PORT OF ORCAS
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
March 8, 2007

Call to order and confirmation of a quorum
The meeting was called to order at 7:00P.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, Bret Thurman.

Approval of minutes
Hopkins moved, Eimers seconded approval of the minutes of the February 22, 2007 regular meeting as presented, and the motion was unanimously carried.

Public access time
Bret Thurman was present to find out about the committee for the airport’s future, which he had volunteered to serve on.

Unfinished Business
1. Looking Down the Runway
a. Larson Property Development: Continuing Discussion
The planning committee, comprised of nine persons, was noted. Some of the members preferred to serve in an advisory capacity only, not attending each meeting. The commissioners, discussing whether the meetings would constitute an open public meeting, decided that with two commissioners serving as members, the sessions would be considered work sessions. Members of the public who might attend would participate only as listeners. McCoy and Edwards offered to serve as the commission representatives. McCoy offered to contact the list of interested parties to inform them of the first meeting, scheduled for 7:00P.M. March 14 in the conference room. If meetings were scheduled every two weeks, the anticipated end of their work would be expected by the end of May. A moderator and recording secretary were to be selected from the committee’s membership, with progress reports delivered to the commissioners after each session. It was anticipated that the first 2-3 meetings would deal with general housekeeping items. Information needed to carry out the work of the committee was to be provided by the commissioners and the airport manager.
2. Master Plan Update
No report.

New Business
1. Addendum to Minimum Standards Document Relating to Air Ambulance Operations
Working from a document and drawing produced by Eimers and the airport manager, Eimers moved, Hopkins seconded appending the document and drawing to the Minimum Standards document, and the motion was unanimously carried. This appended document will be sent to Island Air for their use.
2. Noise Abatement Concerns/Brochure Revision
The current brochure was discussed, with content, missing items, extraneous items and suggestions noted. A list of each was developed and will be edited for inclusion in any revision. The airport manager was asked to include a copy of the current brochure with all hangar land lease billings, and to send multiple copies to all commercial carriers, with expectations of the procedures to be followed. By May, a new brochure is expected to be in its final stages of development, ready for distribution through the summer and the fly-in.

Airport Manager’s Report
Communications were received from: 1)WPPA: legislative updates 2/23 and 3/2; 2)Islands’ Sounder: street talk column 2/28; 3)AOPA: e-mail re Blaine airport.

The airport manager reported on
1. Around the Port
a. Airplane Counter Revived
b. Chlorophyll Reproduction Rate
c. Shiny Floors
2. Investment Status
3. Stormwater Tax
4. Study Time
5. Out of Office
6. Bids for Services
7. Air Ambulance Landing Area
8. WSDOT/Aviation Airport Aid Application
9. Hangar Land Lease Billing
Most items were informational in nature or discussed earlier in the evening.
Re item 1a, Becker reported on the redesigned airplane counter, and attempts to calibrate it to the traffic which frequents the airport. Upon design and construction completion, the units may be commercially available.
Re item #3, Becker moved, Hopkins seconded creation of line item 54.2001 (StormWater Utility Tax) in the general fund budget to allow payment of the stormwater utility tax assessment, and insert $300.00 into the line item, while removing $300.00 from line item 49.2001, Miscellaneous, and the motion was unanimously carried.

Approval of Payroll/Vouchers
McCoy moved, Eimers seconded approval for payment of March 2007 general fund vouchers in the amount of $2,784.83 and the motion was unanimously carried.

Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Commission was scheduled for 7:00P.M., March 22, 2007 in the Port conference room.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15P.M.

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Garth Eimers, Commissioner and Secretary

Prepared by

_____________________________
Bea vonTobel, Airport Manager