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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_04.18.2005 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, April 18, 2005 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , April 18, 2005. Members Present: Arnold Wieder, Chris Cagle, Don Pfiester, Howard Fomby, John Bader, Mark Dietz, Tim Sullivan Members Absent: None Staff Present: Travis McLain Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order. Chairman Mark Dietz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. 2. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of March 21, 2005, meeting. Don Pfiester: Motion to approve the minutes of March 21, 2005. Chris Cagle: I second the motion. Motion approved 7-0. 3. Airport Manager’s Report: March 2005 Monthly Income and Expense Reports Travis McLain: The board will note my footnote on Hangar Spaces rented for March 2005 is shown as 110.5. That’s because of pending completion of repairs in front of Hangar ’s B&C. We gave them half credit for March and April. Tim Sullivan: The comparison of the price of avgas to last year, do they go someplace else or just not fly? Travis McLain: My guess, a little of both. Mark Dietz: I think $2.75 a gallon for avgas is pretty good; I paid $3.75 in Santa Fe yesterday. Howard Fomby: I paid $3.60 in Junction last weekend. Don Pfiester: Airport fuel sales are one hundred and seventy thousand dollars more than this time last fiscal year. Report on Noise Study Update The FAA review is due May 29, 2005, and they will send us a letter of authorization stating whether they agree or disagree with the recommendations of the consultant. C. Report on Master Plan Update We are still waiting for the consultant to schedule the next PAC meeting. D. Report on Council Actions The City Council approved the request for the FY 2005 NPE (Non Primary Entitlement) Grant for $150,000.00. TxDOT will present it to the TxDOT Transportation Committee in May. We could expect the funds to be available about August. General Information Items Update on the 11-29 Rehab project: 1) T-Hangar ramp Rehab – ready to pave; rain delay 2) Fence Rehab – on schedule 3) Culvert upgrade on S. Hangar Drive – scheduled completion is May 1, 2005. 4) Runway 11-29 – Closed until June 1, 2005. Air Traffic Control Tower We are waiting for FAA review of the site. The estimated completion of the FAA review is June 1, 2005. Tim Sullivan: I have heard that the President may possibly make an appearance for the observance of the National Day of Prayer in San Gabrie l Park on May 5, 2005. Have you heard of a special flight restriction for Georgetown Airport operations? Travis McLain: No I have not. If something like that should occur, you can bet our airport will be locked down tight. Security Cameras The security cameras work great; they actually solved a problem with two auto accidents on airport property. One accident concerned damage to one of the entry gates. A review of the security tapes identified the vehicle and time of day. The owner was contacted and h e agreed to pay the four hundred and eighty dollars in damages. Tim Sullivan: Does the City Council know about this reimbursement. Travis McLain: No. Tim Sullivan: Perhaps they should be made aware of this benefit. 4. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board None. 5. Discussion and Possible action on recommendation for Airport Layout Plan, Rules & Regulations and Minimum Standards. No action taken. 6. Discussion on the Updated Master Plan. No action. 7. Discuss the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety. Arnold Wieder: (See attachment of the April report1). Mark Dietz: Since this involves the same aircraft that has been subject to prior reports and this board’s motion to take action by having this information communicated to those appropriate; City manager. In the past I have received a response back from the FAA Legal Counsel. He has indicated that the appropriate course of action to pursue would be for the City Manager to send a letter to the Flight Services Director Office (FSDO). In that letter detailing the basis for our concern, Airport Safety Observation reports and provide the FAA with the base documents supporting the City’s concern. Our course of action is to gather those documents and submit them to the City Manager with a recommendation that the City forward them to the FDSO at the FAA. They will look into the matter and respond accordingly. Tim Sullivan: Is it safe to assume that if the tower was in operation, none of this would happen? Mark Dietz: If it did, there would be instant repercussions. Don Pfiester: It would only happen once. Don Pfiester: Have we sent a letter? Mark Dietz: No, I made a phone call to a lawyer at the FAA; he said we ne ed to include the City to submit the documents. Don Pfiester: Motion the board to ask the City Manager to write a letter, and to include the appropriate documents and send them to the FAA as soon as possible. Tim Sullivan: I second the motion. Chris Cagle: This obviously is a recurrent problem and a safety issue. Can the Airport Manager restrict the use of this aircraft until this investigation is complete? Mark Dietz: There is a provision in the Rules & Regulations that gives the Airport Manager authority to restrict the use of the airport to certain individuals. The problem is that it is not written in the form of an ordinance which allows due process. Motion approved 7-0. 8. Discuss Airport Museum. Howard Fomby: I had the opportunity to talk with Kathy Kilmore of the Texas Aviation History Foundation. They are going to pursue their own museum. They had three locations selected for a brick and mortar museum. Two locations do not have a runway and the other is the City of Georgetown. They will be meeting in the next 2-4 weeks to look at the three different locations identified. The Texas Aviation History Foundation is also interested in working with the International Swift Association. The International Swift Association also wishes to work with the Texas Aviation History Foundation. The International Swift Association needs an airport however. I will report back with more progress. Chris Cagle: My father sent this beautiful brochure to me, about the Battle of Britain Museum in England. It shows a picture and floor plan of their museum. Do you think it would be to our advantage to collect information on air museums such as this? Howard Fomby: Travis do you have file space to collect such information as this at the airport? Travis McLain: Yes. 9. Discussion and possible action on the Central Texas Regional Airport. Mark Dietz: There is a bill in process that would fund by the state, a regional airport. The City of Leander is working with the representatives to try and create an environment that wo uld allow that regional airport close to their city. There is a developer willing to donate land. Last time I checked on the bill, it was moving slowly. E.D. Allen: (Citizen) I checked the internet, and found that it was reported out of committee last Friday. Mark Dietz: Good, once it’s out of committee, it is up for vote. Howard Fomby: Isn’t part of that legislation for the airport to allow multiple jurisdictions? Mark Dietz: Yes. 10. Discuss meeting with the Central Texas Airport Advisory Boards. Mark Dietz: This item was put on the agenda by Tim to further the discussions from last summer. The representatives from Burnet have indicated a willingness to continue this organization, but I don ’t think anybody, including me, have done anything more to advance the ball. Any discussion? Don Pfiester: I think it is a good idea to get together once a year, especially to talk about the Central Texas Regional Airport. Maybe we can get one of the other Central Texas Airport Advisory Boards to sponsor the meeting next time. John Bader: Someone from the Georgetown Airport Advisory Board needs to follow this topic up. I believe it was a very good meeting. You met with other folks from the regional airports and had discussions of mutual interest. Someone should chair a subcommittee to set this up. Howard Fomby: John Bader! Mark Dietz: Paul Smith said that he had money to sponsor a meeting. I have all the information and would be glad to turn over to the sub-committee chair, whom ever that might be. Tim Sullivan: I nominate John Bader. Don Pfiester: I second the nomination. Mark Dietz: Motion approved by acclamation. Mark Dietz: John Bader to follow up and contact the other Airport Advisory Boards. I will help co- chair. 11. Discuss updating the Airport Business Direction signs. John Bader: I have been concerned with the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) signs on the fences at entrances to the airport, and the blue directional signs seen upon entry to the airport. The blue signs are small and difficult to read. Maybe we can get a more standardized way of having the business signs organized so they are easier to read. The cities of Round Rock and Hutto have erected framed sign holders where the home builders can place their signs. Arnold Wieder: We discussed this issue a year ago. At the time, we had a collection of signs at the airport entrances that were an eye sore; Travis sent out a memo to the FBO ’s reminding them about the City Sign Ordinance and the acceptable criteria for signs at the airport. I also feel there should be a standardized display. One need only look to Wolf Ranch to see how their te nant signs are displayed. John Bader: I brought pictures of the signs that I would like to share with you. I have not examined the City’s sign ordinance and the applicability to my suggestions. Howard Fomby: The key issues are: Attractive and not expensive. Tim Sullivan: Do you know the cost of the signs used in Round Rock? John Bader: I do not know. Don Pfiester: How do these get made? Travis McLain: The City sign shop. Chris Cagle: If we could reduce the total number on the main terminal sign, it would be a great idea. John Bader: Did the City sign shop make the “Airport Watch” signs? Travis McLain: Baker Signs & Designs made those. Arnold Wieder: I like the idea that we can put the new city logo with the framed sign holders. Chris, there are FBO’s shown on the present blue main entrance sign that could be listed on signs at the north end of the airport to give direction to those FBO’s. Tim Sullivan: Did they pay for their own signs? Travis McLain: Yes. Don Pfiester: The first thing we have to do is check the City Ordinance. Howard Fomby: The key is to make sure it matches City policy. John Sommerfeld: (Citizen) I would suggest expanding this idea. It is hard to find a specific T -Hangar now. They all lack a standard way to locate a hangar on our airport. I suggest you identify all the Hangars either by letter or number, and install business signs along the airport Service roads to help direct people to where they wish to go. Standardize signs are attractive and will add to the appearance of our airport. Blue signs are the worst for quickly viewing information. Why not have the appropriate City person come out and evaluate onsite signage needs and their appropriate placement, and then have them make a recommendation. Howard Fomby: I can check with the people who did the downtown signs. An Action Item for the next Advisory Board meeting should be that we come back with more information. Mark Dietz: Who at the City is primarily responsible for sign enforcement or design? Travis McLain: For enforcement, we have three Code Enforcement Officers. Howard Fomby: I will also check on that. John Bader: I will check on the cost of the Round Rock signs. Arnold Wieder: While we are on this topic, I would like to call attention to the gateway markers on either side of the Main Entrance to the airport. They need to be upgraded and re -landscaped. We will be dedicating a new tower in the not too distant future, and these upgrades would enhance the airports image. 12. Consideration and Possible Action for setting Agenda Items for the May 16, 2005, meeting. Mark Dietz: Items for the May 2005 agenda: A. Discussion and Possible action on recommendation for Airport Layout Plan, Rules & Regulations and Minimum Standards. B. Discussion on the Updated Master Plan. C. Discussion and possible action of the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety. D. Discuss Airport Museum. E. Discussion and Possible action on the Central Texas Airport. F. Discuss meeting with the Central Texas Airport Advisory Boards. G. Discuss updating the Airport Business Direction Signs. 13. Adjourn. Howard Fomby: Motion that we adjourn. Don Pfiester: I second the motion. Motion approved 7-0. Adjourned: 7:50 P.M. Submitted by: Travis McLain Airport Director Approved: Attest: ____________________________ __________________________ Mark Dietz, Chairman Arnold Wieder, Board Secretary 1Attachment: Airport Safety Observations Report – April 18, 2005