HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-2002 Airport Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
MONDAY MAY 16, 2002 — 5.45 P.M.
IOWA CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Rick Mascari, Michelle Robnett, Mark Anderson, Alan Ellis
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek, Ron O'Neil
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:48 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes ofthe April 16 and April 25, 2002, Commission meetings were approved as
submitted.
AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES:
Mascari asked if there were any instances ofthe 10OLL pump not working? ONeil said none had
been reported to him. Mascari asked about the bill for runway light parts? ONeil said it was for
wiring from the lights to the transformers. Mascari asked about the repairs for the access gate.
O'Neil said this bill was for replacing the motor. He said the gate gets extensive use and almost
all ofthe original parts of the gate have been replaced. He said part of the problem is that people
give out the access code to people that don't need to be in that area. ONeil said he might leave
the gate open during the day when he is around to monitor traffic and close it at night.
Mascari asked about the bill to IOW Aero. ONeil said that was the remainder of the bill for the
interior renovation on Building D that the Commission agreed to pay IOW. Anderson asked
O'Neil if the money was budgeted. ONeil said he would have to defer some other maintenance
to pay IOW.
Mascari made a motion to pay the bills. Ellis seconded the motion and the motion passed 4 - 0,
with Ruyle being absent. Anderson suggested not leaving the gate open during the day.
Mascari said the Commission needs to keep a tight lid on spending.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION — ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA:
No items were presented.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. Aviation Commerce Park
1. May report - ONeil said that because the meeting date was changed, Tracy Overton
could not be at the meeting. ONeil circulated Overton's monthly report. He said
Overton emphasized the Commission move forward as quickly as possible to pursue the
idea of selling the lots as opposed to long-term leases. He said the interest from potential
tenants has been in purchasing property.
Anderson asked ONeil if there had been any response from the letter he sent to the
Mayor, indicating the Commission was going to investigate selling the property? ONeil
said that as of the Commission's meeting time, he had received no response from the
Mayor. ONeil said some response is required to move forward with attempting to get the
grant assurances modified and to get the appraisal updated. ONeil said that he received a
positive response from the City Manager and the Finance Director when he discussed this
issue with them.
Anderson suggested ONeil contact Casey Cook to see how much it would cost to update
the appraisal and how soon it could be done. He will contact the Mayor and discuss the
idea of selling the property. ONeil asked if the Commission was ready to make a
recommendation to Council to sell the property.
2. Other issues - ONeil said the revised listing agreement was in their packet. It was the
view of the City Attorney's office that is would be the responsibility of the Council to
hire a reahor if the property was sold. There is a penalty in Overton's contract if the
Commission terminates the agreement early. Overton would wave that fee if he was the
realtor selected to sell the property. Because Overton is familiar with the property, it
would be a good decision to have him market the property. Mascari and Ellis are the
subcommittee for the ACP. They will develop a strategy for how to proceed with the
marketing ofthe ACP.
Ellis said he thought the Commission should hire an outside attorney to assist with the
negotiations with the City Council. He said that the City Attorney is reviewing any
agreement for content only, not to advice on what the best deal is for the Airport.
Anderson asked how an outside attorney would be paid for? Robnett said she would
check with AOPA legal services.
b. Fuel site - upgrade software- ONeil said that the Commission has discussed updating the
software for the 10OLL-fuel pump. This would allow the FBO to do multi -pricing and to
download the daily receipts from their computer instead of directly from the pump. ONeil
said he did not think the Commission had officially agreed to upgrade the software.
Mascari said he thought this is something the FBO might want to invest in. The Commission
directed O'Neil to contact Jet Air to see ifthey are interested in changing the software.
c. Gordon lease amendment- Anderson asked Dulek to explain how an increase based on the
CPI would work. Dulek said that if Gordon exercised his five-year lease option, the rent
would increase by the same percentage as the CPI increased during the first five years of his
lease. Anderson asked if Gordon understood this amendment. ONeil said that Gordon is the
one that asked for the rent to be tied to the CPI. Anderson said he would prefer Gordon
agree to the lease amendment before the Commission acts on it.
O'Neil said Gordon's real concern is that his rent will be increased based on tenant -paid -for
improvements. He recently spent several thousand dollars painting the interior walls and
hangar floor and did not want a rent increase based on improvements he paid for.
Ellis suggested Gordon be invited to the next meeting and make sure everyone was in
agreement with the amendment. Ellis and Robnett will meet with Gordon before the next
meeting.
d. Obstruction removal project- ONeil said Stanley Engineering had given him a Scope of
Services for the project. He had included a copy in the Commission packet. ONeil said the
subcommittee would need to review the scope and give him their comments. ONeil said the
consultant fee suggested in the scope were about 17%. Anderson said that since this is a
State grant, ONeil should see if IDOT would review the scope for content and cost. ONeil
will contact the State Aviation office and see if they will review the scope. ONeil said there
are some things that can be eliminated from the Scope of Services.
e. Environmental Assessment and Section 106 project- ONeil said H.R. Green has
developed a Scope of Services. ONeil said Dick Blum said Green's environmental experts
stated the 106 study alone could cost $ 100,000. A letter sent to SHPO indicated that the
entire Airport could be eligible as a historic district. This is not something that was initiated
by the Airport Cormnission or the City of Iowa City. This was brought to the attention of the
Public Works Department in conjunction with the Mormon Trek South project. ONeil said
he and Blum, from H.R. Green, will be in Kansas City next month and will discuss the EA
and historic study with FAA officials.
f. Long-term parking- ONeil said the Commission had not decided on what they wanted in a
policy recommendation to the Council. Dulek had advised the Commission that it washer
opinion that only the Council could set parking fees. The Commission directed Dulek to
draft an ordinance for Council, but did not give final direction on what they wanted in the
ordinance. Anderson said that because the Commission was not sure what they wanted, he
thought the issue should be dropped at this time. Mascari said he agreed, but his idea was
that it would have been a way to generate income. Ellis said the long-term parking should be
included as a more comprehensive parking plan for the Airport. Robnett said this could be
part ofthe business plan.
g. North t -hangars leases- This was deferred from last month's meeting. Ellis said he had
some recommended changes for the lease. One of the things Ellis suggested was an annual
compliance inspection of the hangars. He said he is getting a lease from a U -Store -It
company to see what kind of restrictions they have on storage. Ellis also wanted all tenants
to provide a cleaning deposit. He said storage of hazardous materials should be addressed.
He also thought a set of Airport rules should be developed and included in the leases.
Ellis said he thought there should be annual rear, increases. He thought there should be a
charge for electrical use for each hangar. Ellis said he thought that before the Airport does
any maintenance to a hangar, the tenant should be given written notice. All insurance
requirements should be specified in detail. Ellis said all tenants should be notified if there is
a special event at the airport.
Mascari said one of the complaints from tenants in the original version of the lease was that
it was one-sided. It stated tenant responsibilities but did not list airport responsibilities.
Dulek said the Commission is suppose to be advocating for the Airport. The tenants should
be invited to comment on the lease, but are responsible for speaking up for themselves.
Robnett said there is some responsibility to the tenants for customer service.
It. Buildings A, B, & C - overdue rent- ONeil said he received an e-mail from PS Air, saying
they would pay about 1/3 of the money they collected for the Airport. Instead of paying the
rest, they would tum over debt owed to them by Iowa City tenants for the Commission to
collect. The amount of money owed to them is about $ 2500, which is more than ICFS owes
the Commission. Dulek said the tenants owe the money to the Commission. Because they
sent the rent to PS Air instead of the Commission is not the Commission's fault. PS Air was
supposed to return the money to the Commission.
Mascari said the Commission should direct ONeil to send a letter to the six tenants, telling
them that they owe rent and will have to try to get their money back from PS Air. ONeil
said he would send letters to the tenants. Dulek said she would review the letter before it
was sent.
United States Army Reserve lease- ONeil said the USAR leases about 24,000 square feet
of airport property to store construction equipment. The lease expires in August. They are
paying about $.075 a square foot. Mascari asked what fair market value would be? ONeil
said the Iowa City School District is paying about $ .10 a square foot for the acre they lease
in the ACP. ONeil said the question is, does the Commission want to renew the lease?
Mascari said he thought the Commission should renew the lease. The Commission agreed.
O'Neil will send a letter to the USAR and this will be on the agenda this summer.
CHAMPERSON'S REPORT:
Anderson said he had nothing to report.
COMMISSION MEMBERS' REPORTS:
Mascari said the abandon parallel taxi way for Runway 18 should be marked closed.
Robnett gave the Commission additional information on public service announcements. She will
contact IDOT to see what they are doing for marketing.
Robnett said she contacted the University of Iowa Business school for help in writing the
business plan.
Rohnett said the Commission should set a date to work on the business plan. Anderson said it
should be a separate meeting. The Commission decided to meet on Saturday, July 13, at 9:00
a.m. Anderson said he may be able to have someone from his office facilitate the meeting.
Ellis wanted to know what the Commission wants to do about hiring an attorney. Mascari said he
does not know how the Commission can afford an outside attorney. It would probably cost
somewhere between $ 100 - $ 200 per hour. Robnett will investigate costs.
Ellis said he thinks there should be strider rules about the bulletin board in the Flight Service
Room. He does not think Jet Air should have free advertising.
Ellis said the Commission should review the memo from ONeil about how to save money at the
Airport. Anderson said this would be on the next agenda.
Ellis wanted to know if the Commission could pay for the ONeil to go through the AAAE
accreditation program? Mascari said when he sends someone to a class or school, his business
pays for the schooling. Ellis said that could be taken out of the education and training budget.
O'Neil said there are only a couple of AAAE certified members in Iowa.
Mascari said that something needs to be done about having all five Commission members. He
said he thought that City code said that if you miss two or three meetings in a row, you are
automatically out. ONeil said the Commission would have to discuss this as an agenda item.
This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
Jet Air will be hosting a Chamber of Commerce Business P.M.
O'Neil said there was a vacation notice memo in the packet.
ONeil discussed the summer meeting schedule with the Commission. The meetings are
scheduled for June 6, July 18, August 8, and September 12. There is also the meeting scheduled
for July 13.
A memo was sent to the Council explaining T -hangar occupancy.
In order to help reduce the budget, the cleaning service for the Terminal Building will be reduced
from three times a week to two times a week.
ONeil said there was a memo in the packet concerning a land lease from Toyota to lease about a
half an acre of land. This will be on the next meeting agenda.
O'Neil said Iowa City Schools lease an acre of land in the northeast comer of the Airport. It is on
a year to year lease. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
The Police Department trained at the Airport on May 13, from about 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The
training will be evaluated by the Police Department and may be something that is done on a
regular basis.
Because University Hospital is working on some of the elevators, the helicopter pad at the
hospital can not be used for at least the next three weeks. Air Care will transfer all patients to
ground transportation at the Airport. Some special equipment will be stored at the Airport so they
will not have to transport it back and forth for every patient transfer.
The City Attorney has advised that the Council, boards and commissions should limit what is said
at the agenda time sent aside for individual members. Items can be raised for future agenda
discussion, but specific discussion of items not on the agenda should not be discussed by the
Commission at the time on the agenda for Commission members' reports. This means no
discussion or action. If a majority of the Commission is interested in an issue, it should be
scheduled on a future agenda.
Ellis had asked how much it would cost monthly to individually meter all the hangars. ONeil
said there would be a minimum monthly charge of $ 10.00 per meter. Also in response to Ellis,
O'Neil said the runway lights on Runway 07/25 cost about $2.50 per day, based on a twelve-hour
day.
McLoedUSA is waffling on their pay telephone contract. They are suggesting that in order to
keep the pay phone at the Airport, it will cost $ 100 per month. It is free at this time. ONeil is
looking at alternatives.
Dave Larsen, who is affiliated with John Dane on some property west of the Airport, requested
leasing some Airport property to install a real estate sign. He has already installed the sign
without permission. ONeil said he told Larsen he would need to remove the sign until the
Commission discussed a lease. This will be on the agenda for the June meeting.
A memo was sent to the City Manager concerning an insurance claim for Building K.
A letter was sent to the Cedar Rapids tower, requesting a temporary tower for the fly -in on
August 25, 2002.
O'Neil said there was a memo in the Commission packet, suggesting areas the Commission may
want to consider to reduce the 2003 budget. Discussion of the budget will be on the June agenda.
SET NEXT MEETING:
The neat regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2002,at 5:45 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting .ourned at 8:45 p.m.
Mark Anderson, Chairperson