Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04112003 1225 Main Street I~ Sebastian, Florida 32958 Telephone (772) 589-5330 [] Fax (772) 589-5570 City Council Information Letter April 11, 2003 Grant Awards from FDOT Aviation Section As referenced in the attached memorandum compiled by Jason Milewski relative to various programs and projects available to Sebastian Municipal Airport, please be advised that the City of Sebastian was recently successful in securing additional funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Aviation Section to help finance various project and program implementation efforts. Additional funds totaling $193,500 are therefore now available to supplement expenses for wetland/environmental mapping and surveying activities, as well as more funding to continue the t-hangar construction effort and the reactivation of Runway 9-27. The success of these efforts to date will result in a lesser dependency on additional matching contributions from the Airport Enterprise Fund. The chart included on the second page summarizes total project costs vis-A-vis dollars from various partners. Essentially, the City of Sebastian's share will represent a mere $69,500, less than 5% of project costs totaling $1,395,000. As such, Joint Participation Grant Agreements from FDOT will be presented for your consideration for authorization via the April 23rd Regular Meeting Agenda. Airport Noise and Fli.qht Trainin.q Assessment Committee Earlier last week, I received the attached letter from Ms. Rebecca Rivett, Aviation Coordinator, FDOT Aviation Section relative to the possibility of the City of Sebastian appointing a designee to serve on the Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Working Group. Last month, FDOT initiated the Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Assessment/Study. The purpose of this program will be to examine aircraft noise and flight operations collectively, via all general aviation airports in the Treasure Coast Region of Florida, including Vero Beach and City Council Information Letter April 11, 2003 Page 2 most importantly to us, Sebastian Municipal Airport. Currently, appointments to the respective working group are underway. As referenced in the letter, the City of Sebastian is being asked to make formal appointments to this body, one regular member and one alternate. The group will be responsible for overseeing and facilitating outcomes of the aforementioned study, as well as to formally represent their respective local governments. The firm conducting the study on behalf of FDOT, the MEA Group, Inc., recommends that participating entities appoint elected policy making officials to serve in this capacity. As such, the City Council will have an opportunity during the April 23rd regular meeting to consider nominations accordingly. In addition, Airport Director Jason Milewski will provide a brief report relative to this matter, as well as offer additional information regarding the scope of this exercise. Additional Services and Products from Comcast Cable As previously discussed publicly, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. has recently initiated infrastructure improvements to enhance Sebastian's cable system and its ability to offer additional products and services above and beyond additional channels being made available to the community. During a recent City Council meeting, Treasure Coast Vice President and General Manager Joni Kinsley mentioned efforts to offer high-speed broadband internet products. I am pleased to report that subscriptions will become available on a limited test market basis in Sebastian beginning in May, in preparation for area wide service availability and delivery in June. The testing arrangement will involve offering existing customers the opportunity to evaluate the service on a trial basis for several weeks free of charge. Residents interested in participating in this program can contact Ms. Leigh Ann Dunleavy by calling (772) 567-3473 to make arrangements. National Day of Prayer in Sebastian Earlier. this week, I spoke to National Prayer Services Area Coordinator Ms. E. Jean Stone about the City of Sebastian once again hosting a National Day of Prayer ceremony here in Sebastian. Her request was granted, as a brief prayer service will be held in front of City Hall Thursday, May 1st from approximately 12:20 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. As always, residents are afforded an open invitation to participate. Please join us if your schedules permit. Enclosure(s): Memorandum from Jason Milewski - FDOT Grant Awards Lettter from Rebecca Rivett, FDOT Aviation Section -Working Group My Documents/InfoLetter172 MQNiOPAL AIRP©RT Memorandum TO: Cc: FROM: DATE: RE: Terrence Moore, City Manager Mark Mason, Finance Director Jason Milewski, Airport Director? .~.~ 4/7/2003 Upcoming FDOT Grant Agreements This memo is to update you of recent developments at Sebastian Municipal Airport, regarding our Stormwater Master Plan, T-Hangars, and Reactivation of Runway 9-27. Additionally, it details some expected and some unanticipated funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Aviation Section. The following paragraphs provide a brief summary of each of the above-listed issues. First, as you are aware, The LPA Group, Inc. has been diligently working on our Stormwater Master Plan since the completion of our Airport Master Plan in February of last year. They are now in the final stages of this plan, which includes obtaining a Conceptual Stormwater Permit from Saint Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). Though SJRWMD has issued these permits based on United States Geological Survey (USGS) in the past, recent permitting for other projects at our airport have indicated that the wetland mapping provided in these USGS maps are no longer accurate. SJRWMD are now requiring that we survey and map all wetlands and other protected species on the airport property before they will issue this permit. Based on the proposal from LPA, this will cost us approximately $37,000. The benefits of such a requirement do outweigh the cost however, as we will then have a total picture of all of our wetlands, which will allow us to better plan for future development. The second part of this update corresponds to our T-hangar development and our lease agreement with Sheltair Sebastian, LLC. During our negotiations with Sheltair both parties understood that there was to be $825,000 in grant dollars available for construction of the T-hangars. What both parties failed to realize at the time was that nearly $100,000 of these funds were already used in design and engineering of the facility, leaving only $725,000 for construction funds. In order to correct this mutual misunderstanding, airport staffhas been seeking additional grant funding from the FDOT to reduce or eliminate this difference. E:\Coorespondence\City Manager\MEMO 3 new JPAs (April-03).doc The third update is regarding the reactivation of Runway 9-27. Since the signing of the Buyout and Relocation Agreement with J&S Aviation, we are now ready to move on to Phase II of the Reactivation of Runway 9-27. This includes rehabilitating the aged, cracked pavement and constructing a full-length parallel taxiway for safety of operations. We will soon be finalizing the design and engineering for this portion of the project and expect to have this ready for bid in the coming weeks. Please keep in mind, however, that though we are anticipating Federal funding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires us to bid the project prior to being awarded funding. Also, as was the case last year, the FAA will not commit to funding any project until they actually award us the grant. Finally, the good news is that airport staff was able to secure funding from FDOT for all of the above-listed projects. Later this week, we will be receiving two new Joint Participation Agreements (JPAs) and one supplement totaling $193,500 from FDOT. The following table will summarize and clarify these new awards: Anticipated Sheltair Total FDOT FAA Sebastian Project JPA Title Contribution Contribution Co Contribution Amount Wetland/Environmental Mapping and Surveying $ 32,000 u 0 $ 40,000 T-hangar (supplement to existing JPA) $ 100,000 0 $ 25,000 $ 125,000 *Reactivate Runway $ $ . o .ooo 0 *Please note that although this is a new grant agreement, the JPA entitled "Reactivate Runway 9- 27, Phase II" has already been planned and accounted for in the FY2002-2003 Annual Budget, leaving a total increased airport contribution of only $8,000 out of the $193,000 in new grant agreements. In this case, we would need to appropriate $40,000 for Wetland/Environmental Mapping and Surveying, with $32,000 coming from FDOT and $8,000 coming from the airport enterprise fund. Per your request, I will be compiling the appropriate agenda transmittals to be submitted for the Sebastian City Council's regularly scheduled meeting on April 23, 2003. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any questions, concerns, or require any additional information. /jm E:\Coorespondence\City Manager\MEMO 3 new JPAs (April-03).doc Florida Department of Transportation JEB BUSH GOVERNOR March 27, 2003 Mr. Terrence Moore City Manager Sebastian City Council 1225 Main Street Sebastian, FL 32958 3400 WeSt Commercial Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 Dear Mr. Moore: Subject: Working Group Formulation for the FDOT District 4 Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Assessment The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 Office of Modal Development invites you or your selected designee to serve on the Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Working Group (Working Group). On March 10, 2003, the FDOT District 4 Office of Modal Development initiated the Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Assessment. This study is independent of all other airport and/or environmental studies currently underway at the regions airports and is sponsored entirely by the FDOT District 4 Office of Modal Development. The 16-month study effort will analyze the Treasure Coast's airport noise and flight tr~ning, issues and will focus on developing potential noise abatement and land use compatibility solutions for the region. The Treasure Coast Region includes Indian River, St. Lueie, Martin, and Okeeehobee Counties, which are served by five (5) public owned/public use general aviation airports and two (2) private owned/public use airports including: * Vero Beach Municipal Airport, Indian River County (public owned/public use) * Sebastian Municipal Airport, Indian River County (public owned/public use) · St. Lucie County International Airport, St. Lucie County (public owned/public use) · Martin County AirpoWWitham Field, Martin County (public owned/public use) · Okeechobee County Airport, Okeechobee County (public owned/public use) · New Hibiscus Airport, Indian River County (private owned/public use) · Indiantown Airport, Martin County (private owned/public use) Public participation in the planning process will be critical to the study's success. The FDOT District 4 Office of Modal Development recognizes that each airport included in this study is a reflection of the community it serves. Therefore, this study effort will be undertaken with a demonstrated commitment towards airport, community, and industry input and involvement. The Working Group will include representation from each airports' management, each airports' authorized local governing body, the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments, and the Treasure Coast flight training industry. In addition, the Working Group's meetings will be open to the public and attendance is www.dot.state.fl.us anticipated to be representative of a broad range of interests including pilots, commerce, community, environmental, government and planning, and affected citizens. The Working Group will play an important role in developing the Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Assessment. The members' unique perspectives and diverse interests will help to generate the best ideas for the most challenging issues. The Working Group's role will include the following: · To provide a forum to present information, findings, ideas, and recommendations during the course of the study. To serve as a link to each airport community. Each member represents one or more constituent interest - neighborhood residents, public agencies, and aviation users. As a Working Group member, you can inform your constituents about the study's progress and bring their concerns and suggestions back to the table. · To review and evaluate study findings, conclusions, and recommendations. To aid in the implementation of the study's recommendations. Your knowledge of the study will help you educate your constituents, and your support and participation will be important in the implementation of the recommendations. The Working Group will meet a minimum of six (6) times throughout the study at times corresponding with major study milestones. Meeting locations will be rotated among the airports within the region. As the authorized local governing body of Sebastian Municipal Airport the Sebastian City Council is invited to appoint one (1) representative and one (1) alternate to this group. The alternate will participate and vote in the absence of the designated appointee. Please provide the complete contact information (name, title, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address) of your designated representative, along with that of one (1) designated alternate in writing to the address provided on the letterhead before April 11, 2003. The first Working Group meeting is tentatively scheduled for the first week of May 2003. A meeting date, location, and time will be announced at a future date. Your interest and commitment to planning the future of the noise abatement and flight training programs at the region's airports is appreciated. The Treasure Coast Regional Airport Noise and Flight Training Assessment will benefit greatly from your participation. ffyou have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 954-777-4404, or the project consultant, Ms. Lisa Waters (MEA Group), at 561-616-5779. Sincerely, Rebecea Rivett Aviation Coordinator, Office of Modal Development Cc: Nancy Bungo, District Modal Development Administrator Larry Merritt, Intermodal Transportation Manager Lisa Waters, MEA Group - Project Manager Jason Milewski, Sebastian Municipal Airpon