HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-1999 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
THURSDAY MARCH 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, Karin Franklin, Melody Rockwell
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Horan called the meeting to order at 5:48 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the February 11, 1999, Commission meeting were approved as submitted.
AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES:
Mascari made a motion to approve the bills. Foster seconded the motion and the bills were
approved 5 —0.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION—ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA:
No items were discussed.
PUBLIC HEARING—AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING:
Chairperson Horan opened the hearing at 5:51 p.m. Maurice Cohen, from HLM Design,
presented plans and specifications for renovation of the Terminal building. He said that the plans
were designed with the idea of modernizing the building,while keeping as much of the original
design as possible.
He said the electrical,heating and air conditioning systems were all outdated and would be
brought up to current standards. The interior space would be redesigned to better serve the public
and the main tenant, Iowa City Flying Service. The public lobby would be opened up and the
offices for ICFS would be reconfigured.
A limited use,limited access elevator would be installed to provide handicapped accessibility to
the second floor. This will enable the Commission to use this as public meeting space. ICFS has
this space leased for the next 2 1/2 years.
A secondary egress will be installed in the south wall,with stairs being installed on the south end
of the building. Some work will be done on the second floor,north wall to eliminate a moisture
problem.
New doors and windows will be installed. The doors on the west side of the building will be
handicapped accessible. The windows will be designed to look like the current windows.
Mascari asked if an observation deck could be added on the south side of the building? Cohen
said the roof structure on that end of the building would not support a deck. It would be cost
prohibitive to reinforce the roof enough to support an observation deck.
The Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the plans. They said they were very happy
FILM had incorporated much of the original design in the renovating the building. They would
like to use as much of the original interior trim and doors as is practical.
There were no other comments from the general public and Horan closed the hearing at 6:14 p.m.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. North Commercial area: Dick Blum said the Commission should consider reserving a
larger primary surface for Runway 24 than is depicted in the Master Plan. The Master Plan
reserves a 500'primary service. Blum suggested the Commission consider a 1000'primary
surface. This would allow for%mile visibility approach instead of lmile forward visibility.
Melody Rockwell and Bender explained the latest revisions to the subdivision plat.
Easements were added for north/south streets and for a street along the north boundary of the
subdivision. Other minor revisions were discussed. Franklin explained the advantages of a
`backage' road and how it would help integrate the commercial development to the north of
the subdivision.
Franklin said that the Council and Commission need to have an agreement that spells out who
is to pay for the infrastructure and what the Council expects to have reimbursed when the
property is leased.
The subcommittee will meet with staff and the Council subcommittee to work on the
remaining details. After the details are decided,the subdivision will be forwarded to the
Planning and Zoning Commission. A meeting was scheduled for March 24th at 10:30 a.m.
b. Airport Terminal renovation: Cohen said one of the most controversial aspects of the
project was the elevator. He said a limited use elevator would meet ADA requirements and
could be installed in the area now used as a storage room at the base of the stairs. The
elevator is less expensive and uses less space than the original elevator.
Dean Thomberry reminded the Commission that the Council wanted to see the elevator bid as
an alternate. He also wanted to see if the renovation of the second floor could be bid
separately. Bender said that if the space was to be used as public space in the future,the
elevator should be installed now.
Thomberry also said he would like to address the problem of the main sewer line for the
building. O'Neil said a contractor had been hired to review the problem and it would be
addressed in the project.
O'Neil reminded the Commission that there is a little more sense of urgency in addressing the
heating system than there was two months ago. The in-the-floor heating system has
developed a substantial leak and is leaking into the basement. O'Neil said he is hoping to
nurse the system along for a couple of months. Even if the Commission does not proceed
with the renovation project,there will be major costs associated with fixing the boiler system.
c. ACSG project: Dave Kisser presented information on the land acquisition project. A
verbal agreement has been reached on the Dyer parcel and the closing should be within the
next month. All of the appraisals have been done for the easements and there is not much
interest from those who have been made offers. The FAA will not require the Airport to
condemn for easements.
Appraisals have been completed on the units in the Iowa City Mobile Home Park. Offers
have been made on several units and three offers have been accepted. Kisser is hoping to
have the park relocated by May.
d. Southwest FBO hangar: Most of the steel structure has been completed. It will be turned
over to ICFS as soon the building is completed. Wendler is still on schedule to have the
building completed in May.
O'Neil suggested finishing off some of the hangar as office space for the Airport Manager
to make the office more accessible to the public. The Commission said they were not
interested in that idea at this time. O'Neil said he is content where he is at, but after the
new controlled access gate is installed, access to the current Manager's office will be
limited.
e. Iowa City Flying Service lease: O'Neil said this would be deferred until the next meeting.
The ICFS lease needs an amendment to address the rent for the maintenance shop and the
United hangar. After the new hangar is completed,those two buildings will be leased on a
month to month basis.
Anderson said he would not want to have any agreement to lease the shop in exchange for
repairs to the building. O'Neil said he thinks there is some room for negotiation that would
be beneficial to ICFS and the Airport as long as the agreement does not extend beyond the
time of ICFS's master lease.
f. State AIP application: The IDOT AIP application is due April 1, 1999. O'Neil said there
are four different categories for funding. Each has a different funding formula. Safety is a
90/10 split,with IDOT paying the 90 %. Preservation is 80/20, standards are 70/30 and
expansion is 60/40. The Commission voted 5 —0 to apply for funding to repaint the rotating
beacon tower. O'Neil said he was not sure which category that would be listed under,but he
will prepare the grant application and submit it before the deadline.
g. Land use agreement—Marketing Systems Unlimited: O'Neil said the owner of the
property at 1519 South Gilbert Street would like to lease some of the Airport's property to the
south and west of his building so he could maintain it. Mitchell said he thought the best way
to allow this was to negotiate a service agreement.
O'Neil said this would be beneficial to both parties because there would be less mowing for
the Airport and Marketing Systems could have a more manicured area surrounding their
property. Foster made a motion for a resolution to enter into a service agreement with
Marketing Systems Unlimited. Bender seconded the motion and at roll call vote,the motion
passed 5 —0.
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Horan said he had nothing further to report.
COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS: No reports were given.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
O'Neil said the Central Region AIP Conference is April 27th—April 29th. Horan, Mascari, Foster
and Bender said they would like to attend.
O'Neil said reminded the Commission that they are scheduled on the Council agenda for March
29, 1999,to discuss the Terminal renovation.
O'Neil said there has been a request for a grass runway parallel to Runway 30 to accommodate
tailwheel aircraft. The Commission said they were not interested in discussing the issue at this
time.
The Commission subcommittee meeting to discuss the North Commercial area is scheduled for
March 24th at 10:30 a.m. City Planning staff and the Council subcommittee will also attend the
meeting.
O'Neil reminded the Commission there is an article in their information packet concerning the
GPS ground system installed on an experimental basis at the Cedar Rapids Airport.
The FAA is requiring revisions in the Airport's DBE plan.
The Iowa Transportation Commission will be meeting at the Clarion Hotel on April 20th, 1999,at
8:30 a.m. Horan said he would try to attend.
O'Neil included a copy of the Council's new absentee policy in the Commission's information
packet.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: O'Neil said that the by-laws state that a chairperson and vice-
chairperson/secretary shall be elected at the March meeting. Anderson made a motion to
nominate Mascari for chairperson. Bender seconded the motion. Foster made a motion to
nominate Horan. Horan asked to have his name withdrawn. At roll call vote, Mascari was
elected 4—0,with Mascari abstaining. Bender nominated Anderson as vice-
chairperson/secretary. Mascari seconded the motion and at roll call vote, Anderson was elected 4
—0,with Anderson abstaining.
SET NEXT MEETING:
The next regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for April 8, 1999,at 5:45 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Howard Horan, Chairperson