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Agendas and Minutes

Airport Committee (View All)

Airport Commission Regular Meeting

Agenda
Tuesday, March 01, 2022

ASHLAND AIRPORT COMMISSION
FINAL MINUTES
March 1st, 2022

CALL TO ORDER: @ 9:30am

Roll Call: Meeting Recorded
Members Present: Andrew Vandenberg, Jeff Dahle, Jerry Campbell, Bernard Spera, David Wolske, Daniel Palomino, Russ Saunders, George Schoen
FBO Present: Bob Skinner
Members Absent: Patt Herdklotz
Council Member Present: None
Staff Present: Chance Metcalf, Kaylea Kathol
Guests: None

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 02/01/22
Campbell moves to approve minutes with corrections, Spera seconds, All ayes, motion carries.

2. Commissioner Announcements – Spera would like some more discussion on out of service aircraft. Will be addressed during unfinished business. Saunders would like to discuss potential for a festival in 2023, perhaps women in aviation. Dahle suggests adding a community outreach section to the agenda so we can have ongoing discussions about this and similar ideas. This will be added to Action Items in April agenda.

3. Public Forum – None

4. Unfinished Business:

Out of Service Aircrafts – Spera asked about the process for purchasing one of the aircraft. Update forthcoming. There are some unknows City is investigating about ownership. During next meeting agenda, staff will propose a statement to attach to the annual rates update document that addresses abandoned aircraft. Commissioners may submit suggestions through the proper communications channels.Will be voted upon during the April meeting

B. Action Item List-

a. Airport Goals - a draft document is being developed by the airport goals workgroup. A draft list of annual goals has been developed that includes:

Public Relations/Outreach –PR activities to raise airport awareness
Emergency Preparation – emergency power source, earthquake preparedness, etc
Infrastructure – extending tie down apron, taxiways, extending utilities, etc
Riparian Restoration – along Neil, Emigrant Creeks
Solar – foster hosting solar voltaic system on hangar roof(s)
Security – improved surveillance, more effective signage, etc

Spera asks about funding. Wolske explains that this is a catch-all list, but nothing has been prioritized or further evaluated yet. Prioritizing and budgeting will be part of this goal-creating effort. Dahle recommends classifying goals as environmental, economic, and social goals. Identify top 3 goals for each classification, then pursue a funding mechanism and evaluate viability. Dahle cautions against getting spread too thin (too many goals) and being unable to accomplish any goals. Working Group will start developing a framework as advised. Metcalf recommends Working Group be mindful of the Airport CIP, which includes a number of infrastructure and environmental actions that must be completed and are often funded by grants.

b. Commission Member Vacancies – No vacancies. Commission is fully staffed.

c. Airport Maintenance Plan – No Action. Regarding weed removal, Schoen suggested looking into other options and provided a list of options. Saunders asked about inmate labor. Metcalf explained that work crews are in high-demand and haven’t been available to the City in recent years. Schoen asked about the “restricted entry interval” of 12 hours listed on the EPAs website. Metcalf explains that the company is a licensed applicator and applies. Wolske would like to revisit this question before the next spraying cycle. There could be new options to look into. Kathol suggests giving staff direction by the October meeting. Dahle suggests including a conversation on the July agenda.

d. Airport Security - Metcalf provided an update on the status of new, larger signage for entry and camera notifications that will be installed this year.

d. Airport Emergency Preparedness – Dahle congratulated the Commission on recent Council approval of the Airport Emergency Plan. Dahl emphasized that the work is not done – now is the time to publicize and implement the Plan. Plan is posted on website. Dahle wants this on the agenda one more month, to allow time to distribute to other airports, increase community awareness

5. New Business:

Airport Backup Generator – current capital budget does not support installation at this time. Will need to revisit budget in upcoming months. Will continue pursuing in-house installation.

Airport: Good Neighbor Items – Complaints on 2/7 regarding night helicopter operations. Brim was doing night vision training for four nights that went later into the night than expected and upset some neighbors. Commission discussed potential for community notification when something unusual is going on at the airport. Skinner agreed to have an informal discussion with Brim to see what can be done in the future to avoid this kind of disturbance. Also, Staff discussed status of new hangar construction at airport, including unexpected materials delivery.