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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_03.03.2003 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, March 3, 2003 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , March 3, 2003. Members Present: Don Pfiester, Howard Fomby, Jeff Gilbert, Jerry Fye, John C. Bader, Mark Dietz Members Absent: Dennis Daley Staff Present: Travis McLain Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order. Chairman Fye called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. The order of business is for any citizen wishing to speak on an agenda item, please fill out a form. 2. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of January 27, 2003, meeting. Motion by Don Pfiester and seconded by Mark Dietz to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2003, meeting. Motion approved 6-0. 3. Airport Manager’s Report: A. January 2003 Monthly Income and Expense Report Jerry Fye: Comments on the monthly reports? Mr. Peshak? Keith Peshak: 1) These reports should be posted on the Airport bulletin board, where if anyone wanted a copy, it would be available to them, rather than through the Public Information Act; it’s top secret. 2) Also, the airport flowage fee, an added fee to the City besides petroleum fee. That added fee to the City that’s paid to the City, pretty much depends on who you are and how much we like you. I’d like to see breakout on these airport numbers of how many gallons of fuel sold to see who’s getting a free ride. B. Status of Based Aircraft Count and Annual Operations Count C. Announce Council’s selection of new Board members and new Chairman Travis McLain: The Mayor has appointed Mr. Dietz as chairman for 2003. Tim Sullivan and Arnold Wieder are the two new board members to begin in March. Jerry Fye and Dennis Daley are the two board members leaving the board. D. General Information Items Council Workshop scheduled for March 10. (Memo attached.) The workshop will be held at the new City Municipal Complex on 300 Industrial Boulevard. While this is not a joint Council-Board workshop, you may wish to attend should the Council require your input. Keith Peshak: What time? Travis McLain: This is not joint workshop, this is a Council workshop, on airport issues at 4:00 p.m.; at 300 Industrial Boulevard. All the Council workshops are open. 4. Consideration and possible action on the Management of the Airport Advisory Board. Howard Fomby: I would like to move this item to the end of the meeting. 5. Consideration and possible action regarding the request from Don L. Dison to lease airport property located southwest of runway 11-29. Don Dison: Abiding by the current laws, I request that the board either approve or disapprove the request; but regardless, send it on to Council. Keith Peshak: The Airport Advisory Board should consider the impacts of these gigantic commercial projects and make appropriate recommendations concernin g the defraying of these gigantic costs. Kathy Heidemann: I do not think he has given us adequate information to make a decision. I have not been able to find a FAA approved site plan for the airport, adopted by anyone. The only one I have seen is the one provided by Tom Yantis, which was signed by TxDOT and by the mayor. I ’m not sure if he is conforming or terms for the lease. I cannot decide if I am in favor or not. Don Dison: In my letter: 1) I comply with the Airport Master Plan and the drawing I su bmitted to you. I do not have the engineering design. 2) I understand costs and the infrastructure associated. I can not legally go out and do a survey, until I have been told I can lease this land. Who: Are you going to use all the land? All developed at one time? Don Dison: No, it will be phased over six months. Estimated cost of $3-$5,000,000.00. I am fully funded, myself. Jerry Fye: How much of the $3-$5,000,000.00 is for infrastructure? Don Dison: Depends on final design, that includes preparing the road, black top, physical facilities, the hangars, office buildings and taxiway. John Bader: Looking through the Master Plan, we have a proposed south terminal area that has not been built out yet. The area that Mr. Dison indicated is actually a phas e two improvement of that area. Are we getting ahead of ourselves here? Don Pfiester: I think we need more direction from the City Council. I’m assuming we will get more direction this next workshop. Don Dison: I respect, that Council has not made a recom mendation. But I’m asking you to make a decision and forward the request to Council. Jeff Gilbert: I’m concerned that we don’t even know what’s going to be out there. Jerry Fye: I think we can say a proposed plan such as yours has an economic impact that should be taken in the context of the total economy of the airport. Part of that I think is the airport as a neighbor. I think more needs to be brought to the table from your side as well as guidance from the council. Howard Fomby: Mr. Dison, in reviewing this proposal, it seems to me that there are four key issues a. Merits of the proposal itself b. The process for reviewing and approving such proposals c. The public interest, including the interest of civil aviation d. Last but certainly not least, the laws and regulations that govern airport development It is this last area that concerns me most. A great deal of noise has been made recently about FAA prescriptions on discrimination at the airport, which some have interpreted as legislating a modern-day Oklahoma land rush. That is, if I get there sooner than you, I get the land, regardless of whether my proposed use of that land is in the best interest of the public, or civil aviation. The question then is, is airport development driven by random homesteading, or is an airport proprietor (the city in this case) allowed to plan for and direct airport development? Researching this issue further, it appears there is a FAA mandated process for managing airport development to ensure said development is in the public interest. Furthermore, that process is not only allowed, it is required. Referring to the FAA’s Airport Compliance Handbook, codified by FAA order 5190.6A, (copies provided) Definition Section 4-17(a) Definition Appendix 5, item D defines ALP (Airport Layout Plan) as … Compliance Section 4-17(f) Compliance Appendix 6, Section 6, item e1 Currently, the approved ALP for this airport shows a conflict between city-owned T-hangars as documented on the plan and your proposed shade hangars on the same plot of land. You have stated that this property had been reserved by Mr. Gantt under a right of first refusal, which would protect your development interest in that land. However, Section 3-9, item C-2, second sentence, clearly states that…and is thereby prohibited by federal law. That leaves us with a direct conflict between your proposed development and the approved ALP, which puts the city at substantial risk. If we grant you permission to develop shade hangars o n that site, and that use is later reviewed and rejected by FAA, the city would be placed in a perilous and potentially expensive situation. Following this logic further, your proposed West Side expansion is clearly in conflict with alternative uses proposed by working groups within the Farley Snell airport discussion process, and may be specifically in conflict with installation of a Control Tower at some future date. It is my opinion, and I believe an opinion shared by the other members of this Board, t hat the only remaining location on the airport for a control tower, taking into account required sight lines and access, is the SW intersection of the two runways, exactly where you propose to build your facility. It should therefore be obvious that your proposed developments may be in conflict with the city’s obligations under FAA regulations to take no action that would, quoting Section 4 -17, item (f), “adversely affect the safety, utility or efficiency of the air port and constitute a violation of the obligations assumed.” In light of this uncertainty, then I think it is apparent that this Board has no alternative but to suspend review and approval of any development proposals until such time as a new ALP can be d eveloped and submitted to FAA for approval. In addition, since the ALP should reflect the overall policy guidelines defined in the Airport Master Plan, which is a component of the city’s Century Plan, and has reached its mandatory five year review date, d evelopment in the new ALP should proceed as a component of the larger development of a new Airport Master Plan. Once the ALP and the new Airport Master Plan are developed, approved and in place, this Board will have sufficient policy guidance from the City, TxDOT and FAA to proceed with review and possible approval of your proposals. Please be assured, Mr. Dison, that this process is in no way prejudicial to your proposals, nor is it an attempt to circumvent any rights you may have regarding pursuing busi ness opportunities at the airport. It is simply a reflection of the realities of operating this highly regulated business we call Georgetown Municipal Airport. Regardless of what has happened in the past, we would be remiss as a Board if we allowed and encouraged the city to pursue an action that could potentially place it in conflict with federal laws and regulations; and we would certainly be doing you no favors if we encouraged you to increase your investment in time and money in an enterprise that mig ht be rejected as unsuitable by FAA. With that in mind, Mr. Chairman, I have a motion to make, and then I will shut up. I move that, with the exception of the list of AIP projects proposed by city staff for maintenance of airport facilities and enhancement of airport security and safety; review and/or approval of all proposed development projects at the airport be suspended until such time as new Airport Layout Plan and a new Airport Master Plan are developed and approved by the City, TxDOT and FAA, said development and approval reflecting FAA requirements as codified in FAA Order 5190.6A (Airports Compliance Handbook) that all airport development be consistent with approved Airport Layout Plans, and City of Georgetown policy requiring periodic five-year reviews and updates of the Airport Master Plan, currently due this year. The Airport Advisory Board further recommends that the City contract with an expert in airport design to develop the new Airport Layout Plan in a way that is harmonious with the various needs of the public, airport users, airport tenants and airport neighbors, and that the design reflect the long-term need for a balanced and economically diverse airport “village” that protects the financial solvency of the airport, enhances its appeal and utility to civil aviation in Central Texas, addresses the needs of its neighbors, Georgetown taxpayers and the general public, and encourages public participation in the heritage and future of general aviation. Don Pfiester: Second. Mark Dietz: Abstain. I am generally in agreement with the idea, but I think the motion is too broad. Motion approved 5-0-1. 6. Consideration and possible action on recommending that the self-service Avgas pumps be available 24 hours per day. Don Pfiester: Some people come in after hours, who need gas and can’t get it. I would like to see a six-month test program to have the pumps available 24 hours. Jerry Fye: What’s the reason for keeping them on 24 hours? Don Pfiester: I’m concerned about safety. People come into a place expecting to get gas and you cannot get gas. For whatever reason, you go someplace else, or have to stay overnight. Jerry Fye: Could it increase nighttime traffic and noise? What would be the revenue benefit? Don Pfiester: In my opinion, I will be surprised that it will change anything at all. I do not know what kind of revenue, I suppose it will be not much. If we save one person from having an accident, it seems worthwhile to me. I would like to see a six-month test period and then we can revisit the data. I do not think we should advertise that the pumps are open 24 hours. Howard Fomby: Increase in early morning take-offs should be watched. However, safety is an issue if people leave with less than full tanks. The fact that the pumps are closed at night is not advertised in any convenient way. So a pilot coming into this area that is low on gas and lands at Georgetown thinking they could fill up, would then be faced with well am I going to sit here at the airport, it ’s closed and there’s nobody around, or am I going to take off again with very low tanks and try to make it to another airport. I think that is a major safety concern. I ‘ve heard about that from a number of people. I’ve also heard about pilots taking off in the morning without topping off their tanks. They come in late, park their plane here, realize the pumps aren’t working in the morning and take off with low fuel in their tanks, which is a safety issue. However, over these next six months we ’ll want to look closely at what happens to changes in nighttime behavior, to make sure we don’t get a significant increase in traffic during the night. Jerry Fye: Is it published in the facilities directories? Travis McLain: 7:am till dusk. Don Pfiester: Is there an emergency number for trucks that will come out and fill you up? Travis McLain: Georgetown Aviation Facilities will. There’s a call-out fee ($20-$25); and if you don’t mind waiting an hour or so for them to get there. Don Pfiester: Is that number published somewhere? Travis McLain: They call the Police Department and they contact them. Keith Peshak: My recommendation is Yes, you should go ahead with this. But not before you relocate the RB; perhaps outside the terminal building and preferably over the pumps. Travis McLain: For your information, Mr. Peshak, there has always been a “STOP” button located on the front of the oil shed. There’s a big red button, it says “Emergency Stop”. Mark Dietz: My motion is to: A) Have a test program set up for 180-days. B) Report to be made every month on nighttime sales. Howard Fomby: Second the motion. Jerry Fye: Motion approved 6-0. 7. Consideration and possible action on ways to promote aviation history and the positive side of aviation. Jeff Gilbert: This is suggestion to celebrate the Wright Brothers ’ 100 year anniversary. Don Dison: The Georgetown Aviation Alliance has discussed having an airport -wide open house. The idea is for businesses and hangars being open and showing off their interests and th e aviation industry. Jerry Fye: This seems too important to handle with just a resolution. Let ’s see if a subcommittee can be formed for all the different interests and involvement, something worthy of our heritage. Don Dison: The Georgetown Aviation Alliance discussed doing this in the spring, but not during the time of the air show in Temple. Keith Peshak: I’m also in favor of doing something along these lines; EAA fly-ins evolved into an airshow. We should conduct this exactly same time as the Temple Airshow. Have the open house to show off the airport. Don Pfiester: Should the GAA be the group starting this project or should we be part of this? Don Dison: I think this is a good chance to partner with the GAA. Jeff Gilbert: I think a subcommittee to include the GAA and other similar groups, and someone on the committee from the AAB. I’d be happy to volunteer. Tim Sullivan: We could ask the City Council to approve a subcommittee. John Bader: Let’s get a list of prospective members. Don Dison: We’ve been talking about this, but we’re looking for a leader. Don Pfiester: We need to recommend members - 2 from the Board (chair); EAA; OPA; GAA; NBAA; GPA; and TXAA. Jerry Fye: I move that the AAB recommend that the Council approve the formation of a subcommittee for the promotion of general aviation’s celebration of the 100 year anniversary of first man flight. The committee to exist of a member of: EAA; OPA; GAA; NBAA; GPA; TXAA; and former AAB member and to be chaired by an AAB m ember. Mark Dietz: Second. Motion passes 6-0. 8. Consideration and possible action on subcommittee’s report on use of pending state and federal grants. Don Pfiester: Howard and I asked Travis to give us a wish list. 1) Airport Security 2) Rehab 8-ft. game fence 3) Rehab Runway 11-29 & Taxiways B&D 4) Rehab Airport Streets 5) Widen Taxiway A (50 feet) Keith Peshak: I’m generally in favor of this, but in these Priorities: 1) Signs to keep autos off taxiway & runways; 2) keep debris off taxiways John Bader: I recommend Council apply for the grant funding necessary for completion of these airport projects. Howard Fomby: Second. Motion approved 6-0. 9. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board. Howard Fomby: I would now like to do Item No. 4. “Consideration and possible action on the Management of the Airport Advisory Board”. Mr. Fomby presented plaques to Jerry Fye and Dennis Daley (absent) for their past leadership. Jerry Fye: Thank you. 10. Consideration and Possible Action on Agenda Items for the March 24, 2003, meeting. Don Pfiester: 1) Discuss Fly Friendly Program. 2) Election of Vice -Chair and Secretary to the Airport Advisory Board. 11. Adjourn. Howard Fomby: I move we adjourn. Mark Dietz: Second. Motion approved 6-0. Submitted by: Travis McLain Airport Director Reviewed by: Howard Fomby Board Secretary