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02/06/2002AIRPORT AUTHORITY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER February 6, 2002 Present: Brenda Harris Nixon Chair Gary Benjamin Board Member Ron Streicher Board Member Bruce Miller Board Member Bob Lunt Board Member Also Present: Jane Hayman Assistant City Attorney Gordon Wills Airpark Operations Manager Brenda Moses 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. ITEM 2 – December 5, 2001 Minutes Approval The Chair requested that regarding the regular minutes of December 5, 2001, sentence 2 of paragraph 1 on page 2 be amended to read: …”it is only 3 feet inside…”. As there were no objections to the request, the Chair stated the minutes stand approved as amended. ITEM 3 – Tenant & Lease report from FBO Airpark Operations Manager Gordon Wills said there were no significant changes in tenants. The FBO and staff are preparing for an open house on April 20, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Plans are to include an air boss at the Airpark this year. Activities will include K-9 patrol demonstrations, a vintage aircraft display, skydivers, and various vendors and other activities. Mr. Wills reported that a piece of the driveway was cut and paved over. Landscaping plants that have died will be replaced. Klaus Palinkas, HNTB Corporation, said his firm is working on estimates for a new corporate hangar at the Airpark. The concept has been developed but some designs need to be changed. His firm also is investigating a runup area on the east side of the Airpark. The alternative was for one on the west side. Mr. Willis felt it would not be feasible to place a runup area on the west side due to the fence requirement. The only other alternative would be to incorporate a runup area on the taxi lane. In response to a question, Mr. Wills said PBS&J is working on the permit process from SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) for drainage issues. Mr. Wills said there is a prospective party interested in becoming a leaseholder for the corporate hangars that are being proposed. That person would represent approximately one third of the entire corporate hangar leases available. ITEM 4 – Financial Report Mr. Wills said some airpark improvements have been made with Capital Improvement Program funds. Maintenance is being done on the maintenance hangar. The first quarter budget amendments were submitted to the Finance Department. No changes to that amendment have been requested. One member said the FBO had passed on the recently implemented CPI costs to airpark tenants. In response to a question, Mr. Wills said the Airpark is receiving approximately $130,000 in rent thanks to the addition of the new t-hangars. He said last month was the first month the new rent rates were put into effect. ITEM 5 – Other Business A potential leaseholder stated he had a meeting with the FBO last year regarding the new corporate hangar. He said there are 2 other potential leaseholders interested in moving to the Clearwater Airpark if corporate hangars are added. He said once it is common knowledge that the Airpark is adding the corporate hangars, there will be lots of interest in leasing them. He said in addition to increased rental revenue for the Airpark, fuel sales also would increase. It was remarked the Board needs to educate the City Commission regarding the need for additional aircraft at the Airpark. One member felt corporate hangars would allow the desirable type of aircraft that would appease the neighbors and would be beneficial financially to the City and the FBO. One resident said she personally felt that 8 corporate hangars would generate less traffic than soccer and baseball fields and would generate more revenue to the City. It was remarked that the Commission is unaware of Airpark operations in terms of long range planning and economic impact. They fear neighbors’ concerns regarding noise and safety levels at the Airpark. It was suggested that a representative from the surrounding neighborhood attend a Commission meeting to state the neighborhood’s preferences regarding corporate hangars versus ball fields. The resident requested that staff provide any statistics and information that would help her to prepare a statement to the Commission. Concern was expressed that the City has negotiated for any City employee to play golf at the Clearwater Golf Course at a 25% discount rate. It was suggested that rate is a conflict of interest and that to negotiate a contract with an entity for such a discount upsets taxpayers. It was remarked that it should be illegal for employees to negotiate City contract benefits for themselves with outside vendors. Assistant City Attorney Jane Hayman said the golf course discount is considered an employee benefit, therefore, the City is free to provide any benefits they wish on their own property. It was remarked that soccer fields are in demand in Pinellas County. It was felt that the County should reimburse the City for ballparks, especially for their maintenance. Concern was expressed that the Airport Authority Board did not find out about the golf course lease until the day before it was approved at the Commission meeting. It was remarked that incident was a reflection of senior staff and their view of the potential and level of importance of the Airpark. A comment was made that the City seems to always penalize residents with respect to contracts. It was felt now is the time to protect the City’s revenue streams. It was felt the golf course lease was rushed through for Commission approval in December 2001, at a time when people are busy with other concerns. The lease was valid until February, 2002. Discussion ensued regarding the terms of the lease. Concern was expressed that the Airpark would still have the option to buy out the portion of the golf course land it was interested in. Bob Bickerstaffe said he felt the City should maintain the golf course land for the Airpark and put the corporate hangars in rather than soccer fields. Land continues to increase in value and corporate hangars would provide needed revenues with less traffic and noise. He felt corporate hangars are the least expensive method to realize the best return on the property. It was requested the resident search his database for documents/covenants that prove the golf course was once part of the Airpark. Concern was expressed that the Commission has approved a 30-minute restriction for residents to speak at Commission meetings. It was felt that the Commission meetings are one of the few avenues citizens have to voice their opinions. It was remarked that some residents re-state the same opinion as the person who spoke before them and this restriction would eliminate that repetition. Mr. Wills introduced Catherine Yellin, Staff Assistant III for the Marine Department. She will be involved with the Airport Authority Board meeting process. Member Lunt was congratulated on his reappointment to the Board. ITEM 6 – Agenda for next meeting, March 6, 2002 Concern was expressed that Airpark tenants are bearing a large percentage of price increases and costs at the Airpark. It was requested staff request the FBO submit a list of who he considers to be potential candidates for the corporate hangar, and what he has done to solicit a commitment from those potential candidates. It was remarked that the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport has limited space available and that the proposed corporate hangar at the Clearwater Airpark is a great idea. ITEM 7 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:03 p.m.