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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_03.24.2003 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, March 24, 2003 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , March 24, 2003. Members Present: Arnold Wieder, Don Pfiester, Howard Fomby, Jeff Gilbert, John Bader, Mark Dietz, Tim Sullivan Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Travis McLain Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order. Chairman Dietz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. The order of business is for any citizen wishing to speak on an agenda item, please fill out a form. 2. Introduce New Airport Advisory Board Members. Chairman Dietz introduced the new Board members, Tim Sullivan and Arnold Wieder and welcomed them to the Board. 3. Elect a Board Vice-Chairman. Nominations by Don Pfiester: I like to nominate Howard Fomby. Motion by acclamation. 4. Elect a Board Secretary. Jeff Gilbert nominated Tim Sullivan. Second by Howard Fomby. Motion by acclamation. 5. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of March 3, 2003 an extension of the February 24, 2003, meeting. Correction on Item #8., should be Don Pfiester not Don Dison. Motion by Don Pfiester and seconded by Howard Fomby to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2003, meeting. Motion approved 7 -0. 6. Airport Manager’s Report: A. February 2003 Monthly Income and Expense Report B. Report on “after-hours: refueling Travis McLain: Started on March 4, 2003. To date we have a total of 38 sales after hours; roughly 2 sales per day. Of those sales, 21 were between 7–8:pm; 8 sales between 8-9:pm; 7 sales between 9-10:pm; 1 sale between 10-11:pm; and 1 sale that occurred at 12:38 a.m. and no early morning sales. C. General Information Items Travis McLain: Tomorrow night the Council will consider the Entitlement Grant and the recommendations you made for the airport recommendations project gave as well as the request you all made for the Subcommittee for the celebration of 100th anniversary of first powered aircraft. Howard Fomby: There’s a group of doctors, dentists, optometrists, orthodontics and other medical affiliates trying to put together a community clinic/fair c alled the Texas Mission of Mercy for underprivileged citizens or people who need healthcare. They are requiring a large building or empty space; and are looking here at the Georgetown Airport. It is set up for November 6 through November 9, 2003. There’s a possibility of having this and the celebration together, but this may not work out; we’d have to move King-Air’s out, etc. An alternative is looking at Robert Mueller. Mark Dietz: Travis, I have noted on the Council’s agenda a couple of things you did not discuss: 1) Don Dison, regarding complaint to the FAA ; Are you aware what that is? Travis McLain: Yes. Mr. Dison sent a letter to TxDOT; in regard to turning down his request and asks the City for a thirty- day reply being April 13, 2003. Don Pfiester: Do you have copies of those letters? Travis McLain: Not with me. Don Pfiester: Can you get us copies of those? Travis McLain: Yes Sir. Mark Dietz: 2) Consideration and possible action to determine how to proceed with the F.A.R. Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility program, that Tom Yantis was going to speak to. Is there anything that you know about that has not been discussed here? Travis McLain: No Sir. Howard Fomby: The City is pondering several possible actions. 1) The Coffman & Associates has told us that they would update it for $78,000.00; the City staff believes that that may be an inflated estimate, given that they just have to rerun a computer model. 2) Coffman & Associates has also agreed to redo the maps and some of the contours for $30,000.00; which again the City believes is over estimated. I think the council will be looking at those options as well as turning down the noise study. My census is that they will take it back to Coffman & Associates. Mark Dietz: Who on the board here has emails? My suggestion is that Tim is pretty good about getting minutes and agenda off the Internet for council; when there are airport related items, could you Travis, send up those items on email. I think it’s important they we stay in touch on what council is doing. Kathy Heidemann: I talked to Farley last week, in relating to the Noise Study issue and the year 2011 and the contours with the 55 and 65 DNL. This is a note that Coffman & Associates filed at the Library, in their noise study documents, a memo to David Fitz from Michelle Hannah, and it listed the items TxDOT thought Mr. Coffman should address in the noise study: They said that they thought it should be made clear that the 2011 map is not an official map and if they were going to include the contours for the 55 & 65 DNL then they should make it clear why. As far as I know, during the time I served on the Noise Study Committee, they never did respond to that memo or revised comments. The memo is dated December 19, 2001. Howard Fomby: Mr. Peshak has filed a complaint against Farley Snell. I encourage any of you to support Farley at the Council meeting. He did such a terrific job with that process. 7. Consideration and possible action regarding the Airport “Fly Friendly Program.” Don Pfiester: The reason I brought this item up: 1) It was brought up at one of the Farley meetings and I think maybe we were not doing enough in that regard. Could we do more? Travis could you explain how it came about and what has been done. Travis McLain: It started back in 1998 in response to some concerns by the neighbors, in respect to Austin Executive and Robert Mueller closures and increase in airport traffic in very short amount of time. The Airport Advisory Board established a 9-member Airport Operations and Safety Subcommittee. Members were from the FBO’s, Serenada, Berry Creek, and AAB, they looked at all aspects of airport operations and safety. Their first meeting was on October 14, 1998; they met twice 1998 and three times in 1999. In October 1999 they recommended a set of noise abatement recommendations to the Airport Advisory Board: moratorium on development, review take-offs and landings, limit touch and goes to certain hours of the day, post fly friendly signs, provide fly friendly brochures, post fly friendly to the city’s website, prohibit aircraft from departing at certain hours, continue to seek acquisition of hush houses from the City of Austin, continue to seek state and federal funding for an air traffic control tower and initiating an airport noise study. Before we presented those items to city council, we sent a letter to TxDOT advising them of what the committee came up with and their recommendations. They sent us a letter, forwarded to the FAA, and O ctober 24, 1999, the FAA sent a letter back to David Fulton, basically said that we cannot do those things: can’t limit touch and goes, can’t limit departures, can’t prohibit any type of aircraft operations, and if you think you have a noise problem you ne ed to take advantage of the noise compatibility program. So on September 12, 2000, council passed a resolution where they asked TxDOT to fund a Part 150 noise study. That’s where the PART 150 Noise Study came from and then the brochures from the fly friendly program became a voluntary program. So we dropped the touch and go restrictions and anything that would violate the grant assurances. We came up with this voluntary program pretty much based on AOPA’s fly friendly program. We have signs installed at the approach end of each runway, we have one in the terminal building and we keep brochures in the terminal building and at the FBO’s, that’s how it evolved. Don Pfiester: My thoughts are: 1) it has not been emphasized for nearly three years. We’ve been continuing to have the discussions about noise. It’s about the only program we have around here currently. We can emphasize to the flying community about trying to do something about the noise on a voluntary basis. My thought is we bring it up again. Travis, were these ever mailed out to pilots around here? Travis McLain: We have not mailed those out, we provide them at the Terminal building and the FBO’s. Don Pfiester: What I’m thinking is that everyone who rents hangar space or leases ground and so me of the FBO’s, that we ought to distribute and promote these again. The signs at the runways are too small and hard to read. Maybe we ought to replace them with larger signs. I heard that “The Fly Friendly Program ” is no longer on the city’s new website. Is that true? Travis McLain: It was the last time I looked. Don Pfiester: Maybe we can get the AOPA to mention it in their directory. Also, the guys at the Terminal, while on the Unicom Broadcast or AWOS Broadcast, for traffic information, mention “Fly Friendly” or please participate in our “Fly Friendly Program ” when they land. Something to try to emphasize it more and remind people that have been here awhile that the program is something we ’d like to promote to cut down on the noise and provide safety. Any thoughts? Arnold Wieder: I would suggest that if we are going to pick noise sensitive areas, and information about schools and boundary markers, that perhaps we use something that stands out other than the yellow lines. The map is not clear or detailed. I would suggest we use coloration to make the distinctive features stand out a little better. The other suggestion, I had is the procedures are not technical enough; we are addressing pilots. Show recommended traffic patterns, specify missed approach or go-around procedures. Tim Sullivan: Let’s take it a step further, if this was updated, mail this and the Airport Watch Program to everyone around the airport to explain purpose and benefit to help them as well as the airport. I would venture to say that many people in this two-mile radius have no idea that there is a “Fly Friendly Program ” at all and probably don’t know anything about our attempts to do an airport watch program. I think the city would be doing a great service to those people ar ound the airport, whether in the city or not, by mailing them and telling them what we are trying to do. Mark Dietz: I hear two things: 1) We need to redesign the flyer; and if we redesign are there additional thoughts? 2) Who are going to receive this information; the airport folks and/or the folks that surround the airport? We need to form a Subcommittee: to report next month A. what can be done B. costs to reproduce, and to mail. Who’s willing to be on the committee? Howard Fomby: There’s positive action for compliance and communicating to the surrounding community that we do care. Tim Sullivan: Kathy, do you think people around would appreciate knowing more about what ’s trying to be done? Kathy Heidemann: I live in district 6. You would have to reach people in district 5 as well. I’m not sure it would be worth that amount of money, but maybe you could pay some little kids to pass them out. Don Dison: With the City’s new billing system, I’m receiving my land lease, hangar, as well as my home utility bill all on one. Maybe we could put it on the billing. Travis McLain: Those are being processed out of Dallas. I checked it out and it is not possible to add anything to the envelope. Howard Fomby: Motion to form a subcommittee. Second from Arnold Wieder. Committee: Don Pfiester, Chairman; Arnold Wieder, Tim Sullivan. Motion approved 7-0. Report back next month. 8. Discuss the Airport Master Plan Update. Kathy Heidemann: I brought full sized drawings of the ALP. The thing that concerns me is sheet #4, which lists the ultimate runway protection zones that are associated with the MALSR lighting. This map shows that there’s five houses with that new requirement that was instituted in 2000 that changed that drawing and added the runway protection zones at an expanded level that made it reach into this area, along Toledo Trail where the five houses are now in the runway protection zones; that would be associated with that lighting system when it’s added. I don’t know who made the requirement that it be added, it’s not in the Master Plan, it’s only on the layout plan. There is a note that Penny got, when she requested public records from TxDOT, it’s a note that explains that the reason for this happening was because of the MALSR installation. This is a note from Bill Griffin, who was the ESPY Houston engineer who was working on the Airport Layout Plan at the time to Michelle Hannah, dated 3/07/00 and it was addressing the reason for expanding the runway protection zones. I think that’s why that line expanded. I’d be interested if this has to stay in there or if these acquisition areas are going to stay acquisition areas; on this drawing it states that they were going to do a aeronautical study for FAA to make a recommendation as to what would happen to those houses or to prevent there being any problems. I would just like to learn more about it, if this will stay or go away with the update of the Master Plan. Mark Dietz: The Master Plan is my agenda item. I asked that this be put on the agenda so that we could have some discussion about council’s upcoming discussion of the Airport Master Plan, later in the year. My understanding is that staff will be making recommendation to council in April. Travis when is that? Travis McLain: On May 13th. Mark Dietz: My goal was to pick up any of your comments so that when staff (Travis and Tom) meet on May 13th, they would have your input and consideration toward their proposals. Tim Sullivan: My question is; does anyone know what part we ’re suppose to play in updating the Master Plan. Mark Dietz: That’s part of my concern also. When the preparation of the Master Plan occurred back in 1998, members of the Airport Advisory Board participated in that. I’m assuming that would occur again, generally the consultant(s) acts as a facilitator in order to gather the information from the community and for the benefit of council. Don Pfiester: I definitely think that it is something we should try to get involved in. In preparation of that, maybe we need to figure out more about what the map shows, what is available, how do you facilitate what the Master Plan may come up with and or questions that should be asked. Mark Dietz: Travis, can you tell us where staff is in getting prepared for the Master Plan. Travis McLain: We have a meeting with Tom Yantis; Trish Carls, City Attorney, and David Fulton, Thursday afternoon, to find out exactly what TxDOT ’s position is with the Master Plan update, and then Tom will take that back to council. The general procedure is, once you decide to do a Master Plan, advertise, the City will request proposals from all the consultants, and the consultant selection committee will review all the proposals, do interviews and rank each consultant. Normally, money usually comes from TxDOT; and TxDOT will negotiate a contract with the consultant that the committee ranks number one. Then they form a Master Plan committee that will exist of 10 -12 people (FBO’s, neighbors, businessmen, board member, council member, etc.), and the consultant acts as the facilitator and provides the technical data. The committee actually puts the Master Plan together with the guidance of the consultant and technical expertise and the required federal and state laws/regulations. Then public hearings with the council and their approval or not, then the Master Plan goes to the AOPA then to the FAA for review and compliance. There is a great deal of public participation. Don Pfiester: It is my understanding that they are trying to find a consultant with the requirements, who is familiar with the rules and regulations and well as the law, to try to act on the city ’s best interest for the Master Plan. Travis McLain: That may be, I do not know. Kathy Heidemann: Farley’s idea was that he wanted someone who knows the legalities and things associated with the Master Plan of the Airport, but not just Airports; because of the ideas of better funding and alternative uses that don’t have high impact for noise activities. He does not want someone who’s just airport focussed. I don’t know if they can find someone who is dual. Don Pfiester: This person is different than the consultant who would actually prepares the Airport Master Plan. Howard Fomby: I think Farley wants someone who can look at the land, collect from a variety of people of the public - ideas, uses, and make the first cut about what is important. If we have any ideas, we should send them to Tom Yantis. Mark Dietz: Anything else? My purpose is to initiate the dis cussion and to open to Travis, some of the things we were thinking about, knowing that when we come back here next month, that we will expect that staff would have gotten some direction. 9. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board. Don Dison: My name is Don Dison. I live at 607 Esparada, in Georgetown. I own an aviation maintenance building at the airport. If any of you have looked and the City Council agenda for tomorrow, there is something in the executive session that talks about: Don Dison regarding complaint to the FAA. I am absolutely astounded at 1) the number of phone calls I received, literally into the hundreds. 2) the amount of mis-information that is going around. Let me preface any other comments with this statement: That I have the absolute kindest regard for each one of the Airport Advisory Board members and I have the absolutely highest regard for our mayor, city manager, and each one of the city councilmen. I have absolutely no personal beef or confrontation with any individual. I mean that in the most sincere way. I think that it is not unusual for people in competing businesses can be friends. I think that people that have opposing ideas can still maintain personal relationships. That would be my goal. Some of you may know, and so me of you may not know, that I submitted a letter to David Fulton expressing my concern that the City of Georgetown may be in violation of both conditions of use and grant assurances with regard to the Georgetown Airport. I have had numerous telephone conversations and face to face conversations with David Fulton, and this was an official vehicle to put my concerns on record. That letter was copied to and also forwarded to Mike Nicely, of the FAA in Fort Worth. Mike Nicely took it upon himself to write t he City Manager along with a copy of my letter stating he was very concerned that the city might not be in compliance. He asked that the city manager respond to the city’s official position and specifically what he calls my complaint. I do not have any u lterior motive, other than to see that each one of us acts as good corporate citizens, good citizens of our community and good citizens acting and interacting with each other. I go on record tonight, as I will tomorrow night, I have no intentions of pursuing this matter any further than where it is right now. I ’ve expressed a concern. The city is going to be given an opportunity to respond to that concern, and as far as I ’m personally concerned, that’s the end of it. I have no intentions of carrying thi s any further than where it is right now. I would be willing to answer any questions that any of the board members might have. Mark Dietz: Any questions. None. 10. Consideration and Possible Action on Agenda Items for the April 28, 2003, meeting. Agenda Items for April: 1. Airport Master Plan 2. Fly Friendly Program 3. Appoint “Open House” Subcommittee members 4. Report back on the Aviation Museum 5. Report back on the ”Texas Mission of Mercy” (Howard Fomby) 6. Airport Advisory Board Mission Statement 11. Adjourn. Howard Fomby: I move we adjourn. Mark Dietz: Second. Motion approved 7-0. Submitted by: Travis McLain Airport Director Reviewed by: Tim Sullivan Board Secretary