08/03/2022 Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 3, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
3:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Airpark Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 3, 2022
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Kelli O'Donnell, Board Member John Renton, Board Member
Roger Schulman, and Ex Officio Bruce Brock
Absent 1 - Board Member George Davis
Also Present— Michael MacDonald - Marine & Aviation Operations Manager, Patricia
O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approval of May 4, 2022, Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes.
Member Renton moved to approve minutes of the May 4, 2022 Airpark
Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Fixed-Base Operator's Verbal Quarterly Update
FBO (Fixed Base Operator) representative and Airpark Manager Barbara
Cooper reported on tenant levels and visitors. She said fuel prices dropped
$0.99/gallon over the last 2 deliveries.
In response to questions, Ms. Cooper said the Open House usually is
planned for Spring. She said the Airpark has about 3 "dead" aircraft that
were moved to grass spots, owners pay rent for the grass spots. She said
selling airplanes that require repairs or do not fly at auction require a long
legal process, old airplanes usually can be brought back to life.
4.2 Discuss and identify a time for the Board's annual presentation to Council
Discuss the timetable of the Airpark Advisory Board's annual presentation to
Clearwater City Council considering the pendency of a new lease
agreement.
Marine &Aviation Operations Manager Michael MacDonald recommended
the Board schedule its annual presentation to the City Council after the new
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City of Clearwater
Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 3, 2022
lessee is chosen. All bids were due on August 2, 2022, the 4 proposals will
be reviewed on August 11, 2022. The City Council will make the final
decision.
Consensus was to schedule the presentation for November 17, 2022.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Obtain board consensus on Green-Print presentation by City Sustainability Coordinator
at next Quarterly Meeting.
Acquire board consensus to have City Sustainability Coordinator deliver
Green-Print presentation for the Airpark at next Quarterly Meeting.
It was requested that the Sustainability Coordinator email green initiative
recommendations for the Airpark for member review before the meeting.
Member Schulman moved to request the Sustainability Coordinator
provide a presentation of GreenPrint initiatives the Airpark could adopt
at the November 2, 2022 Airpark Advisory Board meeting. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
6. Director's Report
Mr. MacDonald said a State program inspects the Airpark's aprons, taxiways,
and runways for degradation every year or two. The last inspection indicated
the apron and commercial hangar apron have 30% - 50% useful life, he will
email the pavement report to members. The City has its funding but to date
Florida has not provided its share. In 6 months staff will meet with the City's
engineer of record for an estimate.
Mr. MacDonald said new security cameras also were needed and the fiber
optics to hangars needed replacement. The City Council and State approved
the project, installation should be completed within the next month.
In response to questions, Mr. MacDonald said he was waiting for
designation of a new FBO before making decisions re a new roof for the
shade hangars. The Airpark secured and still retains $30,000 from the first
Covid relief funding. After a series of public hearings, the City Council had
not yet determined how the latest federal Covid funds would be distributed.
Concern was expressed that Clearwater BlueSkies, Inc., which submitted
an FBO proposal, was not registered in Florida.
7. Board Members to be Heard
Ex Officio Brock said he was working with Ms. Cooper to book smaller, more
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City of Clearwater
Airpark Advisory Board
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Meeting Minutes August 3, 2022
frequent Young Eagles events; inclement weather canceled 2 recent events.
He said groups of 25 will be easier to organize and lessen impacts on
Airpark parking.
Member Schulman recommended a folder be made available re "What's
Going on at the Airpark." He said the Airpark should be commended for
helping address the pilot shortage.
Mr. MacDonald requested organizers email him Airpark event information
which he will forward to Public Communications to post on City social media
pages and/or include in "Sunshine Lines." It was stated that promoting
Airpark events is good for public relations.
Chair O'Donnell said the City Council wants the Airpark to be more in the
public eye.
In response to a question, Ms. Cooper said the Airpark based flight school
has hosted career days and made presentations to several airlines. She said
former Airpark flight instructors have advanced to the major carriers after
flying with regional airlines and corporate jets.
Member Renton recommended contacting the Tampa Bay Times re a story
about the flight school to garner publicity and recognition for Clearwater and
its Airpark.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Chair, Airpark Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater