Chair Denise Jennings called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION: By Chair Jennings, motioned and the committee voted unanimously to accept the meeting minutes of the May 23, 2002 meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

1. MANAGER'S AIRPORT UPDATE

   Manager Propst reported on airport operations for July 2002, saying that operations have increased gradually throughout the year and that this is a positive trend.

   Manager Propst explained that there is a NOTAM about changes to the instrument approaches, raising the minimums on the VOR alpha and the localizer about 20 feet (minimum descent altitude). He said that he was told that the FAA (Oklahoma City) applied a "safety obstruction criteria" to the airport. He also said that he was assured that this was done periodically, and that it had nothing to do with a recent flight check that was conducted. He said MSAs, the safe sector altitudes, were also changed as much as 200 feet. He suggested that pilot's who fly on instruments ought to check NOTAMs and look at approach plates to find out if there are changes to the minimums. He also explained what he learned about "Elder R", a new intersection named after former Airport Manager Roland Elder. He explained that the FAA approved the designation in April 2000, in response to a letter from Manager Propst prompted by the former City Manager Jim Armstrong.

   Airport Day - Manager Propst reported that Airport Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2002, and the theme will be the 75th anniversary of the airport. He said that what was done last time worked so he intends to do things the same way this year.

   Airport Staffing - Manager Propst reported that his secretary has hired four non-regular employees to help her get caught up on administrative work. He explained his intention to hire a permanent half-time clerical worker next year. He also said that he hired a new Airport Service Worker, Richard Fierro to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. He also explained that Airport Service Worker Rudy Padilla has been out on sick leave for several months, and he may eventually decide to retire in the near future. Manager Propst told the committee that currently the only full-time Airport Service Worker on staff is John Pacheco, but that John is being assisted by temporary non-regular employees, Dick Blosser and Hal Raish. Manager Propst also explained that the City Council approved the new Airport Operations Lead Worker position, and recruitment for this position has begun and will be open until August 28, 2002. He described the duties required for this position, which will include assisting police and fire personnel in the event of a crash when Manager Propst is out-of-town.

   Building New Hangars - Manager Propst discussed the issue of building new hangars. He explained that interest rates are low and he thinks they will remain low until at least January 2003. He explained that later this year could be a good time to borrow money to build more hangars, if he decides to bring this issue to the City Council. If he does, he said he will probably do it some time in November or December 2002. He explained that loan money is available from the government, and that decisions about planning for new hangars will be based on the results of the Master Plan update and upcoming planning meetings. He explained that design work would need to be funded first, and that if hangars are going to be built, they would probably not be finished until the summer of 2004. He discussed his thoughts about raising fees and for charging a deposit for the hangar waiting list, explaining that this is also an issue he would need to present to the City Council.

   Storm Water Monitoring - Manager Propst said that storm water has become an important issue in Orange County and in the City of Fullerton. He explained that some practices at the airport may have to change, and he is considering making these changes in the near future. He explained that he has plans to budget improvements for 2003-04 to make these changes possible. He also intends to revise the policies related to these practices once the improvements have been made.

   In response to Chair Denise Jennings, he said that he does not see planes using the wash rack often, and that most planes are washed at their tiedown spaces. In response to Member Brian Rennie, he explained that he might have to require plane owners to use a recovery system when washing planes at their spaces if they do not use the wash rack. He explained that this is what he was told should have been required two years ago. However, to require this would affect airport businesses significantly. He explained that his priority is to invest in rehabilitating the northwest corner of the field while Airport Improvement Project (AIP) money is available. He went on to explain the AIP budget cycles and that after the third year of the cycle he cannot predict how much money will be available from the federal government. He explained that money for general aviation is a small portion of the AIP budget and the amount has decreased significantly over the past few years. He concluded that, because the worst asphalt on the airport is in the northwest corner, he wants to make necessary improvements using the AIP money that is budgeted for asphalt. After these improvements are made he wants to focus on storm water improvements.

   Questions from Committee Members - Responding to member Peggy Lindenberger, Manager Propst suggested that the committee ought to continue discussion on the issues they considered a few months ago concerning the Hangar Waiting List and changing various fees, with the intent to present their recommendations to the City Council. He made recommendations to the committee as to how they should approach this issue, explaining that the issue of building new hangars should be addressed first. He explained further that costs, such as electricity and liability insurance are a factor, and that expenses and revenues should be evaluated. Finally, he suggested that rewrites of the Hangar Waiting List Policy still need to be considered and approved by the committee before November. Chair Jennings suggested that the committee discuss the policy "between now and November" so that Manager Propst will be prepared to present the committee's recommendations to the City Council. Manager Propst agreed, however, he emphasized that no action on a decision to change fees should be made until after the election.

2. AIRPORT SECURITY

   Security Lights - Prompted by an inquiry made by Member Tom Polley about getting reduced rates from the Edison Company for security lighting, Manager Propst explained that the airport already has the best rate for electricity usage, and that the airport has a special meter that indicates electrical usage spikes and valleys. He also said that all the security lights have been turned back on, but some are out while waiting for the parts need to fix them to arrive.

   Responding to Chair Jennings, who inquired as to the status of theft on the airport, he said he has not been notified of any problems or incidents; no stolen airplanes or fuel, and he only heard one rumor about a police report filed for a stolen radio. He said that there have been airplanes stolen from Camarillo in Ventura County, and that their staff visited the Fullerton Airport office to learn about the camera system Fullerton uses for security. He also explained that he is investigating a system to control the gates that uses wireless, Internet-based technology, and pager frequencies and technology. This, he explained, would allow for control from his office over the gate system. This system, he reported would cost about $6,000 per gate. He proceeded to explain how this system works and to discuss another option he is considering, which would involve using a telephone system. He said he intends to purchase high-tech locks for the "man gates" that are programmed by a hand-held infrared device. This new system, he explained, will allow him to retrieve data about gate usage.

3. STATUS OF SELECTION INTERVIEWS FOR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER TO REPLACE DAVID MALMAD AS MEMBER-AT-LARGE

   Overview of Interviews - Member Tom Polley addressed the committee, explaining that he and Member Chuck Blumer interviewed seven out of ten applicants earlier that week. He explained why three were not interviewed. Member Polley read the names of the applicants and explained that he and Member Blumer selected two applicants for the committee to consider. He introduced Member Blumer and explained that he would discuss these applicants and their qualifications.

   Member Blumer said that all of the applicants were well qualified, and that narrowing their decision to two was difficult. He reported that the two they selected were Sid Gilman and Richard Gunter. He briefly told the committee about each of their backgrounds and experience in aviation, their relationship to the airport and their qualifications.

   The committee discussed their next course of action. Member Blumer said that only one of the applicants who were chosen were at the meeting. Manager Propst explained that the committee could not vote on this matter because the agenda did not specify that they could, but that they could agendize it for the next meeting, unless the committee wanted to designate it as an emergency vote. Member Jeff Harris suggested that the committee agendize the vote for the next meeting, and that the two applicants should be invited to speak during that meeting.

   MOTION: Member Harris made a motion to agendize two matters, which are: 1) to invite the two applicants to attend and speak at the meeting, and 2) to vote for one of them to be the a new member-at-large, if there is a quorum, at the next meeting. Member Blumer seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

1. MASTER PLAN UPDATE STATUS REPORT CONCERNING ACQUIRING A LOAN TO BUILD NEW HANGARS

   Manager Propst told the committee that the first meeting of the Fullerton Municipal Airport Master Plan Update Planning Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, August 13, 2002 in the Library at 6:30 p.m. He explained what the committee will discuss, and that the meeting will provide a forum for the public to influence the planning process.

   Member Lindenberger inquired about a request that was mentioned in previous minutes by Member Polley for a staff report concerning a matter in the Master Plan update. In response, Manager Propst explained that before the Master Plan update consultants submit their documents to the City Council, there would be at least three public meetings. He said he could ask the consultant if he will be available to attend the next Advisory committee meeting in September 2002 to "give a thumbnail sketch of where he's at." Manager Propst invited the committee to attend the first Fullerton Municipal Airport Master Plan Update Planning Advisory Committee meeting, and he briefly discussed the matters that the Master Plan update is addressing.

2. TOM POLLEY TO SPEAK ABOUT CHARLIE FERRANTI, FORMER SENIOR AIRPORT SERVICE WORKER

   Member Polley suggested that one of the airport groups spearhead an effort to raise money for a plaque that could be displayed in the Terminal building to honor Charlie Ferranti for the contribution he made to the airport. Member Lindenberger said that at the recent spot landing contest FAPA took in $100 in contributions to be used for a plaque of some kind this purpose. Manager Propst said that in the past there have been individuals and organizations that have done this for others from the airport who have died, and that though the airport office was not involved in that process, he would be willing to participate in this gesture for Charlie. He explained that a donation box could not be left in the lobby because it is a public place and there would exist a potential risk of theft. Chair Jennings and Member Rennie concluded that FAPA will follow up on this matter.

   Manager Propst spoke of Charlie's contribution to the airport saying that since Charlie's death, the airport has not been as well cared for. He explained that while Airport Service Worker Rudy Padilla was on sick leave, Charlie worked all of Rudy's shifts as well as his own. He also said that a contractor was hired temporarily to do maintenance. He expressed that Charlie kept the restrooms immaculate, and that some of pilots recently commented that the Fullerton Airport had the cleanest restrooms of any airport they had been to. This, Manager Propst explained, was because Charlie demanded that they be cleaned to his standards. He also said that little things and big things that we all took for granted that Charlie did, were not being done. He said he will probably never find that same work ethic and commitment in any one else he hires for that position.

COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE

Responding to an inquiry by Member David Malmad about the Santa Monica Flying Museum closing and possibility of the Fullerton Airport attracting some of the aircraft from it, Manager Propst explained that limited space is a big issue. He said that he was approached about this issue by a Fullerton councilmember and members of City staff, but that there is not enough room on any of the parcels of land, especially compared to the space that the Santa Monica Airport has. He explained that the hangar space and indoor space the planes would need are not available, though he would pursue this matter if he could find a way to make it work.

Member Polley asked about the possibility of expanding the airport. Manager Propst said that there was probably no chance of this ever happening, and that the only parcel the City considered belongs to the City of Buena Park; it is on northwest corner at Artesia and Dale, and the City of Buena Park will not allow that land to be used for airport operations. Member Malmad suggested that a museum be built on that property. Manager Propst responded saying that it might have been worth pursuing two or three years ago, but now the parcel is being be graded and public storage units are going to be built on it. He also said that the FAA told him five years ago that they would buy that parcel of land for the airport, but the City of Buena Park refused to zone it for airport operations. He said if the City of Fullerton had land to trade that Buena Park wanted, it may have been possible to get the land, but that this matter was over his head. He commented that, though it would be wonderful to expand the airport, it will probably never happen.

Member Polley asked about the buildings in the alley off Artesia by Ray's Flying Club. Manager Propst explained that the airport may have once owned them, but the chances of ever getting them back are probably gone. From the audience, Aviation Facilities, Inc. business owner, Bill Griggs, Sr. explained some of the history of the land and who owned it before the City acquired it.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

There were no comments from the public.

NEXT AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

The next scheduled meeting is September 26, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Recorded by: Jackie Rossetti, Administrative Secretary