HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-10 Airport Commission MinutesMINUTES FINAL
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
February 10, 2022 — 6:00 P.M.
AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
Members Present: Warren Bishop, Chris Lawrence, Scott Clair (Zoom), Judy Pfohl, Hellecktra Orozco
Staff Present: Michael Tharp, Jennifer Schwickerath
Others Present: Matt Wolford, Carl Byer
DETERMINE QUORUM
A quorum was determined at 6:01 pm and Clair called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Clair noted several errors in attribution on pages 2 and 3 (Bishop for Byer). Tharp explained that a new
transcriptionist was having trouble matching voices to names at times. Errors were corrected and Pfohl moved to
accept the corrected minutes; Bishop seconded. The motion carried by voice vote 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / ACTION
a. Airport Signage/Wayfinding
Consider a resolution approving purchase agreement with FUEL (A22-05)
Tharp said they had received the proposal from FUEL for signage design, and that there is a
purchase agreement for $5500. The door vinyl is not complete, but Tharp said he hoped it
would be finished within the next couple of months. He clarified for Clair that he needed a
resolution for the purchase agreement for the design files, with payment on file delivery, at
which point the signage could be manufactured at the Airport's convenience. Clair confirmed
that Schwickerath had gone over this process earlier. Bishop moved that the Commission
adopt a resolution authorizing the chairman to sign a purchase agreement for signage
design files. Pfohl seconded. The resolution carried on a roll call vote of 5-0.
b. FAA/IDOT Projects
I. Runway 7/25 Rehab East End
Tharp said that the rehabilitation of the east half of 7/25 included crack sealing and pavement
maintenance, and was to be scheduled at the same time as threshold work to save runway
closure time. The contract is being re -bid because originally the project had been funded
under the same grant as the threshold relocation, and the two were bid out together; the
threshold portion was not successfully bid. FAA will still fund both parts of the project, but they
will be re -bid separately. Bidding for the runway rehab work will open March 3, and Tharp was
hopeful that the Commission would be able to accept a bid at the March 10 meeting.
1. Public Hearing Clair opened the public hearing at 6:05pm No public comment.
Clair closed the public hearing at 6:06pm
2. Consider a resolution approving plans, specifications, and form of contract for the
Runway 7/25 rehabilitation phase 1 project (A22-06)
Lawrence moved to consider a resolution approving plans, specifications, and
form of contract for the Runway 7/25 rehabilitation phase 1 project, and Orozco
seconded. The resolution itself carried on a roll call vote of 5-0.
ii. Runway 25 Threshold Relocation
Tharp said they had received the contracts and were waiting for FAA approval before signing.
There have a 90-day hold period and Tharp is hopeful of receiving approval well before it
expires. Byer said the contractors were putting submittals together in expectation that
contracts will be signed; adding that by early September was the scheduled flight check.
ill. South T-hangar infrastructure
Tharp said he and Byer had had some miscommunication about priorities; Byer explained that
he had assumed that the art project was delaying the hangar door project. Clair clarified that
the hangar doors themselves were the bottleneck. Tharp said that Bolton and Menk were
working on both of them, and Byers said they had 80% on the taxilane and apron plans in
response to a query from Pfohl, Byers said they were extending paving to the building
restriction line. Pfohl asked if the project would be complete before the Autocross, and Tharp
said that the Autocross would be held in a different area. Byer confirmed that this work would
have minimal impact on other Airport operations.
iv. Hangar A Door Replacement (phase 1)
Byer will have an updated report at the next meeting. Clair asked Byer and Tharp to update
him and Pfohl as soon as possible so.that they could continue planning with the art committee.
v. FAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Grant programs
Tharp said his advice from FAA is that they do not expect to have guidance or programs stood
up until late April or early May. Currently he is relying on the language in the legislation, and
believes that the solar panel project will be a good fit for a funding program, He expects that
the Commission will need to have discussion on what could be done with the rest of a five-
year funding plan. One item under discussion is the front area; Tharp said that he and Clair
had discussed this and that if such an investment were made, the terminal would likely need
work first, though the shape of that work is undetermined. Clair asked whether they would be
updating the Airport's Strategic Plan this summer, and Tharp said they would work on it in fall.
Clair suggested that they include BIL funding plans in the Strategic Plan update agenda, but
that in the meantime, they could prepare for a solar -panel grant application with preliminary
work such as updating quotes and determining installation schedules. Bishop agreed and said
that this should be a priority. Tharp said there is preliminary work to do with FAA regarding
reflective ground arrays before they can discuss bids, but that he and Byer would move on
this.
c. Airport "Operations"
Management
1. Airport Terminal Area/Parking Lot
Tharp has not yet heard back from engineers about the parking lot specs, but will
update the Commission once he has news. Pfohl asked whether what appeared
to be some extra space near Air Care could be used to extend the proposed
parking lot enlargement. Tharp thought that converting the space to parking might
block gated access to a construction site, but agreed to look at it. Clair asked how
many new spaces had been proposed already, and Tharp said that he believed it
to be 24.
2. DBE Program
a. Consider resolution adopting DBE Program (A22-07)
Tharp explained that DBE stands for "disadvantaged business enterprise",
generally minority- and women -owned businesses, and that FAA and state
contracts require that the Airport has a DBE program. Staff have put together a
program under which they have a goal of awarding a percentage of each
contract to DBEs, whether they are prime or subcontractors. Bishop said that it
sounded as though they had to do this, and expressed concern about the
program, noting instances of high bids that had to be accepted, but Tharp
confirmed that it is required, and something different from what Bishop had in
mind. Bishop moved that they adopt a resolution adopting a DBE
program for FY22-24; Oroaco seconded. The resolution carried and was
adopted 5-0 on a roll -call vote.
,.-
Tharp noted that they had just crossed the halfway mark in the annual budget, and that while
the budget is in good shape, they have some unanticipated expenses for replacing failed
heaters in the hangars. Clair asked whether this was offset by the light snow -removal
requirements for the past winter, and Tharp said that since Jet Air was paid a flat fee for snow
removal, there was no offset.
a. Art Mural
i, Fundraising
Schwickerath said that the City would not offer or promote tax -
deductibility as part of its service in collecting donations for the mural,
even if a gift was tax-deductible to an individual donor. However, the
Community Foundation of Johnson County, a nonprofit organization
that can be a fiscal sponsor, could set up a mural fund for the Airport
that would allow for tax -deductibility, and would handle fund collection
and promotion of its tax-deductible benefits. The fee for this is a flat 3%
on any money expended from the fund. Donations are irrevocable, and
funds can be expended only for the donor's stated purpose, so
surpluses could not be used for other projects unless the donor was
willing to change intent. Although donor -advised funds could not gain
tax deductions by donating to the City, they could donate directly to a
501(c)3 organization such as the Community Foundation. She also said
that the president and CEO of the Community Foundation had
explained that the Commission's proposed plan for setting different
donor levels for different types of aircraft design in the mural would
constitute offering sponsorships, which would not be tax-deductible to
the donors. Tax -deductibility requires that the donor not receive
anything in return for the gift. Donors can be thanked at different donor
levels, which may be advertised, and top donors might be allowed to
work with an artist as a form of thanks, but they could not receive
something in exchange such as a guarantee of certain types of
representation in the mural. This is also not an endowment fund, from
which only earnings are removed. Bishop asked whether calling the
fund something more general, such as the "Airport Beautification Fund"
would give them wider latitude in how they spent the money, and
Schwickerath said that donor intent had to be taken into consideration:
if the "Beautification Fund" were advertised specifically as funding the
mural, mural -funding would be the donor intent. Schwickerath said that
the Community Fund helps recipient organizations with wording for
setting up funds and promotion. Pfohl asked how long setting one up
would take, and Schwickerath said that the Commission would need to
pass a resolution to set up its fund and appoint a fund representative to
work with the Community Foundation, name the fund, and determine
the fund purpose. Clair and Bishop had questions about the fund
mechanics as regards payments, and Schwickerath said the
Foundation CEO had offered to come and talk with the Commission.
Clair, Tharp, Pfohl, and Bishop agreed that it would be good to invite
her to the next meeting.
Clair and Kohl have not met with City representatives recently but will
do so again after the next Commission meeting.
2. Fuel Flowage Fees
No current report. Clair and Wolford will follow up again.
iii. Events
1. Autocross: April 24; July 24; August 21
Autocross events have been organized, and Tharp is talking with Summer of the Arts
organizers regarding having movies at the Airport Memorial Day weekend and the
first weekend in October, also reaching out to Young Eagles to organize their summer
calendar. Clair asked for a conference update, and Tharp said the agenda will be
finalized at the board meeting. The conference is April 12-14, with the 12th a social
day including the Board of Directors' meeting; the 13th will see sessions at the
Graduate with FAA and [DOT representatives, and the state officials will give a status
update on its economic impact study describing the impact of each airport on area
economies. Tharp pointed out that the last update was 12 years ago, so there should
be some change locally. Other sessions and presenters include Rantizo, the ag-
spraying company that uses large drones, and FAA AIP program updates. The
agenda for the 14th will include an Airport tour featuring OPL. Registration should be
available after the board meeting. Clair asked for an email to Commission members
with a link to registration.
L Jet Air
Wolford reported that there was no snow after January, and that this was fortunate because
back -ordered parts are needed to repair the truck's brush, which is used after plowing: the
brush removes more snow and allows the sun to do more melting work, which reduces
chemical deicing use and runway closure. He had been able to use the City's small brush for
the January snowstorms, but it was a time consuming process. Tharp said that he had just
heard that the brush motor was fixed and that they still needed to install the new bristles. Apart
from that, the good winter weather has seen an increase in activity. The shop has lost a
mechanic to the A&P program at Kirkwood, but has hired two, and the shop manager remains
part-time. They are up to 8 licensed mechanics and three support people. Clair, curious about
how to handle expected labor shortages, asked whether Wolford find it easier to attract talent
here, and Wolford said it is a different set of people in each area for Jet Air, with Iowa City
being a more transient community, but that this not have a significant impact on hiring. He
believes applicants in Iowa City tend to, turn up because they are genuinely interest in aircraft
rather than because they need a job.
e. Commission Members' Reports
Bishop wanted to discuss reducing the hourly fee for the flight simulator, perhaps going from $50/hr to
$35, He and Clair agreed to put the discussion on the March agenda.
f. Staff Report
Tharp has worked with City staff to set up the GIS system and is tracking hangar repair work and
costs, looking for efficiencies. He hopes to expand GIS to lighting and other aspects of Airport
management. The City is hosting the service.
Evaluation of Airport Manager
Tharp requested that the Commission enter Executive Session for his evaluation. Lawrence moved to
enter executive session, Orozco seconded. The motion carried 5-0, and the Commission entered
Executive Session at 6:52 pm.
At 7:47 pm, Lawrence moved that they exit Executive Session. Pfohl seconded, and the motion
carried 5-0.
SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm, March 10, 2022, at the Airport. All members expect to be present.
ADJOURN
Clair called for a motion to adjourn; Pfohl moved and Orozco seconded, and the motion passed by a 5-0 voice
vote. Meeting was adjourned at 7:48 pm.
a2/"o2d 2 2,
•- s
Airport Commission
M TU R XT a • k
TERM o
O
O
A
O
tl�
O
N
O
Oi
O
`
O
V
O
00
O
�O
O
3
s
NAME
EXP. N
i5
00
N
W
N
W
N
O
N
00
N
to
N
�
N
O
N
i-�V
O
'N
N
N
N
hf
Warren
06/30122
Bishop
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Scott Clair
06/30/23 X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
OIE
X
X
X
X
Christopher
06/30/25
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
OlE
X
X
X
X
Lawrence
Hellecktra
06/30/24
X
X
X/E
O/E
X
X
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Orozco
Judy Pfohl
06/30/22 X
XIE
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Key:
X = Present
X/E = Present for Part of Meeting
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = Not a Member at this time