shopping area. Off-airport signage, could be near or on the fence, and be more oriented to people who come onto the field. This signage could attract the "impulse buyers". Aisc, the airport needs signage for people who come in and conduct business. Such as signage at the road to direct people where to come in to the airport and how to find the building or area they are looking for. Planning Director Krauss would like the AAB to come back to the next meeting with ideas. 3. Airport Improvement Program (ALP) Will be discussed by W & H Pacific 4. Displaced Threshold on RW 16. Will be discussed by W & H Pacific 5. On hangar occupancy rates and waiting lists the airport will shortly have 8 open hangars, and there still are waiting lists. Staff has been calling people on the waiting list. Aisc, there is a posting at the airport, and notice to other airports with an advertisement in Pacific NW flyer next month (June). It appears that people are being a little cautious right now due to the economy. Ray Richcreek suggested an ad to WINGS (which is a Washington Pilots paper). Chairman Peloza asked if he could see the waiting list. Planning Director Krauss answered available at the airport is a book with names, addresses and a Icg as to when they were contacted. There is a $25 fee to be on the waiting list. 6 hangars are open now and 1-2 more will be PAGE 2 MINUTES OF THE AUBURN AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD FOR MAY 13, 2003 coming on line. Planning Director Krauss will check the website to see if the hangar availability list is included. Ms. Lorelei Mesic and Mark Napier of W & H Pacific discussed the displaced threshold that they were designing for a GPS approach to runway 16 from the north. The controlling obstruction was the building to the north @ 18 to 1, needs to be 20 to 1. The Auburn Airport is a visual airport and needs a clear 20 to 1 at the end of the airport. Planning Director Krauss said that since the GPS approach is now from the south (FAA directed) where there is no obstruction, there won't be a need for the displaced threshold of 200 feet. By switching to the south end they were able to do away with displaced threshold, but per Lorelei, pilots will still need to circle the field. The runway overlay will be 3400 feet and in conjunction will be the portion at the end of the runway that has a dip of about 400 feet long. This is in the new section and some of the old section. About 3 weeks ago, W & H Pacific did the geotech work and three borings were taken at the area of the dip. There is poor soil is about 10 feet down and that is the nature of the area. One cause could be the sandy fill type material that is over the entire airport and maybe this is a high spot. The more severe area is at the south part of the runway (the new part.) The resurfacing will level this out. Mark Napier said the dip can be repaired but will take a longer time element. Don Rottle asked if the dip could be refilled. Lorelei said they will dig down about 3 feet and replace the fill then cover with a geotec fabric. Bud Buchanan asked why did they need to dig down. Lorelei responded that this will give a better face to the runway. Mark Napier said the existing soils had fill placed on the soil. This has settled as far as it will settle, unless more load is put on it. He also said they will do a prelevel after removing some of the top and compacting down. Bud asked how much more settling could be expected. Mark Napier said this area settled after the extension was added on. Bud asked why can't we just refill the dip and repave. Lorelei said we can assume it has fully settled but would pay more in asphalt if it were only brought up to subgrade. Planning Director Krauss said at this time the FAA will pay 90c on the dollar, but may not do that in the future. Bud added that this work may create other problems. Ray Richcreek asked if the area is wetlands or subterranean stream. Mark Napier said it is an area with fine grain soil that is hard to drain and if they try to change that it may bring other factors into play. Ray asked if the drainage ditches are enough to drain the surface properly. Lorelei said the initial opinion of the reconstruction was the taking into account the cost and time that the runway would be down. W & H Pacific will talk to the geotechnical people again. Lorelei said the alternatives are: #1 phasing is reconstruction of the section at a conservative 14 days. With this alternative they could close a portion of the runway and leave 2200 feet active. Planning Director Krauss said this would accommodate most of the aircraft on the airport. With this there is less impact and less time down time. #2 phase would be to close the entire runway for 4 days and do the entire job all at once. With this method they would be able to match in the paving and keep the grades consistent. The north end hold apron would allow one plane to sit there. The FAA has a plan to fix the taxiways in the next few years. Don Rottle said he would like to go on record that to get it done, do the 400 feet and complete overlay. Planning Director Krauss said it will be an operational decision. Alternative 2 to phase 2 is to limit the runway to 1500 feet, with a 3® phase of alternative 2 being a day and a half to pave the north end. Phase 4 will close entire runway to pave entire section. It will take 2 days longer to do with only partial closures. The airport would be shut down totally for 40 % of the time. Planning Director Krauss reminded everyone that the 2 flight schools would be making no money if the airport is down. Planning Director Krauss said alternative 2 is less damaging to the operations at the airport. Mark Napier said on the display of exhibit 2, pilots would have to back taxi to get to a take off point. He also PAGE 3 MINUTES OF THE AUBURN AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD FOR MAY 13, 2003 added that paving in three pieces, would mean 3 bumps as to one paving having no bumps. John Gallo said also that safety would be a concern. Bud said also weather would be a factor. Mark Napier said the time doesn't account for weather. They won't be constructing if there is bad weather, but there won't be flying either. John Gallo said tail draggers can be thrown off by the dip. At this time there was a discussion on the time line. One concern was that cracks might form at the paving joints. Mark Napier described that the paving section panels would be staggered. Alt #1 plan is 18 days (4 days closure) with less paving joints. Alt #2 plan is 19 days (1-1/2 days closure). Chairman Peloza asked what does the Board want to recommend to staff/operations? Board member Campbell made a motion to go with Alt #1 with the airport shut down for 4 days. Second by Bud Buchanan. Don Rottle voted no. Motion passed. AOPA video is available for members to check out and take home. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 am. Respectively submitted: Carolyn Brown, Secretary NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, June 17 @ CITY HALL, 8:00 a.m. PAGE 4