HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-10 Airport Commission MinutesMINUTES FINAL
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
July 10, 2025 _ 6:00 P.M.
AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
Members Present: Hellecktra Orozco (arrived late), Ryan Story, Judy Pfohl, Chris Lawrence
Warren Bishop
Members Absent:
Staff Present: Michael Tharp, Jennifer Schwickerath
Others Present: Adam Thompson, Fred Gerr
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:
None
DETERMINE QUORUM
A quorum was determined at 6:04 pm and Lawrence called the meeting to order.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Lawrence nominated Story to be Chair, and Bishop to Secretary, seconded by Pfohl. Motion
carried 4-0 (Orozco absent).
Chairperson Story took over conducting the remaining meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Tharp stated he received a couple of corrections from Pfohl. Lawrence moved to approve the
minutes as amended by Pfohl, from June 12, 2025, seconded by Bishop. Motion carried 4-0.
(Orozco Absent)
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION 1 ACTION
a. Airport Construction Projects:
i. FAA grant projects —
1 . Runway 12130 Displaced Threshold — Tharp stated they were going
to be waiting for a bit for the manufacturer to get new equipment
certified by the FAA. Bishop asked about what that mean and Tharp
responded that because. the manufacturer had issues with the
system at several airports, the equipment was de -certified by the
FAA and the manufacturer has to go through the certification
process again.
Airport Commission
July 10, 2025
Page 2 of 5
ii. Iowa DOT grant projects
1. T-hangar Building -- Tharp stated that they did not make the
recommendation list for grant awards. Tharp stated that he had
spoken with Shane Wright, the Program Manager for the state.
Tharp stated that then they filled out the grant application they used
the lowest local match (15%) because they weren't sure exactly how
the money was going to end up. Tharp stated that the state awarded
4 projects for the entire infrastructure program and that the
competing hangar projects were at matches of 30% and 50% which
awarded bonus points for those airports. Tharp stated that he would
recommend the commission hold and reapply next year and they
would utilize a higher local match. 'Tharp stated that the main
reason they didn't get the AIP grant award recommendation is
because when airports apply for what is effectively a combined
project like the hangar and taxiway. If the airport doesn't get the
hangar portion, then the need to building the pavement supporting
it doesn't exist, so they don't get that portion of it either. Tharp stated
they would want to talk about other projects that would be delayed
because of the delay in the hangar project. Lawrence asked about
the FAA and the wait time for the use of discretionary funds. Tharp
stated that even with this they shouldn't have an impact on the FAA
dollars. Tharp noted they are still eligible this year for the dollars.
2. Wildlife Mitigation Study — Tharp stated he hadn't seen the guys out,
but they were supposed to have started. Story stated that he had
seen the USDA truck at the airport.
b. Airport "Operations
i. Budget — Tharp stated that they are finishing up the fiscal year and that he
did put in the FY26 budget that was submitted to the city. Tharp stated that
they had a budget surplus anticipated to be about $30,000. Tharp stated
that they will have a few large bills at the beginning of the year saying he
ordered a large quantity of seal material for hangar doors. Tharp also stated
that the AC in the terminal building went out briefly.
H. Management
I. Enforcement of T-Hangar Lease (2026-2026) requirement to house
an aircraft that is operational or under active construction or repair -
Tharp stated they he put a copy of the T-hangar lease in the packet
and that he had talked with Lawrence and Story about the leases
and Tharp suggested that in order to avoid having airplanes or parts
of airplanes on the ramp and in the way, they address the hangar
lease issues with the renewals and send personalized letters with
the hangars stating that this would be the last lease unless those
lease conflicts were resolved. Members discussed that and sending
out letters via certified mail. Lawrence asked about when to
reevaluate the conditions and to refresh the Commission. Tharp
noted that new leases would be sent out in late August and
suggested that January would be a good time for that check.
Members discussed notification options for the hangars. Members
agreed to update information in January.
Airport Commission
July 10, 2025
Page 3 of 5
2. Motion to authorize Chairperson to sign Hangar 319er LLC
memorandum of ground lease — Tharp stated that this agreement
was a result of the need to plat out the ground that was part of the
lease so that if for some reason the bank needed to..repossess the
building and ground per the mortgage, they had something tangible
to repossess. Schwickerath also described the agreement to the
members. Lawrence moored to authorize the Chairperson to
sign the memorandum, seconded by Orozoo. Motion carried
5-0
3. Iowa Open Meeting/Record Law Updates — -Tharp stated that the
state updated the laws around the open meeting rules and that there
was a new requirement for training of people that would be
appointed or elected to a public role. Schwickerath further
described the details of the law and the process as it was still being
developed by the Iowa Public Information Board. Schwickerath
stated that as they found out more information they would inform the
members.
iii. Events — Tharp stated that next weekend was another Summer of the Arts
movie and that August was going to be busy. Tharp also stated that
September 2210 was going to be Climate Fest at the airport and they would
have information and tours of the solar array.
1. Summer of the Arts Movies (July 19, Aug 9)
2. Young Eagles (Aug 16th)
3. Pancake Breakfast (Aug 24)
4. Autocross (Sept 14, Oct 19)
c. FBO 1 Flight Training Reports
i. Jet Air — Wolford stated that flight training was as busy as it had been in a
long time. He also stated that he flew the Cub and tried out the grass landing
area for the first time. Wolford noted that the guys had painted the light cans
and the drains white so they were more visible. Wolford noted that he was
a bit more nervous of publicly advertising the area but also was more
comfortable with it being local use only. Wolford noted they had hired a weed
sprayer to help with the weed control.
d. Commission Members' Reports — Orozco asked about the intern. 'Tharp stated the
intern had completed their time. Tharp stated that they helped with the hangar
development plan, updated the hangar wait list, and worked on some social media
posts for the airport. Story asked about putting the hangar waiting list online or
having an online setup so that people could check their position on the list. Members
discussed and Tharp asked if Story could send examples of airports that were doing
that and he would see what could be done to do that here.
e. Staff Report — Tharp noted that he was planning a vacation at the end of the month
and that the FAA Conference was in August
i. 4 States (FAA Central Region) Conference — Kansas City (August 20-22)
ii. Vacation Dates (July 29-Aug 6)
SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING — Set the next meeting for August 14, 2025.
Airport Commission
July 10, 2025
Page 4of 5
ADJOURN -- Pfohl moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:45pm. Seconded by Bishop. Motion
carried 5-0.
CHAIRPERSON DATE
Airport Commission
July 10, 2025
Page 5of 5
Airport Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
2024-2025
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Christopher
06/30/29
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06/30/28
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Judy Pfohl
06/30/26m
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Ryan Story
06/30/27
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X = Present
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O = Absent
OIE = Absent/Excused
NM = Not a member at this time
XIS = Present for subcommittee meeting
O/S = Absent, not a member of the subcommittee