03/04/2015

Meeting Minutes for:
Strategy Committee Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Wednesday, March 04, 2015 at 03:12 PM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Strategy Committee of the Board of Directors was called to order at 3:12PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was Dean Hager, Chairman.

    YCAA MEMBERS PRESENT WERE:
    Ronald Rice, President
    Dean Hager, Treasurer
    Charles Balch PhD, Director
    Jonathan Matheus, Director

    YCAA MEMBERS ABSENT WERE:
    Albert Gardner, 2nd Vice President

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Gladys Wiggins, Director
    Gerald Hinkle, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
    Andrea Lopez, Executive Assistant
    John Sternitzke, Sternco Engineering
    James Combs, Million Air
    Drew Pilkington, LPC Construction

    REGULAR AGENDA

    1) Strategic Planning Committee discussion and possible recommendation on the proposed development of the Amelia Earhart Hangar.

    Ms. Wiggins explained that in June of 2012 Freeman Holdings came to an agreement with the Authority to amend their lease to add Premises 5 consisting of 3.16 acres of land in the Defense Contractors Complex just north of a parcel of land leased to ARCFeymaaz001, LLC which is occupied by Fed Ex. Amendment #3 to the Freeman’s lease provided for their investment in a “Spec Hangar” as described in the amendment which would later become the Amelia Earhart Hangar. Amendment #3 deferred commencement of lease rent on the property for 24 months to provide time for completion of the development. A short time after Amendment #3 was executed, the City of Yuma and the Authority entered into a development agreement allowing for the construction of the facility in phases as discussed in the Lease. The development agreement (attached) calls for construction of the building shell in Phase 1 followed by the completion of the project in Phase 2 on or before July 15, 2017, five years from its effective date.

    In the Spring of 2013 the Freeman’s completed Phase 1 of the project which has remained in that physical state to this day. In June of 2014, the Strategy recommended and the Board of Directors ultimately approved pushing back the implementation of land rent on Premises 5 until June of 2015 allowing a full 36 months for development of the property prior to the application of land rent.

    In February of 2015, the Freeman’s met with YCAA staff to discuss the status of their development. During this meeting the Freeman’s requested that the Authority consider changing the proposed vehicle access route to the property from 4th Avenue Extension to the West to 40th Street from the North. The nature of this request was mentioned during a meeting with the engineers and airport staff in effort to reduce the cost of the development by an estimated $40,000. This cost is the result of improvements required to cross an irrigation canal between the hangar and 4th Avenue Extension, as well as constructing a turn lane.

    After much discussion including a debate between the contractors representing Freeman Holdings as to whether or not the proposed alternate access route would actually result in significant cost savings, the consensus of the Committee is to revisit this issue in a couple of weeks if necessary.

    2) Strategic Planning Committee discussion and possible recommendation regarding the Memorandum of Understanding for a project assessment to relocate the Yuma County Fairgrounds proposed by the City of Yuma and Yuma County.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was provided for review and discussion including all background information, scope, purpose, duration, etc.

    Ms. Wiggins discussed the nature of the MOU and the Committee specifically discussed any provisions that could require a financial obligation on behalf of the Authority. Ms. Wiggins went on to explain that the Authority had not provided any input in regards to the MOU with the EXCEPTION that the Airport is not able to acquire grant funding for land acquisition and the revenue generated on airport property is intended to pay for the operational functions and facilities on airport. The Committee was satisfied that the document contained no financial obligation and expressed how participation in the process was vital.

    The consensus of the Committee was to recommend to the Board to sign on to the MOU.

    3) Strategic Planning Committee discussion and possible recommendation to provide a lease proposal to the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) regarding Hangar F1 in the Martha Taylor Hangars as a proposed headquarters location for the EAA Chapter 590.


    Ms. Wiggins described how she met with the EAA Chapter 590 President Robert Miller to discuss the future of aviation in Yuma County and how the cohesive relationship of the YCAA and EAA are necessary to promote and foster general aviation. During this positive and productive meeting, President Miller expressed his interest in possibly looking at a location on airport for the EAA Chapter 590. There is an aircraft associated with the Chapter along with routine meetings which take place the first Tuesday of every month and Board meetings that take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Having a location on airport would mean there is a possibility of the chapter aircraft to relocate, as well as the ability to locate their headquarters and provide a base for aviation events such as an annual fly-in.

    There is a vacant hangar in the general aviation area in which a non-commercial agency, such as the EAA, could utilize for their chapter on the west side of the Martha Taylor Hangars. Hangar F1 could provide aircraft storage along with some office space for their headquarters. This location was previously the CBP shop space that connected with the hangar. It is similar to Civil Air Patrol in layout but the office areas are smaller and the hangar faces the north (versus the CAP which faces the taxiway).

    The cost of this hangar and office space is listed at a monthly rate of $1,200. The monthly cost of a hangar in the Martha Taylor is $515. Because both the hangar and office are connected there has never been the desire to separate the facility however the breakdown is $515 for the hangar and $685 for the office area. That is approximately $1.45/SF for the office area that is 473SF.

    The Airport staff sought a recommendation from the committee on the possibility of providing Hangar F1 at a slightly reduced rate in an effort to support the EAA and its mission. The EAA president understands there is a cost associated but interested in what it would be for their EAA to have a home base on the airport facilities.

    The consensus of the committee was to direct staff to move forward with a proposal to the EAA regarding the lease of Hangar F1 for their use at a reduced rate of $515 per month.

    ADJOURNMENT

    There being no further business before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 4:23PM.




    // Approved //
    Dean Hager
    YCAA Treasurer; YCAA Secretary


    Other Board Minutes

    Group IconTue Mar 12, 2024 -- March Board
    Group IconTue Feb 13, 2024 -- February Board
    Person IconThu Feb 8, 2024 -- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
    Group IconTue Jan 9, 2024 -- January Board
    Group IconTue Jan 9, 2024 -- Annual Board Meeting 2024
    Group IconTue Dec 12, 2023 -- December Board
    Group IconTue Nov 14, 2023 -- November Board
    Person IconMon Oct 30, 2023 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Person IconTue Oct 24, 2023 -- Executive Committee
    Group IconTue Oct 10, 2023 -- October Board
    Person IconMon Sep 18, 2023 -- Elections and Personnel Committee
    Group IconTue Sep 12, 2023 -- September Board
    Group IconMon Aug 28, 2023 -- Special Board
    Person IconThu Aug 17, 2023 -- Finance Committee
    Group IconTue Aug 8, 2023 -- August Board
    Person IconTue Aug 1, 2023 -- Elections and Personnel Committee
    Group IconTue Jun 13, 2023 -- June Board
    Person IconWed Jun 7, 2023 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Group IconTue May 9, 2023 -- May Board
    Person IconFri May 5, 2023 -- Finance Committee
    Group IconTue Apr 11, 2023 -- April Board
    Person IconWed Apr 5, 2023 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Group IconTue Mar 14, 2023 -- March Board
    Group IconTue Feb 14, 2023 -- February Board
    Person IconWed Feb 8, 2023 -- Finance Committee
    Person IconFri Jan 27, 2023 -- Finance Committee
    Person IconThu Jan 19, 2023 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Group IconTue Jan 10, 2023 -- January Board
    Group IconTue Jan 10, 2023 -- Annual Board Meeting 2023
    Group IconTue Dec 13, 2022 -- December Board