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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-01-05 Airport Committee MinutesJ. AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1994 CITY NAIL. CONFERENCE ROOM - E AM Present: William Shubert, Chairperson Richard Stone, Member William Cohen, Member Don Soucy, Councilor Ed Barrett, City Manager Robert Farrar, Dix. of Adm. Bob Ziegelaar, Airport Director Chairman Shubert opened the meeting at 8:05 AM. 1 Purchase x-ray Devices. The first agenda item was the proposed purchase of airport security equipment from Continental Airlines at a cost of $26,500. The Airport Director explained the rational for the purchase, which had been budgeted, and answered several questions from Committee members regarding the overall screening operations. The Committee voted unanimously to authorize the Airport Director to make the purchase. 2. Early Retirement Option. The Airport Director presented the outline of a possible early retirement option for senior airport employees. Depending on the specifics of a final proposal, up to l0 airport employees would be eligible. The gist of the proposal would be an offer to continue carrying the employees on the City's health insurance contract until age 65 or for a maximum of 60 months. Alternatively, an employee could select a cash sum or a monthly payment of $300 for up to 60 months. The Airport Director estimates departmental savings of $200E to $30ON over the 5 -year period if the plan were carried out, depending on the level of participation. Among other plus points of the plan he cited: - advancement for stagnated employees. overall organisational improvements After some debate, the Committee directed Mr. Ziegelaar and Mr. Farrar to explore various other facets of the concept, such as legal issues and implications for other city departments. Councilor Stone asked specifically that any possible consequences upon labor negotiations be studied. 3. Duty Free InternatlOnal/Lease. The Airport Director briefed the Committee about a request for a lease extension received from the Duty Free Shop. The concessionaire had invested $215,000 in the new shop constructed in the International Arrivals Building and would like to recoup the investment through a three-year option to extend the current lease, which expires on December 31, 1999. The Airport Director stated that the operator is a strong contributor to the airport's revenue Stream and requested that he be authorized to pursue other options with the operator so as to maintain the current good relationship. The committee agreed. 4. Airport Signage. The contract for the airport's signage review/design is nearing completion. One of the remaining issues is the final selection of an airport symbol, to be used primarily as a traffic guide and recognition element. The Committee discussed the various views of the submitted design and requested that the Airport Director contact the consultant in order to offer one or more additional variations of the proposed symbol. 5. Private sector Representation on the Airport committee This item was tabled. 6. Discussion of Privatization Commission Report. The Committee posed several questions to the Airport Director regarding airport privatization in general and subsequently accepted the segment of the report pertaining to BIA. ). General Update. The Airport Director updated the Committee on current business levels of the airport and future issues relating to the airport's traffic make-up, competition, etc. The Committee voted to adjourn at approximately 9 M.