11/08/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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G. Airline Negotiations and Airport Operations--Airport Manager Bob Shelby, presented an activity report to Council members. He . noted the increase in aircraft movement. In the last year, there has been a 13.5 percent ~ncrease in aircraft traffic and a 15.9 increase in pass~nger traffic. Mr. Shelby added that, s ~nce 1970, airport operations have been supported from revenues. The airport has not, however, reached the point where revenues support the bonds that finanCe the building and the 1969 strengthening of the runway. Mr. Shelby went on to say that recent federal legislation for airport improvements has increased the federal matching share to 90 percent, wh ich is good through September 30, 1978. On October 1, 1978, Ithat matching share will decrease to 84 percent. He added that th~ new legislation allows airport owners to accumulate Federal allocations for up to three years. Mr. Shelby said that the City has been engaged in an effort to reopen airline agreements that run to September 1, 1979. Discussions have been held with both airlines as to their equipment needs and how they would be willing to participate through increased rates and charges. Positive information should be forthcoming to Council File in approximately'thirty days on the status of those negotiations. H. Opinion Survey on Budget Priorities--Community Relations Director Alice Rutter reported that she has talked with Oregon Research Ins t itute regarding a possible survey of citizen attitudes about level of service that would provide guidelines to the Budge t Committee. Such a survey would dictate the need for pr ioritizing e citizen interests and concerns. As an example of questions, if more services~are desired, then citizens should be asked by which method they would most like those serv~ces provided--increase in property tax, ,business tax, refund of State income tax, utility tax, etc. Addit:lonally, the survey should be conducted as close to budgeting dec~sion time as possible. Ms. Rutter went on to say that ORI would not favor a mail survey since it is not representa- tive enough. Th~ir recommendation is to do 1,000 door-to-door interviews that ~ould take up to one hour each. She said that it would be economically better to use City staff as much as possible, as well as University students. The survey should be valuable both as a teaching device and as an information gathering process. If the survey is;successful, she said, it could be conducted biennially, tying it in with state and national indicators. Ms. Rutter said staff would recommend that the survey be conducted by professional researchers, thereby diminishing the amount of unusable material collected. She said that ORI has a fine reputa- tion in the field, and there are good researching firms in Portland and Seattle as well. Mr. Williams commented that his survey experience indicated that a small sampling proves most effective, if properly spread across the community. He also felt that it would be worthwhile to ask someone not interested in providing the service, but who has expert ise in the field of surveys, how best to proceed. File - Minutes 11/8/76 -14 330