Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-12 Airport Commission SummaryKENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 1998 Kenai City Council Chambers Tom Thibodeau, Chairman ***AGENDA*** ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL ITEM 2' AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - am December 11, 1997 January 8, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5- OLD BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair ITEM 6- NEW BUSINESS ao Discussion - Rental of Counter Space at Kenai Airport to Dan Van Zee Discussion - Special Use Permit Renewal Request/Kenai Airport Fuel. Discussion - Graphic Border Proposal/Bunny Swan Gease, d/b/a Artworks Alaska. ITEM 7: AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT a, Kenai Municipal Airport Enplanements ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ITEM 9' PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 10: INFORMATION ITEMS ao Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agenda: January 7, 1998 January 21, 1998 February 4, 1998 ITEM 11' ADJOURNMENT KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION February 12, 1998- 7:00 p.m. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers Chairman Tom Thibodeau MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Members Present: Ron Holloway, James Bielefeld, Henry Knackstedt, Tom Thibodeau Members Absent: Barbara Edwards, Bonnie Koerber, Sandra Hudson Also Present: Councilman Raymond Measles, Acting Airport Manager Keith Holland, Contract Secretary Barb Roper 2. AGENDA APPROVAL KNACKSTEDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED BY HOLLOWAY. AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a® December 11, 1997 January 8, 1998 HOLLOWAY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 1997 AND JANUARY 8~ 1998. MOTION SECONDED BY KNACKSTEDT. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None 5. OLD BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair KNACKSTEDT MOVED TO RE-ELECT THIBODEAU AS CHAIR. MOTION SECONDED BY HOLLOWAY. Motion passed unanimously. BIELEFELD MOVED TO RE-ELECT KNACKSTEDT AS VICE-CHAIR. MOTION SECONDED BY HOLLOWAY. Airport Commission February 12, 1998 ® Motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Discussion - Rental of Counter Space at Kenai Airport to Dan Van Zee. Holland reported that Van Zee inquired about the space in the past and when it became available the City wrote to see if he was still interested. Van Zee responded with a letter indicating he was. Holland noted Van Zee will lease two separate spaces and, with the additional counter space, he will receive additional parking spaces. Van Zee will be required to report and comply with the 10% gross revenues clause for revenues generated from the space. Van Zee would like to remove the wall between the two spaces but for all intent and purposes the two spaces will remain individual. It was noted the Van Zee was not at the meeting and it was assumed he agreed with the stipulations of the lease. Knackstedt asked if there were any other inquiries for that space. Holland replied there were none probably because of the location of the space. HOLLOWAY MOVED TO RECOMMEND LEASING THE SPACE TO VAN ZEE. MOTION SECONDED BY BIELEFELD. Voice Vote - all in favor - motion passed unanimously. be Discussion - Special Use Permit Renewal Request / Kenai Airport 'Fuel. Holland reported this particular special use permit was instituted because of the regulations in various codes that fueling cannot take place across property lines. This special use permit is not controversial and there are no recommended changes to it from the City or DEC. Holloway asked if anyone else had any interest in a similar fueling project. Holland replied, there was not. Bielefeld asked if there were any problems with it. Holland responded when it first started out there were problems with placing cones and signage. Those problems were eliminated by using rubber traffic cones. Thibodeau indicated that the City hasn't seal coated the area and it should probably be done. Holland agreed and stated when he reviewed Airport Commission February 12, 1998 ® the lease he noted this was an item that was not done and is including it in the budget. When asked why it hasn't been done in the last five years, Holland stated the reason was not known. HOLLOWAY MOVED TO RENEW THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT. MOTION SECONDED BY BIELEFELD. Voice Vote - all in favor - motion passed unanimously. Discussion - Graphic Border Proposal / Bunny Swan Gease, d/b/a Artworks Alaska. Holland confirmed the artwork would be identical to what is currently in place but it would go along the east side of the lobby area, on the north end. The area above the car rental agencies is reserved for advertising. Holland reported he has received positive comments regarding the graphics and felt the new graphics would be ~an welcomed addition to the terminal decor. Knackstedt stated the price was good as well. Holland noted that funds were available for this work. KNACKSTEDT MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ARTWORK PROPOSED BY SWAN-GEASE. MOTION SECONDED BY HOLLOWAY. Voice Vote - all in favor - motion passed unanimously. AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT Holland handed out the January enplanement report prior to the meeting and noted that the 1997 year end report is included in the meeting packet. This report also includes graphics which gives a clear indication of the activity. Holland made the following report' An automated telephone answering system was installed in the office. Commissioners were asked to call the number and make comments with regard to required changes and/or improvements. This system has reduced the amount of phone traffic through the Airport Manager's office. Approval was obtained to hire a part-time, temporary administrative assistant to help out until the Airport Manager hiring situation has been sorted out. Interviews for the position will begin the end of next week. The restaurant will continue to be closed for a period of time although work continues to get it re-opened. The lessee has had hand surgery Airport Commission February 12, 1998 Se and is attempting to get someone in to work the restaurant. It was pointed out the lease has no mention of a requirement to keep the doors open. Bielefeld commented that the track record on all the leases at the airport have had problems. A request for proposal is out for the gift shop and it does include language requiring the shop stay open the same hours as similar shops in the area. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Commissioner Knackstedt asked if the Yute Air counter space is paid up. Holland replied, they are paid up through the end of the month. They will continue to keep things in until the end of the month then will be gone. Commissioner Thibodeau asked about the status of the airport manager search efforts. Holland responded that the City Manager is reviewing it and has decided not to go back out until a few more decisions on the position is made. It will probably be a month or so before the actual advertisement goes back out. Thibodeau asked about the Granite Point gate. Holland reported that a vehicle ran into it and destroyed it. The plan now is to relocate the buttons further away from the gates to eliminate the potentiaJ of vehicles sliding through the them. When asked if it was necessary to have buttons on that side of the gates, Holland responded it was not and he is toying with the idea of putting in a pavement sensor which would work well by tripping the gate open. However, it is more costly than just moving the button posts. Holland also pointed out that relocating the button post is necessary because of the limited space when equipment goes through. Bielefeld felt the area should be more accessible with the businesses in there. Holland indicated there are automatic openers on the gates but he hasn't encouraged anyone to get a remote. Commissioner Bielefeld asked if there was anything that could be done about the smoking in the back area behind the ticket counters as the smoke circulates through the offices. Holland responded the issue has been brought up in the past and it is difficult to provide for an allowable smoking area as employees can't smoke on the ramp nor are they allowed to leave the general area of work. They have been restricted to the back baggage build up area to hopefully relieve some of the problem with smoke. Discussion took place on the smoking area and the poor ventilation system throughout the terminal. When asked when the travel agent will move into the gift shop, Holland reported that she reconsidered and would prefer to stay where she is at. Airport Commission February 12, 1998 Commissioner Knackstedt asked if a camping area would be available next to the gravel strip. Holland indicated this subject has been discussed and is being considered especially since there is the possibility of having the Cessna 170 convention here in a couple of years. A lengthy discussion took place on a camping area and Bielefeld thought a camp area next to the gravel strip would get more use than that next to the float plane basin. Holland reported the float plane camping area got a lot of use. Thibodeau asked about the time frame for completing the projects at the airport this summer. Holland answered, the Charlie taxiway project will start approximately the last week of May depending on the breakup. The paving and grading of the infields should be complete by the first of June. The seeding is scheduled for mid-July to mid-August. The gravel strip is complete but not open for the winter. Discussion took place on some type of promotion of the new gravel strip. Suggestions included a fly-in breakfast for the ribbon cutting, advertising in flyer magazines, market the strip with flyers sent out to local pilots; providing prizes to promote interest; having a take-off contest if public access could be worked out; (Holland thought there may be some insurance issues involved but would check it out). Holland was positive that he could get Council support for a grand opening of the gravel strip. Knackstedt suggested the airport regulations be reviewed and updated after the new airport manager is hired. After a general discussion Holland indicated that he would see about getting the regulations put on diskette for the Commissioners but recommended that any work on the regulations be postponed until the new airport manager has had the opportunity to review them and becomes familiar with the job. Bielefeld asked if any changes or restrictions were going to be applied to the gravel strip. Holland indicated there were no restrictions at the gravel strip other than it will be closed when the tower is closed. Holland reported the tower will become a contract tower the middle of June. Concern was expressed with having inexperienced personnel in the tower and Bielefeld stated that generally contract towers do not have a good reputation. Holland stated the policies and procedures would remain essentially the same and the new personnel will be trained for a few weeks before they take over. Knackstedt asked when the airport changes will go into the supplements. Holland responded, there is a two month period between application for the change in the supplement. The supplements that go out approximately August 13 will have the changes and new runways noted since they don't open until July 1. The changes will be submitted in March or April in order to make the August publication. Bielefeld noted that failure to include changes in the Airport Commission February 12, 1998 supplements could be dangerous. Holland reported to the Commission that the tower manager was told if the changes were in by March or April they would appear in the August supplement. ® 10. PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None INFORMATIbN ITEMS a® Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agenda {1/7/98, 1/21/98, : /4/981. 11. ADJOURNMENT HOLLOWAY MOVED TO ADJOURN. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:45 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Barbara R°Pe~, Cc;n~r-a~t S~cretary Airport Commission February 12, 1998