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Home My WebLink About1978-08-16 Minutes (2)8/16/78 312 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS August 16, 1978 The Fayetteville City Board of Directors met in special session on August 16, 1978, 7:15 p.m., at the Arkansas Western Gas Company office building. PRESENT: Directors Ernest Lancaster, John Todd, Paul Noland, Al Hughes, David Malone, and Philip Colwell; City Clerk Darlene Westbrook, City Manager Don Grimes • ABSENT: Director Ann Henry • OTHERS PRESENT: Springdale Mayor Roy Ritter and Springdale Councilmen Ted Wiggins, John Box, Harold High, Henry Tevebaugh, James Irwin, Charles McKinney and Roy Baker; members of the audience and representatives of the news media. CALL TO ORDER 312.1 The special session was called to order by Mayor Ernest Lancaster who stated the purpose of the meeting as being to determine whether or not to proceed with plans for a regional airport; whether or not to include other governmental entities in the project; and how the project should proceed. Mayor Lancaster noted that both Fayetteville and Springdale have adopted resolutions accepting the Master Study II/Plan which had recently been completed and submitted. 312.2 Springdale Mayor Roy Ritter asked if those in the audience had any comments or questions regarding the regional airport. There were none. 312.3 Springdale councilman Charles McKinney said the two cities needed to decide whether to proceed with plans for a regional airport, if so, whether the environmental impact study should be conducted by a local citizen group or by the FAA. If conducted by a citizen group, McKinney advised, each city would have to commit an additional $10,000 as matching funds for an FAA study grant. McKinney advised that there would be no additional expenditures necessary if the cities were to request FAA to conduct the study; however, such a study could mean at least a three year delay in the project. He said the regional airport project would take an estimated 8 to 10 years to complete. 312.4 Consulting Engineer Carl Yates said the selection of the site would be part of the impact study if the study were conducted by a local citizen group. He advised that an FAA study would primarily prepare a statement for one site but that it might be possible that FAA would consider studying alternative sites. Yates said FAA would need to know whether they would be requested to do the study or whether the study would be conducted by a citizen group. Yates felt that two advantages of a citizen's study would be the involvement of Northwest Arkansas residents in the study process and there would not be as much time required for the citizen's study. 312.5 Mayor Lancaster did not feel the citizens should be asked to provide funds for another airport study and felt it would be wiser to request the FAA to conduct the study at no charge even though it would add a few years to the project. Spring- dale councilman High agreed. 312.6 Fayetteville Director Phil Colwell questioned whether the cities would be re- quired to indicate their intentions to conduct an election concerning millage for site acquisition. He posed the question of what would happen if the site acquisition III millage were approved but the millage for airport construction denied. 312 1 1 .,..,..,......c..u..a . ».• ... ..... 313 8/16/78 Yates said hds recommendation would be that the'FAA conduct the impact study 313.1 with the cities' assurance that an election would be held if the study results were favorable. Yates informed that the only way to reduce acquisition cost and tax millage requirements would be to consider the Highfill site near Benton County. Yates said studies for all three sites could be requested. During discussion of the time required for an FAA study, the two governing 313.2 bodies concurred that the time lapse would et least keep the project alive and would provide time for changes in priorities. Airport Study Committee Secretary Dale Christy said that a different financing formula might evolve dur ng the time lapse. He felt the cities should leave their options open and indicate they are interested and that they will call an election when the time is right and a site is Environmentally approved. Director Colwell said he agreed the need for the airport exists. He was con- 313.3 cerned that taxpayers of Fayetteville and Springdale would have a 5% increase in property and personal taxes to provide a facility which would benefit the entire Northwest Arkansas area. He felt there should be a method by which to charge those who use the facility. Yates advised that the acquisition costs are estimates based upon current 313.4 information. He did not know what the costs might be when the project was ready for construction but that he did not think the millage would be any greater. Lancaster reminded that the project is a long-range plan for 10 - 15 years from now and that action should be taken to keep it alive. Fayetteville Director David Malone said it would seem that at least Fayetteville 313.5 and Springdale would be involved and that other governmental entities could become involved. He felt FAA should be notified that, if FAA conducts the environmental impact study, Fayetteville and Springdale will have an election regarding site acqui- sition and that other entities may be included at that time. Fayetteville Director John Todd was concerned that Fayetteville would be left 313.6 in "limbo" in regards to its plans to construct a new terminal at Drake Field. He said they would have to make decisions regarding that facility without knowing what the status of the regional airport will be. Lancaster said Fayetteville will have to consider a plan that would provide for the next 10 - 15 years. Malone clarified Todd's statement by saying that a three-year delay would not provide insight as to whether Fayetteville should plan Drake Field to serve Northwest Arkansas for 10, 20 or 50 more years. Fayetteville Director Noland moved that Fayetteville and Springdale request 313.7 FAA to proceed with the environmental impact study for them to make a decision on a site and indicate which site is .environmentally acceptable. Noland said he was not trying to eliminate any other governmental entities from participating in the regional airport project. Malone said it seemed they should request FAA for an impact study on Tontitown 313.8 Two site and request that they look at Tontitown One site as an alternative if Tonti- town Two is unacceptable. Rather than to lock out other entities, Malone felt that Fayetteville and Springdale should indicate that other entities would be invited to participate. Consulting engineer Ep McClelland advised the two cities to leave their options 313.9 open by not eliminating the Highfill site from consideration. He said he understood the feelings in regard to the site and its proximity to Benton County. McClelland felt that the Highfill site, despite its remoteness, could come into its own much more than today _ Director Noland felt they should perhaps request FAA to conduct an impact study 313.10 on the Tonwitown Two site and that they evaluate the site when they look at it. Malone asked if they could commit themselves on just having a vote on site acquisition. Yates advised that FAA is seeking a commitment that the two cities are serious about building a regional airport. 313 • 8/16/78 314 Malone felt the FAA should be requested to conduct the study with the commitment that an election would be held only on the question of site acquisition. Malone, with Noland's concurrence, amended Noland's motion to state that FAA be requested to conduct the environmental impact study and that the two cities are willing, at a minimum, to hold an election of Fayetteville and Springdale, perhaps others, on at least the question of site acquisition -- perhaps the "whole ball of wax" (site acquisition and airport construction). Springdale councilman Tevebaugh seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 314.1 Yates advised that the impact study application would probably be filed in October or November. Lancaster stated that at least Fayetteville and Springdale recognize the fact that in the future there will have to be an airport built. 314.2 In regard to involving other entities, Malone felt the planning process should be allowed to progress further before they consider which other entities might participate. This would allow time to see what type of financing would be available and which site would be Pnvironmentally accepted. 314.3 Mayor Ritter suggested the Mayors of surrounding cities be contacted as well as the Quorum Courts of Washington and Benton counties and invited to meet with the committee to advise them of the proposed action and ask what portion they would like to participate in. Christy advised it might be well to consider such a meeting following November elections since changes in leadership might occur. Fayetteville Director Al Hughes moved that the two councils reconvene in January to discuss the project again. Malone seconded the motion which passed unanimously by voice vote. 314.4 Christy indicated he could draft correspondence to surrounding cities regarding the action taken by the two councils and inform that a meeting will be held in January and invite their participation at that time. 314.5 There being no further business or discussion, Mayor Lancaster declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: Darlene Westbrook, City Clerk APPROVED: Ernest E. Lancaster, Mayor 1 1 can 0) 1 •