HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-2002 Airport Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
THURSDAY AUGUST 29, 2002 —12:00 P.M.
IOWA CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Rick Mascari, Baron Thrower, Mark Anderson
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek, Ron O'Neil
PUBLIC DISCUSSION—17FEMS NOT ON AGENDA:
No items were discussed.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION:
a. Obstruction removal project - Stanley contract - ONeil said the contract has been
reviewed by the City Attorney's office and the Scope of Services have been reviewed by
the Iowa Department of Transportation. This project is funded through a 90/10 cost
sharing IDOT grant, with the IDOT paying the 90%. ONeil said that because the project
has some impact on the Environmental Assessment project, he met together with H.R.
Green and Stanley to work on the Scope of Services.
Thrower said that because he is new, he looked at the last three Commission meetings
minutes to get an understanding of some ofthe projects. Thrower said it was not clear
from the minutes what kind of obstructions needed to be mitigated. ONeil said there are
over 100 obstructions, including things such as towers, trees, a church steeple, a hangar
building, and a couple of places where the ground is an obstruction.
Blum, from II -R. Green, said there were some obstructions that will not be able to be
removed. Thrower asked if there was some link between the Airport Zoning and the
obstruction removal? ONeil said the zoning allows access on private property to remove
obstructions.
Thrower asked how many of the obstructions were related to getting a precision
approach? O'Neil said there were a number of obstructions that were related to a
precision approach. He said that even if all the obstructions were cleared, it would not be
likely that Iowa City would get a land-based precision approach. He said the FAA
Airports Planning Division has said they will not fund an ILS at Iowa City.
Anderson said there are two different answers coming from the FAA, one group saying
yes and the other group saying no. Mascari said he thought the FAA said that they
wouldn't object to Iowa City installing an IIS, but they would not help fund it. Mascari
said it would have to be funded locally.
O'Neil said that the obstructions would be prioritized, using criteria such as cost of
removal, distance from the Airport, etc. He said removal is important because they are
considered obstructions, regardless of whether Iowa City gets a precision approach or
not.
Mascari made a motion for a resolution to contract with Stanley Engineering for the
Obstruction Removal project. Thrower seconded the motion, and at roll call vote, the
motion passed 3 - 0, with Ellis and Robnett being absent.
b. Property lease - Dreusicke Holdings - ONeil said Dreusicke Holdings would like to
lease 1.3 acres west of their property, to use as vehicle storage.
Jim Dreusicke was present to answer questions. He said the parcel would be used for
vehicle storage, with no buildings proposed for the property. Mascari said the lease
included the provision that any hard surface must be dust -free. The lease is for 10 years,
with the fees renegotiated after the fust five years. The lease fee is the same as the
Commission used for other unimproved property, such as for the Iowa City School
District and the USAR.
Mascari made a motion for a resolution to lease approximately 1.3 acres to Dreusicke
Holdings, to use as vehicle storage. Thrower seconded the motion, and at roll call vote,
the motion passed 3 - 0, with Ellis and Robnett being absent.
C. Property lease - United States Army Reserve - ONeil said this was the lease that was
in the Commission's packet for the August 8 meeting. It is a five-year lease, for about .5
acre of property, used for equipment storage. Anderson said Councilperson Vanderhoef
had a concern about the lease and what relationship it had to the USAR building. ONeil
said the property where the USAR building is located was leased to them several decades
ago, for a 99 -year term. He said he thought there was about 50 years left on their lease.
ONed said the lease they were discussing was for five years, with the fee the same as
other unimproved property on the Airport. Anderson said he thought the concern from
the Council had to do with a package they were working on that dealt with the National
Guard, the Post Office, the USAR, Johnson County, Iowa City, the School Board and the
Federal government. He said Vanderhoef did not want the Commission to lock the
USAR into a long-term lease.
O'Neil said that when he spoke with Vanderhoef, he had explained that the lease being
considered by the Commission did not include the property where the Reserve's buildings
are. ONeil said that in the conversations he has had with the Reserve's property
manager, the Reserve was not contemplating a move anytime in the near future.
Mascari made a motion for a resolution to lease approximately .5 acre to the USAR to
use as vehicle storage. Thrower seconded the motion, and at roll call vote, the motion
passed 3 - 0, with Ellis and Robnett being absent.
d. Airport Layout Plan - ONeil said it was important for the Commission to have a current
Airport Layout Plan. Blum said the FAA would not accept the latest ALP that was
submitted because of the obstructions in the proposed RPZ for Runway 25. This
included a 50:1 approach slope. The Commission decided to recommend leaving the
50:1 slope in the Zoning Code and to revert to the 34:1 slope in the ALP. After the
Obstruction Removal project, the Commission can submit an ALP with the 50:1 slope to
allow for a precision approach.
Blum said that the revision would involve 8 pages of the Master plan drawings. He said
he has estimated the time involved and hoped Green could complete the project for less
than $ 1000.00. He said the contract called for anot-to -exceed fee of $ 1000.00.
Thrower asked ifthis guarantees the FAA will approve the ALP if the approach slope is
changed? Blum said the FAA has indicated this is their only objection. He said he has
every reason to believe this is their only concern. Blum said he would call the FAA
planner to confirm this.
Mascari said he thought the Commission should put this on hold until Thrower has a
chance to get up to speed on the issue. ONeil said an approved ALP would be needed
before a waiver can be applied for on the Aviation Commerce Park and before any grant
offers can be accepted.
Thrower said his concern is the economic value of the contract to the project. He saidthe
economic value is the approval by the FAA for future projects. Blum said he would
contact the FAA and discuss the ALP update with them. Blum said the FAA is reactive
as opposed to proactive on projects such as this. ONeil said the currently approved ALP
has the 34:1 slope, but the perimeters ofthe airspace drawings are non-standard. This
needed to be corrected.
Mascari said he would make a motion for a resolution to approve the contract with H.R
Green to update the Airport Layout Plan. This is contingent on Blum contacting the FAA
to discuss if the 50:1 slope is their only issue for not approving the ALP. Thrower
seconded the motion and at roll call vote, the motion passed 3 - 0, with Ellis and Robnett
being absent.
e IVIS Society - Use of Airport grounds - ONeil said the Commission approved the
application at their August 19' meeting. The MS Society has arranged with Jet Air to
use Building F for their event. ONeil said there were two glitches in the event. One was
the proper insurance. He said the MS Society would provide the Risk Manager with the
insurance certificate she requested.
The other issue is that part of the fundraiser is a wine tasting event. 'There was a question
about consumption of alcohol in a public building. The City Attorney's office reviewed
the event and does not think the ordinance applies because it is a public building that is
leased to a private company and is not open to the general public. The MS Society is not
required to have a liquor permit for this event.
ONeil said that although the Commission already approved the application, he wanted to
confirm with them that there were not legal barriers to holding the event. The event is
scheduled for October 26.
Mascari asked if there were provisions to keep the participants from the airside of the
Airport? ONeil said that will be the responsibility of Jet Air because they were donating
the building. Anderson said that a letter should be sent to Jet Air, to remind them that
there needs to be strict security to keep the participants from accessing the airside ofthe
Airport.
IV. Chairperson's report:
Anderson asked if the DOLL pump was working? O Neil said it was not working last
night, but he had worked on it this morning and it is now working.
Anderson said he made a presentation to a service group on Tuesday. He said he
answered a lot of questions about the recent articles in the newspapers. He said he
received a lot of positive comments. He said he thought that by the time he was done, it
was clearer about the economic value of the Airport.
Anderson commented on the editorial in the Press Citizen. He said he thought it was
another attempt by the Press Citizen to sell newspapers.
The tenant has been evicted from hangar # 61. Two tenants want the hangar. Court
proceedings will be necessary to collect back rent.
Ellis sent Anderson a memo, suggesting he summarize the meeting of August 19 and
clarify what the Council expects from the Commission over the next year.
Anderson welcomed Tbrower to the Commission. He said he noted that Thrower has
experience in strategic planning and that would be helpful to the Commission in the
future. Thrower suggested involving the Eastern Iowa Airport in their strategic planning.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 12:52 p.m.
Mark Anderson, Chairperson