HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-18-2009 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES FINAL
Iowa City Airport Commission
June 18,2009
Iowa City Airport Terminal—6:00 PM
Members Present: Greg Farris,Howard Horan,Janelle Rettig,John Staley
Members Absent: Minnetta Gardinier
Staff Present: Sue Dulek,Michael Tharp
Others Present: Jay Honeck,John Yeomans, Peggy Slaughter, Randy Miller, David
Hughes,Joe Merschman,Turk Regennitter, Reyna Wilkens,Tim
Busch, Clint Simplot,Phillip Wolford
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: The Commission recommends that
Council accept the purchase offer on Lot 1 of Aviation Commerce Park.
DETERMINE QUORUM:
Chairperson Rettig called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE MAY 21,2009 MEETING:
Rettig asked if anyone had any changes to the May 21 minutes. Staley moved to
approve the minutes of the May 21,2009 meeting as submitted; seconded by Farris.
Carried 4-0.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
Honeck stated that the Air Race Classic is underway,which is where Gardinier is.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. Aviation Commerce Park/U of I Aircare Facility- (Staley recused himself
due to conflict of interest.) Peggy Slaughter addressed the Commission,
stating that they now have a full-price offer. She noted that timing issues are
the only concern at this point. Dulek noted that the public hearing on this has
been set for the Council's June 30 meeting. Tharp recommended that
someone be at this meeting and let the Council know that this is a highly
supported project as it is aviation related. Slaughter asked that they let her
know which meeting,the work session or the formal,they will be discussing
this issue with the Council as the University would like to have their
representative there, as well.
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i. Consider a Motion Recommending Sale of Lot#1 -Horan moved
to recommend that the City Council accept the full-price
purchase offer on Lot#1; seconded by Farris. Carried 3-0
(Staley recused himself due to a conflict of interest)
b. Farmer's National/Merschman Seeds-
i. Public Hearing-Rettig opened the public hearing. Joe Merschman
spoke to the Commission, stating that he has the lease and is ready
to sign it with Turk Regennitter, if the Commission approves it.
He added that there is one correction to be made, and he addressed
this briefly. Rettig asked for some clarification on the various
parts of the lease,and Merschman explained the gate agreement
portion. Tharp noted that it was all wrapped into one agreement.
A brief discussion ensued on the gate locks and who all has keys
for these locks. It was noted that Merschman has done a good job
taking care of the weeds and brush around the area. Rettig then
closed the public hearing.
ii. Consider Resolution#A09-16 Approving Amendment to Lease
and Gate Agreements- Staley moved to consider the resolution;
seconded by Farris. Carried 4-0.
iii. Consider a Motion Approving Regennitter Farms sublease to
Merschman's Seeds -Farris moved to approve the Regennitter
Farms sublease to Merschman's Seeds; seconded by Horan.
Carried 4-0.
c. Consider a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss strategy with
counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is
imminent or where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage
the position of the governmental body in that litigation. Farris moved to
adjourn to executive session,seconded by Staley. Carried 4-0.
d. FAA/IDOT Projects—AECOM—David Hughes addressed the Commission,
and apologized for missing last month's meeting. He had been hospitalized
and was unable to travel at the time.
i. Runways 7/25 & 12/30 -Hughes stated that they have worked out
final quantities with Metro,and have the final change order
approved by the FAA on this project. Hughes then spoke about the
economic stimulus funding and what has come through so far.
This money will be for the southern portion of 12-30, and the
contractor has started on this phase. Hughes then introduced Clint
Simplot, one of the contractors on the runway project,who spoke
briefly on the project and timeframes. Hughes noted that they need
to be careful of timing as they don't want to run out of construction
time before the winter season. The discussion continued,with
Hughes noting that calls will be made to the State on Monday to
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see about the finding timeframes. Members discussed what they
may need to do if they are unable to obtain finding for this year's
construction season.
1. Consider a Resolution Accepting Work on Runway 7-25
Reconstruction(Phase 1)-Farris moved to consider
Resolution#A09-17 accepting work on Runway 7-25
reconstruction(Phase 1); seconded by Staley. Carried 4-
0.
ii. 2008 Pavement Rehab (North Taxilanes)—Hughes stated that they
have started on the punch list for this and should finish up in the
next few weeks,weather permitting.
iii. Obstruction Mitigation—Hughes and Tharp both stated that they
have not seen anything from Mediacom on this.
iv. Building H—University of Iowa Hangar Expansion—Tharp noted
that things are stalled somewhat and there is nothing new to report
on this.
e. Airport"Operations;" Strategic Plan-Implementation;Budget;Management—
Rettig asked for clarification on a few budget items, and Tharp responded. He
then spoke about the memo that everyone has with this month's packet. He
noted that the City Council is asking all departments to make reductions,and
he and Rettig met recently to discuss ways to do this. Tharp further explained
that beginning in FY11 and beyond,the Airport will be capped at$100,000
from the City. This led to a discussion about what the Airport has requested
the past few years- $112,000 - and what this may mean in the future. Horan
added that he stated earlier this week,regarding the sale of land versus
leasing,that he would like to lease Airport land in order to "remove it from
political sensitivity." He noted that the answer he received was that$100,000
would "not be politically sensitive." The discussion continued,with Members
discussing the operating subsidy of the Airport. Tharp noted that they have
bought new reflectors for the taxiways.
i. Consider a Resolution Authorizing Chair to Sign Project Change
Orders- The members discussed whether 5%is sufficient or
whether it should be 10%. Staley moved to consider Resolution
#A09-18 authorizing Chair to sign project change orders as
indicated at 5%; seconded by Farris. Carried 4-0.
f. Jet Air/Iowa Flight Training-Phillip Wolford spoke to the Commission
regarding the need to better emphasize their flight training. They have been
experimenting recently with Tim Busch doing their flight training, and so far
it is working out well. He stated that they would like to have their FBO lease
amended to allow subcontracting of flight training with Iowa Flight Training.
Horan then asked Busch to speak briefly about this type of service. Busch
gave the Members some history on how flight training has been changing in
the industry. Rettig asked for some clarification on the agreement to
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subcontract. Members agreed that they are okay with this arrangement.
Farris moved to authorize the Chair to enter into agreements to amend
the FBO agreement to sublease space and to subcontract flight training to
Iowa Flight Training and to enter into a business agreement with Iowa
Flight Training; seconded by Staley. Carried 4-0.
g. FBO Staff Report- Wolford addressed the Members regarding the new
reflectors that Tharp mentioned earlier. He added that they are starting to see
a slow increase in corporate business. Jet Air's charter business is still down,
however. Wolford then spoke to the upcoming runway project, stating that he
would rather see it done completely this year and not make it a two-year
project. He added that it really needs to get done as the runway is getting
pretty bad in spots. Wolford also addressed the Commission, stating that they
had an open house a couple of weekends ago, and that this was quite a
successful event. He added that during the runway closure they will be taking
things up to the Cedar Rapids Airport. Rettig noted that the Airport now has a
web page, a Facebook account,and a Twitter account, and she suggested Jet
Air check these out.
h. Subcommittees' Reports—None.
i. Commission Members' Reports—Horan noted that he and Tharp attended the
Economic Development Committee meeting earlier in the week, and that they
did get some good ideas. It was suggested that the Airport look into federal
funding for the Willow Creek mitigation project. Horan added that he would
like to come up with some preliminary planning on the south airfield area and
that he will share this with the Commission once he has worked up some
ideas. Farris noted that there have been more pictures submitted for the
newsletter. Rettig noted that she was in Alaska recently, and that many of
their residents have pilot licenses. She noted the neighborhoods with planes
parked behind the houses.
j. Staff Report—Tharp reminded Members about the June 29, 6:30 P.M., City
Council meeting to discuss the Airfield study. Rettig asked if they could add
the discussion about Lot#1 at the same meeting. Dulek will look into this for
the Commission.
SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Staley noted that he may not be able to make the
next meeting; he will let Tharp know. Thursday,July 16, 2009 at 6:00 P.M.
ADJOURN: The meeting adjourned at 8:24 P.M.
7/4401
CHAIlh. O ' DATE
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Airport Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2009
(Meeting Dates)
TERM 1/8 2/5 2/12 3/12 412 4/14 4/16 5/6 5/21 6/18
NAME EXP.
Greg Farris 3/1/13 X X X X X X X X X X
Minnetta 3/1/15 — — — X X X X O/E 0/E 0/E
Gardinier
Howard Horan 3/1/14 X X X X 0/E 0/E X X X X
Janelle Rettig 3/1/12 X 0/E X X X X X X X X
John Staley 3/1/10 X 0/E X X 0/E O/E X X X X
KEY: X = Present
0 = Absent
0/E= Absent/Excused
NM= No meeting
— = Not a Member
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