01/10/2023

Meeting Minutes for:
January Board Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 04:02 PM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 4:02PM on January 10, 2023, in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was Bill Craft, President.

    YCAA DIRECTORS PRESENT WERE:
    Bill Craft, President
    Dean Hager, 1st Vice President
    Russell Jones, 2nd Vice President
    Stanley Gourley, Treasurer
    Eric Saltzer, Secretary
    Reetika Dhawan, Director (joined the meeting telephonically)
    Albert Gardner, Director
    Ken Scott, Director
    Jenny Torres, Director

    YCAA DIRECTORS ABSENT WERE:
    Juan Guzman, Director
    William Fox, Director

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Gladys Brown, Airport Director
    Gerald Hinkle, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
    Andrea Lopez, Executive Assistant
    Gabby Reyes, Finance and HR Specialist
    Greg McShane, MCAS Operations Officer
    Ryan Hart, Million Air Yuma

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS
    1) Ms. Brown, Airport Director, announced the 2022 Employee of the Year, Gabby Reyes. Ms. Brown described how Mrs. Reyes joined the YCAA on September 17, 1993, as the receptionist and today is the finance and human resources manager. Gabby is the most tenured employee on the Airport Team going on 30 years this upcoming September. Words that have been used to describe Mrs. Reyes are caring, helpful, genuine, nice, great person, reliable, great listener, prepared, professional and fair. Ms. Brown thanked Mrs. Reyes for her service, as did the President, Mr. Craft and other members of the Board of Directors.

    Ms. Reyes expressed her pleasure working for the airport all these years. She shared her memories throughout her years at the airport and looks forward to many years together.

    APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    Mr. Craft, the YCAA President, called for a motion to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2022, Regular Board Meeting. Mr. Jones so moved. Mr. Hager seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Mr. Jones
    Mr. Gourley
    Mr. Saltzer
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Scott
    Ms. Torres

    Votes Opposed: None

    REGULAR AGENDA
    1) Monthly report by Chief Financial Officer on current financial status.

    Mr. Hinkle, Chief Financial Officer, briefed the Board on our current financial status.

    2) Discussion and possible recommendation to adopt the Yuma International Airport 2023 - 2027 and Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) as presented.

    Ms. Brown, the Airport Director, described the ACIP process in some detail and presented the projects to be submitted to the FAA and ADOT regarding future development, rehabilitation, and reconstruction at the Yuma International Airport. Ms. Brown described how the ACIP was substantially similar to what was passed in June of 2022 with the exception of the reallocation of all matching funds for projects from the ADOT to PFC funds.

    Mr. Craft, the YCAA President, called for a motion to adopt the Yuma International Airport 2023 to 2027 Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) as presented and any minor revisions as discussed with the FAA and ADOT during the review process. Mr. Scott so, moved. Mr. Gourley seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Mr. Jones
    Mr. Gourley
    Mr. Saltzer
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Scott
    Ms. Torres

    Votes Opposed: None

    3)Discussion and possible action to authorize the President, Airport Director, or their designated representative to sign all related documents for PFC Application Number 9, which proposes to impose and use a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) for the purpose of providing matching funds for airport capital improvement projects.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, described how the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program is intended to allow for the regulated collection of fees from airport users for the purpose of making airport improvements. The program allows airports to mandate air carriers collect up to $4.50 per enplaned passenger as part of the ticketing process and remit those funds to the airport to be expended on FAA approved projects.

    Ms. Brown explained that YCAA currently has three active PFC programs, referred to as “PFC #2”, “PFC #6” and “PFC #8”, which allow for the collection and expenditure of PFC revenues. Each of these PFC programs authorizes the collection and expenditure of PFC revenues on specific projects. The Airport’s existing program allows for collection of PFC’s through January of 2023.

    YCAA is seeking FAA Authorization to establish an additional PFC program (PFC #9) that will authorize the collection and expenditure of PFC revenues to provide the revenues necessary to support the matching requirements of the identified FAA funded airport improvement projects. Ms. Brown presented a schedule detailing projects contained in our existing PFC program, as well as those included in PFC #9 being proposed.

    PFC #9 will provide a total of $432,120 to provide matching funds for the design and construction of the rehabilitation of Taxiway F1, as well as for the design of improvements necessary to rehabilitate the passenger terminal air carrier aircraft parking apron.

    PFC revenues must be held and accounted for separately from other airport funds. The account utilized for this purpose currently contains $1,314,305.

    Ms. Brown stated if authorized, the YCAA will hold a public meeting on April 3, 2023, at which time staff will inform interested parties, including the air carriers, of this proposal and seek comments which will be provided to the FAA along with our application. The proposed projects support the air carrier’s ability to operate safely and expand operations. Opposition is not anticipated.

    Mr. Craft, the YCAA President, called for a motion to authorize the President, Airport Director, or their designated representative to sign all related documents for PFC Application Number 9, which proposes to impose and use a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) for the purpose of providing matching funds for airport capital improvement projects. Mr. Jones so moved. Mr. Hager seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Mr. Jones
    Mr. Gourley
    Mr. Saltzer
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Scott
    Ms. Torres

    Votes Opposed: None

    4) Discussion and possible action to authorize the YCAA President, Airport Director, or their designated representative to execute a consultant contract with Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. for engineering services related to the Taxiway F1 Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed $180,371.00, contingent upon the Authority receiving FAA Grant Funding for the project and upon Airport Staff and Airport Legal Counsel review.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, explained the next FAA funded project on our Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) is the engineering and design of the rehabilitation of Taxiway F1 which leads aircraft from the outboard runway into the Defense Contractors Complex. This project will be funded by the FAA at 91.06% of eligible costs, with the balance funded through the YCAA’s PFC program as described in Agenda Item #3.

    Ms. Brown stated staff has undergone the required consultant selection process over the past few months resulting in the selection of Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. as the most qualified respondent to our Request for Proposals. The selection process has been approved by the FAA and airport staff has completed fee negotiations, which included obtaining an independent fee estimate from an independent consultant in order to establish that the agreed upon fee is reasonable, as required by the FAA.

    The proposed consultant contract contains an agreed not to exceed fee of $180,371 which has been approved by the FAA, an important step ahead of the FAA AIP Grant funding application.

    Mr. Craft, the YCAA President, called for a motion to authorize the President, Airport Director or their representative to execute a consultant contract with Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. for engineering services related to the Taxiway F1 Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed $180,371.00, contingent upon the Authority receiving FAA Grant Funding for the project and upon Airport Staff and Airport Legal Counsel review. Ms. Torres so moved. Mr. Scott seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Mr. Jones
    Mr. Gourley
    Mr. Saltzer
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Scott
    Ms. Torres

    Votes Opposed: None

    5) Discussion and Possible Action to authorize the YCAA President, Airport Director or their designated representative to sign all necessary documents to accept FAA AIP Grant #3-04-0053-0046-2023 in the estimated amount of $167,150.00 for the purpose of funding the Engineering and Design of the Taxiway F1 Rehabilitation Project, contingent upon final review and approval by Airport Staff and Airport Legal Counsel.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director explained the Airport has selected and contracted Nicklaus Engineering, Inc. (NEI) to perform engineering and design services related to the rehabilitation of Taxiway F1. This contract addressed in Agenda Item #4 is contingent upon receipt of the subject grant which combined with the YCAA’s PFC program will fund the project. This grant, in the amount of $167,150 will cover the cost of the consulting services in addition to costs related to engaging an independent engineering firm for the purpose of calculating a fee estimate and related administrative costs. This independent fee estimate was used, in accordance with FAA regulations, to ensure the negotiated fee with NEI was reasonable.

    Mr. Craft, the YCAA President, called for a motion to authorize the YCAA President, Airport Director or their designated representative to sign all necessary documents to accept FAA AIP Grant #3-04-0053-0046-2023 in the estimated amount of $167,150.00 for the purpose of funding the Engineering and Design of the Taxiway F1 Rehabilitation Project, contingent upon final review and approval by Airport Staff and Airport Legal Counsel. Mr. Gardner so moved. Mr. Scott seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Mr. Jones
    Mr. Gourley
    Mr. Saltzer
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Scott
    Ms. Torres

    Votes Opposed: None

    MILITARY LIAISON
    Greg McShane, MCAS Operations Officer, provided updates at MCAS Yuma.

    6) Presentation and update regarding current construction projects, associated contracts, grant status, general aviation, marketing efforts, terminal improvements, aviation conferences, meetings, and items of interest with the city and county or other federal or state agencies. This will include, but is not limited to, additional information, FAA and ADOT grant updates, an overview of projects underway, airport operations, Rolle Airfield, airline recruitment and retention efforts, general aviation, future events, and other Airport business.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, provided a presentation on the status of airfield operations to include the runways and taxiways, VirTower Reports for Rolle and NYL, American Airlines updates along with the load capacities and schedule, Rent Car update, Brewers restaurant update, Parking Lot update, Rolle Airfield Update, YCAA Insurance Follow-up update, marketing and community outreach over the past month to include social media.

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    ADJOURNMENT
    There being no further business before the Board the meeting adjourned at 4:45PM.



    // Approved //
    Eric Saltzer
    Secretary, Yuma County Airport Authority; Public Relations Committee Chairman


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