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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Aviation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 4/9/2014 MINUTES AVIATION ADVISORY COMMISSION GLENDALE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 6801 N. GLEN HARBOR BLVD - SUITE 201 GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85307 AIRPORT CONFERENCE ROOM APRIL 9, 2014 6:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:11 p.m. by Chair Terrill with the following Commissioners present: Walt Chaney, Victoria Rogen, Scott Hadley, Quentin Tolby, and Joe Mascaro. Also present were Walter Fix, Airport Administrator; Cathy Colbath, Interim Executive Director for Transportation Services, James Gruber, Assistant City Attorney, Bill Gillies, Luke Air Force Base representative, Basil Allen, Glendale Airport Tower, K.C. Lukeman, EC Source and Gary Mercer, EC Source. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Commissioner Mascaro motioned to approve the February 12, 2014, meeting minutes with the following changes: • Page 6, section IX: Change the word "patter" to "pattern." Commissioner Hadley made the second. The motion carried 6—0. III. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OR WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS. None. IV. AIRPORT BUSINESS 1. EC Source Aviation Presentation Mr. Fix introduced Mr. K. C. Lukeman and Mr. Gary Mercer of EC Source. The company occupies two hangars on the south end of the Airport for the storage and maintenance of their MD-600 helicopters. Mr. Mercer, Director of Operation for EC Source provided a video presentation of the company's activity. • EC Source focuses predominantly on the energy delivery sector and large-scale extra high voltage (EHV)programs and projects with particular emphasis on transmission and substation systems for the electrical industry. 1 • The company utilizes MD-600 NOTAR(No Tail Rotor) helicopters and ground crews that perform a variety of tasks to install high voltage transmission towers and cable lines throughout the western U.S. • The video showed the precision work performed by the helicopters and crews at construction sites and Mr. Mercer explained the capabilities and limitations of their work for power companies. • The Commissioners asked Mr. Mercer questions regarding job locations, safety and specific pilot tasks. 2. Retreat—Activity Ideas The Commissioners discussed ideas for the annual Commission retreat on May 10, 2014. Chair Terrill reiterated last year's retreat activity that included a tour of the West- MEC facility. He mentioned it may be beneficial to discuss the state of General Aviation and other material that Mr. Fix had prepared for the March meeting that was cancelled. He also told the Commissioners that having a retreat is not mandatory. • Commissioner Hadley said tenant issues were brought up at the February 2014 meeting and feels the Commission should serve as a liaison to identify tenant concerns to the Mayor and Council. • Commissioner Tolby said the Airport deserves a bigger share of the general aviation market and should shed its bad image and make something happen. Tolby said the Commissioners need to find out what the problems are and fix them, not to waste time. • Commissioner Mascaro said the Commission does not do anything to help pilots and students and asked what power the Commission has and why can't it help. He said the Commission needs to do something. • Chair Terrill said that is a good question regarding what authority the Commission has. • Commissioner Chaney said the discussion of change is held back by the FAA because the FAA does not let us know what is allowed in writing what can go in hangars. • Commissioner Mascaro asked Commissioner Chaney what pilots want to do to bring more pilots here. Commissioner Chaney responded that he bases his aircraft at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport but was once based at Glendale. He also said he likes to use Glendale Airport because the airspace is less crowded for touch and go operations. • Commissioner Mascaro asked why Glendale cannot get more touch and go activity. • Chair Terrill said this should be a topic for the next retreat. • Commissioner Tolby said he met with Mayor Weiers who said he encourages Commission members to go meet with hangar owners and invite them to attend sessions. Commissioner Tolby said this would restore credibility to the Commission. • Chair Terrill asked if this could be a stakeholder function of the Commission. • Mr. Fix said the previous Commission Chair served on the stakeholder group that revised the Airport Rules and Regulations and Minimum Operating Standards, the 2 new version of which is more business-friendly. He said another ad-hoc committee would be welcomed to discuss issues with tenants. • Commissioner Tolby said a committee is not needed and that the Airport Manager should not be involved due to the tenants' lack of trust. • Commissioner Rogen said at some point the tenants need to meet again with Airport staff. • Mr. Fix said the tenants, City staff, and the FAA met two times after 2011 at open meetings to discuss the Airport's non-compliance with federal grant assurances, jeopardy of losing grant funds, and the Corrective Action Plan that will prevent this. • Commissioner Tolby asked Mr. Fix what progress has been made in the past year. • Mr. Fix said the progress made is that the Airport is very close to receiving a closeout letter from the FAA that will regain our status as compliant with federal grant assurances. He said this has been our priority since 2011. • Commissioner Mascaro asked how we can get student pilots to come here. • Commissioner Rogen said the retreat is for four hours with enough time to address issues. She said the Commission should vote to have the retreat in May. • Commissioner Chaney said individual issues should be addressed with a communication system between the Airport and pilots, such as a newsletter. • Commissioner Tolby said if tenants came to a meeting they cannot talk about issues if not on the agenda. He said it would be better to meet with tenants individually. • Chair Terrill said the May retreat is traditionally a longer meeting but the Commission should not feel they have to meet for that long a period. • Commissioner Chaney requested minutes from the meetings the FAA attended to better understand some issues. • Mr. Fix recommended Mr. Chaney read the FAA Director's Determination sent to the City in 2011. • Commissioner Tolby said the Mayor met with the FAA last year and he is anxious for the Commission to get active and involved. • Commissioner Rogen wanted verification on the retreat time. • Chair Terrill confirmed the retreat to be May 10 from 9:30 AM until 1:30 PM V. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Mr. Fix reported on current airport activities: 1. Construction Projects/Grants • The ADOT Pavement Preservation Program is back on track. The Airport will get the runway crack seal and slurry seal overlay sometime this summer. • The Apron and Lighting Rehabilitation design project is well underway. The FAA is anticipated to offer the construction grant for this project later this year. 3 • The Airport is still waiting for the Runway Protection Zone land acquisition Environmental Assessment to be finalized by the FAA. The first ADOT grant reimbursement for the land could come later this year. 2. Budget/Expenses/Revenue • The City and Airport budget for 2015 is highly dependent upon the status of the sales tax that was put in place. The Airport budget line item for insurance has increased more than threefold to $132,000 per year, or 19% of the requested budget. The insurance increase is due to litigation and non- compliant status. 3. Airport business Activity/Economic Development • The City will seek a private company to lease the Materials Laboratory located on the Airport. A lease will bring more revenue. • City staff has been discussing a ground lease amendment with Valley Aviation Services. The amendment will provide details for the condominiumization of the hangars and other alternatives for the 18-acre leasehold. • West-MEC is nearing 100% completion on their last building that will house new classrooms for their expanded curriculum for high school students and adults. 4. Land Use Planning/Airspace • Mr. Fix will meet with the John F. Long property manager to discuss the recent FAA correspondence regarding the feasibility of the second runway. • FAA procedures production division has pushed the Runway 19 departure to November 2014. 5. FAA Grant Assurance Compliance • The City's legal team will confer or correspond with the FAA Compliance Division at Washington D.C. Headquarters to request a compliance closeout letter for the Airport and City. • Two north hangar tenants were found responsible by the City Court for being in violation of Airport Rules and City Code for the storage of non- aeronautical items in their hangars. Fines were waived by the City Prosecutor because the tenants removed the non-aeronautical items prior to the sentencing date. 6. Super Bowl XLIX Planning • Mr. Fix said he is participating on three Super Bowl committees, one with City staff, one with the FAA, and most recently with a regional public safety group. • An email update was sent to all Airport tenants with information about Super Bowl aircraft parking changes coming for open tie down tenants, who will be relocated to expand corporate jets that will fly in for the event. 7. Air Traffic Operations/Based Aircraft(Quarterly) • Mr. Fix said the March aircraft operations count was 5,755, down from the same month last year. • Mr. Fix gave the Commission statistics on airport operations for the six Valley general aviation reliever airports since 1989. Glendale Airport was in last place every year except 2004 and 2005. 4 8. Update on Restaurant Mr. Fix said the Request for Proposal solicitation for a new restaurant operator will be issued soon. There are two restaurant business agencies interested in promoting the proposal. VI. CALL TO THE PUBLIC No comments were made. VII. NEW BUSINESS REQUESTS (Future Agenda Items) The following items were proposed: Commissioner Rogen inquired with Mr. Fix if he was aware of the Glendale Police K-9 Unit being relocated to the Glendale Airport. Mr. Fix responded negative and said he will research and report back his findings to the Commission. VIII. NEXT MEETING TIME The next meeting will be an annual retreat that will be held at 9:30 AM on the second floor Conference Room of the Airport terminal building on Saturday, May 10, 2014. IX. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS The floor was opened for Commissioner's comments. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. by consensus. The Aviation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of April 9, 2014 were approved at the Commission Meeting of May 10, 2014. Z/ja Walter L. Fix, A.A.E. Airport Administrator 623-930-2188 5