MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

August 29, 2007

 

 

 

The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on August 29, 2007 at 5:46 p.m. in the Government Center Commission Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Florida.  Present were: Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Chuck Nelson, Helen Voltz, and Mary Bolin, County Manager Peggy Busacca, and Assistant County Attorney Morris Richardson.  Absent was: *Chairperson Jackie Colon.

 

 

The invocation was given by Commissioner Voltz, District 3 Commissioner.

 

Commissioner Bolin led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

 

Dr. Mike Barker stated he is the Director of the Center of Airport Management and Development for the Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics.  He thanked the community for the opportunity to create the Valkaria Airport master plan; stated FIT considers itself an important part of the community; and it welcomes opportunities to support any of the community’s activities.  He advised FIT is a major global player in aviation training and education operations; and therefore it is interested in this type of topic.  He advised most importantly, FIT has an internationally respected airport management and planning program; FIT has large numbers of highly experienced professionals both in the flying and airport businesses; and with community involvement, FIT has developed a very solid, realistic, and financially responsible master plan that meets both the airport’s needs and those of the broader community.  He stated he will try to keep his presentation to 30 minutes; and his purpose at this point is not to educate but to hit some high points of the plan and emphasize issues upon which some of the public discussion will be based.  He stated he would like to remind everyone what a master plan is; it is a fundamental management tool for public resources; it is done by local initiative because the community wants to properly manage resources; and in this case it is an airport master plan.  He stated it is the owner’s vision and strategy for the development; and the owner in this case is Brevard County by Quitclaim Deed from the federal government in 1958.  He noted it is the Board’s decision, as representatives of the taxpayers, what it wants to do with the airport. 

 

Dr. Barker stated the master plan is the product of a planning team made up of County staff, FIT as a consultant, the public, and the members of the Valkaria Airport Advisory Board, who the Board appointed to oversee matters at Valkaria Airport.  He advised the master plan does not give the FAA or FDOT any control over the airport; nothing in the plan must be done; it is the Board’s decision to adopt the plan; and it is the Board’s policy to take action at each step of the plan to implement various things that are in the plan.  He stated he will review the steps of the master plan of the last 18 months; and they are the steps that are prescribed in all the standard documents from the FAA and FDOT on how to conduct the master plan.  He noted the master plan began in April 2006; it began with a determination of who the stakeholders are and what the issues are in the process; and that was the first thing that had to be done.  Dr. Barker advised on all of the slides, the Board will see in red all of the public meetings that were part of the public involvement program the Board insisted on having.  He noted next was to find out what is at the airport right now; and that was to inventory existing conditions, facilities, et cetera.  He stated the third thing is an aviation activity forecast; the purpose of a master plan is to look into the future; all planning is a big cone and the farther out the more uncertain the situation becomes; and FIT’s job is to try to narrow that down using fairly standard data collection and forecasting techniques.  He advised FIT looked at Brevard County and the aviation demand in the County in five, 10, or 20 years into the future; and at the end of that there was another public meeting.  He stated based upon those activity forecasts the facility requirements are determined; requirements can be anything from maintenance issues to new facilities and anything that would bring the airport up to standards and make it acceptable for the future demands that may be placed upon the airport.  He advised next, development alternatives are looked at where a layout is made of two or three ways that each of the needs could be met; and these are technical recommendations from the consultant.  He stated FIT indicated there needs to be a hangar requirement, runway requirement, or lighting requirement in two or three acceptable ways; the Board selects the alternative it wishes to turn into the refined and preferred development plan, which will have a course of action; and it is the selected alternative for each of the things FIT felt the airport needed, as well as what the staff and public felt the airport needed.  He advised the next stage is a technical stage, which is a set of drawings called the “Airport Layout Plan Set”; they do not get public review because they are technical drawings; but they are available to the public as are all of the items.  He noted step nine is a financial feasibility analysis; the airport’s historical revenue, operating revenues and expenses, as well as capital expenses are looked at in great detail; and a reasonable estimate is taken of future activities at the airport, such as more hangars, tenants, and income rates.  He stated that is done by projecting the feasibility supporting itself in normal operating and maintenance activities as well as funding the capital improvements that are suggested in the capital improvement program, which is the final product of the plan.  He advised that is the process and it concludes tonight with this open workshop; since public involvement was a major emphasis when the master plan began, FIT has complied with the Board’s instruction for strong PIP; and when it began, FIT followed FAA, FDOT, and Brevard County’s PIP handout and they have had compliments from other agencies.  He stated there was a kick-off meeting in which the process was explained and the principal stakeholders and the key issues were identified; and that is where he likes people to get involved.  He advised FIT immediately established a website on the County’s Valkaria Airport webpage where information and data were posted as they were performed; there were a number of surveys of aviation users in general, transients visiting the airport, and people based at the airport; and there were also public surveys.  He stated there were seven public meetings sponsored by FIT, other meetings not under his purview such as the Valkaria Airport Advisory Board, and other meetings for virtually every working paper.  He stated the public involvement program was done in spades; and anyone who wanted to know factually what was going on could easily know, having attended any one of 13 or 14 meetings.  Dr. Barker stated stakeholders include the immediate neighbors of the airport, which is the Grant-Valkaria vicinity; the second biggest stakeholder group is the based and local aviation groups and pilots; aviation is a major activity in Brevard County; and there are over 4,000 licensed pilots in Brevard County, 1,200 privately owned airplanes, and four public airports. 

 

Dr. Barker commented on the broad aviation community. He advised other stakeholders are Brevard County, the State of Florida, and the FAA; Brevard County is the owner; the State is ready to invest a lot more money if a reasonable master plan is put in place; and ultimately the FAA governs the ownership under the 1958 Quitclaim Deed.  He stated the key issues fell into categories of the neighboring community, the aviation community, and issues that everyone agreed upon.  He stated not everybody is going to be completely happy with the first several issues; all planning is a compromise by definition; and FIT tried to make most of the people the happiest and be technically correct.  He stated the neighboring community’s key issues include opposition to runway lighting, night operations, commercialization, and environmental laws; and that was a valid concern in the community.  He stated included in the issues of the aviation community is that they do not want a reduction in facilities; they want avoidance of restrictions on legal flight activities; and as the Board knows, there is an Ordinance dealing with touch-and-go operations and night operations of questionable legality.  He added the aviation community felt there was a strong need for pilot services; it is hard to find a general aviation airport that does not have a small building where people can make phone calls, check weather, and get a soda; and the aviation community felt strongly that is needed as there is nothing there at the present.  He stated the aviation community felt a strong need for minimum safety-related lighting on the airfield; very few wanted runway lighting; and most said they wanted vertical guidance and other things.  He stated the aviation community also expressed a need for vertical approach guidance equipment, such as PAPI; and many others felt the need for an instrument approach procedure.  He advised when questioned further, FIT discovered the aviation community would not necessarily use the instrument approach procedure; and that has been put aside for now.  He advised everyone wants a safe, well maintained airport; secondly everyone, including the pilots, want to maintain a rural, low key environment; and that is what the pilots like about the airport.  He stated the aviation community has said it wants to avoid high intensity development; they would not welcome a flight school as it would make their lives more complicated; and the airport would not be able to attract a flight school or commercial airplane.  He stated there was broad agreement that the airport should remain a community recreational airport; that is an official designation of the State of Florida, and also the FAA; and if it remains a community recreational airport, then it cannot become a commercial airport, as in serving airlines.  He noted everyone wanted the airport to be accessible and friendly; everyone agreed there was a need for some number of hangars; and everyone agreed they want transparency in public involvement in the planning process.  He stated in summary, the facilities are old, minimal, non-standard, poorly maintained, and of limited utility; that limits the ability to generate revenue to support the airport; it also increases County liability; and the County is liable as the owner of the airport for damages that happen at the airport because of non-standard or inadequately maintained facilities.  He stated FIT found that the Brevard County Natural Resource Management Office had done extensive resource studies of the area; and that was welcomed and incorporated in the master plan.  He noted FIT found what it suspected, which is the service area in Brevard County and Central Florida has a strong demand now and is forecast in the next 20 years to have above average aviation demand; and that means there will continue to be growth in the population of pilots of airplanes and the number of hours flown.  He stated Valkaria Airport has plenty of land and runways to meet any foreseeable need beyond 20 years; the shortfalls lie in primarily improvements; and that includes storage, maintenance, ground facilities, marking and signage, and a facility for the Airport Manager.  He noted there has been very little capital maintenance done at the airport; the longer maintenance is deferred, the more expensive it is; and it goes up almost exponentially.  

 

Dr. Barker stated what is needed in broad terms is hangar storage for 100 aircraft; that number depends on how the demand is manifested; it also depends on how many private hangars may or may not be built; and there are a number of issues like that, but it is roughly 100 hangars that are needed.  He noted that is based on the fact that there are over 400 people in Brevard County waiting on hangar lists; that is a very clear need; and Valkaria Airport has a present waiting list of approximately 100 people.  He noted the numbers of tie-downs need to be increased; it requires an improvement; right now it is on an unimproved runway and is poorly maintained; and there is nothing safe about it and it should be condemned and put out of operation.  He noted that needs to be done as there are a lot of people who want to tie-down outside; there are a number of transients that come through and people buying fuel; and there needs to be a safe place for them to do business.  He stated there needs to be improved taxi access; there needs to be a parallel on runway 14/32, which is a primary runway; and it is a safety as well as convenience issue. 

 

Dr. Barker stated convenience is an issue; when the planes are parked and waiting to move, they are burning fuel which is an environmental issue; they are wasting time and money; and the pilots are getting aggravated.  He stated standard marking signage and visual aids need to be put in at Valkaria Airport; it is a major issue; and it is one of the lower cost issues; but it is one of the most important safety and liability issues.  He stated the most controversial need at Valkaria Airport is minimum support lighting for existing public aircraft operations; there are roughly 1,000 night operations by County aircraft; those are primarily by Mosquito Control, but there is also law enforcement operating there and other agencies; and those are County employees operating under less than safe conditions.  He noted Valkaria Airport needs a relocated and consolidated fueling facility; right now fuel is being done at a couple of places at the airport; environmentally it makes good sense to get it in one spot in a properly designed site; and it can be controlled through dispensing and safety.  He stated there also needs to be periodic capital facility maintenance projects; and the projects themselves are several hundred thousand dollars that will be recurring periodically through this 20-year planning horizon.  He stated the next step is developing some alternatives; FIT offers technical alternatives that can suit a particular need; all alternatives are adequate; and the Board chooses one for a variety of reasons and effect.  He advised there are technical and other issues involved; when looking at an alternative the Board will look at which one will have the least effect on the environment, and which one has less cost benefit ratio; and those recommendations are made to the public and to County staff.  Dr. Barker stated at a recent master plan meeting there were approximately 100 residents present from South Brevard; and the public guidance from that meeting was very strong and clear on nearly every alternative in terms of preference, phasing priorities, and the cost benefits.  He stated the land use plan was a big issue; he presented the 1999 land use plan that was objected to and indicated a portion on the northwest side of Valkaria Road that was all for commercial development; stated there are the large blue areas on the east of the airport that were for commercial development; and the public made it clear it did not want the commercial development.  He advised that has all been taken off the map; the new land use plan shows that land as being reserved for the environmental buffer; there is nothing developed outside Valkaria Road; and there is only a small bit of development around the present Mosquito Control area, as well as the abandoned runways.  He stated noise was always an issue; the 65 DNL line is a dash line the Board can see that is well within the airport boundaries; 65 dB is a measurement of sensible sound that every agency in the world accepts as a loud conversational level; and that level of noise is considered to be tolerable in any kind of an environment.  He stated FIT did a financial analysis; there is a summary of development costs which is where there is $10.5 million in a 20-year period; and it is spread relatively evenly except in the beginning where there were a lot of deficiencies.  Dr. Barker stated of the $10.5 million approximately $8 million would come from the FAA and the FDOT; $.5 million would come from second and third party developments; and that is pretty good leverage for the County’s money.  He advised after a year or two the airport should be in the black with its operating fund even with its debt services that go forward with this plan.  He stated the benefits of approving the master plan for Brevard County include a safe airport, preservation of the County’s rural interests, providing a valued recreational facility to South Brevard, and modest economic stimulus; and no general funds are required.  He stated the master plan does not facilitate airline or air taxi operations; it does not attract flight school establishments; the airport has, and always will have, flight school activity; and that is not going to change no matter what happens in the master plan.  He stated further, the master plan does not expand the noise contour; it will not substantially increase night traffic; if the minimum safety lights are put in, there will be an incremental increase in flights, but not big because it is primarily Mosquito Control; and they are mission driven.  He stated the master plan does not provide for instrument approaches; and there is nothing in the master plan that needs to be developed before there is demonstrated demand.  He noted in summary, the public shaped the plan; the master plan does not belong to the consultants, the FAA, or FDOT; the master plan is a product of a planning team, including staff, consultant, public, and the Board; the master plan does not give the FAA or FDOT any control over the airport; nothing must be done; and it represents a very reasonable set of compromises by all of the stakeholders.

 

*Chairperson Colon’s presence was noted at this time.

 

 

 

Chairperson Colon apologized for arriving late to the meeting.  She advised the Board has lost one of its Fire Fighters and it was important for her to represent the Board of County Commissioners in letting the families know they are in the Board’s prayers.  She stated William Smith had almost 20 years with the Brevard County Fire Fighters; he was a Fire Fighter EMT; he was an avid outdoorsman; he loved fishing and hunting; and he really enjoyed life and God’s blessings.  She led a prayer for the family of Mr. William Smith.

 

 

 

Bobbi Moccia, Councilwoman of Town of Malabar, stated Malabar and Grant-Valkaria are the communities that are in direct contact with the Valkaria Airport; she has been getting phone calls saying if something is built, people will come; and those are the voices of Malabar she is hearing from almost on a daily basis.  She stated a few residents are in favor of the master plan; but three-quarters of the residents are having issues with a few certain areas; and they are the same areas the Town itself is experiencing problems with.  She stated after Commissioner Voltz’s and Airport Manager Steve Borowski’s presentation at the last Town Council meeting it was determined the Town is in favor of several things; and the Town of Malabar and the Town of Grant-Valkaria concur with each other.  She stated the runways are in disrepair and in need of resurfacing; it is important to get the safety issues up to Code; and the Town of Malabar understands  that  completely.   She  stated  the  Town  knows  that hangars  at the airport were damaged in the hurricanes of 2004; and the Town realizes there are people who need to have the hangars repaired soon.  She advised there are people in both Grant-Valkaria and Malabar who use the airport and may want to be permanent members; however, the Town’s concerns are a few other things such as the PAPI lighting; it was explained to her that the lighting was very important as far as the safety issues; and there was an accident not too long ago that may have been prevented by the PAPI.  Ms. Moccia noted the Town is also feeling that if there is too much lighting there are going to be more people wanting to come and it is going to encourage nighttime behavior; the Town knows it cannot stop them from coming in; but if they are trying to come in at night without the lighting, that concerns her too; and the Council felt that way also.  She stated Dr. Barker had a problem understanding the opposition to commercialization and what that means; the Town of Malabar is worried about someone coming in, such as helicopters, at 7:00 a.m. and staying until 5:00 p.m. or longer if they have someone coming in for a ride; that happening on a daily basis sounds like commercialization to her; and a little bit of it is happening right now; but the Town is afraid it will get out of control.  She stated Dr. Barker also spoke about having a fundamental plan; and inquired once the plan is in motion can it be changed.  She stated because of so many environmentally endangered lands being scooped up, the Town is concerned with a couple of key issues; and inquired if there has been environmental testing done.  She stated there is so much land surrounding the area that is constantly being bought out; and inquired if it is going to be a problem for the animals and scrub jays, and is the Town going to be promoting something that is causing any ill effects to those areas.  She stated the Town realizes the airport complies with the environmental and natural resource regulations and agreements; and inquired how the Town is going to keep track of everything.

 

 

 

Dale Yonts, Mayor of Grant-Valkaria, stated the community consists of local pilots and local public; the Town Council has met on three different occasions; Commissioner Voltz has had the opportunity to attend one of the marathon meetings; and the Town Council received input from pilots and the public.  He stated Grant-Valkaria agrees with most things in the master plan; but there is serious concern with others; and the Town wants to ensure the airport will remain a small rural recreational, primarily daytime, airport.  He noted Grant-Valkaria supports the local pilots; but it is concerned about the changes some of the options in the master plan could have on the traffic at the airport generated by flight schools, specifically FIT, Flight Safety, and most recently the new helicopter school, Silver State.  He stated he served on the VAAB (Valkaria Airport Advisory Board) as an appointee of Commissioner Scarborough until his election as mayor; during that time, the board heard the first few working papers; and he would like to clarify his actions being on the VAAB versus his stand today as Mayor and the Town’s position.  He advised when working paper one was voted on, he did not vote to approve it; the motion was to approve it; he requested the motion be changed to accept the working paper rough draft, which had errors and inconsistencies; the VAAB refused to do that; and he voted against that working paper.  He noted with working papers two and three, the motion was to accept them and move on to the next stage; and he approved those.  He advised the next working paper is the one that came back to the VAAB with the preferred options; he was no longer on the board at that time, so he made no votes to say he approved any portion of what the final product was; and he is not in conflict.  He noted he wanted the Board to understand he did not change positions; he felt it was important that FIT was doing the study and there were some discussions on whether it was valid on some of the votes; and the VAAB was there to look at it, receive the input, and make decisions as it went along.  Mayor Yonts advised the fact that there were options was fine with him; but it is the options that were picked that he may  be concerned with; so he voted for those.  He stated at the Commission meeting when the master plan process was approved, there was a misunderstanding of the motion from several people; it appeared the Commission was in favor of no further commercialization, keeping it recreational, no nighttime flights or runway lights, no change in touch-and-go restrictions, no training or flight schools, and to review the safety issues; and the misunderstanding has been brought up at several meetings and has caused some division between the two sides in the process.  Mayor Yonts stated while Grant-Valkaria feels this was the intent of the Commission, staff has explained those concerns were not part of the motion, but simply areas of concern; during the master plan planning process, those points were pointed out to the consultant; the consultant’s response was that his only duty was to prepare a master plan; and those points were not part of the Contract and were not presented to him as restrictions or concerns.  He stated it created a point of confusion and distrust; inquired if it was a direction from the Board, why did it not get to the consultant; and noted the Town of Grant-Valkaria did not understand that.  He stated a local neighborhood association requested that FIT take into account a survey they conducted and provided FIT the results; the neighborhood association never heard a response; and they do not believe their inputs were accepted.  He advised there were a lot of residents at the first meetings; they expressed to the Town Council that they felt their inputs were being ignored; and therefore, they quit attending the meetings.  He stated the Town Council tried to make sure someone could be there, but the meetings were on Wednesdays, which is when the Town Council held its meetings; and the Town felt it was important for its entire Council to be at their meetings.  He stated at the first meeting of the master plan process, Lisette Kolar, Interim Town Council member, requested they include the fact that the airport was almost totally within the bounds of the new town; while Grant-Valkaria does not have a comprehensive plan or a land use plan in place, the master plan should recognize the new town; and the airport should be bound by the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Land Use Zoning Ordinance.  He stated in looking at the final draft of the master plan, he found one location where the final report mentions the airport is within the Town boundaries; however, the maps say Valkaria-Grant; in some places it refers to the area as an unincorporated area; and in Section 1.3 of the Executive Summary it refers to making sure they comply with the County Comprehensive Plan and Malabar’s Comprehensive Plan.  He advised the maps have been changed for the Executive Summary; they are now correct and say Grant-Valkaria; but he did not see any other updates to the master plan itself.  He noted this was brought to the consultant’s attention at the first meeting; the final draft was issued in April 2007; the Town was incorporated in July 2006; there seems to have been sufficient time to include that information in the final report; and the Town of Grant-Valkaria requests that it be addressed before any consideration of approval.  He stated the Town of Grant-Valkaria feels using FIT for this process created a conflict of issue, or at a minimum, the appearance of one; 80 percent of the activities at the airport are flight schools; since Silver State is new, it was not included in those stats; and so the 80 percent is directly related to flight safety and FIT.  He stated any changes at the airport that can benefit flight training have a direct benefit to FIT; inquired if FIT did anything to benefit itself, or is it just a perception; and advised perception can be a reality in public life.  He noted when FIT was looking for input from the public to prepare the basis for the master plan, students were asked to be there and filled out cards; he has a copy of an email from the President of CABE at Florida Tech, indicating students were encouraged to attend the master plan meeting; while it may not have been intentional, it brought in a number of students and therefore, responses that did not represent the general pilot and residential populations; and these  were submitted  and potentially skewed results.  He advised most of the recommendations at the airport, from runway rehab to airport lighting aids, would directly benefit the biggest users of the airport; and FIT is one of the two.  He inquired if there was predisposition by the consultant to only investigate and review items that would benefit FIT; and inquired if they did not discuss or include something in their study that could have harmed FIT. He stated it is something that will never be known and is why the conflict issue was raised in the first place; he wants to be clear that Grant-Valkaria is not saying there was anything done by FIT that was a violation; but they will never know; and that is why the potential conflict of interest should be avoided.   Mayor Yonts stated it is a no-win situation for Brevard County and FIT; Grant-Valkaria was originally, and still is, very concerned that this created a conflict of interest; and the master plan study could be tainted as a result. 

 

Mayor Yonts stated Embry Riddle has started using Ormond Beach Airport; there is an impact on the local area; and it came to his attention that there is not any information, but they are starting to go out to some of the smaller airports.  He stated Grant-Valkaria believes the County needs to understand what is happening at Ormond Beach Airport before subjecting Grant-Valkaria and Malabar to a potentially similar fate; and nothing was mentioned on the subject in the master plan that they looked at other smaller airports being affected by flight schools.  Mr. Yonts stated Section 7 of the executive summary and related section, the master plan, deals with the noise study; it states, “The aircraft noise that exceeds 65 dB will be confined to airport boundaries and this 65 dB limit is established by US and International Standards”; however, if one looks at Figure 6.11 in the master plan, 40 dB is what is considered quiet urban nighttime; 50 dB is quiet urban daytime; and inquired why urban standards are being used for a rural environment.  He noted as stated in Section 6.7.2 of the master plan, “Most uses are considered acceptable if they do not exceed the 65 dB level, although acceptable sound levels should be established in a community context.”  He inquired where they showed that the sound levels were studied or rated based on a rural environment; they stated it should be done, but then they rated it on an urban environment; and Grant-Valkaria and Malabar would not be considered to be densely populated.  He noted Section 8 of the executive summary lists the preferred development plan; stated Section 8.1 deals with the runways; and Grant-Valkaria agrees with that section except there should be no need for non-precision instrument approach conditions if the airport is to remain a VFR only airport.  He stated Section 8.2 deals with taxiways; while Grant-Valkaria does not understand the full-length taxiway of 14/32 as being required, it is an operational issue and not a concern to the Town, except for the southeast end that would require scrub jay mitigation; there seem to be enough problems with the County and the airport right now; and the Town believes effort should be made to enhance their habitat and not simply mitigate whenever possible.  He advised Section 8.3, marking and signage is fine; however, references to lighting should be removed, as it is covered in another section.  He stated Section 8.5 is on aircraft hangars; the Town has always supported additional hangars; the demand is present; it appears that demand has been met; and the T-hangars are overdue.  He advised Grant-Valkaria is concerned that 100 hangars, if ultimately built, may become excessive in the rural environment; but it has no concerns with the way it is written.  He noted Sections 9.3.1 and 9.3.2 of the master plan discuss hangars being built by second and third parties; Grant-Valkaria feels it is best for the County to maintain control and be the builder/owner of all hangars; it would be difficult to enforce the Airport Rules and Regulations Ordinance on someone who has invested in the construction of the building; if owned by the County, the threat of eviction is always present for failure to follow those rules; and that may not be as easily implemented if owned by the second and third party.  He stated Grant-Valkaria does not have any problems with Sections 8.6, aircraft apron; 8.7, golf course access; and 8.9, consolidated aircraft fueling facility.   He  stated  Section  8.10  is  the Airport  Land  Use  Plan; Grant-Valkaria  supports that section and recognizes addressed are some of the public desires on the wildlife habitat and providing additional land use buffers between those activities and surrounding residential  community  development.  He advised  Section 9 deals with finances; Grant-Valkaria is still concerned about FAA grant assurances; the grant assurances are in place for the life of the project; and it appears to the Town there is still a potential to commit the County to implement things at the airport that neither the residents nor the pilots, nor potentially the County, wants.  He advised Grant-Valkaria recommends caution in accepting any of the funds, and would like to ensure that the process be written that would require any projects contemplated to use FAA funds to be brought before the Commission prior to requesting the funds or being placed in any five or ten year plan that the FAA may have. 

 

Mr. Yonts stated Section 6.6 of the master plan deals with landscape, land clearing, and tree protection; and this is another section that deals specifically with Chapter 62, Article XII, Division IV, and another one of the County Land Protection Ordinances.  He advised upon incorporation, Grant-Valkaria accepted all County Ordinances as Town Ordinances; but to be correct, the master plan needs to reference the Town Ordinances, as County Land Ordinances are not applicable in the Town; and the only Ordinances currently in effect are those that were in place on July 25, 2007 unless those have been amended since that time.  He stated he would like to ask Jim Stone to speak for a few minutes, and then he will finish up his presentation.

 

Chairperson Colon stated the Board needs for Mayor Yonts to finish his presentation before allowing Mr. Stone to speak. 

 

Mr. Yonts stated REILs are bright flashing strobe lights that go off every second or so for ten minutes if they are on keyed events; he is concerned about the effect of the lights on the nearby houses and properties; and he does not see that there was ever a study to see if the lights affected any surrounding property owners.  He noted some of the lights were added in at the last moment on runway 9/27 because a few people said they wanted them; he is not sure who those people were; but that is the rumor he heard.  He noted the study addressed how the lights would affect the pilots; but not the effect on the residents.  He stated a pilot trying to land would see bright flashing lights; to him that would seem to be more difficult to land; he questions those lights if there is not something there to control some of that; and Grant-Valkaria sees the lights as creating more problems than they solve.  He stated Grant-Valkaria is a nice rural area without a lot of lights; while on the ground one may not be able to see the light from a rotating beacon, but it can be seen driving by the airport if it is a cloudy night with a lot of haze in the air.  He stated he is not sure a night-controlled rotating beacon can be done; he has not found where any of them have been done; and Grant-Valkaria is concerned that putting in a rotating beacon extends the airport.  He noted the airport has always been a VFR airport and as soon as a tower is put in, it would be on at night; the only other times the airport says it needs it would be in the daytime when visibility falls below the 1,000-foot ceiling; but that is the limit of VFR’s; and unless an IFR is going to be put in, a beacon would not need to be turned on during the day.  He stated the main concern with PAPI’s is the additional training that it could bring to the airport; the problem is not with the local-based pilots, but rather the flight schools and the fact that some of the local based pilots stated they would not use them much if at all; and inquired if they are not going to be used much by the local people, and it would just help the training schools, why would the County do that.  He stated it would seem to draw more new pilots; and if new pilots are drawn in, the risk exposure for the residents may be raised.  He added with pilot-controlled lights there would be three frequencies, one for each of the different lights or one frequency and different numbers of key clicks to turn on each one of the lights; and he sees that as a confusion point for pilots and maybe taking him or her away from the job as a pilot and flying the plane.  He advised the recommendation of Grant-Valkaria is to request the Board either not approve the master plan, or table the discussion to have the issues identified, reviewed, potentially be added to the master plan, and come back for final approval.  Mayor Yonts stated Grant-Valkaria requests the tabling option be utilized in order to eliminate the potential of another perceived misunderstanding by the community of what the Board’s wishes were, and that those modifications be clearly stated and be in the motion, assuming the Board agrees with any of Grant-Valkaria’s modification; and the Town also requests that it be allowed to review the modifications prior to submittal to the Board to ensure the points have been understood by the County staff or whoever is making those modifications. 

 

Mayor Yonts stated Grant-Valkaria requests the modifications be done with tracked changes so it is easier for everybody to find out what was changed; the modifications suggested are to review the master plan, correct all areas that reference the Town of Grant-Valkaria and possibly the Town of Malabar, review what has been happening at Ormond Beach Airport and the effect Embry Riddle is having on that airport, modify or remove any items that would imply it is moving toward an IFR airport, remove any lighting references in the master plan 7.2.3, remove all references to installing a rotating beacon, PAPI and REILs, modify the noise study statements to show the study is for an urban environment and since this is a rural environment, lower levels of noise may be a requirement or expectation, remove any plan that requires scrub jay mitigation, redefine requirements for considering or accepting FAA monies, clearly state that all hangars will be built by the County, and continue to support the Board’s earlier statements that the community desires to remain a small rural VFR airport.  He stated Grant-Valkaria requests the Board table the issue; there has been a lot of work put into the master plan; and he does not want to see all of it wasted.

 

Jim Stone stated he lives in the Grant-Valkaria area; he is familiar with the airport; and his goal is to focus on the safety issues associated with the master plan and with the operation at the airport.   He stated he has an extensive background in aviation of over 30 years, including extensive night flight operations, and special operations in the Department of Defense; and he has also been an airport manager at several locations, both civilian and military.  He advised he has been an instructor pilot, senior standardization flight pilot, and instrument flight examiner; he has done numerous aircraft acts and investigations for the FAA and Department of Defense; currently he is the deputy director for an organization that has been in the Brevard County area for the last six and a half years supporting over 200 aircraft and 1,800 personnel at five locations overseas and also at Patrick Air Force Base; and right now they are supporting about 100,000 aircraft flight hours per year.  He noted he is concerned with the approach in which the master plan addresses the airfield lighting; some of his concerns focus mainly around the runway edge; the system is a pair of strobe lights located on each side of the runway that flashes a very high intense light the pilots use to identify the end of a runway; but on an approach, if landing on a dark night, those lights can also be very detrimental to the pilot.  He stated the flash of the light every second can be a distractor; a pilot can lose situational awareness; and the result can be catastrophic.  He stated approaches into an airfield at night are high risk, especially if there is no moon; he has investigated many aircraft accidents and the primary cause is usually loss of situational awareness by the flight crew; and it has always ended up in a fatality.  He stated he has questioned pilots in his organization over the past couple of days and gave them that scenario; every one of the pilots questioned said it is an accident looking for a place to happen by setting up that approach with the REILs and not having any runway edge  lights; and they are pilots that have extensive  background with 10,000 to 15,000 hours.  He advised the purpose of a rotating beacon is for airfield identification; and it normally operates between sunset and sunrise, or when the weather falls below a certain point.  He stated if the rotating beacon is on and a pilot is not familiar with the surrounding area, he or she might pick up the airport and think there is an airfield there that has lights; and they might have an emergency situation.  Mr. Stone stated he does not have a problem with Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI); it is a good idea; but he believes it is going to draw additional traffic to the area.  He noted in his past experience as an instructor he has noticed that people will focus on these objects and lose situational awareness; it is a big distractor at times; but if used properly PAPI is a good training aid.

 

Mr. Stone stated the one thing he did not see in the master plan was obstruction lights; he did not see any obstruction lights on the airfield; and not having them could be in non-compliance with FAA directives.  He stated he believes having the lights at the airport is a high risk; it is a liability to the Town Council and to Brevard County; he believes doing things half-way is not the way to go; and he believes the airfield needs to be maintained as a day VFR airfield. 

 

 

 

Dan Faden stated decisions require commitment and following through; and other than Commissioner Nelson and Commissioner Bolin, the other Commissioners were here and made certain terms he thought were part of the agreement of the master plan.  He noted it was a sticking point at first; but when it was brought back to the Board as to what the direction was to FIT, the Board said to let them do the process; and when Dr. Barker was told the Board said no lights, no flight training, no commercialization, Dr. Barker stated he was doing a master plan, and those were political issues.  He noted he believes the master plan is at the political part.  He stated Dr. Barker did a very nice analysis; it was straightforward as far as the concerns of the stakeholders; but the political point means the analysis is mixed with the political ingredient; and to him that is compromise, a solution that benefits all.  He stated the noise was done through a computer study; and it shows that there is no 65 dB outside the airport line, as Dr. Barker related.  He stated the problem is the repetitive flight training; the noise that comes over and over the residents; but he wants to be clear that it is not the local pilots; and if the local pilots were the only ones at the airport, the master plan would not be an issue.  He stated now it is in the Commission’s hands to control the noise; there is a problem of the repetitive noise; he would like to ask for recognition of the ordinance or recognition that there is a problem; and there needs to be a restriction on flight training.  He noted he understands the master plan cannot dictate that; but the master plan can put that in as a recognition factor so future planning can take into account the main irritant of the residents; and he would like the Board to make a motion, or clarify to the Towns of Grant-Valkaria and Malabar, at what authority level the issues of the master plan come forward.  He stated the FBO and the privatization of the hangars are a concern of commercialization; the FBO is 12 to 17 years out; and inquired how is it controlled that the privatized FBO will not be coming in front of the Board in a year or two from now.  He noted there is no process to say these things do not have to be worried about until the need comes or it is a request; and he is asking if it is the Commission or the airport manager who can come forward and say it is needed.  He stated the lights are an issue; and he has a problem with the lights being at the airport; but that is an act of compromise as well.  He stated he questions the number of 1,000 night hours by Mosquito Control.  He stated compromise means the pilots may not be able to come in at night because there are no night lights; they are denied the benefit of coming in and  being  able to come  to a local  airport at night; and they are denied that by not having the lights.  He stated the residents are compromised by noise; and that is a compromise they give up by living by the airport.  He stated he believes the PAPI’s will overall benefit the flight training; he does not know how the lights got on the second runway; they were always  on the  first runway;  but in  the  final draft  they  are on the  second  runway without any support.  Mr. Faden stated he supports the local pilots; the local pilots are not the problem; and they are not the irritant of the residents.  He stated if the Board can work a solution that will look at flight training control and repetitive activity control, he thinks the Board will find a true compromise that will benefit everyone. 

 

 

 

Lt. John Coppola, Sheriff’s Aviation Unit, Merritt Island, stated the Sheriff’s Department does not use the Valkaria Airport frequently; the Sheriff’s Department may use the airport 40 to 50 times per year; however, when it is used, it is for fuel or to stage for an event the Sheriff’s Department is performing at Valkaria Airport.  He advised lighting would be something that would help the Sheriff’s Department; there is no lighting there now; there are night operations going on at the airport; and it would be excellent to have some lighting.  He stated he does not want to argue about what kind of lighting is needed; he will let the experts determine that; but having a fuel source in the south end of the County is nice; and it is the only fuel source at night when the Sheriff’s Department is operating there. 

 

Commissioner Scarborough inquired if the Sheriff’s Department is using primarily helicopters or fixed-wing as well; with Lt. Coppola responding the Sheriff’s Department uses helicopters.

 

 

 

Jim Hunt, Mosquito Control, stated his office has been working out of Valkaria Airport longer than anyone else; they have been there since 1988; and Mosquito Control has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly with Valkaria Airport.  He stated after reviewing the master plan for the Valkaria Airport, the Mosquito Control Department approves the master plan with some comments.  He noted Mosquito Control requests that the planned fuel facility entrance road, as shown on Figure 6.10, be moved off the Mosquito Control complex; and Mosquito Control feels it would serve all parties more efficiently and safely if the entrance to the fuel facility comes off the entrance road to the Airport Manager’s office.  He stated Mosquito Control recommends Alternative Three for the lighting, which is the helipad and lighted windsock; Mosquito Control is strictly a night helicopter operation; and unless Mosquito Control can use the helipad to load the helicopter with insecticides, the helipad would be of very little use to the Department.  He advised Mosquito Control does not have a problem with the central location of the fuel tanks as long as the relocation and retrofitting of the tanks does not cost Mosquito Control.

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired if Mosquito Control has any fixed-wing aircraft flying out of Valkaria Airport; with Mr. Hunt responding there is a fixed-wing that flies out of Valkaria Airport for day operations only; but Mosquito Control no longer has fixed-wing aircraft flying for night operations. 

 

 

Milo Zonka, Chair, VAAB, stated the master plan began in January 2006; it has been a long, contentious process at some points, but also very beneficial; and this master plan has accepted more  public   input than   any  master  plan that  anyone is aware of in the State of Florida.  He stated many people are not surprised by the amount of public comment; Valkaria Airport has more complaints than any other airport in the State of Florida; and the VAAB recognized the need for input.  Mr. Zonka stated the VAAB had 13 meetings, with six presentations from the consultant; he disagrees with a comment made earlier that meetings could not be attended; when there was a working paper meeting with the consultant, there would then be a VAAB meeting that same week, or the week after; never was it on the same day of the week; and he takes strong issue with people saying they could not have been there when they could have been there.  He stated he has read the master plan 15 times; master plans are how he got involved in aviation; people thought he would keep the master plan process honest; and he did that because he looked at it from the aspect of how somebody would oppose the master plan fairly.  He stated the VAAB went through the process as if the whole world was looking over its shoulders; any error or gap in information, or any opinion instead of fact, was going to be challenged; and that is how the master plan was built.  He stated the VAAB did not know what to expect when it brought in FIT; but the product that has been created is a professional product that has been well researched, well documented, and with input taken at the meetings; and all of the documents were posted on the Internet for people to review if they could not attend a meeting.  He stated he does not know how it could have been done better; but some people skipped the process, and they are coming to the Board tonight thinking facts, figures, and logical conclusions do not matter if it can be tabled or made to go away; and making it go away or tabling it does not solve the problem.  He read aloud a statement to the Board, “The final draft of the Valkaria Airport Master Plan differs substantially from the first version and is obviously a compromise between the objections of area residents who would prefer to see the airport closed and the owners made to meet the requirements imposed by the federal government”; and stated that was written in 1984 by Ed Foster, now deceased, who was director of the Melbourne Airport at the time.  He stated the County is in that situation again; it will be in the same situation 20 years from now; in 1951 there was nothing around Valkaria Airport; in 1958 when the Board’s predecessors took over, the airport did not have any neighbors; but it did take on the responsibility to maintain, operate, and provide access to the federal asset that was taken on; and if anyone is at fault, it is the people from 1958.  He stated everyone has looked at how the airport can be given back, given to the Melbourne Airport, or turned into a park; and the answer is no, it cannot.  He stated Mayor Yonts told the newspaper everything was put in the master plan but runway lights; but there are no runway lights; and Valkaria Airport is not a night airport.  He stated Mr. Stone is talking about a private pilot coming into a runway at night that might have a rotating beacon and the runway identifier lights; that is not what the lights are for; and the lights are not designed for the tenants at Valkaria Airport to use, or for FIT, or anybody else to use.  He advised the lights are for the operations that exist at the airport today; the lights themselves are half-way lighting because the airport could not be lit; in fact, the consultant came back at an earlier meeting with the recommendation for runway lighting; and the VAAB voted to take the recommendation off of the master plan.  He advised as Mr. Coppola stated, Valkaria Airport is the only place in South County to refuel; anything that can be done to make that a safer operation needs to be done without making the airport accessible to pilots for night operations; and the VAAB knows that is a problem.  He stated it took five or six people five minutes to find one paragraph in the master plan referring to second or third party hangars as being the ogre of commercialization.  He stated this fight will be fought no matter what the master plan says; if someone says they want to lease land at the airport and hangar an airplane, the County at  one point is  going to  have to  accommodate  them;  and  the VAAB just recognized the law to have it in the master plan.  He stated the ordinances do not belong in the master  plan  because  they  change;  the plan is supposed to work through its period of time for what it is; and inquired if a comp plan cannot exist in Grant-Valkaria right now, then how can the airport be obligated to it.  Mr. Zonka stated when the first airplane took flight in 1903, it was the beginning of manned flight; five minutes later was the beginning of the aviation safety push; he cannot express to the Board the significance of safety in the business of aviation; and the Air Safety Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world dedicated to the cause of safety.  He stated when the Board looks at the pictures of Valkaria Airport, it will see a smudge on the taxiway on the top picture; when the military owned the base that is where they practiced carrier landings; aviation will never be safe; but every effort has to be made to make it safer; and that is the focus of the master plan.  He stated the conflict of interest for FIT disgusts him as an accusation; building T-hangars does not benefit FIT; to clean up the ramp does not benefit FIT; and the only thing that benefits FIT is the construction of the parallel taxiway, which is also the largest project in the plan.  He commented on what a taxiway does and why it is needed; stated the FAA is going to fund $1 million for a piece of pavement because it knows if it is not done someone could very well die; and that is where FIT benefits, as it is likely to have one less student death from the projects that are in the master plan.  He stated there is no favoritism to FIT or any other operator at the airport; the tenants are favored and new hangars are going to be built for them; but that is a benefit to the airport because it derives the rent from the T-hangars and the fuel sales; and that money is going to be used to pay for the other improvements that go on at the airport.  He stated the Board will see everything in the master plan again; he has read an opponent’s statement about if they can get the master plan rejected it will put everything away; and the biggest fear the opponents have about the master plan is that if it passes, then every single improvement is going to have to come back to the Board and be argued.  He stated the airport was there before each and every neighbor; the Board should pass an ordinance requiring that every home transaction within three miles of an airport require full disclosure that it is within range of an airport; every homeowner there today knew the airport was there at the time they bought their homes; and the master plan puts potential homebuyers on notice as to what could come to the airport in the future.  He stated the VAAB did what the Board of County Commissioners asked it to do; it did due diligence on the Board’s behalf; and it passed the plan with a recommendation for the Board to approve it as it is written tonight.

 

Dr. Russell Minton stated he is Commissioner Bolin’s appointee to the VAAB; he was a practicing surgeon in New York for 40 years before he came to Brevard County; and he is an instrument rated licensed pilot, a Tuskegee Airman, former Vice Chairman of the VAAB, and has over 8,000 hours logged of flight time.  He stated the VAAB has spent a lot of time on the master plan; the master plan Dr. Barker put together is a fantastic piece of work; it stands to bring the Valkaria Airport out of the Stone Age and into the present as an active facility; and by approving the master plan the airport will produce income and be self sufficient.  He stated for almost a decade on the VAAB he has heard neighbors complain about noise; he cannot imagine any sound more beautiful than the reciprocating engine of an airplane with a propeller on the front of it; as far as airplanes are concerned, the federal government has decided 65 dB is noise; and anything below that is sound, not noise.  He noted audiometers have been driven all around Valkaria Airport and at no time has the noise level been reached; there is sound but it is not noise; and the complaints of noise at Valkaria Airport are based on perception, not reality.  He requested the Board approve the master plan in its entirety.

 

Robert Griffin stated he is a resident of Brevard County and a member of the VAAB; he commented  on  his  credentials  including  being  a  pilot  with  Eastern  Airlines  and  a   former Tuskegee Airman with over 10,000 hours of flying, most of which is as instructor; and he was an Assistant Airfield Manager at McGuire Air Force Base.  He stated REIL’s are Runway End Identification Lights; he has used those lights many times when visibility was more than three or five miles and he was looking for a little airport; and the lights are badly needed at Valkaria Airport.  Mr. Griffin stated pilot controlled lighting is usually on one frequency; it is the number of times a pilot hits the transmitter switch which operates the lights; and it is not a big complication of changing frequency, as it is usually on the common traffic area frequency at the airport.  He stated he flies at all of the airports in Brevard County; when he goes to Merritt Island he refers to the visual approach slope indicators, which are PAPI’s; and they are helpful in making the whole operation much safer.  He stated he belongs to the Experimental Aircraft Association; most of the Tuskegee Airmen youth events in the past have taken place at Valkaria Airport; if any of the Commissioners attended the Valkaria Air Fest they would have seen the tent of the Tuskegee Airmen; and they have had a lot to do with the local youth in Brevard County.  He stated he supports the master plan in its entirety; the FAA has cited the airport with certain safety problems; and two years ago the Florida Department of Transportation expressed some safety concerns.  He stated the Airport Manager brought those concerns to the Board’s attention two years ago; and the technical consultant has produced a plan with no cost to the community to resolve these issues and improve the airport by bringing up the standards to everyone’s benefit.

 

Noel Harris stated he is a resident of Merritt Island and the former President of the Tuskegee Airmen of the Chappie James, Jr. Chapter as well as being on the Board of Directors of the National Tuskegee Airmen.  He stated Mr. Griffin has more or less expressed the sentiment of the Tuskegee Airmen; they would like the master plan to pass; the Chappie James, Jr. Chapter has used the airport for a long time; they invite all of the youth in Brevard County to come down and let the Airmen give them a ride; and that has been the beginning for a lot of young pilots today.  He stated the first experience of having a ride in an airplane is something to see; the Tuskegee Airmen would not like to see the airport in any way affected; and they support the master plan 100 percent.

 

Ken Rivard stated he has been on the VAAB for five years, flew for Alaska Airlines for 39 years, has flown Constellations, 727’s, C130’s, and 737’s, and he has flown in the ice and snow.  He stated if he had not had REIL’s in Alaska, he could not have gotten into a lot of airports; REIL’s are a lifesaver; and when making a circle at night against a 6,000-foot mountain with rain coming down, a pilot wants to see the end of the runway.  He stated there is vertical speed, and there is an airspeed indicator, and a pilot knows what he is doing; and to him, REIL’s and PAPI’s are very important.  He stated he has been in Merritt Island a couple of times when a squall comes through; pilots have the ability to turn the lights on if it gets to a certain degree of darkness; and when the runway lights come on in the rain it is a nice sight to see.  He stated he used to fly for Angel Flight; and Angel Flight can go in and out of the airport with sick patients. He stated he supports the master plan 100 percent.

 

Tom Redmond stated the VAAB did a great job; there was a lot of public comment; but the Tuskegee Airmen fought for the Country; they did what was right; and they are not going to support a master plan they do not think is good.  He stated it is his blessing to have been part of the VAAB; he requested the Board support the master plan in its entirety.  He stated the plan was done with respect, teamwork, and public input; and he is proud to have served on the VAAB.

 

 

Chairperson Colon advised the people who have spoken were part of the agenda; that is why some of them took longer; but the public comments will be limited to three minutes.

Curt Lorenc stated he was present on January 24^th when the master plan was awarded; he remembers hearing from a few Commissioners who were vocal that there would be no lights, no commercial, and daytime only; and he was optimistic there would be a plan that both sides could live with.  He stated staff wrote a contract he does not believe reflected the decision of the Board; he addressed with the contractor what the Board had said; and the contractor was indifferent and did not want to pay attention to what he was being told.  He stated it is his opinion that FIT most likely has a conflict of interest; it is not an impartial planner; it is based locally; it is the largest user of the airport; and that can present a problem.  He stated he believes FIT may not have completed the Contract as written; there may be a breach of Contract; and there has also been a cease and desist letter written from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  He stated the process has to be done correctly, otherwise it will always have a cloud over it; for instance, he does not believe all meetings held by FIT had adequate notice; people who wanted to video the meetings were specifically denied; the PA system did not work; people who were hearing impaired had trouble hearing the meetings; and the ADA Hearing Assisted is a requirement of the FDOT contract, which is the money that is paying for the master plan.  He stated it is nice to be able to have the public verify things; he has asked Dr. Barker for public records and he has refused him; he would like to see the survey data; and it gives the public a good feeling when they are able to see it.  He noted that is how government works with public records; FIT was doing business on behalf of a government entity; and they were doing work that the Board would typically do.  He stated what he gave the Board are some of the transcripts of the December 13^th meeting; the Board delegated decision making authority to the Airport Manager; what took place was the Airport Manager, Dr. Barker, Assistant County Manager Ed Washburn, and Jim Winks from FDOT, went around to see the Commissioners prior to the decision for the award of the Contract; and he thinks that may have been improper.  He stated the process is flawed; the Board should table it and bring it back to fix some of the problems; and the master plan should come back with no lights, no commercial, and no FAA money.

 

Janis Walters stated an airport master plan should be prepared by an impartial consultant who takes guidance from the airport sponsor; FIT did not compete openly for the work; FIT came to the Board soliciting it and offering great financial incentives to get it; and inquired why it would do that.  She stated one of the concerns she expressed to the Board 18 months ago was FIT’s apparent conflict of interest; both the FIT consultant and the flight school have a fiduciary obligation to the parent university; and the consultant seems predisposed toward a plan that works toward FIT’s interests rather than the County’s.  She inquired if FIT has a need for more airports suitable for flight training, does Melbourne Airport charge FIT a landing fee, is there a financial incentive to recommend these particular improvements at Valkaria, and is FIT in need of such things now or does it anticipate the need in the near future.  She inquired what are the prospects for growth in the FIT aviation and flight training programs; and stated the Board needs to answer these questions.  She stated there is ample evidence of the predisposition toward aviation and flight training issues; the pilots’ questionnaire hints at an intent to increase traffic at Valkaria Airport; and inquired if that was the Board’s intent when it authorized the master plan.  She requested the Board look at the recommended projects in the order of priority; and inquired if that reflects an interest for daytime recreational use or in-flight training and preliminary ground work for 24-hour operations.  She  advised  Grant-Valkaria  and  Malabar  were neglected in the PIP  process;  all meetings  were held  with FIT  at the  home field advantage; and inquired if the local communities should have been better served and better informed.  Ms. Walters stated FIT insiders gave direct notice of meetings to aviation groups; she asked for the same direct notice but was ignored; she had to rely on newspaper advertisements or check the County’s website daily to get as little as two days notice; meetings of both FIT and the VAAB were intolerant of dissenting opinions and points of view; and she would point to examples of that but cannot because there are no written minutes from any of the meetings.  She stated to be counted in the preferred development plan one had to attend one particular FIT meeting, fill out the official FIT form, and submit it within a week; all other input was rejected; she offered 435 surveys from local residents; and the consultant, acting on the Board’s behalf in writing the plan, told her the surveys were irrelevant to him.  She inquired if this is how the Board would have done the plan and if it is a public input method the Board wants to condone.  She stated she does not think the Board can accept the master plan until it has answered these questions; and the content of the plan is all the proof the Board needs to know that the discussions it had in two public meetings concerning the kind of master plan it envisioned were completely ignored.  She stated the consultant has openly admitted ignoring the Board; the PIP was supposed to promote open communication and resolve problems but it has not; there may be a solution but this master plan is not it.  She stated the master plan is not what the Board promised the residents; she would like the Board to keep its word; and she would like to know if the residents have misplaced their trust. 

 

John Radencic stated he was at the meeting the Board held 18 months ago, which he thought was constructive; the Board seemed to be listening to the community; it said it was going to word the master plan with the constraints that there be no lighting, kept as day use operation only, and no commercialization; and he thought it was good to be getting a working relationship with the Commissioners for a community airport.  He stated the pilots are great people; they operate their business in their T-hangars; it seems to be a good use that is going on right now; and he was caught off guard when he read the master plan.  He stated it became evident to him the motion to approve the plan was not exactly what the Commission had requested; however, he thinks the Commission and the VAAB can still work together.  He stated his biggest hang up with the master plan is the parameter for the lighting at the near-term objectives and mid-term objectives particularly; on the near-term are vertical guidance controls to help pilots land; he feels that will increase traffic and operations at the airport, which is exactly what the community did not want; and in his opinion that will lead to lights.  He stated there will be so many people flying, lights will be inevitable; in the master plan it is recommended in the five-year review to look into lights again; at the meeting there was no mention of lights; and inquired how lights are back in the picture.  He noted he thinks the plan is good and well done; he is glad to see there is finally a plan; but he is hesitant for its acceptance because of the lighting the Board promised would not be allowed.  He stated he does not think lighting is a safety issue; if it is a daytime use, airport people should be able to see the runways; the helicopters he has seen land at night; and the Sheriff’s helicopters have their own lights.  He stated he would ask the Board to consider the master plan Chapter 6, 5.1, Alternative A, which says to wait and see on the lights; it is the alternative section of the master plan; and that may be the direction to go. 

 

Peter deVos stated he has a statement prepared; but in view of what has occurred, he would like to make some comments.  He stated he objects to public financing of an airport that is a County airport but used by less than 20 percent of the local residents; 80 percent of the activity at the airport, according to the study, is done by outsiders; and the County is asking the taxpayers for $10 million.   He inquired  what benefit FIT gets out of improvements to the airport;

and  stated the  study  answered that by  saying the  largest  user of the airport is FIT.  He stated as he understands it, the Melbourne Airport is virtually empty; it is desperate for aircraft to go there; and inquired how far it is from Melbourne to Sebastian; and how far is it to Vero Beach and Merritt Island.  Mr. deVos inquired if the airport is going to build hangars in order to pay for itself then why is $10 million needed from the public treasury; stated the issue has been mispresented to the Board; Mayor Yonts indicated clearly that the Town supports the airport and most of the master plan study; but there are some things that need to be fixed.  He noted he was not here 18 months ago; but he understands the Commissioners defined what the study would do and what the parameters would be; and that was that it would be a local, daytime, recreational, non-commercial airport.  He stated with the air academy at FIT the helicopters coming in are commercial in his opinion.

 

Kurt Stafflinger stated he supports the local pilots; on January 24, 2006, he attended the Commission meeting in which the Board directed to keep it a small recreational airport; he does not understand why the airport would need lighting if there are no night flights; and if the Sheriff’s Department and Mosquito Control need lights then it should be accessible only to the Sheriff’s Department and Mosquito Control.  He stated it does not make any sense to have private developers come into the airport and build hangars; that is giving away income the County could use; there was no competitive bidding for the master plan; and that is clearly a violation of CCNA.  He stated as a licensed professional he is concerned about the Board’s action on that because it was not publicly advertised for any public contractors to come in and provide the same service; he has attended some of the master plan meetings; contrary to what the VAAB members say, the public input was often ridiculed; he thinks the plan needs some scrutiny; and he urges the Board to table it for further review. 

 

Tom Beatty stated he is not a pilot, nor does he live in the Grant-Valkaria area, but he has friends who are pilots and fly in and out of Valkaria Airport.  He stated the same issue happened at the Melbourne Airport a number of years ago; one of the problems was the noise and lighting; today, the Melbourne Airport is a busy commercial general aviation airport; but a lot of general aviation pilots want a smaller airport to fly in and out of so they do not have to worry about the commercial airplanes; and the Valkaria Airport could serve them very well.  He stated when the Melbourne Airport first began there was a lot of noise because the planes were not regulated on flight patterns; they were later regulated through the FAA for noise mitigation; he lives three to four miles from the airport and he used to hear the big jets flying over when they were landing; and now he never knows when they land or take off because of the noise mitigation.  He stated he drives by the Melbourne Airport all the time and never notices the lights; he does not think the lights are a big issue; and some lighting is needed for the safety issues the pilots have expressed.  He noted he does not think a rotating beacon would be as noticeable as the lights that some businesses rent that rotate to bring attention to the business.  He stated the VAAB did a good job; the consulting firm from FIT has done a good job; and he supports the plan and hopes the Board will support it also.

 

Wasim Niazi stated he has lived in Brevard County for the last 13 years; and he is also on the TICO Airport Authority Board.  He advised he flies both helicopters and airplanes; the lights mean safety; and lights are not just for nighttime operation as they are also for daytime operation under certain weather conditions.  He stated the lights mean safety and the airport lights have no negative impact on the surrounding residents; and he supports the Valkaria Airport master plan in it entirety. 

Andy Pedersen stated he is a member of the VAAB; the master plan has been a very open process; it is important for the Board to know there was good support for the master plan; and there were a lot of changes along the way due to public input.  He stated it concerns him the consultant used urban and not rural levels in the sound study; he is concerned the scrub jay habitat was not addressed for the taxi back areas; he also has some objections to the lighting on the signage; and the hangars should be County-owned and not owned by second and third parties.  He stated those are all good points; had the public participated and brought those issues up, the process could have worked; but he finds it outrageous that people are now bringing these issues up without having brought them up to the VAAB when something could have been done about them; and maybe there would have been a better final product for the County Commission to approve.  He stated Dr. Barker’s point was commercialization runs a whole spectrum of commercialization; Coke’s are being sold at the airport, which is commercialization; commercial air service is commercialization; and short of the hangars, there is no commercialization at the airport.  He stated there is no talk of putting in businesses or flight schools; and the airport is in proximity to where the flight schools are.  He stated it has been said PAPI’s will only increase activity leading to lights; there is a five-year review of the lights; and there should be a wait-and-see attitude.  He stated that is why it is in the master plan to take it off the table now and evaluate it in five years.  He advised with the $10 million of public money, the money is going to be spent somewhere; and it might as well be spent at Valkaria Airport. 

 

Bob Heckman stated he is a pilot; he is also a retired FAA inspector; his chief job was safety; and he was in accident prevention for 22 years in flight standards.  He advised flight standards are the people who look at accidents and try to prevent them from happening again; and the way to do that is to make the master plan work right now.  He commented on the importance of children having an interest in aviation.  He stated as an FAA inspector he can honestly say the master plan is the best plan in the United States he has ever seen; and he has been to almost every airport in the country. 

 

Chris Tompkins stated he has a degree in airport management; he is in charge of the International Missions for the KLD Youth Foundation in Merritt Island, which is a Christian not-for-profit organization; and he has a vested interest in Valkaria because of the convenience of the airport.  He stated often he utilizes the airport in the early morning hours; in the afternoon hours on his way back from the Caribbean the visibility can get down to marginal VFR at times; and he can appreciate the concern that things like approach lighting and the rotating beacon will encourage aircraft to utilize the airport.  He noted as a pilot who uses the airport he does not believe any of the safety equipment additions will encourage additional operations at the airport; he is encouraged to see the additions; and the additions will provide a much needed improvement for the airport.  He stated all resources made available to enhance visual recognition and situational awareness can do nothing except improve the safety of flight operations under any weather condition; and safety is something everyone can agree should not be compromised, especially with the community’s youth flying regularly at the airport.

 

David Marlin stated there is not one large commercial airport that does not have the REIL’s and PAPI’s; it is another tool to safely land an airplane, whether big or small; and it is progress over the years that gives a pilot perspective over the runway.  He stated the residents bought their homes knowing the airport was there; and he is for the master plan.  He noted at a lot of airports there  is a  CAP, Auxiliary  Coast  Guard;  the  CAP  is funded  by  the  Air  Force  Auxiliary;  the Auxiliary Coast Guard pilots that give their time are funded by the Navy; and they get paid for their gas, maintenance and planes.  Mr. Marlin stated Angel Flight is out of Valkaria Airport; those people donate their airplanes, gas, and time for anyone who needs help in a critical situation; and no one knows what the future brings or if one will ever need an Angel Flight.

 

Thomas Chaffee stated he is a pilot based out of Melbourne; the master plan takes care of a lot of safety issues; it fixes worn out runways and promotes safety with the taxiways, and signage improvement; the taxiways would also go a long way to alleviate some of the noise because there will not be an airplane idling while waiting for a runway to clear; and that would have a cumulative effect on reducing the noise.  He stated the use of PAPI lights will improve the precision of all approaches to the airport, which means there will not be an airplane coming in below guide slope.  He advised the fact that some of the hangars can be owner-financed does not hurt the County at all; what the County will receive is rent from the land under the hangars akin to what the hangar owners at Melbourne currently do; and the tenants of those hangars own them but they pay a rent fee through the condo association to the airport.  He stated an airport that is a prime example of what kind of airport Valkaria Airport could be is Merritt Island Airport; they have VASI lights for guidance into the airport, but at 8:00 p.m. the FBO closes and locks the door; and when they leave there is seldom traffic afterwards.  He stated there are airports all over the country under the threat of closure due to encroaching development, noise, and general apathy on the part of the local residents; and commented on an airport in Chicago where the runways were ripped up in the middle of the night, and an airport in St. Petersburg that was recently saved.  He advised the airport in Stuart was within 10 years of being potentially closed. 

 

Thomas Angelo stated he would like to clear up some misconceptions about the PAPI lights; in reality PAPI and landing lights are daytime VFR tools; the tools are used to make a safe controlled approach to the airport; and it is not to run off the end of the runway or to land on someone’s house.  He noted if the lights were at the airport last week they would have been too late for the velocity pilot that was killed a couple of years ago; an FIT student ran off the end of the runway; and recently a local pilot almost missed the approach.  He stated he supports the master plan and hopes the Board does as well. 

 

Robert Denton stated he is a tenant at Hanger 22 at Valkaria Airport.  He advised aviation goes back a long way for him; at one time he was a ten year old who rode his bike to the local airport and became interested in aviation; and Valkaria Airport is the airport where he started.  He stated he graduated with a degree in airport management and then went into the Navy; he flew various types of airplanes in the Navy; and he has been on and off of a carrier.  He stated during the Navy Reserve he flew with Pan American World Airways for 33 years; he was a check airman and ended up as Director of Training on the DC-10 and 747; and he flew to most continents in the world.  He stated the issue about airports is not new to Brevard County, as it is all over the world; there are airports that are in rural areas that suddenly have development around them; and then there are problems such as what Valkaria Airport is running into.  He stated there have been things said tonight that are factual and there are other things that may not be completely factual; and it is hard for the layman to understand the difference.  He stated the professionals who put the master plan together should be relied on; and he fully supports the master plan.

 

Anthony Sluzenski stated he has been a licensed pilot for 55 years and a certified instructor for 48 years; he is currently  using the  Valkaria Airport with his flying club of 60 members; and he is the chief flying instructor and safety officer.  Mr. Sluzenski noted he has been associated with safety issues for 30 to 35 years in all different aspects of aviation; and Valkaria Airport has a lot of aviation issues he would like to discuss with the Board.  He stated if the Board decides not to accept the master plan, the traffic will not go away; there are helicopters there now; there are flight safety aircraft, FIT aircraft, and the local traffic; aviation activity in the County is increasing; and it is not going to go away.  He stated if the master plan is not accepted, the aircraft that are continually using Valkaria Airport will not be operating at a safe airport; things that are outlined in the plan will do nothing but improve the safety of the pilots and improve operation of the airport; and there is nothing in the plan that will be a detriment to the surrounding property owners who live around the airport.  He stated if the T-hangars are taken away, along with the Unicom frequency, and the WWII barracks that were located in the center of the airport facing runways 2, 7, and 9, there would be the same airport that was there 40 years ago; there were dragsters using the airport on Sunday afternoons; and there may have been only three or four airplanes using the runway.  He advised one of his students had to land on a runway where another aircraft had stopped and turned around to taxi back on the runway to take off; and that is a safety issue.  He noted in another incident he soloed on a first solo with a student on one runway; the student took off and another airplane landed on another runway; his issue was that the segmented circle was in derelict condition; the derelict condition could have caused the pilot not to know what runway to use or the direction or pattern used; and there could have been a critical accident or mid-air collision.  He stated he supports the master plan strictly in view of improvements in safety; the airport needs to be improved; and it should be in the same caliber as the other public use airports in the County.

 

Judy Nash stated her husband, Charlie, is a VAAB member; and she is not sure what meetings he was attending because all of the love was not extended to him and the other homeowner participants.  She stated the VAAB is weighted heavily to the pilots; and for a year her husband has come home and said they were not listening to the homeowners or paying attention to what the County Commission promised last year.  She stated the other members of the VAAB voted against issues that her husband had strong concerns about; stated it is easy to listen to the public; but if the Board is not going to take any opinions and still writes the rules the way it wants them, it is not a fair process.  She stated she does not feel like it has been a fair process; and she would like her opinion to count, even just a little bit.

 

Michael Powell stated he is the Executive Director for the Titusville-Cocoa Executive Airport Authority, and he has direct oversight of Arthur Dunn Airpark, Space Coast Regional Airport, and Merritt Island Airport.  He advised he had a chance to review the master plan; the Board should take the plan for what it is worth; he is finishing up a master plan for Arthur Dunn Airpark and Space Coast Regional Airport; and he is very close to starting the project for the Merritt Island Airport.  He stated he came to the meeting because Valkaria Airport is close to the Merritt Island Airport; and he wanted to see what the questions and concerns were with the Valkaria Airport master plan.  He stated Mr. Zonka was correct in that almost no other facility at any other time has had this much community involvement in the process; he commends the airport staff, the consultants, the Advisory Board, and the leadership of the County Commission in producing what he thinks is a well written master plan; he was surprised to see it was such a modest capital improvement program; and he can only attribute that to the airport staff honestly caring about what the surrounding communities thought and trying to come to some sort of compromise.  He stated he would not attempt to comment on what may or may not be going on in the surrounding communities or how folks feel about things; but after taking a quick cursory look at a  facility  that has  two runways, 4,000-feet by 75-feet wide,  it is practically  unlimited for development.  Mr. Powell noted he did not hear anyone comment on something that he thought was very forward thinking, and showing genuine concern for the surrounding communities, which is that the County has very restrictive self-imposed guidelines; there are noise abatement procedures in effect in which people cannot fly over homes; there are no touch-and-go operations; and that drastically reduces the usability of those facilities, which would further make it less attractive to any of the training facilities.  He stated what he saw with the lighting plan allows some uniformity; one of the problems with low-time pilots is that they tend to come in too low to approach a runway; therefore they are lower to the ground; and they have to have more power, which directly attributes to more noise.  He stated the lighting system was very well thought out; the master plan allows a sequence of events; not one of the lighting systems would cause someone to fixate on it causing any sort of safety concern; and instead, it would be used in conjunction all together as a whole.  He noted the rotating beacon lets pilots know what the airport itself is; the lighted windsock would show the segmented circle to let pilots know which way to come into the traffic pattern; and if there is a concern of houses in that area, the runway identifier lights would help pilots line up with the runway and they would immediately transition into the precision approach path indicator.  He stated one thing to remember is if the Board does not give the airport this critical tool, it will not be allowed to participate in federal and State dollars that are available; if it is not allowed to do that and get resources to provide tenants and the flying public, someone like himself will; he very aggressively goes out to get every dime to improve the facilities, which ultimately directly attributes to better services to his folks; and unless Mr. Borowski is given the opportunity, he is going to get it.

 

Herbert Goodman stated he has had a pilot’s license for more than 50 years; he is an airplane owner; and he supports the master plan in its entirety.  He advised he is a retired FAA employee; and he was an air traffic controller in Miami for most of his career.  He stated the County would be remiss if it does not accept the safety equipment proposed in the master plan; and the PAPI system is used during approach to an airport to guide the pilot to maintain a normal guide path, and therefore, assuring a safe landing.  He stated there have been two instances where accidents have already happened; one of them was fatal; and if the airport had the PAPI lights, perhaps both aircrafts would not have crashed short of the runway.  He stated the County would be negligent in not accepting this plan as it would open the door for legal action against the County, which could run into millions of dollars; and ultimately, the taxpayers would bear the cost of the lawsuit.  He advised the FAA stresses that safety lights promote safer flying; and therefore, it would be ludicrous to not accept the plan in its entirety.

 

Roberta Goodman stated she has lived in Brevard County for 46 years; she has always lived near a general aviation airport by choice; and she has never had any problems with noise or safety issues.  She noted she is an airplane owner and she hopes to become a pilot; she understands there have been 14 public meetings with extensive input on the master plan; there is no need for any more meetings on behalf of the updated plan; and she urges the Board to accept the final master plan in its entirety.

 

Matt Smith stated he currently lives in Vero Beach, but is moving to Malabar; and he has chosen to live three and a half miles from the airport because the proximity to a general aviation airport is important to him.  He stated the Board has heard a lot of opinions from experts about the different components of the plan involving safety and how to make the airport safer for the pilots and the community; and the Board has also heard speculation from people who do not have an aviation background on whether the approach precision lights are needed or not and whether  making  three  clicks  on  a microphone  button is  an  overburden  for pilots.  Mr. Smith stated he would urge the Board to defer to the expert opinions it has heard about the safety components of the master plan; and it needs to be approved in its entirety.  He stated there have been a great number of compromises in trying to establish a fair and reasonable balance of conflicting opinions; and there is an attempt to unbalance it.  He noted there has been an effort in the last year and a half to try to balance things; the master plan respectively balances the needs of the various stakeholders in the process; and he urges the Board to pass the plan exactly as it is submitted.

 

Carolyn Smith stated she also lives in Vero Beach and has a lot in Malabar she hopes to move onto soon.  She stated she and her husband were drawn to the area because of the small town atmosphere and the countryside; and they love the area, so they would not want anything to happen that would be a detriment the area.  She thanked the Board for providing so much input from the stakeholders who were involved; stated she was not involved in the process earlier, as they did not live in the area; but the Board has allowed all the stakeholders many opportunities to give their viewpoints; and now it is time to take action.  She stated she is not a pilot, but she does enjoy recreational flying; in her view, the master plan is professional, well reasoned, and fiscally responsible; the compromises made take into account the concerns of both the homeowners and the pilots; and she supports the plan in its entirety.

 

Jo Faden stated she is not against having a master plan for the airport; but she is against this plan as it is written, and is very much opposed to the way it was done.  She stated regardless of what people have said to her, there has been a conflict of interest; FIT has a large school of aeronautics; and most of the activity at the airport is flight training.  She stated she does not know why FIT would put forward a plan that did not facilitate its interests; FIT students seem to have been allowed more input to the proposed plan than the taxpaying residents of the area; and if air traffic statistics collected by FIT were based on observation and counted, as was told, FIT could have easily controlled its flight activity to increase the number for the document.  She stated residents of Grant-Valkaria have been criticized as not having participated in the planning; they have been speaking in front of the Commission for many years with concerns; and the Commission and FIT were presented with over 400 responses from residents as well as phone calls and emails.  She stated the master plan was moved forward by the Commission with the stipulation to include those issues of highest concern to the surrounding communities, such as no lights, no commercialization, and restrictions on enforcement of flight training; and had those items not been brought forward and agreed upon by the Commission, the plan process itself may not have gotten this far and may not have been approved.  She stated the scope of the plan was never brought forward to the Commission for approval as was directed at that meeting when the plan was approved; and she faults whomever wrote the proposal to FIT for not including these stipulations, as well as FIT for rejecting the Commission’s stipulations when they were brought forward by the people.  She noted shortly after the master plan was agreed upon, her neighbor, and she and her husband, went to visit Mr. Borowski at his office with their concerns; her neighbor expressed a strong interest in being involved in the sound study portion of the plan; Mr. Borowski told him it would be no problem and took his information so he could be notified when it was time to participate; her neighbor was never contacted; and as the Board can see, the sound study was half-baked, computer generated, and not based on reality.  She stated she attended two master plan meetings; when she brought up the issues, the Commissioner  stated it  would be included in the plan;  she was  directly  told by Dr. Barker that those issues were political and not in the scope of his plan; and other questions she had were also put down by Dr. Barker as unimportant to the master plan.  Ms. Faden inquired why attend  if her  voice  is not  heard and her  concerns  are  not  relevant;  and  why develop a plan specifically for an airport if it is not tailored to the special needs of the airport and its impact on the surrounding community.  Ms. Faden advised she supports a VFR daytime recreational airport at Valkaria, no lights, no PAPI, no beacon, and stringent controls on flight training, especially on 9/27; she also supports safety and security at the airport; money should be spent on machinery; and the runways should be kept clean and clear on a daily basis and resurfaced as needed.  She stated everyone is familiar with when the Sherriff, FBI, and Homeland Security were summoned to the airport when local environmentalists came to view what she calls the rape of airport property; there are still no no-trespassing signs posted; and the east gate of the airport has never had a no-trespassing or private property sign.  She noted if the trees in the visual approach had been cleared in an orderly manner and appropriate height and visually pleasing landscaping done to provide a buffer, everybody would have been happy; but right now there are pine trees that were torn in half and let drop to rot.  She stated this was a slap in the face to a town that is dedicated to rural life and environment; and she is sure the citizens would have volunteered to participate in replanting low native vegetation in those areas.  She advised over the years there have been many battles; it seemed to her that with the placing of the ordinances at the airport, and with the incorporation of Grant-Valkaria, the people were starting to come together; and she wants the local pilots to continue enjoying their planes.  She stated for almost 15 years the community has been coming to the Commission asking for help with airport concerns; the concern is not the planes coming in lower, it is the repetitive activity; it is time for a master plan; but it is time to do something for the people the Commission has a responsibility to and to keep its word.

 

Barbara Lasher stated she is a pilot and an airplane owner; and she flies into Valkaria Airport occasionally.  She advised the master plan is well thought out; it is looking toward the safety of the airport; and that should be the Board’s first concern.  She urged the Board to accept the master plan.

 

Gerry Armstrong stated he is President of the Indian River Control Society, which is a chartered and insured club of approximately 200 members dedicated to model aviation; the club has been flying at Valkaria Airport for over 40 years; and it has leased the current flying site on the northeast corner for the past 20 years.  He stated his club would like to see the Board approve the master plan so the necessary additions, such as T-hangars, maintenance, and repairs can be accomplished on the runways, taxiways, and structures; and this can only be accomplished through a master plan.  He stated the Indian River Control Society would like to see the Valkaria Airport remain a non-commercial recreational airport.

 

John Archibald stated the Commission should be very proud of its aviation advisory committee as it has been diligent in watching over as FIT created the master plan.  He noted he came to Florida in 1951; he and his late wife escaped Dade County in 1995; and they built a home one and a quarter mile from Runway 9/27.  He stated he is one of those people that when he hears a light aircraft engine it is music to his ears; it has not been directly addressed that Valkaria Airport is an asset to the community; there are a lot of people who are in love with aviation and love to fly; and as Palm Bay grows there will be more people interested in Valkaria Airport.  He stated he approves the master plan as it is written.

 

Stephen Bedwell stated he moved to Grant-Valkaria in order to be close to the airport; he lives right  off  the  end of  Runway 9, so all  the  traffic  goes over his  house; he  heard some people allude to the sound study not being real; he would like to point out that one of the instruments was in his backyard; and unless he is in his yard he does not even hear a plane go over his house.  Mr. Bedwell stated the lighting that has been talked about is minimal, but those who are not into aviation probably do not have a feeling for how hard it can be to see on one of the hot, hazy, summer days that seem to last for nine months in Brevard County; and anything that can help a pilot determine where that threshold is, is important.  He stated the Valkaria Airport needs T-hangars; and he has been on the list for more than five years trying to get one.  He stated it always seems to be the same people who talk about the voice of the community; in the last 21 years no one has asked his opinion; no one has asked his immediate neighbors either; and he does not know how many in the community are being represented.  He stated he supports the master plan, as it is a good plan and should be implemented.

 

Nadia LeBohec stated most of her concerns as a homeowner have been mentioned by others; but she would like to urge the Board to not feel pressured or rushed into either rejecting or accepting the master plan.  She stated she believes it is a very comprehensive plan; it is very technical; some of the members of the community have given the aviation world a good giggle tonight because they do not understand some of the terminology, especially with regards to the lights; and she would guess that many on the Board are in the same position as she is, in that they are not aviators.  She stated in evaluating the program, it is obvious the pilots are a wildly enthusiastic group; and they would be more than willing to take the Commissioners out, personally show them what they are talking about and allow the Commissioners the opportunity to judge if it is a need or a want and what impact will have on the locals.  She asked the Board to make a thoughtful judgment, as that is what the residents would appreciate.

 

David Koshinski stated he has been a Malabar resident for over 25 years; he is a sport pilot; he keeps his plane at Valkaria Airport; and he is in favor of the master plan as it is written.  He stated residents from surrounding communities put security lights on utility poles, their houses, and yards, and request extra street lights to light up bus stops to protect their children, and then they complain about lights at an airport that most of them will never see.  He stated he has flown into two airports with PAPI lights; they are a great safety feature; as an amphibious pilot, his planes have different aerodynamic structures that require power or water almost all the way to the ground; and PAPI lights provide an almost foolproof landing, which converts to a safer landing.  He stated the master plan as it is written does not only provide a safer airport for pilots and airplanes, but also provides a higher margin of safety for the residents of surrounding communities.

 

Mark Pagliarulo stated he would like to see the airport stay a rural airport; he has been in Valkaria for 11 years; it has not been bad until lately when the Silver Star helicopters started flying over; and they are a nuisance and loud.  He stated he does not know if anything can be done about that; but he would like to keep it a rural airport if possible. 

 

Gail Rotgers stated she is a student pilot who flies out of Valkaria Airport; she would appreciate having the visual aids to help her stay on guide-scope because one never knows when he or she might have to switch an air landing field because of the weather; and she is inexperienced as she is learning.  She stated she flies solo and she would appreciate those lights telling her she is level and in the right approach; it helps keep her calm; it makes her landing nice; and it also makes her landing quiet, as she is not having to give more throttle.  She stated she has lived in Valkaria for 18 years; airplanes fly over her house too, and she does not seem to notice the noise; and she has more noise coming into her house from the kids driving down the road with their boom boxes waking her up at 2:00 a.m.  Ms. Rotgers advised she would like to see the plan approved because she has flown into Melbourne Airport using its PAPI lights; and it made all the difference in the world.  She stated the lights are a safety issue that should be addressed; it is addressed in the master plan; the master plan has been thoroughly investigated; everyone was given opportunity to speak; and requested the Board approve it.

 

Barbara Ray stated she and her husband have served on County budget committees; her husband was on the airport committee advisory board; she served two stints on the Planning and Zoning Board; and she truly appreciates everyone who has gone through the whole process because she has been there and knows it is not fun.  She stated she has lived in Valkaria for 25 years; when she bought her property, the plan at that time was that there was going to be skeet shooting at the airport; and she was shown a plan that included a lot of recreational uses; but none of it came about.  She stated she is not a pilot; she has enjoyed many activities that the pilots have had; she thinks highly of the pilots because she trusted her 10-year old son to go up on Young Eagles Day; and he loved it.  She stated her complaint is not with the ordinary person who has a plane in a hangar on the airport; she thinks it is important that the County should be the entity building and maintaining the hangars at the airport; and she does not have a problem with most of the things in the plan.  She stated over a period of time the County has basically had a compatibility issue; it has to be remembered that the Board has the responsibility to not only look at the airport master plan, and the safety, but it also has the responsibility of looking at zoning issues and other things in relationship; and over the long haul the County has tried to take the middle road.  She noted the County could have gotten rid of the airport, or it could have bought the property of people like her and zoned everything around it to be compatible with the airport; rural residential property and airport use are not compatible by nature; the Board has tried to do everything it could in the past, including putting in a buffer zone of a golf course; and the County has made a good faith effort to take those two incompatible uses and mesh them in a way people can live with.  She stated she agrees with most of what Mayor Yonts said; she does not trust that having lights at the airport will not bring in more nighttime traffic; she lived there when there was the kind of nighttime traffic in which illegal substances were being dropped at the airport; and she feels if lights are put in, it will be an open invitation for everybody and their brother to say they want to try night landings.  She stated she knows a lot of the pilots do not agree with her, but it is a real concern of hers, as well as keeping the security of the airport; and for a long time, nothing was fenced on the airport.

 

John Boncek stated he is a resident of Micco and a property owner in Grant-Valkaria.  He stated last Saturday he was at the airport with a friend; they were approximately 600 to 800 feet from the approach into the runway with a hovering helicopter nearby; and the two of them could talk to each other without raising their voices.  He stated he takes a lot of kids flying to different air shows through control towers; there are a lot of things that kids can do to get themselves in a lot of trouble; but aviation keeps kids structured and focused on their personal future; and the kids know if they want to fly they have to keep their eye on the ball, whether it be their grades or the people they associate with.  He noted he has one kid who just got his commission as a Warrant Officer in the Army and is in the process in becoming a helicopter pilot; he has another young man who is a commercial jet pilot; and it is a thrill to him to see someone go from eight years old all the way through the process.  He stated anything that can be done for the airport has a direct result on the kids; a lot of it comes down to safety; and he supports the master plan.

Michelle McCarter stated she is a recent resident of Grant-Valkaria; she lives a little more than a mile away from the airport; and she is mostly for the master plan, but she has some concerns.  She advised her major concern is with the increase in the number of hangars; with the amount of air traffic there now, there is a lot of touch-and-go traffic; she knows it is supposed to be restricted; but right now she cannot go outside her house sometimes and have a conversation with her daughter in her driveway.  She noted she is not against the master plan for safety reasons; but she is concerned because it is a gateway to nighttime flying.  

 

Louise Walters stated she has lived approximately two miles from the Valkaria Airport since 1979, which was two years before she met her husband who happens to be a pilot; when he flies, she is always concerned for his safety, especially when she goes with him; and she understands there are some items in the master plan that address the safety of the aviators that use the airport.  She stated some of her neighbors are against some of the safety items; the safety of the pilots renting the hangars, stopping for gas, and the County pilots that work for Mosquito Control and the Sheriff should be important to all the citizens in Brevard County; their safety is important to her and should be important to everyone; and the master plan is a compromise in the wants and needs of the aviators and the citizens living near the airport.  She noted there should never be a compromise with the safety of the citizens who use the airport; she also understands the master plan is a document of hard facts prepared by knowledgeable people; and as the Board listens to people speak tonight it needs to try to separate the facts from emotions and question the accuracy of the information being given.  She advised the Board should also question the motives behind the information; and urged the Board to accept the master plan as it is.

 

Linn Walters stated he would like the address the letter from his Town Council; and while he applauds its support for the concerns of his neighbors, he does not agree with those items in the letter unsupported by verifiable fact.  He noted as a Valkaria Airport neighbor and user of the airport he has followed the development of the Valkaria Airport master plan with interest.  He advised he attended and participated in all of the public forums held by FIT, as well as the meetings where the VAAB overwhelmingly voted to send each of the major sections to the County Commissioners; he attended and spoke at almost all of the Grant-Valkaria Town meetings when Valkaria Airport or the master plan was on the agenda; and at all of the meetings he listened to all of his neighbors attack the plan, the consultants, the airport manager, and the County Commissioners.  He stated before the Board tonight is a document produced by professionals knowledgeable in their field; and the document has been delivered pursuant to the Board’s direction and in accordance with the FAA guidelines.  He noted the master plan pertains to all of the facts and figures that will enable Valkaria Airport to obtain financial independence and become the safe, recreational airport the Board desires.  He advised he has been an aviator for a long time; he is knowledgeable on aviation and airports; emotions and unsupported allocations have no place in the master plan; and requested the Board accept the master plan as presented by FIT and support Valkaria Airport.

 

Rick Cloutier stated he has 22 years of airport experience; and he would like to give the Board his opinion of the airport master plan.  He stated he has read the entire plan; he has attended the meetings; and he was one of the first people to suggest the PAPI lights for safety.  He stated at Melbourne Airport there are 200,000 operations a year; and more accidents happen at Valkaria Airport than at Melbourne Airport primarily because there are not all of those safety features at Valkaria Airport.  He stated 10 years ago he offered Valkaria Airport Melbourne’s old VASI System; and Valkaria Airport turned it down.  Mr. Cloutier stated he thought it was a mistake then, and he thinks it is a mistake now not to look at the safety items for the pilots; the master plan that was put together by FIT was done professionally; he has looked and been involved with many master plans; and the $64,000 the County paid for the master plan was a good deal.  He noted there is probably more in the master plan than what is really needed for an airport the size of Valkaria; Melbourne Airport’s Master Plan from two years ago had just as much information and was at the same level; and Melbourne is a big international airport compared to Valkaria. He stated the other thing the master plan will help to do is get some funding; it will give the County the opportunity to spend one percent of a project to get 100 percent done; and he would suggest the Board support the master plan.

 

Paul Goetsch stated he lives in Palm Bay; he is an aircraft owner and has been a pilot for over 30 years; he lived and worked on Valkaria Airport from 1979 to 1984 operating the FBO called Valkaria Aviation; and the conflicts over the airport were going on even back then with the golf course, predictions of high numbers of aircraft operations, commercial development and noise.  He stated the airport languished in the mid-1980’s until fuel, hangars, and Mosquito Control moved in; and after many years, a new master plan has been developed that will address all of the issues regarding safety, development, community, and the resident users of Brevard County.  He noted the success of the Valkaria Airport Air Fest was definitive proof of resident support; thousands turned out to support general aviation; small airports such as Valkaria are the mangroves, or incubators, of the aviation community; and they supply general aviation, airlines, and the military with future pilots, mechanics, and technicians.  He stated these airports are where the dreams of young girls and boys take shape with programs sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts of America, and the Experimental Aircraft Association, which has sponsored over one million young eagle flights nationwide; the Valkaria Airport chapter alone has given 1,500 young eagles the first taste of flight; and future pilots are among them.  He advised he would urge the Board to adopt the Valkaria Airport master plan; and all residents of Brevard County are entitled to voice their opinion on this subject, not just the residents of the newly formed Town of Grant-Valkaria.

 

Sandy Mottice stated she lives in Palm Bay; she is not a pilot; but she does ask that the Board accept the master plan in its entirety.

 

Jack Coleman stated he lives in Indialantic; he is a pilot with a hangar and an airplane at Valkaria Airport; it seems to him if there are more hangars, there will be more traffic with more flight hours; he has not flown in three years, but he has a hangar and an airplane; and he knows a lot of people who have hangars and do not fly.  He stated he heard the comments about the master plan meetings when the microphone did not work and there was someone in the audience who was hearing impaired; his brother is hearing impaired and if he could not hear, he would either get an interpreter or he would read something; and he feels sorry for the person who may not have been able to hear the meeting, but he or she could have had things clarified or moved to the front.   He stated he has heard some inconsistencies when it comes to lights and lighting; it is a shame that visual approach slope indicators and PAPI’s are lumped in with lighting; he wishes they were called guidance systems, because they are really not what he would consider lighting; and he would think homeowners in the area would want the approach indicators.  He noted he can understand the concerns about night flying; but he wishes people would ask questions about what the tool is; he sees people dialing cell phones in cars every day; and that concerns  him  because  it is  more difficult  than  clicking a  button three  times to get  particular lighting to come on and off.  Mr. Coleman stated the master plan is a great plan; there has been a lot of compromise; and there are some things he wishes were in the plan, but are not.  He stated he is in full support of the plan; and urged the Board to ask the experts any questions it has on lighting, as they are not lights that are going to bring night flying to the area.

 

Jim Shimkus stated most of the Board knows he was the previous airport manager at Valkaria Airport for seven years, from August 1998 to August 2005; and he has had a 39-year aviation career, including airports at Marathon and Key West, which were both commercial airports.  He stated he is in support of the master plan update; he has reviewed the master plan and the executive summary; the preferred development plan in the master plan is the result of a lengthy and difficult process that deeply involved all of the stakeholders; and he does not believe anyone was excluded.  He noted the working groups identified issues affecting both the airport and the community; key issues involved airport operational safety, facilities maintenance, sustainability, airport growth that meets the real demands while not infringing on the rural residential atmosphere of the community, and airport financial well being and independence; and he can only wish he had a plan such as being presented tonight for him to work with during his tenure as the airport manager.  He noted there is nothing really new in the master plan update that is being presented; all of the safety concerns and other issues listed in this master plan update have been previously identified by him as the airport manager; however, he was prevented from addressing and resolving them because of the political climate that prevailed during his seven years as the airport manager; and he was only allowed to correct safety and environmental conditions that were directed by law and regulations.  He stated this resulted in an unplanned and haphazard approach to approving airport operational safety, facilities maintenance, and the financial health of the airport, which is a difficult way to manage it.  He advised during his tenure the airport budget was barely able to provide funding to sustain routine daily operations; no retained earnings were available for any airport projects; and attempts to provide additional revenues for the airport by the construction of more T-hangars or privately funded hangars were all denied by the Board of County Commissioners during his tenure.  He asked the Board to remember the Valkaria Airport was given to Brevard County by the federal government; and stated the airport is included as a part of the National Transportation Plan.  He stated the Board, as the steward of Valkaria Airport, has the responsibility to operate and maintain the airport for the benefit of all the citizens, not only in Brevard County, but the State of Florida and the nation.  He stated the adoption and implementation of the airport master plan update and the preferred development plan it contains will enable the Board to meet its responsibilities and obligations to Valkaria Airport; and the plan as presented, in his expert opinion, meets the safety, maintenance, growth, environmental, and financial concerns of the airport without the need for any ad valorem taxes, and without impacting the livability of the surrounding community.  He stated the Board has the duty to support this Brevard County asset; Valkaria Airport has been neglected for far too long; it is time for a positive change and direction; and urged the Board to adopt this plan and also to direct staff to implement its contents.

 

Nancy Ritter stated she is the chief flight instructor for Flight Safety Academy operating out of Vero Beach; and she is representing the views and opinions of the very top management of Flight Safety, down to the student pilots, who use the airport for training.  She noted Flight Safety recognizes the effort and quality of the studies completed by FIT that are included in the master plan; Flight Safety supports all safety related improvements outlined in the plan; and it sees nearly the entire plan as an overall improvement in safety alone.  She stated the airport lighting as recommended would not cause Flight Safety to increase the number of operations at Valkaria Airport; it would only increase the safety of the operations it currently does; and Vero Beach Airport has visual aids and a completely lit airport at night.  Ms. Ritter noted there is not anyone at Flight Safety who is not currently working on another certificate; almost all of the night flying involved in students earning a certificate involves operations at tower controlled airports with the tower being operated; and Flight Safety would not see a reason to train at night even if it could use its aircraft to land at an airport that did not have runway and taxi lights.  She stated one concern Flight Safety notices regarding the master plan is that it has heard comments regarding flight training operations; the term “general aviation” does not include flight training as it does in the advisory circular used to create the master plan itself; whether that was intentional or not, it is time to realize that a very large part of the operations at Valkaria Airport are and will continue to be flight training operations; and instead of trying to discourage it or turn it into something it is not, Flight Safety would want to do what it can for the current operations to be the safest, most efficient, most profitable, and the most agreeable to everybody.  She advised Flight Safety supports the adoption of Valkaria Airport’s master plan in its entirety.

 

Commissioner Scarborough inquired why Flight Safety does not use the airport at Vero Beach and instead comes into Valkaria Airport.  Ms. Ritter responded when training people for a certificate, it has to be shown that they can get in and out of a variety of operations; Vero Beach Airport is a tower controlled airport; if they only trained at Vero Beach Airport, it would not be able to certify a pilot that was qualified to go somewhere else; and some requirements are for local orientation.  She noted Flight Safety makes sure its students use all local airports as much as possible within the realm of making sure they can enter and exit correctly at a variety of airports.  Commissioner Scarborough inquired if there is any other reason why Valkaria Airport seems to be becoming an airport of choice for training students; with Ms. Ritter responding Flight Safety has not noticed an increase in division between Sebastian, Vero Beach, Valkaria, and Melbourne, more or less so than any of its past records would dictate.  Ms. Ritter noted the number of students increased to its maximum right before 911; the number of students is again on the rise; however, there is no impetus to try to use Valkaria Airport any more or less than it is currently doing.

 

Douglas Morrison stated he is the past president of MAPA, the Melbourne Area Pilots Association; and he represents hundreds of pilots in the group’s membership.  He stated he is proud to stand before the Board as a pilot and offer his services in Angel Flights; he has given his time, airplane, and all expenses for patients who cannot afford flights to get to the medical care they desperately need; and he makes that same offer to everyone in the room.  He stated he will volunteer his time, plane, and expenses so that some of the people who have been before the Board tonight with such gross misinformation can find out what the facts are, if they are really interested in getting to the real facts; and he does not think they are.  He noted runway lights and PAPI’s are vastly different; they are not really lights at all, as they are guidance procedures for safety; and he would welcome those people in his plane to show them that.  He stated he means no disrespect for the Board or Mr. Borowski, but Valkaria Airport is a disgrace; it has been a disgrace for 20 years or more; other people have urged the Board to act tonight on the master plan; and he would suggest the Board has a duty to act tonight on the master plan and make Valkaria Airport an asset everyone can be proud of.

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired if Angel Flights usually transfer someone from a hospital to another medical facility; with Mr. Morrison responding he has three people right now who live in the Valkaria area that are awaiting transplants; he is on 24-hour call so that when they have to go to Shands or Miami, he is ready; and when they get a call, they have four hours to get there.  He noted rather than have people drive to Melbourne, which is an airport he would feel much safer flying out of, he meets them at the Valkaria Airport to make sure the organ does not die before they get there.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if he meets them at Valkaria Airport even without lights; with Mr. Morrison responding if he had to, yes he would, to save a person’s life.

 

Dr. Elizabeth Hancock stated she is a member of MAPA, board certified in family practice, board eligible in disaster medicine, a former U.S. Army flight surgeon, a private pilot with an instrument rating, a designated FAA aviation medical examiner, and a representative of the FAA safety team.  She noted her credentials are much less than many of the women and gentlemen who have spoken before her, but she thought she would offer them up to show where she is coming from; as an FAA medical examiner and a safety team member representative, her job is to promote aviation safety and identify the risks that are associated with aviation; to properly execute her duties she interacts daily with pilots across the United States, either on the phone or in person; and as a private pilot she needs to know that she is safe in the air as well as on the ground.  She noted one concern in aviation is the safety of the runways to include the lighting systems; as an example, when she used to fly into PAFB to perform the required night time VFR flights and landings, she frequently had to ask the tower to turn the lights on because she could not see the runway; once the lights were on she could come around to the end of the runway to the approach end, then follow the guidance safety lights; and that is a very important safety issue.  She advised at the Valkaria Airport it is difficult to identify the airport at night, much less a runway itself; at night, the airport is basically a black hole surrounded by other black stuff; a pilot almost has to find it by Braille; and if there is not something like a beacon there, a pilot will not be able to find or see the airport.  She stated she had an incident happen to her while coming from south of Valkaria trying to get to the Melbourne Airport; she basically had an electrical failure in the plane she was in, which made it imperative that she land immediately; and unfortunately she did not know the Valkaria Airport and it was extremely difficult for her to get into it and make a safe landing.  She stated a pilot has to have situational awareness when flying; they need to be able to identify and locate an alternative airport should an emergency in flight or weather situation develop; a pilot must be able to divert to another airport; a pilot not planning to go to Valkaria Airport, may be forced to do so as she was; and if the pilot is not familiar with Valkaria Airport, it is very important to identify it with the help of beacons and runways with some kind of lighting system.  She stated the lighting system being proposed would be unobtrusive; it would only be seen from the air; and it would not interfere with anyone on the ground.  She noted after a long flight at night she welcomes the little flashing lights that tell her she has come home safely; by following the master plan as it is proposed, safety will be promoted; without it, safety will be jeopardized; and therefore she respectively asks that the Board allow the master plan to go forward as proposed and approve it as presented.

 

Commissioner Scarborough inquired how Dr. Hancock would know she could activate the lights at Valkaria Airport; with Dr. Hancock responding if the lights were on a click system a pilot would know that by looking at the airport facilities guide that every pilot should be carrying with them; the guide tells pilots what kind of lighting facilities are available and how to activate the lighting if it is a self-activating system; and a pilot would know if a tower is operational.  Commissioner Scarborough stated a  pilot  would have to acquaint  him or herself with the guide because in an emergency situation there is not the time to think about it.  Dr. Hancock stated there is not a lot of time to think about, but a pilot needs to know what airports are in the direction.  Commissioner Scarborough inquired if pilots prepare themselves for those types of events; with Dr. Hancock responding yes.

 

Ramsey Agarie stated he does not agree with the Town of Grant-Valkaria’s position on the master plan; and the Town does not represent his interests.  He advised he has a degree in airport management; he is a commercial, multi-engine instrument rated pilot and soon to be an airline pilot; and he supports the master plan in its entirety.  He stated eight years ago he soloed his first flight at Valkaria Airport; he is here because Valkaria Airport is here; if a runway is not lighted, he will not use it; and it is not a smart thing to do, nor is it safe.  He noted there is nothing to be afraid of with the master plan; safety lights such as a beacon, a PAPI, or just simple excellent visual guidance allow pilots to locate the airport and maintain a glide path that is suitable for a safe landing.  He stated in the news lately it has been reported there is a shortage of pilots; the other day Northwest had to cancel over 200 flights; and therefore, airports are needed, as they serve a purpose for youths such as himself who want to be professional pilots.  He advised he has attended all 14 public meetings; the master plan is the result of all of the input; he does not think any stakeholders are omitted; and it is impossible to please everyone.  He noted he remembers Dr. Barker asking if everyone in the audience could hear him before every meeting; no one responded; and if someone could not hear they should have said something.  He stated the Board’s own staff, Sheriff Department, Mosquito Control, and Fire Department all utilize the airport; and he knows because he works at the airport and he sees them all the time.  He stated currently the airport is not in a suitable condition to serve the residents of the County; and he requested the Board to move forward with this sound capital improvement plan to keep Valkaria Airport a safe and enjoyable recreational airport.

 

Victor Archibald stated he is the Assistant Chief pilot for Silver State helicopters.  He stated Silver State uses Valkaria Airport, as well as Titusville and other airports; some people would like the Board to believe Silver State only uses Valkaria Airport, but they do not; and they have tried to adjust their patterns to alleviate some of the noise complaints.  He noted he agrees that implementing the lighting systems will not affect Silver State; they will still fly into Valkaria Airport during the day; it is not intended for them to use it at night; and they will not use it at night.  He stated he does not use the runways, as he does not have to set down on them; he does not need them for his safety, but they are needed for the fixed-wing safety; the airport also needs the VASI’s, which are a guide that does not light up the sky or block the stars; and student pilots need that reference.  He stated Silver State does not go to Valkaria Airport after 7:30 p.m.; his pilots are generally down by 8:00 p.m.; and the pilot who had the electrical failure was very fortunate that she got in there without any lights at all.  He stated he heard someone mention REIL’s blind the pilots; inquired if that is the case, why does the Air Force have them; and advised if they were a bad thing the Air Force would not use them.  He stated he knows a big concern is the helicopter noise; he would ask the Board not to take that into consideration for approving the master plan; and that is a battle for another day.  He advised the helicopter noise will not change with or without the master plan and Silver State will still use the airport.

 

Commissioner Scarborough stated there is helicopter training in Titusville; there was intense discussion about the routes the helicopters took; and inquired if there is a way to avoid any homes in the process of training, and if there has been a discussion about how there can be less intrusion over homes.  Mr. Archibald responded Silver State is already doing that; and a lot of their operations have to be done at an airport with hard surfaces for safety reasons. 

 

Commissioner Scarborough stated when flying into an airport there are some obligations to follow certain flight patterns that are not intrusive; and inquired if Mr. Archibald can help the Board.  Mr. Archibald stated Silver State has done several things; they have adjusted all of their patterns; and he can show the Board what Silver State has done to adjust their patterns to alleviate as much as possible.  He noted all of the instructors use dirt roads west of Palm Bay when they are working on traffic patterns and radio calls with the students; the only time they use an airport is when they have specific maneuvers in simulated engine failures and auto rotations; and certain things have to be done at a facility where there is a hard surface in case there is an incident.  He stated what can be moved to other places is moved to other places; and they only use the local airports for what they have to do on airports.

 

Lisa Brown stated she is speaking on behalf of Silver State Helicopters Flight Academy and the CEO.  She stated Silver State is looking forward to the improvements that will be made at the Valkaria Airport according to the master plan; these improvements do not mean they will be using the airport more; what they mean is increased safety for everyone; and Silver State is all about safety.  She noted Silver State is the only training facility invited to be on the International Safety Committee for Helicopters Association Incorporated; Silver State has the best safety record in the industry; and they fly more hours per month than the U.S. Army.  She stated in addition, Silver State Helicopters has donated more services to humanitarian efforts than the rest of the helicopter industry combined; two years ago Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and Silver State Helicopters provided humanitarian relief; and now they are training students for the future to become air ambulance pilots, search and rescue, firefighting pilots, agriculture pilots, and even Hollywood pilots.  She noted she would sincerely hope that those opposed to their flight training and the improvements at the airport would never need emergency services such as their’s; but it would bring peace of mind to know the pilots have been trained by the best and in the safest manner at the safest airports; and to set minds at ease, Silver State is not moving its Melbourne flight academy to Valkaria.  She stated it does not compliment the integrity of the adversarial people to insult the company and pass judgment when they are making false allegations; Silver State truly cares about the residents and neighbors at Grant-Valkaria and Malabar; and they have even met with the Airport Manager and Assistant Count Attorney on several occasions and have invited them to their weekly staff meetings to discuss some of the allegations that were made.  She noted Silver State has made changes in the patterns at Valkaria Airport based on the residents’ complaints and concerns; they do not fly into Valkaria Airport as often as they could; and they have made many concessions because they want to be good neighbors. 

 

Arthur Irvine stated he is the president of the Valkaria Aviation Association; he has been at the Valkaria Airport since the first hangar building was built in May of 1995; and he has been involved and aware of issues and the fighting at the airport, off the airport, and in front of many Commission meetings.  He stated he is asking the Board to approve the master plan; the aviation community and the surrounding community are asking for leadership, decisiveness, and thoughtful consideration in the future; and he was glad to hear one gentleman say he moved close to the airport because of the airport.  He stated he would also like for people who are considering buying land to be made aware that there is an airport in the vicinity; they would have an opportunity to look at what the future could be for the airport; and then they can decide they want move further away.  He advised people need information; there are a lot of things that cannot be controlled with or without a master plan in terms of what happens in the air because of federal law; the  people in  the South County need some understanding of where the airport is going; and urged the Board to approve the master plan so that everyone has some basis for decision making.

 

Dave Reich stated he lives in Ft. Lauderdale; he is a private pilot and an airframe and power plan mechanic inspector; he flies throughout the State of Florida to visit family; and he flies into Valkaria Airport to get fuel.  He stated when his family went to the airport for the open house they were amazed to see the number of people that came out and how much fun they were having; the airport needs to be improved to be safe and viable; the airport has been there longer than most residents in the County; and he asked the Board to pass the master plan as proposed to keep Valkaria Airport a safe and viable community airport for present and future generations and Brevard County.

 

David Lehr stated he is a 50-plus year pilot with 23,000 hours; all of the points about the lighting are valid; and he will not speak to those issues because he thinks it is cut and dry that the lighting is a necessary factor.  He noted as a long-term flight instructor having worked for FIT he can assure the Board FIT is always concerned about flight training bothering residents; many times as an assistant director at the airport facility he would be sent out to talk to residents individually to find out how to avoid air space in their development; and FIT is concerned about how their airplanes are operated and how the public perceives them.  He advised he supports the plan and the Board should adopt it.

 

Jim Soldini stated he would like to congratulate the Board and thank it for bending over backwards to get the community input with 14 chances to get input from all sides; he has never seen a government that was so interested in its voters; and he also congratulates the Board for the high quality of people it put on the airport advisory board.  He stated he is guessing the reason people are against the lighting is because they do not want the airport to be accessible at night because they will be up all night with all the air traffic over their house; but when the residents want to sleep, the pilots want to sleep; and pilots do not train at midnight.  He noted the residents may have difficulty not being pilots and not understanding how important some of the safety features are; he would ask those residents to imagine they are flying a commercial airliner to visit their family and then pulling into the airport with bad weather conditions, then maybe they can understand how they would hope the lights would be there for the pilot; and that is how the pilots feel about it.  He stated the Disney Corporation made a movie called Dumbo Drop; they searched around for where they could find a Third World airport; and they realized they had such an airport at Valkaria.  He advised the master plan is only trying to make the Valkaria Airport a little safer; and he hopes the Board approves the master plan.  He advised the master plan as submitted does not cost the County a dollar; all match money is provided 100 percent by airport revenues; by following the plan, the airport becomes profitable in a year; and in three years the airport will generate $100,000 a year in revenue for the rest of its existence.  He stated the lack of a master plan has been costing Brevard County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in federal and State airport funds; it is money that is desperately needed for safety and infrastructure upgrades; and the plan will bring the airport up from its current state of disrepair to a safe operating state, protecting pilots who use it and the surrounding community. 

 

The Board recessed from 10:25 p.m. to 10:31 p.m.

 

Steve Kirkpatrick stated he is the Wing Commander at Patrick Air Force Base; he is a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve; and he is in charge of about 1,300 people.  He stated he is concerned about Valkaria Airport, as he is about all of the airports in Brevard County; safety is very important to him; he has flown for his entire career, which is 23 years; he has flown F16’s, B-52’s, C-130’s, helicopters; and he has 7,000 hours of civil time as well.  He noted Valkaria Airport is listed as an emergency airfield for the Air Force; if the Air Force has an emergency, Valkaria Airport is a place for them to land; he lets his helicopters land there only in very extreme situations; and the Air Force does not want to cause any noise in the area.  He stated he does not allow his C-130’s to land there because it is an inadequate air field for what he needs to do; he lets them land at Merritt Island, Melbourne, and other locations, but not Valkaria Airport; Valkaria Airport does not have the proper lighting or the taxiways; and it is inadequate for the needs of the military.  He advised that is the reason the FAA wants to pay for the master plan; from a military perspective, it is responsible for the welfare of the community as well; and it wants to be mission partners with Brevard County and others to make sure it does its mission.  He stated he is charged to do combat search and rescue, but they also do civil search and rescue; they have saved a lot of people out of the Atlantic Ocean recently; and they work with the Coast Guard to do that.  He stated it is important to have viable airports in the area for military use; and if a hurricane comes through the area, it is his job is to rescue people.  He noted that can happen in the Grant-Valkaria area and he may need to stage out of Valkaria Airport; if the improvements are not made on the airfield, he cannot do his operation; and it is a federal responsibility for him to do that.  He noted the master plan will make Valkaria Airport a viable airport the Air Force can use; and Patrick Air Force Base can deploy to people who need help. 

 

Chairperson Colon thanked Mr. Kirkpatrick for serving the Country.  Commissioner Bolin stated she lives next to Patrick Air Force Base and the noise is beautiful; and that is a sound of freedom to her.

 

Fran Putnam stated she lives in the flight path of the Valkaria Airport; thanked the Board for taking the time to listen to both sides of the issues; and advised that includes the residents, the pilots, and all of the constituents.  She stated she attended the master plan meetings at FIT; she understands some of the different things people have talked about; but as a resident of Grant-Valkaria she was taken aback by some of the comments made by Mr. Zonka.  She stated Mr. Zonka made a reference to the Town Council members’ speaking as a waste of the Board’s time; and Mr. Zonka referred to himself as the master-plan-guy.  She stated she believes the VAAB and FIT initially looked at Grant-Valkaria having issues and opposing everything in the master plan; and she does not think the VAAB or FIT really looked at what the residents had to say.  She stated the residents never requested closing of the Valkaria Airport; the residents strongly support the local pilots; she has friends who do Angel Flights; and she has done volunteer work with them herself.  She added the residents also support the safety issues; at the master plan meeting she suggested to Dr. Barker that FIT should hold some community workshops; and she suggested the residents meet with the pilots at the airport to show the residents some of the issues.  She stated the Board has heard a lot of personal opinions regarding the Valkaria Airport, its management, FIT, and the master plan; but those are irrelevant to the decision at hand this evening; and the Board’s responsibility is to the County taxpayers.  She noted the current plan for the airport is to have little or no growth and stabilize what is there; but the master plan has a different view of what the airport should be in 10 to 20 years; and it does not reflect the views of the County or support the concept of a neighborhood airport as directed by the  Commissioners.  She  stated she would like to read  some excerpts to the Board from some early discussions in County Commission meetings, from 1999 and 2000; Commissioner Voltz stated, “It is the policy of the Board that Valkaria Airport will be a recreational use airport operated safely at the current level of service and activity with no planned growth or expansion”; and Commissioner Scarborough stated, “Valkaria has to be viewed strictly as a recreational airport if it is necessary to subsidize it to have a good operation, why should not the County subsidize it for the pilots and homeowners much like a boat launching facility are subsidized.”  Ms. Putnam stated Commissioner Scarborough then stated, “The Board owes it to the people to make things run smoothly.”  She stated the residents requested the Board keep its commitment to maintain control of the airport as a limited use recreational facility; and she recommends working to find a common ground to keep this a neighborhood airport, which can be supported by the community and the pilots.  She noted airport lighting seems to be a primary concern of residents of the surrounding towns of Grant-Valkaria and Malabar; the Commission has made it clear that airport lighting and night flights were not part of their future plans for the airport; yet, the master plan specifically calls for lighting of runways; and Jim Stone and Dale Yonts spoke in detail on that subject.  She advised Section 752 of the master plan indicates the model developed by FIT classifies all BCMC operations as night operations; and it also includes an additional three percent of traffic growth in night operations.  She stated they feel justifiable by indicating that noise levels will be 65dB, which is the upper threshold of acceptable community noise; noted a study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council states that the noise threshold of 65dB that the FAA has set as compatible with residential use is problematic because it is based on an averaging noise, rather than a loud, single, event; and it underestimates the level at which many people are annoyed or impacted by aircraft noise.  She stated she has never made a complaint about the noise; she gets a lot of noise, especially from the helicopters; and although it may be an issue, it is not the primary concern.  She advised another concern is pollution; noise tends to dominate debates over airport pollution often to the exclusion of another important topic, which is ground level air emissions; and that has not been discussed whatsoever, nor is it addressed in the master plan.  She stated there are also questions of what will be the effects on the scrub jays and the local environment; ground level emissions is the primary component of smog and is normally associated with motor vehicles and industrial sources; however, air pollution totals from automobiles and other major industries has stabilized or decreased over the years.  She stated with increased traffic at Valkaria Airport that will also be an increase; and she would like to see a study on what they think that increasing the traffic is going to affect in that sense. 

 

Chairperson Colon noted she gave Ms. Putman extra time.

 

Francis Herr stated the Board hired an expert consultant; the consultant held 14 meetings; he attended six or seven of those meetings; the consultant also attended and was part of the VAAB meetings; and the consultant did what the Board asked him to do.  He noted the consultant met the letter of the law, if not the intent, as others are trying to say; some of the residents are asking the Board not to look behind the curtain; what they are trying to do is get the Board’s eyes off of the target; and the target is that there is a technical plan that has been put together.  He noted the technical plan resolves safety issues; there are no issues with safety at Merritt Island or Arthur Dunn Airport; and there are also no issues with safety at Melbourne Airport and TICO.  He noted all of those airports have lighting in common; people should try to drive down the interstate at 7:00 p.m. and turn their lights off; the headlights guide people; and they are not doing anything more than making people safe.  He stated 75 mph is the speed when a pilot is approaching the runway; it is a three degree glide slope; and pilots are trying to do it  without  hitting the  trees or disturbing the neighbors.  He  stated  the only indication a pilot has that he is getting ready to land is that the runway is getting bigger; the pilot has to look at the altimeter; and he or she has to look at the guide slope.  Mr. Herr noted the PAPI lights help pilots estimate the glide slope better; if it is pink a pilot is good, if it is white a pilot is high, if it is red a pilot is low; and if a pilot does not have that indication, he or she is going to give the plane power at the last minute and maybe pull up.  He advised there has been one fatality and two wrecks at the Valkaria Airport in the last year and a half or so; and the pilots need the lights and the safety.  He stated there have been very few technical arguments; the discussion has all been obfuscation; some of the residents have tried to get the Board’s eyes off of the ball and get it to look at the past; and they want business as usual.  He stated he knows for a fact that one of the Council members from Grant-Valkaria who spoke, and the Mayor, have a second agenda; their agenda is to keep the airport like it was or keep it less; and they do not want the airport to grow.  He stated the airport is there; helicopters show up without the master plan; the pilots are going to use the airport without the master plan; and he believes it is the Board’s duty to keep the airport safe so the pilots can be safe.  He stated he is a student of flying with 350 hours, 950 landings, and 34 airports in four states; he has 2,000 hours as a navigator in the Air Force; he understands he needs to learn every time he flies; and it is nice when he takes his wife with him and she does not close her eyes when about to land because she does not understand if they are at the right height or altitude.  He stated he likes to fly with his wife; and he also likes to come home afterwards.  He stated he is asking the Board to keep him safe, keep his wife safe, and keep the other pilots in the area safe; and that is what the master plan does.

 

Mark Lenhart stated he moved to Brevard County four years ago; the proximity to the Valkaria Airport is one of the reasons he chose to move to Palm Bay, because he is a pilot; and he was told there was a waiting list for a hangar of over 100 people and at the rate hangars were being built, it would take at least 10 years to get one.  He noted fortunately a couple years later he was able to become partners with a gentleman who already owned an airplane and had a hangar at Valkaria Airport; now, he is a proud airplane owner and hangar tenant at Valkaria Airport; and as such, he has been flying quite a bit.  He stated he has flown at a lot of airports around the country; but he was amazed at some of the safety concerns that exist at Valkaria Airport.  He noted two primary concerns for him are the lack of taxiways on the runways that force pilots to back-taxi on the runways; it is a very unsafe situation as other airplanes could be waiting to come in; and if they do not visually see him on the runway or hear his transmission on the radio, they could attempt to land while he is on the runway and create a potential collision.  He advised the other concern he has is the lack of any lighting aids to facilitate landings; he is referring to daytime landings in addition to nighttime landings; and pilots depend on lights like the ones proposed in the master plan to improve the safety of landings even during daylight operations.  He stated he strongly supports the master plan; and requested the Board vote to move forward with the master plan and implement it as soon as possible.  He stated he uses his airplane primarily for recreation and travel much as people use their cars; there are times when he may need to get back to Valkaria Airport when the light is diminishing or in the beginning stages of darkness; and without any of the recommended lighting systems available it is a very dangerous situation to attempt to land at Valkaria Airport.  He advised he feels strongly that these are very important safety improvements that need to be made at Valkaria Airport; and it will make the airport a strong asset that benefits all the residents of Brevard County.

 

Karen Duerbeck stated she is a native of Brevard County and grew up in Valkaria; she graduated from FIT with an engineering degree; and presently she works on flight hardware for various aircraft.  She advised  she is the daughter and granddaughter of a pilot; her dad flies out of Valkaria Airport; and his father flew for the Air Force.  Ms. Duerbeck noted her husband is a pilot for a commercial jet; her son is four years old and has a kit plane; and the plan is to put the plane together as a way to spend time together as a family.  She stated she wants her family’s experience at Valkaria Airport to be one that is filled with happy memories and not of tragedy; she is alarmed by all of the concerns she has heard; and she wants to know that the County is doing its part to support the development of the tightly knit communities that are family.  She stated the Board has done the right thing by hiring the right people; she went to FIT and can attest it has some of the finest talent in the industry; she can walk into any company nationwide and be equal to her peers because of the education she received at FIT; FIT gives back to the community; and this master plan is one way of giving back to the community.  She urged the Board to approve the master plan as it stands today.

 

Anne Metcalf stated she is concerned with the safety of the pilots who use the Valkaria Airport and the safety of her dad, who is also a pilot; it seems to her the Board has contracted with the experts to come up with a master plan; and it seems to have been thoroughly researched and developed in such a way that the safety deficits can be resolved.  She stated she would like to ask the Board to approve the master plan in its entirety.

 

Eric Locke stated he is here to further address the issue of the airport lighting; it seems to be the most contentious, yet the most important aspect of the master plan; and he would like to be able to address both the specifics with regard to the design safety.  He noted he has heard enough examples as to why lighting is needed; he has a 13-state responsibility for one of the leading manufacturers in the United States for this type of lighting equipment; and that includes power controlled and computer controlled systems.  He noted over the last 10 years he has had an exposure of one level or another to every civilian or military airport upgrade project in the region; and he strongly agrees that airport lighting for the area is an important feature for the growth of the area.  He stated the industry is driven by guidelines from the FAA; the FAA indicates to his company what the safety requirements are for the design and development of products; nothing his company builds is outside the guidelines of the FAA requirements; and the full product package offered by companies like his to support the airfield industry are designed to meet the safety requirements of the FAA guidelines that were given.  He stated he has heard the issues of the beacon, PAPI’s and REIL’s discussed in general terms; the lights are not only used for nighttime operation, but for daytime safety operations as well; he follows trends in the industry very carefully; and in order to comply with FAA requirements, REIL’s are becoming a standard feature on most airfields, both military and civilian.  He stated what he has not heard is that the lights are radio controllable; and they are either off or on.  He stated even when they are on, lights like the REIL’s are controllable with different light outputs; and the pilots can bring the lights up or down depending on the weather conditions.  He stated the beacon can also be radio controlled; he is seeing an increase in use of both REIL’s, and PAPI’s; and he would strongly suggest that if safety is a priority for the continuing operation of the Valkaria Airport, these type of products should be used at the airport.

 

Michael Hoffman distributed information to the Board.  He stated he lives in the vicinity of the Valkaria Airport; he believes the Valkaria Airport, in its current operational level as public recreational use, is an asset to the community; he bought his house in the area because of the level of use and the general attraction to the airport and golf course; and he thinks it is compatible with the spirit of Grant-Valkaria.  He stated his children have enjoyed the Young Eagles program that some of the pilots have put on; he supports the safe, daytime operations; and  he  supports  the  PAPI  system  for  the  use  of  daytime use.   He  stated  his  concern  in reviewing the master plan is primarily on the issue of the lighting that would lead to nighttime operation; and the plan recommends the addition of a rotating beacon along with lights at the beginning and end of the runway.  Mr. Hoffman noted an Internet search of rotating beacons for airport use describes it as follows, “An airport rotating beacon is used primarily for night operations at airports as an identification and location marker.”  He stated the lights at the beginning and end of the runway would also confirm in his mind that the master plan is attempting to transition the airport from its primary recreational day use to supporting expanded nighttime operations; the statement, “helipad/helicopter servicing area and solar-powered light” also concerns him because the helicopters are significantly noisier than the single-engine aircraft; he does not mind the activity during the day; but as a local resident he does not want to be disturbed late at night or in the evenings.  He stated he is opposed to the significant interests solicited outside the Grant-Valkaria area; another Internet search found www.flyincalendar.com with a flyer requesting help in saving Valkaria Airport; it listed a fly-in with contact information for Steve Borowski; and he finds the statement inflammatory and biased since he does not believe the discussion is about saving the airport.  He noted during the County Commission meeting held in January 2006, the Commissioners specifically stated the lighting for nighttime operation and commercialization would not be the intent of the master plan; and as the records show, it was particularly articulated by Commissioner Voltz and reiterated by other members of the Commission at that time.  He stated he is also concerned about the potential significant Brevard tax dollars that may be spent on the airport; the master plan financials indicate that Brevard County alone would be spending an additional $566,000 over the next five years; and this assumes the other $3,481,000 is secured from the federal, State, and other sources.  He stated Melbourne Airport is currently underutilized and has more than sufficient capacity to service the commercial and nighttime flying operational needs of Brevard County.  He stated he respectfully requests the Commission uphold the promises made to the Grant-Valkaria area on the matter and that the language in the master plan be of such nature that local residents and County Officials do not have to constantly be revisiting this topic.  He noted items in the master plan he might support would be safety related for day use; the golf course access is a good thing; he can understand additional T-hangars to support some of the additional demand for the local pilots; and the taxiway for safety purposes would also be a good thing, as well as the PAPI system for day use.  He stated he would like to see safeguards to prevent excessive growth and nighttime operations. 

 

*Chairperson Colon’s absence was noted at this time.

 

Walter Hewitt stated he has lived in Palm Bay for 10 years; prior to that, he lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and that is where he started a flying club.  He noted his flying club started out with eight people wanting to promote aviation; the flying club grew to 175 members at a private airport; and the flying club grew to the point that a scholarship was started for young kids in school.  He noted today, that club has brought forth 14 young kids; four of those kids are now flying in the Air Force; three of the kids are flying commercial airlines; and the others are doing various other things in aviation and aerospace.  He stated Valkaria Airport is a disgrace to Brevard County; his flying club had more safety facilities at the private airport in Iowa than Valkaria Airport does; and it is time for the County to do what it should have been doing for the last 20 years in supporting the airport.  He stated passing the master plan as it is written is the first step; and there is a lot more that needs to be done.

 

Commissioner Bolin stated she is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and she remembers the airport being a run down cornfield.  Mr. Hewitt stated the airport he is referring to came out of that cornfield.

 

Jim Tonti stated a statement in the master plan states there are five airports in the service area and Valkaria Airport ranks last in an analysis of attractiveness; the statement reads, “As a consequence, Valkaria Airport attracts a smaller market share of based aircraft, large and complex aircraft and transient flight operations”; that is what some residents want, which is a low-market share; and the master plan also states, “it is the lack of prominence that attracts many transient and based pilots to Valkaria Airport.”  He stated the plan has some things in it that will make it a more prominent and popular airport; and he thinks that is a big problem, as it is not what was promised.  He stated he would encourage the Board to learn more about the PAPI and REIL lighting that Mr. Stone mentioned and make a scientific and accurate judgment.  He noted 50,000 operations per-year is what the master plan predicts; that equals 11 operations per hour with 12 hours per-day; that is roughly one operation every five minutes; and that is a scary amount of traffic and he hopes the airport does not grow to be that big.

 

Vickie Thomas stated there was never a problem with the noise issue at Valkaria Airport until recently; there are problems with the helicopters; and it has impacted her when she goes outside and hears the helicopters instead of birds.  She noted the master plan stated that 80 percent of the traffic at Valkaria Airport is touch-and-go; they seem to be doing circles at the north end of Malabar; and it is affecting herself and her neighbors.  She stated the noise is a combination of daytime and nighttime flying; and the decibel level is just considering daytime levels.  She advised she is friendly toward aviators; she has aviators in her family; she has flown many times herself; she has worked for two legacy carriers; she has flown across the pond over a thousand times; and she is impacted by air traffic safety.  She noted she is not against the pilots, she is just concerned about the airport expanding; and like many of her neighbors, she is concerned about the helicopters that fly so low some of the pilots have actually waved to her. 

 

John Carpenter stated he is a pilot and a tenant at Valkaria Airport; he is also a volunteer at the Air Fest that was held last year; and he has attended many of the meetings.  He stated the Board created a Valkaria Airport Advisory Board which formed a general consensus opinion; not everybody was unanimous; but it is a process of what is good for the community and the majority of the people; and he leaves it in the hands of the experts to the specific details of the plan.  He stated he believes the plan overall addresses everybody’s concerns; everyone had input; there are extremes one way who do not want anything; and there are extremes that fall the other way, which he tends to fall that way.  He stated he would like full lighting; he does not think full lighting is going to increase his use; but if he wants to do night practices he is either going to go to Sebastian or Melbourne; and his plane will have to sit there overnight even though he is paying rent at Valkaria Airport.  He stated he thinks there have been more than enough meetings to decide if it is the right plan or not the right plan; he thinks it is the right plan as it went through public input and the experts and the aviation board; and he believes the plan is going to help bring the airport up to a safety level that makes it more useful.  He stated he hopes the Board accepts the master plan as presented.

 

*Chairperson Colon’s presence was noted at this time.

 

Mike Whaley distributed information to the Board; stated he is a student sport pilot and the Co-chairman of the Valkaria Air Fest and Open House, which was a community aviation event held last February; and he supports the master plan in its entirety.  He advised he attended all but one of the meetings dealing with the master plan; and there has been ample opportunity for input on all sides.  He noted when the Air Fest was scheduled, 250 people were expected; several thousand people showed up; it was impressive to hear from people who said they enjoyed being at the airport; and he did not hear anything negative at the time.  He stated 94 percent of the people surveyed had a favorable view of the airport; 96 percent said the airport was an asset to the community; nobody said it was not an asset; and he thought that was very telling.  He noted two-thirds of the people surveyed said they wanted improvements made to the airport; 81 percent felt the airport should attract some small businesses; and he does not think anyone envisions anything disruptive to the community.  He stated virtually everybody surveyed had a favorable view of the general aviation that goes on at the airport; 94 percent said they wanted to come back to other events at the airport; the demographic is evenly split between pilots and non-flyers; three-fourths of the people surveyed were from central or south Brevard; and those are the taxpayers who have to support the airport now because it is not self-sufficient.  He stated it is shameful that a small handful of people who are working against the needs of the community have hijacked the process for the past 20 years; a lot of opportunities have been squandered to support the airport and get it in the shape where it can work in harmony with the whole community; and instead, a lot of acrimony has been created.  He advised he believes the plan will fix a lot of that, if not all of it; it is obscene to ask pilots to fly risky nighttime missions protecting citizens from criminals, wildfires, and mosquito borne illness and then tell them they cannot have the equipment to do their job safely.  He stated it is ridiculous for anyone to say they did not have their say after 14 public meetings and an open house; and rather than admit they did not participate, they are here to try to undo all of the work.  He advised he has never seen FIT treat anybody unfairly; and he commends Dr. Barker and everyone else who worked on the master plan.  He noted there have been a lot of accusations against Mr. Borowski and FIT; some criminal things have been said; and he would like the Board to take action on anything in its purview that it can do to stop the accusations and to stop the mistreatment of County staff. 

 

Joseph McClure stated he operates aircraft out of the Valkaria Airport; he has been in the community for more than 20 years as a professional; and he would like to congratulate the Board on the choice of Dr. Barker from FIT.  He stated he hopes the Board passes the master plan; and he supports the plan in its entirety. 

 

Ron Stillwell stated he loves to fly; and he is appreciative that the Board’s condolences and sympathy were not directed to his family earlier this evening with regards to the firefighter.  He stated he is the pilot who crashed four weeks ago at Valkaria Airport; and he totaled his aircraft.  He stated his daughter was with him when he was coming in for a landing and did not make it; and they were fortunate and blessed to walk away from what could have been a tragedy for his family.  He stated he would like to ask the Board to vote in favor of the proposed master plan.  He noted the problem on the day of the crash was that he could not find his glide slope; he went around the airport three times to try to find the glide slope; the weather was clear and it was in broad daylight; but he could not find his glide slope; and if he had a PAPI in place as a visual aide to help him get his approach, he believes he would not have crashed.  He stated he will buy another airplane and continue to fly at Valkaria Airport; and he supports the master plan in its entirety.  He advised he and his daughter could have been killed that day; and he feels blessed to be alive. 

 

Chairperson Colon stated she is blessed that Mr. Stillwell is okay after his crash.

 

Candy Stillwell stated she is thankful her husband and daughter are alive; when she drove to the airport all she saw was the tail of his plane; and she found him walking around in a daze and her daughter was in a trailer.  She stated safety visuals are needed at the airport; and the accident would not have happened if the safety visuals would have been there. 

 

Kristin Whaley stated she would like to encourage the Board to accept the master plan as it is; Valkaria Airport is owned by Brevard County; the Board is in charge of making it safe; it is in the bounds of Grant-Valkaria; but if something happens it will fall on the Board.  She noted by accepting the master plan the Board is accepting safety; it is the Board’s duty to represent the people of the community; and this meeting has shown that the vast majority is in full support of the master plan. 

 

Johandre D’Smiferguso stated he is a commercial pilot and a big supporter of the master plan; and he hopes the Board votes in favor of the master plan.  He stated he is a graduate of Embry Riddle and he knows the people of FIT are good people; and he commends them for their hard work.

 

Robert Hood stated he admires the Board for getting as much input as possible.  He stated he lives approximately one mile from the Merritt Island Airport; he has 35 years in aviation; and he was fortunate to go through test pilot school.  He advised he has flown 50 different airplanes; he has some experience he would like to pass along on the importance of safety features that are in the master plan; and he thinks the master plan is a good plan.  He stated the lights are not going to enhance the safety of operations at night in particular; and he would liken the PAPI’s to the importance of traffic lights at an intersection, as they give signals when it is okay to proceed safely.  He noted the lights would have given Mr. Stillwell the advantage of being able to avoid his crash; the same can be said for the runway identifier lights; and they are primarily daytime safety operations.  He urged the Board to support the master plan.

 

LeRoy Rotgers stated he has heard other speakers say the Board mentioned there would be no lights at the airport; he thinks the Board did not realize what a PAPI was; but it was explained that PAPI’s were for safety.  He stated people have talked about growth and population; it was nice in Valkaria when he was only one of five people in the whole town; and now he has to put up with everybody else.  He stated FIT has done a good job of putting a plan together for the Board; the Board has a fantastic Airport Manager; and urged the Board to pass the master plan.  

 

 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated out of respect for the two towns that gave the Board letters, she would like to address the letters.  She stated with the Town of Grant-Valkaria she spent at least five hours there so that the Town could write a letter; and the Town took a lot of deliberation.  She stated the Board has been accused of ignoring one segment of the population; and she does not think the Town listened to the concerns of some of the pilots.  She noted areas of concern for the Town of Grant-Valkaria are increased night activities; that was one of the main concerns she heard; the Town says in its letter that it is an attempt to put things in place to allow 24-hour operations at the airport; there are already 24-hour operations at the airport; and she does not see that as an issue.  Chairperson Colon stated the Board has heard from Silver State and Flight Safety; and neither company is going to use the airport at night.  She stated the Board heard earlier that Mosquito Control would like to have lights.  She advised on the second page of the letter it says, “Any aspect that increases commercial activity should be removed from the master plan”; but the first page of the letter said the Town supported T-hangars; and she thinks one negates the other.  She stated the third issue in the letter is FIT’s potential conflict of interest; read aloud, “at one meeting several FIT students were present, these FIT students filled out questionnaires that the consultant used as a basis for their final decision in the master plan probably skewing the final decision in a direction that would benefit FIT aviation”; and she does not think a few students at one meeting would have done that.  She stated she would like to ask Dr. Barker about that issue, because it has been brought up a couple of times as to students being at the meetings; and she thinks it is a valid issue that needs to be addressed.

 

Dr. Barker stated the first he heard of the students was at the Grant-Valkaria meeting; he went back to check the records; everyone who attends such a meeting does not always sign up; and a number of people who made comments tonight made comments at the other meetings but never signed up for the record.  He stated at the meeting being referred to there were 101 people in the room; that is not counting the consulting staff; 70 or 71 of the people signed up on the attendance with their residences; and out of the 101 people in the room there were seven people who were, or had recently been, students at FIT.  He stated he saw some students at the meeting; he did not encourage them, nor did any of the staff; one of the seven students at the meeting is an airplane owner and has his airplane based at Valkaria Airport; and he does not think there was unreasonable student involvement.  He stated he believes only one student filled out a questionnaire; some of them signed up on the attendance list, but only one filled out the questionnaire.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from Grant-Valkaria also mentions a local survey that was conducted; Janis Walters said she sent Dr. Barker information and asked him to respond; and inquired if Dr. Barker could address that issue.  Dr. Barker stated he has a copy of the email from Ms. Walters, which was given to him by County staff; this is the first time he is seeing the email; and it looks like a legitimate email; but he has no record of receiving it.  He stated the pile of questionnaires Ms. Walters is carrying around tonight was never presented to FIT; he was never called about it; and he would think if those had been presented and there was no response, there would have been some follow-up after 15 months.  He stated he cannot address where those questionnaires were, but they were never delivered to FIT, nor did FIT ever have any conversation about those questionnaires; it has become a moot point because now that he has looked at it there were apparently 433 people at some meeting held at Grant-Valkaria that did something; and it summarizes all the same reasonable concerns that had been discussed in the first two working meetings and had been documented.  He stated citizens said they wanted the airport to remain a small recreational airport suitable for a rural residential setting; and he thinks that was well documented throughout the entire process.  He noted the citizens said they object to lighting for night operations; and that is nothing that was not already documented in the first issue-setting meeting.  He advised the citizens cited noise issues, which were also documented in the first two meetings; the citizens objected to outside commercial enterprises; and that is an issue that has been listed throughout the process as well.  He noted the  questionnaires  were  never  submitted  to FIT;  and  had  they been, they  would  not  have changed the outcome because those predominate issues were already documented at the first two meetings.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the FAA Grant Assurances requirements need to be clearly understood.  Assistant County Attorney Morris Richardson stated with each project, whenever the Board accepts an FAA Grant for a specific project it comes with Grant Assurances; and there is a list of airport sponsored grant assurances.  He stated most of the requirements that are airport specific were included in the Quit Claim Deed from the federal government in 1958; there are some other requirements such as compliance with Federal Clean Air and Water Act, Vietnam Veterans Preference, and use of U.S. Steel; and those things are in a lot of the County’s general Grant Assurances that come in a lot of the County’s monies it receives from the federal government.  He noted there are some additional requirements; one requirement that has come up specifically is that if a project is done with federal money, the Board is to comply with the FAA advisory circulars regarding Design Standards for that particular project; and each of those would have a list of Grant Assurances.  He noted the list has been the same for a long time, but it is updated periodically before accepting each grant for each particular project.  Commissioner Voltz stated it is based on the design of the project and does not have anything to do with things the Board has to do because it takes the money.  Mr. Richardson stated the County has to comply with the Design Standards. 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated paragraph five in the letter from the Town of Grant-Valkaria requests the master plan be modified to include compliance with Brevard County and the Town of Grant-Valkaria Ordinance Section 18-83.  She stated she believes there were three issues when the touch-and-go’s were discussed; and inquired if Mr. Borowski could address that issue.

 

Valkaria Airport Manager Steve Borowski stated the FAA will let the County put restrictions on touch-and-go’s or other types of restrictions at an airport; but first the FAA has to be shown a study or a master plan; if there is a noise, capacity, or safety issue, they will let the County change to unjust discrimination, which is discrimination against the flying public from doing touch-and-goes on a runway; and if studies have been done proving there is not a noise problem, then the County cannot unjustly discriminate against the flying public.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated paragraph six in the letter from the Town of Grant-Valkaria states the Town requests the master plan be modified to acknowledge the existence of the Town of Grant-Valkaria and the requirements to comply with the Town’s future comprehensive plan, land use designation, and zoning.  Mr. Richardson stated he has spoken to Mayor Yonts; there are two references in the master plan that say “Unincorporated Valkaria” west on Valkaria Road, which should be changed to reference the community of Grant-Valkaria; there are other references in the plan that were updated to include the proper incorporated community of Grant-Valkaria; but there are some references that would lead one to believe it is unincorporated territory; and he can give the Board those page numbers.  He stated he does not think Grant-Valkaria’s comprehensive plan exists yet.  Commissioner Voltz inquired who has the authority over the airport as far as comprehensive plans go; with Mr. Richardson responding it is going to be an element in Brevard County’s Comprehensive Plan; but as far as land use and planning and zoning it is part of the Town of Grant-Valkaria; and it is also going to be in the Town’s comprehensive plan.  Commissioner Voltz stated once the Town updates its comprehensive plan, then the County needs to update its Comprehensive Plan to reflect the Town’s; and inquired if that  is how it will work.  Mr. Richardson  stated he  does not know if it will necessitate an update of the County’s Comprehensive Plan; but the Town’s request is it wants the master plan to comply with the currently non-existent comprehensive plan.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated paragraph seven in the letter from the Town of Grant-Valkaria states, “While we support the current need for additional T-hangars at the airport, we are concerned that the number of future hangars may create an excessive number of operations in our rural community.”; and inquired if Mr. Borowski has looked at other airports to see what kind of night flights they have and the increase in night activities.  Mr. Borowski responded he has asked Mr. Griffin, the Airport Manager of Sebastian Airport; Mr. Griffin told him they go up to but not to exceed five night operations in a week; and that is in a five-day week.  He advised Sebastian Airport has all of the landing lights except for a new set of PAPI’s that are being installed right now; and they have full landing lights, end lights, and threshold identifier lights.  He stated Mr. Griffin also told him Sebastian Airport does not have any landings after 9:00 p.m.; when he spoke to Merritt Island Airport, the information was almost the same as Sebastian Airport, although there are less than 20 night flights in a week, but the same type of equipment is on the ground; and in Merritt Island does not get too many night flights. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired what Mr. Borowski would project as far as increased operations at night; with Mr. Borowski responding there was one gentleman who spoke earlier who said he has a hangar and has not flown in three years; in the 24 hangars at Valkaria Airport, 23 of them have aircraft in them; the majority of those people do not fly more than three times per month; and of the 23 hangars there are five people who fly every Sunday.  He stated he does not know of any of the hangar owners who fly at night; they come back to the airport at dusk; and it is rare to see anyone fly at night. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired about the issue of pilots having to qualify for night flying; with Mr. Borowski responding the students who train at Flight Safety or anywhere else have a certain syllabus they have to comply with through the FAA; he believes it is three hours at night; and in those night hours the students must fly into a towered airport.  He noted the flight schools require the towered airport have an instrument landing system and landing lights; there are not too many airports that do not have those things; and Valkaria Airport will never have a tower or an instrument landing system.  He advised in addition to that the students have to fly a certain distance; they cannot fly from the Vero Beach Airport into Valkaria Airport to do a night landing because it is not far enough away; and the students must travel at least 50 miles to meet their night landing requirement into a towered airport.  He advised Valkaria Airport is not a possibility at all for flight schools because there is no tower, no runway lights, no instrument landing system, and it is too close. 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from Grant-Valkaria reads, “The Town wants to indicate our support for the local pilots, and wants the airport to remain a rural recreational daytime VFR airport”.  She stated she does not know where the term “daytime airport” came from; she does not remember anyone talking about a daytime airport; and the airport is open 24-hours a day and anyone can fly whenever they want.  Mr. Borowski stated the airport is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week; anyone can fly into it at anytime; if there are no lights on the airplane or the ground, it is the pilots discretion whether they want to land there; and the FAA has categorized the airport as VFR, Visual Flight Rules, because it does not have an instrument landing system and does not have runway landing lights.  He stated when a pilot goes to an airport directory he or she will look at the equipment at Valkaria Airport and see that it is basically a daytime visual airport. 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from Grant-Valkaria reads, “Many of the concerns and criticisms are a direct result of the activities by flight training schools that occur at the airport and not those of our local pilots.”  She inquired if everything the flight schools are doing now is legal; with Mr. Borowski responding yes.  Commissioner Voltz stated the master plan is not going to affect what the flight schools are currently doing.  She advised the last line in the letter from Grant-Valkaria reads, “Please help us maintain the rural lifestyle for the Grant-Valkaria and Malabar residents.”  She stated that is exactly what the County Commission is trying to do; but it is trying to do it in a safe manner. 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated she spoke to the Town of Malabar; the letter from the Town of Malabar reads, “The airport expansion, if allowed to become part of the master plan.”  She inquired if the airport is not being expanded; with Mr. Borowski responding the airport is not being expanded and the land use map shows that. Mr. Borowski advised the land use map shown earlier that indicated where the hangars are is the only section of the airport that will have any change whatsoever; nothing around the perimeter of the airport is being changed; the inside perimeter of the airport is left as an environmental buffer; and the acreage is reduced for aviation or non-aviation use at the airport.  Commissioner Voltz stated she wants to be clear that the Board is not expanding the airport in any way.  She stated the letter from the Town of Malabar also states, “Recently helicopters have been observed landing and taking off from residential backyards”; and inquired if Mr. Borowski is aware of any of that.  Mr. Borowski stated he has never seen a helicopter land in a backyard; and he has never had any reports of any helicopters landing in anyone’s backyard.  Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from the Town of Malabar states, “Numerous residents have reported witnessing late evening landings and take-offs where a portion of the community is in the flight pattern”; and she does not know if there is anything that can be done about that.  Mr. Borowski stated the airport has landings at night every week; and it is perfectly legal and cannot be stopped.  Commissioner Voltz stated she wanted to be sure the Board is not doing something illegal.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if Mr. Borowski is referring to helicopters as opposed to fixed-wing aircraft; with Mr. Borowski responding there may be two or three fixed-wing aircraft land in a week; and he sees them tied down when he comes to work in the morning.  He stated the police come in every once in a while because of unusual activity; the traffic that comes from Mosquito Control is about 900 operations per-year at night in the helicopters only; and those are in complete darkness. 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from the Town of Malabar states, “All these things occurred before the commercial expansion of the airport”; and the Board is not expanding the airport.  She advised the Town of Malabar is concerned about the quality of life.  Mr. Borowski noted the 900 operations by Mosquito Control have been going on for years; and he has not had a complaint about Mosquito Control or the County helicopters coming in at night making noise.  Commissioner Voltz stated the letter from the Town of Malabar states, “Our residents have spoken and they strongly oppose any flight schools being considered and/or night flights.”  She stated there are not going to be any flight schools anywhere near Valkaria Airport whatsoever; and there may be some night flights, but nothing can be done about them.  She noted the letter from the Town of Malabar states, “Comments and concerns have been voiced to the VAAB, but it appears that their concerns are being ignored and the preparation of the master plan and expansion for the airport is going forward at warp speed”; and inquired if the master plan has been worked on for two years.  Mr. Borowski responded October 2007 will be two years.  Commissioner Voltz stated she does not think that is warp speed; and two years is quite a while. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired if Mr. Richardson could address the endangered lands as there may be a Fish and Wildlife issue with the scrub jay habitat.  Mr. Richardson responded that was just brought to his attention today; he was aware of past agreements with Fish and Wildlife regarding land clearing; and he has prepared a memo on the second issue.  He stated in 1996 and again in 2000 there was an agreement with U.S. Fish and Wildlife; and FDOT was part of the 2000 Agreement.  He advised the Agreement provided for some mitigation because of some land clearing that was done in the mid-90’s and may have been unpermitted; as part of the agreement, the County said it will dedicate a certain amount of property for mitigation and a scrub jay habitat; and some of the property is on the airport infield.  He stated the issue came up last year because the County did clearing and followed the maintenance; a lot of people said the County cut down the trees and killed the scrub jays; but Fish and Wildlife said scrub jays like low scrub, not high trees; and now that the scrub is back, there is a chance that scrub jays have moved back onto the infield.  He noted as surveyed nine months ago there were no scrub jays there; Fish and Wildlife has stated it wants to move that mitigation off the airport infield; Fish and Wildlife feels it is unsafe for the birds who can be hit by airplanes; and it recognizes it is an airport and the infield between the runways should be visually clear because if a plane cannot see another plane on the runway there is a chance for a collision on the runway.  He advised Fish and Wildlife has said it wants to work with the County and get a mitigation area outside the infield; if any scrub jays have located there since it was cleared last year, they will be attracted to the outside area; and Fish and Wildlife indicated to him that it sees the situation as a good opportunity.  He stated currently the County would need permitting to deviate from the management plan; but those initial conversations have already occurred between Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, the County Manager’s Office, and Mr. Borowski.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if the County will have to buy land to mitigate; with Mr. Richardson responding there is property on the airport site that is not part of the mitigation plan; and Fish and Wildlife would attract scrub jays to an area outside of the runway airfield.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if Mr. Richardson is sure about that; with Mr. Richardson responding that is what Fish and Wildlife told him today. 

 

Mr. Borowski noted Fish and Wildlife have been to the airport multiple times; and Natural Resources has been there as well.  He stated there is an EEL’s property northeast of the airport property and southeast of the airport property; and Fish and Wildlife would like to corridor the two properties.  He advised it is not aviation-use property and it is excellent for the airport; there are currently no scrub jay families and have not been in the last five years in the infield; there are two scrub jay nests on the east side of the airport in the corridor; and Fish and Wildlife would like to swap that out.

 

Commissioner Voltz displayed a flashing light similar to what is at the airport; stated there are five of them that flash when a helicopter lands and go off when the helicopters fly away; and the light is as big as a flashlight so she does not think it would be intrusive.  She inquired if Dr. Barker would address the issue of Urban Boundary Noise Levels.  Dr. Barker stated Mr. Hans Dorries is a noise expert and he would like him to address the issue.

 

Mr. Hans Dorries stated the concern is in relation to Figure 6-11 in the master plan where there are different noise levels and what they mean.  He stated Figure 6-11 says, “Typical A-Weighted Sound Levels”; and what that means is noise can be made in different ways.  He stated one way is  to measure  the amplitude  of a  noise frequency.   He stated  it is something  that is very subjective and changes from one person to another; some people listening to fireworks are very happy to listen to that noise; but sometimes people are trying to sleep at the same time as the fireworks; and that would be a problem.  He advised to integrate the subjective factors, they have adjusted the objective measures of noise to what is really perceived; and there are different frequencies that a person’s ears cannot perceive.  He stated the figure in 6-11 shows typical A-weighted sound levels; that means that those levels have been corrected to only those sounds that we cannot hear; and the intention of that is to basically show how a change in that noise level is going to be perceived by a person. He advised the first column shows the different noise levels and some things that produce that noise, such as a jet engine at 140 decibels; on the other side is a scale that compares how that sound is perceived if it is changed from 70 decibels; and that would be perceived to be four times as loud. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired why the master plan looked at urban versus rural; with Mr. Dorries responding that would be his question also; he does not know where that came from; and he does not know where it is in the text.

 

Milo Zonka stated he understands the nature of the question; the phrases that are used to describe common sounds are in the Chart that Mr. Dorries is referring to; it is a universal description of what that noise is like; and all they did was copy the chart out of a standard text.  Commissioner Voltz inquired if it does not mean they have just gone and listened to noise that would be heard in an urban area; with Mr. Zonka responding that is correct.  He stated most people are familiar with what quiet urban evening sounds like; but they may not know what a startled mule sounds like. 

 

Commissioner Scarborough stated he has heard that someone scraping their fingers on a blackboard is totally different than people talking; tonight the Board has heard that repetitive sound can be more of a nuisance; if a plane comes in occasionally, it is okay; but if a plane comes in over and over again, it gets to be more of a problem.  He inquired if that is subjective, or how is it classified; with Mr. Dorries responding from a physiology point of view the way sound is perceived that has very high frequency is that it feels like it is louder than it really is; and it is more annoying having a high frequency than a low frequency.  Commissioner Scarborough inquired how the repetitiveness is classified, such as dripping water; and is it something that can be defined as not subjective; with Mr. Dorries responding many sound events become noise.  Commissioner Scarborough inquired at what point does something noise-wise become something that can be substantiated to limit touch-and-goes; and advised if it is something that is outside of the subjective, then the Board can define it because it is creating something that can be established.  Mr. Dorries stated if the Board looks at any figures that show the noise contours, it needs to make sure it understands what DNL means; the DNL takes into account how many times that sound is repeating itself; and specifically, the DNL takes into account not only the number of flights, but also how long that sound event was during a certain time.  Commissioner Scarborough stated what he has heard is that no one is opposing the safety issue, but the touch-and-goes become something the Board has to justify; and he would like to meet with Mr. Dorries and Mr. Borowski.   

 

Mr. Borowski stated as he understands it, if the 65dB line is exceeded outside of the airport property, then the FAA would say there is a noise issue by flying over a particular neighborhood.  Commissioner Scarborough stated in other words, there could be a jet that flies over very rapidly once, and it could be less intrusive than something that is constant. 

 

Dr. Barker stated the technology used in the master plan and taught at FIT, is the international standard; and it cannot be argued technically, as it is what everybody uses.  Commissioner Scarborough stated the problem is going from the 65dB; but now he has heard about the length.  Dr. Barker stated that is accounted for in the noise model.  Commissioner Scarborough stated he heard 65db as being something independent of the others; a single-prop plane going over for a longer period of time can add the same degree of irritation as a loud jet; and inquired if that is all accounted for in the master plan. 

 

Mr. Dorries stated what the Board sees in the map on Figure 6-12 is that the DNL starts with noise and decibels; once there are noise and decibels, those are converted; and that is taking into account the frequency.  He stated then taken into account are how many events there are, how many flights there are, and what type of aircraft is being used; and then taken into account is what time of day it is.

 

Commissioner Scarborough inquired if the number of touch-and-goes increases even though loudness does not increase.  Mr. Dorries responded it is not only one factor; if touch-and-goes are increased but the aircraft is kept the same, then it will increase.  Commissioner Scarborough stated if all of the student pilots are flying the same aircraft except there is an increasing number of touch-and-goes coming in and out, this would change. 

 

Dr. Barker stated the figure the Board has is the 2026 drawing; the drawing shows the 65 DNL being totally inside airport property; and that accounts for the projection all the way through the year 2026.  Commissioner Scarborough inquired if touch-and-go student flights increase, will the drawing always reflect it; with Dr. Barker responding if it became a matter of concern it would be prudent for staff or the Board to ask someone to do another noise study to see if there is a new noise problem. 

 

Dr. Barker stated there are multiple variables; with each variable it is changed according to the facts; and the airplanes used in the model are actually flying at Valkaria.  Commissioner Scarborough stated Mr. Borowski had indicated to him that Embry Riddle is using an airport in Flagler County.  Mr. Borowski stated he did not indicate that.  Commissioner Scarborough stated Mr. Zonka had indicated to him that it became popular for Embry Riddle to increase the number of flights in that particular school and it was one of the busier airports in the State, but it is a rural airport.  Mr. Zonka advised it is a similar scenario but it is more severe than the situation at Valkaria Airport; and they are a bigger school than FIT so they scatter their planes off to different airports in Volusia County and beyond so they can do their practice maneuvers.  He advised there are several airports in the area around Daytona Beach; several of them are the busiest in the State; and there is also ComAir Flight Academy based out of Sanford, which sends airplanes to different airports.  He stated of the 200,000 flight operations out of Melbourne per-year he would bet 130,000 of those operations are FIT; if 5,000 to 7,000 operations are being done per year at Valkaria, the vast majority of the traffic is staying at Melbourne; and he is certain with that number of operations there is no 65 DNL existing off the airport. 

 

Commissioner Scarborough stated he is curious if the County can set noise thresholds because that appears to be critical; and otherwise there is a right for them to exist.  He stated what he is hearing from the community is they do not want to put any pilot’s life at risk; but there is a concern with the student pilots, the touch-and-goes and if there will be increases; and if there was some  assurance  with the models, the  Board  could give the community some assurances that there are thresholds that can be created by going to the FAA and saying the number of touch-and-goes need to be limited. 

 

Mr. Zonka stated even then the 65 DNL is going to be a critical factor; noise is something people are tolerable of if they choose to be because there is no other option; what the neighbors are trying to obtain is an option; and that option is to try to make the airplanes go away.  Commissioner Scarborough stated he is interested in how noise is determined in an airport environment so he can understand what types of restrictions can be created; and he does not think anyone wants Valkaria Airport to become the busiest airport in Florida.

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired if the issue of obstruction lights has been addressed.  Dr. Barker responded obstruction lights were not mentioned in the master plan; it is a regulatory matter and has nothing to do with planning.  He advised the State of Florida annually surveys each airport in the State; the report is published; and the report is used in the master plan.  He noted there is only one at the whole airport that meets the criteria; and it is the Harris radio antenna.

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired about the issue of funding and taxpayer money, and where the FAA dollars come from, as they do not come from the General Fund; and stated she wants it put on the record.

 

Mr. Borowski stated as far as the FAA money, approximately 19 cents on every gallon of gas goes into the AIP funds; the airport can go to the FAA and request funding; it will either get AIP funding or discretionary funding; and discretional funding normally goes to large airports.  Commissioner Voltz inquired if it is aviation fuel only; with Mr. Borowski responding affirmatively, it does not come from the taxpayers dollars. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired why the County did not bid out the master plan; with Mr. Richardson responding FIT came to the Board with a proposal and a cost; the cost to the County was below various bidding thresholds; and the Board agreed to accept FIT as the bidder in that case.  He noted there have been allegations made that State Statutes were not complied with; and there is a State Statute that says if doing architecture and engineering surveying mapping that is over $50,000 total project you have to put it out to bid pursuant to certain State procedures.  He advised the Department of Transportation investigated it and said the County did not have to comply with that State Statute. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired why there are no no-trespassing signs up at the airport.  Mr. Borowski responded the no-trespass signs are currently on order; it took a while for legal and County staff to determine what exactly has to be stated on the signs; and he has an order in now for 40 signs.  He stated he has some signs now; but the new signs are coming very soon.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated Mr. Stone addressed the issue of some of the lights being dangerous; and inquired if Mr. Borowski could address that issue.  Mr. Borowski stated if any of the lights that were talked about tonight were unsafe the FAA would not allow them to be put at an airport; the FAA has a Tech Center in New Jersey; they evaluate anything that goes on an airport to the nth degree for years before it goes into an airport; and the FAA would not allow a light at the end of a runway that blinds pilots.

 

Commissioner Voltz stated the Board is ultimately responsible for the liability of anything that happens to anybody at the airport.  She stated she recalls asking former Airport Manager Jim Shimkus if there needed to be a master plan; Mr. Shimkus responded there is no need for a master plan at all; and tonight Mr. Shimkus said it was purely political as to why he had to say that.  She stated that is unfair to the residents, pilots, and the other Commissioners who did not exactly know what was going on.  She stated she has heard enough tonight to see that the Board needs to keep the airport safe; the types of lights being discussed are not obtrusive; and inquired of the wattage in the beacon.  Mr. Borowski responded there are two small light bulbs in the beacon, but he is not sure of the wattage; the bulbs rotate around; there is a collar at the bottom; and no one will see the lights from the bottom, nor will anyone see a beam of light.  He stated a person may see the lights bouncing off of clouds, but that is why the lights are there; and they are radio controlled and programmable.

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired if Dr. Barker asked how many participants were involved in aviation in the survey he conducted, versus how many were citizens; and inquired if it is a fair assessment of the community in general.  Dr. Barker responded it depends on the nature of the questionnaire; the questionnaires were different at every workshop; and it was based on the content of what was being discussed.  He stated everyone had a fair opportunity to attend and express their opinions; but the opinions were expressed on what was being presented.  He noted the first two or three questionnaires were tailored; there were questionnaires for general pilots, one for pilots based in Brevard County, and those pilots who were tenant pilots; and in the subsequent meetings some of the participants were asked if they were pilots or not and how they were affiliated.

 

Commissioner Nelson stated on the Capital Improvements Program he has looked through the numbers; there is a $10 million program; and he realizes much of that is being funded by the federal government and the state.  He stated there is a sizable chunk of it that would have to be local revenues; numbers have been run on the net profit to be made by the airport; and inquired how the airport is going to fund $566,000.  Dr. Barker inquired what figure Commissioner Nelson is looking at; with Commissioner Nelson responding the operating net in Figure 9-9.  Commissioner Nelson stated the County is paying the staff and paying for the operations; and that should become the money available to fund the capital projects. 

 

Mr. Borowski stated when the first hangars are built in the spring, it will give him another $50,000 per year of revenue; 80 percent of the hangars are paid for; and the revenues pay for the match money on his 20 percent.  Commissioner Nelson stated if Mr. Borowski looks at his operating revenues total, which is $9.8 million and then subtracts the operating expenses, it gives the net total; and the dollars are not achieved that Mr. Borowski is saying he is not going to be able to use.  He stated each year it will go up because he has factored in the additional hangars.  He advised what he is cautious about is that the Board is not going to be in the position to fund General Fund for a Capital Improvements Program; he has heard tonight the revenue is going to be there to support the debt associated with it; and he does not see that in the numbers so far.  Mr. Borowski stated the expenses include the County’s note payment.  Commissioner Nelson inquired how long will the note be run out; stated the airport is clearly not making enough to pay it off; and year after year the airport is adding to the debt.

 

Milo Zonka advised he compiled the financial charts and he can explain it to the Board.  He stated Page 9-11 is just the operating; table 9-10 on the next page is the non-operating and that includes the debt service and any interest earned; and then the table 9-11 takes all of those numbers and just runs them in the first five years. 

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired how long is the note going to be run out; and stated the airport is borrowing a lot of money each year with minimal ability to pay each year; with Mr. Zonka responding the airport is not borrowing money every year; basically, everything hinges on the T-hangars; and that is going to be a very predictable stream for the airport.  Mr. Zonka advised the debt service is using a 20-year amortization assumed; but the airport can use 10 if it has the revenue.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if Mr. Zonka is talking about using commercial paper for 20 years; with Mr. Zonka responding if the airport needs to, that is the idea.  Mr. Zonka sated it is a project-by-project thing; every time one of these projects comes in front of the Board all of the numbers are going to be run so that he can show the Board that the airport can repair itself; and if it cannot do that, it cannot bring the project to the Board.  He stated the airport understands the restrictions it is operating at; it is a pure enterprise fund with no fallback; and that is fully understood.

 

Mr. Borowski stated the numbers went through the County Budget Office first; and that is where it was generated and that is who agreed with the numbers.  Mr. Zonka stated he did not do the financials.

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired after five or 20 years in debt, how are the next five years and the five years after that done.  Mr. Borowski stated he does not see how Commissioner Nelson sees that the airport is in debt.  Commissioner Nelson stated the airport is not making enough money to pay off its debt on an annual basis; and Mr. Zonka stated the airport is going to borrow money for up to 20 years based on the revenues and the cash flow.  He stated at a minimum deficit in the first five years the airport is down a quarter-million dollars because it would have borrowed over $500,000; it would have made $250,000; and the airport is in the hole $250,000 at that point.  He noted the airport will have to continue to borrow money to do the next few years worth of programs.  Mr. Zonka stated in the first five years the Capital Improvement Program is a best estimate; the intention was to try and show it as difficult as it could be; the FAA and FDOT have already programmed funds for the next five years; and what the airport is looking for with any of the projects in the next five years is that a project somewhere else in the State of Florida, or in this region, falls through so that the dollars flow out to other airports.  Mr. Borowski stated once an airport gets FAA money for taxiways, it is a $2 million project; once an airport accepts, the projects become an obligated airport with the FAA; and the airport gets $150,000 of AIP funds each year.  Commissioner Nelson inquired what triggers the receipt of that; with Mr. Borowski responding he believes it is two years when applied for; Valkaria Airport is already in the application with the FAA since it has given its CIP; and now there is a one-year waiting limit.  Mr. Borowski advised next June or July Valkaria Airport will be eligible for FAA funds as long as it meets other requirements of the FAA.  Commissioner Nelson inquired what are the other requirements; with Mr. Borowski responding if an airport wants to build a runway, it must comply to build it 75-feet wide, 150-feet from a taxi way, and 150-feet wide from centerline to centerline.  Mr. Borowski stated what Commissioner Nelson may not have seen was the additional income of $150,000 per year.  

 

Commissioner Nelson stated he supports most of what is in the master plan; but there have been some credibility killers throughout the process; the airport is not being expanded, but 80 hangars are being added; and that is a significant change from how it is currently being used. 

 

Commissioner Nelson stated the runway lights themselves are in the CIP, but the Board is saying it is not going to do those; and inquired if they are not ever going to be at the airport, then why are they in the master plan.  Mr. Borowski advised runway landing lights are not in the master plan; with Commissioner Nelson responding they are in the Capital Improvements Program.  Mr. Borowski stated he does not see where Commissioner Nelson sees the runway lights in the CIP; and stated the runway lights are not in the Capital Improvement Plan.  Commissioner Nelson stated the Capital Improvements Program includes Radio Controlled Variable Intensity Lights for 14-32; and inquired if those are runway lights.  Dr. Barker advised what the plan says is that there is no need for lighting in the near term; the pilot community agrees; and as was brought up prudently the issue should be re-looked at based on demand.  Commissioner Nelson stated MIRL lights are Medium-Intensity Runway Lights; and those are clearly runway lights.  Dr. Barker stated in the long term Capital Improvement Plan there is a footnote that states, “Only if it’s proven to be needed in the subsequent update.”  Commissioner Nelson stated it should be in the plan to be addressed every five years; but it should not be in the CIP because it is part of the capital dollars; and inquired why it should be in the CIP.  Dr. Barker responded one reason is for conservative fiscal planning; an airport wants to look at a worst-case scenario instead of a best-case scenario; and if there is a likelihood it has to be done in 20 years, an airport would want to be prepared.  Commissioner Nelson stated that does not sound like never; and he heard the word never tonight several times.  Commissioner Voltz stated that is probably right; and the airport will probably never have runway lights.  Chairperson Colon stated the current Board is not responsible for whatever is approved today; so if there is anything the majority of the Board does not feel comfortable with then it needs to be deleted from the master plan; and it is the Board’s credibility on the line. 

 

Chairperson Colon stated if the majority of the citizens were brought to the meeting under false pretenses and told the Board would deliver something, then the Board better deliver that; she is uncomfortable with anything that might be a perception of if the dollars are there or not; and the Board has to be clear that the only way that would come to fruition is if the dollars are there. 

 

Commissioner Nelson stated he supports the idea of the fixed based operation run by the County; he is not anxious to see a contracted fixed based operator; and it helps with safety and can be expanded but run by the County.   He stated he believes the Board needs to remain the landlord associated with the fixed based operators; he has some concerns with second and third party agreements; what happens is different rate structures from different hangars; and he is not supportive of that concept.  He stated the County can build hangars and rent them; but he thinks the Board needs to be the owner and the landlord.

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired if the Board has any say over that; with Mr. Borowski inquiring if the Board understands why the airport put second and third party financed hangars at the airport.  Commissioner Nelson stated he does not agree, but he understands.  Mr. Borowski stated the FAA sent the airport a letter stating over the last five, six, or seven years the airport has not been able to build any hangars; there are over 100 people on the waiting list for hangars; the airport is not complying with its Quit Claim Deed from 1958; and if the public wants hangars, either the airport has to build them or let the public build them. 

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired if the people hanging onto the money that would build the hangars are the ones criticizing the Board for not building hangars because FDOT is holding onto the grant saying it is going to  hold the  airport  hostage  until it approves the master plan or

else it cannot build hangars.  Mr. Borowski stated the FDOT has not held the airport hostage up until recently when it asked why the Board has not put in any hangars since 2000 and 2001.  Commissioner Nelson stated the airport got the grant in 2006; with Mr. Borowski responding the airport never went to the FDOT asking for money.  Mr. Richardson stated as a point of clarification the FDOT is not the one telling the County it has to lease to second parties for hangars; but it is the FAA and FDOT holding the money for it.  Mr. Borowski stated that is correct; and FAA came back and said the airport was not complying with its Quit Claim Deed by not building hangars.   Commissioner Nelson stated it appears the airport moved responsibly to get a grant to build hangars; and inquired why the Board cannot meet the commitment with the grant it has gotten because it is to build hangars.  Mr. Borowski stated at the time the airport moved forward in October and put the joint participation agreement in to go build hangars and they finally got to that point, the FDOT did not see it that way. 

 

Chairperson Colon stated she thinks the Board can do it where it stays under the jurisdiction of the County. 

 

Motion by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Bolin, to remove radio-controlled, variable intensity Medium Intensity Runway Lighting (MIRL) on Runway 14-32 from the Capital Improvement Program of the Valkaria Airport (X59) Master Plan Update.  Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

 

 

Commissioner Nelson stated he does not have a problem saying the Board will continue to review the necessity; but he does not want it in the master plan as a target, or something the Board has to do. 

 

Motion by Commissioner Nelson, to not consider second and third party agreements; and that the Board continue to structure itself to operate the airport accordingly.

 

 

Commissioner Voltz stated she does not know if the Board can do that; the Board can work towards that; and it is the Board’s responsibility to make sure that it builds enough hangars so that does not happen.  Commissioner Nelson inquired if the Board can establish a policy that says that is what the Board would like to do as opposed to being part of the master plan; and that is saying the Board at this time believes that is the most appropriate way to do it. 

 

Mr. Richardson stated that is fine as a Board policy; the ultimate concern is staying ahead of the game; right now 14 to 20 hangars are in the pike but his understanding is there is a waiting list of 100; and if in five years from now 20 hangars are full and someone sues the County and says it is not either providing hangars or land to lease, then the County may be forced; but there is no reason there cannot be a policy that says the County will try everything it can to keep the County as the landlord. 

 

Mr. Borowski stated there is another point to keep in mind; the master plan shows the one specific area and that is the specific area limited to second or third party hangars; that is next to the existing hangars now; and that is a small piece of property.  He inquired if that was not put into the master plan in reference to the problems the County was having with not supplying hangars; and stated it went back and forth with the FAA and N19EZ Corporation asking if they were going to be able to build  a hangar or not.  Mr. Richardson  stated that is how it came up in the concern; but what the Commission is saying is can it have a policy stating it is going try to stay ahead of the FAA but recognizing that legally if the airport runs out of hangars and someone wants to build their own, the County’s hand might be forced at some point.  Mr. Richardson advised there is no reason the County cannot have a policy to try to stay ahead of that game. 

 

Motion by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to change second and third party construction of hangars, to the County will build and be the landlord for all hangars, unless it cannot keep up with the demand, at Valkaria Airport.  Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

 

 

Motion by Commissioner Voltz, seconded by Commissioner Bolin, to approve the remainder of the master plan.

 

 

Commissioner Nelson inquired if the Board could address the issue of the FBO as a policy that the Board operate the FBO as a County operation as opposed to contracted.  Chairperson Colon inquired of the pros and cons.  Commissioner Nelson stated he believes the Board has greater control over the nature of the operation as opposed to contracting it.  Mr. Borowski stated the Board would absolutely have greater control of running the FBO; and a traditional FBO has an A&P Mechanic and those types of things.  Commissioner Nelson stated he would even be comfortable contracting that as part of the operation of the FBO; but what he does not want is the overall FBO to be basically farmed out.  Commissioner Voltz inquired if that is part of the master plan; and if the motion she made and was seconded would be part of that or would it be pulled out separately.  Chairperson Colon inquired what is the recommendation right now; with Mr. Borowski responding it is to let an FBO come in that is not the County.  Commissioner Voltz inquired if the Board can just change the master plan.  Chairperson Colon stated the motion would have to be amended. 

 

Commissioner Nelson withdrew the motion and Commissioner Bolin withdrew the second.

 

Motion by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to approve Fixed Based Operator (FBO) to be under County jurisdiction.  Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

 

 

Commissioner Voltz noted she has hardly heard anything about touch-and-goes; at the Grant-Valkaria meeting someone brought it up; but she has not heard any complaints.  Mr. Richardson stated he gets complaints of touch-and-goes in his office occasionally; but they have not come up in the context of the master plan because it is not an issue that would be traditionally addressed in the master plan as it is an ordinance issue or restriction issue; and the County is looking at what it can do to finesse restrictions to try to limit touch-and-goes as much as it possibly can without having the FAA tell the County it has to open them up entirely.  He stated there are things other than the noise conditions the Board can look at to try to justify that will help him defend the touch-and-go restrictions if they are ever challenged.  Commissioner Scarborough noted he would like to explore the touch-and-goes a little bit more and some of the ramifications.

 

Chairperson Colon inquired even though there is the Town of Grant-Valkaria, why are people under the impression they are not under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners; and stated it is ridiculous for people to think the Board of County Commissioners does not care.  Chairperson Colon advised she does not just vote for issues in District 5, but she looks out for the entire County.  She inquired under whose jurisdiction is the land use for Grant-Valkaria; and if anything happens inside the airport, whose jurisdiction is it; with Mr. Richardson responding it is a lot of overlapping jurisdictions; there is federal jurisdiction, State jurisdiction, County jurisdiction, and now the Town of Grant-Valkaria jurisdiction; it depends on what particular issue is being looked at as to whose jurisdiction trumps or controls; but right now it is property that is owned by the County with a certain land use and zoning designation; and that is what controls now.   Chairperson Colon stated there needs to be a map the citizens are able to look at and realize what would be under whose jurisdictions.  Mr. Richardson stated he misunderstood Chairperson Colon; and the whole airport is inside the Town of Grant-Valkaria.  Chairperson Colon inquired if any change in land use has to go before the Town of Grant-Valkaria; with Mr. Richardson responding yes, any change in land use, and zoning would have to go before the Town of Grant-Valkaria. 

 

Commissioner Voltz inquired of the timeframe of Grant-Valkaria’s Comprehensive Plan, and at what point does the Town pick up the responsibility.  

 

Assistant County Manager Mel Scott advised Florida Statute protects Grant-Valkaria; by default,  the moment Grant-Valkaria became a Town it could still enjoy the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code of the County; the Town has one year to get its own Comprehensive Plan; and it has an consultant on board diligently working toward its plan.  Chairperson Colon inquired if that means Grant-Valkaria only has two more months; with Mr. Scott responding the Town could have the time extended by the State as long as it is moving in the right direction; but the Town will never be without zoning or comprehensive plan coverage.  Chairperson Colon inquired who is paying; with Mr. Scott responding it is entirely paid by the fee processes; the County will not be out of pocket; and it will be fees and revenues given from the Town to the Board for services rendered. 

 

Motion by Commissioner Voltz, seconded by Commissioner Bolin, to approve the remainder of Valkaria Airport Master Plan Update (X59).  Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

 

 

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 1:24 a.m.

 

 

 

                                                                        ____________________________

                                                                        JACKIE COLON, CHAIRPERSON

                                                                        BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ATTEST:                                                         BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

 

__________________

SCOTT ELLIS, CLERK 

        (S E A L)

                                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.