AGENDA CATEGORY: General Business
SUBJECT:
Title
Consideration of forming an Airport Advisory Board
Body
DEPARTMENT: Administration
PRESENTER: Malcolm Fleming, Town Administrator
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 Minutes
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL INFORMATION: N/A
Cost as Recommended:
Balance Available:
Budget Line Item Number:
New Appropriation Required:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Discuss potential formation of a Town of Erie Airport Advisory Board.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
During the Board of Trustees May 12 meeting, some Board members expressed interest in forming an Airport Advisory Board, while one member questioned the need for such an action. The Board agreed to discuss the matter during the May 26 meeting.
With the assistance of Scott de Louise, AOPA Erie airport volunteer and Metro Denver Aviation Coalition representative, staff compiled the following information for reference.
Adams County
• Front Range Airport Advisory Board Bylaws <http://www.adcogov.org/sites/default/files/FRONT-RANGE-AIRPORT-ADVISORY-BOARD-BYLAWS.PDF>
Boulder does not have an airport advisory board.
Fort Morgan
• Fort Morgan Airport Advisory Board <https://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/121/Airport-Advisory-Board>
Longmont
• Longmont Airport Advisory Board webpage <https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/boards-committees-and-commissions/directory-of-boards-committees-and-commissions/airport-advisory-board>
• Longmont Airport Advisory Board Bylaws <https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/home/showdocument?id=17463>
• Longmont Airport Marketing Plan <https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/home/showdocument?id=20405>
Loveland/Fort Collins Regional Airport
• Loveland/Fort Collins Intergovernmental Agreement <http://www.flynoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/First-Amendment-to-the-Amended-and-Restated-IGA-for-the-Joint-Operation-of-the-Airport.pdf>
• Northern Colorado Regional Airport Commission Bylaws <http://www.flynoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/AGR_NCRAC-Bylaws-SIGNED.pdf>
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
• RMMA (Jeffco BJC) is owned and operated by Jefferson County as a division within the Development and Transportation Department. The facility is managed by an appointed Airport Director who receives advice from an Airport Advisory Board <https://www.jeffco.us/3933/Airport-Advisory-Board>.
Airport Master Plan
In 2015, the Town commissioned ADG/Airport Development Group to prepare an update of the Town’s 2002 Airport Master Plan. On June 28, 2016 the Board adopted a resolution approving the 2016 Airport Master Plan <https://erie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4535523&GUID=DC31C2FB-B7C9-431D-A3AE-0E963032431A>. That plan describes the short, medium, and long-term development plans needed to meet future aviation demand and provides a guide for the physical growth of the airport to coordinate with the future demands for services, available funding and environmental considerations. The Master Plan identifies $1.7 million in short term improvements (some of which have been completed), $9.2 million in intermediate improvements, and $12.6 million in long-term improvements. Details on these improvements are listed in Chapter Six - Phased Development of the Master Plan (starting on pdf page 139).
Previous Action to Form an Airport Advisory Board
During the Board of Trustees February 9, 2016 meeting, the Board considered an ordinance to amend the Town Code to form an Airport Advisory Board. During that meeting Mayor Pro Tem Gruber moved to amend the wording of the Ordinance to, among other things, include provisions that "At lease two (2) members shall be individuals who do not hold a valid pilots license or own or lease a stake in an airplane", "All meetings shall require public notification similar to all other Town advisory boards", and to require the Advisory Board to report to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis. Following Board discussion, Mayor Pro Tem withdrew his motion and Trustee Moore withdrew her second. Mayor Pro Tem Gruber moved to table the matter indefinitely. That motion failed, but the Board subsequently voted unanimously to continue the item as a First Reading and to include Mayor Pro Tem Grubers amendments to be brought back to the next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Board then considered the matter at its February 23, 2016 meeting. During that meeting the Board voted 5-1 to table the Ordinance <https://erie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=4257171&GUID=A44C20C8-17EF-4858-9A45-4342ADE2947E>.
Challenges to Economic Development
In 2009, the Town commissioned an Airport Economic Development Study <https://www.erieco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/182/Airport-Economic-Development-Study?bidId=>. That study identified challenges that need to be addressed to capitalize on opportunities represented by the Airport. Those challenges include:
• The Fixed Base Operator (FBO) building is nearing the end of its useful life and will require replacement or substantial upgrade.
• Waste water is handled via a septic system. This is also true for most of the land immediately adjacent to the Airport and in the near-term will limit the commercial marketability of such.
• With the exception of approximately 10 acres north of the current FBO building and apron areas (including land that is currently reserved for Runway 9-27 west of Runway 15-33) there is little space within current Airport boundaries available for development. Further, a limiting factor of development on and around Erie Municipal Airport is the floodplain of Coal Creek. As illustrated on Figure 3.3 (from the Report), the north end of Runway 15-33 is located within the floodplain, as is the land on which the west end of Runway 9-27 currently sits.
ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS/LINKS:
1. 2020 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study (CEIS) Airport Economic Impact Report for Erie Airport <http://www.coloradoaviationsystem.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Erie-Municipal-EIK.pdf>
2. Colorado Aviation System Plan Airport Report Cards <http://www.coloradoaviationsystem.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CASP-Appendix-B_Airport-Report-Cards-021020-FINAL.pdf> (Erie Airport is on p. 30)