Port of Orcas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
January 6, 2007

Call to order and confirmation of a quorum
The meeting was called to order at 9:00A.M. in the Port conference room by Jack Becker, Chairman. A quorum was present. Attending were: Ulanah McCoy, Steve Hopkins, Al Edwards, Jack Becker, Garth Eimers, Bea vonTobel.

Chairman Becker stated that the purpose of the meeting was to begin the port’s process of determining what might be needed to both sustain and provide for growth at the port over the next period of time (projecting 3, 5, and 10 years down the road), and to begin to meet the requirements of the FAA for instrument approaches. Becker noted that the commission should look at what we have in place currently, and what improvements might be needed.

Eimers added that the commission need a vision of what the port might look like in 5 years and succeeding periods of time, taking into consideration what the trends have been and might be.

Hopkins noted that the port needed to define its primary purposes, as in catering to the commercial side or the general aviation side.

Becker summed up that the Port of Orcas serves the entire island, which has many differing needs, and that all needs required consideration.

Speaking to two possible projects which might be considered, Eimers noted that for each, a business plan needed to be developed, with the return on investment considered as primary to any goals considered. He noted that traffic projections, which have not been accurate in the past, need to be reconsidered.

McCoy noted that a goal was not to expand the size of the airport. Current facilities provide for a majority of aircraft currently operating to use the airport.

Eimers cautioned to not rule out an expanded general aviation presence, particularly in the areas of food services, low fuel prices and availability of repair facilities.

Edwards noted that all this discussion was the result of the port’s application for a GPS approach, and the current lack of room in the passenger section of the terminal, which provides no room for expansion.

Eimers noted that the port needs to demonstrate that it is doing something to accommodate the parameters needed for the GPS approach, the adequacy of the terminal, and to articulate to the public what the port’s responsibility is to the FAA and the general public and plan for those responsibilities. He suggested the formation of a focus group, which would create a basic strategic plan outline.

McCoy added that having a plan would create a starting point for talking with the general public, and Eimers stated that focusing on the future role of the airport by the community was most important.

Becker noted that if development occurs, it would need to be a common, agreed-upon decision on what the development would be. Edwards added that the specificity of the direction the port proceeds in needs to be very clear, and communicated in that way to the public.

Eimers, collating comments from the group, recorded the following thoughts on what is driving this program.
GPS Approach Needs
Circling to WAAS to LNAV
Part 77 Surface Requirements

Terminal Needs
Commercial Service
Counter Space
Baggage Handling
Parking
Security
Freight Handling
Fuel
Runway
Aviation Technology

Eimers noted that there were constraints which needed to be addressed, and the list developed from comments included the following:
Constraints
Land
Part 77 Surface Compliance
Funding
Timing
Community Support
Commercial Traffic
Passenger Counts
Number of Carriers
Surface Access
Uninterrupted Service
Expansion Flexibility
Current Runway

Discussion then turned to the ‘pieces’ which might be included in such a vision, dividing the lists into three categories, delineating what pieces were required (needs), desired (wants), and changes which would not occur. The lists compiled from the discussion were recorded as follows:

Must Have Want to Have No Way
Counter Space (3 + expansion) Secure Parking Control Tower
Commercial Air Restaurant Extended Runway
Flight School Expanded Concession Space Eliminate Camping
Charter Ops Car Rental Discontinue Helipad
Wx-Secure Baggage Handling Retail Space
Auto Parking Conference Room
Short-term Green (LEED) Construction
Long term Vegetative Screening/Greenbelt
Security---Space for Needs Office Space
Flight Planning Room
Port Office
Lobby/Waiting Area
Generator
Modern Utilities

Eimers then noted that several special meetings needed to be scheduled, with meetings of stakeholders to occur first, and then stakeholders plus the public. He suggested that a two-commissioner committee be convened, with the same two commissioners attending each meeting so that they did not fall under the public meeting law. The function of these meetings would be to listen to each group and provide resources. The airport manager was asked to survey the stakeholders and arrange for a Tuesday afternoon meeting to be held at the port conference room, and to reserve a couple dates for stakeholder meetings and public meetings at the fire hall to be scheduled after February 7 to allow for the return of Commissioner Edwards from his trip. A report on prospective dates was expected at the regular January 11 meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 12:45P.M.

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Garth Eimers, Commissioner and Secretary

Prepared by

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Bea vonTobel, Airport Manager