Port of Orcas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
August 26, 2004
Call to order and confirmation of a quorum
The meeting was called to order at 6:00P.M. in the Port conference room by Ulanah McCoy, Chairman. A quorum was present. Attending were: Ulanah McCoy, Frank Cantwell, Al Edwards, Jack Becker, Bea vonTobel, Dubi Izakson, Bob Waunch, Mal Gross, Jack Coe, Merrill Wien, Dennis Riegel, Ted Grossman, Ed LeCocq.
Approval of minutes
Becker moved, McCoy seconded approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of August 12, 2004 as presented, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Public access time
Chairman McCoy asked the attending members of the public whether they wished to comment at this point in the meeting. She noted that it appeared all were present to address the recent F-15 flyby, which was noted in the 8/25/04 edition of the Islands' Sounder.
Waunch stated that everything they (the F-15 pilots) did was legal, and encouraged the Port to allow the whole thing go away and if not, not to pursue any further action.
McCoy added that the process that was followed was in response to the large number of telephone complaints received.
Izakson noted that the Port's telephoning various air force bases and the FAA, an issue had been opened, and queried whether any future episodes would generate that same protocol. He also noted that the response to this episode constituted overkill, in his opinion.
Gross added that if the aircraft were in legal airspace and following the rules, the Port's reaction was overkill, and questioned whether island residents were anti-military.
Wien asked to let any further action drop, with the less said the better.
Gross reiterated a previous statement, questioning what future official actions on the part of the Port might be.
McCoy noted that it appeared that the community was divided on whether the flyby was a positive or negative experience.
Becker noted that he had received three telephone calls and two visits at his business regarding the flyby.
Waunch noted that there are some chronic complainers of any aircraft activity or noise.
McCoy stated that noise appears to be a sensitive issue on the island.
Coe summarized that anyone can complain about such issues if they wish; that the situation had already been handled; that (in his opinion) there was a pretty remote chance of it happening again; that it was not inappropriate to provide telephone numbers (of the FAA) to those who
called to complain, or to have a policy on what response would be generated for future episodes; and finally, that the Port needs to maintain an objective stance. He noted that this was an unfortunate situation.
Izakson added that in his poll of merchants down Main St., he noted that no windows had been rattled, and that if people had known they were coming, more would have gone outside to see the flyby.
Wien noted that he didn't want anything to jeopardize the pilots' careers.
Grossman added that the air force had been contacted by Bill Anders, not the Port, and was in response to a call from Commissioner Edwards.
Coe stated that Anders was concerned, and wanted to make sure that things were handled properly. He thanked Grossman for Anders' battlefield promotion of the third star.
Grossman thanked all present for their perspective and their fairness in dealing with the issue.
Coe concluded that this should not turn into an affair which divides the community.
Edwards noted that he was annoyed he wasn't able to witness the flyby.
Riegel stated that all conversations he had had with people on the street were positive save for one.
Grossman stated that in the era of post-9/11, there is a certain amount of fear among all residents, and if there were to be future flybys, they would probably have a different reaction if publicity could be generated beforehand.
Unfinished Business
1. Port of Orcas Capital Projects for 2003: status report
Chairman McCoy noted that she had signed the final papers for this project, and the final payment to W&H Pacific was to be approved later in the meeting.
2. Pending Litigation: status report
Chairman McCoy had no report, but Commissioner Cantwell noted that he had spoken with Port Counsel Hancock within the last two weeks. He stated that the Stevens matter is progressing for possible September scheduling before the court, and that there was no further information on the Kihlstrom matter. His conversation with Counsel Hancock was about his continuation as a Commissioner in light of his accepting a teaching position in Seattle. Hancock had advised him to stay on for the time being, even though he might miss an occasional meeting.
3. Crack Sealing: progress report
The airport manager reported on conversations with other airports and possible extra charges for a job which might last more than one day.
McCoy moved, Edwards seconded approval of B.C.V. Inc of Burbank WA to do the crack sealing as quoted, and the motion was unanimously carried.
New Business
1. Extending hangar leases #1-23 upon expiration
This item was prompted by a letter dated 8/13/04 from Mal Gross, owner of hanger #11, and proposed extending the leases of those hangars beyond their expiration in 2013 and 2015.
Cantwell stated that in past discussions, it was concluded that the Port would be better off financially to get into the hangar business.
Gross stated that at the end of his lease period, nothing prevented him from dismantling his hangar and taking it with him. There was also no incentive to maintain the condition of the hangar toward the end of the lease period. By not making some sort of offer or decision, the value of the old hangars goes down. He asked the Commissioners to consider his offer, especially based on what new hangars are selling for.
Edwards noted that there had been no stamp on the decision not to extend the leases. His goal was to make the Port function without tax dollars from the community, and the numbers he generated seemed to indicate that by acting as owner and rental manager, additional income could be generated. He stated that these hangars are now approximately 2/3 through their useful life, and that the longer lease term for the new hangars was because of the higher initial investment by the builder.
Cantwell reiterated that in his opinion, there was more money to be made in rentals, but that he was only one opinion on the commission, and opinions could change.
Edwards offered that it would be valuable to 'run the numbers' again, to see which approach would be in the best interest of the port.
Cantwell noted that the older hangars were constructed more inexpensively, and that the goal would be to bring them in line with rates charged the new hangars.
Gross asked that the Commissioners give him an answer about his offer.
Edwards offered to work with Gross on generating numbers for consideration at a future meeting.
Airport Manager's Report
Communications were received from:
- WPPA August Newsletter;
- Sound Waves (Puget Sound Action Team) Summer Newsletter;
- Donna Ballanger, letter 8/17/04;
- Steve Vierthaler, e-mail 8/20/04;
- Kristin Garcia, letter 8/17/04;
- David Williams/Jeff Winter/BvT, e-mails 8/16, 8/19;
- Jeff Winter, e-mail 8/24;
- Mal Gross, letter 8/13
The airport manager reported on:
- Around the Port
- Gate Functions, #1
-
Gate Functions, #2
-
Crack Sealing Update
-
F-15 Fly-by
Approval of Payroll/Vouchers
Cantwell moved, Becker seconded approval of August 2004 general fund vouchers in the amount of $2,034.31, and the motion was unanimously carried.
McCoy moved, Cantwell seconded approval of August 2004 capital fund vouchers in the amount of $2,067.59, and the motion was unanimously carried.
McCoy moved, Cantwell seconded approval of August 2004 payroll in the amount of $4,016.46, and the motion was unanimously carried.
Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next regular meeting of the Commission was scheduled for 7:00P.M., September 9, 2004 in the Port conference room.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50P.M.
Prepared by
Bea vonTobel, Interim Airport Manager
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