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Meeting Minutes for:
Monthly Board Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at 04:00 PM
Call to Order:
CALL TO ORDER
The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Regular Board of the Board of Directors was called to order at 4:00 PM on March 9, 2010 in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was William Gresser, President.
YCAA MEMBERS PRESENT WERE:
William Gresser President
Albert Gardner 2nd Vice President
Ed Whitehead Treasurer
Dr. Brian Cullen Secretary
Harry Hengl, Director
Robert McLendon, Director
James Carruthers, Director
Mike Taylor, Director
Jesse Haines, Director
Mikel Smith, Director
Larry Gould, Director
ALSO PRESENT WERE:
Mr. Williams, Airport Director
Gerald Hinkle, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
Gladys Wiggins, Airport Operations Director
Lynn Hall, Director of Maintenance
Gen Grosse, Corporate Account Manager
Andrea Lopez, Executive Assistant
Lt. Col. Workman, Military Liaison
Greg LaVann, GYEDC
Wayne Benesch, Airport Counsel
Joe Gamez, CareFlight
Julie Engle, GYEDC
John Ewing, Dallas Aviation
Gabriela Reyes. Office Manager
Leo Pilkington, Pilkington Construction
Bart Edwards, Garden of Energy
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The President called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Special Board Meeting of February 19, 2010. Mr. Hengl so moved. Mr. Gould seconded the motion. Mr. Gardner asked for the minutes to reflect changes. He stated that he did not object to having Million Air on the airport. He objected to them being located in the DCC area. The other objection from Mr. Gardner was to them working from a trailer. Motion passed unanimously reflecting the changes Mr. Gardner requested.
The President called for a motion to approve the minutes of the February Board Meeting of February 9, 2010. Mr. McLendon so moved. Mr. Hengl seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1) Report by Mr. Williams concerning a proposal to develop an agreement with the City of Yuma in hiring a Washington lobbyist for the Greater Yuma community.
Mr. Williams briefed that In November, Airport Staff and the Community and Government Relations Committee met with Mr. Patrick Mitchell, a Washington Lobbyist, originally from Yuma, to provide some insight into what a lobbyist could do for us. The Committee felt that it would be a good idea to revisit this question early next year.
On March 1, former City Administrator, Mr. Mark Watson, spoke to the Committee to explore the concept that the City of Yuma and Airport Authority could pool our resources in our respective lobbying efforts with a single firm. This type of partnership could potentially leverage our limited resources into a better result for both organizations.
After much discussion the Committee thanked Mr. Watson for his contribution.
The board directed staff to investigate the concept and obtain proposals from the two firms that the Authority has discussed recently. A committee meeting will be scheduled at a later date to review those proposals.
REGULAR AGENDA
1) Monthly report by Chief Financial Officer on current financial status and recent activities
Mr. Williams briefed that Overall, revenues and expenses for are within acceptable parameters as compared to our budget. He referred members to their financial packages. There were no questions.
2) An instructional session for the Board of Directors on Arizona Statutes on the topics of Conflict of Interest and the Open Meeting Law.
Mr. Benesch provided guidance concerning Conflict of Interest and The Open Meeting Law for our newer Board members. This also was a good refresher for our experienced Board members.
3) Discussion and possible action to authorize the YCAA president to sign a Power Purchase Agreement with Blue Energy of, AZ. for the purchase renewable energy generated by their installation, operation and maintenance of an auto parking shade structure supporting a solar power system contingent upon final review by airport counsel and airport staff.
Mr. Williams briefed that as previously briefed to the Board of Directors; Airport Staff began working with potential vendors in April of last year. Two vendors have come close but ultimately were dropped from consideration when they were unable to meet crucial deadlines. Airport staff now recommends approval to sign a contract with a third vendor.
BLUE Renewable Energy, LLC (BLUE) is a renewable energy holding company.
BLUE became involved in renewable energy projects through the Arizona State University Campus Solarization project. Project delays due to lack of funding sources in the renewable energy arena are common. BLUE was formed to fill this void for the mid-sized (0.5-5Mw) market in Arizona.
BLUE does NOT bundle projects where project funding is dependent on unrelated projects that may be involved in a packaged financial “stack.” This is what cost our second vendor the job. Instead, with BLUE, each project is separately funded, owned, and operated, typically performed through arms-length contracts with local electrical contractors.
Since its inception, BLUE, and its affiliated finance entities have secured over 1.6MW of Power Purchase Agreement contracts, involving over 27 separate structures at the Arizona State University, Tempe Campus. Of this current volume approximately 250+KW, encompassing 15 structures, has been completed.
BLUE sources its tax-equity primarily through local Arizona individuals and companies. These equity partners participate in the PV system ownership through the tax-equity mechanism where each PV system is effectively owned by a Target Entity affiliated with BLUE as the Managing Partner/Member.
BLUE has secured its debt finance via a proprietary relationship with Complete Lending & Investments, a Texas based investment placement firm and has secured a conditional debt commitment for the contemplated YCAA Solar Project.
For us, this project, originally conceived as a way to provide free covered parking, now offers a financial benefit as well. In the past several years energy costs have increased measurably on an annual basis, sometimes by 3 to 4 percent. Looking forward over the next two decades, this trend is likely to continue and could essentially double or treble our energy costs during that time.
This contract flattens our electric bill (fixed 1% annual increases) for that entire period, and offers the potential to provide the same savings even beyond 20 years.
The BLUE contract makes the Airport look good; green energy, green jobs from local companies. The general contractor would be Pilkington Construction, and the Electrical contractor would be Mack Electric. The airport has had successful projects with both vendors.
This is the first solar proposal that brings everything together that we've been looking for: a complete proposal, the vendors are identified, we know who will be servicing the equipment for the entire project, the financing appears to be in place and the technology is standard industry equipment that the vendor has put into place in Arizona on more than one project.
4) Discussion and update regarding current construction projects, associated contracts, grant status, general aviation, marketing efforts, conferences and meetings and items of interest with the city and county or other federal or state agencies.
Mr. Williams gave a general update on current grant and construction projects plus other pertinent activities by the airport staff.
Updates include:
TAXIWAY Y
Mr. Williams stated that he has talked with Col. Workman. They need to set up a meeting with NAVFAC. The design is currently on hold at 95% completion.
CBP
Mr. Williams informed the Board that we have a signed lease. There were several expressions that it was a welcome result and a great achievement for the airport.
KIERNAN
Mr. Williams explained that Mr. Kiernan has not forgotten about the Airport. He has been busy on other projects. The Board encouraged Mr. Williams to continue to work with Mr. Kiernan but also to move forward with other developers if there were other interested parties.
MILLION AIR
Mr. Williams stated that staff is working on getting a signed lease. He anticipates it will be signed within a few days.
FAA COMPLIANCE
Mr. Williams explained that most of our projects are on hold while the FAA is reviewing our sponsorship status. That review is expected to be complete by the end of March. The FAA has verbally indicated they have decided that the Airport is in compliance with FAA guidelines but we will not get anything written until the sponsorship question is resolved. Mr. Williams asked for the Board's guidance as to whether or not he should request that the FAA provide us the identity of the “anonymous source.” He explained that this had been a case of fraud against not just the Airport, but also the FAA. The "source" had convinced the FAA to sign a letter containing information known to be inaccurate. The consensus was to move forward with the request followed by a possible claim against the source for the legal fees that we have borne in working on this matter. Mr. Hengl pointed out that this was fraud not only against the FAA and the Airport Authority, but against the County and people of the community.
MILITARY LIAISON
Lt Col Workman stated that he is looking forward to seeing everyone at the Airshow. Yuma was put on the map with last year's Wall of Fire performance.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
No Public Comments were offered.
ACTION
Mr. Hengl made a motion to Motion to authorize the YCAA president to sign a Power Purchase Agreement with Blue Energy of, AZ. for the purchase renewable energy generated by their installation, operation and maintenance of an auto parking shade structure supporting a solar power system contingent upon final review by airport counsel and airport staff. Dr. Cullen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, Mr. Hengl made a motion to adjourn Mr. Gardiner seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 5:23PM.
// Approved //
Craig Williams
Airport Director | |
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