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Meeting Minutes for:
Finance Committee Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Friday, November 14, 2025 at 01:35 PM
Call to Order:
The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Finance Committee Meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 1:35PM on November 14, 2025, in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was Stanley Gourley, Chairman.
YCAA FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT WERE:
Stanley Gourley, Chairman and YCAA Treasurer
YCAA FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WERE:
Dean Hager, 1st Vice President
Eric Saltzer, Director
ALSO PRESENT WERE:
Bill Craft, President
Gladys Brown, Airport Director
Gerald Hinkle, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
Silvia Gunderman, 1st Bank Yuma
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
There were no Public Comments.
REGULAR AGENDA
1) November 14, 2025, Finance Committee discussion and possible recommendations regarding a land lease proposal from DAVCON Aviation for 28 acres of undeveloped land in the DCC.
The Finance Committee will reviewed in some detail a proposal submitted by DAVCON Aviation, requesting the opportunity to negotiate a 49-year lease for approximately 28 acres of undeveloped land located immediately south of Freeman Holdings’ Amelia Earhart Hangar within the Defense Contractor Complex (DCC).
Ms. Brown, Airport Director explained to the Committee that DAVCON Aviation’s President, David Wakefield attended the October 31, 2025 meeting of the Strategic Planning committee and expressed his desire to secure undeveloped land in the DCC to place his development company in good position to attract accommodate aviation related businesses in need of leased commercial aviation facilities. After describing the overall intent and convey the Strategic Planning Committee’s support of the concept, Ms. Brown turned to Mr. Hinkle, YCAA Chief Financial Officer to go over the details of the proposal provided by DAVCON Aviation.
Proposed Lease Terms:
Mr. Hinkle described the terms proposed by DAVCON, which included land rents to commence on the 13th month of the lease term at 50% of the land lease rate, unless development occurs earlier. Any portion of the property that is developed would transition to the full lease rate upon project completion. Regardless of development activity, the full negotiated lease rate would take effect beginning in year seven of the lease term.
Once the lease term enters year seven, the land lease rate (as Proposed by DAVCON) would increase by 3% every third year.
Mr. Hinkle explained to the Committee that the YCAA’s current land lease rent schedule, which recommends lease rates for undeveloped land provides a $0.30 PSFPY rate for parcels between 20 and 40 acres. Rent schedules presented to the Committee showed that applying the $0.30 PSFPY land lease rate to DAVCON’s proposal based on a “Worst Case” scenario, no development would result in $182,952 in revenues for years 2 through 6 or $914,760 in total. Carrying the proposal through the entire term would generate $20,164,360 over 49 years.
Mr. Hinkle summarized how the proposed terms contained in DAVCON’ proposal compared to historical developments on the airport pointing out areas in which a counter proposal would be beneficial to the YCAA including advancing land lease rate escalators from the 3% every three years to 3% every other year on developed parcels and securing a minimum amount of investment before the YCAA would be required to expand the necessary ramp to accommodate a continued buildout beyond the available ramp.
Ms. Brown followed by describing facilities developed by DAVCON at other airports and showed portions of DAVCON’s presentation to the Strategic Planning Committee to further expand on DAVCON’s track record.
After the briefing Mr. Gourley asked about the effect of this proposed land lease agreement on our existing lease with Cox Farm Management, who currently farms alfalfa on the property, Ms. Brown explained how the farmers agreement was structured to accommodate for just this situation, to include the ability to remove acreage from the farmers lease upon short notice.
The Committee came to a consensus supporting the proposal, as amended to include an escalated level of land rent increase and setting a minimum amount of investment before committing airport resources whether through grant funding or otherwise before expanding the existing ramp. Since time is of the essence, the Airport Director assured the Committee that a proposed long-term agreement would be available for action at the November 18, 2025 regular meeting of the YCAA Board of Directors.
On October 31, 2025, the Strategic Planning Committee reviewed the proposal in some detail and received a presentation from a representative of DAVCON. The Strategic Planning Committee expressed their support of the overall concept asking staff to present the financial aspects of the proposal to the Finance Committee.
2) November 14, 2025, Finance Committee discussion and possible recommendations regarding the financial impact due to the implementation of additional security measures to meet the requirements of the Joint Use Operating Agreement and as requested by the MCAS Yuma Commanding Office.
After briefing the Board of Directors during a special meeting held on November 3, 2025, the YCAA restricted vehicle access to the airfield by privately owned vehicles (POV’s) as requested by the MCAS Commanding Officer due to the heightened security conditions along the Southern Border and the increased federal emphasis on installation protection.
On November 13, 2025, the Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss the elevated security posture taken by the YCAA and efforts to mitigate concerns arising from these actions. Please review the attached Strategic Planning Committee Executive Summary describing actions taken, including a brief reference to financial implications that may arise.
The following improvements are under consideration or required to meet security and accessibility needs:
· In order to provide pedestrian access to the Martha Taylor Hangar Facility, the installation of a turnstile will be required. The cost of the turnstile itself, a concrete pad, access control and necessary electrical work is estimated at $40,000
· In order to increase electronic surveillance, additional cameras and related infrastructure is expected to cost from $75,000 to $100,000.
· The “Non-Standard” striping existing for the purpose of identifying areas in which POV’s were previously allowed to operate will need to be obliterated. This striping currently exists near the T-Shades, Hero Hangars, Martha Taylor Hangars and the Big Adventure Hangars. The cost for striping removal is estimated at $10,000.
· The “Crash Gate” North of closed of closed Runway 17/35 will need to be removed. The removal of this gate and related new fencing is estimated to cost $3,000.
· There is no intention to add operational personnel at this time but it is possible that additional personnel may be necessary at some time in the future to meet elevated security requirements. A single operations officer will cost approximately $70,000 annually in salary and benefits.
Ms. Brown asked the committee to consider allowing off-budget up to $155,000 for the Martha Taylor pedestrian (turnstile) gate, striping, removal of the crash gate and the acquisition of additional cameras and surveillance systems for specific gates and areas on the airfield at points of interest. If approved, the Board will be briefed on the expenditure and what was completed within the Airport Director’s report at the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors.
Finance Committee Chair supported the consideration and the recommendation will be provided to the Board of Directors for action in the November 2025 monthly meeting.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
There were no Public Comments.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 2:56 PM.
// Approved //
Stanley Gourley
Treasurer, Yuma County Airport Authority; Finance Committee Chairman | |
| | Other Board Minutes
 | Tue Nov 18, 2025 -- November Board |
 | Fri Nov 14, 2025 -- Finance Committee |
| Thu Nov 13, 2025 -- Strategic Planning Committee |
| Mon Nov 3, 2025 -- Special Board |
| Fri Oct 31, 2025 -- Strategic Planning Committee |
| Mon Oct 20, 2025 -- Elections and Personnel Committee |
| Tue Oct 14, 2025 -- October Board |
| Tue Sep 9, 2025 -- September Board |
| Wed Sep 3, 2025 -- Public Relations Committee |
| Wed Aug 27, 2025 -- Strategic Planning Committee |
| Wed Aug 20, 2025 -- Executive Committee |
| Mon Aug 18, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee |
| Tue Aug 12, 2025 -- August Board |
| Mon Jul 28, 2025 -- Finance Committee |
| Wed Jul 16, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee |
| Tue Jun 10, 2025 -- June Board |
| Wed May 21, 2025 -- Finance Committee |
| Tue May 20, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee |
| Tue May 13, 2025 -- May Board |
| Wed May 7, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee |
| Wed Apr 16, 2025 -- Public Relations Committee |
| Tue Apr 8, 2025 -- April Board |
| Tue Mar 18, 2025 -- Strategic Planning Committee |
| Tue Mar 11, 2025 -- March Board |
| Tue Mar 4, 2025 -- Finance Committee |
| Tue Feb 11, 2025 -- February Board |
| Tue Jan 14, 2025 -- January Board |
| Tue Jan 14, 2025 -- Annual Board Meeting 2025 |
| Tue Dec 10, 2024 -- December Board |
| Tue Nov 12, 2024 -- November Board |
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