04/05/2023

Meeting Minutes for:
Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Wednesday, April 05, 2023 at 09:05 AM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Strategic Planning Committee Meeting of Directors was called to order at 9:05AM on April 5, 2023, in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was Russ Jones, Chairman.

    YCAA STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT WERE:
    Russ Jones, Chairman & YCAA 2nd Vice President
    Dean Hager, 1st Vice President
    Albert Gardner, Director
    Jenny Torres, Director
    Juan Guzman, Director

    YCAA STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WERE:
    None

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Gladys D. Brown, CM, CAE, Airport Director
    Gerald L Hinkle, Jr., CPA, Chief Financial Officer
    Gen Grosse, Property/Community Relations

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    REGULAR AGENDA

    1) Strategic Planning Committee discussion and possible recommendation related to Potential Land Development Partnerships.

    Ms. Brown, the Airport Director explained the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), and the YCAA responded to a Request for Information for a large project and conducted two Zoom meeting/presentations for three separate and potential development opportunities for the airport.

    The three locations are:
    · Property nestled between the FedEx and AeroCare tenants.
    · Property south of the Amelia Hangar with a 36,000k+ SF facility with the ability to expand, and
    · Possible Corporate sized GA hangar on the south ramp similar to Building A in the Hero Hangars.

    Ms. Brown provided information and a timeline of recent and future meetings and site visits with each of the prospective organizations, Arizona Aviation Partners, Skybridge Developments (Skybridge Arizona) and Aviation Management Associates (AMAI). Ms. Brown shared each is interested in discussing speculative hangar development and would likely rely on the YCAA, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC) and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to help market for a tenant.

    The committee members asked Ms. Brown if the YCAA’s rates are competitive for development, what her lease proposal ideas are, and if the prospective organizations are interested in lease-to-purchase. Ms. Brown responded that the YCAA’s advertised rates on its website are not as competitive as an airfield such as Goodyear. She believes each prospective organization would be interested in lease-to-purchase and shared the YCAA’s development model allows for increased lease terms based upon level of investment. Ms. Brown is planning for upcoming site visits with each organization and asked the committee authorization to consider negotiation tools to be competitive.

    The Committee asked Ms. Brown to collect information about what each organization’s true interest in developing in Yuma is and to find out if the organizations are building out of pocket or using a third-party funding source. Ms. Brown will collect and relay the information to the Strategic Planning Committee for further consideration helpful to determine adjusting land lease rates to be more competitive.

    2) Strategic Planning Committee discussion and possible recommendation related to a potential Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) for the purpose of managing construction projects at the installation based on our expertise and management availability.

    Ms. Brown, the Airport Director explained officials from YPG have approached the YCAA seeking assistance with the rehabilitation of one of their runways to include but not limited to electrical work, facility improvements, grading and paving projects. YPG has provided construction documents including the design and scope of work for the project hoping that the YCAA can utilize its vast experience in managing these types of projects by entering into an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) which would place the YCAA in the position of performing the work through sub-contracts in return for a 15% management fee. While the proposed language of the IGSA has yet to be developed, YPG believes that the arrangement will save them money and most importantly time in getting the construction underway.

    The committee asked if selected, what is the YCAA’s risk exposure and time committal. Ms. Brown responded while the details of the IGSA have not fully developed, the YCAA will require the Prime contractor to have a Performance Bond and shared the process will be very similar to the YCAA’s Federal Grant projects, of which the YCAA’s team is very experienced. Ms. Brown will act as the project manager, conduct project oversight and coordination meetings with contractors. The opportunity helps build a stronger relationship between the YCAA/YPG, helps local contractors, and is a potential new revenue center that would be tested for two years, that if successful, could lead into the YCAA hiring a full-time engineer/Deputy Airport Director and line of succession.

    The committee agreed the concept is an interesting opportunity as a potential new revenue source. They asked when the YCAA will know if approved, if the YCAA has funds to manage contractor payments and expressed their concern about increased staff workload and appropriate compensation. Ms. Brown shared the YCAA will know within 30 days and has scheduled a meeting with 1st Bank Yuma to discuss establishing a line of credit for this purpose. Ms Brown said she is confident of not only hers, but also of the staff’s project management skills. She is not asking for additional compensation, however if warranted, she may address the subject during her contract negotiations. Staff bonuses from revenues over and above the annual budget could be considered if approved by the Board.

    3) 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, the Airport Director, provided a presentation and update about the FAA Grant for Taxiway F1, the YCAA’s recent grant submittal for the Terminal Flooring, Airport Pavement Maintenance Project on Taxiway Z that will occur mid-April, reapplication of fog sealant between the Wrong Way Hangar and Hero Hangars and shared large fans will be installed in the airport terminal in early May.

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    ADJOURNMENT
    There being no further business before the Board the meeting adjourned at 10:45AM.



    // Approved //
    Russell Jones
    2nd Vice President, Yuma County Airport Authority; Strategic Planning Committee Chairman
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