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