11/03/2010
AIRPARK ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
November 3, 2010
Present: Dennis G. Roper Chair
Denise L. Rosenberger Vice-Chair
Thomas D. Black Board Member
Walter Crosby Board Member
Edward O’Brien Board Member
Also Present: Bill Morris Marine & Aviation Director
Gordon Wills Airport Operations Manager
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 – Approval of Minutes
– August 4, 2010
Member O’Brien moved to approve the minutes of the regular Airpark Advisory Board
meeting of August 4, 2010, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 - Tenant & Lease Report from FBO
3.1. Runway Repairs
FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) representative Barbara Cooper said the one-week project to
repair the runway will be completed by November 22, 2010.
Ms. Cooper reviewed visitor counts, which are increasing as weather improves. There is
a waitlist for t-hangars and the corporate hanger is at capacity. The 8 or 9 open shade hangars
are used for nightly rentals.
Ms. Cooper expressed concern that tenants are considering using taxiways when the
runway is closed for repairs; taxiways have dips in them. She recommended advising visitors
that the runway is closed to all traffic during repairs. Assistant City Attorney Camilo Soto
recommended that pilots who use taxiways while the runway is closed provide in writing that
they are doing so at their own risk.
3.2. New Hangar Construction
Airport Operations Manager Gordie Wills expected the RFP (Request for Proposals) for
new hangar construction will be released by the end of the month. Once permits are received,
construction should take 60 days. A breezeway will separate the corporate hangars.
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3.3. Configuration to be built in cameras to take operational counts
Mr. Wills said the configuration to be built in the cameras to take operational counts has
not happened yet as one of the DVRs is not working. Staff is working on the architecture to
make certain counts and reports are accurate.
4 – Old Business
4.1. Financial Report
Financial status: Expenditures $188,649
Revenues $257,013
Profit (before depreciation) $ 68,364
Staff was commended for showing a profit during the current economy. Concern was
expressed that the Airpark needs to fund large CIPs (Capital Improvement Projects) in the
future due to additional runway work that is necessary to repair cracking and peeling edges so
that pavement chunks are not sucked into turbine engines, and to fix dips in the taxiways that
could result in a loss of control. Ms. Cooper said staff checks the runway every morning for
foreign objects. Mr. Wills anticipated FDOT’s (Florida Department of Transportation) pavement
inspection program will visit the Airpark in December.
5 – New Business
Mr. Wills said the Tampa Bay Aviation Fly-in, planned for April 16, 2011, has requested
donations. No decision has been reached.
6 – Agenda for Next Meeting
– February 2, 2011
Landing/Takeoff Time Restrictions – report on surveys
Items not on the Agenda
Landing/Takeoff Time Restrictions
Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris said the Airpark recently hosted the Annual
Citizens Academy; several members expressed concern that closing the Airpark overnight
restricts its ability to make money. Mr. Morris said the Airpark could be more successful if
corporate businesses did not have to land before 9:00 p.m. Ms. Cooper said during winter
months, airplanes cannot takeoff after 5:00 p.m. She said rules that limit air traffic based on the
times of sunrise/sunset do not make sense; because of these rules, the Airpark has lost at least
15 tenants to St. Petersburg and Tampa airports. Mr. Wills said restrictions date to a time when
the Airpark did not have lights on its runway. The Airpark also now has VASI (Visual Approach
Slope Indicator) which provides feedback to pilots.
A corporate airplane operator, who lives near the airpark, said he would prefer to spend
money locally and base his operations in Clearwater rather than Tampa. He said it would not
be unreasonable for corporate airplanes to takeoff from Louisiana or Texas at 6:00 p.m.; a three
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hour flight would not land here until 10:00 p.m. He said his business purchases a great deal of
fuel. He said corporate flights average one takeoff and one landing a week; landings make little
noise. To attract the lucrative corporate market, he recommended removing all restrictions or at
least extending takeoff times to 9:00 p.m. and landing times to 11:00 p.m.
Discussion ensued regarding the inability of corporate clients to operate at the
Clearwater Airpark. Concerns were expressed that restrictions chase corporate business away
and cost the FBO and other tenants significant money. It was suggested that a waiver could be
granted for an operator to land once a week outside restricted hours. Recommendations were
made to survey neighbors and revisit this issue as the Airpark needs to be competitive to
survive. It was stated the Airpark will police hours of operation and not abuse time extensions.
It was stated other area noises such as garbage trucks, train whistles, and concrete operations
are louder than aircraft.
A member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) said the chapter is unable to
invite aviators to meetings at the Airpark as pilots cannot take off afterwards; operational hours
also reduce visitors to weekend social events. He estimated up to 12 pilots would attend
monthly meetings.
It was recommended that neighbors, operators, and tenants be surveyed and their input
be brought to the board in February for discussion and formulation of recommendations to the
City Council.
Ellen Hess recommended identifying how the change would benefit neighbors before
presenting them with the issue. She recommended refurbishing a section of the Airpark to
welcome neighbors to a fun destination. In response to a question, she recommended
providing to neighbors the cost for a helicopter party or a chartered flight and if discounted
prices are available for children.
Mr. Morris said the more money the City can generate the fewer amenities, such as
lighted tennis courts and library hours, have to be curtailed. It was stated by extending hours
the Airpark may be able to provide sightseeing rides, helicopter rides, and charters to Key West,
for example. It was estimated that extending hours of operation would increase traffic by 10
flights a week. In response to a question, Ms. Cooper said corporate pilots have more formal
training than most recreational pilots. The flight school does not do touch and go landings. It
was stated a well used runway lasts longer and the airpark needs more business to attract a
restaurant. It was noted if soccer fields replaced the Airpark nearby residents would be subject
to the resulting lights, traffic, and noise.
Miscellaneous
In response to a question, Ms. Cooper said the CAP (Civil Air Patrol) has a new
commander and is active again.
It was reported the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) will revisit the general aviation
system in 2014.
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Meeting Dates for 2011
The Airpark Advisory Board's schedule of meetings for 2011: February 2, May 4, August
3, and November 2. Meetings are at 3:00 p.m. in City Hall.
7 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:26 p.m.
Next Scheduled Meeting - February 2, 2011, City Council Chambers
Chair
Airpark Advisory Board
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