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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05072008Workshoprnvc+r ~~ ~~~ HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AIRPORT WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008 - 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA Mayor Coy called the Workshop to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL City Council Present: Mayor Andrea Coy Vice-Mayor Sal Neglia Council Member AI Paternoster Council Member Dale Simchick Council Member Eugene Wolff Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams Airport Director, Joe Griffin Police Officer, Rob Kyzer Mayor Coy noted there would be no action taken tonight. 4. AIRPORT MANAGER PRESENTATION A. Introduction of Sebastian Police Officer/Security Officer Rob Kyzer The Airport Director thanked Ed Herlihy for his volunteer work on the Airport Website upgrade, and introduced Police Officer Rob Kyzer, who lives with his family and provides security for the Airport. Officer Kyzer, who is also a canine officer, said it is his goal to secure the airport and not to cause any inconvenience to anyone, said he has an open door policy and can be reached day or night by cell phone. City Council Workshop May 7, 2008 Page Two B. Airport Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (Airport Transmittal. Procedures The Airport Director gave a presentation by overhead citing the various locations such as the administration building, golf course, tenants and runways 4, 22, 8 and 26 on the airport property, noted the City only has control of the airport on the ground and has no control tower, provided recommendations for a voluntary noise abatement program such as reducing hours on various days for certain operations and tightening up the traffic patterns to keep planes away from residential areas, discussed installation of the PAPI lights on runways which are set at 3 degrees at this time to assist pilots in tracking correct altitudes on approach, stated there are approximately 50 operations per day of which 22% are Skydive Sebastian, 10% are locals and the rest are typically flight schools. He noted the 060 heading which has been recommended has about an 80% compliance at this time. He requested a dialogue with residents and Council to develop the abatement program, which when implemented would be advertised on the website and by pamphlet and distributed to flight organizations. In response to questioning by Mr. Wolff, Mr. Griffin explained that the biggest noise concern he hears is that of repetition, that when he hears complaints he tries to work with the residents, that local pilots want to be good neighbors, however, noted that flight schools are allowed to use the airport because the airport is a public land grant and though they don't contribute directly to the airport, they pay excise taxes and they have the right to use the airport. At the request of Mr. Paternoster, Mr. Griffin gave a brief history on the airport property which was originally a Naval field in 1943 and was deeded to the City of Sebastian in 1959 from the Federal Government with a right of reverter if the City should choose not to operate it as an airport. He said former Manager, John Van Antwerp worked to establish the golf course on the property, and cited the closing of runway 13-31 to open up an area for industrial development. Ms. Simchick said she would like to take noise out of the issue and focus on safety issues, citing concerns of planes and skydivers utilizing the same airspace, stating it is an accident waiting to happen. Mayor Coy echoed her concern, but said we need to look at this as a major voluntary effort because we can't tell flight schools not to come here. Mayor Coy called recess at 8:14 pm and reconvened the meeting at 8:29 p.m. All members were present. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Mayor Coy noted that there were representatives of three groups present in the Chambers, i.e., airport tenants, local residents, and outside users. She called for public input and asked for the individuals to identify which group they represented. Bonnie Stewart, Robin Lane, Sebastian, said she had a noise complaint due to low flying planes over Point-O-Woods Subdivision, and asked if the laser beam the Airport Director had told her had been installed. Mr. Griffin said the PAPI system had been installed on runway for with a 3 degree beam which is adjustable if needs to be. 2 City Council Workshop May 7, 2008 Page Three Mr. Wolff asked what regulations are in place for microlights and powered parachutes. Mr Griffin said they would be asked to comply with voluntary rules and have been asked to stay away from residential areas but that they are not subject to the same regulations as airplanes. Holly Dill, Roseland resident, thanked Council for allowing non-residents to address this issue and suggested that there be a flight demonstration at the airport to show people what the suggested flight patterns would be. Rick Carey, Airport tenant, said the proposed flight patterns are unsafe, not to circumvent noise issues with safety regulations, that noise issues at this airport do not meet noise thresholds, that the City already mitigated noise by closing 13-31, and that the new administration building was to be used to the benefit airport pilots and to promote the airport but was not being utilized appropriately. ?? Woodall, 134th Street, Roseland, said he had no problem with Skydive, that Velocity planes were noisy and obnoxious, had met with Airport Manager and believed some changes have been made, but Flight Safety was the biggest problem, citing a noise study he conducted from his home, noting the noise makes life unbearable. Joe DiGaetano, Robin Lane, Sebastian, said it is hard to live in Point-O-Woods Subdivision and asked where the touch and go planes come from and Mr. Griffin replied they are transients. Mr. Gaetano said the planes are low and Velocity planes are a problem. He asked who he could call who would enforce the problems and in response to Mr. Paternoster he said the planes are so low he could touch them if he flew a kite. Neal Alderson, Express Charters of New Jersey which flies for Skydive Sebastian, said they do their best to alleviate their footprint and spend extra time in the area to reduce the time over residential areas and will continue to do their best to work with neighbors. Mr. Paternoster noted Skydive Sebastian uses a Twin Otter which can climb faster than the single engine planes can and most people say Skydive is not a problem. In response to Ms. Simchick, Mr. Alderson cited how he is in contact with Miami control for each skydive operation and most skydive conflicts are with transients which travel north and south over the Indian River. Cindy DiFalco-Corrado, said the airport has been here 50 years, flight patterns go over her house but she likes the sound, and asked why move near an airport and then complain. ??, Sales Manager for LoPresti Aviation, and City resident, said LoPresti ships most of its parts out by UPS and does less than 2% of its service at the Sebastian Airport. He said he had reviewed Mr. Griffin's proposed plans and did not see any safety concerns. John Van Antwerp, former Airport Director for 20 plus years, and AOPA volunteer, said pilots welcome noise abatement, noting there had been voluntary rules in place for many years, he recommended advertising the suggested flight times, and if keeping traffic patterns tight post disclaimers that it is the pilot's responsibility, and to highlight the City Council Workshop May 7, 2008 Page Four Skydive drop zone. He said he thinks a closed traffic pattern is good but not with Skydive operations. He said the City has already spent over $5 million addressing these issues and Council is reinventing the wheel. He suggested keeping flights high. Bob Denton, Roseland Road, said he met with Mr. Griffin about the proposed flight patterns and actually flew them, but could not meet the criteria with his plane and going out over the lagoon worked better for him. He said he will meet with Mr. Griffin again to help with massaging the plan. He noted that Point-O-Woods has 22 lots and the last three houses built are under the runway 4 approach and the last house is three stories and about 150 feet below planes if they use the 3 degree slope. Damian Gilliams, 1623 US 1, said he had owned a lot in Point-O-Woods and didn't like the neighbors, felt for people who live near the airport but noted it has been here since 1943, said the proposed plans are dangerous and we need to work on the industrial property at the airport. John Oakes, Collier Club, Sebastian, said he was moving to North Carolina, suggested people read the book FAR/AIM, noted Council has no jurisdiction over flight issues and urged them to have the courage to say so or close the airport. Mr. Griffin responded as requested by Mayor Coy, that the City could not close the airport, because if we fail to run airport operations, the feds would find another sponsor to do so. Mr. Paternoster again stated that the Council and administrative staff have jurisdiction for airport operations on the ground and for planning and construction activities. Mayor Coy agreed the best Council can do is to try to get the offending folks to become compliant with voluntary rules and if they choose not to there isn't much Council can do, but closing the airport is not an option. John Jays, pilot since 1971, said there are no restrooms open for weekend fliers and the new building is not serving aviation as it should. Mr. Paternoster said there is a restroom in the fueling area that is always open and an emergency hotline. Mr. Griffin concurred. In response to Ms. Simchick, Mr. Griffin said the pilot lounge is open from 7:30 am to 4:40 pm Monday through Friday. Ms. Simchick asked how we can make it available on the weekend and suggested perhaps Mr. Griffin's hours could be Wednesday through Sunday. Mr. Griffin said this would be up to the City Manager and the City Manager said if you give up weekdays you lose important contact with various agencies that is necessary to the operation, but if Council wanted him to look into it he would. Mr. Griffin noted there are two airport personnel and a police officer who are also there at times on the weekend. Chuck Lever, Sebastian, suggested hiring apart-time person 4 City Council Workshop May 7, 2008 Page Five Dave Carvey, Friends of Historic Roseland, said the group has 147 members, does not support closing the airport but have been busy working toward establishment of periodic meetings in a neutral place to identify issues and do consensus building and look forward to amenable results. Bob Musante, 126th Street, Roseland, said he was a member of a group which 15 years ago worked to resolve some of these same issues and developed a master plan, said Roseland people don't have a problem with local pilots or Skydive Sebastian. He said many years ago he suggested to Peter Banfield who ran Flight Safety to go to 1000 feet and he said no problem and did so for a long time. He noted Mr. Van Antwerp and Mr. Denton recommended to fly higher and that his group has tried to talk to Flight Safety again and they say they will deal with City management. Mayor Coy suggested his group try to sit down with Flight Safety again, and they can have the Airport Director notify Council of the outcome. Dan Fast, ?? said there is no reason not to open the pilot lounge on weekends. Mayor Coy asked if extending our any farther is a problem with commercial flights and Mr. Griffin said the problem would be that we move the noise further over homes like the Maerz home on Indian River Drive, and that he is asking for the best rate of climb. Mayor Coy called recess at 9:47 pm and reconvened the meeting at 10:03 p.m. All members were present. Debra Maerz, Indian River Drive, Roseland, said most noise and flight patterns go over the north county area, suggested stopping the 060 turn and not using runway 4 as the preferred runway but rather use runway 8, and stated if we could work together in workshops we could get a lot done. Scott Baker, Velocity Aircraft, presented an overhead exhibiting current runway approaches and said airplanes belong at an airport, local pilots are following guidelines, agreed with most of Mr. Griffin's suggestions except runway 4 because he was concerned all lines are not to scale and said not all aircraft can make these turns. He said the City and County need to better inform people where the airport is when they are contemplating building or moving here. County Commissioner Wesley Davis thanked Council for conducting the workshop and the individuals who attended. Nancy Burt, North Indian River Drive, Roseland, said 060 should be removed, and said she had gotten the name of the new Flight Safety manager, suggesting a round table forum with them and urged Council to move forward on this. Mayor Coy suggested limiting the participants to exclude Council and have the residents and flight schools meet with Mr. Griffin and then come back to Council as a whole for follow- up. Mr. Neglia said we have held workshops and the result is always the same. City Council Workshop May 7, 2008 Page Six Mr. Paternoster said he was inclined to agree with Mayor Coy and would like to see what Mr. Griffin can work our and then come back to Council. In response to Mr. Neglia, Mr. Griffin said someone will always be unhappy with the result because there are too many variables. Ms. Simchick thanked everyone for being here and providing information and offering to have a workshop and agreed Council should stay out of it rather let those who spoke get together and roundtable with the City Manager and Airport Manager. MOTION by Ms. Simchick and SECOND by Mr. Wolff to extend the meeting passed on a voice vote of 5-0. Mr. Wolff thought Holly Dill's idea was good, fantastic that Mr. Denton flew the pattern, and suggested we fine tune this and have a document that is voluntary, look into the use of the airport lounge, and have affected parties get together for a greater chance of input because though we won't make everyone happy we will get them talking. Mayor Coy noted that during the Philipson development at the airport, there were workshops between staff and Roseland residents that she attended and it worked. She stated the City Manager has his marching orders from Council to conduct small scale workshops with residents and airport users and then bring it back to Council. Ms. Simchick asked the City Manager to announce the workshop dates at the next meeting and Mayor Coy added it can be placed on the website and Channel 25. 6. Being no other business, Mayor Coy adjourned the Workshop at 10:35 pm. Approved at the May 28, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting. Andrea B. Coy, Mayo AT ~T: Sally A. Mai , MMC -City Clerk 6