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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Airport Board - 01/07/2004 CORPUSCHRISTI INTERNATIONAL Minutes AIRPORT Airport Board Meeting January 7,2004 Board Members Present City/Airport Staff Present Jerry Kane, Chair Dave Hamrick,Director Mark Meyer,Member Debra Keller,Assistant Director Ramiro Gamboa, Member Roy Rodriguez,Facility Manager J. C. Ayala, Member Terence Whatley, Operations Manager Nelda Martinez, Member Hector Hinojosa,Finance/Admin. Manager Glenn Lyons, Member John Valls, Business Development Analyst Jan Rehler,Member Celina Pulcher,Management Assistant Board Members Absent Airport Construction Project Representatives Ed Hicks, Vice-Chair- Excused Willard Hammonds-Excused Captain Frank(Rocco)Montesano -Excused The meeting was called to order at 3:37 p.m. by Chair Kane. Approval of Minutes Chair Kane called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Airport Board meeting held November 12, 2003. Member Rehler moved to approve the minutes of November 12th. Member Meyer seconded the motion. The motion passed. Introduction of Guests None Action Items 1. Motion recommending an ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee to execute a non-signatory Airline Operating Agreement with Allegiant Air, Inc. to provide non-stop air service to Las Vegas,Nevada, for a term of one year with renewal terms and providing various incentives; and declaring an emergency. Chair Kane commented on the positive effects of this recommendation.Dave Hamrick, Director of Aviation,offered some background to the agreement. The item was to go Council Airport Board Minutes danuary 7,2004 Page 2 of 5 on the 131 of January,but has been rescheduled to the 271 due to a scheduling conflict on Allegiant's end. The company is requesting that the deal remain low-key until everything is complete. Anticipated start date of operations is May 51, approx. 90 days after Council, to give the company an opportunity to capture passengers for the initial flights. Brief discussion was had regarding connecting flights and it was established that connection flights were available on different airlines from Las Vegas.Debra Keller,Assistant Director of Aviation, stated that the initial flight schedule from Allegiant will contain five flights out of Corpus, until revenues prove it to be inoperable. After no further discussion on this item, Chair Kane called for a motion on Item#1. Member Lyons moved to approve item#2. Member Meyer seconded the motion. Motion was passed. 2. Motion recommending an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances Chapter 9, Aviation to change the landing fee for non-scheduled commercial aircraft and the definition of commercial aircraft;providing for serverance;providing an effective date; and providing for publication; and declaring an emergency. Mr. Hamrick, stated that due to the fact that the Ordinance is 15 years old and has not been updated,we are in need of changing this ordinance in order to clarify our definitions of signatory and non-signatory. The ordinance will offer a better distinction between signatory and non-signatory aircraft according to weight of the aircraft,as well as,reducing the non- scheduled commercial aircraft landing fees from 150%down to a more reasonable 125%. Mr. Hamrick expressed his feelings on this change and its' positive effects on the Airport's airlines. Chair Kane requested for all in favor of the motion. All agreed, none opposed and the motion was carried. 3. Motion recommending and authorizing City Manager, or his designee, to execute Change Order No. 54 in the amount of$1,250,000, for Project 1071, Corpus Christi International Airport - Terminal Construction Project Program 2000 with Fulton Construction/Coastcon Incorporated,A Joint Venture. Mr. Hamrick explained that this change order took care of the new area for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Inspection Station (FIS), in addition to the newly revised public area. With this build-out, additional space is now available that was not in the original design of the terminal which we will utilize for retail. Mr. Hamrick further explained that after intense negotiations with Fulton regarding the build- out, it was decided that they would finish the construction and the extended overhead and end the contract,then, for the remaining areas,the Airport would bid out for a new contract. Chair Kane asked about the locations of these areas in accordance to checkpoint. Mr. Hamrick replied that the business center would be pre-checkpoint and the gift shop, post checkpoint. Currently the gift shop is in Gate I and we will move them to build-out Gate 1 in anticipation of international service. Delta, which is currently in Gate 4 will be moved to Gate 1 and it will allow us to use the Gate 4 area to deplane people from the downstairs through customs and bring them upstairs pre-checkpoint. Gate 4 will be used primarily for W .t irpari Board Minutes January 7.2004 Page 3 of S deplaning of international passengers and for diversions. In the case of disabled passengers, the Airlines will be primarily ground loading which will allow direct access to the customs area and also, elevators are available in the case of other scenarios. Member Martinez questioned the funding of this project and Mr.Hamrick replied that the funding was available in the Terminal Reconstruction Fund,with the largest share of it being Grant money. The FAA has agreed on this construction and it is grant fundable and we already have the grant money basically ready to draw for this. After no further discussion on this item,Chair Kane called for all in favor of the motion. All agreed, no one opposed and the motion was carried. 4. Motion recommending approving the purchase of a 12-passenger Ford E350 Van and a Ford Police interceptor Crown Victoria vehicle from the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments(HGAC), for the total amount of$37,974.75.The award is based on the cooperative purchasing agreement with HGAC. These vehicles will be used by the Aviation Department. Funds are available in FY2003-2004 Aviation Capital Reserve Fund 4611 Budget. The van is an addition to the fleet and the vehicle is replacement to the fleet. Upon discussion of this item,Mr. Hamrick stated that the airport tried to get a wheelchair accessible EZ-Go or van but due to cost and accessiblity, it was not achievable. After discussions with Linda Watson from the RTA,the RTA has offered to give the Airport an accessible van on loan that will be available in a couple of months. Member Lyons asked for a quicker timeline and it was decided that the Airport would try to accelerate the process. Questions were asked regarding HGAC and Mrs.Keller explained the process. After no further discussion on this item,Chair Kane called for all in favor of the motion.All agreed, no one opposed and the motion was carried. S. a. Motion recommending a Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept a Federal Aviation Administration Multi-Year Entitlement Grant for Fiscal Years 2004- 2007, for the approximate amount of$12,900,000 for Airport Capital Improvement Projects. b. Motion recommending an Ordinance appropriating approximately$12,900,000 from a Federal Aviation Administration Multi-year Entitlement Grant for Fiscal Years 2004- 2007, into Airport CIP,Fund 3020, for Airport Capital Improvement Projects. Mr. Hamrick explained that the Airport has received verbal notification from the FAA that we would be offered a four-year entitlement grant to the airport for$12.9 which amounts to a doubling of our entitlement monies for fiscal years 2004-2007,which can be used for capital projects. Although the offer has not been officially granted,due to the FAA's quick deadlines and turnarounds, this item needed to be presented ahead of time. Chair Kane called for a motion to approve Item#5,both A and B. Member Lyons moved to approve this item.Member Martinez seconded the motion. The motion was passed. Airport Board Minutes January 7,2004 Page 4 of 5 6. Motion recommending authorizing the City Manager,or his designee, to execute Amendment No. 17 to the architectural/engineering services contract with M.Arthur Gensler, Jr. and Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed$143,870 for additional construction phase services for the Corpus Christi International Airport Terminal project(Project No. I071). Mr. Hamrick gave a brief explanation on the cost and stated that it was on an hourly cost for a 26-week period.He also added that the resident engineer,Mr. Ralph Zapata,will be assisting in this process. Member Meyer asked for an explanation regarding professional services and service providers on change orders and it was explained that professional services are given more leeway. Chair Kane asked for all in favor of this motion. All agreed,none opposed and the motion was carried. Director's Report 1. Update from Airport Arts Task Force Member Martinez stated that Member Montensano was also a member of the Airport Arts Task Force and after months of considerations,the task force was down to two finalists. Debra Mersky,who works with metal and more realist concepts, and Shan Shan Sheng, who works with polyresin and more abstract concepts. The Task Force will be meeting on the 141" of January to cast their final vote. She commented on how fair the process has been and the diligent work of both Mr. Danny O'Dowdy and Mr. Ronald Sepulveda from the Park and Recreation Department. She is excited about the project and feels we will have something to be very proud of. She also stated that at one point there was a muralist in the finalist pool, but had to be let go due to questionable references.The Task Force has taken into consideration a feel for the community, the area's floral, fauna, and heritage.Member Martinez added that a presentation would be presented at the next Board meeting to further inform the members. 2. Update on Air Service to Monterrey,Mexico Mr. Hamrick stated that they have played phone tag with Aerolitoral and feels it is encouraging.He is planning on meeting with them whether in Monterrey or here and ironing out an agreement so that they may start flying out of here as soon as the FIS area is built. Chair Kane offered that it would be a good idea to have them meet here so they could get a feel of the market. 3. Update TSA &FIS Build-out Chair Kane stated this had been previously covered. 4. Update on Airport Operating Budget Mrs.Keller introduced Mr. Hector Hinojosa,Finance and Administration Manager, for a report on the Airport Operating Budget. Mr. Hinojosa handed out copies of the Airport . la Airport Board Minuees January 7.2004 Page s of 5 Operating Budget and proceeded to go through the numbers with large variances from the projected to the YTD actuals. He stated that the Oil &Gas had been very lucrative and it has helped keep the Airport going. Member Meyer raised the question regarding surplus revenue and where it goes and Mr. Hamrick provided a brief description. Mr. Hamrick spoke of his meeting with the CVB and their new replacement, Mr. Tom Gaylon. He said they met during week and discussed advertising in other cities to get people to fly into Corpus instead of concentrating on the drive market. Mr. Gaylon also offered that we would like to include this on his proposed budget to the board. Board members held open discussion on the airlines flight service and passenger numbers. Construction Update Mr.Hamrick gave a brief report on the progress stating that we have requested an estimate from Fulton Construction to stucco the west end of the terminal facility. Also, Phase 2 of the $680,000 Roadway Project, started this week with surveying and hauling of dirt. Monthly construction reports from AGCM were also handed out. Board Business and Reports Chair Kane asked for a motion to excuse the absent Board Members;Vice-Chair Hicks, Member Hammonds and Member Montesano. Member Martinez made a motion and Member Lyons seconded.All agreed,none opposed and Motion was carried. After no further discussion,the meeting adjourned at 4:50pm.