HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-24-2003Minutes of the Auburn Advisory Board meeting for June 24, 2003
The meeting of the Airport Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Bill Peloza. Board members
present were Bud Buchanan, Rodger Campbell, Don Rottle and Ron Wanttaja.
Guests present were Lorelei Mesic with W & H Pacific; Jamelle Garcia and Shawn Pratt, Auburn Flight
Service (AFS); John Vodrey and Dave Ward with NW Hangars; John Gallo, AOLP, and Ray Richcreek,
tenant.
Staff present were Mark Ellingson, Interim Airport Manager & Carolyn Brown, Planning Department
Secretary.
Rodger Campbell moved to accept the minutes of the May 13, 2003 meeting as read. It was seconded by
Don Rottle and all were in favor to approve.
Under old business the first item for discussion is the status of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Lorelei
Mesic with W & H Pacific said the request has been sent to the FAA office in Oklahoma City. They are now
looking at alternatives to transmitter and antenna. The FAA wants aircraft to be able to have communication
with SeaTac airport. At least the request is moving forward. The options will be e-mailed to W & H Pacific
and will then be sent on to the attention of Paul Krause, Director of Planning. John Gallo asked if the
antenna would connect to the remote transmitter. Lorelei answered that the antenna will connect with
SeaTac control, so pilots can access traffic control. Also, the antenna should be considerably less then the
original quote of $100,000. Lorelei said if anyone has ideas on the communication to let Paul know and he
will forward to W & H Pacific.
Agenda item 2 is the update on airport security. Interim Manager Ellingson said he has been receiving
updates on a daily basis. The log of times the security people are at the airport is available at the airport
office. The notes are pretty comprehensive as the security staff are taking names and times they talk to
people at hangars. Ray Richcreek noted that the Police volunteers are still patrolling. Interim Manager
Ellingson said yes the volunteers are back again and they have been briefed as to where to patrol. There
have been no reports of thefts. Jamelle Garcia of AFS noted that he hasn't noticed security in the area or
been contacted by the security people. Interim Manager Ellingson said the security staff are making 4 tours a
night.
The third agenda item is the Airport Management and Operations Request for Proposals (RFP) Status.
Interim Manager Ellingson said that he hasn't heard that any proposals have been submitted to the City at
this time.
The AAB reviewed the delinquent tenant account. The City has written off $2500 for tenants who have move
away. Still on the account are delinquencies of $876 at 90 days or older. This is the lowest delinquency
arrears in over a year.
Interim Manager Ellingson said he has talked to airport staff to get yellow paint to paint around the dips on
Hangar Row #9 and by the manhole for pre-cautionary measures. He will follow up with staff.
On the Aircraft Noise Abatement signage Interim Manager Ellingson will meet with Dave Burdick of Public
Works today and find out the status.
Interim Manager Ellingson said activity is slow hangar construction projects. NW Hangars will be submitting
permits in a few weeks.
The board discussed the resolution of the Russian aircraft. Chairman Peloza would like to have the
airplanes turned around and have the tails away from the street. Ron Wanttaja said in order to do that the
airport would have to relocate the tie downs as they are in a T-shape. Chairman Peloza said they are an
attraction to people going by. Ray Richcreek said a sign describing what they are might help. John Gallo
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Minutes of the Auburn Advisory Board meeting for June 24, 2003
said they detract from the airport. Chairman Peloza asked if the space can be rented. Interim Manager
Ellingson said not at this time as there are a lot of empty spaces available at the airport. Chairman Peloza
would like to set a meeting with Iouri Kharitonov and staff. Shawn Pratt asked if there are any airport
minimum standards and if they dictate flyable conditions. Interim Manager Ellingson answered there are
none and there several airplanes on the field that haven't been flown for some time. Staff to arrange meeting
with the tenant (Iouri Kharitonov) to discuss resolution of his aircraft situation.
Agenda item 9 is the issue of west side fencing as a security measure. Interim Manager Ellingson stated
that the fencing project is on hold due to the paving project. Lorelei Mesic added that all available funding is
being funneled to the paving project. Ray Richcreek asked ifWH Pacific staff has talked to the new officers
at the state office. Lorelei answered yes and they have been helpful.
There is nothing new to report on item 10 regarding Hangers Unlimited.
Item 11 is the remote transmitter status and staff is looking into alternatives.
NEW BUSINESS
The first item of business was a discussion by W & H Pacific on the runway construction-repair and the
funding options. Lorelei Mesic passed out a letter from the FAA to the AAB. According to the letter the full
cost of runway improvements has changed. The FAA has determined that there needs to be edge drains
along with the hold apron overlay. The FAA would like the city to do the complete project in 2004. $150,000
of the grant money has to spent this year. The money could be used by the FAA to fund the design, this
year and carryover any remainder to 2004. If the project goes ahead this year, they will only be able to do
crack repair. Also, the FAA thinks there could be a problem if there happens to be two different contractors.
The FAA would prefer to have one contractor do the whole job. The negative aspect of this is that the airport
will have to wait another year to do the project, especially with the FAA requiring edge drains and also will
have to plan how to phase the airport closures. The positive aspect is if the project is all one, the City will
only have to pay once and will get a better price from the contractor.
Ron Wanttaja asked if there are any options for the time of year. Lorelei answered that it is better to
construct in July, so the bid process could begin in January, 2004. Also, the crack repair could start in the
spring of 2004. Ron said he would prefer not to have the construction in the prime flying time.
Chairman Peloza wanted to know what is the main reason for the delay. Lorelei answered that the FAA has
added the requirement of ed.qe drains to the project, which weren't part of the original design. The purpose
of edge drains is to drain the base of the runway, so dips don't form in the runway. Edge drains cost
approximately $150,000. A portion of the $150,000 is driving this delay. One advantage of the delay, is the
FAA doesn't fund a design unless they are going to fund the project. The FAA has the $450,000 that was
promised to the airport, but at this time, they don't have the additional money to do the added ed.qe drains.
Also, the cost of the design hasn't increased, but cost of construction has increased significantly.
Chairman Peloza said the City will have to match more money as it is a 90-10 ratio. The $50,000 that the
City currently has budgeted for the match will now be higher. Ron Wanttaja added that it now is a more
durable project. Ray Richcreek asked about the dip, and Lorelei answered that is being reconstructed and
that is part of what is increasing the amount of asphalt. Chairman Peloza said at this time we won't know
what the actually cost to the City will be. Lorelei said that W & H Pacific is trying to find a way to do the crack
repair, in where the cracks will be cut out and dug down 4 inches, this year and the overlay next year. Also,
the edge drains will be phased, with each end done one at a time so only a portion of the runway will be
closed at one time. Don Rottle asked if there is any budget for the overlay between hangars. Lorelei
answered no, just the runway.
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Minutes of the Auburn Advisory Board meeting for June 24, 2003
Ron Wanttaja asked about picking a target date. Lorelei answered that in January the bid process will begin
and construction will be in the summer. Ron hoped to at least have a definite time schedule so Auburn Flight
Service could plan different phases of pilot training.
Chairman Peloza summarized and polled the board. Ron Wanttaja moved to recommend to staff and
Council that the project be delayed until next year, as an overall cost saving measure, in order to do all of the
project in 2004. The staff will need to maintain a watchful surveillance on the runway cracks until repair
work is done in the spring of 2004. All board members were in favor and none were opposed.
Item 3 is the hangar occupancy rates and waiting lists. Interim Manager Ellingson said there are 12 open
hangars vacant at this time and the waiting list is still in place.
Item 4 is the runway repair project memo from Director Paul Krauss and that was covered earlier in the
meeting.
Item 5 under new business is the summer surface sweeping schedule. Staff will review better options for
cleaning the airport runways and aprons. They will research info on vacuum equipment. Also, contact
Parks and Recreation about scheduling grass mowing.
Item 6 is on the airport financial account #435 is tabled until next month. Interim Manager Ellingson will
check with finance and see if someone can attend the next AAB meeting.
Auburn Airport Safety Issues - Shawn Pratt, Auburn Flight Service (AFS) is item 7 under new business and
also Item 6 under old business. Since being with AFS, Shawn has noticed that the blue water towers are the
congregating area for all incoming planes. Also, planes are using non-standard runway traffic patterns to
take off to the right. Normal take off is to the left. Pilots are at descending patterns coming in and students
and other pilots are not using radios, but using the blue water towers as visual. If planes take off to the
south, then they go right to avoid the hospital. With all the traffic at the airport, the safety issue is growing.
Shawn asked if it is possible to move the right hand pattern and make it a standard left hand pattern. FAA
knows we have a challenging airport and that would make both Runway 34 and 16 a standard traffic pattern.
Ron Wanttaja said using the cemetery as a visual is the key pattern for runway 16. Departing traffic and
arriving pattern could avoid each other. Noise abatement would ask for planes to get to 1000 feet as quickly
as possible and this will eliminate some noise. Ron W said some planes are at full power over a neighbor
hood at that right turn into the north wind. Also, there is noise at the south end of the airport.
Chairman Peloza suggests that Shawn put in a formal safety concern notice to the City via Planning Director
Krauss and cc Chairman Peloza. Also, provide suggestions and/or mitigation options.
Rodger Campbell moved to adjourn and Don Rottle seconded the motion.
Meeting was adjourned 9:20 am.
Next meeting to be held on Wednesday, July 16 @ CITY HALL Room 1. 8:00 AM
Respectively submitted by Carolyn Brown, Secretary Planning Dept.
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