HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-19-1993 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes Work Session IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
WORK SESSION-AIRPORT RELOCATION FEASIBILITY STUDY
IOWA CITY TRANSIT FACILITY
JUNE 19, 1993 - 11:40 A.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Ockenfels, Robert Hicks, Pat Foster,
Richard Blum, Howard Horan
STAFF PRESENT: Anne Burnside, Ron O'Neil
Ockenfels opened the meeting by explaining that the objective of
the session was to discuss, as a group, the information received
concerning the Airport Relocation Feasibility Study. Although the
Commission has discussed several individual issues, there has not
been a general discussion on the entire study.
The first item of discussion was the need of the community for an
airport. Hicks stated that his contacts with business community
leaders indicate a very strong need for an airport in the Iowa City
area. Ockenfels added that although it is called the Iowa City
Municipal Airport, the airport serves a large area in southeast and
east central Iowa.
Blum stated that there is a large information gap between the
general public and those who utilize and need the Airport. Many of
the general public who are serviced by the Airport have no idea
they have secondary ties to the Airport. Blum said that the FAA
and the IDOT have gone on record as supporting the need for an
airport in Iowa City.
There was considerable discussion on the costs of maintaining an
airport and where the financing will and should come from. What
course of action is best or perhaps cheapest for the community ?
The amount that goes into the FAA AIP fund for general aviation
airports by Iowa City area travelers using the Cedar Rapids Airport
can be conservatively estimated at $ 350, 000. 00 per year. This is
a fee assessed on each commercial ticket sold. This is money that
will be spent on general aviation airports, not necessarily
airports in Iowa. If Iowa City does not apply for the money, it
will be spent on general aviation airports elsewhere.
Burnside suggested that the Commission should concentrate on one
option at a time, discussing all the positive and negative factors.
After complete discussion of the option, the Commission would move
on to another alternative.
The Commission agreed that the only practical option for remaining
at the present site is Option 1. This would not change the lay-out
of the Airport. Costs would include some land acquisition and
relocation, plus several million dollars for capital improvements.
Total cost of the option is estimated at $ 11, 000, 000. 00. This
would also mean reducing the utility of the Airport to A and B
category aircraft only. There are additional items not included in
the $ 11 million dollars that are not eligible for FAA AIP.
The cost of these items was estimated by H. R. Green Co. to be
about $ 2 million dollars. This would include ADA improvements to
the Terminal Building, pavement between the T-hangars, a new roof
on the Terminal Building and several other projects.
Blum stated the amount estimated for land acquisition may be too
low, based on past easement appraisals. Easement appraisals for
the 17/35 Runway Rehab Project were more than the amount allocated
for easements and construction. That is why the FAA gave Iowa City
a temporary waiver on buying easements.
The Commission listed advantages and disadvantages of option 1 at
the current site.
Advantages
1. Proximity and convenience.
2. Layout - three runways.
3. Politically acceptable.
4. Would open up public and private development possibilities for
Iowa City.
Disadvantages
1. Site can never achieve all FAA approach safety standards.
2 . Restricts commercial development.
3. Declining physical facilities.
4 . Geography limits improvements. (example-no ability to site ILS)
5. Proximity to commercial and residential encroachment.
6. Restricted aviation growth.
7. Restricts contiguous city growth. Promotes urban sprawl.
8. Airport zoning lawsuits are a potential financial liability.
9. Reduction to A and B category aircraft.
10. Impact on those in potential land acquisition and easement
areas.
11. Potential for negative noise impact.