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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-06/24/1975-Special0 '�J, June 24, 1975 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO ' Council -Manager Form of Government Special Meeting - 1:00 P.M. CALL OF MEETING The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: Pursuant to the request of the Mayor Pro Tem, Nancy P. Gray, of the City of Fort Collins, a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Fort Collins is hereby called for 1:00 P.N. on Tuesday, June 24, 1975 in the Council Chamber of the City Hall, 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins for the purpose of further discussion of the Fort Collins -Loveland Airport Master plan and anything further that may properly cone before the Council. Very truly yours, 6)� LaVonne Hoffman Deputy City Clerk Present: Council members Bloom, Bowling, Gray, Russell, Suinn, and Wilkinson. Absent: Councilwoman Reeves. Staff members present: Brunton, Cain, Case, and Lewis. Also: City Attorney March. Airport Master Plan approved City Manager Robert L. Brunton stated the questions submitted by Council members had been given to the Airport Board members, who had held a special meeting to arrive at answers. Airport Manager Kosta Constantine stated the questions were as follows: 1. Question (Mayor Russell): Snow plow usage at airport? Answer: The truck is available in an emergency for Civil Defense purposes. The truly: was donated to the Airport Board by the Civil Defense. s i t 390 1 1 2. Question (Mayor Russell): The use of the fuel truck at the airport? Answer: The truck is the only method of fueling airplanes at the airport. Its removal would halt fuel service and the truck is specially designed for aviation fuel. 3. Question (Mayor Russell): Runway sealant. Answer: The Airport Board has never planned a sealant treatment of the runway and has always advocated a runway overlay which is first priority under Phase I of the master plan. 4. Question (Mayor Russell): CSU money trade-off. Answer: The Board decided it did not understand this question. CSU's.use of the airport is much like any other operator. 5. Question (Councilwoman Reeves): Is it possible to lengthen the five year phases to fit tight budget problems? Answer: Items in Phase I are not needed now; some of the items should have been accomplished in the past by greater funding from the two Cities. The Board does not feel this Phase can be lengthened time -wise. 6.' Question (Councilwoman Reeves): At $37,500 per year which is the current level for funding with Fort Collins at $25,000, what do you estimate is the time needed to accomplish the Phase I program? Answer: Divide it out and it would take 10� years. 7. Question (Councilman Bloom): Clarify finances i.e. yearly costs. Answer: The Board interpreted the question to describe future income generated by daily airport revenues. The Airport Board feels that, as in the past, daily airport revenues have and will approximately equal airport operating costs. 8. .Question (Councilman Wilkinson): How do gas prices compare to Valley Airpark? Answer: They are about equal. 9. Question (Councilwoman Reeves): About land acquisition as the acquisition of 136 acres, will it enable the 20 year expansion plan without problems? Answer: Yes, and the Board determined that the 136 acres will not be constructed upon as it is property required for clear zones. 391 6 I'll If 10. Question (Councilwoman Reeves): To keep the Fort Collins -Loveland Airport for General Aviation use only. Answer: The Board agrees with this. No phase of this Plaster Plan includes an increase of runway weight -bearing capability that would be required before larger aircraft can use the airport. The Airport Board does not want large commercial. aircraft. 11. Question(Councilwoman Reeves): There may be changes in aircraft technology which may require shorter runways. Answer: The Board agrees that short take -off and landing have been around since pre -World War II and have had limited use, and the Board knows of no studies for expansion of such design in general aviation. 12. Question (Councilman Bowling): Is this size facility really what the public in this community desires? Answer: In 1963 the citizens of Fort Collins authorized the City Council on a vote to proceed with the joint , development of an airport with Loveland. The Board feels that the proposed Plaster Plan is the minimum requirement to allow continued safe operation for the current airport user. 13. Question (Councilman Bowling): If the citizens do desire it, is this the proper location for this facility? Answer: The Airport Board feels that the Fort Collins -Loveland Airport is properly located for the following reasons: (a) located on relatively low agriculturally productive land. (b) approach paths do not over -fly Loveland or Fort Collins or any other highly populated areas. (c) wind directions are ideal and turbulent conditions are minimal. (d) easy access by auto from Highway 34 from Loveland and I-25 from Fort Collins. (e) It is the highest elevation within a 30 mile radius of any site and therefore the Board feels that the original Airport Committee after considering these and many other items made the best possible choice for the airport's location. ' The Board also looked into the COG Transportation study. The Airport Board has been advised that the Transportation study will not be in depth as to the aviation needs for the area. 392 6U0) 14. Question (Councilman Bloom): Will the revenues increase enough i� to pay 1.7 million of the Master Plan? Answer: Nationally, General Aviation airports can not support capital improvements for daily revenues. This is the end of the written questions. Councilman Wilkinson stated he felt the *faster Plan as presented is a reasonable plan and he felt it should be adopted. He further felt at some time the Valley Airpark land would become too valuable to be used as LID an airport and the users would move to Fort Collins -Loveland Airport. 00 Further, the use now granted Valley Airpark to carry passengers three times a day to Stapleton would also be moved to. Fort Collins -Loveland. W W Councilman Suinn inquired into the interpretation of the 8,500 foot runway, if it is for the small percentage to be used for corporate jets, or for general aviation. Councilwoman Gray reiterated that she would support the.Master Plan without the runway expansion. Councilman Bowling stated he still had some concerns, specifically the COG Transportation study. He felt this issue is so important that there be a total Master Plan for the county, not only for highway transportation ' but also for aviation, that it is not too much to ask to postpone a Master Plan that would address the needs of the region. Another question Councilman Bowling had was does the expanded facility create the need for additional expansion;also private versus public support of this facility. He also felt circumstances have changed since the voters approved the funding in 1963 and that the decision is premature. He concluded that the Master Plan should be delayed. Councilman Bloom stated that about 20 percent of the aircraft which use the airport are the corporate jet type aircraft. He felt the Master Plan is a plan which can be updated and upgraded at the City's direction; he would support the Master Plan as long as the City has control over each and every item of expense. Maintenance and safety items.are acceptable. Councilman Wilkinson made a motion seconded by Councilman Bloom to approve the Master Plan. Councilman Suinn made a motion seconded by Councilwoman Gray to amend the motion by adding "deleting two items under Phase III, the extended runway and the general aviation building." Yeas: Council members Bowling, Gray, and Suinn Nays: Council members Bloom, Russell, and Wilkinson. Srit Mayor Russell declared the amendment lost. He then put the original main motion with the following vote: Yeas: Council members Bloom, Russell, and Wilkinson. Nays: Council members Bowling, Gray, and Suinn. 393 Mayor Russell declared the motion failed. Councilman Suinn made a motion seconded by Councilwoman Gray that the Master Plan, without the lengthening of the runway,be adopted. Yeas: Council members Gray, Russell, Suinn, and Wilkinson. Nays: Council members Bloom and Bowling. City Manager Robert L. Brunton stated the City has received from the County for the airport a check for the airplane tax in the amount of $5,556.60. Adjournment Councilman Bloom made a motion seconded by Councilwoman Gray to adjourn the meeting. Yeas: Council members Bloom, Bowling, Gray, Russell, Suinn, and Wilkinson. Nays: None. Mayor ATTEST: &�Lfe[A..a-.— City Clerk t 394