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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-09 Airport Commission SummaryKENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 Kenai City Council Chambers Tom Thibodeau, Chairman 7:00 P.M. '"AGENDA'" ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES- August 12, 1999 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS ao Discussion - Terminal Seating Update Discussion - Airport Regulations/Code Review ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS a, Discussion- November Commission Meeting Date ITEM 7: AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ITEM PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 10: INFORMATION ITEMS a, b, Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agendas of August 18 and September 1, 1999. Kenai City Hall Telephone Extension List ITEM 11: ADJOURNMENT KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. VICE-CHAIR HENRY KNACKSTEDT, PRESIDING MINUTES ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Members Present: Ron Holloway, James Bielefeld, Henry Knackstedt, Lucy Lorenzen, Dan Van Zee, Bob Favretto Members Absent: Tom Thibodeau Others Present: Airport Manager Rebecca Cronkhite, Assistant Airport Manager Keith Holland, Councilman Duane Bannock, Contract Secretary Barb Roper ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: Holloway MOVED to approve the Agenda. Motion SECONDED by Favretto. There were no objections. Agenda was approved as presented. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES- August 12, 1999 MOTION: VanZee MOVED to approve the Minutes of August 12, 1999. Motion SECONDED by Holloway. There were no objections. Minutes of Au~st 12, 1999 were approved as written. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None. ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS 5-a. Discussion - Terminal Seating Update Cronkhite reported she contacted Wildwood Correctional Center and was informed they do not manufacture terminal seating. Cronkhite continued to state there was no big rush for such seating so she will continue to research other options. Knackstedt asked if there were any seats available from the Anchorage terminal. Cronkhite replied, the airlines usually take any seats that are being replaced. Favretto suggested all effort be given to keeping the Kenai Airport terminal as aesthetically pleasing as possible which may involve not scrimping on terminal seating. Cronkhite stated the only seating to be replaced was the waiting area and the existing seating will be placed in other areas of the terminal. Discussion :- Airport Regulations/Code Review Knackstedt brought attention to the memo included in the packet from the Airport Manager regarding Airport code/regulation review. Cronkhite explained the City Council's request for a code review was not for editorial changes but for items which are outdated or causing a problem. Cronkhite recommended the Commission consider work sessions or special meetings to deal with editorial changes. Councilman Bannock added the City Council, in reviewing the Code, realized there were some sections that were in conflict with each other so it was determined that each section should be reviewed for possible conflicts and/or items that were outdated. Cronkhite reported Administration found three areas within the Airport code/regulations needing to be changed: Chapter 14.05.010, Landing Fees; KMC 21 / 15/010, Subleasing; and Chapter 15 which addresses off- airport car rentals. Cronkhite asked the Commission if they wished to recommend the City Council review these sections of the Code. Landing Fees: Cronkhite noted the current landing fee at the Kenai Municipal Airport was $.25 per 1000 pounds of weight which was an extremely low landing fee compared to industry standard. Cronkhite continued, the Anchorage and Fairbanks airports charge $.46 per 1000 and that was the lowest they had been in ten years. Juneau and Ketchikan charge $1.65 per 1000. Cronkhite noted there may be some ramifications if the landing fee was raised but there was a need to bring the fee more in line with industry standard. Cronkhite handed out information outlining the current landing fee and what it would be if the rate was changed to $.50 per 1000 pounds. Favretto asked when the landing fee was reviewed and/or changed last. Holland replied it was 1986. Knackstedt asked what Administration was recommending as a new landing fee. Cronkhite answered $.50 per 1000, which would still keep Kenai below industry standard. Bielefeld stated that $1.65 per 1000 was extremely high for the current carriers. Cronkhite explained the $1.65 fee was what Juneau and Ketchikan were charging and that it was never her intent to charge that much at the Kenai Airport. Favretto stated, since a change was being considered, perhaps a higher rate should be looked at as once the decision to change was made, it would be a long time before it was revised again. Favretto stated he AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 PAGE 2 drove around the Soldotna Airport and was surprised to see all the aircraft tied down there. Favretto wanted to know why the aircraft would be at Soldotna airport and not Kenai. Several explanations were offered and they included the wind in Kenai, lower fees, the T-hangars, less strict regulatiOns and the fact that Soldotna was less commercial than Kenai. 13ielefeld noted that most pilots in the area didn't like dealing with a tower and that could be another reason they tie down in Soldotna. Favretto asked how safe Soldotna Airport was. 13ielefeld replied it varied, sometimes it was safe and other times hairy. 13ielefeld continued, it was best to be scared when flying into Soldotna as that made a person more aware of the surroundings. Favretto thought perhaps a user survey would be helpful in determining how to get more business at the Kenai Airport. Discussion took place on airport safety and it was noted the FAA had a sa~fety meeting scheduled for September 16. 13ielefeld stated he thought the weight should be changed to 12,500 pounds rather than change the landing fee. Cronkhite stated too much detail would only confuse the issue and suggested it remain as simple as possible. Cronkhite reiterated that all Administration wanted was a recommendation from the Commission to go to City Council. 8uble~i~g~ Cronkhite stated the Code did not specifically say the Council would review subleases when in fact they do because of the individual lease contract language. Cronkhite continued, when this section is reviewed the Attorney may say this issue is covered by the individual leases. Ch~pte~ 11~: Cronkhite stated there was no language in the regulation to address off-airport car rentals. VanZee asked why car rental companies were being targeted for off- airport fees since there were several other user groups utilizing the airport for the same purpose to include fishing guides, bed and breakfasts, etc. Cronkhite answered, the off-airport companies leave their vehicles at the airport for clients who fly in, including courtesy vans, tour buses, etc. Cronkhite added, no one business was being targeted. When asked how the fee would be handled, Cronkhite explained it would be done on an agreement-type system and the companies would be required to submit a report as the current on-site companies do. Holland stated, some airports even go as far as having outside auditors review various users. Cronkhite stated, Administration had to do business and she felt obligated to inform Council there were a lot of fees that could be AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 PAGE 3 collected. 13ielefeld stated he would not be in favor of charging all sorts of extra fees as it would ultimately go back to the consumer and since they all pay taxes, this would be like a toll road between Kenai and Soldotna. It was noted that tax dollars were not used to run the airport. Holland pointed out the operation of the airport was funded by an enterprise fund and not the General Fund. Holland continued, the Kenai Airport was self-sustaining based on revenue generated and in the past few years it was necessary to take from the reserve funds because they came up short on the budget. Holland added, this was the main issue that motivates and drives Administration to find ways to make the enterprise fund break even. Holland stated the Airport was not in the business to make money but it is necessary to pay the bills. Discussion returned to the off-airport car rental companies being targeted for fees and not other users. Holland stated, language from other airports was borrowed to determine a fee. The language did not single out any individual business or enterprise but it gave the airport the authority to institute a system; whether it was a percentage-based or permit system. Favretto suggested the fee issues be tabled until more information on fee- based systems was available. Cronkhite stated, although there was no deadline to get recommendations to the City Council there was to the City Manager and requested some recommendations from the Commission; whether it be the first two items or just one. Discussion took place on making a motion on each item individually or to change Item 3, the off-airport car rental to off-airport users. Bannock stated no motions should be made until there were solid recommendations to be made to Council. MOTION: Favretto MOVED that the City Manager, Airport Manager, interested Airport Commissioners and existing carriers at the airport meet to discuss landing fees, weights, etc., and come back to the Airport Commission with the results in an effort to get more information. Motion $1~CONDI~D by Holloway. MOTION TO AMEND: Favretto MOVI~D to amend the main motion to read the City Manager, Airport Manager, interested Airport Commissioners and those entities affected by the fee changes meet to' discuss landing fees, weights, etc. an effort to get more information. Motion 8E(~ONDI~D by Holloway. There were no objections. 80 ORDERED. in AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 PAGE 4 VOTE ON MAIN AMENDED MOTION: HOLLOWAY YES BIELEFELD YES LORENZEN YF~ VANZEE NO FAVRETTO YES THIBODEAU ABSENT KNACKSTEDT NO MOTION PASSED. ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS Discussion- November Commission Meeting Date MOTION: Holloway MOVED to changed the November meeting date to November 18, 1999. Motion SECONDED by VanZee. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 7: AIRPORT MANAGER'S REPORT Cronkhite stated that instead of having the normal handouts included in the meeting packets, staff will hand them out at each meeting. The Enplanement and Float Plane Basin Activity reports were provided to Commissioners. Cronkhite stated she had been working with the National Guard unit at Kulis, Elmendorf Airforce Base, and the FAA control tower regarding the noise abatement program. She noted, they had some very positive meetings and a draft procedure would be available for review by September 13 or 14, 1999. Anyone interested in reviewing the draft procedure was asked to contact the Airport Manager's office. The City Council has approved the engineering and design for the warm storage facility at the airport. The facility will be FAA funded and built on a site next to the control tower. The facility will hold a fire truck and snow removal equipment. Crohkhite reported the tri-annual FAA mandated emergency exercise would be initiated on Friday, September 10. The full-scale exercise would involve most of the airport, the new fire training center and mutual aid agencies. Knackstedt asked if Kulis Air Guard was receptive to changes regarding noise abatement and did they offer any suggestions. Cronkhite replied that both the Air Force and Air Guard would basically do whatever they were asked to do as long as it was safe. Both entities were very willing to cooperate and work with Kenai in modifying their landing patterns, procedures, how they operate, etc. AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 PAGE 5 Cronkhite noted the control tower operation would be contracted effective October 6, 1999. Lorenzen stated that Servco, a service company out of California, had the contract. ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS -- None. ITEM 9: PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None. ITEM 10: INFORMATION ITEMS be Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agendas of August 18 and September 1, 1999 Kenai City Hall Telephone Extension List It was noted, at the September 1, 1999 Council meeting, funds were appropriated for additional testing of the jet fuel facility. ITEM 11: ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Holloway MOVED for adjournment. Motion SECONDED by VanZee. were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:17 p.m. There Minutes transcribed and prepared by: Barbara Roper, Contr~[ct Secretary AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 PAGE 6