Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

wanted to have buses serve the airport again and suggested the service should be better advertised to the public. Councilor Brown recalled that the airport was evaluated for seismic risk shortly after its construction and received a poor rating. He proposed that the City hire a consultant to do a more detailed and current seismic examination of the airport and suggested the City seek grant funds from the federal government to pay for it. Councilor Zelenka discussed what Alaska Airlines was doing to reduce its carbon footprint, which included reducing the flight path to be more of a glide, which reduced fuel consumption. He asked how such an approach worked within the airport’s airspace. He also asked how the use of bio jet fuels affected the airport’s fuel farm retrofit capability. Mr. Doll said the new approaches allowed airlines to save fuel and would not affect the airport’s approach surfaces because once they reached the approach surface they were in landing configuration. Regarding bio fuels, Mr. Doll said that many airlines were looking at alternative fuels. Eugene was trying to get into a consortium formed by Portland and Seattle to purchase alternative fuels. Councilor Zelenka encouraged the airport to join the consortium. Councilor Zelenka determined from Mr. Doll that the projected passenger increase was based on the airport as a regional airport and was generated using a model developed by the consultant. He noted the growth the airport had been experiencing in recent months. Councilor Zelenka noted that the plan included a map with areas identified as potential future land acquisitions, and determined from Mr. Doll that the properties in question would be purchased as they became available. He asked the rationale for their acquisition. Mr. Doll said the properties in question were part of the Runway Protection Zone required by the FAA, which recommended the airport purchase and own the lands because it became easier to protect those lands. He said the FAA did not recommend doing anything at this time unless the property owners wished to sell. The property by the cargo expansion area would be used for future development to support aviation services at the airport. Councilor Zelenka asked the potential of the northern parcels being required in the near term. Mr. Doll said there was no potential. As long as the airport was certain that the properties would not be developed inappropriately, there was no need to acquire them. Councilor Zelenka asked if the terminal expansion extended to the northeast. Mr. Doll said yes, and the airport already owned that land, which currently contained some vacant buildings and one building in use for landscape maintenance. He confirmed terminal expansion would be triggered by an increase in enplane- ments, and anticipated the expansion could be needed by 2020. Councilor Zelenka agreed that public transportation was a good idea but also noted the existence of the airport shuttle, which was cheaper for those parking for more than a week. Councilor Zelenka commended the installation of native plants near the airport walkways and said they looked great. He also noted the picture on page five of the plan showed the new waiting area, and commended the fact that every seat had its own plug and that the area was a nice space. He said the airport seemed well-run and the facility seemed to be well-maintained. He thought the community should be proud of the airport, which was a tremendous regional asset. He thanked Mr. Doll for his work. Mayor Piercy said she had occasion to travel to other communities and saw their airports and found the Eugene Airport to be a beautifully done “gem” as well as a good experience. She and her guests appreciated the facility. MINUTES—Joint Elected Officials September 14, 2010 Page 3 Eugene & Lane County