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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-2002 Airport Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES IOWA CITU AIRPORT COMMISSION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2002 — 5:45 P.M IOWA CITY AIRPORT TERMINAL MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Robnett, Mark Anderson, Alan Ellis STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek, Ron O'Neil CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the November 14, 2002, Commission meeting were approved as submitted. AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES: Robnett made a motion to pay the bills. Ellis seconded the motion. Ellis commented that the Commission wanted to subscribe to the corporate membership for ARAE. O'Neil said that was budgeted for in the FY 2004 budget. O'Neil said he was hopeful to get reimbursed for the bill to CS Enterprises through the underground tank clean up insurance. The motion passed 3 - 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. PUBLIC DISCUSSION — ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA: No items were presented. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. Obstruction removal project- Cathy Weikel and Dean Beranek, from Stanley Consultants, presented information to the Commission. Weikel presented a list of the obstructions in order of priority. Obstructions for Runway 07/25 were considered to be the top priority. She said she tried to group things to be removed, such as trees in one group and poles in other group. The safety area they were in and the location to the Airport were factors in prioritizing the obstructions. Some obstructions listed as a tree were actually a cluster of trees. O'Neil said the sign and light poles on the Hargrave-McEleney property needed to be moved from the bottom of the list to the top of the list. He said he would like to have those obstructions taken care of before the possible annexation of that area. Weikel asked if there was funding to replace a smaller tree if a larger tree must be removed as an obstruction? Ellis said there is no way to anticipate how much money should be reserved to replace any obstructions that were removed. Dulek said she would review the grant to see if that would be an allowable expense. Anderson asked Weikel what the next step should be? Weikel said the obstruction list would be finalized and the owners of the obstructions would be contacted. She said that before the letters are sent, a meeting should be scheduled with the City Council to update them on the project. O'Neil will contact the City Manager to schedule time on the Council agenda at the January 6 meeting. Robnett wanted to know if there is a list of criteria for an ILS? Anderson said the obstructions are a safety issue, whether or not the Airport qualifies for an ILS at a later date. Weikel said one of the University's power plant stacks has a light and one does not. Weikel said the FAA might not require both of them to be lighted because of their proximity to each other. O'Neil said some of the obstructions associated with Runway 07/25 could be mitigated with the runway extension project. The United hangar would be an example of an obstruction to include with the runway project. b. Aviation Commerce Park 1. Iowa Realty December report - Tracy Overton, from Iowa Realty, presented his monthly report. He said there were several potential buyers showing interest in purchasing the property. O'Neil said the FAA has required additional information for the waiver to sell the property. One of the items was to change the south lot lines to coincide with the 35' building restriction line. O'Neil said the Council passed that change on December 10. The FAA also wanted an updated appraisal. O'Neil said that has been completed. The new value is about $ 5,100,000. O'Neil said that when the waiver is granted, the property would be available for sale. He said the Commission has not finalized the sale procedures with the Council. Ellis said the Commission has not had the opportunity to meet with the Council through the ACP subcommittee to work through these issues. O'Neil said he has discussed this with the City Manager. Atkins discussed this with Mayor Lehman and the suggestion was made to have Overton amend his agreement to be able to lease or sell the property. As part of that agreement, O'Neil suggested a procedure agreement be attached. He said in the case of a sale, the offer would come to the Commission for review and comment before it is forwarded to Council. Because it is a sale, Council would make the final decision. Ellis asked what would happen if the Commission's recommendation was not to accept an offer? Ellis said he would want the Commission to be the agent for the Council to decide whether or not an offer is acceptable. O'Neil said he would hope that the Council would act in accordance with the Commission's recommendation. Robnett said she would prefer not to be an agent for the proposal. O'Neil said he is going to meet with Overton and Atkins next week to discuss the procedure for selling the property. He said he would like input form the Commission on what that procedure should be. Ellis said that is why there is an ACP subcommittee. The Council and Commission were to work the procedure out directly, not through the City staff. Anderson said he thought the Council would like City staff to work on the agreement. O'Neil suggested the Commission members tell Overton what they would like in the sales/lease agreement. Ellis said that if the Council is making all of the decisions on the ACP, why is the Commission being billed for the $ 1.6 million in improvements? Robnett said it is important to specify where the money from the sale of the property will go. Ellis asked if the Airport will receive the tax money generated from the ACP since the Airport is responsible for paying for the infrastructure that helps to generate that income? The Airport was to pay for the infrastructure when it was thought that the property would be leased. Now that it may be sold, what is the long-term benefit for the Airport for releasing 54 acres of airport property? Once the land is sold, it is no longer considered part of the Airport. Overton said the infrastructure makes the property a sellable asset. He said the Commission receives the income from the sale. Without the infrastructure, there is no sellable asset unless the Commission sells the property as an unimproved parcel. Ellis said he was hoping to sit down with the subcommittee and discuss the benefit of the property sale. Overton said he is putting a listing agreement together for selling the property. He said he would prefer not to be responsible for the agreement between the Council and the Commission, but he would incorporate procedures if directed to by the Council and Commission. Ellis said he could not support offers going through City staff and Overton before going through the Commission. He said that does not give the Commission any authority in the decisions. It should be between the Council and the Commission, not between the City Manager and the Airport Manager. Ellis said the sales offers should be treated like the lease offers. The Commission should be responsible for the negotiations, with the final offer going to the Council, not the City Manager. Ellis said he would like it made clear whether the Commission has any responsibility or not. Ellis said he thought the Commission should stick with what they have for leasing. If it is a sale, you add one more step, that being sending it to the City Council. O'Neil asked Ellis if he was saying that a sale offer or lease offer has to be approved by the Commission? The lease offer would stay within the Commission and if approved, a sale offer would be forwarded to the Council? Anderson said he didn't know if the Commission had that authority. O'Neil said the Council could delegate that authority to the Commission if they chose to. O'Neil asked Overton if he knew how to proceed? Overton said he is going to develop an agreement that will allow for lease or sale. He needs an agreement, giving him the authority to sell the property. He said he is going to amend the leasing agreement to incorporate sales. The Council would need to agree to the sales part of the agreement. O'Neil said that when the agreement goes to Council, that is when the Commission needs to address the Council. O'Neil said that he has indicated to Atkins that the Commission wants to have the flexibility to lease or sell the property. c. Environmental Assessment — O'Neil said that the archeological borings were completed. The data is being analyzed. A noise model will be constructed. Most of the fieldwork is done. Anderson said that at the meeting in Kansas City, the FAA said they would like a draft of the EA by April 1. It would be reviewed and hopefully completed in time for the FAA to meet their September deadline for issuing FY 2003 grants. O'Neil said he believes the FAA will consider the Runway 07 extension project as a three-year project. This year, funding will be provided for the EA, design work for Willow Creek and the Dane Road relocation. Next year, the majority of the earth moving would be done. In FY 2005, funds would be allocated for the paving and lighting of the extension. Todd Madison, the FAA Iowa Planner, said that is what is programmed for Iowa City. d. Building E, meeting room policy - O'Neil said Dulek had reviewed the proposed policy and her comments had been incorporated. The main change from the last meeting was a definition of what would be acceptable as security for after hours. Robnett asked about liability for after hours? Ellis said if someone does not adhere to the policy, they would not lease the room again. Robnett made a motion for a resolution to approve the meeting room policy. Ellis seconded the motion. Ellis asked O'Neil if he was comfortable with the policy? O'Neil said this was the initial policy for renting the room and if it needed to be changed, the Commission could have it on the agenda at any time. He said they need to start somewhere and see how it works. Ellis said it should be reviewed annually. At roll call vote, the motion passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. e. Strategic planning — subcommittee — Robnett said she had not heard anything about the Commission's request for funding for a consultant for a businesststrategic plan. Anderson said he talked to Mayor Lehman and the Mayor did not think the requested amount was too much. O'Neil said the request was in the Council packet but was not considered as an agenda item. Anderson said he would call the Mayor and get some time on the agenda. Ellis said that when Thrower went to the Council two weeks ago and discussed this item, the Council said that the Commission should make a request in writing for the funding. Robnett and Ellis said they considered the letter from Anderson as a request for funding. Ellis said that the Commission would not be able to make their self-imposed February deadline. E Hangar leases — Units 931 and #33 — Ellis asked what the current rent was for the hangars? O'Neil said each tenant is paying $ 344.25 per month. O'Neil said the lease is the same as the one the Commission passed a month ago for hangar #34. These are three-year leases, with a rent increase of 2% per year for the three years. O'Neil said he sent a copy of the lease to the tenants and informed them this would be an agenda item. The tenants were invited to attend the Commission meeting or call the Airport Manager if they had questions or comments about the lease. He did not hear from either tenant. Ellis said the lease should be more specific on the FAA regulations that pertain to maintenance on someone's own aircraft. He would like to have the specific regulations cited. Anderson said this is all covered in the Airport's Minimum Standards. Ellis wanted to know if all hangar leases are given a copy of the Minimum Standards? He wants all tenants to know they can not bring in outside mechanics. Ellis commented that the Commission should be more specific about the disposal of waste oil and other materials. O'Neil said the language for these leases was taken from the hangar leases that the Commission passed in October. Robnett said this was not the time to rewrite the leases. Anderson asked O'Neil to send a copy of the Minimum Standards when he sends out the leases. Ellis made a motion for a resolution to accept the lease for hangar # 31. Robnett seconded the motion and at roll call vote it passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. Robnett made a motion for a resolution to accept the lease for hangar # 33. Ellis seconded the motion and at roll call vote, the motion passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. g. Jirsa lease — O'Neil said this was discussed at a Commission meeting two months ago. The lease for the property Jirsa leases for their parking lot ends at the end of December 2002. O'Neil said he would recommend not renewing the lease. The area leased is where the Mormon Trek intersection will be. O'Neil said that even if Mormon Trek were not being extended, he would have concerns about renewing the lease. The tenant was usually late paying the rent and he had to contact them several times. Anderson suggested continuing on a month to month basis. O'Neil will send a letter, offering them the property on a month to month lease. h. Federal Airport Improvement Program — FV 2004 — 2006 O'Neil said that although the application did not require a resolution of support from the Commission, he thought it would be a good idea for the Commission to pass a resolution. This is for the federal All? application. The major project is the three-year project for the runway extension. Robnett made a motion for a resolution, supporting the All? application. Ellis seconded the motion. At roll call vote, the motion passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. EXECUTIVE SESSION -IOWA CODE. SECTION 21.5 (1) (C) LITIGATION Ellis made a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending or imminent litigation. Robnett seconded the motion and at roll call vote, the motion passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. Robnett made a motion to return to the regular meeting. Ellis seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 — 0, with Mascari and Thrower being absent. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: Anderson said he thought the trip to visit the FAA was productive and he appreciated the participation from the Mayor and Councilman Wilburn. He said he also wanted to comment that he thought O'Neil did a good job managing the meeting in Kansas City. He said it was organized and they covered all of the issues on his agenda. There were several people from the FAA at the meeting. It lasted about two hours. Ellis said he wanted to comment again on not letting Council/Commission issues get so far down the road that the Commission does not have time for input. He was referring to the sales/lease agreement for the Aviation Commerce Park. O'Neil asked how it should be approached differently? Ellis said everything needs to be in writing. He said issues should be discussed directly between the Council and the Commission, not delegated to the City Manager and Airport Manager. He said the subcommittee should do the preliminary work. Ellis said Jet Air will begin renting a used 172 Cessna for about $ 75 per hour. Robnett said she seconded Ellis's concern about the communication gap between the Council and the Commission. She said there have been two requests in writing to the Council and no response has been received. There has been no response for a TIF district for the ACP and no response for the funding request for the Strategic Plan consultant. Robnett said the Commission would need to find a facilitator when the planning process begins. Ellis said there is no way to meet the February 2003 deadline for the initial draft of the plan. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: January 28, 2003 is the Council meeting scheduled for boards and commissions to discuss the FY2004 budget. O'Neil said he would send a copy of the budget to the Commission as soon as he receives it from the Finance Department. After the Commission submits a budget in October, the City Manager and Finance Director review the budget in comparison to the whole City budget. If there are changes from the Finance Department, the Commission can use this January meeting to explain why funding is needed for items that were reduced or removed from the budget. Robnett asked if the Commission members could get the budget on line like the City Council does? She would like to check it on a monthly basis. O'Neil will ask the Finance Department if the Commission has access. There is a letter in the Commission packet, introducing Kay Thede as a new member of the IDOT Office of Aviation. The Airport Zoning ordinance was passed at the Council meeting on December 10. It will now go through the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. There was an application for funding for community events. O'Neil said he sent the application to SERTOMA. There are two articles in the packet dealing with airport consultants. There are two letters in the packet dealing with Dane Road. One is from the Mayor and the other is a letter from Snyder Associates, saying any alternatives should be addressed in the Environmental Assessment project. When the Mayor was in Kansas City, he asked if Dane Road needed to be closed. Jan Monroe, the Planning Supervisor, said that if the Commission intended to implement the Master Plan they had on file, Dane Road would need to be relocated and the old Dane Road would need to be closed. Anderson and Robnett will be at the Council meeting on January 7, 2003. The funding for the strategic planning and the meeting with the FAA on December 4 will be discussed. SET NEXT MEETING: The next regular Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2003,at 5:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. Mark Werson, Chairperson