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09/09/2022 - Special Meeting Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2022 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 e Meeting Minutes Friday, September 9, 2022 11 :00 AM Special Meeting Main Library - Council Chambers Airpark Advisory Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2022 Roll Call Present 3 - Chair Kelli O'Donnell, Board Member George Davis, Board Member Roger Schulman, and Ex Officio Bruce Brock Absent 1 - Board Member John Renton Also Present— Eric Gandy - Marine & Aviation Director, Michael MacDonald - Marine & Aviation Operations Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. at the Main Library. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None. 3. New Business Items 3.1 Approve City RFP #38-22 Selection Committee's Recommendation The Chair of the Airport Advisory Board requested a Special Meeting to determine if there is Airpark Advisory Board consensus on the City RFP Selection Committee's recommendation for a Fixed Base Operator, pursuant to RFP#38-22. If a consensus is reached, the Chair will author a letter to City Council reflecting the outcome. Marine &Aviation Director Eric Gandy said the lease agreement with David King of Florida Airpark Inc. ends in November. Mr. King served as the Airpark's FBO (Fixed Base Operator) for 22 years. The City was required to issue an RFP (Request for Proposals). It considered safety issues, hangar replacement, and generating sufficient revenues for the Airpark Enterprise Fund to pay operation costs and reinvest in improvements. Mr. Gandy said City volunteers from various backgrounds formed a committee that evaluated and scored the sealed responses and reviewed final presentations. Based on the committee's winning score, staff will recommend the City Council direct staff to enter negotiations with FIyUSA for Clearwater Airpark Fixed Base Operator. Attorney Brian Aungst, representing FIyUSA, said lease negotiations must be satisfactory before the City Council approves a final lease agreement. He said in the future the Airpark Advisory Board will discuss noise levels, air traffic, and security. He said the application proposes higher efficiencies and less activity. He said this application is the only one that commits millions of dollars of private capital to develop the ALP (Airport Layout Plan). Page 2 City of Clearwater Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2022 Barry Shevlin with FIyUSA said the detailed plan shows an ambitious vision and financial commitment. He said they plan to and move company headquarters to the Airpark. pay market rent, and build a state-of-the-art facility. He said FIyUSA has fly ins at hundreds of airparks and will not have tons of charters at the Airpark, its client base is not local. He said the applicant will continue to use PIE (St. Pete-Clearwater) and Tampa airports for jet traffic. He said the company's flights will be safe and quiet. He said turboprops normally travel on multi-day missions. He said flight school activity will be reduced and focus on future technologies and helicopter training will be limited to one take off a day. He said the applicant will cover all security costs and pay rent in advance as part of its $4.5 million commitment. In response to questions, Mr. Shevlin said he planned to follow the master plan with one change, replace some shade hangars with t-hangars and 2 corporate hangars at least 2 years from now. He said new construction must be energy efficient and adhere to GreenPrint. He planned to deploy new technology. He said he wanted all tenants to be accommodated. He said he did not want to expand hours. He said referring to the Airpark as a Jet Park was an unfair characterization. He said submitted drawings were conceptual. He envisioned a restaurant as an amenity for the new terminal. He said the company planned to be supportive of the Young Eagles, EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), and CAP (Civil Air Patrol). He said the company wanted to dialog and partner with the City and neighborhood and host more community activities. He said the new facility will be a community asset. He said upgrades will be prioritized during negotiations. He said expanding the runway's width to 75 feet had not been considered. In response to questions, Michael Connor, representing FIyUSA, said the applicant's $1.5 million commitment is intended to be a match for FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) funding for improvements. In response to questions, Mr. Gandy said based on City Council direction, General Funds cannot be used for the Airpark, which is a self-funding Enterprise Fund that serves a smaller user group than the community as a whole. Under the current leaseholder, annual profits of$7,000 would take decades to fund a $2-million project. Marine &Aviation Operations Manager Michael MacDonald said some Penny for Pinellas funds were set aside for a new terminal. Discussion ensued with suggestions to retain the shade hangars, add grass tie-downs, build a new shade hangar where none exists, lower rents, maintain a small playground near the runway, encourage community interaction, reserve meeting spaces for community activities, plan events that attract neighbors and visitors, and earmark grant money for Airpark improvements. Page 3 City of Clearwater Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2022 Concerns were expressed that the Airpark should continue supporting the CAP, EAA, and Young Eagles and not evict low value long-term tenants. Concerns were expressed that encouraging jet and turboprop traffic would transform the Airpark into a jetport, that shifting pilot training to PIE would reduce training opportunities for young people due to higher costs, that operating turboprops out of the Airpark is difficult without approach lights or a control tower, and trees obstructing air space at both ends of the runway, the agreement may not be a fair deal for the City, Airpark expansion, flight pattern changes, and increased noise will significantly reduce the value of houses near the runway, the applicant's large financial commitment seems implausible as the Airpark is not making money, changes should not be at the expense of less wealthy tenants, and Clearwater pays for stadium improvements for the Phillies and should invest in the Airpark. Seven residents spoke. Comments included opposition to development of the golf course, support for a safe modern airpark for small planes, recommendations that the Airpark develop a mission statement, attract younger people and encourage pilot training, and concerns expressed that tenants will be displaced, changes will increase costs that taxpayers will bear, turboprops have higher decibel ratings and pose a safety risk, the Airpark no longer encourages comradery among tenants, and high decibel helicopter traffic is unbearable, especially for residentswho work from home Three people spoke in favor of the David King noting the FBO had followed Council direction, cost Clearwater taxpayers nothing, carried waitlists for 22 years, was affected by the pandemic, and welcomed all people and children. Concerns were expressed the proposed$4,5 million in funding is only prepaid rent and the Airpark does not need more traffic or turboprops operating in a small space with no margin for error. The Airpark was encouraged to add a restaurant and activities to attract more people. Attorney Aungst said Mr. Shevlin had watched Airpark Advisory Board meetings and tailored the proposal to the ALP. He said the City would not contribute to Airpark upgrades except for allocated Penny for Pinellas funds,- Fly unds,Fly USA and FDOT will fund the phased improvements. He said the company had no interest in developing the golf course. He said FlyUSA will create revenue by redeveloping the Airpark property. Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that midair collisions occur, that changes not negatively affect poorer tenants or significantly devalue nearby houses, that noise levels improve, and support was expressed for proposed improvements and amenities. Page 4 City of Clearwater Airpark Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2022 Member Schulman moved to recommend City Council direct staff to negotiate an agreement with Fly USA for the Airpark's Fixed Base Operator. The motion was duly seconded. Member Schulman and Chair O'Donnell voted "Aye"; Member Davis voted "Nay." Motion carried. 4. Director's Report: None. 5. Board Members to be Heard: None. 6. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. Page 5 City of Clearwater Chair, Airpark Advi oBa rd