10-08-2009 joCRV Las r aces
P E O P L E H E L P I N G P E O P L E
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
City of Las Cruces, New Mexico
October 8, 2009
Members Present: Fred Fusselman, Ross Palmer, Doug Lashley, Anthony Levatino, Joe
Beck
Members Absent: Bill Squires, Randy Ranels
Others Present: Terrence Moore, City Manager; Gil Jones, City Councillor; Brian
Denmark, Facilities Director; Lisa Murphy, Airport Manager; Susan
Pfeiffer, Airport Administrative Assistant; Michael Harris, Delta Airport
Consultants, Rob Wood, visitor; Hal Kading, Southwest Aviation, Ted
Morris, visitor; Leon Billstone, EAA, Marty Ditmore, hangar owner; Bill
Madden, EAA/hangar owner; Jim Hayhoe, Spaceport America
Consultants, John Hummer, Steinborn TCN, Les Baldock, MVEDA,
Aldo Magana, Adventure Aviation, Doug Newton, Adventure Aviation
Vice Chair Fred Fusselman called the meeting to order at 12 00 noon in the Airport
Conference Room, and a quorum was noted
MINUTES The first order of business was to approve the minutes of the September 10,
2009 Board meeting Mr Beck moved, seconded by Mr Palmer, to approve the minutes
as submitted, motion carried unanimously
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Policy Consideration for Private Sector Investment Activity at LCIA. City Manager
Terrence Moore announced that the City was approached with an inquiry about privatizing
the Airport. He stated that he would like for the Board to consider and recommend
whether this is something worth pursuing by the City Following a brief question and
answer period, Councillor Jones stated that with the limited amount of information they
had, it would be difficult to make an evaluation He stated that we needed to determine
where we are as an Airport before the Board could make a decision Mr John Hummer
said that the City could put the burden on the investment company to do an analysis, and
perhaps present it to the Board at one of their meetings in the next month or two
Councillor Jones agreed that it would be a good idea to put the burden on them or make
them sell us on their deal
UNFINISHED BUSINESS None
REPORTS
Runway 12-30 Progress Report: Mr Mike Harris, Project Manager, gave a progress
report on the Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project. During a slide show of the construction
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES — OCTOBER 8, 2009
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to date, Mr Harris explained the process used in constructing the runway and the criteria
used in accepting the construction Mr Harris stated that the final two steps in the
construction will be to groove the runway at night and then add the pavement markings
He said that Runway 4-22 will be NOTAMed closed from October 14t through December
14th, while they construct the intersection, and that they will not be able to do a displaced
threshold on that runway because there is not enough room He stated that they will be
closing part of Runway 8-26 on January 4th, and that runway will have a displaced
threshold In closing Mr Harris stated that three (3) aircraft have tried to land on Runway
12-30 while NOTAMed closed for construction
Airport Manager's Report: Mrs Murphy read the following Manager's Report:
Runway 12-30 Reconstruction Cement-treated base is being applied in Work Area "B"
and concrete surfacing is being applied in Work Area "A" Project Representative Mike
Harris will present a full progress report at today's meeting
Control Tower Environmental Assessment: Comments on the EA have been received
from FAA. Consultant Engineer URS will address the comments, all of which were minor
Rocket Racing League City Council amended Rocket Racing League's Land Lease at
the airport to exclude Parcels 41, 42, 43 and 44 Parcel 36, which contains a partially
constructed hangar, remains in the possession of RRL and will until the hangar is sold or
the lease term expires
Adventure Aviation Adventure Aviation brought their land and facility leases up to date
last week, though they are still in arrears on their fuel flowage fees They are paid up
through the end of October
Airport Privatization Inquiry- City Manager Terrence Moore will provide additional
information regarding the possibility of privatizing the Las Cruces Airport at today's
meeting
Emergency Plan Exercise The airport will be holding their required annual emergency
planning exercise on October 9 It was rescheduled from September 17 due to scheduling
difficulties This year's exercise will test the response of airport personnel in the first
minutes after an aircraft accident before the emergency responders arrive The
City/County Emergency Planning Exercise Committee is assisting the airport with this
exercise
Surveillance Broadcast Services The ITT Corporation, contractor for FAA, has
contacted the airport about the possibility of locating an FAA Surveillance Broadcast
Services Tower on airport property The SBS tower will be part of a nationwide network of
towers that will support the next generation of air traffic control, including Automatic
Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, Traffic Information Service Broadcast, and Flight
Information Service Broadcast. In order to site the tower on airport property, a lease for a
25 x 25 foot parcel will be required Additional information will be provided at the meeting
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES — OCTOBER 8, 2009
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Solar Panels and Airports I have done some research on solar panels and airports
FAA has no official position on solar panels except they recommend having language in
the lease to ensure that the panels used are not reflective Several airports actually have
solar panels on airport property, including Denver International and Nellis Air Force Base
I have obtained some additional information and will provide it to the Board
City Council Items City Council approved the assignment of lease from Ken to Susan
Kentosh as well as an extension of lease term from 20 to 30 years at their October 5
meeting, and amended the Rocket Racing League's lease at their September 21 meeting
(see above)
New State Aviation Director- Dave Ploeger, former Los Alamos Airport manager, has
been appointed Director of the State Aviation Division He replaces Tom Baca who has
retired
NEW BUSINESS
Mesilla Capital Investments, LLC land Lease Application Mrs Murphy stated that
Mesilla Capital Investments, LLC has submitted a Land Lease Application for Parcels 43
and 44 to build hangars for aircraft storage, and that they do not have plans for any
commercial activities at this time She said that the Co-Managers of the company are
Rene De La Vega, and John Darden, and that they are asking for a 30-year lease Mrs
Murphy stated that she is providing information to each potential tenant of the
requirements and timelines involved in building a hangar, and that she is holding tenants to
those required deadlines Mr Denmark stated that the City now handles the permitting
and building inspections for hangar construction Mr Beck moved, seconded by Mr
Lashley, to recommend approval of the land leases of Parcels 43 and 44 to Mesilla Capital
Investments, LLC A vote was called for with all members of the Board voting in favor, with
the exception of Mr Palmer who abstained
Lease with ITT for Surveillance and Broadcast Services Tower- Mrs Murphy
reported that the FAA has contracted with ITT to install a Surveillance and Broadcast
Services Tower at our Airport, and they will need a 25 x 25 SF parcel for the tower which is
approximately 50 feet tall She stated that the leased parcel would be fenced and
maintained by ITT who would own the equipment, and that we not charge a lease rate
She said that having this tower would be a benefit to the Airport because it would provide
the weather and air traffic control to pilots who have the proper equipment in their aircraft.
Mrs Murphy stated that the tower will be located next to the vault area off of Gasoline
Alley and Harry Burrell Dr Levatino moved, seconded by Mr Palmer, to recommend
approval of the Land Lease to ITT, motion carried unanimously
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST None
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES — OCTOBER 8, 2009
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With no further business to conduct, it was moved, seconded, and passed to adjourn the
meeting at 1 20 PM
Chair Recording cre