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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_03.20.2006 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, March 20, 2006 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , March 20, 2006. Members Present: Paul Smith, Tim Sullivan, Arnold Wieder, Trey Taparauskas Members Absent: Daryl Dressler, John Hopper, Katherine Woods Staff Present: Travis McLain Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order. Chairman Paul Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. 2. Introduction of New Airport Advisory Board Members. Paul Smith: Will now have the introduction of new Airport Advisory Board Members. Trey Taparauskas: I am Trey Taparauskas and am proud to be a new appointee. I hope to bring to the table experience and knowledge of local construction, site development, excavation, paving, civil engineering background (Aeronautics) and I am interested in the airport in general. I do not have a pilot background but am hoping to have something different and unique to offer the committee. Paul Smith: My name is Paul Smith and I’m very flattered to have the opportunity to work with the Airport Advisory Board, Travis, and his staff. My background is that of pilot and air traffic business. I currently work for the National Business Aviation Association, Inc. out of Washington, D.C. and in the not so distant future I will be retiring from that. I’m looking forward to being a part of and serving this group. 3. Elect an Airport Advisory Board Vice-Chairman. Paul Smith: Next item on the agenda is to elect an Airport Advisory Board Vice-Chairman and since we do have a quorum will entertain some recommendations. Arnold Wieder: Motion to nominate Tim Sullivan. Paul Smith: Any other nominations? (None). Motion approved by acclamation. 4. Elect and Airport Advisory Board Secretary. Tim Sullivan: Motion to nominate Trey Taparauskas. Paul Smith: Any other nominations? (None). Motion approved by acclamation. 5. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of February 20, 2006, meeting. Arnold Wieder: I have a correction on page 5, item number 11, the correction is to change these to “the” and delete the word “they”. Tim Sullivan: Motion to approve the minutes of February 20, 2006 as amended. Trey Taparauskas: I second the motion. Motion approved 4-0. 6. Airport Manager’s Report: February 2006 Monthly Income and Expense Reports Travis McLain: Just to explain on the year to date (YTD), our year to date begins October 1. Fuel sales are steady and February was a good month. Arnold Wieder: (Explanation of the reports compared to graphic data) Trey Taparauskas: Fuel sales over the last five to six years do not appear to have fluctuated at all. Yet, it appears Georgetown experienced quite a bit of growth, is there something I am not seeing? Arnold Wieder: That is the effects of avgas and price of fuel. What is the price of avgas? Travis McLain: The pump price for avgas is $3.35 per gallon. Arnold Wieder: Fuel in March 2005 was $2.75/gallon and as of August 2005 was $2.90, and September 2005 was up to $3.15/gallon. Now avgas is $3.35 per gallon. Tim Sullivan: Travis, for the sake of the newcomers will you explain the reports. Travis McLain: (Explained: Terminal Fuel Sales & Airport Operations reports and the funds.) Tim Sullivan: Micki Rundell, Finance Director, came to our last meeting and she explained that th e Airport Fund, even though she did not bring the financials, is ahead of where it should be due to fuel sales. All of that excess revenue does go into the Airport Fund and it stays there until appropriated by the Council for airport business. Thanks to the previous boards and to Travis’ management, we are doing well. You may run into people who say we should not support the airport because it uses our taxes, but that is not the case. Arnold Wieder: We do earn interest on a quarterly basis to which Travis reports in his expense reports from time to time. Report on Noise Study and Master Plan Update None. (Waiting for the FAA response to Obstruction Mitigation proposal – FAA Form 7460-1) Report on Council Actions Travis McLain: None. Report on Control Tower Travis McLain: The construction meeting is tomorrow (March 21, 2006) afternoon, 2:00 P.M. for all interested contractors so they can ask questions of the Architect. Tower construction bids will be opened April 12, 2006. The schedule for tower completion is now estimated to have the tower operational by January 2007. Report on the Aviation Museum Travis McLain: Howard Fomby is here to report on the Aviation Museum. Howard Fomby: For background information, the City Council appointed a subcommittee, (Councilman Gabe Sansing, myself, and City Staff), to be a candidate for an Airport Museum. I will try to come to the meetings as I have more information. Right now, we are waiting on the Texas Historical Museum Foundation to decide between Austin Airport (ABIA) and Georgetown Airport (GMA). It seems that most foundation members want the museum here at Georgetown but the benefactor is leaning towards Austin, where she has had her ha ngar for years and their proposal is attractive. We made a generous offer of free land and utilities. We have made an offer to possibly name the tower or the terminal building after Mrs. Browning, the benefactor, to show the respect and admiration she has given to aviation. No action at this point, but next time put this item as an agenda item in order to take action if necessary. Paul Smith: Has there been any push back as far as location/access to IH35 as opposed to ABIA? Howard Fomby: That is a concern. ABIA is definitely not in the middle of any main street traffic pattern. We do not feel that they are a tourist opportunity any more than Georgetown. The alternative is our willingness to put up posters, billboards, etc. and make it a large part of o ur tourism efforts. We also feel that from an aviation standpoint, that where a lot of people visit aviation museums is by small airplanes. In that respect we are much more attractive, because they can land at the Terminal and arrange for transportation to the museum. At ABIA they would have to go to general aviation which is on the other side of the airport. We think we have an attractive transportation offer but it is up to them. General Information Items Travis McLain: 1) The Georgetown Police Dept. Security Audit: Staff has received the preliminary draft and Tom Yantis and I have made some changes/corrections, right now we are scheduling a meeting with the Chief of Police and City Manager; 2) Notices on the Airport bi lls, that the Minimum Standards and Rules & Regulations are available, will be March 27, 2006. 3) NPE (Non Primary Entitlement) project: PAPI and the road to Fire station No. 4; the FAA has not authorized the funds yet. Tim Sullivan: Anything new on the signs? Travis McLain: They opened the highway sign bid a few days ago but the metal signs for the smaller street signs will be opened in April. 7. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board None. 8. Discuss the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety. Arnold Wieder: No reports submitted for the month of February. In lieu of that, I have substituted information from the FAA website accident history. 9. Consideration and possible action to recommend that Council approve the reque st from Tom Walters to assign his ground lease at 501 Wright Brothers Drive to Lightning Ranch Holding Co., LLC. Travis McLain: Mr. Stan Jensen (Lightning Ranch Holding Co., LLC) three months ago leased (504 Wright Brothers Drive) an identical lot across the taxiway from Mr. Walters’ hangar and he was going to build his own hangar which Council approved and he signed a lease. He started to get a contractor and at the same time, learned that Mr. Walters’ hangar was for sale. Due to cost of new construction, he found out he could purchase Mr. Walters ’ hangar much cheaper than he could build a new one. So tentatively, subject to City Council approval, the assignment is to agree to buy Mr. Walters’ ground lease at 501 Wright Brothers Drive. Mr. Jensen’s plan for the vacant lot is to find someone to assign that lease to or return it back to the City of Georgetown. The rental rate will increase to that assignment. Mr. Walters and Mr. Jensen are asking the Board to approve a recommendation to send this item to Council. There are no changes in the terms or conditions; he does not get the full 30 years and he is aware of that. Tim Sullivan: Move that the Airport Advisory Board recommend that City Council approve the request from tom Walters to assign his ground lease at 501 Wright Brothers Drive to Lightning Ranch Holding Co., LLC. Arnold Wieder: I second the motion. Motion approved 4-0. 10. Consideration and possible action for setting Agenda Items for the April 17, 2006, meeting. Paul Smith: Agenda items for the April 17, 2006 meeting: A. Airport Manager’s Report. B. Discussion and possible action of the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety. C. Discuss Airport Museum. D. Discuss the Security Audit. 11. Adjourn. Tim Sullivan: Motion that we adjourn. Arnold Wieder: I second the motion. Motion approved 4-0. Adjourned: 8:00 P.M. Submitted by: Travis McLain Airport Director Approved: Attest: ___________________________ _____________________________ Paul Smith, Chairman Trey Taparauskas, Board Secretary