HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-09-minutes-airport-study-session03/09/20 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 11:00 A.M. MARCH 9, 2020
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-Chair Laura
Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Taylor Crouch, Deputy Clerk of the Board I; Benjamin West,
Director of Airport Operations; Mark Cook, Public Works
Director/Interim Engineer; and 10 members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING AIRPORT STUDY SESSION COMMISSIONERS
At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to meet
with Benjamin West, Director of Airport Operations for the Airport
Study Session.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE
Benjamin West, Director of Airport Operations explained to the Board
his accomplishments since he started in the position.
SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT/ HANGARS
Mr. West explained his plan for 10 hangars with proper site plans.
Plan is currently in progress. Exploring different places for
current hangars and future hangars. Keeping the current planned
hanger spaces open for commercial hangars. Mr. West is asking to
continue discussion on the site plan, 1 hangar in the works, 7-9
pilots that would like to have hangars built. He has had interest
from other pilots that would like to lease hangars, possible
investment on a T-hangar. There would be boundary line adjustments
(BLA) in the binding site plan process. Public Works is working with
Community Development Services. The site would need to be surveyed
by a land surveyor. Plot line adjustment with a BLA makes this a 2-
month process. Through this process Mr. West will continue utilizing
the Airport Advisory Committee.
CWU LEASE MAIN HANGAR
Mr. West explained the 15-year lease extension for CWU that is
currently pending. CWU needs the extension by April 1st, 2020. The
lease is currently being worked on and initial discussions are being
held between the Commissioners and Andreas Bohman, Vice President of
Operations at CWU. Mr. West has as great plan for future development
for both parties involved. There will be an update in 30 days. Lease
opportunities are on-going.
REQUEST SUPPORT STAFF
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Mr. West is working with HR to create an Administration Assistant
job description and he will bring the request forward in a few
weeks. This is a high priority for Mr. West because there is a need
for a full-time person to help with the budget, grant documents, and
answering the phones. Commissioner Wright asked Mr. West to bring
forward the budgetary impact and his plan for the integration of the
position.
ADVISORY COMMIITTEE DISCUSSION
Mr. West explained that there could possibly be a separation of the
Airport Advisory Committee, Non-air side vs Air side. The Strategic
plan would be the driving force on choosing committees. The Board
suggested asking the Committee what other structure they believe
could be functional. Reduce the number of members, keep key players.
CARB LOAN
20-year 1% loan. Important because there is a lot of flight training
with CWU now. Planning on re-doing the main runway, will need an
alternative runway that is operational by then.
STRATEGIC/ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Mr. West stated the Master Plan process was done without strategic
or economic development plans. He would like to get these plans in
place with the stakeholders now. Kurt Addicott, Senior Project
Manager for Century West, explained the purpose for strategic
planning, what are the opportunities that are the right for the
airport. A study of this nature shows the gaps in the regional
market the airport could fill. Puget Sound is having heavy
congestion, commercial congestion is impacting cargo in other
industries. This will open opportunities for developments coming
further east. Time frame would be 6 months to a year. Mr. West would
like to see Bower’s Field become a destination airport. Creating
these plans gives options to make well informed decisions moving
forward. Mr. West asked the Board to allow him to continue to move
forward to work with Century West on this process. Funding for this
would come from a commerce grant. Grant money is not guaranteed at
this point. Commissioner Osiadacz asked that the process be brought
through the Airport Advisory Committee. Commissioner Wright agrees
that public input should be part of this process.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. West provided the Board his list of priorities, 1-5 scale for
the priorities, 1 being highest priority. Safety issues were top
priority. Mr. West is creating an informal plan to combat wildlife
at the airport. Informal document that would be used to show people
and in working with the USDA.
Foreign object damage equipment, Mr. West is looking for money in
the budget for a FOD boss. He recently purchased a blower unit. CWU
would sweep the runways but would cost $900-$1,800 a week. Mr. West
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is currently working with Public Works to start bidding for mowing
and is working with Noxious Weed to upkeep the area through the
season. Flooding mitigation, Mark Cook, Public Works Director/
Interim Engineer stated there is need to go beyond the 20% flood
mitigation design, to 60%. This would include offsite improvements.
Airside maintenance issues, several different types of grants will
be utilized for these projects. Main Runway maintenance is scheduled
for 2023. Mr. West is currently working with Public Works to create
a crack sealing program, there is funding for this this year.
Lighting, Commissioner Wright asked if there are there areas that
need to be completed right now? Mr. west says yes, there are things
he will be fixing as they come up and as the budget allows.
Environmental Assessment is part of the rehab portion. An assessment
helps with flooding mitigation, Mr. West is currently working with
Century West on this item. Mr. Addicott from Century West walked the
Board through the process of the current environmental assessment.
Capital Improvement Plan, Grant money will pay for all the projects.
Completion of a Pilot lounge is put on hold, utilities are being put
in. Mr. West will be putting the trailer in CWU Hangar parking lot.
Moving parking across the street to make up for that space.
Fuel system has been looked at. There currently is an issue on the
placement of the shut off valve.
Leasing, Mr. West is meeting with Neil Caulkins, Chief Civil DPA,
tomorrow to come up with an airport lease plan. Addressing the
issues and working with legal and enforcing the leases. Mr. West
will come up with a process to update leases. Commissioner Wright
asked to move this to a priority 1.
Business Park/ Industrial Park, Mr. West stated there are 3 lots
ready to start marketing. Other lots have issues with flooding/ junk
on the lots. He explains from a revenue standpoint it provides the
money to work on project items.
Commissioner Osiadacz asked for a timeline on the listed goals.
Commissioner Wright asked Mr. West to refine the list even further.
Commissioner Wright asked the Airport Advisory Committee how the
past month has been? Marlene Pfeifer, Airport Advisory Committee
Member stated the Committee asked for the review of Century West,
Mr. West is working on it. Marlene stated the Committee still felt
left out a lot.
Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
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KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD I KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Taylor Crouch Brett Wachsmith, Chairman