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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-10 Airport Committee Minutes Meeting Minutes City of Bangor Airport committee Meeting City Council Chambers rd 3 Floor City Hall March 10, 2010 4:30 The following City Councilors were in attendance: Pat Blanchette, Susan Hawes, Gerry Palmer, and Hal Wheeler. The following City staff was also in attendance, Risteen Masters, Rebecca Hupp, and Norm Heitman. Others in attendance included the Bangor Daily news. Councilor Palmer, Airport Committee Chair opened the meeting. He explained that he wasn’t feeling well and requested Councilor Hawes facilitate meeting. Agenda: 1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Airport and the Air National Guard. Airport Director Rebecca Hupp explained that the Airport and the Air National Guard have been operating under the existing Joint Use Agreement which expired this past fall. The proposed Joint Use Agreement continues the current partnership while updating key provisions of the agreement to reflect current regulatory issues. At the Air Guard’s request, the provision for cooperation on snow operations will be removed from the Joint Use Agreement and handled in a separate Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU will support our Joint Snow Removal and Ice Control Plan which is reviewed and agreed to annually. Under this MOU, the Air National Guard will provide the equipment and fuel for the snow removal equipment and the Airport will provide the vehicle operators. This continues our current practice which has worked well for both parties. By having the agreement on snow removal equipment as a separate agreement, the MOU can continue indefinitely unless specifically changed by either party with 30 days notice. The Joint Use Agreement also continues our current practice of the Airport providing the airfield maintenance and the Air National Guard providing Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting. The JUA is in the Government’s standard format and is for a term of five years. The final draft is being reviewed by the Guard Bureau. The Airport and the Guard have not reached final agreement on this item due to regulatory requirements for fire fighting. Both of these documents have been reviewed by the Airport and the City Solicitor for content and form. The Airport requested Committee authorization to execute the Snow Removal Equipment Agreement. The Airport also requested the Committee recommend to the full City Council approval of the proposed Joint Use Agreement once the Airport and the Guard Bureau reach consensus in the wording for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting responsibilities. Discussion / Questions: Councilor Wheeler asked a question regarding the response time requirement for Fire fighting. Hupp answered that the provisions as written in the JUA, the Air Guard agrees to provide fire fighting but not to the regulatory standard set by the FAA. The Airport proposed an alternative in which the Air Guard would provide certification to the FAA in a manner that the FAA deemed acceptable in lieu of a FAA inspection. That language is being reviewed by the Guard Bureau and will hopefully be acceptable to the DOD. This item was recommended for approval by the full Council. The motion was made by Councilor Wheeler and seconded by Councilor Blanchette. 2. Request to fill various full time positions: The Airport currently has three full-time vacant positions, and Aircraft Mechanic position, a Customer Service Representative position at General Aviation, and a Fuel Farm attendant. The Airport is seeking Committee authorization to fill these vacant positions. Discussion / Questions: Councilor Blanchette asked if the cost of providing the Customer Service Representative position is figured into landing fees-so it is not a freebie. Hupp explained that everything the Airport does is figured into fees. Not aware it has to go to full council. There was significant discussion regarding the City’s informal hiring freeze and whether or not filling these positions had to be approved by the full City Council. Hupp explained that these positions are paid for through airport revenues and not general fund revenue and therefore will not affect the City’s budget. City Solicitor explained the Ordinance related to filling vacant positions has not been implemented yet so this item will pass with Committee approval and does not need to go to the full council. Councilor Blanchette moved approval of this item. The motion was seconded by Councilor Wheeler. 3. The following items were discussed during the Airport Marketing & Public Relations Report: a. Airline Industry Overview b. Update on the Airport Community Council c. Trade Show and Business Development Activities d. Passenger Statistics for January Risteen Masters presented the Airport’s Passenger Statistics- Last year passenger numbers were up by 5.8%. For the first two months of 2010, passenger numbers have increased 5%, 10.6% in January and 1.1% in February. Risteen commented this is due to Allegiant and US Airways increasing capacity. Discussion/Questions: Councilor Palmer inquired as to the impact of the Delta and Northwest merger. Risteen explained that while the airlines have merged, the Airport is still receiving separate reports from the carriers. They have decreased capacity so that will impact passenger numbers. Councilor Blanchette asked about passenger statistics at other airports stats. Risteen Masters reported that the only Airport that we have stats for is Portland and their numbers are up in Jan. Masters discussed the Allegiant Air conference the Airport recently attended. Barkley’s spoke at the conference and indicated the economy is in recovery. For the next 12-18 months, oil is going up, labor continues to be an issue, capacity is limited, domestic passengers are up about 2.6%. She indicated that Bangor needs to be flexible when possible to meet Airline demands. Councilor Wheeler asked if the Airport could identify any customer service issues that we have experienced in the past year at BIA, both good and bad. Masters- indicated that Bangor is one of four for Allegiant Air stations to be recognized for baggage handling this past year. Further, employees are conscientious. The new bathrooms beyond security screening are getting great reviews. Councilor Wheeler-Discussed the importance of ensuring BGR has a positive image. He inquired if the Airport had considered using multi language announcements for the public address system. Director Hupp responded that the existing public address system needs work first. Councilor Wheeler mentioned that the sound systems at other airports are about the same as BIA. Director Hupp did mention that when there is an international flight at the Airport with foreign visitors, the Airport does make announcements in multiple languages as appropriate. Hupp and Masters provided an update on the Airport Community Council. The Airport provided a Fast facts booklet to approximately 20 participants. Copies of this booklet were also provided to the councilors to have at hand in case they receive any questions, they will have the information available to answer. Masters also provided some highlights of the upcoming troop greeter appreciation reception recognizing the Greeters for all they do and recognizing that they have greeted one million th passengers. The reception will be April 7. Please come and join us. 4. Executive Session-Lease Negotiations for Airport Coffee Shop and Lounge and in Flight catering Facility. a. Potential Action on Executive Session Items 5. Executive Session- Potential Lease Negotiations with the Telford Group, Inc. a. Potential Action on Executive Session Items 6. Accepting and appropriating grant funds from the FAA Director Hupp explained that the Airport received notice that the Airport needs to enter into a grant agreement with the FAA for the funding for the Phase III Cargo Reconstruction project and return the documents to the FAA no later than March 16th. The quick turn-around time is tied to the fact that the FAA is operating under a continuing resolution. In order to meet that deadline the grant documents must be signed and returned to the FAA prior to receiving formal Council authorization to accept the funds. This item has been discussed with the Council on numerous occasions .This work consists of milling and removal of approximately 11,500 SY of existing concrete and bituminous pavement, trench drains, and manhole structures that are over 50 years old. At this point, the area has reached the point of being unsafe for aircraft operations. In addition to the replacement of these items, the area will also have new aircraft fuel pits, new drainage structures and pipes, electrical wiring and conduit, new oil/water separators and new pavement markings and high mast light towers. As an AIP project, 95% of the funding will come from the FAA, 2.5% from the State and 2.5% from the Airport. The matching funds have been identified for use by BIA and are included in the Airport’s budget. The Airport requested the Committee authorize the Airport to proceed as outlined. The Airport also requested the Committee recommend the Council ratify staff action at the next Council meeting. Councilor Blanchette moved to accept and appropriate the grant from the FAA and recommend the full council ratify staff action. This item was seconded by Councilor Wheeler. Councilor Palmer moved to go into Executive Session. Councilor Blanchette seconded the motion. Returned from Executive Session- Councilor Palmer motioned to adopt staff recommendations to enter into new leases for the Airport Coffee Shop and In-Flight Catering Facility. The item was seconded by Councilor Blanchette. The item will go to full Council for approval. Councilor Palmer motioned to adopt staff recommendations to enter into new leases with C&L and Maine Aero Services to replace current leases for the Telford Facilities. The item was seconded by Councilor Blanchette. The item will go to full Council approval. The meeting adjourned.