PORT OF ORCAS
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
February 11, 2010
Approval of minutes
Hopkins moved, Wells seconded approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of January 14, 2010 as presented, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Hopkins moved, Wells seconded approval of the minutes of the special meeting of January 28, 2010 as presented, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Public access time
Greg Ayers, commissioner of the Eastsound Sewer and Water District (ESW), was present to encourage the port to pursue the trade of the Griot property for port property, noting that this would provide the best solution for the community relative to a necessary and planned expansion of the sewer treatment facilities.
Ed Sutton, chairman of the commission of ESW, seconded the suggestion, and said that ESW was interested in the easternmost portion of that property for location of their offices, and a screw press operation. He also noted that there was a possibility that the ½ acre lot they now occupy might be vacated should they have the ability to locate all their facilities on one parcel.
Chair Thurman noted that he and Commissioner Wells would pursue this issue moving forward. In the meantime, the airport manager was asked to communicate to Mr. Griot that the port is interested in what sort of arrangements would be acceptable to both the port and the FAA, and that discussion of this item would be put onto the March meeting agenda.
Mike Adams, pilot for Alaska Airlines and designer of FAA-accepted GPS approaches, was present to speak about what sort of approach the port would like/could initiate for RW16. He stated that of the three types of approaches (standard, standard with waivers, special), what needed to be determined were the parameters for each approach with regards to the operation of aircraft class and possible obstructions. He offered to investigate further and present options at a future meeting.
Several people were present to give information about through-the-fence items. Chair Thurman had presented two resolutions in the form of tariffs, and hoped that the suggestions might give some finality to this issue. He noted that no decision was slated for this meeting, but hoped that at the next regular meeting, a port-generated solution would be presented to those who hold Ferris deeds of access. He also noted that there were two issues to solve: FAA acceptance of the port-generated solution and the Ferris access issue.
Merrill Wien noted that a year ago, an impending sale of his hangar was negated because of the lack of a solution to the access issue.
Mike Parnell offered that some sort of covenant with a specific cost be perhaps tied to the CPI or some other acceptable measure.
Commissioner Edwards stated that a precedent would be established if a fee were to be imposed.
Wien wondered about the legal clout the Ferris deed might have should this issue move to litigation.
Eric Gourley stated that he did not see the validity of any fee that might be imposed.
Wayne Munich noted that it would be nice to see the issue settled.
Robin Watson asked about the runway issues that had been raised in previous meetings, and Thurman replied that the impending runway overlay was dependent on FAA funding or local monies, and the port was currently out of compliance to receive federal funding.
Chair Thurman asked for any additional information or possible solutions to be forwarded to the commissioners, as this item would be put into a written format for adoption at either the March or April regular meeting.
Unfinished Business
1. Looking Down the Runway
a. North Outfall Completion
This work item was completed earlier in the week. Further information was contained in the airport manager’s report. A press release had been sent to numerous e-mail lists.
2. Through-the-Fence Matter—continuing discussion
This matter had been dealt with earlier during public access time.
3. Pearson Matter
The airport manager was asked to confirm with Steve Pearson the agreed-upon annual lease rate, and then to instruct Port Counsel Hancock to reconfigure the lease agreement to those parameters.
Thurman moved, Edwards seconded having the airport manager proceed to have Port Counsel Hancock proceed to produce the documents with the agreed-to rate, and the motion was unanimously carried.
4. State Audit Conclusion
Commissioners Wells and Thurman were present for the telephonic exit interview on February 8, and reported on those items the auditors expressed needed attention. Commissioner Hopkins had been appointed as the port’s ‘fiduciary overseer’, and will peruse the financial records to provide an additional set of eyes on the records.
New Business
1. Olympic TFR Update
Several infractions had been reported, and the airport manager had notified the port’s e-mail lists of the TFR and its effects on the status of Orcas as a ‘fringe’ airport.
2. Levy Certification Resolution Do-over
Thurman moved, Hopkins seconded acceptance of Resolution #02-11-10 as adjusted by figures from the SJC Assessor, and the motion was unanimously carried.
3. Griot Letter
The airport manager was asked to draft a letter to Mr. Griot expressing the port’s interest in proceeding with discussion in a possible trade, and to place this item as an item on the unfinished business portion of the agenda at the next regular meeting.
Airport Manager’s Report
Communications were received from: 1)Port of Port Angeles: winter newsletter; 2)Port of Bremerton:
The airport manager reported on: Action Plan for Energy Efficiency; 3)Lyndon (Tuck) Wilson: letter 1/31 re hangar leases
1. Around the Port 7. TTF Progress
a. Free Car 8. Pearson Lease
b. Phone Booth/Soda Machine 9. Griot Letter
c. Generator 10. Treasurer’s Report/Income Data
2. North Outfall Project Completion 11. Summary of 2009 Commercial Activity
3. Those Wonderful Men in their Flying Machines 12. Out of Office
4. Levy Certification Update 13. Vehicles Crossing Runway
5. The Audit 14. Surgery Dates/James to Fill In
6. GPS Approach
Approval of Payroll/Vouchers
Wells moved, Hopkins seconded approval for payment the January 2010 general fund expenditures in the amount of $10,748.87, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Hopkins moved, Wells seconded approval for payment the January 2010 capital projects expenditures in the amount of $2,486.25, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Wells moved, Hopkins seconded approval of the January 2010 payroll in the amount of $4,758.25, and the motion was unanimously carried
Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Commission was scheduled for 7:00P.M., March 18, 2010 in the Port conference room. This meeting is a week later than normal due to planned absences of staff and commissioners.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30P.M.
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Steve Hopkins, Commissioner and Secretary
Prepared by
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Bea vonTobel, Airport Manager