Minutes of ISAS Board Meeting
July 11, 2005
The meeting was
called to order at 7:30 pm by John Conley, Chair, in Gabel’s hangar. Present
were: Carole Gabel, Alternate 7S5 Lessees Assn; Ed Hannevig, PCOPA; Mike
Pongracz, EAA Ch 292 and Andy Andersen, AOPA 7S5 ASN Volunteer. Guest was Tom
Ritchey, Polk County Commissioner and new Chair for 7S5 Pilot Memorial event.
Board members excused were: John Horn, IAHA President, Harry Malette, 7S5 FBO;
and Robert English, Secretary and Web Master. A suggestion was made to send a
reminder to Board members for future meetings. Andy volunteered to send an
e-mail reminder if he is reminded.
Minutes of April
11, 2005 meeting were approved on motion by Ed Hannevig and
seconded by Mike Pongracz as corrected by replacing "HSP 254" with HB
3254. No change to date on Treasurer’s report of $31.83 cash on hand.
Independence
Water Issue Meeting Minutes, June 1, 2005 (Copy available on ISAS Web Site:
http://www.isasg7s5.org/docs/IndWaterMinutes050601.htm)
John Conley lead
the discussion of the special meeting called by ODA to discuss the issues of
water source and a Fire Hydrant system for 7S5. He said he came away from the
meeting with the impression that the meeting was about how to finance the
mistake the ODA had made in not providing a fire suppression system for 7S5
before granting hangar site leases. John was not sure if the lessees will be
required to pay for the system improvements, estimated at $260,000 or higher,
and if the "through the fence" Airparks would also be assessed.
Carole Gabel stated the IAHA will likely go to litigation of included in the
cost of the water hydrant system as the Airparks would not be protected by the
new system. Question was asked who is responsible for requirement and was
answered as being the Oregon State Fire code, enforced by the Polk Fire Dist.
#1 Fire Marshal, Jason Cane. Construction of the large commercial hangar was
thought to be the reason for review of the system: 1) determining the present
system is not adequate to meet the fire code; and 2) changing classification of
all hangars to Commercial. Mike raised the question of why private hangars are
now changed to commercial as many of the hangars are for private use only.
John said an
agreement was reached at the June 1 meeting to allow the system to be brought
up to code in phases beginning with the 6" line along Airport Rd and
filling in the ditch to make access to the hangars easier for fire trucks. A
hydrant in front of the larger hangar would not be required if the hydrants were
placed strategically. Cane stated the loop system was not required, just a
suggestion. The question was asked by John if the ISAS Board should be
proactive and write a letter to the Governor. It was suggested it might be more
appropriate to write the letter to Director Hidley, stating the ISAS Board is
in favor of the ODA constructing the improved hydrant system to meet Fire Code,
but is opposed to assessing airport users for cost of construction who are not
protected by the system, such as the Airparks. Every effort should be made by
ODA to find a source for funds from AIP grants to reduce the cost for local
users such as Lottery Bond funds will be available to aviation, if SB 71 is
passed by the House. The final suggestion was to have each of the represented organizations
of ISAS Board to write a letter to ODA Director in response to the June 1st
meeting. Page 1 of 3
A motion
by Mike to have a special meeting of the Board and invite all interested person
to attend when both John Cox and John Horn is available to relate the facts and
figures on the water issue, assessments and annexation of 7S5, seconded by
Carole and passed by voice vote. John will call both Johns and set a meeting
date.
Discussion of
Letter from City Manager
The water source
issue and development proposals on east and west side of airport was discussed
in regard to letter of July 8th from Greg Ellis, City Manager,
requested by John Conley, ISAS Board Chair. Copy of letter is available on ISAS
Web Site. One option of ODA for water for 7S5 is from City of Independence but
would not be available until ODA requests annexation to city. Development of an
addition to Airpark on east side of Stryker Rd. was suggested at an earlier
meeting with the land owner. This is a possibility but not probable because
Stryker Rd would need to be crossed or realigned along RR tracks. Jim
Kirkendall, City Councilmen told John he is opposed to changing Stryker. The
present zone is Heavy Industrial but the consensus of the Board was that the
Light Industrial Zone is most appropriate at this time. Carole stated the
present industrial owners on east side of Stryker are also opposed to changing
the zone.
In the letter,
Ellis stated the property owners on the west side have not made application and
the property is outside the Urban Growth Boundary and would need to be changed
and annexed into the city before water would be available. This includes the 41
acres proposed for expansion of 7S5. An additional 60 acres west of that is
recommended to be an additional Airpark as all the lots are sold in the
Airparks on the east side and there is continuing demand for more Airpark lots.
The city will conduct a 20 year review of buildable land in the city which
would need to be considered before any additional annexation. The present city
policy is to encourage expansion to the southwest and not to the northwest.
Mike stated this was for conventional housing and Airparks are a specialized
category to be considered in planning, the 22 acre issue is an example. Carole
said she understands the Airparks generate about 35% of the tax base for city,
which suggests city should encourage expansion of Airparks. Airparks are
compatible with airports.
Problem with
communication of ODA with ISAS Board.
A letter to the
Board by Andy, suggested there is a problem with communication of ODA with ISAS
Board which formerly was recognized by ODA as the primary advisory group for
Planning, Development, Operation and Maintenance of 7S5. Andy suggested one
solution was to form an Airport District to take ownership of 7S5 and be
managed by a local District Board of 7 members, initially appointed by the Polk
County Commissioners but voted on later at regular elections. He suggested 5
members of the initial board could be representatives of local 7S5 users, like
the ISAS Board, with two additional representatives from the cities or the
county. Mike raised the question of liability which is now covered by the State
of Oregon. A liability policy for 7S5 would be expensive if it was available.
Carole said IAHA had considered liability for the taxiways in the Airpark in
the past and found it was very expensive. Mike asked if a business model had
been made on operation of 7S5 and Andy said it was done about 10 years ago and
would need to be done again under current conditions. Mike suggested the
current operating budget for 7S5 needed to be provided by ODA, including
several past years to use in determining economic feasibly of forming an
Airport District. Andy will ask ODA for the data and present to the Board.
Review of Major
Aviation Activities at 7S5.
Tom Ritchey, Polk
County Commissioner and local pilot has volunteered to be the Chair of next
years 7s5 Pilot Memorial event. Andy distributed a copy of the Review of the
2005 7S5 Pilot Memorial event on May 30th which suggests the format
of the event be changed to be more of a community event. The Pilot Memorial
activity has gone in the hole the past two years and it is suggested a budget
be developed and a plan for funds to support the budget be made. The review
committee suggested changing the BBQ to be a potluck, like in the past, with
salads, casseroles and deserts donated by the Airpark residents and others
interested in supporting the Memorial event. Set the price to cover the cost of
the event, the BBQ and the free BBQs that are provided to the Fly-By pilots and
other volunteers who help. Change the time to start at 11 am and have the Flag
Ceremony at noon, followed by the Fly-Bys. Another suggestion is to change the
location to the west side of the Café and provide a temporary Flag pole. This
would allow the audience to see what is happening on the ramp and in the sky.
One suggested location would be the open area between the Café and the FBO
hangar. John will suggest support for the Community BBQ to the INPAAHA Board and
support will be suggested to the IAHA Board on July 13th.
Another aviation
event, planned at 7S5 this on September 24th, is the aviation
activities planned as part of the Hop & Heritage Festival. This is planned
to include a fly-in of the Evergreen Museum Ford Tri-Motor, static displays of
Antique and Classic aircraft and a Balloon lift off in the morning. Another
suggested activity is to have a Pancake Fly-In that morning with the profit to
help finance the 7S5 Pilot Memorial event next year and other aviation related
scholarships and activities. This would make the 3rd major aviation
event at 7S5, which should emphasize the importance of aviation and the airport
to the community. This will also provide an opportunity for a local aviation
organization to sponsor the Pancake Fly-In in support of the airport. Paul
Pfinister is on the Hop & Heritage Festival Planning committee and will
help with the activities at 7S5.
Next ISAS Board
Meetings.
John Conley will
check with both John Cox and John Horn to find a date for a Special Board
meeting to discuss the water source, fire hydrants, annexation and assessment
issues at 7S5. Notice will be sent to all Board members and to all those
interested in these issues.
The next regular
Board meeting is tentatively set for Tuesday, October 10, at 7 pm in Gabel’s
hangar.
HAPPY LANDINGS!
Andy Andersen, Acting Secretary