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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-19-2003MINUTES OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING FOR AUGUST 19, 2003 Chairman: Bill Peloza called the meeting to order at 8:05 am. Members present were Rodger Campbell, Don Rottle, and Ron Wanttaja. Bud Buchanan was absent. Staff present is Planning Director Paul Krauss, Interim Airport Manager Mark Ellingson and Carolyn Brown. Guests are John Gallo, AOLP representative; Ray Richcreek, tenant; Jamelle Garcia, AFS The minutes of the July 15, 2003 meeting were approved as amended. The first item under old business is the letter to the federal and state government regarding the status of the FAA / GPS / Remote Transmitter. PK said a letter has been drafted and needs names, but it should go out today or tomorrow. On item 2 on the Airport Management/Operations RFP. On August 5, there was a special meeting of the AAB. The written comments of the AAB have been forwarded on to the Muni Services meeting. The Board recommended that the City contract with an outside firm (Airport Management Group) to manage/operate the airport, as it would be in the best interest of the City. The concern is there is no conflict of interest. City Attorney Dan Heid and Finance Director Shelley Coleman will work with Jamelle Garcia to resolve. Item 3 is the delinquent tenants account status. Interim Airport Manager Ellingson said that the City has received a $200 payment from one of the tenants, Ron Finelli who has been in arrears. Finelli has been flying one of the airport staff to other airports in order to post Auburn Airports new sign. Another tenant, Phillip Parkhurst owes money, but he had a detailing business at the airport and has left the airport at this time. Interim Airport Manger Ellingson said the debt owed by Parkhurst has been written off by the finance department. Now the City can start collection proceedings. On item 4, the runway constructions status the City Council has accepted $450,000 which is the first part of the FAA. $800,000 to $900,000 is the new cost of the runway project. Right now the City is drawing against the first $450,000 for the design work. The project should be put out to bid in January or February and then the work can start as soon as possible in the spring. Chairman Peloza recommended that a schedule of the airport runway project plan be developed by staff. Planning Director Krauss will put a schedule together along with a time-line and calendar. Planning Director Krauss also added that a grant request is going to the state asking for a 5% grant to help defray the City's part, which is 10%, of the construction project. Item 5 is the on-going problem of the condensation problem in the north end hangar. Chairman Peloza is still concerned about this issue. He inquired as to the construction contract and would like to check if there is a warranty on materials and workmanship to correct defects. Planning Director Krauss said he will look at the contract again. The AAB discussed contract issues and Planning Director Krauss gave background on the roofing company that repaired the hangar roofs on the north buildings. Chairman Peloza asked if there has been any issues with airport security, which is Item 6 on the agenda. John Galla asked that the security company be cautioned about driving the wrong way on the one way street area by the hangars. Interim Airport Manager Ellingson said there was one reported occurrence where security challenged tenants and there was a verbal incident. Item 7 the noise abatement sign, has been put in place. The action is complete Item 8 is the question of the Russian aircraft parked at the south end of the airport. Interim Airport Manager Ellingson said he spoke with Iouri Kharitonov about repairing the planes by August. Some work has been done. Chairman Peloza said he still would like to meet with Iouri and discuss possible actions that could be taken regarding the condition of the planes. Aisc, he wanted to know if the Airport could Page 1 use the space where the Russian aircraft are tied down. Planning Director Krauss indicated he has had more requests to build on City property. There is already open tie-down space by the office. Jamelle Garcia asked if the planes could be moved to another location at the airport. Don Rottle and Rodger Campbell would like to be included in a meeting with loud Kharitonov. A meeting time will try to be set up in the next two weeks. It will include Chairman Peloza, Planning Director Krauss, Don Rottle and Rodger Campbell John Gallo asked if a helicopter touch down area could use the space where the Russian aircraft are now located. Ron Wanttaja stated that the staff at the hotel at the south end would probably complain about the helicopter noise. Item 9 was added as a late item. AAB discussed the west side fencing and any security problem that it might create. Planning Director Krauss said the FAA denied a request for a grant for the fencing siting, the fact that they are funding the runway project now. After discussion Chairman Peloza noted that to finish up the fence at this time is not cost effective and does not appear to be a real security issue. Board members and staff concurred. Aisc added to the agenda is the sweeping schedule as Item 10. Interim Airport Manage Ellingson said the staff is sweeping once a month. Grass cutting and sweeping are being done on a regular basis. NEW BUSINESS A fall meeting with all tenants is scheduled for October 21 with the AAB regular meeting at 6:30 pm and the tenant discussion at 7:00. Jamelle Garcia offered the use of his facility at AFS. John Gallo said also on September 6 at 2 pm there will be an all tenant barbeque at hangar 110. Planning Director Krauss said that the City's preliminary budget is due by Friday, August 15. For the airport the items on the budget are to resolve the management structure, the runway project, and to fill the hangars. The fencing project can be added if the money can be found. John Gallo asked about the resealing of the new taxi-ways. Planning Director Krauss said that project has been moved back until 2005. Aisc, he added that discussion could be revisited after the management issue is settled. John Gallo wished to discuss the helicopter concerns. He decided to talk to the helicopter group. At the meeting he asked them about their run-on landings. At the meeting there seemed to be an indication that the helicopter group might be moving to another airport. They need a specific area for the helicopters. The helicopter groups are not tenants and Ron W wondered if the City should fix an area for non-tenants. Jamelle Garcia, John Gallo will meet with Ove Larson of the FAA and checkout possible heliport options. Chairman Peloza asked about airport participation in the 2004 Auburn Good Old Days. He suggested the board be involved and designate the airport as a destination point. The consensus was that the last time the airport tried to participate they did not have a good turn-out as the airport is out of the main stream downtown area. John Gallo said an open house would be good and Ron W. added that the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) fly-in group has insurance. Planning Director Krauss added that the City has a blanket insurance. Ray Richcreek said they had good response from the kids the last time there was a Young Eagles event at the airport. Ron W. added that a Young Eagles event could be in connection with Auburn Good Old Days. Chairman Peloza said he would contact Connie Henke, who is the event coordinator. One last item is that President Bush will be in the area on August 22 and a no-fly bulletin will be issued. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 am. The next meeting will Tuesday September 16 @ City hall in Room 3 at 8:00 AM. Respectively submitted by Carolyn Brown, Secretary Page 2