Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-13 Airport Commission Summary KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION MAY 13, 1999 Kenai City Council Chambers 7:00 P.M. CHAIRMAN TOM THIBODEAU, PRESIDING ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL chairman Thibodeau called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. Freas called the roll as follows: Clerk Members Present: Members Absent: Others Present: Thibodeau, Van Zee, Favretto, Knackstedt and Holloway Lorenzen and Bielefeld City Clerk Freas, Fire Chief Jason Elson, and Councilman Bannock It was noted Fire Chief Elson was attending the meeting for Acting Airport Manager Keith Holland and Councilman Bannock was attending for Councilman Measles. ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: Member Knackstedt MOVED for approval of the agenda as presented and Member Holloway SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 8, 1999 MOTION: Member Knackstedt MOVED for approval of the April 8, 1999 Commission meeting minutes and Member Holloway SECONDED the motion. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None. ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS-- None. ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS Discussion-- Special Use Permit Renewal/Dottie Fischer d/b/a Alaska's Best Travel. Knackstedt asked if there was another area in the terminal better suited for this , business, giving more floor space, etc. He noted, the lessee had been hoping to acquire a five-year lease for a large space in the terminal. Van Zee stated he had several discussions with Holland and learned there may be some space come available later if there is a change in the gift shop area. He added, Fischer had not made any recommendations in regard to another area. Favretto noted, the area in the terminal the lessee now holds is the best rental price in town. He added,, though the area is small, the city was still making money. Favretto added, he believed the rental rate was more than fair and if a larger space comes available the price should be increased. MOTION: Member Van Zee MOVED to approve the request for a one-year lease to Dottie Fischer, d/b/a Alaska's Best Travel. Member Holloway SF~ONDED the motion. VOTE: Holloway: Yes Favretto: Yes Thibodeau' Yes Bielefeld: Absent Knackstedt: Yes Van Zee: Yes Lorenzen: Absent MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 6b. Discussion -- Special Use Permit Renewal/Alaska Call Connection, Inc. Councilman Bannock noted the special use permit was for the calling card machine. Chief Elson noted the machine had brought in approximately $524 during the year. MOTION: Member Favretto MOVED to approve the special use permit renewal for Alaska Call Connection, inc. from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000. Member Van Zee SECONDED the motion. VOTE: Holloway: Yes Favretto' Yes Thibodeau' Yes Bielefeld: Absent Knackstedt: Yes Van Zee: Yes Lorenzen: Absent MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING MINTUES MAY 13, 1999 PAGE 2 ITEM 7: AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT Elson reported Holland and his Administrative Assistant attended the Alaska Air Trade and Conference in Anchorage last week. They were among 183 other exhibits and 200 booths. They shared their booth with PRISM and passed out brochures regarding the airport and float plane basin. Elson added, they answered a lot of questions regarding the airport and float plane basin. It was learned also, people were very happy to hear the restaurant was open at the airport. Thibodeau reported he and Knackstedt also attended the show and a lot of interest was expressed in the airport facilities. ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS a. Port of Entry/Free Trade Zone -- Favretto reported he attended the Kenai Peninsula Coalition meeting on Tuesday where the main discussion was regarding the effort to apply and receive the designation of Port of Entry and Free Trade Zone for the Peninsula. He noted, it was a very interesting discussion. At this time the plan is for Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Seward and the Borough to share the costs for the application (approximately $33,000) as well as the yearly fees involved. He noted, the initial cost would be $100,000 and then $75,000 a year thereafter. However, those costs may be diminished by the revenue collected through the trade zone activities. Favretto also explained the application process would take approximately 24 months and the attorney who has been working with the Economic Development District in relation to the APC project would be submitting a proposal to prepare the applicationS for the Peninsula. His proposal is to be submitted to the Borough Mayor who will then disseminate the information to the cities involved. Favretto requested the matter be included on the next meeting agenda for the Commission and stated he would share information he received at the meeting with the group. Clerk Freas noted, the Borough also had a video explaining advantages in having a Free Trade Zone and an effort would be made to show the video at the next meeting as well. b. Airport Brochure -- Thibodeau noted he liked the brochure used for handouts at the trade show, but thought it important a brochure be developed that had color pictures and included information about the float plane basin and camping facilities available, etc. He suggested the brochure be distributed to float plane owners throughout the state as he thought the facility would attract more people to it. _ Van Zee stated it was his understanding another brochure was being developed. The brochure used for the trade show was done quickly in order to have some for AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING MINTUES MAY 13, 1999 PAGE 3 distribution at the show. Thibodeau suggested the Commission be involved in developing the brochure and its proofing. Knackstedt suggested a map of the area be included in the brochure as well. c. Supercub Aircraft Project -- Knackstedt reported he read an article about a company interested in finding a place in Alaska to develop and build Supercub aircraft. In the article it noted they were investigating Anchorage, Seward and Ketchikan as sites. Knackstedt suggested the company be contacted. Favretto suggested he have the Economic Development District make contact in order to keep the discussions out of the political arena for the time being. Knackstedt noted, the company expected to hire up to 300 people. Thibodeau noted the article also stated the company was wanting the site to include a hangar built for their use and provide paved access and ramp areas as well, which may be why the company had not yet found a site. Favretto noted a recent Borough code change regarding economic development was very aggressive and could help in attracting interest for this type of opportunity. d. Complaints -- Thibodeau noted he had received several calls of concern regarding the landing and take-offs of the Hercules aircraft from the Kenai Airport. He noted, the airport regulations direct aircraft where the distance they are to travel away from the city before making turns. Thibodeau suggested a letter stating the concerns and complaints received be forwarded to the FAA and a copy to the city. Van Zee asked if the pilots were not under the control of the Tower. Thibodeau explained, the Tower didn't enforce the regulations. It was noted, the pilots may have to adjust their approaches and take-offs. ITEM 9: PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 10: a, b, INFORMATION ITEMS Controlled Burn -- Elson reported the Fire Department and Forestry Department burned a small section of the airport hayfield as a practice burn. Holland is planning to have them burn the remainder of the hayfield on the north end of the runway in the near future. Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agenda of April 7 and 21~ 1999. April~ 1999 Kenai Municipal Airport Enplanements ITEM 11: MOTION: ADJOURNMENT AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING MINTUES MAY 13, 1999 PAGE 4 Member Holloway MOVED to adjourn the meeting and Van Zee SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:29 p.m. Minut~es transcribed and prepared by: Carol L. Fre~s, ~lty Cl~rk '- AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING MINTUES MAY 13, 1999 PAGE 5