HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-02 Council Minutesa
AGENDA
KENAI CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR N9tNTING
FEBRUARY 21 1994
7800 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CERS
he CALL TO ORDER
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call
3. Agenda Approval
4. Consent Agenda * are considered
*All items listed with an asterisk ( )
to be routine and non -controversial by the Council. and
will be approved by one motion. There will be no
separate discussion of these itemsu l ssiteCouncil
Member so requests, in which case
t
will be
removed from the Consent Agenda and- considered in its
normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General
Orders.
8. SCHEDULED
PUBLIC COMMENT (10 Minutes)
C. PUBLIC
REAR_MGB
1.
Resolution No. 94-4 - Adopting the National. Association
Ad p g
of Counties Deferred Compensation Program.
2.
Resolution No. 94-5 - Transferring $3., 581 in the
General Fund for Compensation to the Acting City
Manager.
3.
1994 Liquor Liesense RAneNal - Katmai Hotel Restaurant &
Lounge - Beverage Dispensary/Tourism - Two Years.
4.
*1994 Liquor Lieyenee Renewal - Little Ski Mo Drive In -
Recreational/Eating Place - Two Years.
5.
*1994 dames of Chance and Contests of skill Vomit
Application - Kenai Emblem Club 04.550
6.
*1994 Games of Chance and Contests of 839i11 Vomit
Application - Pickle Hill Public Broadcasting.
7.
*1994 Games of Cbanae and Contestsof skill Vomit
Application - Fraternal Order of Eagles, Kenai #3525
Auxiliary.
-1-
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8. *1994 Games of Cbance and Contests of skill Permit
Application - Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home
Association.
9. *1994 OW68 of Chance and Contests Of skill Permit
Application - Funny River Chamber of Commerce.
10. *1994 Bull -Tab vendog Endorement Application - Funny
River Chamber of Commerce.
1. Council on Aging
2. Airport Commission
3. Harbor Commission
4. Library Commission
S. Parks & Recreation Commission
6. Planning & Zoning Commission
7. Miscellaneous Commissions and Committees
1. *Regular Meeting of January 198, 1994.
1. Bills to be Paid, Bills to be Ratified
2. Purchase Orders Exceeding $1,000 ....
3. Approval —Security Assignment and Consent - Lot 2,
Block 1, Gusty Subdivision - Thomas H. and Dorothy C.
Wagoner to First National Bank of Anchorage.'
4. Approval - Lease Application - Lot 1, Block 30'Gusty
Subdivision #4 - James H. Doyle.
5. Approval - Requesting Kenai Peninsula Borough to Change
Platting Review Procedure.
6. Discussion - Letter Opposing HB 366.and SS 241.
-2-
T. A MIHjAT
TIQN R19P,ORTB
1.
Mayor
2.
City.Manager
3.
.Attorney
4.
City Clerk
5.
Finance Director
6.
Public'Works Director
7.
Airport Manager
. j e DIH!lU88IOl�i
1..
Citizens (five minutes)
2.
Council.
1�. AD�TOIIR�IM
•
KENAI CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY Z, 1994
7800 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CM M8ERS
MAYOR JONN J. WILLIAMS, VRESIDZNG
Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at approximately 7:03
p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Kenai City Hall Building,
Mayor Williams led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
A-20
Roll was taken by the City Clerk. Present were: Williams,
Bookey, Swarner, Monfor, Measles, Bannock and Smalley.
A-5*
Mayor Williams requested the following changes to the agenda:
ADD: 8-60 Additional Information - 2/1/94 Fred Braun letter
regarding sport and commercial fish allocation debates,
H-•6, Additional Information - 2/1/94 D. J. Bower,. Jr«
letter regarding allocation of Kenai River.soekeye
salmon.
I-6, Pnblio Works Director Report - 2/1/94 KK
memorandum regarding Kenai Spur Highway - Swires to
Tinker.
Correatod cover letter to Information stem li -
(reference of original cover letter incorrect)
Information Item No. 10-.1/27/94 AML/JIA invitation to
participate in Public Risk Management Association .
(PRIMA) pooling seminar, March 15-18-94 in southern.
California.
Information Iten No. 19 - 1/25/94 K. Scott &
Associates, Inc. AML Host Committee COordinatorls
Report'.
Information stem No. 20 - Senator Suzanne Little Public
Service Announcement.
•
KENA►I CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 2
MOTION:
Councilman Smalley MOVED for approval, of the amended agenda and
requested VXXXX LOUS CONBENT. There were no .object ions . 80
ORDI�RED.
Mayor Williams requested the following change to the Consent
Agenda:
ADD: C-40 1994 Liquor License Renewal/Little Oki NO -
1/28/94 KPS letter of non -.objection to liquor license
renewal.
MOTION:
Councilman Bannock KOVED for approval of the amended consent
agenda. Councilman Smalley BECONDND'the motion. There were no
• ob jections. SO ORUEitED.
C-i. Resolution No. 94-4 - Adopting the National Association
of Counties Deferred Compensation Program.
MOTION:
Councilwoman Swaarner KOVED for adoption.of Resolution No. 94-4
and requested VMXXOV8 CONOMT.: Councilman Smalley OBCONDED the
motion. There were no objections., 00 ORDMID.
C-2. ROSOlUtioa. No. 94-5 -.. Transferring $1, 581 in the
General Fund for Compensation to the Acting City
Manager.
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• ICENAI CITY COUNCIL MBETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 3
MOTION:
Councilman Smalley MOVED for approval of Resolution No. 94-5 and
requested UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Councilman Bookey SECONDED the
motion. Williams objected to unanimous consent.
Williams questioned if there is a ten-day time period when the
Acting City Manager takes over or is anytime the city manager is
out of the office. Administrative Assistant Kim Howard stated
council did not set any time specifications. City Manager
Manninen has said if he is gone out of the office for a day, she
would be paid the extra money. Williams suggested Administration
review the matter. Manninen stated he thought something says ten
days, however, when he arrived there was a resolution that stated
whenever he is out of the office. No amount of days was stated
in the resolution. Manninen added it may be different from when
a department head is out of the office.
MOTION $
Councilman Smalley MOVED to table the resolution and councilwoman
Swarner SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO
ORDERED.
Williams stated to table the resolution until more information is
gathered.
C-3. 1994 Liquor Liaonse RoneNal -- Katmai Hotel Restaurant &
Lounge - Beverage Dispensary/Tourism - Two Years.
Clerk Freas stated the Katmai became current with city lease
payments and bed tax. Freas added she contacted the Borough that
afternoon and was told personal property and real estate tax was
still owed. Freas referred to her memorandum included in the
packet and suggested a motion to allow her to send a letter of
objection if the account is not brought current by February 10 or
a letter of non -objection if the account is brought current by
February 10.
MOTION:
Councilwoman Swarner MOVED to send a letter of non -objection if
the account is paid and a letter of objection if it is not paid.
Councilman Smalley SECONDED the motion. There were no
objections. 80 ORDERED.
El
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KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 4
C-4. 1994 Liquor License Renewal - Little Ski No Drive In -
Recreational/Eating Place - Two Years.
Approved by consent agenda.
CO-S. 1994 dames of Chance and Contests of skill Pit
Application - Kenai Emblem Club 0455.
Approved by consent agenda.
C-6. 1994 dames of Chance and Contests of Okfi1 Permit
Application - Pickle Hill Public Broadcasting.
Approved by consent agenda.
C-7. 1994 dames of Chance and Contests of Skill Pit
Application - Fraternal Order of Eagles, Kenai #3525
Auxiliary.
Approved by consent agenda.
C-8. 1994 dames of Chance and Contests of Skill Vomit'
Application - Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home
Association.
Approved by consent agenda.
C-9. 1994 Games of Chance and Contests of Skill Vomit,
Application - Funny River Chamber of Commerce.
Approved by consent agenda.
C-10. 1994 Bull -Tab Vendor Endorsement Application — Funny
River Chamber of Commerce.
Approved by consent agenda.
Council on Aging
Councilwoman Swarner stated a meeting will be held neat week.
• KENAI CITY
FESRUARX 2,
PAGE 5
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
D-2. Airport Commission
Councilman Measles reported the minutes of the last meeting were
included in the packet. The next meeting is scheduled for
February 10, 1994.
D-3. Harbor Commission
Councilman Bookey reported the next meeting is scheduled for
February 7, 1994.
D-4., Library Commission
Councilwoman Monfor reported the last meeting was canceled due to
lack of agenda items. Monfor reminded everyone of the March 6
birthday party for the library. Librarian DeForest added the
library will be 45 years old.
D-5. Parks 4 Recreation Commission
Director McGillivray reported the next meeting is scheduled for.
February S. 1994.
D-6. Planning i zoning Commission
Councilman Smalley reported the minutes of the last meeting were
included in the packet. Smalley added Kevin Walker was elected
chairperson of the Commission and Carl Glick vice chair. Smalley
added the only long discussion during the meeting was regarding a
Conditional Use Permit for Payless Car Rental,
D-7. Miscellaneous Commissions and committees
Councilwoman Swarner reported a Beautification Committee is
scheduled for Tue3day, February S. at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Swarner added she would not be able to attend and requested
another councilmember be present.
�4-441'-Wn
E-3. Regular Meeting of January 19, 1994.
Approved by consent agenda.
• KENAI CITY COUNCIL METING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 6
None.
None.
B-10 Bills to be Paid, Bills to be Ratified
MOTION$
Councilman Smalley KOVSD to pay the bills and Councilman Measles
BBCONDIND the motion. There were no objections. BO ORDM=o
R-2* Purchase Orders Esaeeding $1.000
None.
R-3. Approval -.security Assignment and Consent.- Lot 2,
Block 1, Gusty Subdivision - Thomas H. and Dorothy C.
Wagoner to First National Sank of Anchorage.
Administrative Assistant Howard stated the lease payments .and
taxes were current. Attorney Graveshad no objection to the
assignment.
MOTION$
Councilman Smalley KOVSD for approval of the security assignment
and consent of` Lot 2, Block 1, Gusty Subdivision from Thomas H.
and Dorothy C. Wagoner to first National Bank of Anchorage.
Councilman Measles OX009020 the notion. There were no
objections. eO ORDSRND.
R-4.' Approval Lease. Application Lot 1, Block 3, Gusty
Subdivision #a -James H. Doyle
Administrative�Assistant Howard stated Administration had no
comments. Attorney Graves - stated . he had no comments.
IF
• KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUT88
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 7
MOTION:
Councilman Smalley MOVED for approval of Item H-4 (lease
application for Lot 1, Block 3, Gusty Subdivision #4 to James H.
Doyle) and Councilman Bannock SECONDED the motion. There were no
objections. 80 ORDERED.
H-5. Approval - Requesting Kenai Peninsula Borough to Change..
Platting Review Procedure.
..
MOTION:
Councilman Smalley MOVED for approval of Item H-5 (requesting
Kenai Peninsula Borough to change platting review procedure) and
Councilwoman Swarner SECONDED the motion. Swarner requested
UNANIMOUS CONSENT. There were no objections. 00 ORDERED.
H-6. Disoussion - Letter Opposing HB 366 and SB 241.
to Williams stated he requested Clerk Freas draft the letter as he
had received requests from constituents to have such a letter
sent. Williams reported while he was in Juneau, all five of the
Kenai Peninsula legislators went on record opposing both the.
bills.
Williams added his position is the Alaska Legislature set in
motion a board to make the decisions. If these bills take
effect, the Kenai Peninsula is singled out and treated
differently than anywhere else in Alaska. Williams added the
commercial fishing industry is a major supporter to the
community. Williams stated he would go on record saying the.
Legislature should not involve themselves in biological policy
making.
Bannock stated he has not seen a copy of the bills. Bannock
added he was concerned to take a position without seeing the
bills, however he has received a lot of background information
and reviewed it. Bannock asked if there is any recourse for
adjusting an allocation or decision by a fish board other than
giving the responsibility to the Legislature to oversee.
Williams stated he could not answer that, however the Board's
power is all -encompassing. Some cases have gone to court.
Monfor stated the Board of Fish was petitioned to open up for
0 Cook Inlet. The Board found not to have a meeting because there►
• KBNAI CITY COUNCIL MSE'PING MINUTEB
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE S
•
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was no biological data saying to open it up. Williams stated if
the Legislature gets involved they will by-pass biological
information.
Bannock stated he was concerned if this was the right action to
take or not. Bannock added he did not like that portion of the
letter referring to the letters from Kenaitze Indian Tribe, the
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Inc. Bannock added those
entities have direct financial interests.
Bookey stated he feels more comfortable with that portion
removed. Bookey added if that portion was stricken from the
letter, he would vote for approval of the letter. Swarner stated
she agreed the Legislature should not allocate fish anywhere.
Swarner added she had a problem pitting two groups in the
community against each other. Williams stated the City has done
that before, i.e. Old Town.
NOTIONS
Councilman Bannock MOVED to
referring to the Cook Inlet
Tribe. Councilman Measles
objections. SO ORDERED.
MOTIONt
strike that portion
Aquaculture and the
SECONDED the motion*
of the letter
Kenaitze Indian
There were no
Councilman Smalley MOVED to send the letter with the deletions
and Councilman Measles SECONDED the motion. There were no
objections. SO ORDERED.
Williams suggested the letter be sent to the city's State
delegation and copies to the Cook Inlet Aquaculture and the
Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
I-1. Mayor
a. Creno Plan - Williams reported while in Juneau he
attended an Alaska Conference of Mayors hearing on the Cremo
Plan. There were also three additional public hearings by the
House and Senate. The Plan is getting a full airing.
• KENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE 9
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
b. Kenai Spur Highway - Williams reported he attended an
interesting meeting with Commissioner Campbell regarding the
Kenai Spur Highway expansion project. Kornelis will report more
later,
c. goals G Objectives Workshop - Williams stated he met
with Manninen and Freas to plan the workshop scheduled for
Saturday.
1-2. city Manager
a. Kenai Spur Highway - Manninen stated he attended the
meeting with Commissioner Campbell also. They had a serious
discussion regarding placement of street lights along the
highway. Campbell requested the City maintain the lights. Mayor
Williams said no.
Manninen added Williams stated they did not like the number of
lights the State wants the City to maintain. However, the topic
was left open for discussion providing Kenai was not the only
city in the state to pay for street lighting.
b. goals i objectives Workshop - Manninen reported he and
Williams met with Charles Alvarez and discussed the possibility.
of him being the facilitator of the workshop set for Saturday.
'Manninen added Alvarez has done similar workshops for the
Economic Development District, etc. Manninen suggested a neutral
third party may make the workshop more successful. Manninen
requested Council's approval to have Alvarez facilitate the
workshop. There were no objections.
Manninen asked if Council wanted department heads to attend the
workshop. Williams stated he thought Council would be very busy
just getting through the goals and objectives. Williams
suggested department heads could be involved in a second workshop
later on in which more specific information would be reviewed
regarding different goals.
Monfor asked Williams his feelings of having a third -party
facilitator. Williams stated he thought it an excellent idea.
Swarner stated she agreed with Williams regarding department
heads attending a later workshop.
Council approved a third -party facilitator and decided department
heads did not have to attend the workshop. However the
welcome to attend if they wanted. p y were
• RENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FSBRUARY 2v 1994
PAGE 10
•
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Williams stated the department heads do a tremendous amount of
work. Williams added he believed no major corporation gets more
work out of their supervisors than the City gets from their .
department heads. Williams stated they do a very efficient job.
Swarner added in regard to the meeting with Commissioner
Campbell, Campbell spoke of the City being responsible for some
of the utility bills for some of the street lights. Power to
lights placed outside of the cities will still be paid for by the
State.
c. AML Conference - Manninen reported he received a letter
from John Torgerson, Chair of the AML Host Committee requesting
an additional payment from the City of Kenai for costs of the
conference. Manninen read the letter. Williams stated Council,
when working on the budget, decided they would pay $4,000
initially as their share of the conference costs. If additional
costs were incurred, Council would discuss paying more at that
time.
Williams added the AML Host Committee is short $1,087.99 and
requests the City of Kenai to pay this amount as their share.
MOTION$
Councilman Measles MOVED to pay the $1,087.99 as he believed the
Council made a commitment to do it. Councilwoman Swarner
SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. BO ORDERED..
d. Historic Hoard - Williams stated he will submit a list
of names for placement on the Historic District Board for the.
February 16, 1994 meeting. Williams added he will not be in
attendance at that meeting. However, he would like to have
Council review the names in his absence and give an indication to
Williams at the March 2 meeting if they approve those names.
I-3. Attorney
No report.
I-4. City Clerk
No report.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY.21 1994
PAGE 11
=-a. Financf Director
No report.
I-6. Public works Director
a. Kenai spur Righway Impassion Project - Kornelis
referred to his memorandum to Manninen distributed at the
beginning of the meeting. The memorandum discussed the street
light placement included'in the expansion project. Kornelis
pointed out the sites for the lights on a map placed on the wall.
Kornelis stated the State wants the City to pay for maintenance,
operation and utilities for lights they think are non -safety
transition lights between Swires and Tinker (12 lights).
Monfor stated her anger and stated she could not believe the
State would take the most populated city on the Peninsula with
the heaviest amount of traffic and not put in the lights,
Williams suggested to Commissioner Campbell the State turn off
every other light in Sterling in.order to afford to pay for those
lights for Which the State wants the City Kenai to pay. Williams
added he told Campbell the City of Kenai would do whatever any
other community does in regard to the lights* Williams stated it
was his opinion the Kenai Peninsula Borough does not have powers
for paying for operations and maintenance on street lights unless
it is a service area. Therefore is it proper that those
residents in the Kenai Peninsula Borough should escape pa ing.for
lights when the City of Kenai residents have to pay for lights.
Williams added he does not see the Municipality of Anchorage
paying for lights at the Girdwood intersection. Williams added
it was his understanding the discussion would be left open and
that comments from the City and State engineers would determine
which lights were necessary.
Monfor asked if the lights are paid for with federal monies.
Williams stated the installation of the lights is part of 9010.
Kornelis stated he asked about the Sterling lights and others in
the state. The State said this is a new idea and they are
starting with this project. Kornelis added when the Sterling job
is mentioned, the State says they over -designed it.
E
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KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 12
Kornelis pointed out which lights for which the city would have
to pay (six from Soldotna to Swires and Tinker). Kornelis added
the State has said this is not a negotiated item. They do not
consider any of those lights as safety lights.
The increased traffic into the area was discussed. Williams
stated his opinion those lights are safety lights and very much
needed. Swarner suggested Representative Navarre be contacted'
and told this information brought forward tonight and have
Navarre write a letter.
Williams suggested that if a letter is to be written, it lists
times of concerns, i.e. equality (City vs. State), number of
lights per mile, and turning out every other light in Sterling
and other areas, amount of traffic at streets going to schools,
etc.
MOTIONS
Councilwoman Swarner MOVED for City Manager Manninen to write a
letter and Councilman Smalley SECONDED the motion. Councilman.
Smalley requested VNMIXOVS CONSENT, There were no objections..
80 ORDERED.
I-7, Airport Manager
No report.,
Executive Session - Williams asked Council if they wished to
forego the evaluation of the city manager. Monfor stated she did
not feel comfortable doing an evaluation at this time. Goals and
objectives have not been set and the city manager has only been
on the job for six months. Monfor added she did not think she
would have much input on the basis of a written evaluation.
Swarner stated she felt strongly an evaluation needed to be done
in private whether a written evaluation form is used or not.
Swarner added she thought they owed it to him and the council to
do the evaluation. Swarner suggested the evaluation be done
after the citizens comments. There were no objections.
i
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KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 13
J-10
(Verbatim)
a.
citizens
Dan Pitts -
PITTS: Yes, my name is Dan Pitts. I'm president of Kenai
Airport Fuel Service. I was here at the last member, excuse me,
the last council meeting. I brought up some issues that ah, that
had ah, definite concern for myself and our, the viability of our
fuel business. I know that several of the council members were
not ah, were no present at that, that meeting as was not the city
manager. And, since then I have met with the city manager over
our concerns of our business. Our business is basically fueling
aircraft and ah, and ah, my personal business is to lease space
at the airport for freight business.
Ah, the issue that I brought up, was ah, was of particular
concern to us because our, our main customer, who I lease space
to, whose been operating off this airport since 1982, and who
hauls probably over one million pounds of cargo that's purchased
in the local area to the ah, communities of Illiamna, Port
Alwsworth, Nondalton, Spervon, and also over a million gallons of
fuel came to me and ah, and told me that because of the ah, the
unfriendly airport environment having to deal with the airport
management they were leaving the airport and they were moving to
Soldotna.
WILLIAMS: Excuse me just a moment. You run through that again
now. He has said to you that he is definitely leaving?
PITTS: Ah, I sent a copy of Cliff Everts letter to ah, to all
the councilmembers and I hope they had a chance to read it. Ah,
he has ah, he's brought up some concerns and he, you know,
nothing is definite until it happens, but he has told me that ah,
he is, he is concerned with how he's treated on this airport.
How his ah aircraft, ah, is being interfered with, with loading
of their aircraft and ah, ah, he said he doesn't need it. He can
get, he can do the job in Soldotna and ah, and they are a little
more receptive to his operation than ah, than we are in Kenai.
Ah, this concerns me because ah, my company just ah has spent oh,
over $500,000 in the last three years upgrading our fuel system
out there and we're just about to go on line with it and ah, asI
• KENAI CITY
F88RUARY 2,
PAGE 14
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
said, Mr. Everts is 751% of our business and ah, we're looking at
ah, at ah, total financial disruption of our, of our project out
there. Ah, there's no way that we can pay ah, pay the load, the
debt service on what we've done out there if, if he leaves.
Ah, ah, I appreciate Tom Manninen for, for meeting with us. He
has had an open-door policy. He does return calls ah, I realize
that ah, but I don't think his, his assessment of our situation
is entirely correct. Ah, I don't know if you've had a chance to
read his letter to us concerning ah, his answer to us, is January
26, 1994 ah, where ah, currently what is at issue is a road that
six months out of the year is ah, is covered in snow. At night
you can't see it if you're taxiing a large aircraft ah, and ah,
what it is, is something this council voted on in June.
Ah, the Airport Commission studied this road. It's a vehicular
access road. it cuts right through our special use area that we
lease that we insure ah, to load and unload aircraft, to fuel
aircraft, and ah, it's, it's a road that ah, that twice the
.Airport Commission voted to ah, abolish.. Ah, the City Council
ah,,,. last June, in a after an emotional plea by the, by the Acting
City Manager, voted with, with really, without any input from,
from any of those involved, voted to -keep the road and wait till
the new city manager came, came to town.
Well, ah, like I say, we, currently we lease a special use area
that's right in front of our area. We insure this area and ah,
it's an area that is, is primarily for loading and unloading
aircraft. That's, that's what the FAA purpose for this area is
and ah, we are continually being interfered with by the Airport
Manager, loading and unloading aircraft. Ah, my main concern is,
is ah, last week Mr. Ernst drove his aircraft in between, or
excuse me, his ah, pink -up truck in between a loading aircraft,
loaded with ah, that had ah, equipment loaded on a forklift.that
was loading into this ah, aircraft. Ah, and got out and shook
his fish,.fist at the captain because his wing tip was four feet
over the line.
Ah, the captain tried. to tell him, "Hey, I can't see when I'm 20.
feet in the air in this aircraft. I can't see where you're line
is. it's covered in snow and you know, I'll wove it." And so he
did.. But ah, this goes on continuously. And this is the, this
is the reason that, that Everts Air Fuel has told us, "Hey, we're
out of here." It's an unfriendly environment. And I know this
is something that the City Council has heard over and over and
over again from ah, the businesses that are on the airport, from
U
• RENAI CITY COONCIL MEETING MINUT88
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 15
the, the people that work on the airport, and ah, my concern was,
ah, ah, if we lose Cliff Everts we're done. We're done. Our
fuel, our, our investment out there is for nothing. And ah,.all
these issues are issues that make absolutely no sense.
Ah, Mr. Ernst, takes preference over vehicles rather than
aircraft and ah, what is an airport loading area for? Is it for.
aircraft or is it for vehicles? And ah, in fact, ah, I would, I
would pay for a study to see how many vehicles use that road and
ah, you know, there are days and days and days that you don't
even see a car on this road. And, ah, if we're loading aircraft,
they can go around us. There's plenty of room. I mean this
issue has come up again and again and again. Ah, and you know,
personally, I'm tired of it. I mean ah, I've leased the space.
I insure the space and all we want to do is business out there.
We want to do business without being interfered with.
Ah, if we were doing something unsafe, ah, it's not in our best
interest to do something unsafe because it's our butts that are
on the line out there. And ah, ah, what I would appreciate, I
would ah, I would ah, ask this council to do is please, how
about, tasking your, your Airport Commission to study what these
problems are. Look again at what these issues are. Ah, don't
turn your back on us out there because, you know, this is, this
is something ah, that ah, that is ah, is not going to go away. I
mean, ah, time and time again, I've, I've got customers that
won't come to this airport anymore because of the fact that
they're treated unfriendly here. And I know it's something that
you people have heard over again and I know you're tired of .
hearing it. But, ah, this will not go away until, till the.City
Council looks into it. Until they take action. And I ask you
tonight to take action. To task your, your Airport Commission to
ah, to investigate what we've got to say out there. And write a
report to you. And ah, see if we can get this straightened out..
The ah, last thing I have to say is an old saying that says,
"never saw off the branch that supports you." And ah, that
airport has been a, a, a, a real profitable ah site for this
city. It's done a lot for this city and I, I just, on my years
of leasing space out there and developing property out on this
airport, I continue to see businesses leaving this airport and.
ah, ah, when cities like Soldotna have got their airport going
and, and cities like Nikiski that are building their airport out.
there, ah, it's time for us to take, take a look at what's.going
on and to pay attention and to ah, and to ah, look into these
issues and, and help these businesses on the airport.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 16
Anybody have any questions?
WILLIAMS: Questions for....thank you. Someone else? Well, the
Council's had this issue before it in the past. You also
indicated, as I recall, a conversation too that
we would wait until the new city manager came on board and give
that to him as one of his first hot potatoes to try to cope with.
Council may recall some months ago that ah, I had offered a.
suggestion that ah, perhaps we bring a third party into this
discussion by way of the FAA and ask if perhaps they could
furnish us with a facilities engineer to come down and look at
that part of the airport, the overall plan, to determine whether
or not there may be something different that can be arrAnged to
accommodate or whether there needs to be anything different or
arranged to accommodate.
Our Airport Master Plan was completed seven years ago., it might
very well be good for us.to have the FAA examine that plan to
determine whether or not what was anticipated to occur did occur
in that seven years or whether or not there is.room for change at
this point or whether there should be' change. I Relieve, because
of ah, because of all -of these things that are occurring.there
that perhaps it's time that we do take a very, very good.look at
the entire physical layout.
Ah, now, and in defense to Council with regard to some of -the
things that Mr. Pitts said, I didn't read Mr. Everts' letter
quite the same as Mr. Fitts explained it. Ah, Y see where -Mr. --
Everts or Everts Airfield has some, some'difficulties in their
business coping with growth, ah-, with enlarging their services,
due to the limited space. They also have a�problem with what to
do with their aircraft if they.leave Kenai. They can take.one
successfully to Soldotna, but the other one can't go to Sol.dotna.
Ah, there are several things, several elements here that have to
be looked at.
I believe that there's a lot of room here .where some work.can be
done. Some ah, reviews can be taken. Some thoughts can be
incorporated that we might be able to take care of this.problem.
I believe that there was an error on the part of both Mr. Pitts
and the Council. First of all in allowing ah, in Mr. Pitts'
determination, to put your fueling system where you put it. 1
believe that's an error that can be looked upon now and maybe
thought of differently.. I believe the -Council erred in allowing
Mr. Pitts to lease that special service area in front if we.were
u� y
KENAI CXTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 17
insistent that that road was going to go through it at the time.
That road goes right through an area that we did lease to himo I
hadn't thought about the issue of insurance and the liability of
that if Mr. Pitts in deed, as he says, has to insure that entire
area and we have,a road transitioning that area, ah, if that in
fact, relieves some liability to the city or not.
So I just think that there's a tremendous area that has to be
examined here and I'm hoping that ah, somewhere along the line we
the Council, the Administration, the airport management, Mr.
Pitts can get together an solve this problem. There's a whole
area of examination here that should be reviewed.
Councilman Bookey.
BOOKEY: Thank you Mr. Mayor. I have been wrestling with this
since our last council meeting because the day after our last
council mee}ing I went over to the airport myself and visually
40 inspected this thing. And I'm not sticking up for either side,of
'this issue, tonight's, but there's pros and cons, goods and bads
on both sides and I believe that Mr. Pitts' operation is viable
and it's a needed situation and I'd be the last'to drive anybody
out of here. But, when you take a business that doesn't foresee
its own growth rate and it tries to do something and
expand ... We've been good enough to give him a Conditional Use
Permit in order to do that.
I don't ever see this problem ever going away because of the fact
that on their lots, they'll never be able to get these larger
aircraft into this lot. This is going to be ongoing forever.
You know, I have a problem with that because I also look at the
other aspect of this road, following the day after our last
council meeting. I went to the airport and sat there for an hour
and one-half. I visually watched three vehicles come through
that road. I think you guys can sit there and help yourselves
with your own customer relationship by sitting there and taking
those pilots as they come in and guide them into the spot that
they've got park indicated,. I mean, it can't, you, you can help
yourselves here just as much as we can help you.
PITTS: Councilman Bookey, these, the people at.Everts Air.Fuel
is a non-scheduled carrier. They are....
WILLIAMS: Would....Mr. Pitts. We need to have you (directed him
0 to the microphone)...
• KBNAI CITY
FSBRUARY 2l
PAGE 18
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
PITTS: Ah, you have to realize that Everts Air Fuel is a non-
scheduled carrier. They ah, most of their business is, is like I
say, "We are the gateway to Lake Clark." That's exactly where
all there business is going. They're buying, they're buying
toasters and furniture from KMart and, and from all around here.
Ah, they're, they're loading odd -shaped cargo into their
aircraft. They carry everything in those aircraft. Ah, they can
get a pick-up truck in those aircraft.
Ah, they, they are a non-scheduled carrier. They come in at all
tires of the day and night. Ah, we cannot have someone there all
the time waiting for them to show up because we don't know when
they're going to be able to, when they're, when they're coming
in. Ah, and what I think you folks have to realize and should
realize is that the aircraft ramp is for loading and unloading
aircraft. That is what it's designated by the FAA.
Now, I, I appreciate Mayor Williams saying "let's get a third
party in here." And I wholeheartedly ask you and, and beseech
you to get a third party in here. You know, ah, we feel weere.
experts. Ah, the fellow that, the captain for Everts Air Fuel
has been flying in Alaska large aircraft for 26 years. Ah, he's
been in and out of every airport in this state. He knows what's
going on in the state and he's not going to do anything that's .
going to be unsafe. It, it just doesn't, it's not in his, in his
operation. They just don't do ... Our, our people are trained.
We're not going to do anything unsafe.
Ah, the vehicular traffic is secondary to what the airport is .
for. The preference of the airport is loading and unloading...
BOOKEY: I understand that, but you also have to look at us, us
as a city and a community and the lessees above and beyond you
are entitled to have as much access as you are. And, and you
seem to think from every indication from you guys, on every time,
that airport area is yours. And, i, and I do not agree...
PITTS: No, no, no, no...
BOOKEY: You have to give those people above you the exact same
access to do that...
PITTS: We do not deny access to anybody. There is enough room
on that aircraft ramp, when we're loading an aircraft, like
during the fish haul, or whenever. When we're loading an
aircraft, I have a freight building. Then I'm ah, I'm part of a
•
•
•
KENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE 19
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
corporation with ah, Mr. Eichholtz that has a fuel business. And
ah, I lease space to, to ERA, to DHL, all these other people.
And when we're loading an aircraft, there.is plenty of room for
someone to just drive around without ever impinging on controlled
areas that the FAA would be concerned about. There is, there is
so much room...
BOOKEY: And, and if that's the case, why can't they move the
aircraft ahead another fifty feet and take care of the problem
that way. I mean, in that way the people that are non-aiircraft
control or non -aircraft people know that that twenty feet is
theirs and those people can come and go on that twenty feet. It
can....
PITTS: Okay, well these guys, these guys...
BOOKEY: I'm not, I'm just saying there's got to be a happy
medium here. We've fought this issue for a long...
PITTS: ...for a year. It's, it's, it's...,
BOOKEY: ...It's ridiculous.
PITTS: Well, it's come to the point where the people that ah,
that I lease space to and that I sell fuel to say,."hey, I can't'
take it anymore." You know ah, we're out there fighting over a,
line that's covered in snow. Ah, the airport has decided that we
got to have an access road and ah, when 1-talked,-I have. -talked
to the, the, to the ah, the tower.chief that, that runs .the
airport and ah, he has told me personally, and ah, I don't, I
don't have it in writing here, but he told no we don't have
enough traffic at the Kenai Airport to even justify a vehicular
road. That was his word to me. Now, all we want to do is load
and unload aircraft without being harassed. That's all we want
to do. We're not asking for anymore than that$ Ah, we're not,
we are not denying anybody access to that ramp to or from
anywhere when we're loading. We're not denying anybody. The
FAA, when they come through there from.the maintenance shop, -they
drive around the aircraft, which is what everybody does..
Now, do you want a road that directs traffic: right between where
you're loading and unloading. It doesn't make sense. It you
look at, if you look at Anchorage International,
Fairbanks... their vehicular roads all go on the outside.of where
they're loading their aircraft. If you..look at the,
terminals...go look at the terminal in Anchorage.the,next time
•
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 20
you go to the Anchorage terminal. Where are those jets parked?
They're all parked right up against the buildings where they're
loading and they're unloading cargo and passengers. Their
vehicular road goes around the outside. Simple solution. Run it
around the outside. You know? It's a very simple solution.
Well, you know, I just ah, let's get a third party. Let's get
their opinion and ah, and come down here and talk to us. I'm for
that. I'll go for it all the way. But ah, you know if, I'm just
trying to save my business. You know? Jim? That's my whole
thing...
BOOKEY: And I don't want, I don't want to impinge it anyway, I
just, Dan, it's hard for me to sit here. You know how I
correlate this in my own mind? We gave you a Conditional Use
Permit to use that outside issue. If I came in here and asked, I
own an RV park in town, and I come in here and I say, "geez
folks, I'm full all summer long and I need, I need some more use.
I need a Conditional Use Permit to the Visitors Center parking
lot." Okay? To me that's not fair to the rest of the world.
And to you, we've given you a special Conditional Use Permit to.
suffice your business at this point. But I don't see this ever
changing. You're not going to be able to ever get those large
aircraft on your property.
PITTS: You're right.
BOOKEY: You know, so, you know, there's no lease to this thing.
It was a token cost, we'd give it to you. I don't buy us
giving...
PITTS: We realize that anybody can park an aircraft in that
spot. It's, it's a non-exclusive lease. We've agreed to that
and ah, I understand that we are allowed to load, unload and load
aircraft and we're allowed to fuel there. Well that is not .
happening. We are not, that, we are not able to use that for
that purpose right now because, ah, Mr. Ernst, ah, will come out
there and he'll, he'll, he'll shake his fist at the captain and
he'll say, "you guys get, get your aircraft off the line." Even
though you can't even see the line and, and these guys are doing
what we are allowed to do on our special use thing. And, you
know, I appreciate that. That got us back into business. I mean
ah, you know...
WILLIAMS: Let's us, let's kind of move on. The biggest, the
single problem here in this particular issue, there may be other
issues, but as I review the map and the drawing of the area that
• ItENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 21
PAGE 21
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
includes your conditional lease, special lease area.in front of
your property, is that the road goes right smack through the area
that was given to you as a conditional lease. And I'm not sure
if at the time that lease was issued that, that permission to use
that portion of the ground was issued, full consideration was
given to the fact that that road didn't go right smack through
there...
MEASLES: Yes, it was...
BOOKEY: Yes, it was...
WILLIAMS: Full use? I just don't remember. All right.
GRAVES: It says that in the lease...
WILLIAMS: I think.that ah, that's right, it is. I recall that
now. There is the issue of that road through.there. But I think
• that's the part that's the stickiest part of a11.. That road goes
right smack through where he intends to do a groat deal of his :
work. Physical work to load the.aircraft. He's got a transition
ah, his materials from his property to the aircraft acroee the
special leased area and across that road. And there are times,.
and I've seen pictures, when materials are parked.across that
road, either intentionally or unintentionally, but materials get.
parked across that road and block that road. When that occurs
that, it creates a great concern to the Airport Manager because
the road designated is then blocked off.
The question is, does that road have to be right there? Can the
road go around the outside rather than go right through the
middle. That's the main question.
PITTS: The road can be anywhere you want it. Itts the City's
property. The City can do whatever it wants;. The'FAA, that was
already a part...
WILLIAMS: That's ah, that's where I say, that's where I say...
PITTS: ...that has already been a Tt.outside
art of the solution. We
pounded that out before. Hey, run of us, Mr.. Ernst
was against that.
WILLIAMS: All right. That's
facilities engineer down here.
airport design. Separate the
where I say let's bring the FAA
Somebody with expertise in
two issues of the City versus the
• RENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE as
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
lessees, the management versus the operators and bring that third
party in and let them take.a look at it and let them say it would
be a better idea to do it this way instead of that way and will
go forward. •
PITTS: That's ah, that's a , terrific suggestion. I am in full,
agreement with that.. I have.no-probl'em with that.
WILLIAMS: Councilman Measles,
MEASLES: Just a couple of comments. Again, as I read ah, Mr.
Everts' letter, his biggest concern is room for staging his
cargo. This is not going to.soive that concern.
BOOKEY: That's right.
PITTS: Well, right now, after ah, after pulling our tanks out of
the ground, we found contamination from ah presvious .. of l.. spills .
it Ah, some of it ah, was, incipient ahhh fuel that had been dropped
by us. Some of it had been'spilled an our property by other
companies. Ah, other fuel.companies that ah we have documented
spills for. We have ah, we have taken it upon ourselves to Clean
this up and that's what we"re'doing and right now we have ah, we
have ah, a six hundred yard hole.in the' in the.middle of our,
our ramp area that we lease,. ah, that ah, we were hoping to
address this, well, which we will address this spring. And ah,
and ah, clean up. It's something, I know the City has a lot of
experience with.
Ah, and that, of course, limits our, our, our loading area. Ah,
Mr. Everts is ah, he mentions, ah, he's.locked at that property
next door to us. He would love to lease that property next door
to us. Ah, but the, the amount of'fill that it would take ah, to
ah, to fill the hole in that's there and to clear'the property,
is ah, is financially unfeasible for him to do. Ah, it's not
like us. We were, when we first moved out there, ah, twelve
lears ago, we never had these. kinds of problems.. ate just, we
ust did our busine'an,and the city says "great, go, go for it."
Ah, ah, we have new management now. -We have ah, things have
happened down the road. We cleared the trees. We filled,the
property in. We've invested. the money.
That's why I say, we've got a tremendous investment out there
that we've done ah, over a long period of time. And we're proud
of that. But Mr. Everts' looking at it ah, by the numbers, ah,
you know, he says, "hey, I can't afford to come in haul ah, soo
• ICENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE 23
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
yards of of fill in there to make those lots useable for me and
my, and my business." Ah, it doesn't make sense. Plus, you
know, those lots are too small to bring an aircraft in and turn
them around. There isn't enough room there.
That's what the aircraft loading ramp is for. It's for loading
and unloading aircraft. And that's, that's why.it's so big and
so wide and ah, you know, that's what it's all about. But,.I
agree with Mayor Williams' solution to this. Let's bring in a
third party. Let's bring in the experts. Let's bring in the FAA
to ah, there facilities design and lst.them give us a written
opinion. I would, I would appreciate that.
WILLIAMS: Councilman Measles,
MEASLES: Just, I will continue ... Ah, I'm still not satisfied
that this is going to solve the space for staging cargo and the
fact that part of your lot is dug up.where contamination has run
10 you out of.space, is not the fault of the City of Kenai.- Itts
not the fault of the Airport Manager..,
PITTS: No, I know that...
MEASLES: ...that you don't have space on the lot that you lease
from us to do your business. You lease x-sized space to do a
specific business and the terms.of the lease were spelled out
clearly when you leased the property, That,has not changed.
PITTS: Ka, I don't argue that...
MEASLES: Okay, you're business has expanded, but you don't want
to expand the size of your operation to accommodate your own
business. Now there is no one in this room that's more
interested in that airport than I an.. I've been on this Council
for fifteen years. I'va been involved with the; Airport
Commission off.and on since it, since its inception. But, if we
give you everything you're asking for Dan,.every lessee at that
airport is going to be in here wanting to give away the store .
and...
PITTS: Ray, all I'm asking.for is, is to load and unload in an
area that I lease, in an area that I ah, that I insure...
MEASLES: You don't...
PITTS: ...that's all I'm asking.
a
•
•
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEET
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 24
MEASLES: You don't lea
PITTS: Well., i, i, I,
MEASLES: You have at Sp
PITTS: Okay...
MEASLES: ...hat allows you to use that lamp, that ramp and that
roadway to cross the roadway to get your aircraft loaded.
PITTS Okay...
MEASLES: It is not part of your property lease...
PITTS: Okay, I, I agree with that. I don't have any problem
with that. I'm not here to argue with you about that...
MEASLES: Secondly, if we bring in a third party, he can,tell us
anything.he wants to, but when he walks .away from here, he is not
liable for anything that happens at that airport. we are. Right
here at this table.
PITTS: I, I would like to add my name to that list Ray. Ah,.I'm
liable, personally, for whatever happens out at that airport and,
and, and, everything that I own and everything that I built out
there is liable and it's, it's►-, it's, my butt's on the line too
here and, and bean Eichholtz and everyone of us that work out
there and -a personal -relationship, our -butte are on the line.
So, you know, our, our, I, I'm not going to argue about, you
know, I'm looking for a solution here Ray...
MEASLES: That's, that's part of your business Dan. That's a
cost of doing.business. You're liability. I. -as a council
person, am not willing to set here and put that liability on the
citizens of -the City of Kenai.
PITTS: well, sir, eliminate the road and there won't be any
liability.
MEASLES: The.road was already there, Dan. That road has been
there.
PITTS: Since 1986.
MEASLES: That's right.
• RENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1944
PAGE 25
•
PITTS: Okay, live leased property long.before then. I've been
operating long before then.
WILLIAMS: Councilman Bookey has a comment.
PITTS: Yes...
BOOKEY: I just, I'd just like to say one thing and that's Dan,
that, that you know, you got a Conditional Use Permit for five
years. There's no guarantee what would happen, whether this
Council was here or not, that the following council in five years
says, you, Dan, no more, we're not going to give you a
conditional permit. What are.you going to do with your business
at that point? Causes that's a very viable thing that could
happen and...
PITTS: Well, if the Council sees it that way, I guess, t guess
we're done Jinn, I guess were done.
BOOKEY: But that's a possibility. You, you might not get
another Conditional Use Permit on that...
PITTS: Yeah, well we've...
BOOKEY: You know, I, I'm like Raymond. I, when, when the
business expands, that's not a condition for us to be involved
in. That's, - that's .someth,ing that you and Xr. ,.wart need to
discuss and decide on a bona fide financial stability whether
it's going to -be worth -or not worth -to do-
PITTS: Well, we can handle Mr. Everts' business when we get our
hole filled up. Ah, we have plenty,of room Qn, on our lots to,
to handle the trailers, the :cargo that comes and out of there., I
mean, he'll bring in five cargo vans and we have property between
the fuel business and the airport, I mean And,. and my freight
facility out there to load and unload. We,have too room out
there. Our only problem right now is. that we"ve.got a huge hole
in the middle of our ramp.. if that wasn't there.,right now, ah,.
Mr. Everts would have plenty of room for his cargo*'
Now, he hasn't been down here in awhile and he`doesn't realize
this. All he knows is what his,,. what his captain, who ah, who's
been based down here for the last five years has told him.
BOOKEY: And I mean, and, and you as one of his, as his agent
should be...
0 ICENAI CITY COUAiCIL MEETING HINtTPEB
FBBRUARY 2j 1994
PAGE 26
PITTS: Ah, ah,.excuse fie.'.
BOOKEY: ...it's what your business should be, advising your
customers of what's going on.
PITTS:
BOOKEY:
road...
PITTS:
BOOKEY:
PITTS:
Okay, I, I.know...
You can't put that to us.
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not.
And what I'm saying on that
...let me, let me finish here.
Okay.
BOOKEY: With, with the road and the access.going through there,
you, under the Conditional Use Permit, you're authorized to close
that road when you put a line. across there to fuel. aircraft.
Right?
PITTS: And load aircraft,'.ah, this is what I understand, That's
the agreement I've :Wade with ah,.Mr. Mannino»....
BOOKEY: And, and I don't have any problem with and i don't think
the Airport Manager has any problem with that...
PITTS: Well, he does, that's, that's the problem... .
BOOKEY: Well, he doesn1t have a choice in that matter, if* if,
if the...
PITTS: Okay...
BOOKEY: ...if the agreement says that you can close the road
then that's, that's the agreement and that's something that's out
and dried.
PITTS: Okay..,
BOOKEY: I'm just.saying that you, that you can avoid probably
75% of our problems here -if you will just, at, the time : of
business you are open, have your people go out and spot those
aircraft so that you don't have that wing five foot over that
S
.. y_ �.-�—.—.� •.'�'.__- '�.�.__..� �... _ - � ��_~ _.�.�_�.L��'..:�.— __. � _._.tee_ �1_� :.:�..-- �_- ._�.-
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 27
thing. It's ridiculous that they're parking that close to the
situation anyway. I mean, you can move them out another 20 feet
and, and to me, it should, the majority of it go away.
PITTS: I know. This, this all is, I'll be honest with you, this
is all really ridiculous. It, it, it, it really defies common
sense is what it does...
BOOKEY: On both parties, on both parties, I'd like to see
this...
PITTS: (laughter) It really defies common sense because common
sense you say, "you know, if we're blocking somebody, we'll get
out of the way. Ah, if we're not, let us load our airplanes and
our, in our area there and we'll put our cones up." And, and we
try to do this. Umm, it's ah, it's not as who, who, who, who
gets the situation out of control. I'll be honest with you.
It's not our people that do...
WILLIAMS: Mr. Pitts...(gaveled)
PITTS: And...
WILLIAMS: Moving along here. It appears as though there are a
couple of things here that may be able to happen that might
alleviate part of the situation. First of all, it's my
understanding that once you get the work completed on your
property, that is under contract or being worked on now, ah,
there will be plenty of room to stage cargo ah, with regards -to
ah, Everts problems. Second, it's my understanding, correct me
if I'm wrong now, that you do have permission to close the road
during the fueling of aircraft...
END TAPE NO. 1/TAPE NO. 2
WILLIAMS: ...it appears that one of the major problems here then
is the that the airplanes themselves when they come in to park,
must swing across the road and block the road somewhat. That
seems to be what the Airport Manager's biggest concern is. Would
it be possible to use flexible -type markers, cones or flexible -
type bright markers that bend easily, to identify and mark the
perimeter outside boundary of that road, if you will, to allow,
the operator of the aircraft to see where he's parking his plane
so that he can keep it on the outside of the road without
interfering with the space there. Maybe something like that
could, could serve to help accommodate this issue...
•
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 28
PITTS: Our, our, our crews have been instructed, that when
they're loading and unloading aircraft and, and cargo is fuel,
cargo is everything that we do.out there.. Ah, it's, it's loading
ah, couches, groceries, it's loading everything. our, our crews
have been instructed to put the cones out there. Ah, and block.
the road so that there's no problem.. We have .never had a
complaint from any of the other airport users about us denying
them any access or blocking their movement back and forth on the
airport.
WILLIAMS: Okay. Let as ask the Airport Manager a question.
Have you had complaints from any other users about Mr. Pitts
blocking the road?
ERNST: Ah, no. No, I haven't...
BOOKEY: Mr. Mayor..,
ERNST: But I do want to make one point clear here, isthe
Special Use Permit was granted to Mr. Pitts or Kenai Airport Fuel
Services for the loading of bulk fuel. And. it very specifically
says it's not to be blocked during -,dry cargo loading of aircraft.
WILLIAMS: And I understand that...
ERNST: Okay, well, and that's the difference.. Mr. Pitts is
lumping them together and that 'a not the case. - Ah, when. the dry
cargo plane comes in, there's plenty of room on the ramp.
They've, over the last, for the last two days, they Iva, been - in and
out of there a dozen times and they've managed to stay out of the
roadway and they're even in a tanker configuration which is"being
loaded with a truck at this point because their facility isn't on
line yet. Um, and that's all, all I'ask is that when they're.
loading dry cargo, don't block the roadway with the aircraft or
with the dry cargo.
WILLIAMS: Is that the understanding that you have that your dry
cargo does not fit in the same category as fuel. when it comes to
blocking the road?
PITTS: Ah, that is not quite the way.,I had...
WILLIAMS: And now maybe we're getting down to the basis of this
thing. Could you tell me exactly what you...
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KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 1994
PAGE 29
MANNINEN: Excuse me your honor. We, we did go over that in our
meeting last week and that, that was a point of contention that
ah, I said I would talk with the Airport Manager and 1, and I
did. He read right from the Special Use Permit now, and, and ah,
what he read is correct and you're allowed to both fuel load and
dry cargo load, but you only can block the road with the fuel,
loading and not the dry cargo loading. Now, we went over that
because ah, we reviewed the Special Use Permit and, and I thought
we were in agreement that that was the case.
And ah, I applaud your persistence. I don't know if ah, if ah,
I've seen anybody that is quite a single issue for a
whole year and still is up here ah, ah.-frying to bang on getting
his way when, when ah, clearly, I think, it's a loser because the
road was there, and because it's your responsibility to abide by
the lease and by your Special Use Permit. You got, you got a
special opportunity that nobody else on the airport has. And all
you have to do is abide by the, the lease that you have and the
special permit that you have.
PITTS: Tom, Tom, we, we, we try our darndest not to create any
conflict, but as I said, this road is covered with snow six
months out of the year. You've got a, you've got a captain in an
aircraft that's 20 feet in the air and he's got a wing tip that
has a wing span of 100 feet and when he pulls in there, there may
be someone there to greet him, there may not be someone there to
greet him. The guy has made a thousand trips into Kenai. He
knows where his spot is and where he parks. But, for Mr. Ernst
to drive out there with his lights flashing and to, and to
position himself in front of a forklift that's loading an
aircraft and get out and shake his fist at the guy, that, that's
uncalled for. And, you know, there, there are simpler ways to,
and, and, how do you see the road in the first place. I watched
the Assistant Airport Manager out there with a, with a 9-88 dozer
or a front-end loader, trying to scrape the ice off to see the
line so that somebody could see it. It didn't work. You can't
scrape the ice clean to see the road underneath it. So we have a
problem and it takes a little bit of ah, understanding from the.
Airport Manager and a little understanding from the crews to,
hey, we can't get it right perfect every time. That's where the
conflict arises.
WILLIAMS: All right. Councilwoman Swarner,
SWARNER: Okay, do I understand um, City Manager that for fuel,
for fuel loading they could park closer to the building?
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46,
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 30
MEASLES, MANNINEN: No.
SWARNER: Okay, they can block the roadway. And for other cargo,
they should park farther away?
MANNINEN: No. They, they cannot block the roadway with dry
cargo loads, but they can with the fuel loads according to the
Special Use Permit approved in April last year.
SWARNER: Okay, so then would it be appropriate then for Mr.
Pitts to instruct his customers in where to park. I mean this is
getting really ridiculous talking about this some much tonight.
WILLIAMS: Well, I'm allowing some extra time to discuss this
matter in hopes that we can resolve the issue or find a way to
resolve it. If it hadn't been an early evening tonight, I
wouldn't have allowed so much time to take place.
But, according to the City Manager's letter to Mr. Pitts, it,
it's clearly spelled out what he has the right to do and not, to
do in that area. I think the main problem that still exists, is
the roadway and the interference of the roadway by blocking.due
to two things. One, the aircraft parking over it and two, dry
cargo blocking it during the loading process.
Ah, I think, as I said before, I think that marking of the road,
if the road, if it's, if it's absolutely mandatory that that road
stay there, the road can be identified by flexible markers so
that the planes know where to park and don't park there.- The
issue of loading fuel is clear cut. You can block that road off
and you can fuel those planes within a reasonable amount of time.
The issue of loading cargo is something that cannot seem to be'
reasonably adjusted so that it fits the needs of either party and
that's how do you load cargo without at some times blocking the.
road. Ah, and I don't know how you're going to overcome that
problem. Once in a while it appears that it's necessary for him
to block the road in order to get all the cargo back and forth.
Or else he has to transition from his lot to the aircraft
immediately without blocking the road.
PITTS: That, that, that, that is exactly how, you have a very
good concept of what the problem is. That's what I hear from the
captain, "hey, when I'm staging my cargo, I'm, I'm moving it.
I'm loading the aircraft. It's dropped here and I'm loading it
right on the aircraft." And he, and they do try to keep the
roadway open. That is there intention.
. RENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
GAGE 31
WILLIAMS:
cargo?
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
Is it necessary at any time to block the road with dry
PITTS: Occasionally it is. It just depends on what, what the
size of the cargo is they, they're moving and how bulky it is and
how they stage it into the aircraft. And those kind of things
take understanding by our Airport Manager and, that, that's the
crux of the problem. Occasionally it gets blocked. it doesn't
happen all the time and they, they don't want a confrontation out
there, It's ah, it's not in their best interest. it's in
nobody's best interest.
WILLIAMS: All right. Mr. Pitts, there's another gentleman here
that wishes to address us. We'll have him come forward.
PITTS: Thanks.
40 BANNOCK: Mr. Mayor, if I just, if I could as a
airport administration in regards to your theory. There of the
shaking of heads over there that I don't think necessarily. agree
with.that and I'm wondering if they could give us their. Opinion
of Mr. Mayor's theory,
•
ERNST: There is no reason that dry cargo should have to block
the road. There's enough room on either side of the 'road to
stack that cargo before the aircraft comes. It can the east side of the road and when the aircraft comes,, if stheed to
Parke out far enough, which ironically, in the last three days,
they've more than adequately stayed out of the roadway, and the
road markings have not changed. I mean
And I'll, I'm here to tell � You can t see the road.
enough, you know, to discern whatoisiawhattismallowablels easy
there for someone to get by you. space
The point is, I've been around aircraft since 1968 when
we were
loading up north. It can bedone.To say that it can't be done
is ridiculous. You know, it,s, it,s
want to abide by the regulation and that'sust tnot toeblockt donut
We've given them a Special Uae Permit to do it when they're bulk
•
fueling and even that hasn't been lived up to because they were.
supposed to put up barricades. And we have a meeting with them'
and with their attorney and that's how we arrived at the special
Use Permit. As a matter of fact, we had a meeting to determine
the exact .amount of time that they can block the road and that
has been determined to be two hours.
• KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 32
•
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Now the load that was in question the other day had been there
over the weekend. It was there when I left on Friday and it was
there when I came back on Monday. And that's in the dark.
There, the roadway's dark in the wintertime and it just causes a
problem. And, you know, this airport is unique in that when we
park, we park parallel to the ramp. We don't park perpendicular
to the ramp like Anchorage does or like Fairbanks does. We don't
park up against our terminal building. We park parallel to it.
So it only makes it a logical place to put the road is parallel
to the ramp.
The other ones have. You know, we don't have jets. Anchorage
has, has their jetways and that obviously is blocking that area
between the terminal and the aircraft. So they do run their
roads outside behind the, the ah, aircraft. It would be
ludicrous for us to put a road outside our aircraft because at
each lessee's property, at one point or another, you'd have to
have some kind of a roadway going out to the roadway that.in fact
could be done right at, at the lessee's property line.
It's just that, I just don't understand why it is so difficult to
just comply with the regulations. It's just as easy for them to
park out as it is to park close and to take their forklift and to
drive it from their property to the plane. It's not a problem.
And I don't, I also want Mr. Pitts to know that I don't go
yelling and screaming. Mr. Pitts, by the way, wasn't there the
last time, and I did not rise my hand. And yes, Mr. Eichholtz
was there and he, and I'm sure he saw me raising my hand and
yelling and screaming as they say. And that's just not true.
WILLIAMS: All right. Mr. Eichholtz.
EICHHOLTZ: Hello, I'm Dean Eichholtz. Vice president of. Kenai
Airport Fuel Service and I think this whole discussion's getting
a little bit off of track here. I don't think we came here to
discuss the roadway per se. Yes, we do appreciate the fact that
maybe would get somebody as a third party to look into this
situation because of the road, the roadway which becomes a bone
of contention out there many times. There's things that I'd just
like to point out to hopefully straighten everything out and that
is, one, things do change. You do have a set of airport
regulations out there at that airport that does need to be
reviewed. At times, things do require some changes. There are
still regulations in there that state all my student pilots who
. KENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE 33
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
supposed to have a sign -off from a Flight Service Station briefer
prior to soloing an aircraft at that airport. There's no longer
even a Flight Service Station located on that airport.
There are things that need to. -be reviewed and checked. Times do
change. The aircraft are getting larger. There's,a KC-97 at the
airport at the present time. It cannot park without the tail of
that airplane impeding on that particular roadway. It cannot do
that without going across the active line of that runway, or the
taxiway. It cannot physically do that.
The Assistant Airport Manager taxied a C-130 out there in front
of our place this previous springtime. It cannot park without
the wing -tip being completely over that roadway. That was okay
at that particular time.
There's got to be some workable solutions. We've got to have
somebody at the airport that can reason when things do change.
• When we have cargo and one of.the, one.of..the pictures that you
stated there that had some cargo that was blocking the roadway.
The, beams that were out there, were 20 feet long.' Took a lot of.
work to put them inIan.airplane. t You couldn'far enough, the
airplane far enough forward, and then move the cargo'out onto the
ramp area to not block that particular roadway. Why would we
want to?
WILLIAMS: I think the whole....
EICHHOLTZ: on that particular point-. If you looked on down the
roadway, there's a KC-97 whose tail was over.that same roadway.
It's not a, it's just got to be workableit's got to be, "gee,
what, what are you loading here? Does it seem to be a problem."
Make sure that there's cones out. Make sure that the roadway is
blocked. Let us load that particular cargo. We're not trying.to
say, "hey, we want to pull. in there.." The best.place for us to
be would be to not have traffic driving between where a forklift
is driving between, between vehicles and out and onto the ramp
area. I agree wholeheartedly.that'the airplane should.be moved
in closer to the, toward the freight offices toward the loading
area and let the, let the traffic go around.them. To have
vehicle traffic between where we're running forklifts, and I'm
talking everyone, ERA, DHL, ah, MarkAir, and the. -aircraft, which
has to run back and forth the roadway, across the roadway, does
not seem to me to be in good common sense. Something -that ah,
that should maybe looked at.
• KSNAI CITY
FBHRUARY 2,
PAGE 34
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
Ah, one thing that the Mayor mentioned and that is the aircraft
can't get on the property. It's something that we discussed when
we got this Special Use Permit. The aircraft are large aircraft
that we deal with in the fuel business and with some of the cargo
loading. Well, that is what the air, the ramp area is for. This
city does collect landing fees, parking fees, for those
particular airplanes. The cargo that ah, Dan had mentioned, that
was loaded into those airplanes, the City is getting 3% on, on
the taxes of what the dry cargo that's being loaded into that
airplane. It's gaining tax on the air, on the fuel that's put
into that airplane. Those are things that I would hate to see
the City of Kenai would lose so far as the revenue. Those are
important items and I see, more often than not, that we keep
losing businesses that are going to Nikiski. That are going to
Soldotna because of some of these conflicts that somebody has
inadvertently blocked the roadway.
Ah, it's happened with Lake Clark Air. It's happened with
to several other, other folks. It's not that anybody's doing it
intentionally. They don't recognize that when they come in fromo.
from Lake Clark. They don't recognize it when they come in from
Anchorage. But we need to have more of a spirit of cooperation
and that is what Mr. Pitts was asking for. That's what I'm
asking for. We need a spirit of cooperation out here when
somebody does taxi an airplane in and, and, blocks this roadway.
It is not something that is a roadway that is Willow Street.
I would appreciate the fact that the people that drive out there.
on that airport are trained individuals. It's not, there's not
just a bunch of renegades that are out there on a Sunday drive
going up and down a road that's like Willow Street or any other
street, Forest Drive.
okay?
WILLIAMS: Thank you. Thank you. Yes.
MEASLES: I would like to make just one last comment. I've heard
a lot of bashing and moaning and groaning about the Airport
Manager and the way people are treated out there. The bottom .
line is this City Council said leave the roadway in and this City
Council approved the conditions of your lease and your Special
Use Permit. in my mind, the Airport Manager, regardless of who
he is, does not have the authority to allow anything outside of
those conditions to exist at that airport. So your argument is.
not with the Airport Manager, it is with this City Council.
. RENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBROARY 2o 1994
PAGE 35
And, if after the third party comes in and looks at that, this
Council still may not move that roadway. And I'm getting tired
of hearing this bull about how bad the Airport Manager's treating
you out there.
EICHHOLTZ: It's not only myself, it's all of the businesses
that...
MEASLES: I'm getting tired of hearing that garbage toolll
0
WILLIAMS: Well, okay...We ah, we'll wind this thing up by saying
we know we've still got a problem. However...
BOOKEY: Mr. Mayor. We do not have problem if they will just
move those aircraft off that road and a little cooperation on
both sides is going to go a long way to finish this.
WILLIAMS: I, I think we realize that. I think we realize that.
We've got to do that. All right. You can operate within the
guidelines of your permit if you cannot block the roadway for
excessive amounts of time while fueling. If it's at all possible
to arrange to load cargo without blocking the roadway, then
you'll be within the limits of your permit. The only other thine
that I can say is that, necessary if you can put up some flexible
markers of some sort to mark the line to show where it's at. The
issue of whether the road shall be moved, or should be moved or
not, is something ah, that can be looked at and examined now and
I hope it will be and a determination made whether or not that
would be the proper thing to do or whether it would only cause
more commotion.
All right. We've given this issue a great deal of time this
evening and I did that purposely because I felt as though there.
was a lot of verbalizing that had to be aired here and gotten on
the table but it's time to move on to other areas. So thank you
very much for your talking to us this evening.
PITTS: Thanks for your time.
J-2. council
MOTION:
Councilman Smalley MOVED to convene in executive session of the
city council, upstairs, and have Mr. Manninen available, to
. KENAI CITY
FEBRUARY 2,
PAGE 36
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COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
1994
discuss a matter which by law or Charter or ordinance requires to
be confidential. Councilwoman Swarner BECONDED the motion.
There were no objections. 60 ORDBRBD,
BREAK= 6 s S9 P,M,
BACK TO ORDER: 10825 P,M,
Councilman Measles stated for the record the purpose of the
executive session was to give a six-month evaluation of Mr. Tom
Manninen in his job as city manager. Rather than doing a written
evaluation, Council felt it was better at this point, due to the
short time he has been working for the city, to do a verbal
evaluation. It was the general consensus of the Council that in
this time, Manninen has performed satisfactorily or above
satisfactorily and Council feels Manninen is doing a good job.
Council gave Manninen direction to continue in the way he is
going. Council will give more direction to Manninen after the
goals and objectives have been established over the next weeks,
Williams stated he will not be attending the next council
meeting. vice -Mayor Measles stated he would not be in attendance
either. Councilman Bookey stated he may be out-of-town as well.
Councilwoman Monfor will act as Mayor pro temp at the March 2,
1994 meeting.
Smalley stated he would not be in attendance at the February 23
Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and requested Councilman
Bannock to attend in his place. Bannock will attend.
Monfor, referring to Eichholtz and Pitts' remarks about airport
businesses leaving the airport, how many have left. Manninen
stated he has asked them for a written list in two of his
meetings with them. They still have not supplied the list.
Bookey stated he spoke with Pitts at the break. Bookey reported
Pitts stated he is not mad at the Council. Pitts felt it was a
good meeting. Maybe some personalities on both sides can give.
The chief pilot for Everts was in the audience and heard a
portion of the discussion. Pitts stated he thought it was ggood
for him to know the Council has been pushed as much as it w311 be
pushed.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21 1994
PAGE 37
I -TWA as ADJOORNl�E
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Minutes transcribed and submitted by:
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