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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-1999 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11,1999—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 5:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the January 14, 1999, Commission meeting were approved as submitted. AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES: Mascari made a motion to approve the bills. Anderson seconded the motion and the bills were approved 5 —0. PUBLIC DISCUSSION—ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA: Jim Larew, representing the Iowa City Science Center,presented information to the Commission. He said the Science Center would like to locate on seven acres in the North Commercial area (NCA). Larew said three years ago,the City Manager contacted the Science Center about locating at the Airport. Larew explained some of the history of the past three years in the relationship of the Science Center and the Airport. Larew said it was his understanding that the Commission and City Council had come to an agreement to install the infrastructure for the NCA in 1999,and that the Science Center would somehow be located in that area. Larew said there are two issues to be resolved. The first issue is whether current zoning would allow the Science Center to be located in the NCA. He said a ZIP committee met and said the anticipated use would be allowed. Larew said he realized an airspace study would have to be conducted by the FAA to make sure the Science Center was compatible with airport uses. The second issue is to determine"fair market value"for the property. Kevin Munson provided a conceptual drawing of what the Science Center would look like. There would be a theater, exhibit space and a large main atrium that would center on the end of Runway 17/35. Larew said he would like to start construction sometime in the next year. He wanted a commitment from the Commission so he could start fundraising and negotiate with the theater company. Mascari suggested discussing the North Commercial area agenda item at this time because it involved the Science Center. Bender provided the latest drawing by MMS, showing the proposed road for the NCA. He said an easement would be retained along the southern boundary of the NCA to allow for a taxiway if an aviation use leased any of the lots south of the main road. The storm water drainage area would be along the west and south edges of the property. The road was moved about 100 feet to the south,providing for somewhat larger lots along the north area. Bender said he did not think a private developer would be interested in developing the NCA if the property is leased. The developer would not have anything to sell to recover his infrastructure investment. Bender suggested the Commission and Science Center discuss the development with the City Council. If the Council is supportive of the Science Center,they may be willing to put the road in far enough for the Science Center to build. The Science Center may be a good attraction to the area. Mascari said he would not be in favor of the Science Center locating on the lot directly north of Runway 17. He said he would like to relocate the threshold for RW 17 back to its original location. This would eliminate several of the lots in the NCA. Horan said the Master Plan calls for the eventual closure of RW 17/35. He did not think reducing the size of the NCA was in the best interest of trying to reach the Commission's goal of making the Airport self-sufficient. Mascari said he would like to try to find a way to become self- sufficient and keep RW 17 open. If the Council is not interested in the project at this time, Mascari said he thought the Commission should explore the possibility of leasing the area to a private developer. Foster said he thought the Science Center should be located on Lot 1,which is the closest lot to Riverside Drive. O'Neil suggested the Commission and Science Center schedule a meeting with the City Council to see if there is support to put in enough infrastructure to allow the Science Center to build. Anderson said the lot where the Science Center would want to locate is the same area that Iowa Jet wanted to locate. He said that an attempt should be made to contact Iowa Jet to let them know there is another party interested in the area they wanted to lease. If the Council will provide the infrastructure,the Commission would give the Science Center a five-year lease for a low annual fee. The Commission would not give the Science Center a long- term lease at a fixed low fee. At some time,the Science Center would have to pay a fair market value lease. There would have to be an agreement on how long the Commission would hold the property for the Science Center. If; after a specific amount of time, funding could not be raised to build the Science Center,the land would become available to other prospective developers. Anderson said that before any agreement is signed with any developer, minimum standards need to be written to standardize development in the NCA. Bender will contact MMS to change Lot 1 to contain 7 acres to be large enough for the Science Center. A time will be scheduled with the City Council and the Science Center to see what support there is to put in the road as far as it takes to accommodate the Science Center. The Commission will set a time limit for the Science Center to begin construction. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. ACSG Project: O'Neil circulated a handout explaining the progress of several of the parcels in the land acquisition project. All of the tenants are moved and the mobile units are gone from Terrace Hill. The only remaining action on Terrace Hill is to auction the Fitzgarrald house. That will be done this summer. Most of the appraisals have been completed for the Iowa City Mobile Home Park. Some of the relocation packages have been offered and the tenants will be moved as soon as possible. O'Neil said there should be an announcement at any time that Iowa City will receive a grant of$520,271.00 to apply to the land acquisition program. The FAA can not release the money until a congressional announcement is made. b. Gordon Aircraft—Business Agreement: As discussed at the last meeting,the business agreement with Gordon expires in February 1999. Foster made a motion to renew the business agreement to run concurrent with the HLM lease. This would expire in December 2000. Bender seconded the motion and it was passed, 5 —0. c. Hangar lease-#33: Jim Miller would like to get out of his hangar lease. He would like to move his plane to the FILM hangar. John Ruyle is next on the waiting list for corporate hangars. He would like to assume the lease for hangar#33. The lease expires in February 2001. Horan made a motion for a resolution to release Jim Miller from the lease and to lease hangar#33 to John Ruyle. Bender seconded the motion and it was passed 5 —0. d. Iowa City Flying Service lease: O'Neil said there is a letter in the packet from Gordon Peterson, one of the owners of Iowa City Flying Service, offering to invest money in the old shop maintenance building, in exchange for no rent. After the SW FBO hangar is built, ICFS had intended to rent the United hangar and the shop on a month to month basis. There are three years remaining on the ICFS lease. Peterson suggested an investment of$40,000 in exchange for a 10-year lease. ICFS would be responsible for maintenance during the lease period. O'Neil asked whether the Commission was willing to negotiate an agreement with ICFS to replace the roof in exchange for future rent. The consensus from the Commission was not to negotiate a lease in exchange for a new roof. O'Neil said he would try to get costs to replace the roof. The Commission can decide whether they will ask Council for funding or chance not having a watertight building to rent. e. Airport Terminal Renovation: O'Neil provided the latest design for the layout of the Airport Terminal. He said that HLM would be ready with the plans and specifications for the Terminal Building for the March 11th meeting. Horan said he had talked to Mayor Lehman concerning the elevator for the second floor. Lehman indicated he thought the Council would like to see the elevator bid as an alternate. O'Neil said that when he met with members from the Historic Preservation Commission,they brought up the fact that the Commission may be able to get around the ADA requirements if the building was registered as a historic building. O'Neil said he thought that if the second floor was used as a public meeting room,the intent of the ADA requirements should be followed. Foster made a motion to set a public hearing for the Terminal Building plans and specifications on March 11th, 1999,at 5:45 p.m. Mascari seconded the motion and it passed 5 —0. A meeting will be scheduled for March 22°d to meet with the Council. After the meeting with the Council,the project will be ready to go out to bid. 1. North Commercial area: This was discussed with the Science Center discussion. g. Southwest FBO hangar: Some of the concrete parking on the north side of the building has been poured. The building is scheduled to be delivered in the next two weeks. The foundation is completed and the building can be constructed as soon as the material arrives. h. SERTOMA—breakfast application: SERTOMA has submitted an application to use Airport property for their annual breakfast on August 29th, 1999. The application is the same as last year. Mascari made a motion to approve the application. Bender seconded the motion and it passed 5—0. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Horan said he has been in contact with the Historic Preservation Commission and has reminded them that preservation is important, but that the Commission's main concern is to make the Airport Terminal functional for the public and their tenants. He said he thought both goals could be accomplished. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: Anderson said he would like to try to get a grant to get the beacon tower painted. O'Neil said the State grant application will be on the agenda for next month and can be addressed at that time. O'Neil said the line for the lighted wind tee was cut when the foundation for the FRO hangar was put in and they are working on getting it back on line. It may have to be rewired when the new building is wired. Mascari asked about the light by the fuel farm. O'Neil said that is the responsibility of ICFS and he will inform them that there is concern on the part of the Commission to have it fixed. Mascari said he was very pleased with the new airport entrance sign. O'Neil said he has received many positive comments about the sign. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: O'Neil said the piping for the Airport Terminal heating system is leaking. Because the heat pipes are in the floor, it is impossible to locate the leaks. This system will be replaced with a forced-air system when the building is renovated. O'Neil said he hopes it will not get too much worse before the heating season is over. The new system will be in place before next fall. The Central Region FAA Conference is April 28th and 29th. Several Conunission members had expressed interest in going. O'Neil said plans would need to be finalized by the next Commission meeting so he can send in the registrations. The owner of the old Hilgenberg building on South Gilbert Street has made a request to mow and maintain the Airport property around his building. Mitchell, Foster and O'Neil will write a land lease for the Commission to consider at their next meeting. The State AlP grant application is due April 1, 1999. This will be an agenda item at the March meeting. SET NEXT MEETING: The next regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for March 11, 1999,at 5:45 p.m. at the Airport Temrinal building. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8.0! p.m. Howard Horan, Chairperson