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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemberAppointmentJOAACKITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AGENDA STAFF REPORT AGENDA DATE: September 4, 2018 ACTION REQUESTED: Consider Appointing Members to the Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee (JOAAC) BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners directed staff advertise in the County's paper of record soliciting potential members serving on the the Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee (JOAAC). Public Works conducted the requested advertising and noticed the request on the Board's website. As of 08-28- 2018; three applicant's had submitted. The solicitation effort notices 08-31-2018 as the closing date for applicant submittal. The Memorandum of Agreement with Central Washington University requires County JOAAC membership of four representatives to the committee. INTERACTION: Public Works. RECOMMENDATION: Appoint four members to the Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee (JOAAC). HANDLING: None. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: Applications. LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook, Director. Lathrop, Winbauer, Harrel, Slothower & Denison L.L.P. Attorneys at Law Post Office Box /088, 201 West Seventh Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926 F. Steven Lathrop, P.S. John P. Winbauer Susan K. Harrel Je fSlothower James 7: Denison, Jr. Douglas W Nicholson Hand Delivered August 10, 2018 Kittitas County Board of Commissioners 205 West 5th Ave. Suite 108 Ellensburg, Washington 98926 F. Steven Lathrop steve(a.'lwhsd. com Direct Telephone (509) 925-5612 Direct Fax (866) 213-1548 Main Office Telephone (509) 925-6916 Re: Kittitas County - CWU Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee (JOAAC) Dear Commissioners: I would like to be considered as one of the members of the JOAAC. I have an airplane based at Bowers Field which is professionally flown and have held a commercial pilot's license for fifty-three years, although I am not currently rated. My family owned a ranch adjacent to the airport so I started jumping the fence to hang around the Midstate office at age twelve hoping for the occasional ride around the pattern. Most of my forty-five years practicing laws have involved real estate transactions of many varied types, and I have developed both commercial and residential real estate for over thirty years. I believe my long term interest in the airport and general aviation and my legal and business real estate experience would be useful to the county with regard to the proposed agreement with CWU. Your attention and courtesies in considering this request are greatly appreciated. AUG 1 � ?015 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee cnscnoes... ra „�E ,AtNC' L<L y9 KI RITAS COUNTY BOWERS FIELD JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE This shall be defined as a four member committee representing Kittitas County selected by the Board of County Commissioners to evaluate issues and determine if a recommendation is appropriate to alter the current management structure at Bowers Field. Application for membership shall include the followine information and be returned to: Kittitas County Public Works 411 N. Ruby St, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Name: Steve Lathrop Address: 1572 Robinson Can yon Road City: Ellensburg, WA 98926 Contact Information: Email: steve@lwhsd.com Phone: 509-925-5622 1. Please detail any affiliation you have with Central Washington University or Kittitas County. None presently and no contact with Central over at least the last 10 years. But, from the 80's well into the 90's, I served on the CWU Foundation Board of Directors for approximately 18 years including a term as president and am a life member of the foundation; I also served on the presidential search committee when Ivory Nelson was hired as president. Page 1 of 5 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee 2. What experience do you have with general aviation airports? Licensed pilot (commercial but not presently current) for over fifty years. Own a Cheyenne IIXL (twin turbine powered) based and maintained in Ellensburg for over 10 years. Previously owned a Cessna 175 which we kept in the metal T -hangers when they were built. Can tell when an airport is valued by a community and when it is not. 3. Please describe your experience working with small groups resolving regional issues. Developed a regional shopping center on 74 acres in Medford, Oregon, involving the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, the City of Medford, Jackson County, and Oregon Department of Transportation; worked closely with Urban Renewal director and city and county staff as each was charged with overseeing off-site improvement projects for their respective agencies (1992-2006) Appointed as the representative for all landlords (approx 53 stores in 6 states) on the creditors' committee of the Ernst Hardware bankruptcy and liquidation; though the membership was small, the committee had many diverse interests to deal with around the Northwest including landlords, general creditors, pre and post bankruptcy lenders and liquidation management (1996-97) Legal counsel from the outset for what is now the Suncadia Resort (New Suncadia LLC as successor in interest to Trendwest Resorts, MountainStar, and Suncadia LLC) during the full entitlement negotiation and hearing process involving county staff, the Departments of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Transportation, Health, and Commerce; the Yakama Nation, including the negotiation and drafting of the Development Agreement and its many exhibits between Kittitas County and Suncadia; the negotiation of mitigation agreements with senior and junior water right holders throughout the Yakima River basin; and the continued representation of Suncadia on permitting and general matters with the county, City of Cle Elum, City of Roslyn, and various state agencies (1998 -present) Page 2 of 5 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee Appointed by Senator Murray to the Federal Judicial Merit Selection Committee to review and recommend the appointee to a new judgeship position for the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Washington; the committee consisted of eight members from Eastern Washington charged with investigating and interviewing judicial applicants from the area (2013) 4. Please detail your business planning experience. Not really sure how to answer this as "business planning experience" implies to me just thinking about doing something rather than actually doing it and getting the scars. But, I have formed and presently own or have owned several different business entities including a petrochemical blending facility, both a commercial and residential real estate development company, different investment companies, and a law firm, some with revenues well over six digits. Development of real property, in particular, involves the constant reevaluation of options and outcomes, whether financial, structural or political. I have also formed well over a hundred corporations, limited liability companies, and limited and general partnerships for clients over the years. The formation of all of these entities involved financial and tax planning, ownership structuring, private or commercial financing options, and on-going operational and management matters. For my own account and for others, I have negotiated and/or participated, in the aggregate, in literally hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and business transactions of many types, including leases and business financial transactions with local and national buyers, sellers, tenants, banks, insurance companies and pension funds. I have formed, managed and/or served as trustee for numerous trusts of substance and am active in the financial markets on a daily basis. I have a finance degree from the U of W and could go on about all this ad nauseam. If this answer is not responsive to your inquiry, let me know, and I will try again. 5. What experience do you have relative to economic development? In 1981 I became president of what was then the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce at a time when there were serious discussions at the state level Page 3 of 5 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee about closing CWU which brought the promotion of economic development to the forefront of community thinking. Along with others, I helped to form the Kittitas County Development Council in early 1982 and served as its chair for several years. A county commissioner was always a member of its board. We solicited private contributions and grants (the county, Ellensburg and CWU were all contributors), eventually hired a development coordinator, worked with the State Department of Commerce and the Puget Sound Economic Development Council for assistance, and prepared, published and distributed around the region the first brochure touting Kittitas County as a good place to locate a business. I am not sure of the exact linage, but believe the original entity lives on today in a bit different form. I personally gave up on trying to help when it became clear that, regardless of a lot of happy talk from the usual suspects, the area was not committed to the serious effort needed to compete for economic growth: such as seeing to having available, zoned and reasonably priced land in parcel sizes large enough to allow for expansion; community provided utility and road extensions with no surcharge to a proposed user; reasonable visibility and access; a non -burdensome regulatory scheme; tax and other financial incentives; and a community attitude that is not focused on what it can get from the newcomer over the short term. I maintain that the airport is the most important asset the county has today for promoting economic development as it has at least some of these attributes. And, its aviation facilities, not the land "outside the fence," constitute the core economic value. Whether the community is now prepared to do its part is yet to be seen, but fixing the airport facilities will be a good start. 6. Why would you be a good resource for serving on the Bowers Field JOAAC? I can negotiate and write a pretty good lease. 7. Are you available for bi-weekly meetings for approximately six (6) months? Page 4 of 5 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee Yes, so long as occasional phone participation works as I travel some. However, the stated time frame is not, in my experience, conducive to negotiating and concluding an agreement --it is too long and the meetings too spread out. A few, concentrated sessions have a much better chance of success as the parties will either reach a deal in principal or determine that no deal is possible at that time, in which case you try to call a friendly cessation of talks and preserve the ability to try again when things cool down. Just a suggested approach that has served me well in the past. Page 5 of 5 Bowers Field Joint ,ryla li]ITR.iSC'Ol'R4 r) AU(, ; 1 2018 KieliHZ> Vuuj,41 r DEPT OF PiJ811-10 WOPKS BOWERS FIELD JOINT OPERATENG AGREEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE This shall be defined as a four member committee representing Kittitas County selected by the Board of County Commissioners to evaluate issues and determine if a recommendation is appropriate to alter the current management structure at Bowers Field. Application for membership shall include the following information and be returned to: Kittitas County Public Works 411 N. Rubv St. Suite I Ellensburg, WA 98926 Name: Ed Beeson Address: 2019 Judge Ronald Rd City: Ellensburg, WA 98926 Contact lnfonnation: Email: Phone: ed.midstateaviation@fairpoint.net 509.607.1945 1. Please detail any affiliation you have with Central Washington University or Kittitas County. This is limited to having worked with both. 1 have no affiliation that makes me obligated to either. Page 1 of 3 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee 2. What experience do you have with general aviation airports? I have worked on Bowers field since 1983 as an Airframe & Powerplaut mechanic with Inspection Authorization since 1987. I have an additional Repairman rating far limited avionics and instrument testing and adjustment. My work experience includes: 1) Aircraft and ground support maintenance and operations. 2) Assist with grounds, ramp, and facilities maintenance and upkeep. 3) Ramp plowing and space management. 4) Airport safety monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. 9) Work with FAA, NTSB, state (WSP, Dept. Weights and Measures, DNR), and county (fire marshal, emergency services, public works, Sheriff) entities during investigations or routine inspections. 6. Maintain and monitor fitting facilities. Mobile service work has required learning differences in security and practices associated with various size airports. 3. Please describe your experience working with small groups resolving regional issues. I assisted in creating and managing a Safety Management System within Midstate Aviation to utilize in conjunction with the FBO services, Part 141 flight school operations, and the Part 149 repair station. I was a 4H volunteer leader for 13 years. In that time I was elected for and served as 4H Leader's Council Vice President twice for a total of four years. I was also elected to serve as President for two years, As VP, I supervised and managed fund raising for the county 4H program The President position required managing and conducting monthly meetings, representing the leader's council on the Endowment Tmst fund committee, and working in partnership with WSU extension to insure the County 4H program remained within the National rules and regulations, I was a board member for the non-profit Kiti tas County Junior Livestock Sale Committee for seven years and elected as chairman of the board for five of those. The mission was to bring buyers and sellers oether at the Kittilas County Fair once a year and conduct the livestock sale. 4. lease detail your business plarmiilg experieace. 1 have managed Midstate Aviation's maintenance shop as the Director of Maintenance for over thirty years. Duties include asset management, inventory control, purchasing, billing, producing quotes, customer service including individual consuhaums with customers, resale pricing, outside repair contractors pricing and quality assurance. I conduct internal audits, review pricing, insure the materials and parts suppliers status. I obtained a CFR Part 149 repair station rating for the business by generating the necessary documents and working through the process to show compliance with regulations. I am the current Accountable Manager for said repair station and represent the business during annual federal audits. 5. What experience do you have relative to economic development? I have attended airport advisory committee meetings for many years. I am familiar with issues, discussions, and concerns surrounding the Master plan and use of the industrial park at the airport. My years at the airport bring a wealth of operational activity, input for understanding infiastirrcture, and general aviation knowledge. I have attended recent presentations put on by recognized state leaders regarding economic development completed by other state airports. This leads to discussions in applying ideas to this airport. Page 2 of 3 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee 6. Why would you be a good resource for serving on the Bowers Field JOAAC? I have worked my hole career on Bowers Field. Twenty five years of that was spent helping N idstate Aviation fulfill the Part 141 contract obligations with C WU. I am known and trusted by the larger majority of the local aviation community. I have a statewide and, to a certain extent, national reputation I take quite seriously and work diligently to avoid tarnishing. I have understanding on what it takes to make a Part 135 air taxi operation, Part 141 flight school, and Part 145 repair station function. I have worked with planes from a light sailplane to small corporate jets. Over the years I took on the responsibility of monitoring Bowers field activity and was one of a handful with the authority to file FAA warnings and ultimately close the airport if necessary. I was one of the company mangers responsible for communications with the county regarding the day to day operations on the airport and maintained a friendly and functional relationship with county employees. 7. Are you available for bi-weekly meetings for approximately six (6) months? Yes, I am available for bi-weekly meetings over the next six months. Page 3 of 3 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee �O�S �PSLPDES... POTy�.COCLyB E KITTITAS COIiNTY RFCRIFE► M I 1 i iA6 i;QUN ry lFp? OF FiJBLIC WORKS BOWERS FIELD JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE This shall be defined as a four member committee representing Kittitas County selected by the Board of County Commissioners to evaluate issues and determine if a recommendation is appropriate to alter the current management structure at Bowers Field. Application for membership shall include the following information and be returned to: Kittitas County Public Works 411 N. Ruby St, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Name: John F. Dobson Address: PO BOX 374 City: Union, WA 98592 Contact Information: Email: Phone: jdobson.mo@membersonlyinc.com 206-786-6081 Cell 1. Please detail any affiliation you have with Central Washington University or Kittitas County. I am the Vice-president for the Washington State Aviation Alliance. We serve as a collective voice for aviation and airport related organizations to protect and promote aviation in the State of Washington. Central Washington University is an Affiliate (non-voting) Member of the Alliance Page 1 of 3 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee 2. What experience do you have with general aviation airports? I have been a member of the Washington Pilots Association since the early 1990s. Our mission is to protect and advance the interests of General Aviation in the State of Washington through Advocacy, Outreach, Education and Social. I have held numerous board positions including 5 plus years as the organization's President. From 2009 to 2016 I was employed as the Executive Director for the Port of Shelton (Sanderson Field). I have also been a member of the Washington Airport Management Association and the Washington State Community Airports Association. 3. Please describe your experience working with small groups resolving regional issues. Within the context of the above answer, I served or worked on/with numerous committees and or groups. 1. Long-term Air Transportation Study (LATS) 2. Aviation Economic Impact Study 3. Aviation Economic Impact Study (Solutions) 4. Washington Aviation System Plan 5. Land Use Compatibility Guidebook (2011) 6. Growth Management Act (Litigation: Port of Shelton vs. City of Shelton) 4. Please detail your business planning experience. During my employment with the Automotive Manufacturers (Toyota and Subaru) I consulted with over 175 dealerships in terms of their profitability. Later on I started three businesses. Two were advertising / marketing related and the third was a small real-estate investment company. 5. What experience do you have relative to economic development? Economic development is achieved when an entity (Corporation, partnership or sole proprietor) produces goods and or services that are sold outside of the community and the cash receiptsflow back into the community! Page 2 of 3 Bowers Field Joint Operating Agreement Advisory Committee As the Executive Director for the Port of Shelton we grew from 23 companies to 32 companies in less than 5 years. Employment within those companies grew from 328 to over 830 respectively. Note, the Port of Shelton is a municipal corporation authorized by Title 53. Port Districts are in the business of economic development. 6. Why would you be a good resource for serving on the Bowers Field JOAAC? Assets (airports) are something valuable that the community owns, benefits from, has use of, in generation income. Pilots and businesses seek locations where they are wanted. Based on my read of several current lease agreements there appears to be an "imbalance" that favors some tenants over others. There is a body of acceptable business practices with respect to real-estate holdings and return on investment that appears to have been misplaced. The taxpayers (County), businesses and pilots would greatly benefit from a baseline price and lease structure that treats everyone as equals. I have both the business and airport (and FAA) background that may be of value. 7. Are you available for bi-weekly meetings for approximately six (6) months? Yes ... with some exceptions for travel and other commitments. Page 3 of 3