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CCAA Minutes 02-09-2004COLLIER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY MINUTES OF February 9, 2004 MEMBERS Dennis Vasey Robin Doyle Jim Peterka PRESENT: Bill West ABSENT: Raymond Rewis Steve Price STAFF: Gene Schmidt Bob Tweedie John Kirchner Debi Mueller Bob Titus PUBLIC: Elinor Krier Greg Shepard Winona Stone Tammie Nemecek Patrick Lee MikeTaylor Carol Glassman Stan Vaugn Fred Thomas, Jr. Bob Murray Loretta Murray Hank Nold John Swayze Jorge Sanchez Fernando Sanchez Orlando Sanchez I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AND QUORUM CHECK Meeting called to order at 1:05 p.m. and quorum was present. 1. Award Presentation Mr. Vasey recognized Mr. Robert P. Murray for his contribution to the Centennial Celebration held at the Marco Island Executive Airport on December 17, 2003. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Agenda changes: Add Item 2. Funding to complete powder coating conversion under Capital Improvements. Add Ellie Krier as additional item before B.1. Move items B.6 and B.7 before B.1. Mr. Doyle questioned whether a report would be given regarding talks with Naples Airport Authority and construction of hangars in both Immokalee and Everglades. Mr. Schmidt replied that those items would be covered in his report. Mr. Doyle moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Mr. Vasey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. B. ADMINISTRATIVE 1. Ellie Krier Ms. Ellie Krier representing the Collings Foundation requested a waiver of the Application fee to conduct Aeronautical activities for a visit by a B-24 and B-25 at the Immokalee Airport on February 23rd and 24th, and the Marco Island Executive Airport on February 25th, 26th, and 27th. Recommendation: That the waiver be granted. Discussion: Mr. Doyle asked if there was any cost to the Airports. Mr. Kirchner replied that there would not be any cost involved. Ms. Krier also indicated that a certificate of insurance adding the Authority as a named insured would be issued. Mr. Vasey moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. Doyle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Sanchez Brothers Corporation d.b.a. S.B. Pallets Mr. Fernando Sanchez, Mr. Orlando Sanchez, and Mr. Jorge Sanchez made a presentation to the board introducing their company, S. B. Pallets. A brief history of the Company and their current operations was given. They are interested in leasing an area at the Immokalee Airport for the purposes of using the location as a transfer station only. No manufacturing would be done at the Immokalee location. Mr. Schmidt requested that the Board authorize the staff to negotiate a lease with S.B. Pallets. Recommendation: Authorize staff to negotiate a lease with S.B. Pallets Discussion: Mr. West asked where this operation would be located on the Airport. Mr. Kirchner replied that they would be located where Sienna Marble and Tile was supposed to locate on the southeast sector of the airport. It will be approximately 1.5 acres. The parcel currently has an old trailer and a small building on it. S.B. Pallets has agreed to remove the trailer and make the necessary repairs to the building, at no cost to the Authority. Mr. Doyle asked what size the parcel is. Mr. Kirchner replied that it is less than 1.5 acres, with options to expand to approximately 5 acres. Ms. Tammie Nemecek asked if their future operation would be expanded to include manufacturing. Mr. Sanchez replied that it might if the business grows as expected. Ms. Nemecek then asked how many jobs would be created by this location. Mr. Sanchez replied that to start there would be 3. Mr. Doyle moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. Peterka seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Immokalee Regional Airport Air Show Committee Mr. Patrick Lee presented the Board with a proposal to do an Air Show at the Immokalee Regional Airport for late winter or early spring 2005. They want to make this air show a first class event, similar to the Fort Lauderdale Air & Sea Show. They have talked to Air Boss Consulting International. The principle there is Wayne Boggs, who has an extensive background of being air boss at several shows throughout the United States. Mr. Lee requested the Board’s approval to move forward with this air show. There are many unknowns at this point, however, before anything else can be done, they need Board approval. One of the first steps will be to come up with a title sponsor for this event. It was also suggested to Mr. Lee that they have the consulting firm of AB&CI do a presentation for the Board of County Commissioners. The consulting company will require a fee. Mr. Lee is requesting that the Board authorize an expenditure not to exceed $1,000.00 for this purpose. Recommendation: Authorize the committee to proceed with the planning of the air show. Mr. Vasey moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. Doyle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Recommendation: Authorize the reimbursement of up to $1,000.00 for expenditures for presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, with the understanding that any excess funds from the show will be refunded. Discussion: Mr. West wholeheartedly approves of the Air Show, however, questioned the availability of funds. Mr. Titus said that we can reimburse expenses up to $1,000.00 and he would also suggest that if there are any excess funds from the sale of tickets, the Authority be refunded those expenses. Mr. Vasey then suggested that the presentation by AB & CI be done in conjunction with the workshop scheduled for May 2004. Mr. Vasey moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. West seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Hornet Flight Training Mr. Lee of Hornet Flight Training requested approval to begin operating as a sub- contractor for the purpose of offering glider training at the Immokalee Tradeport. They have a glider in place and a tow plane in place and feel they have a tremendous customer base. Mr. John Swayze will be working with Hornet using an L113 glider. The glider will be equipped with a radio. Recommendation: Authorize staff to allow the operation. Discussion: Mr. Peterka questioned whether this activity falls within the confines of the present lease, and the necessity of a hold harmless agreement. Mr. Kirchner will explore the current lease. Mr. Lee said that Mr. Swayze would carry the insurance, listing Hornet Flight Training, Collier County Airport Authority and the Board of County Commissioners as additional insured’s. Mr. Palmer would like to review the lease and any agreement proposed for the operation of glider training. Mr. Vasey moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. West seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 6. South Florida Defense Antiquities Museum, Inc. Mr. Stan Vaughn and Greg Shepard requested approval to pursue a lease of one half of the cargo facility until a permanent tenant can be found. Mr. Kirchner indicated the Authority has received an application to conduct aeronautical activities, which included plans to build a building on lease spots A-8 and A-9 just north of the cargo facility, from South Florida Defense Antiquities Museum, Inc. They are requesting approval to build a building between 14,400 square feet and 45,000 square feet, depending on donations, in addition to leasing one half of the cargo facility. Recommendation: Authorize staff to negotiate the lease for lots A-8 and A-9 and allow the lease of on half of the cargo facility. Mr. Doyle moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. Vasey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion: Mr. Peterka commented that we should take a look at the plans involved and make sure we have the right of refusal and or working with you guys in order to keep the Florida Tradeport in the design that we are looking at. We should make sure that their plans dove tail with the master plan. 2. Safire Aviation – Update Ms. Nemecek updated the Board regarding Safire Aviation. EDC is planning on going back to the Board of County Commissioners on March 9, 2004 to get them to approve the two final resolutions for the QTI match as well as the brownfield area designation. Those two resolutions then need approval from the State. County manager Jim Mudd and Gene can then work with Safire to start contract negotiations for the infrastructure. There have been some concerns as to whether or not due diligence has been done with Safire because of the amount of incentives offered. The groups that met with Safire are satisfied that Safire can perform, also the incentives are performance based. Every precaution is being put in place to make sure the County is not at risk. We should know within the next two weeks if we are on the short list. The final decision should come sometime around the end of March. 3. Skytruck – Update EDC toured the planes at the WWII center. The tour went well and the participants enjoyed Immokalee tremendously. They are meeting with other representatives and other locations. EDC is currently trying to find someone to build a building for them. Skytruck is moving along, however, a decision is not expected for another six months. Ms. Nemecek feels more comfortable that they may choose Immokalee over the other locations they are looking at. She feels that the incentives a community can offer will play a key role in their decision. Mr. Doyle commended the work of EDC and our staff for how quickly they have brought this together and how well they have worked together. The County staff was also incredibly helpful. Everyone performed admirable in a very short time, and that is something that hasn’t happened before. Mr. Vasey added that the decision to bring Florida Tradeport and then the decision by EDC to staff with a full time employee has certainly added to our understanding of the marketing issues. Ms Nemecek added that the marketing plan involving the little crates focused on cargo operations has been on hold for the last two months due to the effort put into the Safire proposal. Duane will be working on this marketing campaign again. Ms. Nemecek would like to get to the point of having a national marketing plan in place. She estimates the cost of such a plan to be $200,000.00. From EDC prospective, they will look at funding, however, she needs direction from the Authority. How would the Authority like to see EDC operating in relation to a marketing plan? Recommendation: That we authorize our staff and the EDC to go ahead and design a marketing campaign for the next year and come back to the Board with proposals to include budgeting so that we have it in time to discuss it with the Board of County Commissioners at the May workshop. Mr. Titus suggested that preliminary numbers be given to us as soon as possible, because we will be doing the budget for 2005 before the May workshop. Mr. Doyle moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. Vasey seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Florida Architectural Products – Update Mr. Kirchner reported that during negotiations of the lease the cost of changing the powder coating system to a wet system and tenant improvements would cost $21,000. These things were covered under obligations of the Authority in the lease. Once design work began for the changes, it became apparent that the cost would be greater than anticipated. The shortfall is $13,000.00. Recommendation: Authorize budget amendment for 13,000.00 plus 10% contingency with the understanding that any of the contingencies not used would be returned, nor will the scope of the project be expanded to consume the contingency. Mr. Doyle moved for approval of the recommendation. Mr. West seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Ordinance 2004-03 Mr. Palmer reported that the changes were exactly no more, no less than discussed previously. Mr. Vasey pointed out that under the new ordinance we could be approved for a grant, and then have the commissioners say no. Mr. Vasey suggested that as a matter of practice, that every time we have an issue we want to pursue, we present it to the Board of County Commissioners and if they want to discuss it and not carry it as a consent agenda item, we have a place on the agenda where it can be discussed in a public forum. C. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS 1. FAA grant funding to rehabilitate Runway 09-27 at Immokalee Regional Airport Mr. Vasey reported that after a discussion with Luc Carrier, it was determined that we would like to pursue funding to rehabilitate Runway 09-27 at Immokalee Regional Airport. His reason for bringing it up today is to begin the process of informing the Board of County Commissioners on our intentions. Mr. Peterka pointed out that before the FAA will entertain the rehabilitation, they would need the latest inspection, and pavement condition index for that runway. Mr. Kirchner reported that an inspection was done 2 years ago. Mr. Vasey requested that staff look at what issues need to be taken at Immokalee and what priorities we should be looking at. If rehabilitation is not, then we should be prepared at the May workshop to discuss alternatives for the next 5, 10 years. Mr. Peterka questioned whether or not the Authority had the option of approving the individual who did the runway survey work within our contract with Hole Montes. He pointed out that Hole Montes may not have the expertise to complete such a survey. Mr. Vasey asked Mr. Peterka if he would be willing to review the Hole Montes contract. Mr. Peterka replied that he would be happy to review the contract and report back to the Board. 4. OLD BUSINESS 1. Immokalee Regional Raceway Mr. Hester, Mr. Kirchner, Mr. Schmidt, and Mr. Vasey met with the County planner. Mr. Kirchner reported that Mr. Hester can get a temporary permit, and one was issued on February 6, 2004. Mr. Hester has not given us any information regarding the improvements he plans. III. Approval of Agenda A. Approval of consent agenda Mr. Doyle moved to approve the consent agenda. Mr. West seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. II. Executive Director’s Report Mr. Schmidt reported that we are in the process of replacing the Administrative Assistant. Discussions with Mr. Soliday have not gone very far, and the Naples Airport Authority board appears to have lost interest. Mr. Vasey reported that lease processing information has gone out to a party interested in building T-Hangars in Immokalee. Mr. Vasey also reported on various projects at the Everglades Airpark, which may be a mute point if the Airpark is turned over to Everglades City. 5. NEW BUSINESS 6. PUBLIC COMMENT 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Prepared By:____________________________ Debi Mueller, Office Manager