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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-10 Airport Commission SummaryKENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 10, 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 MINUT~ - August 13, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' OLD BUSINESS ao Outside Smoking Area ITEM NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7: AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ITEM 9: PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 10' INFORMATION ITEMS a, b, Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agenda - August 19, 1998 and September 2, 1998. August, 1998 Enplanement Report ITEM 11' ADJOURNMENT KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION September 10, 1998- 7:00 p.m. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers Chairman Thomas Thibodeau *** MINUTES *** ® ® ® ® Se ® CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Thibodeau called the meeting to order approximately 7:00 p.m. Members Present' James Bielefeld, Henry Knackstedt, Bob Favretto, Dan Van Zee, Lucy Lorenzen, Tom Thibodeau, Ron Holloway Also Present: Airport Manager Steve Atha, Assistant Airport Manager Keith Holland, Councilman Duane Bannock, Contract Secretary Barb Roper AGENDA APPROVAL KNACKSTEDT MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. BY HOLLOWAY. MOTION SECONDED AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 13, 1998 BIELEFELD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 13, 1998. MOTION SF~ONDED BY KNACKSTEDT. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None OLD BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Outside Smoking Area Holland explained that Airport Administration submitted three proposals to Council regarding smoking areas at the Airport. The third proposal, which is a combination of the first two, is the one staff recommends. Atha stated that no matter what method is chosen not everyone will be happy with it. After a very lengthy discussion it was noted that all other City facilities including the library, recreation center, city hall, etc., do not allow smoking on the premises. The airport terminal should be no different. Kenai Airport Commission September 10, 1998 Page ~ These facilities do not make special arrangements for smoking shelters, etc. If a person wants to smoke they know they have to do it outside. It was also noted the efforts being made are not so much for airport users but for the employees that work there. The general consensus was to leave the terminal smoke-free with the designated smoking areas outside and when problems arise, they should be dealt with individually. It was also noted if Council wishes to do something more, then consideration needs to be given to moving the smoking area on either side of the terminal building but still outside. HOLLOWAY MOVED TO LEAVE THE SMOKING AREA AS IS. MOTION SECONDED BY BIELEFELD. VOTE HOLLOWAY Yes BIELEFELD Yes KNACKSTEDT Yes FAVRETTO Yes VAN ZEE No LORENZEN Yes THIBODEAU Yes 6 Yes, 1 No- Motion passed. 7. AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT Atha reported he is still getting integrated into the community by meeting with Economic Development, various Chambers, etc. Atha stated he would still like to have lunch with Commissioners on an individual basis. Atha feels good about the airport and its potential and looks forward to developing promotional packages to bring more business in. Favretto stated he saw the second draft of the contract with Jim Carter and reported Carter was disgruntled with it. Apparently Carter thinks the contract is too restrictive. Favretto asked that the contract not go to City Council until the Airport Commission has an opportunity to go over it before Carter decides not to do it. Favretto suggested a meeting with Carter, the City Manager and the Airport Commission. Bielefeld stated there is a lot of concern with airport leaseholders regarding this contract as they fear the airport closing and affecting their business. Bannock explained the City Council had never discussed closing the existing airport or even building another terminal. Regarding the Carter contract, Bannock explained the contract is not to go out and build a new airport nor was it to go out and see if the existing airport should be expanded. The basis of the contract is to firstly define a need. Once the need is defined, consideration will be given to how the resources can be tailored to accommodate that need. Bannock reiterated, any talk of expanding the present airport or building a new airport is premature even to the issue of Carter and the contract. Bannock Kenai Airport Commission September 10, 1998 Page 2 Se ® 10. continued, $100,000 could be spent to end up saying it won't work. Bielefeld indicated he would pass this information on which would hopefully diminish any fears the leaseholders may have. Thibodeau asked about the status of the gravel runway. Holland reported the runway is still closed as staff is waiting for the new signs to arrive. The grass strip will remain open until the gravel runway is open. Holland continued, once the signs are received and the pads are poured, the runway will be available for use. It is anticipated this could happen as soon as the end of the month. Holland stated the publication changes have been submitted. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Commissioner Thibodeau asked if there was an increase in airfare. After a brief discussion it was noted ERA will be increasing their rates by a few dollars on October 1, 1998. This increase is to cover tax increases. Discussion took place on SouthCentral Air. Bielefeld stated SouthCentral did not shut down, they just changed their operations. Bielefeld continued, the airline was not supported by the community therefore they had to make the change. Seventeen percent of the air carrier business was not enough to continue. It was pointed out a larger carrier is needed to hold a commuter airline together: one that offers benefits such as mileage, etc. Knackstedt asked about Atha's plans for business development at the airport. Atha replied, these issues will be discussed further once he is more settled. Knackstedt suggested brain-storming sessions be held with the Commission throughout the winter. PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None INFORMATION ITEMS a® be Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agenda -- August 19, 1998 and September 2, 1998 August, 1998 Enplanement Report 11. ADJOURNMENT HOLLOWAY MOVED TO ADJOURN. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:25 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Barbara Roper, ~D~tract Secretary Kenai Airport Commission September 10, 1998 Page 3