Staff:     E. Marx, Planning Commissioner; C. Nelson, Public Works Administration; P. Messmer, Highway; J. Lampman, Highway; R. Nicholas, Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

Guests: J. Morrissey, B. Mastropaolo, M. Colbert, C&S Engineers

Called to Order

 Mr. Booth called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.

1)  Chair's Report

 Mr. Booth said that some positive news related to the US Air contract negotiations has been received and will be discussed as part of the Airport Manager's report.

2)  Persons Wishing to Address the Committee

No persons wished to address the Committee.

3)  Withdrawal of Minutes of June 24, 2003

Mr. Booth withdrew consideration of the minutes of June 24, 2003 meeting.

4)  Approval to Seek Bids and Level of Committee Involvement - High-Lift Truck for Repair of Ramp, Parking Lot Lights, etc.

 Mr. Nicholas, Airport Manager, said the requested truck would provide the airport with their own high-lift truck in order to make repairs to the ramp, replace parking lights, etc.  The truck would cost approximately $50,000 and would be funded through the airport operating budget.  Mr. Nicholas said that  at the present time the airport has been using borrowed de-icing trucks for these purposes and that this has not been a generally satisfactory arrangement.  The vehicle would be expected to have an indefinite life-span due to the limited usage.  It was suggested that the truck could possibly be utilized by the Facilities Division to make building repairs, wash outside windows, etc., or that rental of a truck from an outside source may be more a cost effective way to complete this work.  Mr. Nicholas was requested to contact the Facilities Division to determine an interest on their part and to obtain rental information on lift trucks.

5)  Authorizing Supplemental Consultant Agreement No. 7 with C&S Engineers for Design and Administrative Services - Air Rescue and Fire F ighting Building Door Modifications and Airfield Lighting Equipment Relocation

RESOLUTION NO.     - AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL CONSULTANT AGREEMENT NO. 7 WITH C&S ENGINEERS, INC., FOR DESIGN AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE AIR RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTING (ARFF) (CFR) BUILDING DOOR MODIFICATIONS AND AIRFIELD LIGHTING EQUIPMENT RELOCATION - ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

 The Committee was informed that the resolution to be presented involves several separate items:  1) the relocation of the electrical vault from its present location into the Crash Fire Rescue (CFR) building; 2) the replacement of two generators dating from 1956 and 1983 (these generators may be utilized in the future by Facilities) with one unit; and 3) modification of pillar supports within the garage portion of the CFR building to provide adequate clearance for rescue equipment.  At the meeting the Committee was provided with a Scope of Work for this proposed agreement, which is on file in the Legislature office.  Mr. Nicholas reported that at the present time the design of the CFR building supports allow a six-inch clearance on each side for rescue equipment.  A bid is in the process for new rescue equipment and the dimensions indicate that there would be zero clearance for the vehicle.  The proposal is to modify the support to eliminate one upright and allow adequate clearance.  Mr. Nicholas noted that this work was not included in the initial project as the operating budget did not allow it at the time.  At this time the estimated costs are built into the airport operating budget and will not require local-share funding.

 MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Ms. Blanchard to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval.  The Committee inquired what the total cost of this project would be and was informed the total cost, including equipment, and asbestos removal from the ceiling, was estimated to be $340,000.  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - 4 (Legislators Booth, Blanchard, Kiefer, and Winch), Excused - 1 (Legislator Robertson).  MOTION APPROVED.

 WHEREAS, the dimensions of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles currently being manufactured have rendered the door widths of the Air Rescue and Fire Fighting (CFR) Building too narrow, and
 WHEREAS, the airfield's electrical system, including its standby generator, needs to be upgraded and moved into the space allocated for it in the recent ARFF (CFR) Building Expansion, and
 WHEREAS, there is a need for design and administration services in relation to these projects, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That Supplemental Consultant Agreement No. 7 to our contract for General Airport Consultant Services with C&S Engineer, Inc., for design and administration services in the amount of $39,626 be approved,
 RESOLVED, further, That the budget for said design and administration services is as follows:

 FAA Share (90%)     $35,663
 State Share (5%)     $  1,981
 Local Share (Airline Rates and Charges) (5%)  $  1,982

 TOTAL      $39,626

 RESOLVED, further, That the local share shall be derived from the airport budget and that the Finance Director is authorized to advance payments for this work until reimbursement is received from the Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Department of Transportation.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-2

Note: At the time the initial CFR expansion was requested in 2002 funding was not available to complete the first portion of this work.  The first part of this project involves replacing the standby generator and moving the electrical junctions from the old electrical vault into a room in the expanded ARFF (CFR) Building that was designed to accommodate it.  This project includes demolition of the old vault.  The second part has to do with a clearance within the building of only six inches on each side of our 1996 fire truck.  In addition, the airport is about to bid for a second truck that will be twelve inches wider than the 1996 truck, consequently replacement of the existing columns and overhead doors will be necessary.

6)  Review of Airport 2002 Annual Report

Ms. Robertson arrived at this time (2:17 p.m.).

 The Committee reviewed the Airport 2002 Annual Report with Mr. Nicholas.  The discussion included the following items of note:

· It was noted that an earlier suggestion had been made regarding inclusion of a map/diagram showing the geography of the airport and surrounding area; this information had not been included in the report.  Mr. Nicholas noted that this omission was a result of inability to find an adequate graphic able to fit on the printed page.

· A recommendation was made to include a listing of all staff and the salaries for each position, providing an easily obtained reference point for future Legislators.

· Decreased revenue from US Air and Commute Air were due to a reduction or elimination of service, and to the loss of business resulting from the September 11, 2001, tragedy.

· Respecting the car rental services at the airport, it was noted that the airport receives ten percent of gross revenues with a minimum guarantee of $3,500 per month, plus office rental revenue.  The Committee was informed that the car rental enterprises are stable at this time due to customers renting vehicles rather than flying.

· The Committee was informed that there presently is a movement toward regional jet usage by US Air.  Currently US Air utilizes regional jets at Rochester, and it is anticipated that over the next several years the turbo jets at other upstate airports will be replaced with various sizes of regional jets.  Mr. Nicholas noted that the airport ramps would not require modification.  However, some of the regional jets actually require more runway space than the turbo jets; he will be monitoring these needs.

· The Committee was told that the total of 490 jobs created by the airport's operations, as stated within the report, is derived from a national formula with a set multiplier, and is calculated by taking goods and services purchased by the airport and its tenants and calculating how those purchases translate into local positions.  For example, the income a local business makes from a $10,000 purchase of goods or services utilized at the airport would provide a portion of an individual's salary in that business. This figure does not include the economic development activities airport visitors may engage in through their dealings with local educational institutions and businesses.
 
· The cost of emergency-response training for new personnel is approximately $3,000/person.  Continuous mock training of personnel takes place, utilizing a large unused fuel tank retrofitted with seating and dummies.

Mr. Nicholas then spoke of the upcoming US Air contract negotiations.  He said that one of the County's consultants, while participating in other contract negotiations in Florida, approached a US Air official regarding the Tompkins County airport.  The consultant suggested that US Air consider agreeing to a two-year extension to the existing contract rather than negotiating a longer term contract at this time.  This suggestion received positive feedback and US Air has indicated its desire to receive a letter from the airport that outlines this suggestion.  This letter has been sent and it will be forwarded to the appropriate US Air personnel as soon as possible.  Mr. Nicholas said a two-year extension of the County's existing contract with US Air would be a favorable situation for all parties involved.  The Committee was then informed that if this contract extension were quickly agreed to, the consultant agreement would be modified to reflect the reduced effort required in the negotiation process.

The Committee was updated regarding the small community air service grant application submitted to the Department of Transportation on June 30, 2003.  Forty $500,000 grants will be made nationwide, with two-hundred fifty applications having been submitted.  This grant required matching funds that have been raised through the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Agency, and the State.

Committee members requested that any information such as Scope of Work relative to resolutions be presented prior to the meeting.

7) Public Works Administrator's Report

The Committee received a written report from Ms. Nelson, Public Works Administrator, that provided information on a variety of subjects including highlights of Cabinet meetings, Project Approval Request team meetings, departmental administration, emergency management, work with Divisions and Departments, and labor-management meetings.  A copy of this report is on file with original minutes at the Legislature's office.

Mr. Winch was excused at this time (2:55).

8)  Appointment to Hillview Landfill Advisory Board

 It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Ms. Blanchard, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following appointment:

Hillview Road Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee
Brian Eden, At-Large representative; term expires December 31, 2004

9)  Review of Highway 2002 Annual Report

 The Committee reviewed the Highway Division 2002 Annual Report with Mr. Messmer. The discussion included the following items of note:

· A dump truck with a complete plow set-up presently costs approximately $120,000 and has a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years.

· The new pavement management system will enable more accurate projection of infrastructure needs and potential costs and aid in the budgeting process.

· The area of focus for the highway infrastructure has been and will be preventive maintenance and rehabilitation, which will lengthen the period of time between re-construction of roadbeds.

· Although the County currently has adequate equipment to maintain its roads, the County budget has been providing insufficient funding for the additional personnel and materials required to overcome existing backlogs in road maintenance and major reconstruction projects.  Mr. Messmer expressed concern that future costs will be drastically increased due to major rebuilding of roads rather than maintaining and rehabilitating them.

· Additional manpower may allow the County to develop in-house capability to use hot-mix applications, perhaps providing a savings to the County because there is not a competitive market for this product in the Tompkins County area.

· The County is developing a plan that will cover twenty-year infrastructure needs, including the County's roads.  The balance sheets that will be required in the GASB reporting system will assist in analysis of the County's infrastructure needs.

· Roadside maintenance is imperative to maintain rights-of-way obtained by the County.  This includes clearing of trees and brush from the side of roads and cleaning ditches in a timely fashion, and the County has fallen behind in its efforts to perform this kind of maintenance.  A suggestion was made that an official right-of-way map be produced to maintain the County legal interest in its rights-of-way.

· The Committee received information on "Superpave" a newly formulated road surfacing material that resists rutting.  This would be useful on high-traffic roads and a new specification has been written to utilize this material.  The cost is slightly higher than presently used surfacing material.

Mr. Messmer was asked about the possibilities of eliminating standing water in ditches within the County rights-of-way in order to reduce the potential for spreading the West Nile Virus.  He replied that doing this work would require an engineer and substantially increased manpower to make certain that all ditch water flowed by design and/or to provide constant monitoring of waterflow in road ditches.

The Committee was informed of a new use of recycled computers called "Boston Patch."  The computers are melted down and used to patch holes in roadbeds.

10)  Budget Adjustment - Solid Waste Division

 It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Ms. Robertson, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to submit the following budget adjustment to the full Legislature for approval:

Solid Waste Division
 Revenue Acct           Title            Amt          Approp Acct           Title(s) _
CL8169.43989 Other Home/Community Services  $42,000     CL8163.54358     Recyclables
CL8169.43989  Other Home/Community Services  $     500     CL8163.52206     Computer Equipment
CL8169.43989  Other Home/Community Services  $10,000     CL8164.54442     Prof. Services

Explanation: Additional funds needed to fund the purchase of recyclable materials.  Additional funds needed to purchase computer for Recycling Supervisor.  Additional funds needed to pay Superior monthly curbside pickup payment.

11)  Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Fuller, Deputy Clerk, Tompkins County Legislature

Addendum

The following suggested changes were made by Ms. Kiefer subsequent to the meeting(no action was taken by the Committee):
 

Item #4

Mr. Nicholas was requested to contact the Facilities Division to determine an interest on their part and to obtain rental information on lift trucks and/or the possibility of occasional use agreement of equipment from a telephone company or New York State Electric and Gas.

Item #6

It was suggested that a double-wide page could be folded in.

Item #7

The possibility of centralizing administration and clerical staff remains, but for now the staff has decided to maintain separate within each division.