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Home My WebLink About2004-10-25 04-329 RESOLVEMan No, 04-329 - Dace: ID -z -04 Item/Subject Resolve, Wdhdawing the OPPDsltion of the City of Bangor to the Application of Halifax International Airport for Preclearance Rights and Revolting Council Resolve 03-48. Responsible Department: City Manager An order appears earlier on mnigWs agenda that will authodze an agreement between the Gry of Bangor and Halifax International Airport regarding in -transit preclearance. Under this agreement, the City has agreed to drop its opposition to the extension of preclearance rights to Halifax in return for various guarantees that Halifax will not pursue in -transit predeaance and will oppose its extension by others. In addition, both paroes have agreed to work together to improve air sernce to and between our communities. If the City Council approves the agreement with Halifax, this resolve should also be approved in order to fulfil an obligation of the City under the agreement. Please note that this resolve has been conditioned upon the execution of this agreement by Halifax. The resolve with revoke an earlier Council Resolve in opposition to the extension of preclearance to Halifax. It indicates that we have withdrawn our opposition and support Halifax' application for preclearance. Upon execution of the agreement by Halifax, copies of this resolve, along with a letter from the Council Chair Indicating Nat the agreement has been signed and the resolve Is now effec[lve, will be provided to Senators Snowe and Collins, Represental Michaud, Governor ealdacd, and Transportation Commissioner Cole. Deprhnent Head Marvil Comments: CIN Manager Associated Infomration: Budget Approval: Fnance Dlrettor X Pam" _ First Reading Page _ of Referral 06-329 Ar00ID® SUBSUIM EE COPY CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Resolve, Withdrawing the Opposition of the City of Bangor to the Application of Halifax International Airport for Preclearance Rights and Revoking Council Resolve 03-48. WHEREAS, the City of Bangor has traditionally opposed the extension of preclearance authority to airports outside of the United States that might be positioned to compete with Bangor Intemanbonal Airport far International flights seeking entry and clearance into the United States; and WHEREAS, Bangor International Airport's strategic position as a natural port of entry to the United States is a critical component of the long-term financial stability of the Airport; and WHEREAS, the City of Bangor and Bangor International Airport have no objection W the extension of originating preclearance authority to other airports; however, the extensbon of such authority may be the Initial step toward granting In -transit preclearance which would introduce competition and potentially threaten Bangor's Port of entry status; and WHEREAS, the United States and Canadian federal governments have entered Into a treaty, the "Agreement on Air Transport Preclearance," that provides the potential for the United States to extend precleaance authority to Halifax; and WHEREAS, If preclearance rights are authorized, this treaty calls for the United States Government to provide "sympathetic consideration" to requests for intansit preclearance; and WHEREAS, the Halifax International Airport Authority has requested that the City of Bangor withdraw its opposition to preclearance in return for Halifax' pledge to not pursue or accept in -transit preclearance and an agreement that the City and Halifax cooperate W Improve air service to and between each community; and WHEREAS, in response to this request, the City Council established the Special Committee on Halifax Preclearance and charged it with reviewing the City's current position and recommending how to proceed; and WHEREAS, this Committee has recommended that the City pursue an agreement with Halifax that would provide guarantees that Halifax will not request or accept in -transit preclearance and that Bangor and Halifax will cooperate toward Improved air service; and 06-329 AlnVat® sa&SYI= COPY WHEREAS, subsequent to this recommendation, the Bangor City Council. authorized the formation of a committee to negotiate such an agreement with Halifax; and WHEREAS, an agreement has now been reached and Its execution has been approved by the Bangor City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT SubJectto execution andIQeivery of the "Agreement Regarding In -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax International Airport Authority and fulfillment of all conditions to effectiveness of such Agreement, the City of Bangor hereby revokes Council Resolve 03-48, "Formalizing the qty's Opposition to the Canadian Pre -Clearance of All Passengers Utilizing Halifax International Airport For Entrance Into the United States," adopted on January 13, 2003. In light of the Agreement between the qty of Bangor and the Halifax --'-'InternationalAirport Authority under which -Halifax has agreed to not seek in-banslt-- preclearance and the associated agreement outlining cooperative steps that will be taken by Halifax International Airport and Bangor International Airport to work together to improve air service to and between these airports, the City agrees to cease all opposition to the application of the Halifax International Airport Authority for preclearance at Halifax. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT Upon execution and delivery of the "Agreement Regarding In -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax International Airport Authority and fulfillment of all conditions to effectiveness gf such Agreement, copies of this resolve shall be forwarded to United States Senator Olympia J. Snowe, United States Senator Susan M. Collins, United States Representative Michael Michaud, Governor John E. Baldaod, and David Cale, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT: Upon execution and delivery of the "Agreement Regarding in -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax International Airport Authonty and fulfillment of all conditions to effectiveness of such Aoreemerrc the Council Chair of the City of Bangor shall, in writing, notify all of the parties listed above that this resolve is now in effect, that Council Resolve 03-48 has been rescinded, and shall request Senators Snowe and Collins and Congressman Michaud to formally advise appropriate departments of the government of the United States of America, Including but not limited to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, of the qty's action to withdraw Its opposition to preclearance in Halifax. 06-329 "'vti'„ Assigned to Councilor D'Eslca October 25, 20W CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) Resolve, Withdrawing the Opposition of the City of Bangor W the Application of Halifax International Airport for Preclearance Rights and Revoking Council Resolve 03-48. WHEREAS, the City of Bangor has traditionally opposed the extension of preclearance authority to airports outside of the United States that might be positioned t4 compete with Bangor International Airport for intemabonal Bights seeking entry and clearance into the United States; and WHERE.port AS, Bangor atesiacInternational critical component position -t a natural port of entry to the Airport; States is a critical component of the long-term financial stability of the Airport; ant WHEREAS, the City of Bangor and Bangor International Airport have no objection to the extension of originating preclearance authority to other airports; however, the extensdon of such authority may be the initial step toward granting in -transit preclearance which would Introduce competition and potentially threaten Bangor's port of entry status; and WHEREAS, the United States and Canadian federal governments have entered into a treaty, the "Agreement on Air Transport Preclearance," that provides the potential for the United States to extend preclearance authority to Halifax; and WHEREAS, if preclearance rights are authorized, this treaty calls for the United States Government to provide "sympathetic consideration" W requests for intransit preclearance; and WHEREAS, the Halifax International Airport Authority has requested that the City of Bangor withdraw its opposition W preclearance in realm for Halifax' pledge to not pursue or accept In -transit predearance and an agreement that the City and Halifax cooperate to improve air service to and between each community; and WHEREAS, In response to this request, the City Council established the Special Committee on Halifax preclearance and charged it with reviewing the City's current position and recommending how to proceed; and WHEREAS, this Commitee has recommended that the City pursue an agreement with Halifax that would provide guarantees that Halifax will not request or accept In -transit preclearance and that Bangor and Halifax will cooperate toward impoved air service; and O4-329 WHEREAS, subsequent to this recommendation, the Bangor City Council authorized the formation of a committee to negotiate such an agreement with Halifax; and WHEREAS, an agreement has now been reached and its execution has been approved by the Bangor City Counil. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CIT' COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT Subject to execution of the "Agreement Regarding In -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax Intemational Airport Authority, the City of Bangor hereby revokes Council Resolve 0348, "Formalizing the Citys Opposition to the Canadian Pre - Clearance of All Passengers Utilizing Halifax International Airport For Entrance Into the United States," adopted on January 13, 2003. In light of the Agreement between the City of Bangor and the Halifax International Airport Authority under which Halifax has agreed to not seek in - transit preclearance and the associated agreement outlining cooperative steps that will be taken by Halifax International Airport and Bangor International Airport to work together to improve air service to and between these airports, the City agrees to cease all opposition to the application of the Halifax International Airport Authority for preclearance at Halifax and to support the granting of preclearance to Halifax International Airport. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT Upon execution of the "Agreement Regarding In -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax International Airport Authority, copies of this resolve shall be forwarded to United States Senator Olympia J. Snowe, United States Senator Susan M. Collins, United States Representative Michael Michaud, Governor ]ohn E. Baldacci, and David Cole, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT: Upon execution of the "Agreement Regarding In -Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport" by the Halifax International Airport Authonty, the Council Chair of the City of Bangor shall, in writing, notify all of the parties listed above that this resolve is now in effect, that Council Resolve 03-48 has been rescinded, and shall request Senators Snowe and Collins and Congressman Michaud to formally advise appropriate departments of the government of the United States of America, including but not limited to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, of the City's action to withdraw its opposition to preclearance in Halifax and to support the application of the Halifax International Airport Authority for preclearance. IN CITY COUNCIL October 25, 2006 Notion Made and Seconded for Passage Nation We and seconded to !mend by Substitution as follous: 'Subject to Execution and Delivery of the Agreement Regraring In Transit Preclearance a Halfax Internatolnal Airport' by the Halifix International Airport ."charity and fulfillment of all conditions effectivneas of ouch Agreement.' 'o'pan or, r cutiov avd delivery of the 'Agreement Regarding In - Transit Preclearance at Halifax International Airport' by the Halifax International Airport Authority and FulfilLceut of all conditions to effectiveness of uh Ag ee "Upov ex cutfw east delivery of the 'Agreement Regarding In-Tramnit Preclearance at Halifed International Airport' by the Halifax International Airport Authority and Fulfillment of all conditions t0 e£feexivmess of such Agreement , Passed Passe] As Anevded by Substitution 'il RESOLVE ��TTIQL� cp ) Withdrawing the Opposition of bh 'CIly of Meant ea [aa applfcafron of Halifax International Airport for P Resolve 03-60 Ass�gaed to tauacllur