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Home My WebLink About04-09-2020 Airport Commission Meeting MinutesApril 9, 2020 Page i MINUTES FINAL IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION APRIL 9, 2020 — 6:00 P.M. ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting was held because a meeting in person was impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. Members Present: Warren Bishop, Scott Clair, Christopher Lawrence, Bob Libby, Judy Pfohl Staff Present: Eric Goers, Michael Tharp Others Present: Matt Wolford, Carl Byers RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council action): None. DETERMINE QUORUM: The meeting was called to order at 6:02 P.M. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from the March 12, 2020, meeting were reviewed first, Kohl moved to accept the minutes from the March 12, 2020, meeting as presented. Libby seconded the motion. The motion carried 5.0. PUBLIC DISCUSSION: None. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: a. Airport Website Update — Tharp stated that currently the website is on hold. He added that they are at the point where they need to meet with City Communications staff and FUEL to determine the best way to move forward with this. With the COVID-19 pandemic occurring, the City staff has been very busy with communicating with the public. Tharp hopes that in May they will be able to schedule this meeting. b. FAAIIDOT Projects I. Obstruction Mitigation — Tharp noted that all of the trees that were deemed necessary for removal have now been removed. During the tree removal process, however, there were another dozen that were identified as needing to be removed, Tharp stated that they have gone back to the FAA to alert them to this issue and to suggest a phase two take place this coming winter. He added that the FAA has agreed to this, so therefore he April 9, 2020 Page 2 will be working with AECOM to set up a phase two project. Members asked if this would cause problems with the current plans, and Tharp responded that it would not. Tharp then explained the FAA grants being finalized at this time and the need to have the Commission authorize the resolution this evening. 1. Consider a resolution authorizing chairperson to accept grants for obstruction mitigation costs and FAA Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPi) relocation agreement — Bishop moved to authorize Resolution #A20-10 in order to accept grants for obstruction mitigation costs and FAA Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) relocation agreement. Kohl seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. U. Terminal Apron/Taxiway reconstruction — Tharp stated that he has the contracts ready to be signed. He added that there will be a virtual meeting with the contractor to cover scheduling and other items. ill. Runway 25 Threshold Relocation — Tharp noted that they are working on the grant application for this project. The FAA is getting them the reimbursable agreement, and both items are expected in the near future. iv. Fuel Farm Expansion and card reader kiosk replacement — Tharp stated that both of the contracts for this project are on their way to the Airport. He should have those in the next few business days. V. FY2021 State Aviation Program Application — Tharp stated that after last month's conversation, he and Byers put some numbers together to come up with a best -case scenario, which would involve constructing T hangar infrastructure that would give them the best capability for expansion. Looking at what it would take to do everything on the south side would be two years worth of grant projects. The first portion of these two-year projects would be approximately $400,000, which means an approximate local match of $60,000, and with the $40,000 from the City they could go after the parking lot project again. Tharp asked the Commission for their consensus on this application, so that he can move ahead with submittal. After some further discussion, Members noted their approval to move forward with the application. C. Airport Operations i. Management 1. Annual Report —Tharp noted that he did receive some comments from Goers for the annual report, and he asked that if Members had any last minute comments, they get them to him soon. Once he has everything, he will work on a time for the Commission to present it to the City Council. ill. Budget — Tharp stated that he has talked to City Hall about this, after having Wolford run some fuel reports for him. At the current rate, the Airport is looking at approximately a $2,500 per month loss in fuel sales. By the end of the year, this means they could be down almost $10,000 in revenues. Members spoke about the possible need to use the $100,000 'emergency' funding that the City has for the Airport. Tharp noted that they currently also have around $110,000 in the bank, with no restrictions connected to it. Goers responded to Member questions regarding the emergency funding and how the process might play out. April 9, 2020 Page 3 iii. Events — Tharp spoke to this summer's events, noting that as the time for these approaches they should know better what the State has in place at that time and whether changes will be needed. d. FBO 1 Flight Training Reports L Jet Air — Matt Wolford shared the maintenance report, noting that they've been getting equipment ready for mowing and springtime. Pfohl asked if the sofas had been moved into the pilot's lounge and Wolford stated that they have been, and he noted how great they look. Speaking to Jet Air, Wolford stated they were very busy the first part of March with private flights, people wanting to get home and not take commercial flights. Now these types of flights have dropped to maybe one or two a week, after three or four per day. The shop has been keeping busy on projects. The Illinois flight training has been closed down for now, according to Wolford. As for charter flights, Wolford said they applied for and have already received a small business loan. This will allow them to keep their pilots on the payroll for at least eight weeks. Wolford continued to talk about the various stimulus packages available for businesses and what they are finding out about it. He also spoke to the drop in fuel prices and how this will affect things, and also to the new procedures to disinfect everything they can at the Airport that gets touched. e. Commission Member Reports — Bishop stated that he has been working on the solar farm issue and noted that he has been in contact with the MidAmerican Energy contact person about this proposal. He added that the City Council did vote unanimously earlier this week to not allow the proposed project to be placed at the Waterworks Prairie Park. At this point, however, MidAmerican is saying they are no longer interested in a possible location at the Airport. Members briefly discussed this type of project for the future, and Goers then gave some history on the City staff and MidAmerican working towards a solar farm project. Bishop spoke to his continued interest in solar projects at the Airport. Byers then spoke to the various things that can be done to prevent problems with glare on the solar panels. Others spoke to their interest in further pursuing some type of solar project at the Airport. Tharp then responded to what the Airport currently receives on the farm land that is leased, versus what a solar farm project might bring them. He also spoke to the issue of the Airport being in a flood plain and how the installation of solar panels would have to be handled. Tharp stated that he and some others could have a conversation regarding this, in order to see how they might move forward. f. Staff Report — Tharp stated that he is still maintaining his Tuesday and Friday office hours at the Airport, for the time being. He added that he is keeping tabs on the Governor's daily updates. SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING FOR: The next regular meeting of the Airport Commission will be held on Thursday. May 14. 2020, at 6:00 P.M. in the Airport Terminal Building, via electronic method. ADJOURN: April 9, 2020 Page 4 Lawrence moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 P.M. Pfohl seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0. CHAIRPERSON DATE April 9, 2020 Page 5 Airport Commission ATTENDANCE RECORD 2019-2020 Key-, X = Present X1E = Present for Part of Meeting O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = Not a Member at this time TERM o 0 0 0 0 j s i 0 0 0 0 NAME EXP. 0 coo j .+ o £ " �o 3 w m N to m m m m m m m ep 0 0 0 0 Warren Bishop 06/30/22 X X X X O/E X 0/E X X O/E O/E X X Scott Clair 06130/23 NM NM X X X X X X X X X X X Robert Libby 07/01/20 X O!E X X X O/E O/E O/E 0/E 0/E X X X Christopher Lawrence 07/01/21 X X X X X X X X X X X X X Judy Pfohl 06/30/22 NM X X X X X X X X X X X X Key-, X = Present X1E = Present for Part of Meeting O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = Not a Member at this time