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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAudience Comments voGTON SEAp 4 Renton Airport AOPAAdvisory Committee ==- , your freedom to flyPILOTS ASSOCIATION CITY OF RENTO December 10, 2018 DEC 1 0 2018 Mayor Denis Law RECEIVED Renton City Council CITY CLERKS OFFICE 1055 S. Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 Subject: Renton Municipal Airport Master Plan Update Dear Mayor Law and City Council Members, We are Warren Hendrickson, NW Mountain Regional Manager for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Stephen Ratzlaff, President of the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association (WSPA), and Marleen Mandt, Chair of the Renton Airport Advisory Committee (RAAC). AOPA is world's largest general aviation organization with over 10,000 members in Washington State and 466 based at Renton Municipal Airport. The Will Rogers Wiley Post Memorial Seaplane Base is the largest such facility in Washington State and the one most used by WSPA members. As you know, the RAAC has been formally serving the last four years as the Planning Advisory Committee for the airport's Master Plan Update. Aware that the City Council will soon choose a preferred airside alternative for the airport as part of the Master Plan Update process, we wish to make the following points— echoing in part the verbal comments Warren Hendrickson made at the December 3rd City Council meeting. • The public process and level of stakeholder involvement exhibited to date by the City has fallen woefully short of our collective expectations. The city staff recommendation for Alternative 5 as the preferred alternative is disrespectful of the four years of time, effort, and thoughtful deliberations of the Renton Airport Advisory Committee (RAAC). Not a single member of the RAAC voted for Alternative 5 at its October 16, 2018 meeting. • City staff acknowledges that Alternative 5 offers the fewest benefits toward the Master Plan's objectives. For these reasons, we support Alternative 4 and Alternative 6, in that order, as the more appropriate options for the preferred alternative—mirroring the recommendation made by the RAAC. • We acknowledge that, for the first time in four years, following public comments made at the December 3, 2018 City Council meeting, that Master Plan Update documents have been posted on the City's airport website page. While long overdue, thank you for that improvement. • The lack of a WSPA representative on the RAAC is a major stakeholder deficiency that must be corrected as soon as possible. • The next step in the process in early 2019 will be deliberations for a preferred landside alternative. This alternative must strongly consider both: o General aviation's future facilities at the airport, and o Potentially relocated seaplane base facilities- in whole or in part. • There is a significant opportunity to chart a course which will enhance the Renton Airport environment and surrounding community, particularly on the west side. A great example is the seaplane base at Tavares, Florida. In the Tavares example, the seaplane base development has spawned a series of other improvements to the city and the airport, including a hotel, restaurant and new businesses. Accordingly, the following needs must be immediately addressed as the process continues to move forward: • A specifically-designated WSPA slot must be made available on the RAAC. This can be done in one of two ways, either by increasing the RAAC membership by one such slot(with primary and alternate members) or by redesignating one of the two at-large RAAC positions as a WSPA slot (again, with primary and alternate members). A simple amendment to the authorizing city ordinance is all that will be required to enact this improvement. • A level of public and stakeholder involvement that far exceeds what has been observed to date. • Publication of ALL existing and future pertinent documents and alternatives relating to the Master Plan Update on the city's website. Make no mistake, the Master Plan Update-and specifically the Airport Layout Plan -will chart the future of Renton Municipal Airport for the next decade and more. Only with improved public and stakeholder involvement can the best outcome be achieved. Rest assured that AOPA and WSPA will remain fully engaged. We greatly appreciate the work the RAAC has done thus far and we encourage the staff and elected leadership of the City of Renton to heed their skilled and highly valued input. Sincerely, Warren Hendrickson Stephen Ratzlaff NW Mountain Regional Manager President Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Washington Seaplane Pilots Association warren.hendrickson(a.aopa.orq stephena.orderport.net IYtt, t. - Marleen Mandt Chair Renton Airport Advisory Committee mkmandt(c�co mcast.net Ciry f F RENTON Mayor Denis Law DEC Renton City Council REC1 O 20i� Renton1055 S Y 98057rady Way OITy CLERMS OFFicE Dear Mayor Law It was 4 year plus since the RAAC accepted responsibility to study and provide recommendations back to Council on the Airport Master Plan. On 19 October the RAAC met, reviewed the three alternatives, took both a hand vote and roll call vote. Of the three alternatives, alternatives 4 received the most votes, followed by alternative 6, alternative 5 received a no vote. I would like to call to your attention alternative 4 received an equal split between neighborhood and airport representatives which is an important consideration. I voted for alternative 6 based on the safety aspect by having EMAS on both ends of the runway. Looking back, I would have voted for alternative 4, the reason being with the narrowing of the existing runway width it takes away from the tenants the necessary space to run their business. By moving south (Alternative 4) of the runway you ensure the land does not go to new construction or development at a later time. If the city is looking at long term solutions for the airport, it makes sense to buy land south of the airport since several businesses on Airport Way have gone out of business making it easier for the city to purchase and hold the land for future consideration for airport land use (need for hangers and tie-down space). Alternative 4 would enable the Airport Master Plan the safety zone required by FAA and necessary space for General Aviation hangers and tie-downs. Marleen Mandt