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10/02/2002AIRPORT AUTHORITY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER October 2, 2002 Present: Brenda Harris Nixon Chair Gary Benjamin Vice-Chair Bob Lunt Board Member Bruce Miller Board Member J.B. Johnson Board Member Also Present: Bryan Ruff Assistant City Attorney – departed 3:34 p.m. William Morris Marine & Aviation Dept. Director – departed 3:34 p.m. Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. at City Hall. Item #2 – Approval of Minutes Member Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 4, 2002, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Item #3 - Tenant & Lease Report from FBO David King, FBO (Fixed Base Operator), reported no changes to tenant leases. He said discussion is underway to locate an avionics shop above the office in the maintenance hangar. Currently, pilots must fly elsewhere for related services. Construction on the runway is scheduled to begin next week. In response to a question, Mr. King said obtaining information on the Citation has been difficult, as the plane’s owner has not returned telephone calls or e-mails. Tomorrow, he will e-mail board members the breakdown of resident versus non-resident tenants, and the percentage of City residents on the wait-list. Concern was expressed that businesses may be run out of tenant hangars. Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris reviewed several problem uses found by staff when driving through the hangars. Security recordings also are available for review. Mr. King is writing a tenant without an airplane in his assigned hangar, as required by Airpark leases, advising him he has 30 days to comply with his lease. Item #4 - Other Business Mr. Morris said the stormwater management plan for the corporate hangars has been completed. Staff is working on a JPA (Joint Project Agreement) with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) to design them. FDOT is increasing their funding for the project. Because the Airpark is repaying its loan from the City, Mr. Morris reported the Airpark’s enterprise fund is not in the “black.” He estimated, according to its business plan, the Airpark’s income will be $100,000 annually once the loan is repaid in 2004. . As the Police Department no longer provides security guards, the 1.4 FTE guard positions are now Marina employees. Mr. Morris will work to have the guards provided with police radios for quick response by police vehicles. He said the expense of guards is worthwhile to Airpark neighbors and tenants. Mr. Morris reported approximately 30% of the new security system cameras are not working following lightening strikes. Insurance is repairing the cameras. The City is grounding the old metal hangars, which previously acted as lightning magnets. Other City departments, impressed with the Airpark’s security system, are considering similar uses at other City facilities. Staff will forward information regarding Airpark grants to board members prior to the next meeting. A timetable was requested for renogotiation of the FBO lease to include the new corporate hangars and planned administration building. Mr. Morris said Airpark staff relies on the Engineering Department, which determines its own priorities, for engineering work related to the corporate hangars. Specifications for the hangars have changed three times. Decisions now are finalized regarding bathroom location and door heights. The hangars will be smaller than 12,500 square-feet so that sprinkler systems are not required. Sprinklers would increase construction costs significantly. Mr. Morris anticipated the bid process for hangar construction will begin before the end of 2002. The Engineering Department has determined the retention area is sufficient to construct the hangars in the proposed location. Due to costs, staff has not decided if parking near the entrance will be paved or feature a gravel surface. Mr. King recommended providing paved parking for corporate customers as many drive nice vehicles. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said the Engineering Deparment has information regarding actions necessary for SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) approval. He said renegotiation of the FBO lease will require substantial prenegotiation regarding the new main terminal. Mr. King said it is difficult to determine the amount of funding available from FDOT for construction of the planned terminal. He suggested a 5-year rollover lease could be renegoitated before remaining issues are finalized. It was stated the City Commission must approve the terminal, regardless of the funding source. A timetable for these actions was requested so target dates are established. It was stated much can be done before the lease is renegotiated. At this point, Mr. Morris had to excuse himself to attend an agenda meeting to have the JPA Agenda Item approved. It was recommended these issues be discussed at the beginning of the meeting, before Mr. Morris departs. Concern was expressed plans seem to change from month to month. It was felt a timetable, or all-inclusive plan, is necessary to establish benchmarks and deadlines, and chart what needs to be done and what needs to be approved, so progress can be tracked. It was stated the timetable can be modified as things change. It was stated the Airport Authority is responsible for establishing timetables as part of the City’s overall planning process. Concern was expressed the Airport Authority is provided information after the fact and not told what is going on. Concern was expressed delays on the corporate hangars were blamed on SWFWMD and now staff reports that SWFWMD issues are not a problem. Discussion ensued regarding Phase I of the Master Plan and delays related to the expiration of a grant and Klaus Palinkas’ change of employment . It was felt Engineering work on the hangars could have been done 6 months ago. It was stated that no information had been provided the Airport Authority on why renegotiation of the lease cannot start now, as the process will take months. It was felt the process should start now. Mr. King said the terminal project is waiting for SWFWMD retention guidelines and funding information. It was noted the Master Plan does not specify which year certain projects will occur. Mr. King said FDOT funding could range from 50% to 80% of project costs. Concern was expressed a future Airport Authority board or City Commission may have different priorities and not support the master plan. Mr. King supported moving ahead quickly on the terminal building while FDOT funds are available for the project. He said the terminal is an important adjunct to the corporate hangars for corporate guests. It was felt staff should not be upset when pointed questions are asked. Item #5 - Agenda for next meeting November 6, 2002 Item #6 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:06 p.m.