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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-10 Minutes• Airport Board Meeting • February 10, 2005 • • Members Present: Bob Nickle, Otto Loewer, Dave Bowman, Frank Sperandeo, David Hollman, Janice Stanesic, Vaughn DeCoster Staff Present: Ray Boudreaux, James Nicholson, Louise Powers Others Present: Derald Linn -Ark. Air Museum, Tim McClurg and Mike Kratchmer-Ark Aviation Tech. Center, Bill Maddox and Velvet Medlock -Graham of Government Channel Fort Smith, Bob Burbage-Superior Industries, Don Harris -FAA Southwest Region, Bob Barnard -Barnard Dunkelberg & Co., Wayne Jones -McClelland Con. Engineers, Terry Collier - Tenant, Betty Loewer-U of A Item #1: Welcome and Agenda Review Chairman Nickle introduced himself, explaining he was the new chairman of the Board. Item #2 and #3: Minutes of the December 2, 2004 meeting and the minutes of the January 13, 2005 meeting. F. Sperandeo stated the December minutes should reflect that Bob Nickle suggested developing an email list. Chairman Nickle asked for that to be added, as well as expressing appreciation to Frank Sperandeo for collecting the email addresses. He said this list improves our ability to communicate and make this a great place to be for our tenants and customers. A motion to approve both sets of minutes with the addition mentioned was made by David Hollman and seconded by Frank Sperandeo. The motion carried. Chairman Nickle asked if there were any items for the next agenda and received none. Item #4: Receiving of Reports. A. Bob Nickle, Chairman Explained an airport meeting would be scheduled soon, probably on a Saturday morning, to learn what our tenants want for the service levels for the FBO. The information will be used for the FBO Selection Committee. It does not mean we are bound to accept any of the RFP's. A notice of the meeting will be sent out in the bills and emailed. B. Ray Boudreaux, Director. Introduced Don Harris, FAA Senior Program Manager, from Fort Worth, saying he is the guy who brings the money. We have had meetings with Wayne Jones regarding the west side apron and the Master Plan. Don Harris conducted the final inspection on the forest service project, everything passed except the edge dirt filling, but that is being taken care of today. Also Bob Barnard is here and will talk about the Master Plan. Director Boudreaux asked for the Board's direction on the Board's overfilled agenda books. The Board's Consensus was to keep six months' agendas in the book at a time, to get new books for the FBO and Financial Reports going back to the beginning of 2004's reports, and sending an electronic version of last year's agendas to Vaughn DeCoster. Director Boudreaux reported the repairs to T -Hangar B's roof have been completed and bids are out on #C. Plane Good continues with good food. The Post Office project is complete and they will open on February 2lst. Otto Loewer, Charles Wallace and I met with Professor 1 • • • • Betty Loewer's class at the University. Mr. Loewer said they were able to give three different perspectives and after class he had been given a good report of the session. He also mentioned this project will get a lot of publicity. Director Boudreaux said planning work continues on AirFest for Fathers Day weekend in June. Bobby Younkin will be performing three different acts with three different aircraft. The Air Museum has scheduled the Canadian Snow Birds for a Wednesday, October 5th afternoon performance. The WiFi (wireless interne connection) antenna has been installed in the terminal lobby and is available throughout the terminal. C. James Nicholson, Financial Report In reviewing his report in the agenda he stated aircraft operations had been down, but fuel sales were above average. Weather had kept the smaller planes from flying but the ballgame traffic bought a lot of fuel. Ninety percent of the fuel sales in January were jet sales He stated he had included fuel prices from FBO's in other parts of the country in the report. V. DeCoster suggested including Tulsa, R. L. Jones, Riverside Airport which are general aviation airports. Director Boudreaux said the Contract Tower Association reported operations were down everywhere. F. Sperandeo stressed our fuel prices should not be higher than Siloam Springs, and when reminded the pricing is set by the pricing formula, he requested another Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss the pricing formula and his MARS marketing plan, adding a lot of people are going to Siloam Springs for fuel. Chairman Nickle said we don't understand Siloam Springs' pricing and that we can't always be the lowest, and that we need to be good stewards of the City. J. Nicholson stated that two-thirds of the AVGas sold in January was from the truck. Answering F. Sperandeo, he said the self -serve was down some the last week of December, not January, and yes it had been down for a few hours last week. O. Loewer related the fuel sales had gone up every year and whatever we are doing the number are in the right direction. J. Nicholson referred to the Financial Report saying not all the entries are in from the Accounting Department, but should be by the end of February. The projected end year amount has been left off until we get further into the year. There were no aviation fuel purchases shown in January, we did take deliveries, but didn't pay for them until in February so they are not in this report. The budgeted revenues will increase with the completion of the new T -Hangar and the Post Office revenues. The Fund Balance looks rosy now, but it is bound to change during the year. The Cost Allocation has a reduction for 2005. The FAA hasn't released the amount of funds for the new AIP projects for this year so they aren't included. Director Boudreaux reported that was one of the meetings they had with Don Harris yesterday and $700,000 was the estimated amount for this year D. Louise Powers, T -Hangar Report. All T -Hangars are rented and all hangar storage units are rented. In the FBO Hangar there were eleven monthly tenants, two tenants renting one- half a month at a time, and 9 overnights. E. Construction Report. W. Jones reported a special fuel resistant coating for the U. of A. hangar is scheduled to start next week and that will complete the project. The T -Hangar is under way. The asphalt is in with some work needed in one spot. All water drains away from the hangar. The porous drain is completed. The new taxiway had its final inspection yesterday, with some minor work needed next to the edges. The Forest Service people were here yesterday and were very happy with the overall project. Regarding the proposed west apron, the idea has changed some and we are working to revamp the cost estimate to present to the FAA. Director Boudreaux said we need to have a Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss the design of the ramp as well Frank's request to look at the fuel pricing formula. Answering F. Sperandeo, he said the airport entrance will be fixed this summer, we have the money, and we plan to use the circular route, it will save us money. W. Jones answering F. Sperandeo, said the problem with the pilings for the new hangar was the problem of the 2 • • • contractor and it will not be an add-on. Director Boudreaux said the University is unhappy about the location of their signs and that is being worked on. O. Loewer asked what the policy for hangar signs along the highway? Director Boudreaux explained we had replaced Superior's sign that had been removed with siding construction and as long as the building is set back a certain distance the sign can be installed at a certain height. Sign along the highway are different, because we have one free standing sign already, the Post Office hasn't been able to install their free standing sign. Chairman Nickle said he had some thoughts on that. The Sign Appeal Committee no longer exists, and the City views the Airport as one single piece of ground and perhaps we could do a lot split to justify having more signs. If you have forty acres and haven't subdivided for "X" number of years it could be done administratively at City level by staff, by breaking down the highway frontage into four parcels. W. Jones said something else to look at is not going through a Large Scale Development every time we do a project, it would save money. Once the Master Plan is completed we could put it before the Planning Commission for their approval as potentially what will happen, except for the grading and drainage projects. F. Maintenance Report. Director Boudreaux said as of January 1 we started using Maintenance Requests that we send to the maintenance staff and they respond back. It took some training on the computer, getting them a computer and they are responding to the work order really well. They have worked on the following items: continuously removing junk from along the fence lines, repaired the jet truck, lights at the north and south end, runway lights that burned out, repaired the aircraft tug transmission, installed a new screening fence behind the restaurant, hot water heater blew out in restroom, and the AMP roof repaired. W. Jones said the contractor for the hangar complex has repaired the light at the airport entrance. Director Boudreaux responding to T. Collier, said staff had replaced thirty security signs that had faded, more signs have been ordered to continue on around the fence line. Answering F. Sperandeo, the lights passed the entrance to the T -Hangar gate are on the list for repair, they are not high on the priority list as there isn't any traffic there. F. Sperandeo said the school bus goes past there and there needs to be light for the kids Director Boudreaux said they will be moved up on the priority list and will be corrected by the next meeting. Answering Chairman Nickle, Director Boudreaux said it was 26 degrees at 6:30 a.m. today and the self service fuel facility worked, we pumped five gallons. F. Sperandeo said that in his opinion we have a sub -standard facility. He related complaints about the back yard nozzle, and that the line isn't spring loaded, and the facility is not covered, the one in Siloam Springs is covered. Chairman Nickle asked staff to look into it and come back with figures at the next meeting. Director Boudreaux explained the current nozzle and hose was a replacement at the request of east side tenants, they had said the original one was too heavy. V. DeCoster said as a private customer he had yet to see a covered machine and he travels a lot. Director Boudreaux also explained the office phone number was placed on the machine and if there are any problems they are to call the office, also, we will fill them at the self serve price. Answering F. Sperandeo, the Mayor did send a letter to person who complained on AirNay. Also, everyone who had to get fuel from the truck when the self serve was out, got the fuel at self serve price. Chairman Nickle said the customer was made happy and didn't want to hear anymore about that issue. ITEM # 5: Old Business. • A. Electrical Upgrade Project for T -Hangars. This item will be brought up at the next meeting. ITEM #6: New Business. 3 • • • • A. Presentation: Draft Scope of Work Airport Master Plan. W. Jones introduced Bob Barnard, saying his company had worked on the Airport's Master Plan two different times, and their company works all over the country from large airports to smaller than ours. B. Barnard said this is one of their favorite airports. They first worked on a Drake Airport project in 1980 developing the Master Plan. A Scope of Work is in the agenda packet, saying they felt it was an efficient work, no fluff, and meets the needs and goals and desires for the next five to twenty year period. He explained he had spent a lot of time with Ray, and today at noon with Don Harris, saying Don is a very detailed person. Their company plans to work very closely with staff and the Board. All their company does is airport planning and they been involved with all the local airports except Siloam Springs. They will work with the Airport's Capital Improvement Program and it will be an overall guide for the Airport. He invited everyone to read the Scope of Work, it is a flexible plan, it can be modified, and bring their questions to the Strategic Planning Meeting. This will be about a one year project. He stated he looked forward with working with everyone and having involvement from tenants and users. Director Boudreaux asked everyone to consider the Scope of Work and hopefully we can approve the Scope of Work at the next Board Meeting. The FAA responds to a good Master Plan and Certified Airport Layout Plan. Chairman Nickle asked Ray to visit with Tim Conklin and the Mayor about the possibility of using the Master Plan for the Planning Commission once it is completed. W. Jones suggested finding out if there is any special language that would need to be adjusted and it can be done in the Master Plan. A tentative date of February 22n1 at 1:00 was set for the Strategic Planning Meeting. ITEM #7: Other Business. • A. Items from the public. (1) Mike Kratchmer, Director, Arkansas Aviation Technology Center. He gave a presentation on the formation of their training center and history to current time. A copy is attached. Funding is a concern and he is researching how other public and private not-for- profit technical schools have met similar challenges. They have recently formed an Aviation Program Advisory Board to help formulate plans for the future of the AMT program at Drake Field. He encouraged the ,general public to visit the Fayetteville Airport, the museums, the aviation businesses, the restaurant, learn to fly, and visit AATC. (2) Professor Betty Loewer, University of Arkansas. She explained she teaches a large scale design class and spoke of other class projects. Parts of some of some projects were actually used. She spoke of Ray, Mr. Wallace and her husband meeting with her class that day. Students have already visited the terminal and will generate ideas and proposals for the use of the empty space. She asked the Board to visit and interact with the class which will create further development. All class members this year are juniors and female. Team teaching is involved with two other facility members. At the end of the semester the class will present their ideas to the Board, May 3i1 was suggested, using the lobby and to invite a lot of people. She said they were looking forward to working with staff and the Board. (3) Chairman Nickle said a third item had been added and introduced Derald Linn from the Air Museum. Mr. Linn expressed gratitude for being afforded the opportunity to speak. About one year ago the Museum applied for a grant to evaluate the collection and to evaluate the building. Since the Airport owns the building he wanted to give a brief report, the full report is at his office. Regardless of its age, the hangar is in good • shape, although the roof leaks. He suggested a preventive maintenance program be established to preserve the building. Answering F. Sperandeo, we would be responsible for the roof systems. Chairman Nickle said the City Council would probably say to us you've still got money, you take care of it. Director Boudreaux stated we did get the Museum's 4 • • • utilities taken off our budget this year, as well as the utilities for the Ozark Military Museum. We are scheduled to repair the sprinkler system this year. The Airport does not receive any rent from the museum. F. Sperandeo asked for the amount of money the Airport had spent on the Air Museum last year. He suggested using the income from the Air Show towards repairs and developing some revenue generating programs. D. Linn said we use that money and money from donations and sales to operate on all year. Chairman Nickle said the museum is a great asset to the Airport. He suggested approaching the A and P Commission. D. Linn said they had received money from them in the past, but they had their last meeting during the changeover of Directors and nobody attended. Their next meeting is scheduled for April. The last time they gave us money it was $20,000. Before that it had been $40,000. Chairman Nickle suggested helping by having ARAB take care of their pest control as part of ARAB's contract with the Airport. D. Linn answering F. Sperandeo said yes the museum still rents out the museum for events for a fee. O. Loewer mentioned a proposal he had seen from a Universitiy group for a train transportation for Northwest Arkansas, us at one end and ending at Bella Vista, with a stop at XNA. Chairman Nickle said he could see parking fees. Director Boudreaux said they had also talked in that meeting of having a remote check-in here, busing the passengers to XNA. B. Items from the Airport Board. D. Bowman reported the annual community college aviation dinner is scheduled for March 5`h at the Fayetteville Clarion. The guest speaker is an air show pilot and also a pilot for FedEx. The cost is $20 for non -students and $10 for students, and to call the college for tickets. Director Boudreaux answering questions about the Compass Rose said the location at the north end of the west ramp had been coordinated with Wings and AMP. • • Meeting adjourned. '3 -/ l _c C Dave BowmanjSecretary Date • 5