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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-09-1993 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1993 - 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CIVIC CENTER MEMBERS PRESENT: John Ockenfels, Howard Horan, Pat Foster, Robert Hicks, Richard Blum STAFF PRESENT: Ron O'Neil, Anne Burnside CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Blum called the meeting to order at 5:35. A quorum of the Commission was present. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Blum stated that the first order of business was to elect officers for the upcoming year. Officers for the office of chairperson and vice-chairperson/secretary are elected annually at the March Commission meeting. Horan nominated Ockenfels for the office of chairperson. Foster seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. Ockenfels was elected chairperson 4 - 0, with Ockenfels abstaining. Blum nominated Foster as vice-chairperson. Horan seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. Foster was elected vice- chairperson 4 - 0, with Foster abstaining. PUBLIC DISCUSSION - ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA: No items were presented. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. AIP 3-19-0047-03 Feasibility Study - Ockenfels stated that this item was on the agenda for the Commission to discuss the consultants' recommendations and make a recommendation to the City Council concerning the study. Blum stated that there were several issues raised since the study began. One issue involved environmental concerns. One of the issues involved the Snyder Creek watershed area near Site One. Environmental issues near any of the proposed sites and the current site should be investigated. There is a question of whether an environmental impact study would be required if land is purchased for easements at the current site. The question was raised concerning the sale of the current site if the Airport was moved. How would the funds become available to apply to a new site ? Is the Airport property worth the value assessed to it by Coffman Associates ? A Blum suggested requesting a second opinion on the value of the current site. He stated that this does not have to be a full appraisal, but an overall value estimate. Blum wanted a better estimate of the costs for opting out of the FAA CIP program and locally financing any repairs needed. The estimate given in the study was $ 2 . 1 million dollars. This did not include some repairs not eligible under the FAA CIP program, including pavement near the T-hangars, Runway 12/30 and Terminal Building rehabilitation. Hicks questioned whether there were airports in the United States in non-compliance that were still receiving funding. Blum explained to Hicks that there is a major difference between being in non-compliance and not meeting the 1989 Design Safety Standards. Airports in non-compliance do not receive federal funding. Non- conforming airports can receive funding if a plan is in place to show that the airport is working toward meeting the safety standards. Iowa City is in compliance but does not meet the 1989 Safety Design Standards. The FAA is reviewing the final report by Coffman Associates to see if there are any technical mistakes. The FAA will not suggest an option for the Commission. That must be a local decision. Hicks stated that he believes Iowa City needs an airport but he questions how large of an airport the City needs. Blum said he was more concerned with meeting safety issues than with the size of the airport. Horan said that it will be more difficult in the future to protect the land around the Airport from encroachment. If the City does not own the property, it is difficult to control development. Blum made a motion to have H.R. Green Co. provide a cost for providing cost estimates for improvements at the Airport to maintain the current safety level. This is what is could be considered as the minimal cost option. This would include eligible and non-eligible items under the FAA CIP program. It would also included an airport master plan. Hicks seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 - 0. Hicks and Blum will contact H.R. Green to provide the information for the April Commission meeting. b. IDOT Capital Improvement Program - O'Neil stated that the deadline for application to the State DOT program is April 1, 1993 . O'Neil suggested applying to the State for Phase Three of the security fencing plan. This would fund security fencing from the northeast corner of airport property to Ruppert Road. Blum made a motion for a resolution to apply to the IDOT CIP program for Phase Three of the Airport Security Fencing plan. Foster seconded the motion and at roll call vote, the motion passed 5 - 0. O'Neil will prepare and send the application by the April 1 deadline. c. Sertoma Request - Fly-in Breakfast - Blum reported the Sertoma Club was requesting permission to hold their annual breakfast at the Airport. There will not be an air show as in the past two years. There will be a remote-controlled aircraft show. These are one-fifth scale models and will require a hard surface area for landing and departing. Foster made a motion to grant Sertoma's request to conduct a breakfast at the Airport, to include an air show with the remote- controlled aircraft. Ockenfels seconded the motion and it was passed 4 - 0, with Blum abstaining. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the February 16, 1993, Commission meeting were approved as presented. AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES: O'Neil presented the list of expenditures for February. Coffman has presented the request for final payment for the Feasibility Study. Blum moved to approve the expenditures. Foster seconded the motion and it was approved 5 - 0. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Ockenfels thanked Blum for the job he has done as chairperson the past few years. COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORT: Horan attended a meeting in Hills that dealt with the Feasibility Study. He said he has a better idea of the concerns of those in the proposed sites as to why they are opposed to relocating the Airport. Blum reminded the Commission of the State Aviation Conference in Ames on April 14 and 15. He said there are many interesting topics to be covered and encouraged the Commission members to attend. Foster made reference to the aircraft accident in Newton and emphasized the importance of providing a safe airport. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: O'Neil stated that the Stormwater Management Plan was to be in place by April 1, 1993. He was working with the City Engineer to develop the plan. A letter was included in the Commission information packet concerning the aeronautical study for Hubbard Milling. This was a request to add 30 feet to the Protein Blenders building. The Commission has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to review the aeronautical study. r' The fire department conducted their annual fire inspection in February. The auto gas barrel owned by ICFS does not meet safety standards. ICFS has been notified and the barrel will be brought into compliance or removed. Iowa City Flying Service has suggested the Commission proceed with installing a SAWRS weather station until the ASOS is certified. The station license would be revoked when the ASOS is certified. It was suggested that if ICFS would like to install a SAWRS for their use, they should formally request that from the Commission. SET NEXT MEETING: The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 20, 1993 , at 5:30 p.m. at the Transit Facility. ADJOURNMENT: Hicks moved to adjourn the meeting. Foster seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. /John Ockenfels, r airperson