Planes, aims and automobiles: a joint AAC/FBCC look forward

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

DSCN1681The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) and the city’s Airport Advisory Commission (AAC) convened a joint special meeting on January 28, 2014.  The AAC presented the FBCC with proposed revisions the AAC’s enabling resolution in addition to an airport vision and mission statement.  Following an hour of discussion and tentative agreement on those matters, Andrew Holesko of Passero Associates presented a slide talk to both boards on options for a welcome center/operations building at the city airport.  While city commissioners seemed in agreement on the need build such a facility, they expressed concerns over site alternatives, each of which presented issues, ranging from usefulness to fixed base operations to automobile traffic congestion at intersections connecting airport access roads to the Parkway.  The FBCC also expressed interest in pursuing such a program as a public/private partnership.

Background

The airport welcome center has been an issue for Fernandina Beach since at least 2003, when the city had its first opportunity to build such a facility with matching grant funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  City Manager Joe Gerrity, who was serving on the FBCC at the time, informed members of both boards that the city commission at that time had decided not to move forward on the project because of controversy over Crane Island development and weak community support.  He said that there were concerns in the community that such a center, which had been described as a “terminal,” meant that bigger aircraft would be using the airport for regularly scheduled commercial flights.  Despite rumors to the contrary, there have never been plans for commercial airline service, runway extensions to encourage operations by larger aircraft or any facility construction to accommodate aircraft larger than those that operate at the city airport today.  But in 2003 the FBCC backed off the project because they believed the community was not ready for it.  As a result, the money programmed for the project was returned to FDOT for reprogramming to other grants for our airport and other small airports.

Today

The current FDOT matching grant in the amount of $1.1M for this project the second time around is due to be awarded on July 1, 2014.  Should Fernandina Beach back off the project once again, the money will revert to the FDOT for regional projects.  According to an FDOT spokesman, Fernandina Beach will not have a third shot at FDOT funding for this project if the city fails to press on with the welcome center at this time.

Airport Advisory Commission Recommendations

AAC Member Sam Lane
AAC Member Sam Lane

AAC member Sam Lane presented city commissioners with the AAC’s recommended changes for Resolution 2011-45 updating the AAC’s role and responsibilities thusly:

  • Provide for a non-voting member to be appointed by the FBCC who is ineligible to serve as chair or vice chair;
  • Clarify excused absence;
  • Clarify communications expectations with the FBCC and airport manager;
  • Clarify the AAC role in planning as it affects the airport.
AAC Member David Dully
AAC Member David Dully

AAC member David Dully followed with a presentation of the AAC’s proposed vision, mission, goals and objectives for discussion with the FBCC.

  • Mission:  Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport is a coastal resort, general aviation airport which is operated, maintained and preserved for the benefit of the community and airport users.
  • Vision:  The Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport is committed to supporting the economic, environmental and recreational needs of the community through safe and secure operations and fiscal self-sustainment.
  • Objective:  The objective of the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport is to support its mission and vision through the operation, maintenance, and development of airport services and infrastructure that is accountable to its constituents, provides appropriate airport facilities, and supports compatible business uses and development.  The AAC provided a series of goals and action items in support of this objective.

FBCC members engaged in discussion over the proposed changes, focusing on the need to solve issues with information flow and the AAC role in airport planning.  Commissioner Charlie Corbett informed the AAC that Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican had recently been appointed as FBCC liaison to the AAC to ensure that commissioners were aware of airport issues and problems from the AAC perspective.

Mayor Boner discusses agenda with acting clerk Angie Lester.
Mayor Boner discusses agenda with acting clerk Angie Lester.

Mayor Ed Boner asked how long it would be until the FBCC received the AAC’s proposed 3-year business plan.  City Manager Gerrity, who also serves as the interim airport manager, said that it would take some time to finish the plan.  Richard Gray, AAC Chair, also responded to Boner’s concerns on the participation of the Nassau County Economic Development Board (NCEDB) in meetings and plan developments.

Commissioner Pat Gass commended the AAC for an “outstanding job” in both content and presentation of their work.  Gray asked that the documents be cleaned up and put on the city’s website for all to see.  Gerrity said that would be done following the FBCC’s formal adoption of the documents at a future date.

Welcome Center/Operations Building

Passero representative Andrew Holesko briefs AAC and FBCC on airport welcome center/operations building.
Passero representative Andrew Holesko briefs AAC and FBCC on airport welcome center/operations building.

Andrew Holesko of Passero Associates delivered a slide briefing on the status of a welcome center/operations building at the airport.  After first providing background on the state and national airport system plans, he once again emphasized that there are no plans to expand facilities or services to accommodate larger planes or commercial airport traffic at the city’s general aviation airport.

The city is on a tight timetable to move forward with this project or lose the FDOT matching grant funding.  Should the city not act before July 1, 2014, it is highly probable that the FDOT will reprogram the money set aside for this purpose to other airports in the region.  Since this would be the second time that the city has failed to move forward with an authorized project for such a facility, it is highly doubtful that FDOT would support future funding for this project.

Two sites have been identified as possible locations.  The North area facilities occupy 32 acres and include hangars, McGill Aviation Fixed Base Operation (FBO) and possibly a second FBO.  The second site is the East area facilities, consisting of 47 acres.  Also located there would be hangars, corporate aviation, and possibly a second FBO, along with the welcome center/emergency operations center.

Holesko discusses presentation with Zach Nelson, another Passero associate.
Holesko discusses presentation with Zach Nelson, another Passero associate.

Holesko enumerated city investments totaling more than $2M since 1999 in the East area, including roads, infrastructure, taxi lane and taxiway improvements.

Holesko recently led site visits to Hilliard, Lake City and St. Augustine to allow AAC and FBCC members to investigate how other small airports have handled siting and operating welcome centers.

In presenting options for Fernandina Beach, Holesko detailed costs and grant funds available for constructing an aircraft parking area, a welcome center/emergency operations building and a corporate hangar, all in the East area.  He said that the new building could also be accommodated in the North area where it would be adjacent to the existing City ramp, adjacent to the existing FBO or in the central section where it could be shared by McGill and a second FBO.

DSCN1676The final part of his presentation focused on the need for a future building and what the city needs to do next.  Holesko reported that a clear goal of FDOT is to support construction of buildings that can provide emergency operations support in the event of hurricanes and other emergencies.  He emphasized that such a facility would not take the place of the county emergency operations center, but would handle island needs for central staging and mobilization as well as providing emergency power.

Holesko laid out 4 options for the city:

  • Maintain the status quo with no building, hangar, apron, etc.; or
  • Develop a city facility; or
  • Develop a city-private “shared” facility; or
  • Seek a private developer and a long-term lease.

Gerrity added that it was doubtful that the FDOT would come up with more money than the $1.1M currently on the table.  He added, “We all have a sense of urgency in making this decision.   We have a commitment to get a second FBO up and operating as soon as possible.  We need to let him [second FBO operator] know as soon as possible [about the city’s plan] so he can design his operation.  Also McGill wants to renegotiate his lease.”

AAC Chair Richard Gray
AAC Chair Richard Gray

During the question and answer session, AAC Chair Gray emphasized that when the term “city share” of cost is used, it refers to the airport enterprise fund, not the taxpayers.  Holesko added that the FDOT money for grants comes from airport user fees, not general state revenues.  Based upon their visits to other airports, commissioners seemed to favor integrating the welcome center into North side facilities, where it would be more available to the FBOs and visible to the public.  They expressed fears that if it were located on the East side, it might become a “dead building” and not used as intended.  Commissioners raised concerns over the impact of either location on Parkway traffic, and whether during an emergency, either location might create an evacuation bottleneck.  Holesko said that under current airport grants, such intersection improvements are not covered.  Rather, those costs would be covered by DOT from an intermodal transportation fund.

It was the consensus of the FBCC that they needed more information quickly on costs and related variables associated with both sites and the funding options.  Holesko agreed to report back to the FBCC in February.

Further discussions on timetables underlined the need for speed in being able to move forward by the FDOT deadline of July 1, 2014.  The FBCC seemed most interested in pursuing a public/private partnership to build a welcome center/operations center that would meet the needs of both the city and the FBOs.

Gerrity suggested that since both the hangar and the welcome centers are two-year plans, the city move forward first with building the large corporate hangar.  Holesko suggested that the city move forward simultaneously with the proposed study and issuing of Letters of Interest (LOI) to try to gauge private interest in cooperating in such a project.  AAC Chair Gray asked if the city would be prepared to move ahead on its own if there were no response to the LOIs.  Such a decision could tie up local funds for 10 years; there was no consensus at this time.

Public Input

Andrew Holesko and Judith Lane confer.
Andrew Holesko and Judith Lane confer.

Judith Lane addressed both bodies asking how many of them had ever been in charge of multi-million dollar projects.  A few hands went up.  She said, “You have got to have fire in the belly [to drive this project].  You are already behind.”  She added that the city needs a single point of contact to push forward.

Tom Piscatello addresses AAC and FBCC.
Tom Piscatello addresses AAC and FBCC.

Tom Piscatello asked why in light of problems discussed would a ramp be placed on the East side.  He advocated placing the building on the North side, where people can see it.

Sean McGill responds to request for comment.
Sean McGill responds to request for comment.

Mayor Boner asked Sean McGill, the current FBO operator, for comments.  McGill said that he thought building a ramp on the East side would be a waste of resources, but that it could be used to buy time if it were to be built for smaller aircraft and possibly run by a private concern.

Consensus and final comments

It was the consensus to move forward on the project, while commissioning a study on the north and east site options from Passero Associates, LLC, the city’s airport consultant.  It was also the consensus to advertise for possible private partners in this endeavor by issuing a Letter of Interest.  Both McGill Aviation, the current airport fixed base operator and a second party interested in establishing a fixed base operation at the airport, will be specifically solicited to determine their interest in such a project.

City Manager Joe Gerrity suggested instead that the focus change from building the welcome center to constructing a ramp and a large corporate hangar on the east side of the airport.  Such a change would give the city another year to flesh out the welcome center.  Both the hangar and the welcome center are two-year projects.

l-r:  Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican, City Manager Joe Gerrity, Mayor Ed Boner
l-r: Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican, City Manager Joe Gerrity, Mayor Ed Boner

The next AAC meeting has been scheduled for February 13.  The city will try to get an FDOT representative to attend to clarify the grant funding and project sequencing.  City Manager Joe Gerrity said, harking back to Judith Lane’s comment, “If we don’t have the fire, maybe we aren’t ready for [the welcome center].”

About 15 audience members were in attendance for this joint meeting, which lasted almost 2.5 hours.

Suanne ThammEditor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

January 30, 2014 2:37 p.m.