LATE HISTORY OF GEORGETOWN AIRPORT FBO & COUNTY
SUMMARY OF GAAC MEETING OF 2/11/03

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CONTENTS

This meeting summary is being used in lieu of minutes because minutes are more difficult to follow. Each subject is often brought up more than once and some on numerous occasions. There is repetition and poorly expressed thoughts (partial sentences). This format allows one to more easily understand what happened of significance. Tapes are available for those who wish to listen to them. In fact, a tape was used to create this summary.

Those Present

The following members of the GAAC were present: Jim Westfall, Jim Schardt, Karen Shambach, Gunder Rinset, and Jerry Baldwin. From the County were Craven Alcott, Michael Gray, and Brian Burgess. Members of the general public were also present.

Tapes of Meetings

After seeing other tape recorders in the room than the one furnished by the County, Craven Alcott stated that the meeting tapes made by the County were public information and were available upon request. In fact, the BOS uses them in lieu of meeting minutes.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be in one week (2/18/03) to discuss the new request for proposal (RFP) for a fixed base operator (FBO). This RFP must indicate that the Georgetown Airport will have the same services as have been provided by the Cimmarustis. The proposed RFP was given to the GAAC for review just before this meeting. More time is needed for proper review. Craven Alcott stated that her staff and other key people were rushed due the actions of the three supervisors forcing it to be done quickly.

The RFP as it now reads, does not require that the new FBO furnish the required services. It should do so.

State Budget Cuts

On Friday, December 16th, the airports were supposedly notified by Caltrans Division of Aeronautics that all state funding for general aviation has been suspended. Mr. Hansen notifed the County that the state has removed the entire budget for .... and is asking those airports that have not cashed their grant checks to return them.

El Dorado County has already cashed their check. The funding arrangement is normally for matching funds by the state and federal governments as follows: the County allocates 10%, the state 10%, and federal government 80%. For the County to receive the 80% from the federal government, it must now allocate 20% rather than 10%, to make up for the 10% that the state no longer provides.

Craven Alcott stated that this item is especially important for the Georgetown Airport because of the maintenance and improvements needed quickly. She also stated when asked, that the BOS knew of this state budget cut before the three supervisors made their economically adverse decision for the County. Craven believes that the amount needed for the additional 10% will be about $30,000 and that so "small an amount" will probably be voted in by the BOS, rather than lose the 80% provided by the federal government. There is a three year cycle on federal spending and Craven believes that we are now at the beginning of the third year.

Jerry Baldwin felt that we need to tighten our budgets while the BOS wants to increase the budget at the Georgetown Airport (cardlock, chainlink fence to keep the public out, and County employees - all in lieu of the Cimmarustis being there, furnishing superior services, and paying rent to the County). Why are three supervisors from other districts so free with our money?

The GAAC was not told of the state budget cuts of airports until the night of this current meeting? If the Airport Committee for Placerville and the BOS both received this information in a timely fashion, why did it take six weeks for the GAAC to be given it? The County Staff said this must have been an oversight. There was a rumble from those present indicating that they felt this was a "typical and deliberate oversight" by the County. The County Staff said this was not correct - that it was an honest oversight. The pattern was known, by those Divide residents present, to be consistent. Steve and Trish should also have been told and no one told them.

It was stated that there are still many people in the County bureaucracy who are against the Cimmarustis and deliberately withholding information from the Cimmarustis and the GAAC, and a certain letter was cited. Craven stated that we should "not go there". More comments suggested County mismanagement.

Airport Consultant

A contract for the Airport consultant has been awarded but is not yet signed. The consultant is now on retainer doing proposals for FAA funding and other work. Jerry Baldwin asked to have him work on the airport lay-out plan ASAP. Craven Alcott stated that the consultant wants to come to the GAAC meetings and funds are in place for this.

Are topological maps a part of the work the consultant is to perform? Alcott stated the topo map can be done soon.

Hangars

The airport needs more hangars and there is no place allocated for them. They are a source of income for the County. There is supposed to be waiting list for hangars which seems to have disappeared. People are being promised hangars out of turn while others are told none are available. The lists are not properly managed by the County. This is a big issue that can cost some supervisors their jobs. The list retrieval should be an action item for the next meeting. Alcott said it should be an information item.

Leases and Minimum Standards

A standard lease is being prepared by the County. It should have a way to make insurance requirements variable during the time the lease is in force. In this manner, the insurance requirements can change for all lessees in accordance with the dictates of the industry (to become more, or less, strict). New leases and renewed leases should all have the same insurance requirements.

Also, the Minimum Standards should be changed to reflect this variable format and must be changed for leases to be in accord with the Minimum Standards. Indeed, the proper order is to change the Minimum Standards first.

The present insurance requirements are far too high for an operation at a small airport. These high requirements are applicable to large airports such as the commercial airports in Sacramento or San Francisco.

The lease shown to the Cimmarustis last is not "user friendly" with too much legalese. This legalese should be reviewed by user groups and adjusted accordingly. This lease is neither adequate nor correct for the aviation industry and the County is not in compliance with state law. Furthermore, the new boiler-plate lease addresses only commercial leases and not private leases.

There are no provisions for subleases such as those at the Placerville Airport. A policy is needed for these. Any administrative policy must be approved by the BOS before it is "law".

Items to be Reviewed

Items to be reviewed by the GAAC should be submitted two weeks prior to the applicable GAAC meeting to allow time for the review.

Suggestion/Complaint Form

Some time ago a form was to be created by the County to be used by people at the airports for suggestions, problems, broken items, any items requiring maintenance, etc. The form was never created. County says it is not yet available.

Future GAAC Meetings

Should there be less time between meetings during the transition period in which the Cimmarustis are being replaced? Craven stated that this must be approved by the BOS. Steve stated that he had the rules in front of him and read a paragraph stating that such meetings were already approved. Craven did not want to see the paragraph.

The time for the next meeting will be 2/18/03 (one week later). This will be a special meeting to review the new RFP - which must have a minimum of services specified that are the same ones that have been furnished by the Cimmarustis.

Comments BOS Supervisors Actions

On 1/26/03, Supervisors Borelli, Dupray, and Solaro voted against the option proposed by the GAAC, the wishes of an overwhelming number of Divide residents, and the new lease that had been accepted in concept by County Staff and the Cimmarustis. These supervisors voted instead to have the Cimmarustis removed from the Georgetown Airport. The following are comments from those members of the public attending the meeting.

Obviously, the three supervisors did not base their votes on money, but rather a vendetta from the County and certain Placerville Airport people who are friends of the three supervisors.

The vote showed that these supervisors were not interested in economy and preferred to waste the taxpayers' money on hiring county employees to do the work that the Cimmarustis already did for free.

The usual County run-around was indicated with the only opposition to the Cimmarustis being the Placerville Airport people who were sued due to their unethical behavior. The people in District 4 are being ignored while outside input from Placerville Airport people is accepted.

Why did the three supervisors vote against the new lease for the Cimmarustis? Why are these supervisors not accountable for their actions? They sneaked out the side door quickly to get away after the meeting was over. They refused to explain their actions. We (the public) deserve a response from them. There has been no proper statement of accounting and the County plans to keep the excess dollars that were taken from the Cimmarustis under threat of eviction.

We need a statement of the budget costs of both airports (Georgetown and Placerville) - the actual dollars spent, including the hours spent by County employees noted by name, date, times, and tasks done - and the budgeted amount for those tasks. What does the County actually do for the Georgetown Airport? There is no restroom maintenance, no campground upkeep when the County is supposedly responsible for these things. How does the current lack of services at the Georgetown Airport improve over the way the Cimmarustis have kept this Airport?

When the County is supposed to be providing services, restrooms have been out of order, not reported as out of order, and not repaired. The Cimmarustis took care of such things immediately. The campground is not cared for when it is the County's responsibility, and the Cimmarustis did care for it. So why is the County so much better for us than the Cimmarustis?

The fuel is exhausted at the Airport and pilots at the airport now have no way to refuel [most will be going to Auburn for fuel - more loss of dollars for the County]. The Cimmarustis are leaving at the end of February because their insurance expires then and can only be taken out for a minimum of one year. No cardlock is available at the tank and no one will be there to pump gas after the Cimmarustis leave. The cardlock may be installed in 30 to 45 days after the contract is signed for a contract amount of $13,265. The contract has been informally awarded but the contractor has not furnished the correct licenses and the contract cannot be signed by the County until he does so.

Craven Alcott says the procedures prior to signing the contract will be expedited as soon the licenses are provided by the contractor. Meanwhile, for at least 30 days plus the time it takes until the contract is signed, there will be no fuel at the Georgetown Airport.

Does the contract have a penalty clause in case of delay or failure to perform? The County Staff at the meeting said they did not know.

$22,000 had been allocated for the cardlock, so about $9,000 remains in the budget which should be available for other things. Craven Alcott concurred.

The tree harvest dollars ($125,000) seem to be lost. It should be found. Baldwin stated that it was needed for emergencies and that the County general fund should be used for the Georgetown Airport now. One pilot indicated that he thought this might be such an emergency. Subsequently, the County was asked for an accounting as to what the Georgetown Airport has available in dollars including the tree harvest money. One man stated that he plans to make the tree harvest money a public issue.

The Cimmarustis will be leaving at the end of February and the airport will be without services until a new FBO can be found. Of course, the County can spend more tax dollars to give temporary service in some instances.

Democracy is rule by majority - or in this case - rule by a small minority in Placerville who sway certain supervisors to do stupid things. Our system of government may be the best in the world, but it still leads to stupid decisions. We must use the democratic process properly, like planning before taking action. Three supervisors have been very stupid.

Democracy usually means due process. When someone is accused, they should be given the opportunity to address the accusation. In this case, the Cimmarustis were removed without the opportunity to respond to their accusers. This is not in accord with what is supposed to be proper procedure in this country.

The County could be successfully sued for its behavior. A lawsuit is expensive and probably out of the question, so the County feels it can get away with its unethical behavior. The County thinks it has won by removing the Cimmarustis, but the people will not give up the Georgetown Airport and strong efforts against the County will continue until the real problem is properly addressed and resolved. We need details from County Staff as to how fuel is to be provided at the airport.

Borelli was here at the GAAC meeting of 11/19/02 and knew full well what an overwhelming majority of Divide residents wanted. Yet he voted against this majority.

The Georgetown Airport has a campground and has had better service which the Cimmarustis have provided. It has been an "end airport" where pilots can land, refuel, have a ride into town and back, stay at local motels, and have excellent maintenance performed on their aircraft. Are those at the Placerville Airport jealous?

Why is the Airport Operations Supervisor no longer attending GAAC meetings? Why is Brian the only one present in his behalf? Craven stated that Brian is the one who visits the Georgetown Airport for the County and is the most knowledgeable about the airport.

What does Brian actually do? Brian stated that he is an Airport Tech II. Fine, but what does he actually do. Brian stated that he inspects the airport for safety violations and maintenance problems and changes light bulbs that have burned out. How much time does Brian actually spend at the Airport doing his job?

It was requested that the three adverse supervisors come to a GAAC meeting and explain the logic behind their actions. They did not represent the Divide and are outsiders. It was requested that the GAAC make a formal request, in a nice way, that they explain their actions. Someone had volunteered to word such a request.

Dupray had indicated that the correct services would be specified in the RFP and they are not in it.

At the next week's meeting, the GAAC wants a "game plan" from the County for furnishing fuel at the airport.

Staff was thanked for at least trying to create a new lease for the Cimmarustis.

The Divide residents need the truth from the three adverse supervisors as why they acted as they did. It was mentioned that they would not provide anyone with the truth, that the correct process is to lobby them. It was stated that they do not return phone calls or e-mail - or grant requests for meeting face-to-face. They broke their oaths of office in performing vindictive acts which cost the county money. They had nothing to gain from voting as they did. Possibly they were given misinformation. A supervisor is allowed to come back to the issue and address it correctly. These supervisors would probably be incapable of admitting that they had made a mistake. [Many less complimentary things were said regarding the actions of the three supervisors, but will not be shown here.]

Cost Report

A cost report is needed from now on for both airports showing what has been budgeted, what has been spent, and the back-up information on the spending showing such things as actual hours, people claiming to have used them, and what they actually did. Craven agreed to furnish this.

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