HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 04/16/2002 - JointI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Joint
Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of April 16, 2002, which were approved by the City
Council on April 23, 2002.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 23rd day of April 2002.
SEAL
Armando Chapa
City Secretary
MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL & AIRPORT BOARD
April 16, 2002 - 12:02 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Pro Tem Brent Chesney
Javier Colmenero*
Henry Garrett
Bill Kelly
Rex Kinnison
John Longoria*
Jesse Noyola
Mark Scott*
City Staff Present
City Manager David R. Garcia
Deputy City Manager George Noe
City Attorney James R. Bray Jr.
City Secretary Armando Chapa
Recording Secretary Rachelle Parry
AIRPORT BOARD
Jerry Kane, Chairman
Abel Alonzo
Chuck Cazalas
Ramiro Gamboa
Nelda Martinez
Mark Meyer
Frank "Rocco" Montesano
J.E. Rehler
ABSENT
Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr.
Willard Hammonds Sr. (Airport)
Ed Hicks Sr. (Airport)
Mayor Pro Tem Chesney called the meeting to order in the Basement Training Room of City
Hall. City Secretary Chapa checked the roll and verified that there was a quorum of both the Council
and the Airport Board and that the meeting had been duly posted.
Mr. Dave Hamrick, Aviation Director, commented about the ongoing construction at Corpus
Christi International Airport (CCIA). He said the new terminal is scheduled to open in October 2002.
*Council Members Colmenero and Longoria arrived at approximately 12:04 p.m. Council
Member Scott arrived at approximately 12:12 p.m.
Mr. Kane thanked the Council for their interest in air service in and out of Corpus Christi.
He said the CCI& has had many accomplishments, including the new terminal, new control tower
and many other improvements. The airport is also faced with different challenges, particularly
following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Mr. Kane said that several issues to consider
are fares, frequency of flights, passenger load factors, "leakage" to other cities (such as San Antonio
and Houston), and maintaining a variety of destinations.
Mr. Kane said the board feels that a strategic, aggressive approach is required to ensure the
viability of the airport, which is a major economic component in the community. He then discussed
the various elements of the strategy: produce a public awareness campaign about the importance of
local air service and encourage short-term sacrifices to ensure long-term service and lower fares;
develop a "help desk" that will provide web -based assistance to local travelers to find the lowest
fares on locally originating flights; work to increase competition; secure assurances that the airlines
Minutes - Joint Meeting
April 16, 2002 - Page 2
will provide sufficient flights as ridership increases; and increase efforts to market Corpus Christi
as a destination. Mr. Kane said the board wants to find out how travel agents can assist in this
strategy. He noted that currently there is no incentive for travel agents to book local flights and
something must be done to help create that incentive.
Mr. Kane then responded to questions from the Council. There was a discussion about the
disparity in rates when flying out of Corpus Christi compared to flying out of San Antonio. It was
noted that many of the less expensive flights from San Antonio are destined for the West Coast and,
in particular, Las Vegas.
The Council asked about the time line of the strategy, including the development of the help
desk. City Manager Garcia said staff needs to refine the concept and they will bring it back during
the budget discussions. Mr. Kane pointed out that if the help desk personnel do not actually book
flights for travelers, they will not be competing with travel agents. There was a consensus of the
Council to proceed with the strategy discussed by Mr. Kane.
There being no other business, Mayor Pro Tem Chesney adjourned the joint meeting at 1:00
p.m. on April 16, 2002.
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