HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-1998 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
THURSDAY JULY 16,1998—5:45 P.M.
IOWA CITY TRANSIT FACILITY
MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Foster,Rick Mascari,Howard Horan,Mark Anderson,Tom Bender
STAFF PRESENT: Dennis Mitchell,Ron O'Neil
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Horan called the meeting to order at 5:46 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the June 11's, 1998, Commission meeting were approved as submitted.
AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES:
Anderson made a motion to approve the bills. Bender seconded the motion and the bills were approved
5-0.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION—ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA:
No items were discussed.
PUBLIC HEARING—IOWA NATIONAL GUARD LEASE:
Horan opened the public hearing at 5:50 p.m. O'Neil said the notice was published for the hearing and the
National Guard was notified of the time and date of the hearing, No public comments were received
Horan closed the hearing at 5:54 p.m.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. ACSG Project:Greg Bridger provided an update on the land acquisition project. He said the City
closed on the Fitzgarrald property an hour and thirty minutes before the windstorm hit the area.
There was no substantial damage,other than tree damage. He has received several appraisals for
easements and offers have been made. The reviewer will pick up the rest of the appraisals in the
next few days.
O'Neil recommended the Commission pass a resolution authorizing Horan and Mascari to accept
a grant for land reimbursement as soon as it is offered. Notification of any grant will be through a
congressional release. As soon as our congressman or senator releases a grant,the Commission
can be reimbursed for some of the land and easements already purchased. Foster made a motion
to authorize Horan and Mascari to accept the grant offer. Mascari seconded the vote and at roll
call vote, it passed 5—0.
b. Airport Terminal Building: Maurice Cohen,from HLM Design,presented revised information
on renovation of the Terminal Building. He said he received a lot of information from Bender and
Anderson. He also had a local contractor review the cost estimates. Cohen said there could be
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some cost savings by reducing the scope of services. This would include reductions in the
improvements to the second floor.
Foster questioned the need to replace all the exterior doors. He said the east door was replaced
two years ago when the building was made handicapped accessible.
Heating and air conditioning units will need to be replaced. There is no central air conditioning
and the heating pipes in the floor may no longer be considered reliable.
There was discussion on appointing a subcommittee to see if there is a possibility of a
public/private partnership to fluid improvements for the Airport Terminal Building. Anderson and
Mascari will be the subcommittee to try to see if there is any private funding available.
O'Neil said he met with the City Manager and the Director of Community Planning at the
Terminal Building and discussed the possible uses for the building O'Neil said Atkins and
Franklin had some good suggestions on how to rehab and reuse the building. A key factor in
making this a community building is to make the second floor a community and/or conference
room This will require a secondary egress and handicapped accessibility.
Anderson made a motion to accept the schematic design and cost estimates for the project.
Mascari seconded the motion and it passed 5—0. A presentation will be scheduled for the Council
as soon as possible.
c. DTN-Weather Radar Demonstration: Lynda Connell provided the Commission with
information on an additional service available to airports through the DTN weather system. The
Commission subscribes to the basic weather system for$68.00 per month The aviation package
has addition information specifically for pilots. The aviation package is an additional$46.00 per
month
Connell said the information currently available is all surface information. The additional package
would give information of winds aloft,temperatures,etc. up to 18,000 feet. The information is
updated every 15 minutes. Mascari asked several questions about the system.
O'Neil said that he would recommend not purchasing the additional package because the
information is free through other sources. DUATS is free on the computer system supplied by the
IDOT. Horan said he thought this additional level of support should be supplied by the fixed-base
operator for his business and customers. O'Neil said he contacted Iowa City Flying Service and
they were not interested in paying for information that they could get for free elsewhere.
Mascari said this is an added feature to help promote the Airport. Anderson said it would be
beneficial to low-time pilots who aren't as familiar in dealing with DUATS and FSS. Mascari
made a motion to purchase the additional DTN service. Anderson seconded the motion and it
passed 3—2,with Horan and Foster voting no.
d. Public Works site: O'Neil said that PW would be starting to develop their new site on Airport
property this summer or fall. Mitchell will develop a land lease agreement for the Commission to
review at the August meeting.
e Southwest FBO Hangar—Set public hearing: O'Neil provided the Commission with a site plan
for the 120'by 120'hangar. He has discussed some options with ICFS. They will be the
principal tenants of the hangar. The plan would include a two story,20'by 60' office. If the
office is enclosed in the building instead of attached to the outside,the building may be expanded
to 120'by 140'. The building will replace space in the United building and the maintenance shop.
O'Neil said that whatever the price of the building,as long as ICFS would pay a monthly rent
equal to the loan payment,the project could proceed. Anderson made a motion to set a public
hearing for the August 20th Commission meeting to discuss the plans and specifications for the
Southwest FBO hangar. Mascari seconded the motion and it passed 5—0.
f. National Guard lease: This is a three-year lease. The only change from the last lease is an
increase in the rent. Bender made a motion to accept the lease with the National Guard for three
years. Foster seconded the motion and it passed 5—0.
g. North Commercial area: O'Neil said PW has received five proposals for the design phase of
the infrastructure. He will meet with Public Works and Mitchell to review the proposals and make
a recommendation to the Commission on which proposal will best meet the needs of the Airport.
Mitchell said we need to have alternatives for the access to Riverside Drive. The boundary to the
property to be leased to US may have to be realigned to give the Commission an alternative
southern route.
Iowa Jet Services would like to start building at the end of August. Bender made a motion to set a
public hearing on August 3, 1998 at 12:00 p.m.for IJS's FBO application,land lease and FBO
lease. Foster seconded the motion and it passed 5—0. The Commission directed O'Neil to
schedule the meeting and publish the public notice.
h. Fly-in breakfast: The Commission received an application from SERTOMA to use the Airport
for their breakfast on August 30, 1998. Dick Blum,from SERTOMA,answered questions from
the Commission concerning events they would like to schedule. He said because the military is
cutting back on training,there would be no military aircraft on display.
There will be a temporary tower supplied by Cedar Rapids FAA. There was discussion about
publishing a ground frequency in addition to the tower frequency. Safety procedures were
discussed and Blum said there is a need for additional ground personnel. Horan will write a letter
to the Civil Air Patrol and University of Iowa ROTC to see if there is any interest in helping with
the ground control and safety.
Blum said there are professional media people helping SERTOMA with the advertising this year.
Blum asked if the Commission was sponsoring the paper airplane contest? Blum said you need
four people to run the contest. It lasts from 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. Foster made a motion to
sponsor the contest. Mascari seconded the motion and it passed 5—0. Anderson said he would
try to find someone to help run the contest.
O'Neil said the Commission bad suggested doing something to celebrate the 80th year of the
Airport. One suggestion was to make up some T-shirts with a logo commemorating the 80th year
of the Airport. The Commission directed O'Neil to put something together.
Willow Creek Sewer project: Mitchell presented an agreement that acknowledged that the
Commission was responsible for the property where part of the Willow Creek Sewer would be
installed and granted permission to install the sewer on Airport property. A maintenance easement
was also discussed in the agreement. The agreement does not automatically allow for an easement
for the bicycle trail system. Foster made a motion for a resolution to accept the agreement.
Bender seconded the motion and at roll call vote,the motion passed 5—0.
j. IDOT grant: The Commission received a grant offer from the State IDOT for two controlled
access gates. It is a 90/10 grant,with the State paying for 90%of the project. O'Neil said one
gate will be by the Manager's office and the other gate will be just north of the Terminal Building.
The grant is for$ 16,538.00. Foster made a motion to accept the LOOT grant. Mascari seconded
the motion the motion passed 5—0.
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Horan said he invited Carl Byers to give an update of the fuel farm
research. Byers said he would have a full report at the August meeting. His preliminary research has
shown that it will probably be more cost effective to install underground tanks. There are more
requirements for above ground tanks. The transfer pads for above ground tanks may cost as much as
$30,000. More detailed information will be available on August 20th.
Horan said he while he was on vacation,he visited the SAC museum.
COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS:
Anderson asked for an update on the storm damage. O'Neil said he has talked to two contractors and is
waiting for proposals. The damage will be$50,000 to$60,000.
Anderson asked about replacing the entrance sign. O'Neil said he is getting estimates to go forward with
the sign. He would like to have the Airport sign consistent with the entrance signs for the City of Iowa
City.
Anderson asked about scheduling a disaster drill. He will work with Mascari to schedule a drill to practice
the Airport Aircraft Emergency procedures.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
O'Neil said the Airport has a small trailer that is no longer used. He will see if it can be used by another
department or sold.
There was a letter in the Commission packet concerning banner towing. O'Neil said that he discussed the
issue with the person that sent the letter. O'Neil told him that banner towing is considered a commercial
aviation activity and an application would need to be submitted to the Commission.
Mitchell will not be at the meeting in August. He will have someone else from the City Attorney's office
attend the meeting
SET NEXT MEETING:
The next regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for August 20, 1998,at 5:45 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m
Howard Horan, Chairperson