HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-19 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes April 18,2019
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MINUTES FINAL
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
APRIL 18, 2019—6:00 P.M.
AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
Members Present: Warren Bishop, Minnetta Gardinier, Derek LaBrie, Christopher Lawrence,
Robert Libby
Staff Present: Sue Dulek, Michael Tharp
Others Present: Carl Byers, John Moes, Pat Prior, Matt Wolford
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council
action):
None.
DETERMINE QUORUM:
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the March 21, 2019, meeting were reviewed by Members. Bishop moved to
accept the minutes of the March 21, 2019, meeting as presented. LaBrie seconded the
motion. The motion carried 5-0.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
None.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. FAA/IDOT Projects
i. Obstruction Mitigation—Tharp spoke to this issue, noting that the FAA
really threw a curve ball at the recent Aviation Conference. He further
explained the FAA's funding streams and how they have historically used
these funds. Tharp explained how the grant program is changing and
what this will mean for the Airport and their timelines. Turning to how the
Airport can still move forward with its planned projects, Tharp stated that
there is the option of using a fairly sizable chunk of their entitlement funds
—approximately$400,000—for the actual mitigation work. Then once the
FAA grant funds are received, this will pay back the entitlement funds
used in the obstruction mitigation project.
Continuing, Tharp responded to Member questions regarding the possible
outcomes in the way the FAA is planning to handle its grant program.
Members shared their concerns in using their entitlement funds, and
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Tharp gave them some history on why they had been building this fund
up over the past years. The discussion then turned to delaying certain
projects and the impacts of doing this. Tharp further explained the FAA's
new timelines for submitting grant applications and how they will not be
able to meet this deadline. Members continued to share their thoughts on
this issue and ways to handle the expected impacts.
Tharp then reiterated what the obstruction mitigation would look like, with
property acquisitions and tree removals this winter. In the next fiscal year,
they would continue with any mitigation needed, and in the third year they
would shift runway 12-30. Gardinier voiced her concerns several times
about using the entitlement funds in this manner. Other Members also
shared their concerns and confusion over just how they should proceed.
Byers joined Members at the table, giving his take-away from the meeting
with the FAA at the Aviation Conference. He stated that he was under the
impression that they would take their time on the bidding and plan on
construction being a year from October. Gardinier did not agree with the
other Members when they declared their agreement to use the
entitlement funds for this project. She stated that she would abstain from
agreeing with this, that she believes it needs to be further fleshed out.
ii. Runway 25 Threshold Relocation—Tharp stated that they are
preparing a grant application for the FAA on this project. Byers joined in
the discussion, stating that it is in the pipeline now and is a two-year
process. He then responded to some questions from Matt Wolford of Jet
Air, clarifying the relocation process.
b. FY20 Iowa DOT Grant Application—Tharp spoke to the three grants they are
applying for—the fuel facility expansion with a second tank and replacement of
the credit card kiosk; the taxiway and apron re-do; and the parking lot expansion.
He added that they are still unsure just how much the State will appropriate for
these grants. Byers further explained how the State grant funding will most likely
play out.
c. University Hangar Agreement—Tharp gave Members a rundown on the
proposed agreement and some background on how they got to this point.
I. Consider a resolution setting a public hearing for a Hangar Use
Agreement for Hangar 32 and 34 with the University of Iowa—
Lawrence moved to consider Resolution#A19-06,setting a public
hearing for a Hangar Use Agreement for Hangar 32 and 34 with the
University of Iowa. Gardinier seconded the motion. The motion
carried 5-0.
d. FBO/Flight Training Reports
i. Jet Air—Tharp asked if they could move the'flight simulator room' item
up to this spot, since Wolford will be Involved with that as well. Gardinler
moved to shift Item e.li(1) Flight Simulator Room up to this spot in
the agenda. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0
(Libby Absent).
Wolford then shared the monthly maintenance reports with Members. He
highlighted some of the various activities undertaken. Speaking to Jet Air,
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Wolford noted that they currently have five Skyline airplanes at the field,
Cessna 172s, that do aerial survey work. They come twice a year to the
area and like to use the Airport as their base.
1. Flight Simulator Room—Tharp stated that he and Wolford have
been discussing how they might turn the weather briefing room
into a flight simulator room. He stated that they have come up
with a couple price points for the Commission to review. Wolford
stated that Jet Air has been discussing this as well, and they
would be willing to manage it. In terms of remodeling the room,
they can do whatever is necessary—painting, removing items,
etc., and then on the managing side, making sure the simulator
isn't double-booked, offering flight instruction through it, cleaning
and maintaining the room, billing and advertising, maintaining the
software updates, etc. Wolford then gave Members some options
to consider with such a simulator.
The discussion then turned to how the simulator would get paid
for, whether it should be both the Airport and Jet Air, and also how
they could bring In some revenue with it. Members continued to
discuss how they might move forward with this project, debating
the various options available. Tharp briefly summarized where
they are in their decision making, stating that they still have
questions regarding which aircraft packages they want to see on
the simulator. Members agreed that they can use the next two
months to flesh this out and then move forward in the new fiscal
year, which starts in July. Tharp asked if Members would like to
create a subcommittee to handle this. Lawrence stated that he
would be glad to draft an email to send to the Airport's tenants and
others to get their feedback.
At this point in the meeting, Libby had to leave and Lawrence
became acting Chair. Members voted to place Bishop as acting
Secretary. Lawrence moved to make Bishop acting Secretary.
LaBrie seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0, Libby
absent.
e. Airport Operations
Management—Tharp stated that the FM changed rules on how they
deal with ag sprayers. LaBrie and Lawrence worked in a subcommittee
to review the minimum standards and proposed changes. The proposal
involves a permit process for anybody who wants to base at the Airport to
load material, etc. There will be a standard fee for the season and a 10%
flowage fee, as well as Insurance requirements and other mandated
rules.
1. Consider a resolution amending the Minimum Standards for
Commercial Aeronautical Activities- Lawrence moved to
consider Resolution#A19-07, amending the Minimum
Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities. Bishop
seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0, Libby absent.
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2. Viewing Area —Tharp stated that he would like to have the open
house for the viewing area the weekend before Memorial Day. He
then introduced two representatives from FUEL, John Moes and
Pat Prior, who have been working on the panels for the viewing
area kiosks. The two presented the Commission with their
proposed panels. They gave Members a detailed presentation on
how they arrived at their finished products. They responded to
Members' questions and suggestions, giving further explanations
of the various displays. Members then talked about how the open
house event might play out and what they can do to publicize the
opening.
ii. Budget—Tharp noted that there are a couple months left in the budget
before the new fiscal year begins. He said that it looks like they will break
even, or perhaps be a little behind due to the runway project that had to
be taken care of.
1. Flight Simulator Room— (see above)
iii. Events —Tharp stated that he is working with the University Air Care to
do a June open house. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary this
summer.
f. Commission Members' Reports — Lawrence spoke to their strategic plan goal
of interacting more with the City Council, like twice a year, noting that they
haven't done that yet this year. Gardinier stated that they could bring up the
viewing area ribbon cutting, that this would be a good topic to share with them
and also an opportunity to invite the Council to attend. LaBrie stated that
everyone probably saw page 46 of the packet, that he will be leaving Iowa City
and moving to Des Moines. He also noted that he will not be able to make the
May 16 meeting as he will be on the east coast, and therefore this will be his last
Commission meeting. Members spoke briefly to the need to fill seats. Gardinier
noted that she flew down to Florida recently.
g. Staff Report—Tharp noted that he attended the Aviation Conference earlier in
the week. He added that Iowa City will be hosting the conference in 2021. Tharp
was re-elected to the Iowa Public Airports Association Board of Directors, and
also re-elected to be the Secretary of the Association. This is Tharp's second
term.
SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING FOR:
The next regular meeting of the Airport Commission will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2019, at
6:00 P.M. in the Airport Terminal Building.
ADJOURN:
Lawrence moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 P.M. LaBrie seconded the motion. The motion
carried 4-0, Libby absent.
CHAIRPERSON DATE
April 18,2019
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Airport Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
2018-2019
TERM o oo + .> o o 0 0
CO m o
l3 j
J J N J JN J j j "
NAME EXP. m Of m C) m o .i
CO CO CO CO CO Co CO o
Warren Bishop 06/30/22 0/
NM NM NM E X X X XXX
Minnetta 07/01/19 O/ 0/
Gardinier XX X X X EXXEX
Robert Libby 07/01/20 O/ O/ X/
X X O/E E X XXXEE
Christopher 07/01/21
Lawrence X X X X X XXXXX
Derek LaBrie 07/01/22 0/
X X X X X EXXXX
Key:
X = Present
X/E = Present for Part of Meeting
O = Absent
O/E=Absent/Excused
NM = Not a Member at this time