[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
>> LET'S GET STARTED. MIKE, HE WALKS IN LATE.
[MINUTES]
>> AFTER HE SIGNS IN. >> YEAH, AFTER HE SIGNS IN. ALL RIGHT, IT IS 3:30 AND LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. DON SET OUT THE MEETING FOR AUGUST 14TH. DO I HAVE ANY MOTION TO
APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? >> MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> WAS THAT STEVE DOWN THERE?
[3. Airport Management Reports]
>> IT WAS. >> ANY OPPOSED? IT PASSES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO MANAGEMENT REPORTS, OUR FAVORITE TIME,
STATISTICAL REPORTS. >> ALL RIGHT, IT IS NOT HAVING GOTTEN REPORTING FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES FOR THIS MONTH, YET.
THEY ARE LATE IN GETTING THAT TO US. ALEX ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY, DO WE INCLUDE THE REST OF THE STATS? I SAID, LET'S HOLD OFF, BECAUSE EVERYTHING REALLY IS CONTINGENT ON THE AMERICAN STATS, TO BE ABLE TO CORRELATE THEM TO HOW AMERICAN PERFORMED LAST MONTH. SO, WE WILL GET THOSE. WHEN WE GET THAT REPORTING FROM TO YOU VIA EMAIL FOR THE WHOLE STAT SHEET, SO THAT WAY YOU HAVE PARKING AND RENTAL CAR PERFORMANCE NUMBERS, TOO. SO, APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. WE ARE RELIANT ON AMERICAN TO GET THOSE NUMBERS TO US BY THIS DATE. SO -- HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE PRICING REPORT FOR YOU, AND -- I MEAN, THIS IS NOT GREAT.
THINGS ARE CREEPING UP. THE AVERAGE OUT OF ABILENE FOR ROUND-TRIP, FOR BOOKING 14 DAYS OUT IS $495, 30 DAYS OUT IS $448. THAT IS HIGHER, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, IN COMPARISON TO MIDLAND AND DFW. BUT, WE HAVE -- WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IT, BUT WE WILL BRING THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION AND WE WILL HAVE MEETINGS WITH AMERICAN NEXT MONTH, DURING THEIR SERVICE CONFERENCE. DIFFERENT GROUP, BUT WE ALWAYS ADDRESS FEARS WITHIN THAT, AS WELL. THAT IS ALL FOR OUR STATISTICAL
>> YES, THANK YOU, ALEX. SO, WE HAD, GOING INTO -- OR, WELL, TOWARD THE END OF AUGUST, WE BUDGETED FOR $700,000 IN PARKING REVENUE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. I ALSO LEFT IT AT $700,000 BACK IN THE SPRING WHEN PREPARING THE BUDGET FOR FY '25, STARTING OCTOBER 21ST. WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING MORE THAN OUR BUDGETED REVENUES ALL THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR. WE HIT $1 MILLION IN PARKING LOT REVENUE LAST WEEK. I THINK LAST WEDNESDAY. SO, THAT IS A CELEBRATION, WE HAVE NEVER HIT THAT MILESTONE BEFORE. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. SO, ABOUT $300,000, AND COUNTING, THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER ABOVE WHAT WAS BUDGETED. SO, THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
>> AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE BY THE END OF THE MONTH, END OF THE FISCAL YEAR?
>> WE WILL PROBABLY BE -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW. WE ARE COLLECTING ABOUT -- WHAT IS IT? ABOUT 2000 A DAY? YEAH, AROUND 2000 THE DAY. SO, ADD ANOTHER $24,000 -- NO. LET'S SEE.
ANOTHER $48,000 -- $48,000-$50,000 FOR THAT MILLION MARK -- MILLION DOLLAR MARK BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
>> THAT IS GREAT. >> FANTASTIC.
>> LEGISLATIVE UPDATE? >> NOTHING THAT IS REALLY PENDING THAT IS AFFECTING US RIGHT NOW. WE ARE WATCHING THE FY 2025 BUDGET DRAMA UNFOLDING ON CAPITOL HILL. IT IS PRETTY MUCH AS WE EXPECTED. IT IS GOING TO FALL, I THINK. SO,
[00:05:07]
JUST SIT BACK, POP SOME POPCORN, AND WATCH. BUT, IT WON'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE AIRPORT. WE ARE NOT WAITING ON THE FY '25 BUDGET TO FUND A PROGRAM FOR US, NECESSARILY. SO, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE OF ITEM FIVE. SO -- SO, AND THEN, ON OUR PROJECTS, TERMINAL IMPROVEMENT EXPANSION PROJECTS, I HAVE A MEETING WITH OUR ARCHITECTS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO TALK, AGAIN, ABOUT PHASING THAT PROJECT, AND HOW WE WOULD APPROACH THAT. SO, AGAIN, Y'ALL WOULD HAVE THE NEW PRESENTATION TO USE, AND PROBABLY BY DECEMBER, MAYBE JANUARY, WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT A NEW OPINION WILL PROBABLY COST, AND WHAT THIS IS SHOWING TO PHASE IT, VERSUS DOING IT ALL IN ONE. AND THEN, WE WILL BE PREPARED TO TAKE THAT TO COUNSEL. RIGHT NOW, IT IS LOOKING LIKE WE WILL TAKE THAT TO COUNSEL AT THE BUDGET RETREAT. OR, THE COUNSEL RETREAT. USUALLY, IN FEBRUARY. SO, WE WILL TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT AND GIVE THEM THAT STRATEGIC PLAN TO SEE WHERE THEY WANT US TO GO WITH IT. ON THE AIRCRAFT RAMP, THAT IS THE RAMP THAT IS BEING BUILT FOR THE AIR TAKERS. WE WILL OPEN BIDS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, SO NEXT WEEK. EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE WILL SEE WHAT WE GET, AND THEN BRINGING THAT TO YOU AT THE OCTOBER MEETING FOR WARD APPROVAL FOR COUNSEL TO CONSIDER, TOO. SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. CAR RENTAL QUICK TURN FACILITY, WE ARE STILL IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ARCHITECT ON THAT, JACOB MARTIN. MET WITH HIM LAST WEEK, AND TALKED SOME MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH THIS PROJECT. I THINK I NEED TO NAIL SOME OTHER DETAILS DOWN WITH THE CAR RENTAL FOLKS, AND THEN WE WILL FINISH UP WITH THE DESIGN, THEN PUT THAT ON THE SHELF UNTIL WE GET OUR COLLECTIONS DONE. THE COLLECTIONS COMING FROM THE COST OF -- CUSTOMER FACILITY CHARGE IS CFC. AND SPEAKING OF THE CFC, THAT IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO COUNSEL ON SEPTEMBER26TH, TO ADJUST THAT UP. >> ARE WE MAKING A PRESENTATION
TO COUNCIL ON THAT? >> IT WILL BE ON CONSENT, AS WE HAVE GUIDED. SO, IF COUNCIL PULLS THAT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WOULD BE PREPARED TO DO THAT. BUT, THEY ARE GIVEN A PRESENTATION IN THE COUNCIL PACKET, PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
SO -- >> ARE THEY EXPECTING NOT TO
>> YEAH, HAS THAT BEEN ON THE RADAR FOR SOME TIME, OR WILL THIS BE SOMETHING NEW TO THEM?
>> THAT, IN ITSELF, WILL BE NEW. COUNCIL APPROVED THAT BACK IN 2006? 2006, OR 2007? SO, A DIFFERENT COUNCIL. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THEY AREN'T THE SAME PEOPLE. BUT, I MEAN, THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY ON THEIR RADAR UNLESS THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALREADY BRIEFED THEM ON THAT UPCOMING, OR IF THEY HAVE SEEN THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING FROM LAST MONTH.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT? DO YOU HAVE
ANY INSIGHT? >> I DON'T. BUT, AGAIN, IT IS A PASS-THROUGH THAT IS COLLECTED FROM THE CUSTOMERS.
IT IS A PASS THROUGH FROM THE CAR RENTAL COMPANIES BACK TO THE AIRPORT. SO, IT IS NOT RAISING ANY TAXES. IT IS A FEE, BUT IT IS PAID FOR BY THE ACTUAL USERS, THOSE WHO ARE RENTING THE CARS. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY WOULD TAKE IT, BUT I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BEFORE, TOO. SO -- YEAH. BUT, GENERALLY, I MEAN, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ISSUES WITH IT, OFTEN TIMES, COUNCILMEMBERS WILL ASK QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION ON AN AGENDA ITEM, PRIOR TO THE MEETING. AND I WILL PROVIDE THAT. BUT, THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK THAT -- OF COURSE, PULLED THE ITEM AND ASK QUESTIONS IN THE
[00:10:02]
ACTUAL COUNCIL MEETING, TO PROVIDE THAT ANSWER. I THINK IT -- I THINK IT HELPS MORE THAT THERE IS PRECEDENCE, THE CFC WAS ESTABLISHED ALMOST 18 YEARS AGO. SO, THIS IS JUST AN INCREASE, WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL IN MIND.>> WELL, MAYBE IT IS NOT AN EXPENDITURE, MORE LIKE SOMETHING WE SENT THEM BEFORE.
>> YEAH, IT IS NOT TIED TO AN EXPENDITURE, YET. BUT, IT IS FULFILLING, I THINK, ONE OF COUNCIL'S GOALS, WHICH IS TO CASH FLOW THE CAPITAL PROJECT, AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS DOING. THIS WOULD BE TO FUND THAT QT A FACILITY WITH CASH, WITHOUT TAKING ANY DEBT. SO, IT SEEMS TO FIT WITHIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO DO. SO --
>> THANKS. APPRECIATE THAT. >> OUTSTANDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, SO, YES, THE COUNCIL DID NOT APPROVE THE ESCALATOR REBUILD AT ITS MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO. SO, WE HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO BUILD A WALL, ESSENTIALLY, AROUND THOSE ESCALATORS, SO THAT THEY ARE JUST NOT SO, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR FACE. SO, WE WILL DO THAT. MAKING THAT WALL ON THE FIRST LEVEL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CEILING ISN'T REALLY AN ISSUE.
IT DOESN'T REALLY BLOCK THE VIEW OF ANYTHING. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT ALONG THE UPPER LEVEL. IT WILL PROBABLY GO TO ABOUT THE HANDRAIL, THE GUIDE RAIL, THAT HEIGHT. SO, YOU DON'T BLOCK THE VIEW AT THE FRONT OF THE TERMINAL, TO THE SCREENING CHECKPOINT, THE BOARDING AREA, THE EXIT LANE, AND VICE VERSA, WHEN IT COMES OUT. IF SOMEONE WERE EXITING THE BOARDING AREAS, THEY GOT OFF AN AIRCRAFT, IF WE BUILT IT ALL, THAT WALL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CEILING, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING IN THE TERMINAL TO GO TO THE ELEVATORS, OR TO THE STAIRWELL ELEVATORS. SO, WE WILL BUILD IT AT ABOUT A THREE FOOT HEIGHT. BUT, WE WILL GET STARTED ON THAT SOON. WHAT I HAVE PROPOSED TO THE CITY MANAGER IS, WE HAVE A PROJECT COMING UP WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOME RENOVATIONS TO A CAR RENTAL, AN EMPTY CAR RENTAL COUNTER. TURNING THAT COUNTER AREA INTO ONE LARGER OFFICE SPACE FOR TSA. OR, GSA. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IS ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THAT PROJECT, THEY ARE REIMBURSING US FOR THAT. SO, WE ARE ABOUT TO KICK THAT OFF. WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE THAT IS ABOUT TO BE EXECUTED WITH GSA TO DO THAT WORK TO REIMBURSE US. AND THEN, WE HAVE A CONTRACT READY TO GO WITH A CONTRACTOR HERE IN TOWN. SO, WHAT WE MAY DO IS LOOK AT ADDING THAT ONTO THAT CONTRACT, AS A CHANGE ORDER. BUT, THAT WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED BY GSA, OF COURSE. THAT WOULD BE WORN BY THE AIRPORT FUN. SO, WE WILL BE GETTING SOME ESTIMATES FROM THEM ON THAT. BUT, I BELIEVE THAT THE ESCALATORS ARE THE ONLY OUTSTANDING MAINTENANCE ITEM, OUTSIDE OF JUST ROUTINE LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT ON THE AIRFIELD, WHATEVER. BUT, THE BIGGEST THING. SO -- EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE A BUMPER TORT, A TORT ON OUR OLDEST TRUCK, IT IS ON THE BUMPER, AND IT SHOOTS WATER, IT SHOOTS FOAM, AND DRY KIM. SO, ALL THREE TYPES OF FIREFIGHTING MATERIALS THAT WE CAN PUT ON A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIRE. THAT PUMP IS NOT WORKING, OR THAT TORT IS NOT WORKING WELL, SO WE HAVE JUST GOT A QUOTE TO REPLACE THAT. IT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $10,000. SO, WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THAT. WE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 18 MONTHS OUT TO REPLACE THAT TRUCK. THAT IS OUR NEXT BIGGEST PURCHASE. THAT WILL BE GRANT FUNDED BY THE FAA. WE HAVE MONEY IN HAND, THE GRANT MONEY IN HAND FOR THAT.
BUT, WE WILL BE ISSUING THE BIDS ON THAT WITHIN THE NEXT
[00:15:01]
FEW WEEKS. SO, BUT, IT IS TAKING 12 TO 18 MONTHS TO BUILD THESE TRUCKS RIGHT NOW. OR, WELL OVER 12 MONTHS, UP TO 18 MONTHS TO BUILD THESE TRUCKS. SO, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN SERVICE, FULLY CAPABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE AIRCRAFT FLYING IN AND OUT OF THERE.>> CAN THAT BE RETIRED? I MEAN, DOES IT HAVE TO BE RETIRED? OR, CAN IT BE SOLD TO SOMEWHERE SMALLER?
>> YEAH, SO, WHAT WE WOULD DO, TYPICALLY -- WE WILL HOLD ONTO IT FOR A LITTLE BIT. BUT, WE WILL AUCTION IT OFF. WE WILL DECLARE IT A SURPLUS, THEN AUCTION THAT OFF.
>> AND WOULD BE KEEP THE MONEY? OR, WOULD THAT GO TO THE CITY?
>> SO, WE WOULD KEEP THE MONEY. THE FAA WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF KEEPING A PORTION OF THE DEPRECIATED FUNDS, BASICALLY, BECAUSE IT WAS GRANT FUNDED 90%. BUT, IT IS OLD ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY NOT BE INTERESTED IN THAT. IT IS OVER 22 YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT. BUT, YEAH, SO, THOSE FUNDS -- WHEN WE AUCTION IT OFF -- THEY WILL GO BACK INTO THE REPLACEMENT FUND FOR THE NEXT TRUCK. TO FUND OUR PORTION OF IT, 10%. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY REAL OPERATIONS EVENTS, WHICH ARE LIGHT AVERSIONS OR SOMETHING -- WE HAVE HAD A FEW ALERTS, PROMPT EMERGENCIES, BUT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN RELATIVELY MINOR AND HAVE ALL LANDED SAFELY. RESTAURANT AND VENDING SERVICES, I DO HAVE SOMETHING FOR Y'ALL THAT I DO WANT TO BRING TO YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, JUST TO FILL YOU IN ON WHERE WE ARE, THAT THE LEASEHOLDER HAS FOUND FOR US. I THINK IT WOULD BE EXCITING NEWS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO RELEASE THAT, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THAT STATUS IS, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AIRPORT ISSUES, TENANT ISSUES AND PERFORMANCE -- WE REALLY HAVE NO ISSUES WITH ANYBODY. THEY ARE PERFORMING PER THEIR LEASE AND OPERATING AGREEMENTS.
PAVARD CAPITAL, WHICH IS THE HERTZ OPERATOR -- LAST MONTH, Y'ALL APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO GIVE THEM A $6500 RENT ABATEMENT FOR THEIR SERVICE FACILITY. THAT GOES TO COUNCIL TOMORROW. SO, WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES. BUT, ONCE THEY GET THAT, ONCE THEY GET POWER TO THE FACILITY AND ARE ABLE TO BRING A CAR WASH ON, IT WILL BE A CAR WASH FACILITY ONTO THAT SITE. THEN, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF CARS THEY CAN RENT, PER DAY. RIGHT NOW, IT IS VERY LIMITED BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING TO GO OFF-SITE FOR CAR WASHING AND THEY ARE JUST HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE STRESSES OF DOING THAT, AND BALANCING ALL OF THE OTHER DUTIES. SO, THIS WILL HELP THEM SIGNIFICANTLY. AND I WILL -- IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON THAT, I WILL HAND THIS OVER TO SERVICE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE. >> HI, FRIENDS, HOW ARE Y'ALL? RIGHT NOW, A BIG FOCUS IS LAUNCHING OUR FLY LOCAL PLEDGE, WE ARE GOING TO LAUNCH IT WITH THE CHAMBER NEXT WEEK, DURING THE CELEBRATION EVENT. SO, A BIT OF WORK UNDERWAY TO GET THAT LAUNCHED. WE ARE FILMING A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO RIGHT NOW.
THE VIDEOGRAPHER WAS AT THE AIRPORT ON TUESDAY, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE FILMING WITH DON AND DOUG AND IT WILL BE A GREAT VIDEO WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. WE ARE HOPING TO DO A SERIES OF VIDEOS. THE FLY LOCAL PLEDGE IS A PUBLIC PROMISE. IT IS FREE TO THE BUSINESSES. WE ARE ADVERTISING IT'S A BUSINESSES, IT IS FREE TO SIGN UP, JUST TO SYMBOLIZE THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WAIT FOR THE BUSINESSES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, OUR COMMUNITY, HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER. THEY CAN DECIDE -- LIKE I SAID, IT IS FREE TO THEM. THEY CAN MAKE THE PLEDGE TO FLY ABI, REGARDLESS OF COST DIFFERENCE, IF THEY ARE SHOPPING AIRFARE TO FLY THROUGH ANOTHER AIRPORT, OR THEY CAN SET A COST. YOU KNOW, IF THE RANGE OF AIRFARE IS WITHIN $200, $250, OUR BUSINESS, EVEN IF IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE -- BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR COMMUNITY, AND ALSO THE MESSAGE THAT WE WANT TO SEND TO THE AIRLINES, THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES AND WE, AS A COMMUNITY, AND AS A BUSINESS, WILL PROMISE TO FLY API. SO, WE WILL LAUNCH THAT NEXT WEEK AT THE CHAMBER CELEBRATION DINNER, WHERE WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[00:20:01]
SHOW A VIDEO. SHOWING THE VIDEO TO THE DECISION-MAKERS, TO THE MAJOR DECISION-MAKERS HERE IN ABILENE, THIS COMMUNITY. SO, HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE GOT AN ARTIST RIGHT NOW THAT IS WORKING ON A FUN BANNER. WE SPONSORED THE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DINNER, SO THERE WILL BE A SELFIE WALL WITH AIRPORT ANGEL WINGS, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE THEIR PHOTOS. SO, WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TIE THAT, IN SOME WAY, MAYBE TO THE VINTAGE PLANE THAT WE HAVE, OUR DEEP HISTORY THAT WE HAVE IN ABILENE, CELEBRATING AVIATION. TOUCHING ON, WE DID HOLD A FUN EVENT AT THE AIRPORT. WESLEY COURT SENIOR LIVING CANE. A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS HERE CAME. GRAY CAME TO THAT EVENT. THE VERA DON WALKER EVENT, IF SOME OF THAT -- YOU ATTENDED THAT IN THE PAST, THIS WAS HELD ON WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, SO WE HAD NANCY ROBINSON MASTERS COME AND SPEAK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, AS A FEMALE PILOT. BIRD THOMAS SPOKE ABOUT VERA DON WALKER AND HER LIFE, AND IT IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE ABILENE'S DEEP HISTORIC TIES TO THE FIELD OF AVIATION. SO, IT WAS A GOOD EVENT, I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATED IT. WE HAD GOOD ATTENDANCE THERE, AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON, AS WE GO FORWARD IN SHARING ABOUT THE CULTURE AND HISTORY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ABILENE, WHEN IT COMES TO AVIATION. DOUBLETREE HOTEL, THEIR MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO COME AND VISIT US THIS WEEK, SO WE HOPE TO GIVE THEM A GOOD TOUR. TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM AND 13, AND THE INVESTMENT THAT DOUBLETREE HAS MADE IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS WE HAVE MADE WITH THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. OUR INTENT IS TO HELP CONNECT THEM, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, AT OUR AIRPORT WHERE THEY CAN PARTNER. AND ALSO, LOOK TO ESTABLISH SOME CREATIVE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN COOPERATIVELY MARKET TOGETHER. WE HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR THAT THAT HOPEFULLY, WE CAN STILL PITCH TO OTHER BUSINESSES. WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW YOU, THE COMMUNITY, HOW IMPORTANT THE AIRPORT IS IN BRINGING NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HERE TO ABILENE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING THE STORY OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT CAME THROUGH OUR AIRPORT. BECAUSE WE HAD AN AIRPORT, THEY WERE ABLE TO VISIT, SEE THE COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCE IT FOR THEMSELVES, AND DECIDE TO INVEST WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, OR JOBS. YOU KNOW, JOBS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.>> DO YOU KNOW IF THE DOUBLETREE HAS PLANS ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE
AIRPORT? >> I DON'T. ACTUALLY, THEY ASKED ME THAT QUESTION, IF THE AIRPORT HAD A SHUTTLE. SO, I THINK THAT HAD BEEN A TOPIC IN THE PAST. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, ELEGANTE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THEIR OWN SHUTTLES THAT THEY PROVIDE. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR -- THAT IS JUST MY OPINION -- FOR DOUBLETREE TO HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
>> DID YOU BRING THAT UP? >> THEY BROUGHT IT UP ALREADY COME WITH ME. THEY ASKED ME, DOES THE AIRPORT HAVE A SHUTTLE? SO, MAYBE WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION IN A PRODUCTIVE FASHION. ABILENE SEEN, WE WILL HAVE A BIG CAMPAIGN WITH ABILENE SEEN OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE WILL TARGET MESSAGING THAT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PLACE.
WE WANT TO USE IMAGES AND MESSAGES THAT REALLY, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO CONNECT THE PEOPLE IN ABILENE TO THE TYPE OF RICH LIFESTYLE THAT THEY CAN LIVE, AND HOW HAVING AN AIRPORT HERE CONTRIBUTES TO THAT LIFESTYLE, THAT QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK TO SQUARE ACU AWAY. THEY WILL BE FLYING OUT. THEY HAVE SOME BIG CHARTERS, SO WE ARE COORDINATING ON THE LOGISTICS OF THAT. HOPEFULLY, WE SEE SOME INCREASED PARKING REVENUE. WE HAVE ALSO GOT OUR MARKETING PARTNERSHIP WITH ACU ATHLETICS, THAT WOULD BE A BIG PART OF THAT. LAST TWO THINGS I WANT TO MENTION, AIRSTRIP ATTACK IS COMING UP OCTOBER 19TH THROUGH 20TH. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP
[00:25:01]
THEM PROMOTE IT. OCTOBER 19TH AND 20TH. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET SOME GOOD TURNOUT AND SOME GOOD WEATHER. SO, DON'T PRAY FOR RAIN ON THOSE DAYS. IF YOU WOULD HELP US OUT. LASTLY, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAC -- MAX BOOST WIRELESS, A COMPANY THAT HAS WORKED WITH MANY HERE IN TEXAS, AND IN ABILENE. WHAT THEY DO, THEY INSTALL ANTENNAS AND SIGNAL BOOSTERS WITHIN LARGE FACILITIES LIKE OURS, THAT ARE MADE OF CONCRETE, THAT THE CELLULAR SIGNALS HAVE A HARD TIME PENETRATING. BECAUSE WE HAVE ESPECIALLY SO MUCH BUSINESS TRAVEL, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR PASSENGERS ARE ABLE TO REMAIN PRODUCTIVE WHILE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR AIRPORT, WORKING.A LOT OF TIMES, THEY ARE STAYING FOR HOURS AT A TIME. OF COURSE, WE HAVE OTHER SERVICES LIKE OUR VENDING MACHINES, THAT DEPEND ON THAT SIGNAL. SO, IT IS A PHASED -- WE ARE DOING IT THROUGH A TRADE AGREEMENT. THEY WILL BE PURCHASING SOME ADVERTISING FROM US, AND IN EXCHANGE FOR TERMINAL SCREEN ADVERTISING, THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THE EQUIPMENT, THE INSTALLATION, THE SERVICE FOR FIVE YEARS, NO CHARGE. SO, WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE IT TO THE COMMUNITY, MARKET IT TO THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING WE ARE DOING TWO, AGAIN, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT OUR AIRPORT, SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY. NO REAL AIR SERVICE ISSUES. I WILL GO BACK TO FLIGHT SCHEDULE STABILITY. WE RECEIVED AN OUTLOOK TODAY, THROUGH OUR AIR SERVICE CONSULTANT. WITH A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE THROUGH FEBRUARY, EVERYTHING LOOKS PRETTY STABLE, FIVE DEPARTURES PER DAY. SO, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. AMERICAN IS HOLDING THAT STEADY. SO, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE BOARD. SO, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. EVEN GOING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS, SO THERE IS -- YEAH, SO, EVERYTHING IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD. SO, THIS -- I AM GOING TO BE HAPPY TO TAKE THIS NEXT BULLET POINT OFF FOR THE NEXT AGENDA, WHICH IS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AND REVISED ROADWAY, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. AND THEN, THE NEXT ONE IS STAFFING. SO, AS YOU RECALL, LAST WEEK, WE DID RECOGNIZE HIM LEAVING US AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT THIS IS HIS LAST DAY WITH US, LAST DAY IS FRIDAY. WE WISH HIM WELL. HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB HERE AT ABI, AND WE ARE SORRY TO SEE HIM GO. BUT, TAKING THE NEXT STEPS FOR HIS FAMILY, AND WE KNOW HIS HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AND WE WISH HIM THE BEST. I HAVE CONDUCTED THREE VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK, AND THEN WE ARE BRINGING IN TWO OF THOSE INTERVIEWEES NEXT WEEK TO THE AIRPORT, TO HAVE US LOOK AT THEM. EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND GOING BACK UP TO OPERATIONS EVENTS -- I'M GOING TO STRETCH THIS A LITTLE BIT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY BENEFIT. SO, WE DON'T WANT TO IGNORE THAT TODAY IS 9/11, AND THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACKS. SO, VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT. WE ALWAYS TRY TO RECOGNIZE THIS DAY -- A SAD DAY IN OUR HISTORY. BUT, RESILIENCE -- WE REALLY NEED TO APPRECIATE THE RESILIENCE OF UNITED STATES, AND OUR INDUSTRY THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF. SO, CONTINUING TO KEEP THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE VICTIMS THAT THEY IN OUR PRAYERS, AND EVEN THE MILITARY MEMBERS WHO RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. SO -- BUT, IF YOU ARE READY, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE CAN
[4. Committee Reports and Appoint Chairs]
GO TO COMMITTEE REPORTS. >> COMMITTEE REPORTS, WHICH THE FACILITY AND PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE DID MEET LAST MONTH, AND OUR CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, KURT FAXED IN, IS NOT HERE TODAY. REALLY, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THOSE THINGS ALREADY, UNDER THE ESCALATORS. WE CAN -- YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT
[00:30:03]
THAT AND THE QT A PLANNING IN THE TERMINAL AND IN THE LANDINGS. SO, YEAH. ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE ISSUES,>> MARKETING COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET LAST MONTH.
[5. Discussion and Action to Approve a Recommendation to City Council to accept Grant B-24-CP-TX-2052 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to design and construct the new Airport Access Road.]
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ITEM FIVE, DISCUSSION AND ACTION TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT A GRANT
FOR THE NEW ACCESS ROAD. >> SO, THIS IS A DAY THAT HAS BEEN LONG COMING. I REMEMBER BEING IN A HOTEL ROOM AND TALKING WITH STAFF FROM U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ARRINGTON'S OFFICE, AND OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT, AND TRYING TO NAIL DOWN, IN ANY WAY, A LOT OF WATER HAS PASSED UNDER THE BRIDGE SINCE THAT TIME, WHEN WE BEGAN DOING THAT. BUT, FINALLY, THIS PAST MARCH, WE GOT THE FY '24 BUDGET BEING PASSED IN FULL. NOW, A GRANT DID REMAIN IN THE BUDGET, SO WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON AND HIS STAFF ON THIS. BUT, WE RECEIVED THE GRANT AWARD NOTICE LAST WEEK. AND SO, THAT MEANS WE HAVE THE FUNDS COMING OUT, TO PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT. THAT GRANT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,733,562, AND THAT IS FROM THE U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT. SO, IT WILL GO TOWARD THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, OF THIS PROJECT. SO, THIS NEW AIRPORT ACCESS
ROAD. SO, THAT'S -- >> IF I CAN GET -- ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR DON? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, FOR THE NEW
AIRPORT -- >> GREAT, BEFORE WE VOTE, I
WILL ABSTAIN ON THIS ITEM. >> AND I KNOW YOU WILL ON SIX,
FOR SURE. JAMES -- SECOND? >> SECOND. ANY OPPOSED? IT PASSES. YAY! WE CAN CHECK OFF THAT ONE. SO, THIS ITEM AND ITEM NUMBER SIX WILL BE GOING TO COUNCIL TOMORROW. I WENT
[6. Discussion and Action to Approve a Recommendation to City Council to award Task Order 1 to Enprotec, Hibbs and Todd for design and construction management of the Airport Access Road.]
AHEAD AND TEED THEM UP SINCE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN THE KNOW ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE, WE HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING AND WE WANT TO GET THIS THING STARTED. SO, THANK YOU, THANKYOU FOR THAT. >> ITEM NUMBER SIX, DISCUSS RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO AWARD TASK ORDER 12 COUNSEL'S FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD. JORDAN GIBBS ABSTAINS. SO, THIS ITEM, WE WERE VERY OPTIMISTIC BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE BOARD, ONLY. WE DID NOT TAKE IT TO COUNCIL BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY, BUT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FASTER THAN WE DID WITH THE GRANT. SO, THIS BOARD DID CONSIDER, AND APPROVED ITS RECOMMENDATION FOR AN AWARD OF THIS TASK ORDER TO PROTECT ENPROTEC, HIBBS AND TODD IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000, AT THAT TIME. WHEN WE GOT THE GRANT NOTICE -- AND IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO NOW, SO TWO WEEKS. BUT, WHEN WE GOT THAT GRANT NOTICE, I CONTACTED JORDAN AND AGAIN ASKED HIM, WE NEED TO REVIEW THE SCOPE OF WORK, ADD IN THE FAA AIRSPACE STUDY. SO, JORDAN DID THAT. HE DID ADJUST THE FEE, UP TO $210,000. SO, NOT A BIG INCREASE, AT ALL. IT IS A 5% INCREASE, VERY REASONABLE, CONSIDERING THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED FOR THE REGIONAL QUOTE, AND THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE ADDED ONTO THAT. SO, THIS IS REALLY JUST TO SUPERSEDE THAT ACTION THE BOARD TOOK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AND APPROVED THE TASK ORDER, PROTECTING ENPROTEC, HIBBS AND TODD FOR $100,000.
>> CAN I GET A MOTION FOR $210,000 TO PROTECT ENPROTEC, HIBBS AND TODD FOR THE MANAGEMENT FOR THE AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD? EVERYBODY LIKES THAT ONE.
[00:35:04]
>> LET'S GET IT GOING. >> LET'S GET IT GOING. ANY
OPPOSED? IT PASSES. >> THANK YOU.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> OKAY. EXECUTIVE SESSION. ARE WE READY FOR THAT?
>> WE DO NEED A QUICK EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> OKAY. >> PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072, WE WILL GO INTO
>>> OKAY, IT IS 4:24, WE HAVE RETURNED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. ANY QUESTIONS? ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, ADJOURNMENT. NEXT
MEETING ON OCTOBER 9TH. >> YES, SO, DO WE NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND ANNOUNCE IT IN THE MIDDLE?
>> YEAH, WE DO. NO DECISIONS --
>> WELL, YES, I DID. >> SORRY.
>> YOU KEEP ME ON MY TOES. NEXT MEETING, OCTOBER 9TH. FACILITY IS ON NOVEMBER THE SIXTH. PLOT THOSE TWO DAYS OUT.
>> I WILL NOT BE HERE, THEN. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CAN I GET A
MOTION TO ADJOURN? >> I MOTION.
>> RANDY, JAMES. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> AYE. >> OPPOSED?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.