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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/20/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (16) DATE: December 20, 2000 TO: City Council FROM: Safety, Special Programs & Enforcement Manager WAVIER OF FEES FOR UAW-GM CONFERENCE TRAINING EVENT RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council waive fees for the rental of closed Taxiway"A" at Palm Springs International Airport, in the amount of$4,000.00, for certain dates during the period January 7, 2001 through February 4, 2001. SUMMARY: The requested action would relieve United Auto Workers - General Motors (UAW-GM) of the financial responsibility for the rental of certain Airport facilities in consideration of their commitment to the City of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. BACKGROUND: For the past three years UAW-GM has conducted their national leadership conference at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. One of the workshops for conference attendees has been a behind-the-wheel course of instruction in accident avoidance techniques that has been held on a section of decommissioned taxiway at the airport.When slots were available, City personnel were allowed to participate in the training. The first year, approximately 150 staff members received this very valuable instruction at no cost to the City.Additionally, several students from local high schools were asked to participate. The training they received is not available anywhere else in the valley at any cost. Members of the media spent several hours filming and participating in this event which received considerable air time. Lastyear,training was expanded to include skid control and off-road recovery methods. General Motors contributed$10,925.00 toward the improvements that were required forthese exercises. During last year's conference, eight City employees completed the General Motors Advanced Driver Training Instructor Course and now utilize these facilities to provide training for other City employees and volunteers during the remainderof the year. In coordinating that event, I worked closely with the GM staff, which allowed me the opportunity to receive several hours of additional training in instructing skid control techniques. Again, at no cost to the City. In conjunction with last year's event,UAW-GM conducted an infant car seat inspection program at City Hall. Local residents were invited to bring their children, or grandchildren, to learn the proper method of securing their car seats.Those car seats found to be inadequate or otherwise inappropriate were replaced with new car seats free of charge. There was also a strong media presence during this event.The car seat inspection program will be conducted again this year. When the skid pad was constructed, a material was used that, unfortunately, did not hold up well. A local paving specialist was consulted to find a better solution and the skid pad was resurfaced at a cost of$2,600.00 to General Motors. This improved surface is guaranteed to stand up better to the elements and will be utilized by City training personnel after the conference has ended. 1144 Wavier of Fees for UAW-GM Conference Training Event December 20, 2000 Page Two Although this year's conference is scheduled for the period January 7, 2001 through February 4, 2001,the taxiway will not be utilized for the conference the entire time. UAW-GM will conduct training for their personnel on January 8111 through the 1011, January 1811 through the 20" and January 251h through the 261h. Training for City Police personnel will be conducted on January 11th and 121h and training for local high school students will be conducted on January 22ndand 23`d. Rental for the eight days that UAW-GM will be using the taxiway for their own personnel would amount to $4,000.00, or $500 per day. It is recommended that, in light of the considerable community benefit provided by this conference and the commitment to providing the City with an excellent training facility, fees for the rental of this property be waived. Lawrence D. Wedekind arry Griffith Safety, Special Programs & Enforcement Manager Acting Director of Aviation APPROV `�s� City Manager Attachment: REVIEWED BY DEPT.OF FINANCE 1. Minute Order MINUTE ORDER NO. AUTHORIZING THE WAVIER OF FEES FOR THE RENTAL OF DECOMMISSIONED TAXIWAY "A" AT PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, INTHEAMOUNT OF $4,000, FOR CERTAIN DATES DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 7, 2001 THROUGH FEBRUARY 4, 2001. I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, authorizing the wavier of fees for the rental of decommissioned Taxiway"A"at Palm Springs International Airport, in the amount of$4,000, for certain dates during the period January 7, 2001 through February 4,2001,was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, in a meeting thereof held on the 20th day of December, 2000. PATRICIA A. SANDERS City Clerk