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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-03 MinutesMINUTES OF THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING May 3, 2001 Members Present: Charles Wallace, Rick McKinney, Frank Burggraf, Frank Sperandeo, Dave Bowman, Otto Loewer Members Absent: Mike Andrews Staff Present: Others Present: WALLACE: • BURGGRAF: • Dale Frederick Terry Collier -tenant; Don Owens-ATCT (Tower) FYV; Mark McFarland & Chris Munroe -Barnard Dunkelberg & Co.; Jim Beaver -City Engineer; Jim Hillabrand-Hillabrand, Inc. (tenant); John Quinn & Wayne Jones - McClelland Consulting Engineers; John P (Pat) Ross- Ross Executive Aviation, Inc.; Nancy Varvil-NW Ark.Times; Greg McCoy -Aviation Tech. Center; Ben Paschal -tenant #E2; K.R. Schossow-Wings Avionics, Inc. ITEM #1: Call to Order Announced the Airport Board Meeting was being made available on Community television. He welcomed those attending by watching the meeting on television and invited their interest as the Board works to redevelop and find new direction for the Municipal Airport. ITEM #2: Minutes of the April 5, 2001 meeting A motion to approve the minutes was made by Frank Sperandeo and seconded by Mr. McKinney. The motion carried. ITEM #3: Old Business a. Drainage East Side Report and Request for Action. Stated a Drainage Committee was appointed at the last meeting, with Frank Burggraf as Chairman. Other members of the committee were Frank Sperandeo and Mike Andrews. There was a lot of concern that our engineers had let the airport down as rain water was draining through the new hangars. He expressed his thoughts that the engineers were not guilty of any misfeasances, or any malfeasances. They did an outstanding job of analyzing the project in coming up with alternatives. We examined it after rain and also put hoses on it. The initial paving was on about three ft. of fill and was properly constructed. It was adequately drained by the pitch on the asphalt. The quality of work was excellent. Buildings were set on the high point of the pitch. The problem came about because the new buildings were lined up with the old buildings and the new buildings are 10 ft. wider than the old buildings. All of the new • • • WALLACE: FREDERICK: JONES: WALLACE: buildings were shifted by 10 ft. They took a level to it and the grade is too little, and not much pitch, which is great in one way because the doors all fit. Another problem, the new hangars have a different door. The older hangars had doors with a feature that kept some water from coming in. The engineers had designed a curb on the new hangars to try to capture the water. Its not unreasonable to assume there has been some settling. Most of these problems are the result of the economies we have been trying to affect as a Board, or a previous Board. The best solution would be to put in a trench drain that would allow vehicles and aircraft to roll over it and some french drains. It will be adequate to take care of the situation now and in the future. The next problem will be how to pay for this. The engineers have assumed the responsibility of the engineering and analysis and that is their contribution. Alett has indicated we can qualify for state grants for 75% of the cost of a new project. He suggested that if a new hangar is built, to use the drain system. The cost, shown in the memo, is approximately $68,000. Said he should point out that staff had done a good bit of the work on this. Dale attended the meetings and participated. All we are really doing is sitting in judgement of staff's recommendation and the committee concurs with the recommendation. Finished plans and bid documents will be prepared and it will come before you again. Mentioned that this was the first meeting Alett had missed and she had sent her regards She is in Washington DC with her husband. A motion to allow staff to proceed with engineering to get a final draft to go to bid was made by Mr. McKinney and seconded by Mr. Sperandeo. Answering Mr. Loewer, yes this work will be done whether the airport gets a state grant or not. Answering Mr. Paschal, this will take care of the problem at his hangar. The airport will apply for a state grant which will pay 75% and the airport will be responsible for 25% of the cost. If the state doesn't give us a grant the airport will pay for it or seek alternative funding. Answering Mr. Schossow, the Airport has a standing contract with the engineers. It will go through competitive bidding for the construction. Answering Mr. Beavers, it would need to go through as a Change Order to the engineers contract so the City's decision makers would know what is going on, but there would not be any charge from the engineers for their services. Stated they were looking at the second meeting in July for Council approval The motion carried. -2- • • • Commented that by adding the drains they will have served the tenants well. He expressed concerns that as a Board they will continue to address the cost of the hangars. When the cost of the drains is added to the total the cost of the hangar, and then when you look at a time line to amortize that cost, we are getting too many years and that will drive up the rental rates. We need to keep the rental cost of the hangar attractive to get people to move to the airport. McFARLAND: b. Conceptual Land Use Plan. Stated he and Chris Munroe worked for Barnard Dunkleberg and Company and also worked with McClelland Engineers on this project. They have been working on the Conceptual Land Use Plan for the east side of the airport for several months. They had brought several alternatives for the Board to look at the last time they were here and the plan they brought today is the final recommendation. Since that meeting he said they had gone to great lengths to coordinate the plan with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service because of the instrumentation they each have on the east side of the airport. Their assignment had been to bring recommendations for development, and those recommendations should be in consideration of all the development influences that will say where the logical places are to build things on the east side, and where the not -so - logical places are to build things on the east side. This involves aviation requirements, setbacks for safety -aviation wise, setbacks for aviation related objects, surrounding developments, comprehensive plan for the City infrastructure, roadway access, utilities, anything that is going to be an influence on the development and let that be a tool for the airport to analyze future proposals. The plan shows what areas should be reserved for what function and where the roadways and taxiways should be. Every development that goes on there will have to go through the air spacing process with the FAA. On the west side we have shown some areas for sunshades for aircraft. LOEWER: Remarked on the amount of land that is available for development at the airport, it is really just narrow strips of land because of the hundred year flood plain and wet lands that we should stay out of. He wanted the community to understand the real amount of land available for development. McFARLAND: Stated that it really is a significant amount of development area, although compared to the entire airport property it is relative small. There are a lot of businesses that do really well with just 200' x 200' or a 200' x 400' facility. Answering Mr. McKinney, they feel comfortable with the FAA keeping the safety areas of 500' wide and 1000' off the end of the runway. The critical thing is the setbacks with the localizer. Each project will need to take into -3- • • • • BURGGRAF: JONES: LOEWER: consideration the setbacks of everything and adjustments be made then. Expressed concerns about soil conditions so close to the wet lands and that it would possibly make the cost of building on the east side be more expensive. Stating he thought an engineer should look at it as it might be cheaper to condemn properties, such as junkyards, and build on the west side. Stated the soils, whether on the east side or the west side are basically the same. The east side does have a lower elevation so there could be more fill required by City regulations. The Fire Service does have some heavier aircraft and that will need to be taken into consideration in building taxiways and ramps, so you will have more costs in building to support those. Commented that these buildings are for aviation related businesses and that is why they are so close to the runways and taxiways. This may change the way we market the community. JONES: Answering Mr. Frederick, yes, there is some movement in environmental issues to change the way they look at wet lands on airports. WALLACE: A motion was made to receive and approve the Conceptual Land Use Plan was made by Mr. McKinney and seconded by Mr. Loewer. The motion carried. ITEM # 4: New Business a DHL Worldwide Express Lease Explained that DHL is a freight carrier on the field. They have grown substantially here and the Airport is proud of them. They will move from a t -hangar on the east side to the "old fire station". This is good for the airport and DHL, giving DHL streetside and airside access, and would reduce the vehicle traffic on the t -hangar ramp and airfield. To help them grow their business, as an incentive their rental fee would remain the same for the first two years with a built-in escalating fee A motion to approve the DHL Lease was made by Mr. Burggraf and seconded by Mr. Sperandeo seconded. The motion carried. b. Tower The FAA funds Air Traffic Controlled Towers (ATCT) based upon the number of operations at an airport. The tower is responsible for the separation and coordination of air traffic in the air and on the ground. At the present time our tower is funded 100% by the FAA contract program. Based upon their most recent review they are going to drop a large portion of the -4- • • • • McKINNEY: BURGGRAF: funding for the tower. We could continue to keep the tower on a shared funding. The FAA has requested a response by May 12`h. Expressed his appreciation for the tower personnel, stating they are about the nicest tower operators around. The FAA gave three options. One, which is staff's recommendation, that we provide site specific data by June 1 Th. If you use new data it will look better than what the FAA used for the previous year Our number of aircraft operations are up. The other options are: we contribute to the cost of funding the tower using their formula; and to discontinue the tower program and the tower would close. Stated there are other things besides air traffic operations on the field that help contribute to the FAA funding of the tower, such as the number of aircraft based on the field and the type of businesses on the field. Suggested letting the FAA know our count is on an upward movement. The Forest Service partially based their decision to locate at Drake because of the tower. We need the tower in our marketing efforts as a FAA Part 135 airport to cargo and transport operators. Alett has asked the Board to give her any suggestions to use in her letter to the FAA. Asked Mr. Schossow to give Dale a begin date for the self-service fuel farm and some sort of projections of usage because that would help our numbers. Responding to Mr. Sperandeo, pointing out the airport could be used as a reliever airport would be a good point to use in the response The Forest Service will increase the airport's usage. LOEWER: Stated that having the tower is a selling point for other things in the community, such as businesses at the high tech park just down the road. A disruption of tower service would effect a lot of things. BOWMAN: The safety factor is also important, economics is good, but having positive separation out there, especially when you start mixing heavy aircraft with light aircraft. Without the tower we are dead in the water. WALLACE: A motion was made that the Board accept Option A, provide additional information to Alett by May 8th to use in the letter due to the FAA by May 12th, let the letter be a positive response (indicating the Airport is interested in cost sharing and additional information will be provided to the FAA), and then let the FAA respond. The motion was made by Mr. McKinney and seconded by Mr. Sperandeo. The motion carried. We ask that the record show that we have asked Mr. Otto Loewer to help with the letter to the FAA. c. CIP submittal. A motion to forward the revised Capital Improvement Plan to the City -5- BOWMAN: McKINNEY: Council was made by Mr. Burggraf and seconded by Mr. McKinney. The motion carried. d. Signage to Airport, discussion/Dave Bowman Explained as a new Board Member, he had concerns that the airport is not identified on Highway 540. The area is growing, new people moving in and if they only travel 540 they don't know there is an airport here. Stated he would like to see a sign that we have an airport and something advertising that we have a very good A & P school and an Air Museum. Said he understood the airport has tried to get the signs there and as we are trying to economically develop the airport there needs to be signs. Answering Mr. Wallace, he said he would agree to be the new voice to work on that project. Stated the Transportation Sub -committee of the Chamber of Commerce is going to meet on May 23`d and will be working on behalf on the Air Museum at John Kalagois' request for signage on 540. Stated Mr. Bowman would be welcome to attend. SPERANDEO: Suggested quick, splashy, public service announcements on the regular TV stations. LOWER: Commented that with the new renovations on the football stadium, there will be new people coming into Fayetteville. The airport needs to be identified. SPERANDEO: Stated that you have to have a reservation to land during the football game days and parked aircraft overflow from FBO ramp to the east side hangar ramp. BOWMAN: Stated that very few schools have an airliner to work on, that it is another feather in our cap. McCOY: WALLACE: Said they are negotiating for four more events. The school plans to paint the name of their school on the donated aircraft. He thanked the Board for their help. Stated that Mr. Bowman has agreed to work with the Chamber and the State Highway Department and asked Mr. Bowman to report back at the next Board Meeting with a formal resolution to go to the state. ITEM # 5: Other Business FREDERICK: a. Marketing Report Gave a summary of the report in the agenda. Mentioned one local company is interested in the airport to locate an incubator business and is checking on • • • • FREDERICK: WALLACE: FREDERICK: WALLACE: KALAGIAS: the power he would need to the hangar. He was involved with the design of the vacuum cleaner that picks up the bowling ball and is going to be working on an aircraft turbine engine. Two out-of-town companies visited the airport. One was a charter company and the other was the result of a company he had called on in Kansas. The Airport is hosting the May meeting of the State Aeronautics Commission at Drake Field. Lunch and a tour of the Airport will be provided after the meeting and invited the Airport Board to attend. Mr. Ray Boudrueax from Illinois visited with some of the Airport Board and staff. His job was to work with a closed military base and worked on redeveloping the base into an active airport. Commented he had visited with Edwards Air in December and from that visit the A & P school received their donated aircraft. Mr. Edwards is located in Mountainburg and as his operation grows Drake would be a good location for him. We have visited with a charter company that would work charters to Las Vegas. They are working up a business plan. Commented on a survey of t -hangar rental rates and the need to keep ours competitive. We recently rented two hangars to someone from Ft. Smith and we have others from Ft. Smith also. b. Grant received from State Aeronautics Commission. At their April meeting under their new program to help renovate old hangars, they awarded Drake Field an $81,007 grant to renovate and rehabilitate two existing commercial hangars, increased lighting requirements at the A & P school, covered entry doors and some additional insulation at the old Tyson hangar. c. Copy of letter to Kenneth Schossow regarding hangar repairs. Stated he would like to move this to a staff meeting. It is an item that needs to be resolved and volunteered his assistance at the meeting. Commented that Wings Avionics (Ken Schossow's business) is one of the airport's growing businesses and we needed to help to the extent that we can. Explained that was why the letter was put in the agenda under Other Business, to show the follow-up action since the last meeting. Stated there was a request to speak from the Air Museum. Explained he had been getting ready for Airfest in June and was still looking for some corporate sponsors. Also, the Museum had just received a donated aircraft that morning from Harrison. It is the 4th flying aircraft the museum has had donated to them. The museum is changing from all classic aircraft to encompass everything. He stated the fuel had always been a problem for Airfest and had called the -7- • • WALLACE: KALAGIAS: FREDERICK: KALAGIAS: WALLACE: KALAGIAS: SPERANDEO: Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and talked to Mark Courdin (president of the FBO-Aero Tech/Fayetteville Air Service). They had sponsored the fuel, 2,000 gallons, the last three years. Mr. Courdin indicated they would sponsor it from their Springdale operation (Springdale Air) Later, Chuck Chadwick (attorney for Fayetteville Air) had called and said Fayetteville Air would like to do 2,000 gallons, but would like to get, either fuel flow or rent consideration, something that shows that they do support the field, and that they do support the Museum. They would like a waiver on the fuel flowage fee or a one time shot at rent reduction as a show of a goodwill situation. Stated the request was that the City waive the flowage fee for the donated 2,000 gallons of fuel. Thanks to Rick McKinney and Dale Frederick, he now has the answer to the question. The City can't do that, but the cost of the fuel would be about $100 and Dale Frederick has agreed to raise $100 to cover that. Said he wasn't sure that was the FBO's object, to get the $100 in cash. Stating that basically, the way he understood it the FBO wanted to show they had been helping and they want to see some kind of response that the FBO is recognized, that they have been a great help to Airfest. He said he had told the FBO he would bring it to the Board. Responding to Mr. McKinney, he had received information of the request that morning and had called the City Attorney. The fuel flowage fee is set by City Ordinance, which neither the Airport Board nor any airport management would have the authority to waive the fee, only the City Council, and the time -frame would be too involved with all of the paperwork. Stated he didn't think that would solve what the FBO wants. Stated he now understood what the FBO is saying. We need to thank the FBO for their contribution of the fuel, their contribution to Airfest, to acknowledge that has the support of the Airport, and we need to ask their understanding in the government process involved in getting a contribution. The efforts would far exceed the value of the contribution. Said he wanted to add that he has a great relationship with this FBO, with Ken (Schossow-Wings Avionics) and the A & P school and that he didn't want to get in the middle of something. Asked if Mr. Kalagias would mind writing a Thank You note to the FBO at the end of Airfest, thanking them for the 2,000 gallons. • • • KALAGIAS: Commented he had already done that. WALLACE: Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. rank Burggraf, ecretary / / Date