HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-09 Airport Committee Minutes
Meeting Agenda
City of Bangor Airport Committee
rd
City Council Chambers 3 Floor
September 9, 2014
The following City Councilors were in attendance: Airport Committee Chair Nelson Durgin,
Councilors, David Nealley, Pauline Civiello, and Joseph Baldacci. The following City Staff were
also in attendance, City Manager, Cathy Conlow, Airport Director Tony Caruso, Marketing
Manager Risteen Bahr. Also in attendance was General Manager, Parke Clemons.
Agenda:
1. Republic Parking-annual report
Republic Parking Systems was recently awarded the airports and downtown Bangor’s parking
management contract. Since the award of this contract, Republic Parking has provided the
Bangor City Council with periodic updates. Parke Clemons, presented the Airport Committee
the airport’s annual parking review: The main Lots are for airport customers who park for a
short term of time (Hourly Lot) or for longer periods (Daily Lot). There is also the Shuttle Lot.
This was created in 2013 to meet the increasing demand for long term parking during the peak
travel period. This period starts in mid-February and continues through the first of May. Usage
of the lots varies throughout the year. The highest use of the Hourly lot is in the summer when
visitors come to Maine. The Daily and Shuttle lots see the highest usage in the winter months
when travelers fly out of Maine to southern climates. New parking rates were introduced at
BGR in January of 2014. Bangor’s rates are still the lowest in the Northeast. There are a number
of employees who park in the Daily Lot who have an access pass. Rather than obtain a ticket,
employees uses this electronic pass to enter and exit the lots. The employees are from the
Four Points Sheraton as well as several airlines. We have a number of parkers who use BGR on
a regular basis. Over the years there have been requests to offer such customers a monthly
rate. Since our system now accommodates monthly access cards and an efficient accounts
receivable program, we recommend that the Airport offer a monthly rate to the general public.
Parke also indicated that there is confusion among parking customers as to the actual name of
the lots-Hourly and Daily. A good compromise would be to use the Hourly Lot for the short
term area. This terms indicates the type of parking intended in this lot. He recommends the
Daily Lot, be changed to Long Term Lot. This should minimize the confusion over the word
“daily” while providing a clear alternative to Hourly lot.
2. Montage Enterprise-lease amendment
Montage Enterprises, d/b/a The Grasshopper Shop, operates a retail concession in the
domestic terminal at Bangor International Airport. Montage has operated this concession since
1995 and has been an excellent partner with the City of Bangor. Through an internal audit, it
was discovered that their lease rate was unfortunately not officially approved by City Council.
Any change to a lease must be approved by City Council before being executed. The lease rate
will be 10% of net sales. Montage requested this change back in SEP of 2007 given the rate for
Stellar Partners, which operates Bangor News & Gifts, was at 10% of net sales. The airport
agreed that both concessions should pay the same lease rate. The concessions are required to
report net sales to the airport.
Motion approved by Civiello and seconded.
3. Airport statistics-August 2014
Airport Marketing Manager Bahr indicated that the Operational Statistics were not available
yet. The total Monthly Passengers for the month was up by .8% and the Total YTD Passengers
were down by .8%. Compared to the three year average the monthly passengers were up by
11% and YTD was up by 12%. The August monthly totals were up and best since 2005! Load
factors were very strong for the month of August, Allegiant at 94%, Delta at 80%, United at 85%
and US Airways at 89%. The Market Share was even between US Airways and Delta, and even
between Allegiant and United. US Airways at 39%, Delta at 40%. Allegiant at 11% and United
at 11%.
4. Airport construction projects-update
Airport Director Caruso reviewed the constructions projects.
For the Rehabilitation of Godfrey Blvd-, that is on schedule and to be completed by the end of
September. This project which includes replacing the aging waterline and roadway, has been
fairly smooth and the construction crew has been great with helping our passengers across the
street while work is being performed. The replacement water line has been installed and the
sanitizing and cleaning of the line is in process. While the testing is performed the rest of the
Boulevard will be brought up to grade and paving will begin next week.
The Drainage Canal Project-, (Duck Ditch) the drainage canal located at the Helipad has now
been enclosed. The open waterway which once housed several hundred ducks during the
winter months will now improve our air traffic safety. After numerous attempts to keep the
ducks out of the Airport a decision was made to fill the canal and remove the hazard from the
airfield. This decision was in consultation with the FAA and State Wildlife personnel. The
ground has been hydro-seeded and the construction crew is demobilizing.
The Domestic Terminal Upgrade: Phase 1- the Domestic Terminal escalators have been in the
process of being refurbished. Over the past several months both escalators have been
completely removed and all new components added to the existing location. These escalators
are original to the domestic terminal and re now up to current safety standards as well as being
more energy efficient. One of the nice new features of the escalators is the slow down when
they are not in operation. The second escalator is scheduled to be finished by the end of this
week. Phase 2 is the largest piece of the project. This includes the TSA portion for the inline
check bags, building the Airline ticket counter and moving the tickets over to the other side,
and working on floors and lighting. This project will be approximately 18-24 months. We are
currently working on the funding details, and a few months behind on the start of this phase.
Meeting Adjourned.