Wasilla: Airport Advisory Commission Regular - 15 Oct 2026

Pledge allegiance, huh?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. With not having quorum tonight, approval of minutes, we will postpone. Okay. All right, so that takes us to staff reports. I don't think this is going to work for me.

You know what I'll do? Don't worry about it, I'll use this one since Kevin's on here.

Is that better? Yeah, much better. Okay.

Um, if it's all right with— well, actually, so I'll get started because we're going to talk about a couple things in new business, but there's no actions. So as you know, we hosted the President of the United States at the Menard Center, but a lot of people don't know that he landed at the airport with his Marine One and his, uh, backup and 3 Chinooks. So that's pretty, pretty exciting. And so that— I don't know how often he lands at little GA airports like ourselves. So that's pretty exciting.

We put together that program in 5 days. And so it was unbelievably time-consuming. And with the police department and working with Secret Service and all of the other security measures that had to go through. Um, Scott Bell, the director of the facility, just pulled out all the stops, and we had a lot of great local partners. So we had Big Dipper Construction, Parks and Properties, Roads, the airport crew, and the utilities crew just from Public Works helping.

And, uh, we had heavy equipment out there that was serving as kind of barricading for different purposes. And then we had to move planes at the airport because we knew that the down drafts from the helicopters were going to be problematic in the first few rows. So we really appreciate the customers being responsive and helping us with that. And then we closed the gates, of course, because we knew that Secret Service was going to need a bunch of control.

So, um, trying to think if they're— oh, so another update I'll give you is the Taxiway Kilo project is proceeding, progressing, but we've given ought to have an extension until the middle of next July to finish it. They had— they lost a month in the beginning of the season because of how deep the frost was, and then they just kept running into rain delays. The material out there is very silty, and so it would— it would finally dry out and they'd get some good production, and then it'd rain again and it'd get really slippery and slimy. And so it just really slowed them down. So in the vein of getting the best product and not pushing paving into this late of the season.

We didn't want to walk away with a substandard product. We're going to work with them on the timing of that so that it's ready for next summer.

And thankfully, since we don't have any users that need to be over there, it'll work out just fine and we'll be really satisfied with the product.

So they're working towards a logical winter shutdown and kind of buttoning it up so that they start in a good spot in the spring, and then we'll see asphalt. So there will be some impacts for a few days over on the approach as they have to pave up against the runway. So we'll, we'll be sure to give the public ample opportunity or heads up on when those temporary closures will happen as they are in the safety zone for paving. But it should be very minor compared to the evening closures that we've had for the project. We appreciate the public's understanding as we affected flight during the summer, you know, when it was still light out.

Yeah, I think those are my staff reports for now. Appreciate it. All right, public comment. Anybody like to speak on something that's not on the agenda tonight?

No?

All right. Hearing that, we will move on. We have no unfinished business to move through.

We can move up to new business.

All right, thank you. So, the first topic tonight is the Airport Master Plan approval. You know, it was a 2.5-year process to get through the master plan renewal, went through FAA, and bulk of it was actually paid for by Senator Murkowski providing the city with an earmark. And so we came away with a very robust master plan that was passed by the council at Monday's October 12th council meeting. So they, agreed to it, and that was really important for moving ahead with the projects that are outlined in that.

And then also there, you know, there's a rate component to it. The Airport Advisory Commission has been involved with talking about the need to increase rates because of the deficit in revenue versus expenses. And so the first step was getting through all of the review of expenses and where the airport wants to go with that master plan. And so what will happen next is that our new finance director is scheduling to discuss rates with the council in the first November meeting with— let me look that up real quick. I believe the plan right now is to bring that forward to the council for the I think it's the November 9th meeting, the second meeting in November.

So, second Monday meeting in November, and then there'll also be a 23rd, November 23rd meeting. So, if it gets delayed, it might move to the second one. But right now, schedule is to talk about it at the 9th meeting.

One of the things that happened In the middle of having the master plan approved by the council, the FAA also found that our 5,100-foot runway extension is now AIP eligible, which means that we— our forecast and our need statement has been accepted by the planning section within FAA. And the engineering section. And so they agree that it's worth the federal government to join us in the cost of extending to 5,100 feet, which is a huge deal because it's a $20 million project and the federal government will pay for 96% of it. And so that's what we've been striving for with, um, you know, working with our new partners at the airport and, and trying to find, um, you know, last year when we were doing the, uh, during the winter when we were doing the runway condition assessments every day so that we could try to get some diversions and, you know, be ready for life flight, that sort of thing, it was always to drive the number of, of, uh, B-2 aircraft uses up so that, um, the FAA would, would see that and agree that those flights warrant the, uh, financial cost of extending the runway. So we're super excited about that.

What it also means is that some of the properties that we've already purchased in the RSA on the end of Runway 22 will be reimbursed to the city. So we're going through the, uh, mathematical calculations of the portions of the properties that we bought that have to be in the RSA. And we could get— we have to prove to the FAA that the whole parcel is needed because the cost of subdividing just the chunk that we need just costs too much. So, you know, there are several property owners that own like 3 parcels And they said, you know, either buy all or none of them. And so we're bringing that data to FAA.

If FAA says no, of the 3, we'll only pay you for 1 of them. That's, that's okay. That's just for right now because of the RSA for the 5,100-foot runway. Our ultimate at 6,000 feet involves even more of those parcels, and we don't lose the opportunity to go back to the FAA when we get to the approved need for a 6,000-foot runway and say, well, you know, we bought that property X many years ago knowing that we'd need it. Now we want you to pay us back for it.

So, you know, we're kind of loaning money to ourselves knowing that we followed the process to be reimbursed by the FAA. So there are 20 parcels that are in different levels of either ownership or negotiation. And then there's different levels of the need now or the need in the future. So we're, you know, there's a lot of spinning plates to inform the FAA and see which properties they will pay outright and which properties they'll pay a portion of, that sort of thing. So that's pretty exciting.

And that kind of takes us into the, I guess, are there any questions on the airport master plan before I talk about the 5,100-foot runway?

So this phase, Taxiway Kilo, and those lots are due to be completed in about next fall, in 1 year. Yeah, their new substantial completion date is the end of July. So, you know, they should be done in August, if not sooner. So what kind of work will be done on Will there be closures, road closures, taxiway closures? So the only remaining closures should be the, maybe some grading right at the end of Runway 04 where the new taxiway will connect, and then when they pave, because there will be incursions into the safety area, and so that's when the closure will happen.

But as far as I understand, they will, they know that they, they only have a limited amount of closure time in the contract, and so they've saved up the last of the days. And I could get an answer on how many have left, but they know they have to have very limited impacts. 90% Of the work is outside of the safety area and it won't have any closures associated with it.

Thanks. Thank you. Any other questions on that? Okay, so on the 5,100-foot runway, we kind of talked about it. Right now what we're doing is we're in the middle of the environmental review, which is called a NEPA process.

So we've had a kickoff public meeting and they are, they did a cultural study that looked at basically all the land in the airport boundary so that we don't, we didn't want to exclude anything because once you do it, it's a document that you use moving forward. So we wanted to do it all at once so it was a cohesive document for the airport. So I haven't seen the whole report yet, but my understanding is they didn't find any cultural resources that require relocation or anything like that, but they've documented that they looked everywhere. And so there's nothing that's really being impacted. There are other studies that we will start to do over the, over the winter, and then there'll be a spring study that has to be done when there's leaves on the trees.

We didn't have enough time after The FAA said that we're eligible to stand up that contract with HDL, who's our airport consultant. So we'll get a bunch of winter work done and then we'll do the leaf-on surveys they have to do. And then the goal is to be done with that environmental review about the same time the Taxiway Kilo is done. So they're shooting for the end of July because the— we then take that information and we use it to apply for the 5100 extension with FAA, because this is all done through grants. And so we say, hey FAA, uh, you said it's eligible, we got the, uh, environmental work done, um, we want to have a grant to design and build it.

And so we also probably want to get into a contract with HDL to design it, and then we get reimbursed for it. So there will probably need to be some advisory commission support through a resolution to the city council that says, you know, we want, we want you to front-load the money, and we know the FAA will pay for it because it's AIP eligible. So I'll be bringing some legislation back to the AAC, uh, probably around the first of the year is what I'm thinking, after the holidays, so that we can, uh Maybe sooner, but it would be really helpful for the Advisory Commission to ask the council to move ahead with that. And then the project will not only extend the runway, it'll rehab— sorry, talking to my hands— it'll rehab the rest of the runway. So the end of the project, we'd have an almost brand new looking runway.

We'd have the extension and then whatever the rehab's necessary on the existing portion. It'll be the same width. Um, when we get to the 6,000-foot runway, then it will move from a 75-foot runway to, uh, at least 100. I know we want more, but, um, the width will change with the 6,000-foot runway. And then we'll have a new taxiway to get to the end of the new 5,100-foot runway.

Um, and then we have, uh, some culvert work that we need to do. Some of the culverts under the hardstands that lead from the west. Those are not in great shape, so we need to start looking at lining those. So there's some deferred maintenance that we need to deal with too. So those are in the kind of short-term AIP projects that FAA will help us with at least some of it.

So can I answer any questions on that?

So we talked before about the west and that big ditch. Will that be filled in? Yeah, that's something that we've included. Okay,. We know that's a safety concern, and so that work will have some drainage improvements because we'll need to, uh, probably put a pipe in and then have some area drains, and then we can fill it in.

And then, so the runway approach lights, they have to move those back for the 5100? Yep. So we've already, we've already signed the, um, there's a term for it, but it's a reimbursable agreement with the FAA for them to design and figure out the new geometry of the new PAPIs. Um, the— so we'll still have PAPIs on the 22 side. They don't anticipate wanting to install PAPIs on the 04, and unless we want to pay for them ourselves, we'll probably just only have the 22 PAPIs, and they'll move to the right distance from the threshold.

And then the edge lighting and the rest of the lighting will adjust so that it meets the standards for the new airport. Are we going to do any more upgrades to systems like a TAF with this? So that's a great question. I, and I think there's still opportunity to address that. Um, I don't know, I have to do more research.

I know we've talked about it in the past and I've brought it up, but I can't remember if— I think FAA had kind of a gap in who would be responsible for that. So I'll bring that back up and figure out who our coordination point would be with FAA for TAFT. Okay.

Any other questions for me?

I'm good.

Great.

After that, any other public comment on things that happened today, discussed?

You would state your name and write your name and contact information on the signup sheet there. Yeah, push that red button. Sign in first,. Whatever order you want.

Hello, my name is Bridger Herman and I lease a hangar at the Wasilla Airport, and I guess I have two kind of questions. Uh, first one is, um, is there a discussion or a plan to return to like normal business hour, normal open hours for Gate C at the airport, obviously? And then second question is regarding the runway extension Are there any— and maybe I missed it in the master plan— but are there any plans to, uh, run another taxiway on the 22N near the end of the new end of the runway?

Those are kind of my two questions, I guess. Yeah, so I'll take the last question first. So yes, when the 22N moves, it'll have a parallel taxiway that gets you down to the new threshold. So right now it ends at the The gravel, it basically ends at the Compass Rose. Threshold.

Yeah, that'll extend all the way down. Yep. Okay, thanks. And then back to the gate question, um, we are going to reopen the gate, uh, because I know that customers can't get in and then the garbage truck can't get in. So we're trying to figure out, um, if the— I'm not sold on it being 7 to 7.

It might be a little less than that because of, you know, we've been fighting security concerns and the moose get in and that sort of thing, but we do realize that it's inconvenient. So working with the operations staff to figure out what a balanced approach is. If you have access issues, uh, you can give us a call at the main office and we can set up guest passes until we— one of the things we had happen was a couple, especially during the Cedar Service visit, they had us take things offline for control, and some of them didn't come back up very reliably. So now we've got some things to fix. But yeah, we understand the impacts to the customers.

Yeah, well, and I appreciate the dialogue on it. You know, security is important. Um, and in years past, I was reading the last minutes that there was, uh, an incursion back in August I wasn't aware of. But in years past, I have called Wasilla Police regarding, uh, people racing dirt bikes in the evening after gate closure times, racing dirt bikes inside the airport on the taxiway.

I don't know if I ever saw him on the runway, but so security is important, but at least having some kind of open hours for, for those of us inside the fence, for UPS, FedEx deliveries, for customers to make appointments to come in and everything. Yeah, that's definitely important for us inside the perimeter. Yep. It's a— we understand. We're always open to suggestions too, because if there is a way to balance security so that we don't have that kind of activity and people stealing fuel, and, uh, but having the right amount of access for deliveries and the garbage trucks and, and out of, out of town visitors that, you know, won't be around needing stickers all the time.

We'd love to hear some insight and just systems that work good at other airports that we should replicate. We'd love to get that kind of feedback too. Yep. Awesome. Thank you.

Thanks for coming tonight.

We have any other public or, uh, staff member comments or chair members comments?

I have one other thing I wanted to share. Um, we have made, uh substantial progress with mapping our water and sewer infrastructure through the Water Master Plan and the Sewer Master Plan. And so we have some really exciting maps that are accurate and useful and give us counts on different items, like the number of pump vaults that we have and stuff. So I'm really excited to be able to show the council the full extent of our infrastructure, and it links to our work order system too. And so we just have this really nice connection now where you can be on site looking for, you know, because especially sewer stuff is underground, so is water.

So to have highly accurate and illustrative maps that are right are very good for winter operations and just getting new people on the team up to speed faster and stuff. But then it's also very handy because we can keep track of how old stuff is, and then we can show council, you know, that we have an impending issue with the age of water lines and that sort of stuff as we get better and better at asset management. And so, um, the airport doesn't have a lot of infrastructure that we map on the water and sewer side. There's only a few hangers that have city water, but part of the new contract with HDL is to build a map We have a map that FAA wants for our facilities, but it's not useful for anything other than a static drawing. And so we're going to have some really nice GIS mapping for the airport so that we can do a better job with managing tie-down spaces and explaining to visitors where the transient is.

And, you know, so we understand, we just have more professional-looking mapping. And what I want to do is roll it into a better, system for working through our waitlist. So that the ultimate goal is to have a system where people on the waitlist can be very strategic and specific about where they want to be, and it can be more managed where they control, uh, their requests. And when it becomes open, they are alerted in whatever form they wanted, whether it's a text or an email or something, and then they can choose because right now it's very labor-intensive and cumbersome to call everyone and try to describe where it is. And I'd rather have people be, have the ownership of the sections that they want, or if they wanna, I also wanna wait for people to line up being next to their friends or family and let them kind of organize how they want to without us having to get really involved.

So that's a huge wish list, but I am making some progress and kind of getting my hands around how we do that. And so I'm hopeful over the winter we can have some progress and have some pretty neat updated systems in the summer. Do we have any plans for water going down to the West End more? We do, yeah. We have a little bit of money, um, to extend utilities, and that is the goal.

Um, we'll need to work with the hangar owners at the end to make sure we know how many want it, but it is definitely, you know, if no one at the D gate wanted water, we're still going to get down to at least C gate so that we can go up into the, um, the wooded area. Gotcha. And it goes all the way back up towards Museum Drive, but eventually we're going to have utilities through the whole airport. It'll just kind of be who wants it first and can't, because, you know, that'll be a cost that the council has to support.

So,.

So any plans for Wings Over Wasilla? So, nothing official yet. I know that there's a desire for that.

So we'll see from the new mayor, Mayor Rubeo, if that's something that we plan for this next year or if it's, you know, want to have a good structure if that comes back to the Wasilla Airport.

Any other comments that we'd like tonight?

There's no objections to that. I'd say we adjourn this meeting. Okay, be 6:35 during the meeting. Thanks for coming tonight.