HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-03-20 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes Business and Economic Development
• Committee Meeting Minutes
March 20, 2001
Councilors Attending: Joseph Baldacci, Dan Tremble, Michael Crowley
Staff Attending: Ed Barrett, ]ohn Hamer, Rebecca Hupp, Jeff Russell,
Pete D'Erricco, Rod McKay
Others Attending: Adrian Fox, BFT International
Meeting Convened at 5:00 p.m.
1. Consent Ag.enda
a. Sale of 250 Randolph Drive: full price offer
b. Sale of 1279 Union Street: full price offer
c. Assignment of Acadia's Hope House and Park Woods Leases
Councilor Crowley moved passage of the consent agenda. Approved.
2. Presentation of Airport's Comprehensive Outbound/Inbound Advertisinq
. Cam�aign by Adrian Fox, Principal of BFT International
Adrian Fox presented the advertising campaign for the Airport. At the last
meeting, the Committee was presented the radio and TV ads for the Airport.
The Committee members were provided with BFT's Spring 2001 Advertising
Campaign — Strategy and Future Considerations. The Campaign theme is "Travel
Smart. Fly Through Bangor." Mr. Fox summarized other aspects of the
campaign with the Committee.
3. Airport Report
Rebecca Hupp updated the committee about the retrofit of the fire suppression
systems on PanAm aircrafts and the potential of the FAA to halt their flying due
to technical problems. PanAm has arranged to have a contract with a company
called North American for new 737s for four days. They can then fly these
aircrafts instead of their own while they are waiting for the parts to come in.
BGR is not expecting any interruption in service.
a, Passenge�Statistics fo�February
StafF updated the Committee on Passenger Statistics for February which are on
• the increase and it is hoped that this will continue. ]eff Russell commented that it
is expected that they will be at their 98 capacity levels going into the summer
• with a much more diversified service from all perspectives.
b, InternetAccess in Termina/Bui/ding
Staff explained that Internet Access has been an issue they have been pursuing
for quite some time. This is a service that passengers have requested. They
have installed two Internet access points for laptop Internet connection. There is
one connection on the first and one on the second floor of the terminal building.
It is expected that they will be operational by the end of the week. Verizon is
doing this as an amendment to the existing contract for phone service and BGR
will receive a percentage of whatever profits they make. There are a limited
number of these systems available and as more become available, they will be
added based on demand. It is suspected that these two will not meet the
demand and more will be added.
c, Progress Report— T-Hangar Deve%pment
Rebecca explained that they have been approached by someone local who was
interested in building T-Hangars and his only request was that he would build it,
turn it back over to the City and retain one bay for his use. He would pay all the
costs for developing it. Staff brought this to Council previously and the
recommendation was made that they seek proposals for the project. The RFPs
� will be sent out within the next two weeks and will be due by the end of April. It
is expected that they will go to the Finance Committee May 2"d and the full
Council on May 14th. This will allow construction to begin in May and have it
completed by ]une or July.
d, Ame�ican Eag/e R7lnauguration—Apri/2"d
Rebecca explained that the American Eagle RJ Inauguration will be April 2�d.
The Council will be receiving invitations to an inaugural event at 7:00 a.m. and
the initial flight is at 7:40 a.m.
e, Additiona/Iterr�; Staff explained that Delta has officially issued
an invitation to visit Atlanta the 17�" of April. Staff will be doing a presentation on
the 5 flights a day to Boston on Delta connection carrier as well as additional
flights to Cincinnati on Delta Connection. These will be the two BIA topics of
discussion at this particular meeting. They will be meeting with the lead analyst
specifically assigned to designing routing in markets for those Delta Connection
airlines. Staff will update the Committee after this meeting.
4. Grant A�plication — Maine Business Enterprise Park
• The local match for this grant will be 40% ($800,000). Committee approved.
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5. Preliminary Discussions - Parking Garage Expansion Issues
� Staff requested tabling this item until they further study what will be required
during the expansion. Committee approved tabling.
a, Re%cation ofDowntown Bus Operations
b, Potentia/Need for lnterim Parking Shutt/e
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