Airport Authority - September 25, 2018 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Municipal Airport Authority of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held Tuesday, September 25, 2018, in the Airport Boardroom.
The members present or absent were as follows:
Present: Linn, Lind, Haugen, Clark
Absent: Blazek
Others: Bossart
Chairman Clark presiding.
Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Municipal Airport Authority Held September 11, 2018:
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Municipal Airport Authority held September 11, 2018, were approved without objection.
Approved the Airport Vouchers Totaling $45,161.88:
Gen. Haugen moved to approve the airport vouchers totaling $45,161.88.
Second by Mr. Lind.
On the call of the roll, members Linn, Lind, Haugen, Clark voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Blazek
The motion was declared carried.
Approved the Individual Voucher to Mead & Hunt:
Ms. Linn moved to approve the individual voucher in the amount of $29,141.00 to Mead & Hunt for partial payment request for engineering services in connection with the Dakota Drive Pavement Rehabilitation Project, AIP48.
Second by Mr. Lind.
On the call of the roll, members Linn, Lind, Haugen, Clark voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Blazek
The motion was declared carried.
Approved the Individual Voucher to Mead & Hunt:
Ms. Linn moved to approve the individual voucher in the amount of $18,270.00 to Mead & Hunt for partial payment request for engineering services in connection with the Dakota Drive Street Lighting Improvements, AIP48.
Second by Mr. Lind.
On the call of the roll, members Linn, Lind, Haugen, Clark voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Blazek
The motion was declared carried.
Received Request from David Olig/David Glatt (Northwest Hangar) Regarding South General Aviation Area Lease Extension:
The communication from Northwest Hangar (David Olig, David Glatt) dated September 17, 2018, was received and filed without objection.
Mr. Dobberstein stated Northwest Hangar is requesting an extension of their hangar lease in the south general aviation area. He stated we typically grant a five-year extension on hangar leases.
Mr. Lind moved to approve the request for a five-year lease extension for the Northwest Hangar.
Second by Ms. Linn.
All members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Received Update on AIP Grant 48:
Mr. Dobberstein stated on September 14, 2018, he and Attorney Bossart accepted the FAA AIP Grant 48 for just over $2.7 million. He stated that is for the reimbursement of the second phase of the Cargo Apron Expansion, which was completed last year, and also for the Dakota Drive Rehabilitation Project with which we are moving forward.
Received Parking and Transportation Study #3:
Mr. Dobberstein stated we received the results of the Parking and Transportation Study conducted by SP Plus for the period July 31 - August 1, 2018, and that report was distributed.
Ms. Linn stated she feels the information in this report is so helpful and she will be adding this information to the summary she has compiled with information from the two previous studies. She stated she noted that there was a 3% drop in taxis but a 4% increase in TNC's (Transportation Network Companies). She stated it will be interesting to watch that trend. She asked if we will continue to do these studies.
Mr. Dobberstein stated this will be the last one done by SP Plus under our current concession contract. He stated the proposals for our new parking concession contract effective January 1, 2019 are due October 1.
Mr. Lind stated this is good, hard data to review. He stated for any future surveys he would like to see the question "Where are you from?" changed to "Where do you live?"
The report was received and filed without objection.
Received Update on Proposed Skyway from TL Stroh Architects:
Mr. Terry Stroh, TL Stroh Architects, was recognized and stated he has brought some new design boards today to show some of the changes they have made as they have continued their work on designing the project. He stated there have not been major changes from the previous design. He stated the main change is going from five buildings to three. He stated for the long-term planning process we are including plans for a parking ramp which has to be a certain distance from the terminal building, otherwise it will have to be constructed with blast proof materials which increase the cost dramatically. He stated the skyway structure closest to the terminal building will be built with a panel that could be removed to accommodate a hallway to a parking ramp. He stated another change is to locate the mechanical equipment in the largest building and the heat will be a radiant heat above the walkway. He stated they are also looking at exterior finishes. He stated the skyway is being designed so it can be expanded to the south. Mr. Stroh stated they have a meeting later this week with Mr. Dobberstein and Mr. Anderson to discuss staging during construction in order to cause the least disruption to passengers.
Ms. Linn stated she feels the skyway gets people out of the elements and this design also plans for the possibility of a parking garage in the future. She stated the last thing we would want to do is build something and be out of compliance with the FAA's requirements.
In answer to a question regarding covered parking, Mr. Stroh stated covered parking is too difficult in our climate. He stated the freeze thaw cycles we get at times of the year cause too many problems. He stated covered parking works in warmer climates, but not ours.
Mr. Stroh stated as far as a timeline on the project, they are planning drawings to be completed for possibly a February 2019 bid scenario.
Ms. Linn stated she would like to see us have another public open house for the project.
Mr. Stroh stated we could do that.
Airport Construction and Security Update:
Mr. Terry Stroh, TL Stroh Architects, was recognized and stated Smithco is just finishing up the final work on the exterior metal panel replacement on the east side of the terminal building.
Other Business:
Mr. Dobberstein stated The Arts Partnership will be here this morning working on the first series they will be featuring in the terminal. He stated the theme is "cows". He stated there have been some adjustments because when they originally made their presentation they were not aware of the Heritage Homes display in the baggage claim area. He stated we are working with Flint Communications on media engagement.
Mr. Dobberstein stated he attended the annual conference of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones in Atlanta. He stated there was a lot of discussion on tariffs and the impact on operators and grantees. He stated we are continuing to work with Digikey and their attorney on what they want to do here in Fargo and Thief River Falls.
Mr. Dobberstein stated we have had some questions on our request for public parking proposals. He stated all questions and responses have been posted on our website. He stated the one change we have made since our last meeting is with the guaranteed revenue. He stated we are keeping the guaranteed minimum at $2.4 million but the 85% rate will be applied to gross revenue in excess of $2,000,001, which will help the successful operator with cost of equipment installation, etc.
Mr. Dobberstein stated the proposals are due October 1 and will be reviewed by all board members. The contract will be awarded at our meeting on Wednesday, October 24. He added that the engineering proposals are due October 4 and will also be reviewed by all members and awarded on October 24.
Gen. Alexander Macdonald (Ret.) was recognized and stated he would like to express his appreciation to the members of the Airport Authority and to the airport management working at this airport for the absolutely outstanding job they have done over the past few years. He stated they have brought in FedEx, UPS, and is home to one of the largest and best nationally recognized Fixed Base Operators in the nation (Fargo Jet Center), working with the NDANG on the MQ9 operating on the airport bringing more jobs to Fargo, and bringing Frontier Airlines back to Fargo. He stated all of these things have been done with no significant increase in user fees. He stated the airport is very user friendly and he hears nothing but admiration for Hector Airport. He thanked the board members for their dedication. He stated as a taxpayer it is a pleasure to see what the board has done.
Gen. Haugen moved that Chairman Clark select two board members to review the compensation for our Executive Director and bring forth a recommendation for a pay increase at our first meeting in November.
Second by Ms. Linn.
Gen. Haugen stated just as the list of successes mentioned by Gen. Macdonald, these are economic developments that bring a lot more money into the city than many of the other efforts we may see elsewhere throughout the city. He stated if you look at compensation rates for this position at other airports in our multi state region we are on the low end and we need to change that.
Ms. Linn stated she concurs. She stated she and Mr. Don Kilander spent months on this issue. She stated she has stacks of documentation to justify this.
All members present voted aye and the motion as declared carried.
After discussion, Chairman Clark appointed Gen. Haugen and Ms. Linn as the two members to bring forth the recommendation at the first meeting in November.
Mr. Dobberstein recognized Mr. Pat Sweeney, Chairman of the Board for both Weather Modification, Inc. and Fargo Jet Center. He stated Weather Modification has been in business since 1961 and asked Mr. Sweeney for some comments.
Mr. Pat Sweeney was recognized and stated he started his employment with Weather Modification while a sophomore at UND in 1975. He stated he later purchased the company and then in 1993 moved the operation to Fargo. He stated at that time they worked with the Airport Authority, the City of Fargo, and Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation to locate in and start development of the north general aviation park where they have now been for more than 20 years. He stated as Gen. Macdonald stated, the support these entities give each other make us all successful. He stated they are doing very well and are very proud of what their people have done. He stated he remembers coming to the Airport Authority in 1993 and saying he would create 24 new jobs in five years. He stated they created 60 jobs in that five years and now have about 160 employees in Fargo and another 20 employees at their plant in Kindred. Mr. Sweeney thanked the board for their support and told them to keep doing a good job. He added that Fargo Jet Center is a great gateway for people coming into Fargo on private jets.
The meeting of the Municipal Airport Authority was adjourned until the next Regular Meeting to be held Tuesday, October 9, 2018.
Time at adjournment was 8:32 a.m.