March 16, 2001

CEO Vernon Jones
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur GA 30030

Re: Establishing Written Policies for PDK Airport

Dear CEO Jones:

Thank you for taking the time to listen and respond to Ms. Evelyn Brethour’s suggestion for establishing written policies for PDK Airport. I support your commitment to establish written policies for improving community airport relations.

After spending a considerable time meeting with members of the airport advisory board, my commissioners, neighborhood leaders and community activists I compiled the attached list. This list in my opinion represents topics and issues that the community wants to see memorialized in written policies.  The community wholeheartedly and enthusiastically embraced your commitment to provide written airport operations policies. Addressing these issues will be a significant step forward in the community's perception of providing positive change at the airport.

For each policy, the community requests a statement of the goal and purpose of the policy followed by the procedure to reach the goal.  Where appropriate, I listed specific issues that the community wanted the policy to include.  To make these policies meaningful, the community requests the procedures for each policy include criteria, which will allow citizens to learn if the county is meeting its established goal.

My understanding after speaking to Ms. Evelyn Brethour is that the Airport management will seek ideas from the Airport Advisory Board on these polices.  In addition, before completing these policies, I recommend the Airport management conduct a public meeting seeking input from the citizens impacted by airport operations. This meeting will allow each concerned citizen an opportunity to provide comment and be part of this constructive and healing process for the community.

I look forward to seeing written policies and procedures that both the county government and the county governed can embrace.  On behalf of the any community leaders I spoke with while compiling this list, I wish to convey my heartfelt thanks to you.  We all appreciate your willingness to work with the community to improve our quality of life.  We trust these efforts will make DeKalb County a more livable community.

                    Sincerely yours,

                    Jacq Marie Jack
                   Airport Advisory Board Member
                   2246 Tanglewood Cir NE
                   Atlanta, Georgia 30345-2324

Attachment

cc: DeKalb County of Board of Commissioners

The Community requests written policies in the following five areas:

1. Public Service
Goal: Show that the Airport Director and staff work for and serves the citizens of DeKalb County.

Specific issues: Airport Director and staff shall commit to:

     a)  reveal to the community any airport or airport-related activity that affects the quality of life of the surrounding community,

     b)  maintain an arm's length relationship with people and organizations that have a current or potential business relationship with PDK,

     c)  respond openly, completely and punctually to citizens' concerns,

     d)   seek ideas and use appropriate, well-reasoned suggestions and recommendations from the Airport Advisory Board and from concerned citizens on matters of airport policy and operations,

     e)  forward recommendations and motions from the Airport Advisory Board to the CEO and Board of Commissioners,

     f)  have available for the citizens, Airport Advisory Board members and Board of Commissioners all FAA rules and regulations that have a direct impact on decision-making,

     g)  provide to each citizen, free of charge, during normal business hours the opportunity to review requested airport records, charge actual cost for copying records.

2.  Leasing and Contracting
Goal: Execute and manage leases prudently and without bias to achieve the maximum economic return to PDK Airport.

Procedures shall include:

     a)  establish detailed business plans, (1 year, 5 year projected, 10 year projected, 20 year projected)

     b)  advertise competitive solicitations,

     c)  established evaluation process (due diligence) of proposals

     d)  enforce escalation clauses in all leases,

     e) have an outside organization perform annual audits financial statements; and implement recommendations made by these auditors.

     f)  establish internal control mechanisms to assure all contracts are being invoiced in compliance with the terms of the contract, federal grant assurances and any other applicable obligation.

     g) establish collection and write-off process

3. Flight Operations
Goal: To operate the airport safely as possible in compliance with all applicable Federal, State and County laws, regulations, executive orders, policies, guidelines,  resolutions, contractual agreements, and etc. while maintaining the quality of life for citizens of DeKalb.

     I. Safety
     Specific issues:
          a) establish internal control system to identify breaches in aviation safety as quickly as possible, this would include but is not limited to : minimum altitude, distance between planes, etc.

          b) to encourage compliance, make available to the public reports of violations of aviation safety on a scheduled basis listing the owner and operator of the violating plane.

     II. Noise Pollution
     Goal: Minimize all non-emergency night flights and intrusive daytime noise(above 65 decibels/2 sec.)

          Procedures shall include:
          a) reporting the owner/operator/lessee of the offending airplane on the airport web page along with their explanation of why they violated the voluntary night restriction or noise threshold.

          b) detail steps ranging from identification of violation to formal admonishment  by the Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County.

          c. provide schedule for implementing noise attenuation program proposed in the Part 150 Study including statement of funding source,

          d. provide schedule for conducting a Part 161 Study night restriction study,

           e. provide schedule for implementing Part 150 noise recommendation to review annually, effectiveness of noise compatibility program implementation and changes in noise exposure.


     III. Flight Patterns
     Goal: Improve established flight patterns, recognizing the safety of our children  and the quality of life are paramount.

          a) establish policy that schools will not be in flight pattern.

          b) establish policy that encourages aircraft to fly over commercial property.

          c) establish policy to direct repetitive flyovers and touch and go operations over commercial areas and request flight schools to use outlying fields for training and practice flights.

     IV Air Pollution
     Goal: Reduce the amount of air engine pollutants from entering the atmosphere particularly during the ozone season.

 4. Master Plan
Goal: Assure the community that Airport Director follows the DeKalb Airport Master Plan.
Specific issues:
      a) Airport staff  shall consider the approved and adopted Airport Master Plan as established County policy in all of its decision-making.

      b) policy shall contain language that in the event the Airport Director chooses to deviate from the master plan, he may do so only after a public meeting and with the permission of the Board of Commissioners.

5. Obligations and Responsibilities
Goal: Provide formal assurances to the community that the Airport Management complies with all laws, policies, procedures, executive orders, grants, contracts, code of ethics, etc., as they relate to the airport.

Procedures shall include:
     a) an internal control system that identifies breaches in upholding the above as early as possible.

     b) frequent reporting on the status of compliance to assure the community that the airport management is managing the airport soundly.