Minutes from  Wed., Nov. 17 Board Meeting

 

Board Members Present:

Rick Bryant, Chair                 Bob Newton

Dave Henry                            Les Catlin

 

Becky Wenger, LHS Student in Government board member

 

Meeting began at 8p.m. while awaiting quorum to conduct business. Stated starting time was 6:30p.m.

 

Airport Update:

In advance of achieving quorum, Rod Bremby gave update on funding activities for CIP. Most notable activity was coming from Federal level, where US Rep. Dennis Moore’s office was spearheading a coordinated effort with US Senators Brownback and Roberts to get Lawrence’s funding requests written into next year’s budget appropriations. This action would bypass FAA selection process and speed up projects.

Bremby discussed a plan for T-Hangars. He had solicited a working quote from a hangar developer that would place new hangar construction in the price range proposed by the present circulating letter of intent. Lloyd Hetrick, FBO, indicated he has received four new letters of intent. This now totals almost a dozen.

The working plan of development calls for presentation of concept and costs to City Commission in January and move as quickly as possible from that point. Discussion also mentioned official notification at that time to the west-side hangar tenants of intent to demolish existing old hangars and relocate them to east-side development.

Condo hangar owners will be notified that long-term development will probably force relocation and/or condemnation of their structures at some point. The Board instructed Bremby to begin preparation of such notification and report back to Board during the December meeting.

 

Kansas Pilots Assoc.

A presentation and request was made by Marion Montgomery, President of the Kaw Valley Chapter, Kansas Pilots Assoc. to have Lawrence Municipal Airport host the June 9-11, 2000 state association meeting.

Montgomery outlined the proposed weekend activities, which included an acrobatic and skydiving demonstration. A firm schedule of activities was promised by Montgomery for our February 2000 board meeting.

 

The Board entertained a motion from Bob Newton, with Les Catlin second, to approve use and support of this aviation activity at the airport with the following provisions:

1.      All Liability insurance issues/approval be conducted through Rod Bremby and the City Manager’s office before the event becomes officially sanctioned.

2.      Due to the safety issues revolving the acrobatic and skydiving demonstrations, crowd control and airport traffic, applications for FAA Waivers and NOTAMS be completed and approved well in advance. Staffing issues regarding radio control, ramp/traffic safety would be coordinated between the Airport Manager, FBO and KPA.

3.      KPA indicated a desire to charge admission to the demonstrations to help recoup costs with the weekend event. The Board reminded Montgomery that the airport is a public use facility and charging admission might create more ill-will than good. An alternative method discussed was charging admission to their Saturday morning “Flying Pancake” breakfast.

The motion passed 4-0.

Montgomery indicated she would contact Rod Bremby after Thanksgiving to discuss these items and report back in February with a firm schedule of events. Also, she is working the Chamber of Commerce and Judy Billings on some shuttle activities from the fairgrounds to the airport and around town.

 

LHS Aviation Club

Lawrence High School has formed a new aviation club to help promote the flying spirit. The Board asked Paul Bohlen, Club Sponsor, to give an overview of the club’s mission and encourage developing relations between the board and club members.

Club President and Vice-President, Steve Jones and Nick Mosher, explained activities that have been accomplished to date and future plans. The club has about 10 active members and meets weekly.

Board members and interested members of the public in attendance shared various avenues and contacts with club representatives to further enhance their participation in local and regional aviation activities.

 

Stuber Hangar Rebate

Allan Stuber, President, Stuber Research, Inc., appeared before the Board to request a rebate against his hangar lease payments per his leasehold contract with the City of Lawrence.

This is year three in a ten-year annual review for potential rental rebate based on his ability to generate economic development at the airport through hangar tenants.

Stuber’s request generated a contentious debate among board members and members of the public. Much of the debate focused on the lease contract’s definition of “economic development” and its related contribution to the airport through hangar tenants. Other elements of the debate focused on Stuber’s corporate citizenship at the airport and his working relationships with airport entities that might detract from economic development.

The Board’s consensus was it was required by contract to review the merits of Stuber’s request freestanding of other issues or conflicts created by Stuber’s actions.  The Board agreed that the lease contract, as executed, did not serve the long-term interests of the airport and related development, nor did it provide for an accurate or demonstrable accounting of Stuber’s activity relative to economic development at the airport.

Dave Henry moved, with Bob Newton second, to approve Stuber’s request for an annual rebate based on contributing to the economic activity at the airport and the community.  As stated in the lease agreement, the Board will advise the City Commission of its action and allow the Commission to evaluate and establish the amount of rebate, if any, owed Stuber.

The motion passed 3-1 with Henry, Newton and Catlin voting in favor. Bryant voted in opposition.

 

70^th Birthday/Hangar Ribbon Cutting

Bryant circulated a project plan to Board members (see attached) for a Saturday, Dec. 11 public event to celebrate the 70^th Birthday of the airport in conjunction with a ribbon cutting at the new community hangar.

Bryant stressed the importance of building on the positive exposure received at the airport this year as the Board works toward completion of the expansion projects.

The event will be low-key and simplified due to the limited time involvement of Board members and other interested parties. The LHS Aviation Club was recruited to assist Bob Newton with researching and developing historical displays for use in the hangar.

One of the biggest selling points will be the involvement of all airport companies with active displays of their products and services inside the hangar. Lloyd Hetrick, FBO, will set aside floor space to accommodate displays and crowd.

The Board unanimously approved the plan and their involvement.

 

Safety Issues:

Ramp Lighting – This item has been on the CIP project list for a long time. However, with increased ramp traffic and theft issues, the Board voted unanimously to direct Rod Bremby to purchase and install floodlamps at these locations:

1.      North side of the new community hangar

2.      North side of the Hetrick hangar

3.      South side of the Hetrick hangar overlooking the south parking lot

4.      Northeast corner of the main terminal building overlooking the ramp area

Bryant has talked with Allen Enterprises, Inc., an airport lighting specialist in Orlando, FL. Mr. Allen advised Bryant to contact the Graybar distributor and purchase floodlamps that have directional louvers attached. These louvers will safely direct light to the needed areas without creating additional safety issues for incoming or taxiing aircraft.

The Board agreed that once the lights are purchased Bremby can direct city crews to install the lights using existing electrical service in each building.

 

Airport Traffic – Airport traffic has been on the increase through development and usage. This is creating a safety issue that requires immediate resolution. The primary safety concern is traffic moving from the West to East side of the airport property. Traffic is crossing an active taxi and runway with little regard for aircraft. The airport has already incurred one vehicle/aircraft accident this year, and the Board doesn’t want a repeat.

Bryant shared photographs taken Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Manhattan Regional and Johnson County Executive Airports of access roads developed between split developments at the respective airports. These examples served as a starting point of discussion for short and long term solutions to Lawrence’s problem.

Another safety issue developing is private vehicle parking on the ramp to accommodate T-Hangar users. While it is a customary practice at airports to enjoy the luxury of parking private vehicles at or inside their T-Hangar, the laxity of enforcement at Lawrence with ramp parking is an accident waiting to happen.

The Board agreed that Lawrence should be pro-active in minimizing vehicle traffic and re-directing parking.

Upon discussion and consensus, the Board directs Rod Bremby to begin immediate development of an access road that:

“travels from the West side just Northeast of the DreamWings location, south through the OFA of Runway 1/19, proceeding East toward the T-Hangar and creation of a small T-Hangar parking lot South and West of the T-Hangar Ramp. This route will continue east cutting immediately south of Stuber’s concrete ramp and exiting through the existing construction road adjacent to city lot.”

A fence erected on the Stuber rental hangar will have to come down.

This access road can be simple in design (one-lane) and construction (gravel) with limited signage directing parking and yielding right of way to aircraft.

Also, the Board directed Bremby to re-educate city staff/vehicles about driving across active taxi/runways and ramps at the airport. Further education and notification of airport tenants will occur when plans are finalized and updated rules/regulations are approved and submitted to City Commission for adoption. All tenants and airport users will receive copies of the updated regs from the Board.

Hetrick was directed to move existing signage (narrow taxiway, vehicle access) around 1/19 that caused spatial conflicts with larger aircraft.

 

 

Misc. Business

Review of airport rules/regulations updates will be conducted during Dec. meeting. Board members asked to review drafts and send comments, ideas, etc. to Bryant via e-mail before meeting to help expedite review process. Goal is to submit approved set to City Commission in January.

 

Next board meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 6:30p.m.

 

Meeting adjourned through Henry motion, Catlin second.