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Home My WebLink About10-16-1997 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes • MINUTES IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 1997 - 5:45 P.M. IOWA CITY TRANSIT FACILITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Howard Horan, John Penick, Dick Blum Rick Mascari, Pat Foster STAFF PRESENT: Eleanor Dilkes, Ron O'Neil CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Foster called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. A quorum was present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the September 11, 1997, meeting were approved as presented. AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES: Blum made a motion to approve the bills. Horan seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5 - 0. PUBLIC DISCUSSION - ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA: O'Neil presented Blum with an award O'Neil had accepted on Blum's behalf at the Iowa Aviation Conference. The award was presented to Blum by the president of the Iowa Public Airports Association for dedication and service to aviation in Iowa. The Commission congratulated Blum for this accomplishment. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. ACSG project - Chris Green said that appraisals are being reviewed for the Schellin, Fitzgarrald, and Schintler properties. Appraisals have been ordered for the Dyer and Ruppert properties. A newsletter has been drafted. Green circulated a copy of the newsletter to the Commission and asked for comments. About 200 copies of the letter will be sent to property owners, tenants, and other interested parties. b. Ultralight policy - There was discussion on the policy drafted by the Commission at the September meeting. Blum said he thought that ultralights should follow the standard pattern but should not be at the standard altitude. This means left turn patterns. Blum also suggested a change in who should determine when traffic is too congested to allow ultralight vehicles. It was suggested the language should read 'the Airport Manager or designee' . • Jones, from Iowa City Flying Service, said he thought any time an ultralight was flying near an airport it would be a safety hazard. Mascari said he thought requiring ultralights to have and use a transceiver would help increase safety. Blum said this policy can and will be reviewed if ultralights become a safety problem. It was also determined that a pilot's license and a current medical certificate would be required. An ultralight pilot would have to have the license available for review at any time. Mascari made a motion to accept the changes suggested. Penick seconded the motion and it passed 5 - 0. Blum made a motion for a resolution to adopt the ultralight policy. Penick seconded the motion. At roll call vote, the motion passed 5 - 0. c. Airport Terminal/shop renovation - Mascari said he and Horan visited the Ames and Pella airport terminal buildings. He said the manager in Ames said they spent about $ 80, 000 to renovate their terminal. Mascari said that the Commission needs to do something to improve the looks of the Airport Terminal. O'Neil said an engineering firm has inspected the Terminal and determined it to be structurally sound. In a separate inspection of the mechanical systems, it was estimated that it would cost at least $ 175, 000 to bring the building up to code. This does not include the interior renovation of replacing windows, replacing the ceilings, new furniture, etc. Accessibility of the second floor was discussed. If the second floor is to be made into a public lounge, handicapped access would have to be provided. This would probably mean installing an elevator. The Commission discussed some type of public/private venture to upgrade the Terminal. Although many businesses use the Airport on a daily basis, there are no large major businesses headquartered in Iowa City. That makes fund raising more difficult. The cost to renovate the building may be as much or more than replacing the building. Because of the construction of the building, the cost to renovate the mechanical system would be expensive. The current system can not be adapted to allow for central air conditioning of the building. O'Neil suggested having a conceptual design drafted to be able to discuss with the City Council how to upgrade the building. Horan and Mascari will assist in putting a plan together. Foster said the Commission also needed to discuss how to renovate or replace the maintenance shop space. It was estimated that it would be about $ 100, 000 to replace the roof, the siding, and insulate the walls of the old building. A new insulated pole building would cost about the same as renovating the old shop and a new building could be designed to be more functional. Penick said it would make sense to put the FBO maintenance shop closer to the Terminal Building. He said he thought the site south of the Terminal Building would be the best location. Jones, from ICFS, said he would be willing to sign a 20 year lease if it was similar to the building designed last year. O'Neil said there are two issues that need to be considered concerning space requirements. Renovating or replacing the shop is an immediate concern. How to replace the 8000 square feet when the United hanger is removed is also an issue. He said the building will be removed in conjunction with the construction project to relocate the threshold for Runway 24. Blum suggested working with ICFS on what would be a functional replacement for the maintenance shop. Replacing the United hangar space is an issue that can be addressed at a later date. O'Neil and Foster will work with Jones on replacing the shop building. d. North commercial area - O'Neil reported he met with City Manager Atkins, Public Works Director Schmadeke, City Attorney Dilkes, and Planning Director Franklin to discuss the North Commercial area and the new Public Works site. Atkins said he had a plan on how to locate the Public Works building on the south Airport site and an idea for developing the North Commercial area. He suggested meeting as soon as the new Council is elected. O'Neil will try to schedule a meeting between the Commission and the Council sometime in the first two weeks of November. The election is November 4 . November 10 is a possible meeting date. e. 1999 budget - O'Neil included budget material in the Commission packet. There were several items that he suggested should be adjusted. The Commission reviewed the material and directed O'Neil to proceed with revising the budget. O'Neil said there will be a meeting with the Council in January or February to discuss the budget. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: No items were presented. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Blum thanked the Commission for the card they sent him after his surgery. The Commission congratulated Dilkes on her promotion to City Attorney. Horan said he gave a presentation to ICAD on October 10 concerning the Airport Master Plan. Mascari said he and Horan attended the Iowa Aviation Conference. Horan said he spoke with those involved with the Section 106 historical review. O'Neil said he is working on the application now. Horan said the Commission may need to hire a consultant to assist with the survey. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Dilkes said now that she is the City Attorney, someone else will probably be assigned primary responsibility for the Airport. She will wait until someone else is hired before determining who will be assigned to the Airport. O'Neil is moving ahead with design for a new Airport entrance sign. The sign will be similar to the new City of Iowa City entrance signs. He will have conceptual drawings at the next meeting. The sign will be more than the Commission has budgeted, but O'Neil would like to have a sign similar to the City' s entrance signs to identify the Airport as city owned. There was a memo in the packet concerning the Willow Creek sewer project. The project is scheduled to go out for bid in February of 1998 . O'Neil said he has suggested to Public Works to send in the FAA 7460 airspace study form now to avoid possible delay when the project is ready to start. There was a meeting for council candidates on October 15. Several department directors presented information on programs that may need the immediate attention of the new council. O'Neil said he gave a short presentation on the land acquisition and easement project. Foster, Horan and O'Neil attended a meeting and answered questions concerning the effect of the Master Plan as it relates to the City's comprehensive plan. SET NEXT MEETING: The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 13, 1997 , at 5:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7: 38 p.m. A Pat Foster, Chairperson