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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-14 Airport Commission SummaryITEM 1' ITEM 2: ITEM 3: ITEM 4: ITEM $' ITEM 6: ao bo Co ITEM 7' a, ITEM 8: ITEM 9' ITEM 10: ao bo ITEM 11' KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION NOVEMBER 14~ 2002 KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. AGENDA 'CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL AGENDA APPROVAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- October 10, 2002 PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Discussion-- New Parking Lot Configuration--Phil Bryson (Wince, Corthel, Bryson) Discussion-- SpeciaJ Use Permits--Requests for Office Space' Hertz Rent-a-Car Alaska's Best Travel Discussion-- Central Peninsula Air Fair Discussion-- Airport Manager REPORTS Commission Chair Airport Manager City Council Liaison COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND (~UESTIONS PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD INFORMATION. ITEMS Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agendas for October 16, 2002 ani November 6, 2002. October 2002 Kenai Municipal Airport Enplanement Report October 2002 Kenai Municipal Airport Float Plane Basin ADJOURNMENT KENAI AIRPORT COMMISSION NOVEMBER 14, 2002 KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. CHAIRMAN HENRY KNACKSTEDT, PRESIDING MINUTES ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Knackstedt called the meeting to order at approximately 7'02 p.m. and the roll was confirmed as follows: Commissioners present: Commissioners absent' Others present: Van Zee, Holloway, Kleidon, Watkins, Knackstedt, Bielefeld Haralson City Clerk Freas, Airport Manager Cronkhite, Council Member Bannock ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL Knackstedt requested Aircraft Flat Tax be added as a discussion item as Item 6-e. MOTION: Commissioner Holloway MOVED to approve the agenda as amended and Commissioner Van Zee SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. ORDERED. SO ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- October 10, 2002 MOTION: Commissioner Holloway MOVED to approve the minutes of October 10, 2002 as presented and Commissioner Kleidon SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None. ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS-- None ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS Discussion-- New Parking Lot Configuration--Phil Bryson (Wince, Corthell, Bryson) Phil Bryson, of Wince-Corthell-Bryson explained his company had been requested to review problems in routing and parking at the airport terminal for automobiles. He handed out parking lot layout drawings as follows: · Existing parking · Existing parking designations with approximate number of stalls available. He noted the long-term parking area sometimes is under stress with the number of vehicles and types of vehicles using the facility; the short-term area did not have those problems; and the rental concession areas are about half assigned (each company has 15 assigned stalls and one company has requested an additional five). · Alternate "A" parking (re-striping option) -- The same driving lane and the same center of stalls was used, however the stalls were widened to alleviate crowding for the larger vehicles. · Alternate "B" parking (re-striping option) -- Areas north of the terminal were modified and larger stalls were incorporated to take care of problems with large trucks with cabs and eight-foot beds. It was noted, it was unknown whether people would use these spaces. · Existing parking layout -- included for Commission members to draw out their ideas of parking designs. Reconstruction Layout "C"-- A conceptual drawing with larger lanes in the long term area, additional stalls and re-positioning at the northwest end of the terminal {previously employee parking and permitted parking) which would create a different flow pattern. This drawing would also include two drop-off'lanes in front of the terminal. It was noted, the re-striping option would cost approximately $5,000 and the reconstruction option had no estimate at this time. A lengthy discussion followed. Information and a suggested ideas were as follows: · Security cameras will be added on top of the building which w/Il pick up activities in the parking lots. Additional lighting could be advantageous, however the area needing more lighting is toward the current restaurant parking area. Change the ingress of the lots from the north side of the parking area and change the direction of the stalls to north/south instead of east/west. Combine the short and long-term parking areas and exit from the south. · Consider adding parking areas with plug-ins for employees of the airport. The plug-ins can possibly be billed out to the individual or the company. · Consider including in the short-term parking area spaces for overnight parking with a pay box ($2.00 for one overnight stay). Adding those spaces could alleviate some of the strain on the long-term parking lot for those needing to park for more than one night. · Because people like parking close to the front door, it may be difficult to train users not to park smaller vehicles in spaces set aside for large trucks, etc. and visa versa. Enforcement would require additional staff, which is not a current possibility. · Snow removal is a problem with the barricades now in place in the short- term parking area as well as the long-term area. It is important to keep the permitted parking area close to the terminal as the desire is to cater to them and address their needs. They are a good cash flow to the airport. AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 2 · With parking spaces running north/south, ready-return spaces for rental vehicles may be possible. · Parking spaces for restaurant/bar users should remain close to the terminal as parking them further away could be an impact on the restaurant by local users. · Designs need to include adequate parking and access for taxis, courtesy vans and 40' buses for possible larger tourist trade. The Commission also discussed the possibility of using the overflow parking area across the street for additional large vehicle parking (recreation vehicles, large trucks, buses, etc.) Also, the use of the now vacant property at the east end of the car rental parking lot was discussed for future needs. Additional comments included' · It is very important to the marketability of the airport to make it available and user-friendly as the highway use by travelers is very competitive. · FAA parking regulations are fluid and a new version of the 300' rule is in the works, however currently the airport is not subject to the 300' rule. · Additional parking spaces closest to the terminal can be made if the parking spaces are turned east/west. Commission members were requested to draw out any ideas they had in regard to the parking areas and forward them to Cronkhite who will pass them on to Bryson. The consensus of the Commission was they liked Option B with several modifications, i.e. include the concept of the north/south parking, eliminate some of the entrances and exists, remove concrete barricades in the short-term parking area, add some additional lighting toward the restaurant end of the building. Bryson will bring ideas discussed at this meeting to the February meeting for additional review and discussion. 6-]3. Discussion-- Special Use Permits--Requests for Office Space' Hertz Rent-a-Car Alaska's Best Travel Cronkhite explained she had received requests for additional office space from Hertz Rent-a-Car and Alaska's Best Travel. However, between the time the packet was mailed and the meeting, desires had changed and the information included in the packet was no longer appropriate for the requests. She noted, the Hertz request was no longer relative. Cronkhite explained Alaska's Best Travel has requested a Special Use Permit for additional rental space in the terminal. Cronkhite added, she suggested Space 34 which had recently been painted and new carpet installed. Because Alask~t's Best AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 3 Travel does not need the entire Space 34, she will place a temporary barricade to divide the space into two areas, identifying them as Space 34A and 34B. If it is found more space will be needed by Alaska's Best, the Special Use Permit can be modified. However, it would be unfair to other lessees to allow the use of the whole space for only half the cost. Cronkhite also noted, if another airline moves into the Kenai market, the Permit would be cancelled and the space would be available for the airline's use. MOTION: Commissioner Van Zee MOVED to draw up a special use permit to lease Space 34A to Alaska's Best Travel and Commissioner Holloway SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. Discussion-- Central Peninsula Air Fair Cronkhite reported plans were already being formulated for the next Air Fair and the tentative date was set for May 31 (the weekend after Memorial Day). Because the FAA will be involved in a Centennial Flight event, it is hoped it can be incorporated into the Air Fair. A portion of that event is to honor the first flight into the area and what type of plane and who it was is being investigated. Cronkhite added, whether to incorporate static displays and vendors had been discussed and because the objective of the Fair is to get people to fly to Kenai, it was felt vendors was not a main purpose of the event. Knackstedt noted this year the breakfast will be held at Kenai and the barbecue at the Soldotna airport. Larger aircraft will be on display in Kenai and smaller in Soldotna because of the airports' capacities. The Commission had no objections to the Air Fair date. It was also noted the December meeting would be held at the new SRE building. 6-do Discussion-- Airport Manager Cronkhite left the room. Knackstedt explained he requested this item be included on the agenda and noted since Cronkhite had been employed at the City, the Commission was being kept better informed of activities at the airport, had been encouraged to be more involved in the airport through items brought to them during their meetings, etc. He added, he felt Cronkhite was doing a very good job in keeping the Commission informed. Because the Commission had never seen the airport manager job description, he requested it be included in the packet. He noted, the position is two- fold -- everyday management of the airport and marketing of the airport. AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 4 Councilman Bannock reminded members the Commission was advisory and that without the City Attorney, City Manager Snow or Cronkhite being present, he was very uncomfortable with the Commission discussing the city's employees as the membership did not have authority to evaluate the airport manager. Knackstedt stated that was not his intention and only wanted to say he thought Cronkhite's involvement with the Commission had helped the Commission do a better job and stay motivated. Van Zee noted it was his understanding Knackstedt wanted to give a vote of confidence to the airport manager. Discussion -- Personal Property/Flat Tax on Aircraft Bannock noted, the city council had discussed the personal property tax on aircraft during their recent work session. During the work session, he suggested a flat tax of $75 for each non-commercial plane. To that end, the city attorney had prepared a draft ordinance to establish the flat tax, which was distributed to the Commission for their review and comment. Bannock explained, unlike eliminating the personal property tax in Kenai, it was his belief a flat tax of $75 would have virtually no impact on the General Fund. Additionally, eliminating the tax would affect the property owners of the city as the deficit that would be created by the elimination of the tax would probably have to be regained by raising property taxes. Cronkhite noted, she believed the flat tax would be a good idea, though it wouldn't be perfect. She added, it would fight the current perception that Kenai has a huge tax on aircraft and note all the good things has to offer at the airport for only $75. It was suggested it would be a good idea to encourage the Borough to also set a flat tax. MOTION: Commissioner Bielefeld MOVED to approve the draft ordinance providing for a flat personal property tax as written and Commissioner Holloway SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. Van Zee stated he felt it important to pursue a tax incentive for commercial aircraft as well, however it was understood the General Fund would have to be manipulated to fill the deficit it would cause. Cronkhite stated she would investigate incentives offered in other parts of the country to bring businesses to the airport. It was noted, it may be helpful to speak with the Soldotna Airport Commission to this regard. Bannock noted the city and the borough have a mechanism in their economic development powers by which incentives can be offered under special circumstances. ITEM 7: REPORTS 7-ae Commission Chair -- Knackstedt noted he attended the joint work AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 5 session with the council and representatives of ERA Aviation. He added, it was his impression the airport survey would not include an airfare study, but other items would be investigated. He requested the matter be brought back on the next meeting agenda and a copy of the work session notes be included in the meeting packet in order for the issue to move ahead. 7-b. Airport Manager-- Cronkhite reported the following: · Council discussed the off-airport car rental fees during the Airport Commission report at the council's November 6 meeting. The council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance dealing with a ten percent concession fee for off-airport car rental agencies for review by council, the Commission and the public for comment. A copy of the draft ordinance was distributed to the Commission for review. Asked if council had discussed reviewing other taxes at the airport, i.e. taxi Concessions, etc., and Cronkhite reported no, and added, court cases refer to taxis as vehicles-for-hire and the airport could charge a fee over and above those already paid for the city's vehicle-for-hire licenses. · There were several diversions to the airport during the previous week due to fog in Anchorage and all went well. 7-c. City Council Liaison -- Councilman Bannock reviewed actions taken at the November 6 meeting and noted, the council would be holding at least one more policy work session. ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Commission Watkins questioned what is available for fueling at the float plane basin and Cronkhite noted there is an automated fueling facility at the basin and she is now in negotiations with a local fueling coming to take it over. ITEM 9. PERSONS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD-- None. ITEM 10: INFORMATION ITEMS 10-a. 10-b. 10-c. Kenai City Council Meeting Action Agendas for October 16, 2002 and November 6, 2002. October 2002 Kenai Municipal Airport Enplanement Report October 2002 Kenai Municipal Airport Float Plane Basin ITEM 11: ADJOURNMENT MOTION: AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 6 Commissioner Holloway MOVED for adjournment and Commission Kleidon SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9'45 p.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by' Carol L. Freas, City Clerk AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002 PAGE 7