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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Aviation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 9/12/2012 MINUTES AVIATION ADVISORY COMMISSION GLENDALE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 6801 N GLEN HARBOR BLVD. GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85307 AIRPORT CONFERENCE ROOM SEPTEMBER 12,2012 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Ron Cohoe with the following Commissioners present: Walt Chaney, Victoria Rogen, Vice-Chair Carl Duggins and Leslie Sheeler. Also present were Walter Fix, Airport Administrator; Bill Gillies, Luke Air Force Base; Jamsheed Mehta, Executive Director of Transportation Services; T.R. McCully, Don & Gaylin Nelson, Richard Goldman, Rudi Schulz, Don French, and Dave Timberlake. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Vice-Chair Duggins motioned to approve the August 8,2012 meeting minutes as written. Commissioner Rogen made the second. The motion carried 5 - 0 III. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OR WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS. None. IV. AIRPORT BUSINESS The following business was discussed: 1. Airport Rules &Regulations and Minimum Operating Standards Mr. Fix reported that the final draft of the Airport Rules & Regulations are being reviewed by the FAA this week. By next Monday, it is anticipated that the Airport Rules & Regulations will be posted for the 30-day public comment period. Any suggestions for change will be reviewed and considered. After the public comment period, the document will be sent to Mayor and Council for review and approval. The stakeholder group is nearly close to completion of the Minimum Operating Standards and the FAA is also reviewing a draft document at the same time. This document will follow the same review and approval process as the Airport Rules &Regulations. 1 Mr. Fix noted that the first of draft of the Airport Leasing Policy should be ready by the end of September. Chair Cohoe wondered how the public would have access to the Rules & Regulations for review and comment. Mr. Fix explained that the document will be posted on the City of Glendale website and will also be emailed to all of the airport tenants, hangar owners, airport businesses and other contacts relative to the Airport. 2. Improvement areas for the Airport: Chair Cohoe led a brainstorm session for topics to explore in the coming year toward improving the Airport image and business. Chair Cohoe provided the following information: Current State Concerns • Economy is down — people have less discretionary funds (selling of airplanes and hangars) • General Aviation activities are at all-time lows across the country • Left Seat West Restaurant business is less than optimal • Possible future development around the Airport operational area that could impact airspace restrictions • High Hangar rent(compared to other fields)— South Hangars • Non-Aeronautical use issues (FAA Corrective actions) — North Hangars • Low morale among hangar owners • FAA mandate on getting new Rules & Regulations, Minimum Operating Standards and Lease Policy released • City budgets have been cut back, negatively affecting the Airport Advantages of Glendale Airport over others • Short take off times • Lack of congestion in the pattern and on the ground • Simple runway and taxiway • Close to major sports venues, Westgate and Camelback Park • Stable FBO • Competitive fuel prices and services • Lots of available hangars, shades and tie down spaces • Small town feel with big town amenities • Good restaurant • West-MEC school adjacent to Airport 2 Target • Make Glendale a destination airport with excellent service • Improve revenues for the city and the Airport Chair Cohoe led a brainstorm session on areas to improve and pursue during the coming year. Suggestions by the Commissioners included: • Add wayfinding signs on Glen Harbor to the terminal and restaurant • Suggest ways to market the restaurant • Find ways to market the Airport • Provide consistent high quality services • Work with the South hangar owners to improve costs for the hangars to entice more renters • Hold an open house • Hold an event that is staffed with volunteers • Increase the number of aircraft based here • Improve the perception of the Airport—nationwide • Add solar panels on the hangar and shade cover roofs — Possibly qualify for grants • Provide competitive costs for hangars and tie downs • Work with the Zoning Commission on airspace preservation on development concerns around Westgate, stadium and casino • Promote aviation by helping promote the F-35 coming to Luke Air Force Base • Have an FAA Rep attend a meeting and outline aeronautical and non- aeronautical use as it relates to the Airport Layout Plan and the FAA requirements • ADOT signs on the 101 Freeway for the Airport • Get advertising on the Westgate Digital signs off Glendale and Highway 101 for the Airport, restaurant, and other Airport businesses • City incentives and concessions recommendations to streamline the approval process for businesses • Improve the signage on Glendale Avenue for the Airport • Invite other Commissions to attend our meetings to work with them to share best practices • Work with other Commissions to see if they have the same issues on hangars as we do • Partner up with other airports to see if improvements can be made together • Improve business opportunities at the Airport • Incentives to get some of the West-MEC students to come to the terminal more often as a destination for study and eating 3 • Hold Quarterly meetings with Airport Associations to improve communications • Monthly newsletter to all Airport tenants Suggestions by the Public included: • Allow mixed use of hangars • Work with the Glendale Airport Pilots Association (GAPA) to see what can be done to improve the issues and concerns • Relationship with Airport staff needs to improve • Include Airport users in decisions that affect the Airport Commissioner Chaney stressed that there are deeper and more underlying issues at the Airport which need to be resolved even before some of the brainstorming issues are pursued. Commissioner Chaney expressed concern over the issues with the hangars and the morale of the pilots and tenants. V. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS 1. Update on Airport entrance sign and Wi-Fi on the Airport: Mr. Fix met with representatives of the City Planning Department and found that despite strong requests, a digital sign cannot be allowed due to the zoning code. Mr. Fix noted that the Airport can pursue obtaining a brand new sign up to 10-feet high with a least three panels promoting business at the Airport. Mr. Fix added that a new sign will come at a higher cost than refurbishment of the current sign. Any decisions will be budget-based. Mr. Fix commented that City Staff is still researching different alternatives regarding Wi-Fi at terminal building and other areas of the Airport at the lowest cost possible. Chair Cohoe asked Mr. Fix to press the IT Department for a timeframe for the results of this research. 2. FAA Runway Safety Action Plan: 2012 Report Mr. Fix stated that in April 2012, the Runway Safety Action Team conducted an inspection at the Airport of any issues impacting runway safety. This inspection produced one main concern which was the overall condition of the ramp. Mr. Fix stated that there is a lot of cracking on the ramp. 3. Runway Safety Area Project Update Mr. Fix commented that an ADOT Pavement Preservation Project at Glendale Airport will commence this fiscal year, consisting of crack sealing and slurry sealing of the runway. Mr. Fix explained that ADOT prioritizes pavement conditions of every airport in the state and the 4 Airport was prioritized for the runway slurry seal project this year, and ramp preservation in 2016. Chair Cohoe wondered what could be done if major cracking occurred throughout the year. Mr. Fix replied that emergency funds would have to be obtained in case of severe cracking. 4. Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) Fall Conference-October 12, 2012 Mr. Fix has been attending this conference for over the past 20 years and will attend this Fall as well. A report will be provided to the Commission at the November meeting. 5. Airport Roundtable Meetings Mr. Fix stated that many years ago, Airport Roundtable Meetings were held with representatives from valley airports. These Roundtable Meetings will be held again once a quarter with the first Roundtable to be held at Falcon Field in the near future. 6. Annual Hangar Inspections—Starting Monday October 15, 2012 Mr. Fix announced that hangar inspections will begin in mid-October and a schedule will be established. It was noted that Airport Staff will conduct the inspections; however, City Staff will be called in if necessary. The annual inspections are required according to the Corrective Action Plan. Mr. Fix explained that there are three types of inspections in the Corrective Action Plan: annual,random and "for cause". 7. Status of Airport's FAA Corrective Action Plan Mr. Fix reported that there are two outstanding issues in the Corrective Action Plan. The first is the APS Solar Farm lease of 1998. Mr. Fix explained that the lease was signed at $10 a year, but should have been for fair market value and this needs to be re-negotiated. A project to determine fair market value is underway and APS is aware of the situation. APS can choose whether or not to renew the contract under the new conditions. Mr. Fix stated that the second outstanding issue is the City of Glendale Materials Lab which shares space in the Airport maintenance garage. Mr. Fix explained that the City will have to pay the Airport for use of the space. Mr. Fix announced that the close-out letter should be received soon from the FAA Headquarters regarding the Corrective Action Plan. VI. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Chair Cohoe made the Call to the Public. Mr. McCully's comments include the following: 5 • The City of Glendale views the Airport as a liability and not an asset. • There is not enough funding coming in to support the Airport so that it is not a drain on the City. • It is disappointing that City code will not allow a digital sign for the Airport. • The Airport tenants need to have access to Wi-Fi and Airport management needs to press harder for Wi-Fi. • There needs to be a psychological change in how the City views the Airport. The City may very well want to see the Airport shut down so the City can sell the property. • There should be a multiple-use environment for the hangars. The storage restrictions in the hangars are too strict to garner interest in the hangars. Mr. Richard Goldman's comments included the following: • Commissioner Chaney should be praised for voicing and understanding the deeper, underlying issues at the Airport. • Upon contacting eight other Airports today, it was found that most of them allow that up to 25% of hangars can be utilized for non-aeronautical purposes. Only one did not allow non-aeronautical uses. • The FAA does not give mandates, but suggestions and the Airport should stand up to the FAA regarding the use of the hangars. FAA funding will not be cut off if management stands up to the FAA and promotes non- aeronautical uses of the hangars. Mr. French's comments included the following: • Commissioner Chaney understands the feelings of the hangar owners. • There are many people at the Airport who would like to be involved with input regarding Airport issues but feel shut out. • There has been harassment and discrimination on some of the hangar owners at the Airport and certain owners have obtained lawyers. It seems as those owners who have obtained lawyers are no longer bothered. Also, some owners have just remedied issues for the inspection and then go back to using the hangars for non-aeronautical storage. • The hangars were initially touted as multi-storage and it is dismaying to have this changed at this time. • The hangars can be easily filled if they were multi-use, thereby benefiting the Airport. • Upon a meeting with Mr. Fix, Mr. French initially asked to place some of a hangar tenant's chairs in the terminal facility, but at a later time, the request fell through. Mr. Fix concurred that the storage of the chairs was denied and offered to discuss the situation with Mr. Nelson after the meeting. Chair Cohoe stated that in 2010, he chaired a number of public meetings over the fiscal year regarding changes to the Rules & Regulations at which anyone could attend. Chair Cohoe noted that there were various hangar owners and GAPA 6 representatives at the public meetings and therefore, all voices were welcomed and included. Mr. Goldman felt that the hangar owners should be compensated because originally the hangars were sold as multi-use which has now been changed. Mr. French commented that the hangars should be classified as "best use" which would be multi-use. Mr. French also noted that the hangars were originally sold as multi-use and expressed dismay that this has been changed. Chair Cohoe was very appreciative of the public comments at the meeting and agreed that there could be better communication between Airport Staff and the hangar owners. VII. NEW BUSINESS REQUESTS (Future Agenda Items) New Business Items were suggested which included the following: • Airport Signage • A Monthly Newsletter to Hangar Owners VIII.NEXT MEETING TIME The next meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the second floor Conference Room of the Airport terminal building on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. IX. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Chair Cohoe announced that Commissioner Cable had to resign from the Commission due to excessive travel for work. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. by consensus. The Aviation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2012 were approved a the Commission Meeting of October 10, 2012. / alt.( ( /\,--." ./ Walter L. Fix, A.A.E. Airport Administrator 623-930-2188 7