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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/2006 Study Session Minutes MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 PLACE AND DATE Marana Municipal Complex, September 19, 2006 A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL By Mayor Honea at 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL Ed Honea Herb Kai Bob Allen Jim Blake Patti Comerford Tim Escobedo Carol McGorray Mayor Vice Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Present Present Present Present Present Present PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Russell Clanagan Chair Jon Post Vice Chair John Dailey Thomas Hestwood Jack Noble Billy Schisler Dave W ostenberg Excused Present Present Present Present Present Present B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATIONIMOMENT OF SILENCE Led by Mayor Honea. C. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Mayor Honea stated to hold until regular meeting which is to start at 7:00 p.m. D. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Presentation relating to the Marana Regional Airport; Airport Master Plan Update (Charlie Mangum) Mr. Mangum stated a Planning Advisory Committee made up of 16 technical and aviation professionals, as well as local community representatives met several times, reviewed and commented on all the work as it progressed. Mr. Mangum thanked counsel members that worked on the Planning Advisory Committee. All of the working documents have been published on the Internet where the study can be reviewed and comments made as it progressed. Mr. Mangum introduced and turned presentation over to Mr. Jim Harris and Mr. David Fitz from Kaufman Associates who were the aviation consultants who were hired to oversee and complete the studies. Mr. Harris related the importance of the Planning Advisory Committee and public workshops. The first part of the Master Plan was broken down into the requirements where we quantified the demands for aviation needs for the future for the community. We evaluated various alternatives to come up with a development concept for the MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 airport and the implementation phase which is finalizing that concept and developing the airport layout plans which are submitted to the FAA and ADOT and then developing a capital program for the airport, to now seeking approval through the elected body, and to forwarding the final documents to FAA and ADOT. A Forecast Summary was used to look at 20 years. Two activity indicators are used by the FAA and the Town. One is based aircraft or resident aircraft which during the base year presently 295. Over time, ultimately by the year 2025, the number is anticipated to be approximately 500 based aircraft tied to the demographics and social economic conditions of the community. The same would be true to operations. An operation is a take off or a landing. In 2004, there was slightly over 100,000. We see that number growing to about 277,000 operations in the next twenty years. These forecasts were reviewed by the FAA and approved. There was a letter of approval which is required before continuation of the planning effort. We want this to be a demand based plan. In other words, as activity increases the demand increases. That is the time to build the facilities to accommodate that. We recommend a parallel runway be built to handle the added traffic, full compliment taxiways for efficiency of ground movement of aircraft was also recognized in the plan, navigational aids including global positioning, satellite system navigation capability and the appropriate lighting and markings for instrument approaches. We recognize that hanger storage is always in big demand, also hanger area requirements in terms of square footage and also apron areas. The apron area included both transient and local, also evaluating fuel storage and terminal space and vehicle parking requirements. The short term development is the first five years. The most significantly ofthis is to establish the airport in a position to have the landholdings it needs to grow for the future. Many of those are related to the parallel runway, the land side facilities, land required for runway protection zone and safety areas that will be necessary in the future. The intermediate and long term development staging is building facility improvements that will meet the demand needs. The short, intermediate and long range planning horizons were each broken down and each project was analyzed from its cost, as well as it is eligible for State and Federal funding. The program is very flexible and can grow or shrink based on funding availability and demand. The short term program is about $39 million, intermediate $25 million, and long range $10 million for a total development program over the next 24 years of about $74 million, $50 million ofthat is eligible for Federal FAA funding, $19 million for ADOT support and local community responsibility of about $4 million over the next 20 years. Presentation relating to the Marana Regional Airport; Noise Compatibility Study (Charlie Mangum) Mr. Fitz stated there was a similar process as the Master Plan and actually they ran together. The inventory forecasting components were done together. A baseline was defined as to where we are today with development and where the noise contours fall. We also look past the 20 year planning period that the Master Plan defined. Because development is a high consequence event it was felt that a long range planning scenario, so the operations levels for the 20 year forecast we able 277,000. We looked at 357,000 for a long range forecast. That analysis goes into the first document which is submitted to the FAA for the acceptance which is called the Noise Exposure Maps, MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 essentially where we are today and a look into the future. The next step was to look at alternatives. How do we handle the situation we have. How do we protect the investment of the airport, as well as protect the community as the community develops. Two technical conferences were held where aviation professionals came in, as well as land use professionals to give input. The land use alternatives and the noise abatement alternatives were the two components that were presented to the committee to get the direction that the community wants to go in. A public information workshop was also done to get community input. The program has three elements, noise abatement, land use management, and program management. All three ofthose components make up the noise compatibility plan. The noise abatement is more of a proactive element. The level of concern is not significant at this time, but we want to monitor that situation to have an outreach program where there's talk with pilots, developers, homeowners in the area to make sure there are not issues coming up. Land use management is more detailed. There are five measures. The first is to revise the Town and Pima County's general plans to establish and land use compatibility threshold. The Town of Marana and Pima County should consider adopting airport compatibility checklists for projects so if they fall inside that defined airport influence area, coordination should be made with the airport and the planning department to make sure those projects that are going in are going to be compatible and using the same checklist is helpful for that. We would like you to consider maintaining the rural residential and agriculture zoning classifications between the 55 and the outer boundary ofthe airport influence area. The Town of Marana and Pima County should also consider adopting an airport overlay zone to regulate development within the AlA. There are basically three zones being looked at. The Town of Marana and Pima County should consider revising the existing subdivision regulations. The first program management element is a requirement to do a Part 150. They ask you to update it and monitor it. Typically an update will occur every seven to ten years or as something significant changes. The cost of that is about $250,000. The final program management is to monitor the implementation. Mr. Reuwsaat asked Mr. Mangum to project to the future and tell us what the airport is going to look like based upon the infrastructure that is being recommended. Mr. Mangum replied that we are currently considered a general aviation reliever airport to Tucson International. That characteristic is not going to change. Weare not looking to attract Southwest Airlines or any other type of airlines into our airport and compete with Tucson International. Our goal is to remain a general aviation airport. Weare looking to maintain our existing status. However, still entice and bring in more of the corporate market into the area and have the businesses be able to use aviation here in Marana and that's kind of what we're looking for around the airport too. As we start marketing and trying to attract some industry, what we would like to do is have industry that needs aviation access be located right there on the airport. If they do not need direct access then they can be located south of the airport in an industrial park. Council Member McGorray asked Mr. Mangum if he envisioned cargo planes or a FedEx outlet and planes flying materials back and forth to the airport. MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 Mr. Mangum replied that is something being looked into. We have had some interest in doing some smaller FedEx type operations and not necessarily FedEx, but we are looking into it. Council Member Escobedo asked about the capital improvement program cost. What is the time frame for application? I see that you have short term, intermediate and long term for the horizontal goals, break that down on what that actual time frame would be. Mr. Mangum replied that the time frames of those are typically about seven years a piece, but it is really a demand based program. What we're going to be looking at is if we start getting a lot of interest in the airport and our traffic is growing and the area around the airport is growing we may need to accelerate that time on the short term program and have the short term program completed in five years. Like wise, if our projections do not come true and aviation is kind of slowing down that short term program could end up taking seven to ten years. I personally do not see that. I think we are heading in the right direction and we have a lot of interest in the airport and even in the land around the airport. I think everyone has been made aware that we just received a 5 million dollar grant from the FAA in order to do the east side development of the airport and complete a large apron. In addition, we have a 2.8 million dollar sewer bond coming and we completed about 3-1/2 million dollars worth of work in the past six months for the new taxiway on the east side of the airport and also for some electrical improvements. We are growing and the interest in the airport is definitely there by other businesses and they are just waiting for the water and sewer. Vice Mayor Kai stated it seems like the property around the airport is all controlled by the Arizona State Land Department. I know when we asked them to put some of this land up for auction then we hear outrageous numbers. That just doesn't make sense for developers to come in, any ideas in that regard. Mr. Mangum stated I will be turning to you. I think one of the things we really need to start doing is working with the governor and the governor's task force and start letting them know what our needs are. We are excited about the new Tucson office of the State Land being opened now and we're hoping that team of State employees will help us. Mr. Reuwsaat stated roughly eight thousand acres around the airport is owned by the State Land. Traditionally, State Land has a planning process and then you negotiate what is acceptable to both parties. What this plan does, especially the noise compatibility, is going to establish specific land uses within that zone. That should be the baseline for anybody that wants to develop within that area. Secondly, its not only State land, but there is an application into State land by a development team that is looking to finalize the planning permit to do the planning around the airport for that eight thousand area, spending private sector money to do it. This information should be the baseline for the kind of development that we believe will occur in different parts around the airport so that it is compatible. It is extremely important that we get this baseline set as we move forward with the development of this airport. MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 Mr. Mangum stated we're probably one of the first airports in the U.S. that has completed a Part 150 noise study that really didn't have a noise problem. In three years, I have not had one noise complaint. Council Member Escobedo stated to Mr. Mangum that he mentioned something in reference to infrastructure, sewer, water, once that comes in, are there industry partners out there that are interested in coming out to Marana and if so, how soon. Mr. Mangum replied yes. We have three people that are interested in building a hanger right away and will do it as soon as the sewer line is there. Council Member Escobedo asked how many jobs that will provide for the area. Mr. Mangum replied immediately it would probably provide for about 25-30 jobs. Mr. Reuwsaat stated he didn't want to understate the importance of our relationship with State land. He stated that we are very fortunate to have Mr. Mangum and his leadership and that his association identified him as the professional ofthe year. Commissioner W ostenberg asked about the A vra Valley realignment and if part of the right-away is still showing in the runway protection zone. Is that a problem or are there different zones within that runway protection zone. Mr. Mangum stated currently there is no FAA regulation that says that we cannot have that road in the runway protection zone. The runway protection zone is really for safety of people on the ground, but one of the things that the FAA is currently looking at doing is possibly changing that rule so that roadway would not be allowed in the runway protection zone. In our existing condition it is allowed. However, in the future that roadway may have to end up having to go over the CAP canal. Commissioner W ostenberg asked Mr. Mangum that in his report it talks about the large planes and at 60 percent useful load dictating the length of the runway which you determined we're going to use 7200 feet. He asked how that's regulated and whether that was a pilot responsibility. Mr. Mangum stated yes that basically every pilot before taking off does a weight and balance of the aircraft. The way they adjust that is through the fuel, so when we're talking about a 60 percent fuel load that's where they would adjust that. Commissioner Schisler stated that we already have some subdivisions that are in the airport influence area and asked as far as planning what could be done for noise abatement for homes and businesses in that area and what we should do for the future. Mr. Mangum stated that a lot of things have already been implemented. In Gladden Farms and Saguaro Springs there will be disclosure, so that person will know that they are living in the airport influence area. Those homes are all outside of what is considered our 55 D&L or top noise sensitive areas and so they will be compatible MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 with the airport. However, there are always individuals who do not want to hear or see an airplane and for those individuals I would recommend selecting another area because there are going to be over flights if you're around the airport. We're being proactive in trying to keep people out ofthat 55 D&L. Commissioner Noble asked about how reliable the State and Federal funding sources were. Do they have to allocate the money each year, or do they allocate it in a lump sum for an extended period of time coverage or how is it done. Mr. Mangum stated it varies between both the State and FAA. Right now, the FAA is in an AlP reauthorization program that is occurring every three years. Typically the FAA has been fairly steady. We have had some problems with the State with the flight property tax. Our professional organization has worked with the governor's office and restored all the flight property tax so the State has been very lucrative over the past couple years and that's back up to a 100 percent funding. All these funds that are coming out of both the AlP Trust Fund and out of the State Trust Fund are aviation dollars so you only pay if you use the system. Commissioner Noble asked if there are plans to maintain the parachuting group in the complex. Mr. Mangum stated yes. The parachuting group is a very viable business at the airport. One of the things we're working on very hard right now is our application with the FAA for a contract control tower. I believe once the contact control tower is in place it will be an even safer operation. We have some procedures for all of their pilots. We have all the runway traffic for runway 1230 going to the east and the traffic for 321 going to the south so it really gives them that block ofland to come in and land. Harry Christman stated that Mr. Mangum had addressed the source of funding. He asked are those based on today's dollars or if there is some escalation in that and/or what potential return that would offset any cost that would come out of the Marana budget. Mr. Mangum stated those are based on today's dollars and so as we apply for grants in the future we will escalate those dollars slightly. The offsets are going to be through the businesses that are coming in and as we start to develop the airport we'll have more leased land and will generate revenue through leased land. We also collect a percentage of the fuel that is sold at the airport. The goal is to try and make the airport a self-sufficient operation. Mr. Reuwsaat stated the infrastructure that is being developed will create opportunities for jobs close to home and for other revenue opportunities for the community. We have had several meetings with the staff of Pinal Airpark about doing a similar study to see what the impact is going to be on the northern part of Marana. Mr. Reuwsaat stated that in terms of the overall health of our community a commiserate effort needs to be done at the Pinal Airpark. It is hoped that we can do some joint planning, do some regional cooperation to determine that same kind of MINUTES OF MARANA JOINT STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 19,2006 development patterns and flight noise contours from that airport and how that will effect development on the far northern side of our community. Mr. Mangum stated he talked to Jim Petty, the airport director at Pinal and they are currently going through a selection process to hire a consultant and complete that study. It won't be as extensive as ours because they are not eligible for Federal funding. However, they are looking to get the basic information of their noise contours that we can use as a planning document. Likewise, we will be taking our document to Pima County to have them implement some of our procedures too. E. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on September 19, 2006. I further certify that a quorum was present. <\t1.~1~:;''-~' .~ ;:~ 1'1 ':~"....:. C,;. 1/,. $"o~~(\\\\l)l?if, .... ~ caRPOi]/ :: ~g ~';: 0;- - :: s= tr :: \' l!ll~Li,~" ~;, ~ ~A ,,~,::ii~ ~ ,-P,~.(J;lm\' ~~}'!!;;' -, ,