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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-06 Minutes Final New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 1 NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING November 6, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The New Hanover County Airport Authority met on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North Carolina. Chairman Barber called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Airport Authority members present were Tom Barber, Chairman; John Perritt, Vice-Chairman; Carter Lambeth; and Al Roseman. Also present were Julie Wilsey, Deputy Airport Director; Dani Neathery, Comptroller; Gary Broughton, Operations Director; Whitney Prease, Facilities Director; Rose Davis, Executive Assistant. Guests present were Bill Cherry of Air Wilmington; Gerry Tremblay and Chris Sikes of Aero Services; John Tunstall of Norris & Tunstall Engineers; and Cheryl Penney of Human Wall for Fallen Soldiers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Authority has reviewed the minutes of the Regular Public Meeting on October 2, 2013. Mr. Perritt MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Lambeth, to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2013 Regular Public Meeting as submitted. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Crane was not present. The Authority has reviewed the minutes of the Work Session on October 30, 2013. Dr. Roseman MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Lambeth, to approve the minutes of the October 30, 2013 Work Session as submitted. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Crane was not present. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments scheduled. SPECIAL EVENTS There were no special events to discuss at this meeting. Mr. Steve Bright, Talbert & Bright, Inc. arrived at 5:02 pm and Mrs. Wanda Copley, New Hanover County Attorney arrived at 5:04 pm. FINANCE REPORT Mrs. Neathery September financials, cash report and summary of accounts. Mrs. Neathery informed the Board of the balance in the Maintenance & Development Reserve Account and i monies are set aside each month in the amount of $8,333.00 per month, with that amount being determined during the budget process. Mrs. Neathery confirmed that this is the account recommended to be used to pay the roof repairs at Aero Services. New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 2 Mrs. Neathery reported that ILM cleared the 2013 Audit and it was published on October 25, 2013 with no findings to report. Hard copies were available for Board review. Mr. Barber stated that staff should be very proud to have no findings in an audit. Mrs. Neathery recommended the Board approve the use of M&D Reserve Funds an amount not- to-exceed $43,500 for FBO roof repairs which are ineligible as a capital expense and were not budgeted as an FY2014 operational expense. Mr. Perritt MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Lambeth to approve the Finance action item discussed above. The MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Crane was not present. FACILITIES Mr. Prease recommended the approval of a contract with Hasco Inc. with a not-to-exceed budget of $35,000 for rubber removal, cleaning, and airfield marking. After some discussion, Mr. Lambeth MOVED, SECONDED by Dr. Roseman to approve the Facilities action item discussed above. The MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Crane was not present. Mr. Prease recommended approval for an additional sewer line easement of 8,450 sq. ft. adjacent to the existing 30 ft. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority easement behind 84 Lumber for an additional payment to ILM. development activity, Mr. Prease responded that there should be very little, if any, impact. Mr. Tunstall, the engineer representing the developer, addressed the Authority with further explanation. After some discussion, Mr. Perritt MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Lambeth to approve the Facilities action item discussed above. The MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Crane was not present. Ms. Amy McLane of Talbert & Bright, Inc. arrived at 5:16 pm and Dr. Jonathan Crane, Secretary arrived at 5:18 pm. , Mr. Prease updated the Authority on the status of the VOR and TACAN. get some action on this from the FAA. In response to Mr. Perritt question as to whether the Aero Service roof repairs have been tested by mother nature, Mr. Prease reported that the work was completed and checked following rain last week without any issues. Mr. Prease updated the Authority that the planting in the cemetery on airport property has been completed and pictures have been taken and forwarded to Mr. Godwin. New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 3 GOVERNMENT Mrs. Wilsey reported on the status of the TSA Exit Lane staffing requirement which is still scheduled to start in January. ILM continues its request for reconsideration. In reaction to the shooting incident at LAX, the TSA union had issues with whether the exit lane monitor needed to be armed or perhaps put on the other side of the checkpoint. ILM is waiting for a written response from the TSA. Mrs. Wilsey reported that Mr. Broughton is working on a plan to implement staffing with an outside contractor if ILM has to hire a regular exit lane monitor, not an armed guard. Mrs. Wilsey indicated the impact would be anywhere from $80,000 to $90,000 a year if we do not get inquiry, Mr. Broughton responded it would require 3 full time employees through a subcontractor, not ILM employees. Mrs. Wilsey mentioned the Foreign Trade Promotion Council event November 13-14 at Cape Fear Community College, Union Station, and Mr. Barber invited the Authority members to attend. MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Dr. Roseman introduced guest Cheryl Penney, co-founder of Human Wall for Fallen Soldiers, who addressed the Authority with information about the organization and shared a slide show of photos of members welcoming home military personnel at the airport. Discussion followed on how to best greet and welcome soldiers arriving at ILM. Mrs. Wilsey suggested that Mrs. Buffkin could post on ILM Facebook page how to contact the Human Wall for Fallen Soldiers regarding welcoming soldiers. Dr. Roseman updated the Authority on the plans to promote general aviation by manning booths at air shows and Dr. Roseman passed out ILM reference cards for the Authority members to use for quick reference information. Dr. Roseman mentioned pursuing additional Honor Flights for WWII veterans that may have missed previous flights. Dr. Roseman further updated the Authority on travel from Camp Lejeune and the government contract through the Department of Defense to move troops and the interest in attracting this travel through ILM. Dr. Roseman asked the Authority to consider changing the handicap parking to the spaces in the rental car lot closest to the terminal building. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Mrs. Wilsey advised the Authority that there were no action items at this time and asked for any questions regarding the information items. No questions were asked. New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 4 OPERATIONS REPORT Using charts for illustration, Mr. Broughton reported total passengers handled, seats available and customs traffic for October. asked to the Caribbean. Mr. Broughton said it was mentioned at the conference he recently attended that nationwide general aviation traffic was down approximately 40%. Mrs. Wilsey updated the Authority on the status of the AMR/US Airways merger. The th November 25 court date is still in place and there are settlement discussions with the Attorney slots, Mrs. Wilsey responded that it could affect our DCA slots, but we do not have anything in writing from US Airways. Mrs. Wilsey informed the Authority that our United Way Campaign has closed and that ILM had 100% participation from all employees and contributions exceeded last year. th Mrs. Wilsey birthday is November 27 and wished him a happy birthday on behalf of ILM Staff and Board. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mr. Barber addressed the Authority memo sent to all Authority members regarding the legal issues and turned the floor over to the Authority for discussion. suggestions and that the RFP is to give them guidelines and the basics. Mrs. Copley indicated that the Authority can change the RFP as long as it is consistent with everything and not varying a lot from the conditions. Responding to Mr. Perrittup question, Mrs. Copley responded that if someone presented a proposal that did not meet the minimum standards as codified in the County Ordinances that the Authority could not accept that proposal. Mrs. Copley, responding to Ms question about modifying the Minimum Standards for approval by the County, stated that the Authority would request it be placed on the agenda and go before the Commissioners and explain the reasoning for the changes. Mrs. Copley stated that the Commissioners will pretty much agree with what ILM recommends. Mr. Perritt expressed concerns that the RFP actually misses a couple of the Minimum Standards and that the numbers in the RFP are different than what was put forth. Mr. Lambeth expressed concern about the RFP language regarding moving all FBOs to the North/West side of the airfield in 5 years being unrealistic. Mr. Perritt stated that the RFP says if the RFP is issued then South side activities will to suggest changing that language New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 5 Mrs. Copley, responding to Mr. PerrittAuthority could show intent to move forward with the RFP but still be able to make revisions to the RFP document, Mrs. Copley stated that the RFP could be released when the Authority wants to release it and the Authority can put what it wants in it. Dr. Crane expressed a similar question regarding making changes to the RFP document to make it a broader, less restrictive document after the Authority votes to approve an RFP and before it is actually released. Mr. Lambeth stated it might be a good idea before we issue an RFP to have a committee of this A nded that ILM would not be in a litigated position if the Authority decided to end the month-to-month agreement with Aero Services because it is clearly a month-to-month tenancy. Mrs. Copley stated this is your basic landlord/ tenant law that on a month-to-month tenancy the statute states you have to give 7 days notice. Mrs. Copley referred the Authority to her July 1, 2005 letter, in response to Dr. Roseman question, which stated be allowed to remain as a month- to-month tenant. Mrs. Copley stated that the Authority at that time, even though they could have done an eviction, the Authority decided they wanted the rent and to provide the competition and services so the Authority decided to leave Aero Services on month-to-month. Mr. Lambeth stated that a lot of the terms of the 1990 lease were still adhered to regarding amount of rent and obligations and that the either. Mr. Lambeth stated he studied all of the requirements of the Minimum Standards and that it looks like to him that Aero Services has been basically in compliance with what they are required to do except maybe they let their insurance go down a little bit temporarily, but other than that, since that 2005 letter, they have pretty much been in compliance with everything that in default. Mrs. Copley said when they were in the default and could have been evicted, that really turned this into the Airport Authority being the driver of this and holding at its discretion whether to continue this month-to-month tenancy. Dr. Roseman stated he was under the impression after the special work session that both these businesses were going to come back and tell the Board what they could do for Wilmington and he asked Mr. Barber if he swept that under the table. Mr. Barber said it was a nice suggestion but we are sitting here with a tenant in default and a tenant threatening action with the FAA and we have to do something. Mr. Lambeth indicated that he wants to do what is right for general aviation and if the Authority wants to do an RFP, then fine, but let the RFP be sensible and logical and not onerous. He stated there were provisions that were onerous in it and specifically those about only giving Aero Services a 5 year lease and putting in provisions that it is written in stone that we are going to be moving all facilities to the North/West side in the next 5 years. New Hanover County Airport Authority November 6, 2013 Page 6 Dr. Roseman said he the best thing for this airport. Mr. Barber stated when we originally started working on the RFP, the term was for 18 months because that is when the airport would be prepared to move FBO services to the North side of the field under the Master Plan. We decided that if we used 5 years, that would at least give a candidate the possibility of borrowing money from a bank. It says in . Mr. Barber stated the Authority was not trying to do anything other than facilitate a solution to a problem and that the Authority is not being responsible to not have a level playing field. Mr. Perritt made a Motion that the Authority move forward with an RFP for the existing Aero Services leasehold with Mr. Lambeth and Mr. Perritt working to revise the language in the RFP using Authority feedback and present the RFP Authority Meeting. Dr. Crane SECONDED the Motion. The MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Lambeth clarified for Dr. Roseman that the Authority voted to bring forth an RFP but it is going to be finalized by a decision of this Authority after recommendations from a committee. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to discuss. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Lambeth MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Perritt to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. Chairman Barber adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Prepared by: Respectfully Submitted: Rose M. Davis _______________________________ Dr. Jonathan S. Crane, Secretary Date of Approval: December 4, 2013