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08/03/2005 . . . AIRPARK ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER August3,2005 Present: Bruce Miller Tom Calhoun Dennis Roper David Spaulding Chair Board Member Board Member - departed 4:16 p.m. Board Member Absent: Donald "Scott" Armstrong Vice-Chair Also Present: Bryan Ruff William Morris Gordon Wills Brenda Moses Assistant City Attorney Marine & Aviation Director Airport Operations Manager 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 Member Roper moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 4, 2005, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 - Tenant & Lease Report from FBO FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) representative Barbara Cooper reported all 47 T-hangars are occupied, with 139 names on the waiting list, and all 40 shade hangars are fully occupied, with 41 names on the waiting list. Seven spaces are rented in the corporate hangar; one is a temporary rental. Twenty-nine hard stands are rented and eight are available. Some hard stands are used strictly for transient customers. Six grass stands are rented and 18 are available; nine were recently added. Some grass stands are used for activities such as the Sun n' Fun and the MacDiII Airshow. 4 - Old Business FBO Bui1ding Status Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris said the City Council approved moving forward with the interim FBO building and subsequent demolition of the current structure. Airport Operations Manager Gordon Wills said the City received the first supplemental agreement from FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation), which increased funding for the interim FBO building by $60,000. The City Council still must approve a construction contract. Construction is expected to take three months. The interim building will be 48 feet by 76 feet, approximately 550 square-feet larger than the current building. In addition to two offices which can be rented, the structure will feature an office for the Marine & Aviation Director and Airport Airpark Advisory 2005-08-03 1 . . . Operations Manager, a pilots' briefing room, a weather room, a unisex restroom outside, men's and women's restrooms inside, the flight school, the FBO's office, and an open center area with tables and chairs for small meetings. In response to a question, Mr. Wills said the interim building will not be replaced until funds are available for a new terminal building as proposed in the Airpark Master Plan. Funds must be in place before FOOT will provide matching funds. In response to a concern regarding the malfunctioning entry gates, Mr. Wills reviewed the cause of the problem. Underground cabling for the cameras have been replaced with fiber- optic cable. A request has been made to the installer, to replace the problem cables with fiber- optics once the permanent terminal is constructed. The card reader will be replaced tomorrow. It was stated the sign at the south end of the Airpark is too low to see, especially when the grass is high. It was reported that a truck already had driven over it. Staff will address the issue. In response to a question regarding ERUs, (Equivalent Residential Unit), Ms. Cooper said only one tenant has not made payment. 5 - New Business Letter to FAA Mr. Morris distributed copies of magazine articles from the June Piper Aviation magazine and an article entitled "Finding the right Aviation Medical Examiner" which featured a disabled pilot. It was noted the Clearwater Airpark supports disabled pilot programs. Mr. Morris expressed concern about the possibility that the physical limits of some pilots are being pushed to allow some pilots to continue to fly. Commercial pilots are forced out of the commercial pilot seat at age 60, however recreational pilots can fly as long as they pass their flight physicals. Out of concern for pilot and resident safety, Mr. Morris wrote to Dr. John L. Jordan of the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) Office of Aerospace Medicine with concerns about one of the articles. Dr. Jordan responded that the article in question had been misconstrued. In response to Mr. Morris' request for Board feedback, the Board expressed support for his concerns regarding the Piper Aviation article and support to continue to discuss these issues with the FAA. The Master Plan was developed originally with three priorities: 1) Safety and regulatory; 2) Compatibility with residential neighbors; and 3) Economic self-sufficiency. Mr. Morris distributed information, including July 25, 2000, meeting minutes, that discuss the Airpark's financial forecast, based on the Master Plan. Other Mr. Morris distributed a copy of his August 2003 presentation, following the Airpark's lost ability to develop the driving range and anticipated loss of the north triangle. Before the loss of this space, the Airpark anticipated significant expansion and projected earnings of $5 million annually, beginning in 2012. Mr. Morris more conservatively had estimated lost revenues at almost $1 million a year due to the loss of expansion areas. Mr. Morris referenced an article in the Associated Press regarding licensed pilots in California who were receiving disability benefits and lost their licenses when the FAA found out Airpark Advisory 2005-08-03 2 . about them. One Board Member questioned the credibility of the Associated Press reporter. Discussion ensued with comments that the Associated Press article had misstated some relevant facts and the problem actually affected only 1 % of pilots. Discussion ensued regarding pilots' medical capability to fly. Concern was expressed that medical records, provided Airpark staff has proof of licensing, would become public record. It was remarked that pilots, who temporarily draw medical benefits, should not lose their licenses. Mr. Morris distributed a copy of the Executive Summary and cover page of the 1996 Economic Impact Analysis of the Airpark. The full report is available from staff. He said based on data in the 1996 study, the Airpark's current economic benefit to the community exceeds $9 million annually. Mr. Morris distributed the Clearwater Airpark Economic Impact Analysis provided by PBS&J (Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc.) The Master Plan is being updated to remove the north triangle and property abutting Keene Road from the development strategy. He estimated the property could hold another 30 planes in t-hangars, shade hangars, or grass tie downs. PBS&J feels it is not in the Airpark's best interests to reinstate a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) approach. The FAA has stringent guidelines on instrument approaches. If conditions require reliance on an instrument approach, pilots should use the nearby controlled airfield. PBS&J will work with staff to update the Airpark Master Plan. Staff is working with FDOT to fund additional items in the strategic master plan. Discussion ensued regarding the airplane accident that occurred in the Grovewood subdivision, with remarks that no determination of cause had been made. It was questioned if any recent accidents near the Airpark were attributable to medical problems. It was felt that most pilots would surrender their licenses voluntarily if they felt they could no longer fly safely. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said he would pursue requesting pilots to present to City staff personal medical information to ensure their ability to fly safely. He said neighbors of the Airpark need assurance that the City is doing all possible to ensure their safety. He plans to compile all available information related to pilots and flying, such as articles, statistics, performance statistics of planes, etc. Support was expressed for Mr. Morris' efforts regarding safety of the Airpark and his work with neighbors. . Airpark Advisory 2005-08-03 3 . . . Concern was expressed about privacy issues if pilot medical information is provided to staff. It was remarked that the FAA also requires pilots to have annual aircraft inspections. In response to a suggestion, Mr. Morris said staff already is compiling information on tenant pilot licensing and current medical examination reports. Not all 136 planes at the Airpark are flown regularly. Some tenants keep their planes at the Airpark but no longer fly nor have pilot's licenses. Staff also will compile information regarding the fuel capacity for each type of plane to prevent misreporting by the media. It was remarked that people with sport licenses are not required to have annual medical examinations. Citizens to be Heard Brooks McRee reviewed issues related to the airplane accident in his neighborhood. He suggested moving the flight school to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport and that safety meetings be scheduled. Bill Zinzow and Joe Harra spoke in opposition to keeping the Airpark. Chris Fiore spoke in favor of keeping the Airpark. Discussion ensued with remarks that safety meetings already are held at the Airpark, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport is not in Clearwater, the FAA has information regarding the importance of feeder airports, the Airpark has information regarding generated taxes and revenues, closing the Airpark would force pilots to other airports that may not have space, small airports are closing quickly as developers purchase land, and unpopular commercial uses could replace the Airpark. Jim Hess objected to one Board Member's remark regarding possible noxious commercial uses replacing the Airpark should it be closed. Gary Beniamin questioned staff regarding loss of the north triangle, expressed concern the Airpark cannot realize its financial potential without it, and stated he no longer supports the Airpark. Rav Benninaood spoke in support of the Airpark. 6 - Aaenda for next meetina on November 2. 2005 7 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:27 p.m. G~ t!4:-- air - Airpark Advisory Board ~ 17M )) )/1J::r0 Board eporter '" Airpark Advisory 2005-08-03 4