03/10/2020

Meeting Minutes for:
March Board Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 04:00 PM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 4:00PM on March 10, 2020 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
    Linda Morgan, 2nd Vice President
    Eric Saltzer, Treasurer
    Russell Jones, Secretary
    Dr. Brian Cullen, DMD, Director (Joined the meeting at 4:04PM)
    Reetika Dhawan, Director
    William Fox, Director
    Albert Gardner, Director
    Juan Guzman, Director
    Randall Nelson, Director

    YCAA DIRECTORS ABSENT WERE:
    None

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Gladys Brown, Airport Director
    Gerald Hinkle, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
    Mark Workman, Director of Operations (Joined the meeting at 5:03PM)
    Andrea Lopez, Executive Assistant
    Gabby Reyes, Finance and HR Specialist
    Sandra Bailey, Finance and HR Specialist
    Colonel David Suggs, USMC, Commanding Officer, MCAS Yuma (Exited the meeting at 4:53PM)
    Wayne Benesch, Airport Legal Counsel
    Paul Gerding, Kutak Rock, LLP
    Dean Dinner, Kutak Rock, LLP
    Jay Parke, Walker and Armstrong
    Tom Thompson, 1st Bank Yuma
    Ken Scott, ASN Volunteer
    Rob Helfrich, EAA
    Jenny Torres, City of San Luis

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    The President called for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2020 Board Meeting. Ms. Morgan so moved. Ms. Dhawan seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Ms. Morgan
    Mr. Saltzer
    Mr. Jones
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Fox
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Guzman
    Mr. Nelson

    Votes Opposed: None

    COMMITTEE REPORTS

    1) Strategic Planning Committee Chair, Russell Jones, provided a summary of the February 19. 2020 meeting.

    Mr. Jones described the Committee’s most recent meeting in which MCAS Yuma’s Request to Mandate Participation in DBIDS vetting system was discussed in some detail. Mr. Jones noted the large number of attendees and expressed that the members of the GA community who attended the meeting were did not express support for the additional vetting process. The discussion was continued into the regular agenda.

    REGULAR AGENDA
    1) Discussion and possible action to revise the Rules and Regulations within the Airport Minimum Standards to voluntarily participate in, and to implement, additional vetting procedures by incorporating the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS), managed by MCAS Yuma, for those persons seeking unescorted access to the Airport Operating Area. Possible executive session for discussion and/or consultation for legal advice with Airport Legal Counsel regarding revising the Rules and Regulations within the Airport Minimum Standards to incorporate DBIDS pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3).

    Ms. Brown, the Airport Director briefed that MCAS Yuma has requested that the Airport mandate participation in MCAS Yuma’s DBIDS system to all airport customers seeking unescorted access to the Airport Operation Area (AOA). Their request is based on the Security section of the Joint Use Operating Agreement that stipulates “YCAA will use MCAS security policies and procedures to the maximum extent possible.”

    Ms. Brown described that if agreed to the additional measure would be in addition to the existing vetting requirements YCAA imposes on its customers as mandated by the TSA. Ms. Brown described the large number of airfield users who have obtained access to the AOA as a result of the existing process and how it is enforced.

    Mr. Craft described a conversation he had with the Commanding Officer of MCAS Yuma, Col. Suggs who explained to the Board his intentions, specifically stating that any adverse information obtained during the DBIDS process would simply be provided to the Airport Director for her consideration. After a brief discussion which included insight by Mr. Jones, Mr. Craft directed staff to schedule another Strategic Planning Committee meeting to further address the issues involved. Col Suggs suggested that it would be acceptable to him if a simple listing of those persons who have obtained airside access was provided to MCAS to allow for their manual entry into the DBIDS system.

    The action item was tabled.

    2) Discussion and possible action to accept the FY19 Independent Audit Report performed and prepared by Walker & Armstrong.

    Mr. Hinkle, the Authority’s Chief Financial Officer introduced Mr. Parke of Walker and Armstrong who provided the Directors with a brief overview of the FY19 independent audit process, the financial statements and the examination that was performed. Mr. Park expressed the cooperation his office received during the examination and described its results as having found no instances of non-compliance, no weaknesses in the Authority’s internal control system and expressed his assurance that the financial statements prepared by Airport staff did in fact represent fairly the financial condition of the Authority, also known as a “clean” audit opinion.

    The Board took a moment to recognize members of the Authority’s finance team and thanked them for their continued success.

    Mr. Hager made a motion to accept the FY19 Independent Audit Report from Walker & Armstrong as presented. Mr. Nelson seconded the motion. The vote passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Ms. Morgan
    Mr. Saltzer
    Mr. Jones
    Dr. Cullen
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Fox
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Guzman
    Mr. Nelson

    Votes Opposed: None

    MILITARY LIAISON
    Col Suggs stated the Airshow is this weekend. He explained there have been a lot of cancelations across the country due to the Chinese WuHan Virus but at this point there is no plan to cancel the Airshow. Col Suggs described how a number of marines had recently arrived from overseas. Col Suggs stated that if they exhibit flu like systems, they will be quarantined. Right now there is no indication of sickness.

    3) Monthly report by Chief Financial Officer on current financial status.

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

    4) 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 Field, airline recruitment and retention efforts, general aviation, future events, and other Airport business.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, provided a presentation on the operational status of the airfield. She then briefed the Board on the status of existing tenants, as well as ongoing efforts to attract additional commercial air service, marketing and community outreach over the past month as well as airport activities scheduled next month.

    EXECUTIVE SESSION
    Mr. Craft called for a motion to enter into executive session for discussion and/or consultation for legal advice with Airport Legal Counsel regarding litigation matters in the DBT v. YCAA litigation pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3) & (4). Dr. Cullen so moved. Mr. Hager seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Ms. Morgan
    Mr. Saltzer
    Mr. Jones
    Dr. Cullen
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Fox
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Guzman
    Mr. Nelson

    Votes Opposed: None

    Mr. Craft excused the Public and Airport Staff at 5:15PM so the Board could enter into an Executive Session.

    The Board remained in Executive Session from 5:21PM until 6:17PM.

    RECONVENE REGULAR BOARD SESSION
    The Board reconvened into regular session at 6:18PM.

    The President called for a motion to direct the Airport Director, litigation counsel Kutak Rock and corporate counsel Benesch & Davy P.C. to proceed with further action in accordance with the direction given in Executive Session. Mr. Jones so moved. Mr. Hager seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

    Votes in Favor:
    Mr. Craft
    Mr. Hager
    Ms. Morgan
    Mr. Saltzer
    Mr. Jones
    Dr. Cullen
    Ms. Dhawan
    Mr. Fox
    Mr. Gardner
    Mr. Guzman
    Mr. Nelson

    Votes Opposed: None

    ADJOURNMENT
    There being no further business before the Board the meeting adjourned at 6:20PM.




    // Approved //
    Russell Jones
    Secretary Yuma County Airport Authority; Strategic Planning Committee Chairman


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