Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_07.21.2008 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, July 21, 2008 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , July 21, 2008. Members Present: Daryl Dressler, John Hopper, Katherine Woods, Ken Arnold Members Absent: Paul Smith, Trey Taparauskas, Van Chandler 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. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of June 16, 2008, meeting. Ken Arnold: I make the motion to approve the minutes of June 16, 2008. Katherine Woods: I second the motion. Motion approved 5-0. 3. Airport Manager’s Report: June 2008 Monthly Income and Expense Reports Travis McLain : On June 27, 2008 the Avgas price increased from $4.85 to $5.00 a gallon. Report on Noise Study and Master Plan Update Travis McLain : (See Agenda Item #6) Report on Council Actions Travis McLain : Council approved the First reading of the Rules & Regulations Ordinance Amendment on July 8, 2008. The Second reading is (tomorrow) July 22, 2008. Report on Airport Construction Projects Travis McLain : We received the 90% site specifications for the fence relocation and tree removal. General Information Items Travis McLain: None. 4. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board None. 5. Consideration and possible action to review the Airport Ground Lease proposals for approximately (2) acres on Service Drive, from Chartwell Properties LP and Blue Skies Aviation Inc., and to recommend one to the City Council for approval. Paul Smith : Traditionally, we allow five minutes to address the Board. Each applicant upon completion of their presentation, the Board will have discussion and vote on the proposals. (Applicants made presentations, see attached proposals) a) Blue Skies Aviation Inc. – David & Dean Krahn - 24 to 29 T-Hangar spaces - Background: owner & operator of aircraft; commercial, single -engine, multi-engine and instrument rated Pilot; retired Air Traffic Controller; 10 years Air Force; 7 years FAA; 8 years Department of Defense - Projects in Washington State - Westinghouse Project Manager, 7 years Ken Arnold : You made reference to the Washington activity; is that project complete? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) The construction is in progress. We have secured a land lease and we’ve done the engineering excavation. We expect completion by the end of 2008. Katherine Woods: Your plan is to build 24 to 29 T -Hangars? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) Yes. It looks like we can put 29 spaces in (14 & 15 units T -Hangar). A time frame of 7 to 10 weeks depending on the permitting process. Ken Arnold : As I was reading your proposal, I believe I read that you intend to construct as many T -Hangars as permitted. So there wouldn’t be any phased activity? David Krahn: (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) No. John Hopper : Will there be any FBO operations or perhaps a flight school? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) I’m retired. I enjoy aviation and Friday nights at the hangar with the guys too. Down the line I would not mind openin g up a flight school and advanced ground instructor. In the past we have rented and chartered aircraft. Paul Smith : In your proposal you mentioned “built to suit” for multiple craft or customer requirements. What does that mean? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) It means we are looking at different styles as to the door, but then we would have to talk to the engineer. As “built to suit”, if there was more land available or came available, we would be interested in bidding on that land and putting in box hangers on the end of T-Hangars. If someone was to come to us and they wanted to put a business in, we could put a 70x70 box hangar at the end of a T -Hangar if we had the land available. Paul Smith: The focus is primarily for hangars? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) Yes, the focus is primarily for hangars. Paul Smith : Let’s hear from Chartwell Properties. b) Chartwell Properties – Winston Pfiester - Georgetown resident and family roots in Georgetown - Real estate business for 14 years - Financial experience with local banks - Developer of multiple commercial projects - This is our first airport project - Conventional T-Hangar, or a large box hangar depending on final survey of premises - Office space, fueling truck, and a mechanic Daryl Dressler : It sounds like your leading toward box hangars rather than T -Hangars and doing it in a couple of phases? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir, box hangars and doing it in a couple of phases. Ken Arnold : When you discuss box hangars do you visualize multiple direction doors or single doors? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) We are thinking about the normal sliding accordion doors. Daryl Dressler : Are you thinking about having a full-time employee there to move the airplanes around? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir, at least one and in due time a mechanic and few other employees. Ken Arnold : Do you have any feel for how many airplanes you may fit into a box hang ar (phase one)? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) The initial estimates are 20 airplanes, (give or take five). Ken Arnold : Have you spoken with any of the folks here at Georgetown to see what their level of occupying such a space vs. T-Hangars? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir I have. The small aircrafts want space for the planes, but the twin or larger planes like additional space. Ken Arnold: So you would plan on at least having one tug? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir. John Hopper : Your drawing here is in phases. Would the last phase be T -Hangars or box hangars? Winston Pfiester: (Chartwell Properties) It would be box hangars. Ken Arnold : In what direction do you feel the door would be? Facing the north? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir, facing the north. I would like to use the same taxiway the north hangars use. Ken Arnold: Any feel for how much ramp you might put in front of this? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes, a 90ft. setback, but it would depend on the survey. Ken Arnold: Do you contemplate potential for tiedowns? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir. Katherine Woods : Could you explain the four buildings in four phases? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) The four phases are for the T -Hangars, which is a different option. There would be fewer phases with the box hangars. Paul Smith : What are your thoughts on completion of the first phase, is that 3 to 4 month s? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir, my contractor came back saying that he expects even with delays 3 to 4 months. Paul Smith: Is it your intent to supply office space in the first phase? Winston Pfiester: (Chartwell Properties) Yes Sir. John Hopper : I misunderstood, T-Hangar or box hangar? Winston Pfiester : (Chartwell Properties) Option A is all T -Hangars and option B is all box hangars. The decision will be based on the actual survey mark. After the survey, it depends on the size of the lot and building. Paul Smith : Traditionally we have discussion by all the members of the board and the Airport Manager of thoughts and input to give a recommendation to City Council. Ken Arnold : I would like to express my appreciation to both Blue Skies Aviation and Chartwell Properties for coming before us today and making their proposals. Both teams have shown a fair amount of preparation. Comment or question to Blue Skies Aviation: I was a little disappointed in the bank statement of commitment of consideration. This is the last piece of land the airport has for development. Is there any update on the financial? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) Thank you. It was late notice last week and I went to the bank and asked for a letter of credit. They commented that they have to do an appraisal and a lot of ground work. I explained that I have been doing business with them since 1997 and if they could give me something. He said that he could give me a quick email to satisfy the package. The bank will fund the money. In the previous project I put up my own monies. I can bring you a financial statement. The letter of credit will come after the bank gets the real estate appraisal. Paul Smith : Any other discussion? It would be for us to examine thi s closely as this is our charge. If we feel that we need longer time, then we can table this discussion for the following meeting. Daryl Dressler : It is a difficult decision because I’d like to see the maximum number of units coupled with the maximum flexibility. It seems like putting just T -Hangars in might get the most number of storage spaces but at the expense of setting some limits on the type of aircraft that could be accommodated. What ’s the majority on the waiting list, large or small aircraft? Travis McLain: Small single-engine aircraft. John Hopper : Do we have feel as to the percent capacity as far as tenants in the other box hangar facilities on the field. Do we know if our other FBO’s have availability or are they at capacity? Travis McLain : Georgetown Jet Center has leased space and the T -Hangars are full. Katherine Woods: What is the number of people on the hangar waiting list? Travis McLain: It is well over a hundred. Daryl Dressler : If I were in the position to need to put my plane in a hangar, I would want a T-Hangar so that I could have other stuff in there and be able to work on the airplane. Paul Smith : One of the things we need to reflect on is the state of times. Corporate or business aviation are in high demand even though time s are tough. Facilities that accommodate that type of equipment are going to get high usage. Central Texas really needs that sort of thing and it would benefit our community. That doesn’t mean T-Hangars are not necessary and beneficial to our community as well. John Hopper : I would like to see if both applicants could use more time to get more information to their proposals. Ken Arnold : I would like to see more due diligence to further defined proposals and take as many of the variables out of either or both of the proposals as possible. I concur 100% with your comments Paul. Being in the aircraft business as a supplier, I am terribly concerned that Georgetown begins to look at taking the lead in central Texas in supporting that tremendous growth that we are enjoying. Daryl Dressler : Microfusion Inc. is a large box hangar and can service large corporate aircraft. Paul Smith : I sense from the discussion of the board, that it might be appropriate for us to table the discussion on this item. Personally, I would like us to move as rapidly as possible on this. It might be good of you all to provide additional information that you think might benefit our recommendation to the City Council. Daryl Dressler : If possible it might be helpful to survey prospective tenants. David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) The survey shows great demand for T -Hangars. Ken Arnold : Do either of the proposers have a negative impact by the board tabling this for 30 -days? David Krahn : (Blue Skies Aviation Inc.) We’re O.K.; we just do not want to delay and get too far into the weather and usually the biggest hold up is the permitting process. Winston Pfiester: (Chartwell Properties) We’re O.K. John Hopper : I make the motion that we table this item for our next board meeting. Ken Arnold : I second the motion. Motion approved 5-0. Ken Arnold : I’d like to show for the record that we are tabling this item primarily for the benefit of our two proposers as well as the education of the board. Paul Smith : Gentlemen, on behalf of the board, I really appreciate you both coming this evening and presenting your proposals. We look to address this further at our next meeting. 6. Consideration and possible action to recommend that Council authorize the Mayor to submit a Letter of Interest to TXDOT, Aviation Division requesting a grant to remove and/or mark the obstructions to the approaches to runways 18, 36, 11, and 29; relocate fire hydrant; rehab corporate taxiway, and widen the taxilane to T-Hangar G. Travis McLain : The Master Plan Update, the Council “accepted” the update as the consultant presented it to them. In the Master Plan Update the consultant addressed all the obstruction issues that we have with the runways: houses, trees, utility poles and minor instructions. He made the recommendations by the FAA guidelines that we need to move these houses, cut down these trees, etc. (as he’s obligated to do). The City had an Advisory Committee that worked with the consultant (15 members – 2 city council members, some airport advisory board members, and citizens from various neighborhood groups). One of the things that the committee asked the consultant to do was to add at the end of each section of the Master Plan...”the City does not plan to implement these actions at the present time”. The main reason was until the issue of the houses in the approach to RW 18 was addressed, then we would not accomplish cleaning up the other obstructions. By addressing the issues of the houses wit h the obstruction lights then we can move forward with the other obstructions where there are no residences or houses involved (just vacant property) and that is what this agenda item is about. We can go over the items we propose with TXDOT to take care of the obstruction issues with the FAA. The City Council will have to authorize the Mayor to sign a Letter of Interest to TXDOT asking for grant money to do this project. There is a workshop scheduled with the City Council on Monday, September 8, 2008, at 4:00 P.M., where TXDOT will attend to answer any questions the Council will have on this project. TXDOT has already committed to this project. John Hopper : I make the motion that we recommend that Council authorize the Mayor to submit a Letter of Interest to TXDOT, Aviation Division requesting a grant to remove and/or mark the obstructions to the approaches to runways 18, 36, 11, and 29; relocate fire hydrant; rehab corporate taxiway, and widen the taxilane to T -Hangar G. Ken Arnold: I second the motion. Motion approved 5-0. 7. Consideration and possible action for setting Agenda Items for the August 18, 2008, meeting. Agenda item(s) for the August 18, 2008 meeting: A. Consideration and possible action to review the Airport Ground Lease proposals for approximately (2) acres on Service Drive, from Chartwell Properties LP and Blue Skies Aviation Inc. 8. Adjourn. John Hopper : I make the motion that we adjourn. Katherine Woods : I second the motion. Motion approved 5-0. Adjourned: 8:15 P.M.