05/26/2022

Meeting Minutes for:
Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 09:01 AM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Strategic Planning Committee Meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 9:01AM on May 26, 2022, 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
    Jenny Torres, Director
    Albert Gardner, Director

    YCAA STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WERE:
    None

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Stanley Gourley, Treasurer
    Gladys D. Brown, CM, CAE, Airport Director
    Gerald L Hinkle, Jr., CPA, Chief Financial Officer
    Gen Grosse, Property/Community Relations
    Jonathan Stains, Skydive San Luis

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    REGULAR AGENDA

    1) Discussion and possible recommendation to adopt the Yuma International Airport 2023 - 2027 and Rolle Airfield 2024 - 2028 Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) as presented.

    Ms. Brown, the Airport Director, explained the ACIP process and presented the projects to be submitted to the FAA and ADOT regarding future development, rehabilitation, and reconstruction at the Yuma International Airport.

    After a brief discussion, the Committee came to a consensus to recommend the Board of Directors approve the ACIP for Yuma International Airport for 2023 – 2027 as presented.

    Ms. Brown, then presented the ACIP for Rolle Airfield Airport, which has its own Masterplan and infrastructure planning process. Since the airport does not qualify for FAA funding, the plan will be submitted to ADOT only. After briefing the Committee on the capital improvement plan, Ms. Brown emphasized that due to the current situation of having less than twenty years remaining on the County’s lease on the property, along with the YCAA’s status as the County’s agent assigned to manage the property, the YCAA does not currently qualify for ADOT capital improvement grant funding. Ms. Brown followed by updating the Committee on efforts to enter into an agreement directly between the YCAA and the Bureau of Reclamation which would resolve this issue.

    The consensus of the Committee was to recommend the Board of Directors adopt the Rolle Airfield 2024 to 2028 Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) as presented.

    2) Discussion and possible recommendation regarding the long-term lease of Skydive San Luis at Rolle Airfield.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, provided information regarding current status of operations at Rolle Airfield by the current tenant, Skydive San Luis and introduced its principal Jonathan Stains. Ms. Brown described Mr. Stains request to extend his current agreement to lease the aircraft storage hangar for an additional three (3) years after its current termination date in December of 2022, as well as his intent to place an office trailer on the site. Ms. Brown described challenges encountered by the lack of significant utilities at the site and described how the proposed office trailer would be modified to disable the central air conditioning system built into the facility due to lack of sufficient power available. Ms. Brown also described efforts to bring electrical power to the airport.

    Mr. Stains had an opportunity to describe the state of his operation and shared that his winter business was excellent, and that he is getting tremendous support from Yuma’s significant skydiving community. Mr. Stains also described his efforts to work with the USMC in developing a skydiving club. Mr. Stains described his current aircraft as a Cessna 182 and spoke of efforts to obtain a much larger Cessna 206. Mr. Stains indicated his intent to color match the office trailer to the hangar, and described how the office would help keep customers outside of the aircraft storage hangar where parachute riggers operate. After informing the Committee of the dramatic drop in activity once summer hit, he insisted that he would he would be able to remedy the situation somewhat through an increased effort at marketing and advertising. After some discussion with Committee members related to the challenges posed by moving the larger aircraft into the aircraft storage hangar, the subject of what Mr. Stains referred to as an “insufferable” problem with flies. Ms. Brown informed the Committee that she was unaware of the issue and is hearing of it for the first time.

    Mr. Stains continued by describing how farmers working land nearby appear to be using sludge (processed human waste) as fertilizer and questioned whether or not this practice is legal. There was some discussion about the nature of the problem and Ms. Brown informed the Committee that she would look into what could be done but emphasized that the property being described is not under YCAA control.

    Ms. Brown asked Mr. Hinkle to address issues of risk management directly to the Committee. Mr. Hinkle informed the Committee that the $25 Million liability insurance policy held by the YCAA held for the purpose of managing risk, specifically excludes any coverage whatsoever related to Skydive San Luis’ operations at Rolle Airfield. Mr. Hinkle emphasized that the only coverage in place is the $1 Million commercial liability insurance policy held by Skydive San Luis, LLC which lists the YCAA and the County of Yuma as additional insured. Mr. Hinkle continued by describing how this $1 Million liability policy is shared between all three parties. Mr. Stains shared with the Committee that he has the same insurance coverage as larger skydiving operations across the nation and explained how the insurance covers incidents from loading customers into the aircraft to when they touch down. Mr. Stains further described how he uses a Release from Liability Waivers that releases him from liability from incidents that occur from the jump to the ground. Ms. Brown said that she has spoken with several skydive operations who only have the $1M Liability Insurance and Waivers. Mr. Jones said he understands it is hard for a company to get more insurance.

    Ms. Brown reminded the committee the tenant seeks a 3-year term resulting in total revenue of less than $50,000. Ms. Brown described how it is her understanding that under normal circumstances, this lease extension would not require board action, she has approached the Board specifically because of the risk management issues involved. Mr. Jones confirmed that she needs Board approval for “long-term” agreements in which he believes is 5 years or longer and/or agreements that generate greater than $50,000.

    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, Airport Director, provided a general update on ICE operations during the holiday weekend, towered hours of operations, AARF index ratings during non-towered hours, current grant and construction projects as well as future opportunities for new commercial air service and charter flights.

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    ADJOURNMENT
    There being no further business before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 10:37AM.



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