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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-08 Minutes• MINUTES OF THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING March 8, 2006 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Dave Bowman, David Hollman, Vaughn DeCoster, Janice Stanesic, Richard Greene, Otto Loewer STAFF PRESENT: Ray Boudreaux, James Nicholson, Louise Powers OTHERS PRESENT: Terry Collier -Tenant, Steve Runnels -Government Channel, Karen Hodges-NWACC, Mike Kratchmer-NWACC Aviation, Wayne Jones -McClelland Engineers Item #1• Welcome and Agenda Review — Chairman Bob Nickle. Welcomed everyone and explained the Board is now meeting on a new date, second Wednesday, and at a new time, 1:00. A. Comments from the Public on Items on the Agenda. None. ITEM #2: Minutes of the February 8, 2006 meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Dave Bowman and seconded by Janice Stanesic. The motion carried. • ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports. A. Bob Nickle, Chairman. None. B. Ray Boudreaux, Director. Related some of the items from his agenda report. Staff has been working with the FAA on the Benefit Cost (B/C) amount the Airport will have to pay for contract tower service, trying to reduce the cost to the Airport. The terminal rehabilitation project is moving along, but may have to move the opening date. Mr. Woolsey has said he won't have all of their furnishings by the end of April. The Board's presentation to the Council has been moved to a later date. Chairman Nickle spoke of the impact the B/C will have on the Airport's budget, we may be paying more than budgeted. Director Boudreaux explained we don't qualify for an FAA tower, but do qualify for a contract tower. The Federal Government is proposing to cut FAA AIP funding and he had sent out letters to senators and congressmen. Congressman Boozman sits on the Transportation Committee and his office has responded to our letter. Director Boudreaux said the Striping Plan for the parking lot will be $30,000.00. Photos provided by the U. of A. of buildings and sports were shown as possible photos to use in the lobby. V. DeCoster suggested leaving one space for a local contest, to showcase a local photographer. Don House and Don Nelms were mentioned as local photographers. C. James Nicholson, Financial Coordinator. Said the tower operations were ahead of same time last year, the aircraft operations have been growing the last few months. Million Air almost reached their goal of 40,000 gallons a month and February had fewer days than other months. Director Boudreaux said they would re -do the operations' charts reflecting the same time frame the FAA uses, their fiscal year He said Drake Field is setting the curve for all • other local airports because of Million Air's ability to buy bulk fuel. J. Nicholson reviewed the Financial Report, saying if all scheduled projects for this year take place we will have • • about $424,767.00 in our reserve fund. Hangar rehabilitation for a hangar facing Highway 71 was discussed, the project is in this year's budget. The building is in good shape, we don't have to do the project this year. Several years ago we installed new siding on two other hangars along Highway 71 greatly improving their appearance. D. Louise Powers, T -Hangar Report. All units are rented with about seventeen names on the list. There have been a couple of new leases, because some owners had several planes and sold their share of the aircraft to their partner. This did not create new planes on the field. Director Boudreaux suggested talking about Sun Screens at the Strategic Planning Meeting. He also related that Arkansas National Bank had recently located their Falcon 10 in the FRO hangar. E. Construction Report. W. Jones said he would be talking to the contactor about starting up the ramp/entrance project again. The striping plan is ready to advertise. The Master Plan Working Papers have been presented to the Board, and the consultants will be getting back with Airport Staff in April for comments. It was suggested to discuss the Master Plan's long term options at the Strategic Planning Meeting. The terminal project is moving ahead. F. Maintenance Report. Director Boudreaux reported staff had worked on broken hangar doors, the snow removal took two days and the Airport was opened in an appropriate time. The phone line to Arkansas Helicopters was cut during the construction, and we are working to have it fixed. You can still call in to them and leave a message and they will get right back to you. Chairman Nickle asked the Board and audience to report to staff any hangar door problems. • ITEM #4: Old Business. A. AirFest Update. Director Boudreaux said that Skyways Productions would be putting on the air show and read the list of performers, saying it is a good line up. Board members Richard Greene and Dave Bowman are on the air show committee. Richard is working on getting corporate sponsers and has made presentations to Wal-Mart and other corporations. There will be a Young Eagles training the Saturday moming of AirFest. Terry Collier will be working with volunteers. Rick McKinney is in charge of the performers. B. NWACC Grant Discussions. Dr. Hodges, Director of Operations NWACC in Washington County, was introduced. Director Boudreaux explained the Tech School's grant was budgeted for this year, referencing the guidelines for the grant and the proposals for the grant expenditures listed in the agenda. D. Bowman noted a recent article stating the leading export for Arkansas is now aerospace items. An aviation institute at Drake Field was discussed. Dr. Hodges thanked the Airport for their generosity, as the tech school had not been a part of NWACC when the grant was approved. It was decided to have Mike Kratchmer give a progress report each month at the Board Meetings. C. FAA Benefit Cost Analysis Update. Director Boudreaux told of thirty minute conference call with the FAA in Washington D.C. It was good to talk to all involved and thinks the result will be good. • ITEM #5: New Business. A. Community Gardens discussion. Marcia Donley was introduced. She takes care of some of the Airport's flower beds. She has volunteered to take on overseeing a Community Garden across the highway on Airport property. Plots would be rented out to interested parties. Board discussion followed with several comments: The Airport is not in the share 2 • • • cropper business; expectations by everyone; who is in charge -management problems, a lot of details to be worked out; work with the City Attorney; Liability; suggested turning it over to Parks Department; looks good in concept, suggested having the development plan emailed to the Board, and have all loose ends covered. B. Request for Proposals for engineering services. Director Boudreaux said McClelland Consulting Engineers contract will run out as of May 151. Information in agenda shows what will be advertised. A selection committee will be made up of City Council members, Staff from City Hall, Airport Staff and they will review the proposals and make a recommendation. Their selection will be a company who is familiar with airport projects. A motion to forward the "Request for Letters of Interest for Airport Consulting Engineer Service for Fayetteville Municipal Airport, Drake Field" to the City's Purchasing Department for advertising, and a selection committed be formed, was made by Vaughn DeCoster and seconded by Dave Hollman. The motion carried. ITEM # 7: Other Business. A. Items from the Public. Chairman Nickle, responding to the question would additional hangars will be built this year, suggested waiting to see the results of the tower's benefit cost ratio, as it will affect the airport's budget. Additional hangars can be discussed at the Strategic Planning Meeting. B. Items from the Board. Board Consensus was to begin the Strategic Planning Meeting at 1:00 pm on March 10th , with a cookout at Ray's house at 5:00. Director Boudreaux will email items for discussion at the meeting. Press coverage, and press releases of the 'did you know' types were discussed, with talk of a future press release about Maurice McClelland - wife of the founder of McClelland Engineers, was the first lady to receive a pilot's license in Northwest Arkansas. An article about the Air Museum and the Air Show was recently in the Morning News. Meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. 5 -(d -OC owman, Secretary Date