HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-13 Airport Commission MinutesMINUTES
IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION
July 13, 2023 — 6:00 P.M.
AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
FINAL
Members Present: Warren Bishop, Judy Pfohl, Chris Lawrence, Hellecktra Orozco, Ryan
Story
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Michael Tharp, Jennifer Schwickerath, Kevin Bailey
Others Present: Matt Wolford, Carl Byers, Regenia Bailey, Sam Brooks, Erin Sullivan
Carolyn Sponza, Ron Roetzel
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:
None
DETERMINE QUORUM
A quorum was determined at 6:00 pm and Pfohl called the meeting to order.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Bishop nominated Orozco for the position of Chairperson, Seconded by Lawrence. Motion carried
5-0 Pfohl nominated Lawrence for the position of Secretary, seconded by Bishop. Motion carried
5-0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Bishop moved to accept the minutes of June 8, 2023, seconded by Pfohl. Motion carried 5-0
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / ACTION
a. Stevens Drive Area Parcel/Unhoused Encampment — Tharp introduced Sam
Brooks and Erin Sullivan from Shelter House, and Kevin Bailey from the Iowa City
Police Department. Tharp stated that he had told the Commission about the growing
unhoused encampment on property on the east side of the Iowa River at the last
meeting. Tharp stated he had been working with Sam and Kevin to monitor the
situation and had asked Sam to come of the meeting and talk about the services the
Shelter House provides and to be able to discuss the situation with the Commission
and possible steps forward. Tharp noted that last month they made the decision to
let things be. Tharp stated that recently the Iowa DNR had sent a message to the
City noting they were seeing some concerns. Tharp stated that he followed up with
Sam and that Sam had presented an option that would help alleviate DNR concerns
and allow the status quo to continue. Brooks talked to the Commission about the
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Shelter House services and what his role is in the process. Brooks described what
kind of documents and situations were needed for services and what some of the
barriers were to getting people into living spaces. Sullivan further described some of
the funding mechanisms from Housing Authority and other agencies that provide
assistance. Members asked questions which Brooks and Sullivan answered. Tharp
noted that at the Commission level he was not eager to go in and clear the area out.
Tharp stated that with the proximity to Shelter House and the work of Brooks and
Bailey that he was comfortable letting things be. Tharp stated he would still be
monitoring things for a triggering event like the DNR notification which might require
a response to clear out the area. Tharp noted that the Commission should be
looking ahead though so that if they did choose to evict people, they could complete
the process before winter sets in. Brooks noted that in winter they do have an
emergency shelter which activities and provides more beds. Pfohl asked about
different options for people to have restroom facilities. Bailey gave a summary of
some of his encounters with people in the area. Members asked Tharp if there were
other city policies that would help guide a decision. Tharp noted that there weren't
so far. Members continued to discuss the encampment and consensus was to
maintain the status quo. Lawrence asked about the decision point and if there would
need to be a special meeting or if Tharp had the authority to make the call. Tharp
stated that he would need to call a special meeting as he didn't perceive he had the
authority to begin eviction proceedings.
b. Airport Strategic Plan — Tharp stated the members had the Commission members
had the draft plan in the packet. He stated he had a couple of typographical
correction comments. Bailey stated that if the Commission was happy with the
content and appearance she would collect the resolution and minutes for the
document so that the Commission would have a complete document.
L Consider a resolution adopting the Airport Strategic Plan — Lawrence
moved the resolution #A23-15, seconded by Pfohl. Motion carried 5-0
c. Hangar A Mural Project
i. Fundraising — Tharp stated that this was the end of fundraising and the
expiration of the offer to pick an airplane with the $5000 donation level.
Tharp noted that they were about $7500 short and that they had an
anonymous donor that pledged to cover the shortfall. Tharp noted that the
Commission hadn't contributed to the project directly either so that if they
wanted to do that now's the time. Lawrence moved donating $2000 from
the Commission to the project. Seconded by Bishop. Motion carried 5-
0.
d. Airport Construction Projects:
i. FAA grant projects
1. Runway 25 Threshold Relocation — Tharp stated they were still
working with the contractor to correct the marking.
2. Runway 12/30 Displaced Threshold/Relocation — Tharp stated
the contracts are signed and will go back to the contractor. Tharp
reminded Commission members that the contract called for the work
to not begin until the contractor had all their supplies on hand.
3. Terminal Area Study — Tharp stated they had met earlier this
afternoon and had a good discussion of what space design ideas.
Tharp introduced Carl, Ron, and Carolyn Sponza as the design
team. Sponza talked to the Commission about some of the design
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concept themes and presented feature boards with a number of
examples of styles and asked Commission members to use stickers
to mark looks that they felt fit in with the airport. Members made
their selections and then Sponza discussed reasons for those with
members. Tharp also noted they all had a copy of the user survey
they were using for the input process. Members also discussed
other building features they felt would be good things to offer.
Lawrence asked about charter pilots and what services they look for
to which Wolford responded. Tharp noted that if the Commission
had any comments, or other questions they wanted to ask, now was
the time so they could finish the survey design and start sending it
out. Tharp also noted they were going to schedule a public input
meeting which would ask some of the same questions for August
17th
4. Solar Power Project — Tharp gave a brief history of the solar
conversation previous Commissions have had leading up to the
date. Tharp stated that he primarily wanted to discuss the ground
mounting options that would serve Jet Air's maintenance shop and
the OPL research lab. Tharp described that with these options the
downside was it was taking up some parking and area they currently
use for parking. Members asked questions regarding the layouts to
which Tharp answered. Pfohl asked about moving it to the other
side of the fence north of the OPL building which would preserve
the event space area. Lawrence asked about the two layouts on the
north side. Tharp stated that the difference between the two areas
is they either maintain or remove the service road. Tharp noted he
was recommending that they keep the service road. Members
chose through consensus to change the location of the Jet Air and
OPL panel groups
ii. Iowa DOT grant projects
1. FY23 Program —
a. Terminal Building Improvements — Tharp stated they that
were having some trouble securing a contractor for the work
but that they were moving forward to do something slightly
different.
b. Wayfinding/Signage — Tharp stated they were putting
the final work into the this for bidding. He stated that he
and Carl and some initial concerns with the sizing of the
location labels
2. FY24 Program — Tharp stated that the Iowa DOT had released
their draft list for the FY24 program and unfortunately they didn't
make the cut. Tharp stated that he had talked with the Shane Wright
with the DOT about the project and it was a case of the state just
ran out of funds and the project was grouped in with several others
that had the same score so the DOT went with projects they could
fully fund.
iii. Airport/Locally Funded Projects
iv. Future Projects —
e. Airport "Operations"
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i. Budget — Tharp stated they were now in the new fiscal year, FY24. Tharp
noted that they didn't have large initiatives for the budget this time year.
ii. Management — Tharp noted that he was filling out his survey for the
compensation and classification study and would get that to Pfohl and
Orozco.
1. Fuel Flowage Fees — Tharp stated that Lawrence had taken the
lead on this since Clair had rotated off. Tharp stated that he
believed they had a tentative agreement. Lawrence described the
agreement as a 5 cent increase on the fuel flowage across the
board. Lawrence stated that Wolford had asked requested the
airport to purchase a broom attachment for the tractor for use in
snow removal operations. Lawrence stated the preference of the
airport was to use this initial year as a boost to the cash balance and
would commit to putting the broom into the FY25 budget request.
Bishop asked about the budget impacts to which Tharp responded.
Pfohl asked when the last time the rate was change and Tharp
responded this would be the first time it was adjusted since the
original agreement. Tharp stated that normally T -hangar rates
usually go 3 years between increases. Tharp stated that last year
they had a 10% across the board increase on hangars and would
expect the hangar rates to remain the same this year.
iii. Events —Tharp stated there was anew event on the list, stating the Climate
Action office was going to have a film at the airport as part of Climate Action
week.
1. Autocross —Aug 27, Oct 1.
2. Pancake Breakfast — August 27
3. Drive -In Movies — August 5
4. Climate Fest Film Night — Sept 21
f. FBO /Flight Training Reports Wolford stated that maintenance was mostly just
mowing and weed eating. He stated that they did get the deck sealed.
i. Jet Air — Wolford stated that he gave the flyer to the other owners of Jet Air
and they were going to donate to the art.
g. Commission Members' Reports — none
h. Staff Report — Tharp stated that he might be out of the office around July 24. Tharp
stated the FAA Central Region Airports conference was the last week of August.
SET NEXT REGULAR MEETING — Members set the next meeting for August 10th at 6:OOpm.
ADJOURN
Lawrence moved to adjourn, seconded by Pfohl. Motion carried 5-0 . Meeting adjourned at
8:14pm
CHAIRP RSON DATE
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July 13, 2023
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Airport Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
2022-2023
Key:
X = Present
X/E = Present for Part of Meeting
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = Not a Member at this time
X/S = Present for subcommittee meeting
O/S = Absent, not a member of the subcommittee
TERM
000
000
O
W
Cv
EXP.
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-
�NNAME
OOO
e
W
o
000
OONWW
Ne�00
N
000
Z
W
iz
N
N
W
W
W
W
W
Warren
06/30/26
O/S
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Bishop
Scott Clair
06/30/23
X/S
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
O/E
X/E
O/E
NM
Christopher
06/30/25
O/S
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
Lawrence
Hellecktra
06/30/24
X/S
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X/E
O/E
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
Orozco
Judy Pfohl
06/30/26
X/S
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ryan Story
06/30/27
Not A Member
X
Key:
X = Present
X/E = Present for Part of Meeting
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = Not a Member at this time
X/S = Present for subcommittee meeting
O/S = Absent, not a member of the subcommittee