LRAAC meeting 11/17/00 minutes 1. Open meeting at 9:03am, 17 November 2000. 2. Present: Tim Scully, Trey Loy, Dave Brewer, Tom Goncharoff, Susan Winding, Dick Ahrens. Absent: Willow Trent. 3. Minutes of last meeting: approved. 4. Correspondence. A. Official Public Resources Committee meeting minutes. B. Three draft letters to pilots re waiting list. 1) Discussion: chg: add what happens to those who do not ante up. 2) Discussion: chg: add "from end of 30-day period". 3) Discussion: chg: add "don't lose place in old list". C. Tim Scully response to DOT draft. 5. Next steps: A. Tim Scully will query Stan Townsend about the results of the 24 October BOS meeting. B. Susan Winding will put together a list of local major contractors. C. Dave Brewer and Tom Goncharoff will be the contact team for the contractors, PacBell, and PG&E. 6. Dog Park: explanation of dog park issues to Susan Winding. 7. Expiration of terms: terms of Goncharoff, Ahrens, Winding, and Scully expire 1 Jan 2001. 8. Adjourn at 10:04am. The next committee meeting will be Friday December 15 at 9am. The agenda for this meeting is: Approve the minutes of the last meeting Communications (letters, FAXes, etc, sent/received since last meeting) Additional hangars at the airport will be the main focus of this and the next few meetings. Reports from subcommittees Public comment Agree on a date, time and place for the next meeting Agree on agenda for next meeting Members of the Little River Airport Advisory Committee ------------------------------------------------------ Dick Ahrens pilot, airport neighbor Dave Brewer pilot, lives near airport Tom Goncharoff Trey Loy non-pilot, lives near airport Tim Scully inactive pilot (lost medical), computer programmer, lives near airport Willow Trent airport neighbor, non-pilot Susan Winding airport neighbor, non-pilot, business owner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Public Resources Committee met on Monday, September 18, 2000, at 9:07 a.m., with the following members present: Supervisors Lucier and Shoemaker. Chair Lucier presiding. Also present Deputy County Administrative Officer, Sue Goodrick; and Deputy Clerk of the Board, Heike Arnold. Little River Advisory Committee 1. Update and Interim Report For Proposed Additional Hangars at Little River Airport Those present included Little River Airport Advisory Committee members, Mr. Tim Scully, Mr. Richard Ahrens, Mr. David Brewer, Mr. Trey Loy, and Mr. Tom Goncharoff; Mr. Stan Townsend, Director of Transportation; and Mr. Chuck Boyer, Transportation Department. Mr. Scully provided an update regarding Caltrans low interest loans through the Department of Transportation Aeronautics Program application process, noted that the Advisory Committee has received a sample loan application from Caltrans, and that Caltrans has indicated the need for evidence of a validated hangar waiting list to provide prepayment evidence for the loan, and has requested Board action to verify their approval to proceed with the loan process. Mr. Scully also referenced the proposed hangar plan, cost estimates pertaining to specific types of hangars, the need for utility line estimates from utility companies, public hearing and noticing requirements, payment and repayment of the proposed loan. Extensive discussion ensued pertaining to the application process, current hangar rental fees versus new hangar rental fees, the methodology to be utilized to gauge the interest for new hangar construction and rental commitments, the amount of assessment for a hangar deposit, and specifics pertaining to the proposed hangar deposit process. The Committee determined that a letter would have to be sent to each person currently on the hangar waiting list (currently 37) and all who currently utilize a hangar at Little River Airport, requesting that a deposit be submitted to the Department of Transportation, to be placed in a Trust Account for a specified period, should the individual be interested in leasing a new hangar for a specified period, 'as proposed; that the number of hangars to be constructed be contingent upon the interest generated by pre-deposits; that information be garnered from the City of Ukiah regarding their airport expansion plans; and that pre-approval be obtained from the Board to proceed with the process as proposed. Recommendation: The Committee recommends that the Committee Chair provide a brief update to the Board at their October 24, 2000, meeting, in order to ascertain Board's position pertaining to proceeding with further research on the proposed hangar application process; that should Board questions arise and additional clarification be required, the item be agendized as a Public Resources Committee Report, to be presented at the December 7, 2000, Board meeting; directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) staff to draft a letter requesting those on the hangar waiting list and those currently renting a hangar space to respond by sending a specified rental deposit if interested in a new hangar at Little River Airport; directed that DOT staff meet the public noticing requirements; directed that the Little River Airport Advisory Committee continue to gather information pertaining to the Caltrans loan application process requirements, utility requirements and costs, and specific hangar types and associated construction and engineering costs. Chairman Lucier clarified that the deposit should be for an approximate three month rental period at a cost of $600, the response time be limited to thirty days, and the noticing be with the Fort Bragg Advocate News, the Mendocino Beacon, and the Ukiah Daily Journal, to ensure overall coverage. Mr. Scully noted that the Little River Airport Advisory Committee has been approached by a local interest group wishing to lease and utilize a portion of the airport grounds for a Dog Park. The Clerk noted that discussion on this issue needs to be postponed until properly agendized. The Committee members referred this issue for review with the Department of Transportation staff. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rough draft letter to pilots (this version was drafted by Tim before the Public Resources Committee met) Little River Airport management is considering applying for a loan from CalTrans to build additional rental hangars at the airport. CalTrans requires convincing evidence of the demand for more hangars before they will consider making a loan. They require the airport manager to collect a deposit from each interested pilot equal to 2 month's estimated hangar rent. The exact rent will depend on the number and type of hangars built, and this in turn will depend on the number of interested pilots, but we estimate that space in the new hangars will rent for between $175 and $225 per month. For purposes of the initial deposit, we estimate $200 per month and thus require a $400 deposit from each interested pilot. The deposit is refundable only if construction of new hangars does not begin by January 2003. The deposit is not refundable if a pilot loses interest in a hangar. The deposit is does not earn interest. The deposit will be applied to hangar rent if hangars are built. Pilots who have paid a deposit will have priority in renting the new hangars. If you are interested and want to put down a deposit, it must be given to Dave Thorpe (Airport Supervisor) before the end of this year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (This draft letter was written by Dick Ahrens after the Public Resources Committee meeting) Little River Airport Advisory Committee Albion, CA 95410 24 October 2000 Dear pilot and/or aircraft owner: The Little River Airport Advisory Committee is in the process of getting more hangars for the Little River Airport. The County of Mendocino now has a chance to apply for a State of California loan for hangar construction. This loan, if approved by the state, will allow the construction of up to 16 hangars by the County and the leasing of these hangars to pilots and aircraft owners. The rental monies from these leases will be used to retire the loan over a period of years. There are a number of steps involved in preparing the application for this loan. One of the steps was the preparation of information showing that the hangars, if they are built, will be immediately and continuously leasable. This step was to assure the state that the loan will be repaid. The Little River Airport Advisory Committee has queried the 31 people on the County list for rental hangars, and has found that there are about 12 of the 31 listees who are serious, right now, about wanting to rent a hangar at Little River Airport. One of the next steps is required by the State of California. This is the validation of a list of people who are serious enough to commit to making a deposit now in order to get on the list for a new hangar. So, this letter is to notify you that the list to rent one of the hangars, if built, starts now. To get on this list, you will need to make a deposit of $600.00 to the County of Mendocino. Your deposit check should be made out to the County of Mendocino, and sent to the Department of Transportation of the County of Mendocino. This deposit will be put in an escrow account by the County and held for you. Our preliminary estimates are that the hangars will have to rent for $175.00 to $225.00 per month, so the $600.00 is as close as we can figure to the rent for the first three months. The real rent figure will not be available until after bids for the construction are received. Along with your check, please be prepared to send your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. The immediate open period for this deposit is two months. After the two months, a decision will be made, based upon the number of deposits received, whether to pursue this state-financed construction and rental option, or to return everybody's deposits and pursue other schemes. The first problem to be solved is the existing list for a rental hangar at Little River Airport. Since the time for action is now, by this letter you are being asked to make your deposit for one of the new hangars. At the end of two months, the replies of all of the people on the list for rental hangars will be tabulated, in order on the list. The topmost positive reply, with deposit, will go to the head of the list. Negative replies will go to the bottom of the list. If sufficient positive replies are received, the program will go to its next steps - getting estimates for the construction and the application for a CalTrans loan to build the hangars. If insufficient deposits are received, all monies will be returned, the loan application will not be made, and other options will have to be explored. Your deposit is non-refundable, except that you get one chance to change your mind: if the loan application is successful, and the hangars are built, you will be asked to sign a one-year lease. If the hangars are built, your deposit goes against the rent. If an insufficient number of people deposit money for this option within two months, then your deposit money will be refunded, without interest. If the state loan application is unsuccessful and the hangar construction is not started within two years, your money will be refunded, without interest. These hangars are for storage of aircraft. Upon occupancy you will be signing a lease that will require you to own an airplane within a few months, if you do not own one when the hangars are completed and you get occupancy. Storage of household goods and automobiles are not proper uses for these hangars. The new hangars will be in a line, continuing to the north-west beyond the present line of hangars along the north-west taxiway. Yours truly, Tim Scully for the Committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Stanley Townsend Sent: November 03, 2000 3:42 PM To: tim.scully Subject: Hangars Attached is a draft of a letter to pilots, etc. soliciting hangar deposits. I will also prepare a shorter notice for publication, and date this letter identical with the publication date. It got a little long, but I'm trying to anticipate any questions that might arise. Please feel free to be brutal in criticism and/or suggestions. I await your response. -- Stanley Townsend, Director Mendocino County Department of Transportation 340 Lake Mendocino Drive Ukiah CA 95482-9432 (Rough draft letter from DOT) RE: Dear: The Little River Airport Advisory Committee is in the process of studying hangar space needs. In doing so, the Committee has been working closely with the Mendocino County Department of Transportation and with the Board of Supervisors' Public Resources Committee. Based on the research, the most viable option for providing additional hangar space would involve the County constructing individual hangars utilizing Revenue-Generating Loan funding through the Caltrans Aeronautics Program. As a condition to qualify for the loan program, the County must provide evidence that revenues to be received from the lease or rental of the hangars would be sufficient to cover the cost of the loan payments. A factor in this determination would be demonstrated interest in lease or rental of hangar space. Caltrans has indicated that receipt of a deposit from interested parties could serve to demonstrate sufficient interest. The exact lease or rental rate would depend on the number and type of hangars constructed, which in turn depends upon demonstrated interest. It is currently anticipated that a lease or rental amount in the neighborhood of $200 per month would be necessary to meet the loan payback criteria. It is also anticipated that a one-year lease program would be implemented. We are currently soliciting cash deposits in the amount of $600 as demonstration of interest participation in the hangar lease program. The deposit will not be refundable in the event that the payer loses interest in participation. The deposit will be refundable in the event that (due to insufficient interest or any other reason) the County decides not to proceed with a hangar construction project. The deposit will also be refundable in the event that hangar construction does not commence within two years of receipt of deposit. The deposit will be applied to the hangar lease. An additional security deposit may be required at the time of lease execution. This phase of hangar development will be limited to the construction of a maximum of 16 hangars. We will accept a maximum of 20 deposits. Any deposits received in excess of the number of hangars to be made available will be refundable upon execution of lease agreements for all available hangars. We currently have a waiting list for future hangars. Individuals on that list will be given priority for lease of a hangar (based on their position on that list) upon receipt of a deposit within 30 days of the date of this notice. All other priority determinations will be based on time of receipt of deposit. Hangar deposits should be payable to the County of Mendocino and delivered to the Department of Transportation at the above address. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Chuck Boyer in the Department of Transportation Sincerely, STANLEY TOWNSEND Director of Transportation cc: . \\DPW_NT\PUBDATA\SharedWP\SLT\Word\Airport\LR\Hangar Notice Ltr.doc Hangar Deposit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Tim Scully Sent: November 05, 2000 6:36 PM To: 'Stanley Townsend'; Tim Scully Subject: RE: Hangars Your draft letter looks very good. Thank you for giving me a chance to comment. I have a couple of suggestions. It might be good to explicitly state that the deposit does not accrue interest. And it might be worthwhile to point out that hangars are for the storage of aircraft and that you must have an aircraft to rent a hangar. Thank you for helping to move this project forward. Respectfully Yours, Tim Scully, Ph.D. Chair, LRAAC