City Council

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING AUGUST 10, 2016 The City Council of DeKalb, Illinois held a Special Committee of the Whole Meeting on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, 3232 Pleasant Street, FBO Hangar, DeKalb, Illinois. Mayor Rey called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. A. ROLL CALL Deputy City Clerk Ruth Scott called the roll, and the following members of the City Council were present: Alderman David Jacobson, Alderman Bill Finucane, Alderman Michael Marquardt, Alderman Bob Snow, Alderman Kate Noreiko, Alderman Tony Faivre and Mayor John Rey. Alderman Dave Baker was absent. Also present were: City Manager Anne Marie Gaura, Deputy Fire Chief Jeff McMaster, City Engineer John Laskowski, Airport Manager Tom Cleveland, and Deputy City Clerk Ruth Scott. B. PUBLIC COMMENT There was none. C. CONSIDERATIONS 1. Tour of the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport. City Manager Gaura provided opening comments stating the purpose of the meeting was to provide Council with information regarding the airport and its operations, with Airport Manager Cleveland acting as the tour guide. Airport Manager Cleveland encouraged Council to ask questions during the tour. All present embarked on to a 31-passenger bus for a tour of the airport grounds. The tour started on the far west end of the airport. Airport Manager Cleveland stated the entire airport was just painted last year, including runway markings, etc. It will be painted every four or five years. Airport Manager Cleveland stated there was recently an air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Planes flying to and from the show stopped at DeKalb’s airport for fuel. Over three weeks, 8,000 gallons of fuel was sold. Committee of the Whole Meeting August 10, 2016 Page 2 of 4 There was a brief discussion regarding the cornfields surrounding the airport and who leases which sections from the City. The tour stopped to view a 2001 fire crash truck used for emergencies at the airport. The truck is also used for emergencies offsite as needed. Deputy Fire Chief McMaster stated the truck holds 15,000 gallons water, 200 gallons of foam concentrate, and 500 gallons of dry chemicals. It also contains a sprinkler system. The truck is usually deployed once a year and is manned by firefighters from station 1 or station 2 when needed. Airport Manager Cleveland mentioned the plans for developing the corner of Peace Road and Pleasant Road. Studies have shown there are approximately 17,000 cars that come through the intersection daily. Any development in that particular area would be good for the airport. Airport Manager Cleveland provided information regarding the airport’s maintenance building. It stores various pieces of equipment used to keep the airport’s runways clean and clear, including a snow broom and mowing/plowing tractor. There was further discussion regarding the land surrounding the airport. Alderman Jacobson asked why some of the land wasn’t being farmed with Airport Manager Cleveland replying that some of the land is designated wetlands. Some of the areas don’t contain wetland plants so Hanson Engineering is working on getting the wetland designation reversed so approximately 15 acres of land can be farmed. Unfortunately, once land is designated wetland, it isn’t easy to get it reversed. Expanding on the discussion regarding land leases, Airport Manager Cleveland mentioned FAA regulations regarding how far away crops must be from the taxiways and runways. Alderman Faivre asked how deer are kept off the runways with Airport Manager Cleveland stating that non-lethal methods are used. The airport has permits for lethal methods of removal but those are rarely used. Currently a wildlife assessment is being completed for the airport that will include plans for deterring wildlife. The tour continued with Airport Manager Cleveland pointing out different buildings on the property, including various hangars. The City holds four land leases, three of which are with Win Aviation, the Eagles Nest, and Rev’d Up Motorsports. Some of the hangars are corporate hangars that are sold as “condo” units. The leases indicate that a percentage of monies from the first, second and third sale of the “condo” units goes to the City. City Manager Gaura asked how much Win Aviation’s new hangar cost to construct. Airport Manager Cleveland stated he believed it was $2.5 million.  Committee of the Whole Meeting August 10, 2016 Page 3 of 3 Alderman Jacobson asked how many hangar vacancies there were with Airport Manager Cleveland stating there were none. There are 11 people on the waiting list currently. The tour continued to the north end of the airport. Airport Manager Cleveland stated that land was purchased for the runway protection zone. He also stated that the runway was extended in 2004 by 2,000 feet so the runways can handle corporate aircraft. Mayor Rey asked if tenants pay a fee to be on the waiting list for hangars with Airport Manager Cleveland replying they do not. Alderman Jacobson asked if the 11 on the waiting list were to purchase or rent the hangars. Airport Manager Cleveland stated it was for rentals. Airport Manager Cleveland provided various pieces of information, such as:  The 4,200 foot east-west runway was previously too close to the hangars so it was moved in 2001. Mainly smaller aircraft use it, but if high winds are coming out of the west, larger aircraft can use it as well.  The main runway is 7,025 feet long. Any corporate aircraft, DC9 or 737 can land and take off here. This runway is longer than Midway’s by 700 feet. However, it doesn’t have the weight bearing capacity Midway does. The main runway can support up to 130,000 pounds.  There’s a lot to mow on the airport property. The FAA has regulations on how high the grass can be. Airport staff try to keep it a bit higher to deter geese.  Every place that can be farmed is in order to provide more revenue for the City.  There’s an antenna for weather systems on the property.  A large drainage project completed last year. It drained the frontal area of the property for further development. There was brief discussion regarding the lighting systems on the runways. Further information was provided regarding different parts of the airport property as the tour proceeded. Airport Manager Cleveland also provided information on TIF as it relates to the airport. The tour stopped at the Kishwaukee Education Consortium (KEC) building that houses the classroom and flight simulators that train high school students how to fly. It’s been in existence for 10 years and was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008. Past students have gone on to join the Naval and Air Force Academies and Committee of the Whole Meeting August 10, 2016 Page 4 of 4 become commercial aircraft pilots. All the simulators have been provided by donated money and serve local high schools. Mr. Bruce Griffith provided background information on KEC’s program. The tour continued into the room that holds the simulators, with Mr. Griffith providing further information regarding what the simulators can do and teach the students. Airport Manager Cleveland stated that future development of the airport property is needed, such as the building of more hangars, etc. Airport Manager Cleveland also mentioned that the number of flights for Northern Illinois basketball teams and their opponents has increased from 14 last year to 22 this year. There was a brief discussion regarding the use of the airport, specifically the corporations in this area such as Walmart, Target, 3M, and Johnson Controls. D. ADJOURNMENT Alderman Jacobson motioned to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Alderman Faivre. Motion carried by a 7-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Jacobson, Finucane, Marquardt, Snow, Noreiko, Faivre, Rey. Nay: None. Absent: Baker. Mayor Rey declared the meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. _____________________________________ RUTH A. SCOTT, Deputy City Clerk Approved by City Council: September 12, 2016.