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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-0223 REG MINMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 23, 1993 CALL TO ORDER: Council Chair Pat Acklin called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Reid, Hauck, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. Golden and Laws were absent. PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of Airport Master Plan. Staff Presentation. Public Works Director Hall gave the background of the Plan and said it is an update of the plan prepared by Wadell Engineering in 1962. The Master Plan is a guide for future development of the airport, and is not a commitment to projects or funding. He noted the letters included in the record and said the Airport Commission and Planning Commission have approved the Plan. Pare Barlow, P.W. Admin. Assistant, told of the public hearings held since February of 1990 and said there has been many opportunities for public input. Acting Planning Dir. McLaughlin said, if adopted, the Master Plan will be a component of the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, and was considered as a Type III hearing before the Planning Commission. He then noted the criteria for approval of a Type III planning action. Oregon Aeronautics. Gary Viehdorfer, Manager of Aviation Planning for the Oregon Aeronautics Division, said all requirements of Master Plan preparation have been reviewed and accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration and Oregon Aeronautics. The Ashland Airport is considered by the State to be of significant importance and provides for economic development, safety, and community access. Consultant Presentation. David Miller, project manager of the Master Plan preparation by Stanley, Franzoy, Corey Engineering Co., said the activity forecast has been updated and current activity is much lower than the Wadell study projected. The F.A.A.'s role is to review and approve the activity forecast and, after public input, approve the airport layout plan document. Airport Commission Comments. Jerry Insley, Chair of the Airport Commission, said economic development will be encouraged. Public Hearing. John Nicholson, 1575 Greenmeadows, distributed his comments for the record and summarized same, saying the Master Plan is a blueprint for the benefit of special interests and the airport should be sold and the property returned to the tax rolls. If not sold, the City should negotiate with the County to manage it. He said the lack of citizen involvement is a good reason to reject the plan, and the budget of $62,000 doesn't show time spent by the attorney and administration. Michael Gibbs, representing the Chamber of Commerce Board, said the Board unanimously approved the Master Plan in principle. He doesn't agree with Nicholson, and he's found that fly-in groups have a great economic impact. Lois Wenker, 170 Oak St., representing the Chamber's Economic Development Business Facilitating Committee, said the Plan needs to be adopted, will help in attracting more businesses to Ashland, and that the Airport is an economic asset to the community. Jack Blackburn, 805 Oak St., said questions have not been answered concerning the cost to taxpayers. City Admin. Almquist reviewed the funding sources for the five projects included in the 5-year capital improvement plan of which $12,400 of the $996,530 will come from city Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - February 23, 1993 - P. 1 revenues. On a question from Reid, Almquist said the city funds outside of airport revenues will be $12,400 over 5 years. David Guerriero, 963 Oak St., said F.A.A. funds are from user fees and the Master Plan should be adopted. David Harrington, 888 Cypress Point Loop, agreed with Guerriero and said the public was invited to all the meetings concerning this issue. He said money should be invested in order to bring in more income, there is a five year waiting list for hangars, the airport should be subsidized as are all other amenities, and access for Mercy Flights is very important. Ed Houghton, 219 Logan Dr., said he supervised the SOSC studies on the economic impact of the airport, that the research was not done on assumptions, and the 2.5% multiplier is lower than that used by the Chamber and OSFA. John Yeamans, 376 Crowson Rd., uses his airplane for business trips and said the airport is important to the national airspace system, and provides necessary services i.e. fuel, maintenance. He said it is important to attract business, has major safety benefits, and was used as the base of operation for fighting the Walker Creek fire. He agrees that perimeter security fencing is a good idea. Paul Mace, aircraft owner and President of the newly-formed Ashland Airport Assoc., said the airport is a vital part of the national transportation system and important to Ashland's economy, that numerous public meetings were held, and the Master Plan is not a mandate to spend money. AI Ettinger, Hwy. 66, has been involved in aviation for 35 years and has operated two airports the same size as Ashland's. He said the facility is a money maker, and urged Council to adopt the document to guide the development of the airport. Richard Ernst, 975 Walker, said the airport is a recreational facility with limited clientele and should support itself. Jan Davis, 4238 Payne Rd., Medford, is an airport user who has worked there for two summers, and said many people would not come to Ashland on vacation if the airport were not there. Bill Skillman, 635 Oak Knoll, owns an aircraft and supports the adoption of the Master Plan. AI Alsing, Airport Commissioner, told of the many donations made by citizens to improve the Airport, i.e. all landscaping around the administration building, and the donation of VASI, wire, cabinets, benches, picnic table, materials for aircraft washer, windtee and windsocks. There being no further comment from the audience, the public hearing was closed. Hall said an aviation-related business has been looking to move here and would provide high wages and employ skilled people. If the facility were to be sold, F.A.A. funds would have to be repaid, the loss of property taxes is offset by direct and indirect benefits, and normal yearly costs are minimal. He said the financial projections are excellent and the new FBO, Bob Skinner, is doing a great job. He urged Council, on behalf of the Staff and Airport Commission to adopt the plan, and said each project will come back before the Council for approval. Winthrop said the airport is an important facility and it should be maintained on a break-even basis. He said the Master Plan is prudent, was developed with a great deal of public input and he will vote to approve it. Reid said the commercial, business and recreational elements are important and she will support it. Hauck said the Airport is an important part of the infrastructure, the plan is an excellent guideline with reasonable assumptions, and he will support its adoption. Arnold said the document lacks a philosophy, and growth of the airport will create additional problems such as traffic and noise. He said we have a manageable Special Meeting - Ashland City Council- February 23, 1993 - P. 2 facility which can accommodate all of the matters which were brought up including Mercy Flights, fighting fires, airways roadmap, etc. On a question from Hauck, Barlow said 90% - 95% of those individuals on the hangar waiting list are local. Winthrop said noise has not been an issue, the hangars are necessary to meet the existing demand, and positive improvements are necessary for economic development. Acklin noted that two of the projects in the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan are safety issues. Arnold agrees that the safety related items are important. Arnold asked that the list of 25 recommendations on pages 2-3 to 2-5 of the Airport Master Plan be amended by adding: "26. Encourage aircraft related economic development; and 27. Airport shall maintain self-sufficiency in its budget." He also asked that the last sentence of the third paragraph under Runway Length on page 5-5 be deleted; and proposed the addition of a position statement as follows: "Approval of this plan is not approval of any specific proposal contained herein, all specific proposals contained herein shall be approved by all affected agencies and commissions." Hall said item 26. is a good idea but he feels that proposed item 27. should be included in the ordinance instead of the master plan, as should the position statement. AI Alsing, Airport Commissioner, said the sentence concerning the runway development reserve should be left in and that the airport needs to be developed in order to be self-supporting. Arnold moved to amend the plan as he proposed and Winthrop seconded. Hauck can support 26. but not the other proposed amendments. The motion failed on a 4-1 vote. Hauck moved to amend the plan by adding the proposed 26th recommendation to the Plan as follows: "26. Encourage aviation-related economic development.", Reid seconded, all AYES voice vote. First reading of an Ordinance adopting the Ashland Municipal Airport Master Plan Final Report as a supporting document of the Ashland Comprehensive Plan (Planning Action 92-147). Winthrop moved to second reading and Hauck seconded. Arnold will vote against the ordinance because of the lack of a requirement for self-sufficiency. Acklin said Council has directed the Airport Commission to operate the airport on a break-even basis. The motion passed on roll call vote with Arnold voting NO. ADJOURNMENT: Nan E. Fd'anklin City Recorder The meeting adjourned at 10:37 P.M. P~t A~klin Acting Mayor Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - February 23, 1993 - P. 3