Oct 09, 2024 Airport Development Board Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO START . IS THIS IT? 3:31 I WOULD LIKE

[2. Consideration and Action Approving Minutes of the September 11, 2024 Meeting.]

>> SECOND. >> MARK AND CINDY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE WE WILL MOVE ON. THE MOST

[3. Airport Management Reports]

WELL, IT'S FAVORITE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY GOOD NEWS.

AND IT CONTINUES TO BE GOOD NEWS , AS IT HAS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ARE UP 16% FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST . WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S AUGUST. REMEMBER LAST MONTH WE DID NOT HAVE THE AUGUST REPORT SO THAT IS AUGUST. SO WE WERE UP 9% IN SEPTEMBER AND 22% OVERALL. AUGUST WE WERE UP 16% AND 24% OVERALL. WE HAVE DROPPED A LITTLE BIT . YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE LOAD EFFECT THERE . IN AUGUST WE WERE AT 71% IN SEPTEMBER WE WERE AT 66%. IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE ALONG THE LINES OF TRADITION BECAUSE SEPTEMBER TRAVEL TAKES A BACK SEAT TO SCHOOL STARTING AND DIFFERENT THINGS SO IT'S NOT A BIG SURPRISE THAT WE SAW A DROP BUT IT'S NOT A HUGE DROP. AND, OVERALL IN OUR PARKING LOT, WE DID HIT $1 MILLION IN PARKING REVENUE ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT REALLY REFLECTED HERE. OKAY.

YEAH. SO , THE FISCAL YEAR , YEAH, FISCAL YEAR WE HIT 1 MILLION. SO WE DO OUR ENPLANEMENTS AND THE OTHER REPORTING ON CALENDAR YEAR SO THIS REALLY IS JUST CALENDAR YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 . WE BEAT $1 MILLION IN THE PARKING LOT REVENUE. FIRST TIME EVER.

>> YAY. >> YEAH. AND WE HAD BUDGETED $700,000. $300,000 TO THE GOOD ON THAT. AND THEN PARKING, I'M SORRY, RENTAL CAR. OVERALL IT WAS VERY STRONG. UP 38, ALMOST 39% FOR THE MONTH AND THEN 33% FOR THE YEAR , THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE PRICING REPORT. SO, IT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE 14 DAYS OUT, WE ARE AT 368 COMPARED TO 246 FOR DALLAS FOR DFW. SO THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT. AND ON THE 30 DAYS OUT, WE ARE AT 386 FOR AVERAGE AND DFW IS A 237 SO WE GOT ALMOST $150 DIFFERENCE THERE. IT'S STRANGE HOW THAT WORKS. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES FOLKS ON THIS TRYING TO GET IT TO THEIR ATTENTION OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE PAST FEW WEEKS SO WE WILL ALSO TRY TO BRING OUR AFFAIRS TO THEIR ATTENTION AND MORE INTENTIONAL WAY AND IN MEETINGS THAT ELIZABETH AND I WILL BE HAVING AT AN AIR SERVICE CONFERENCE IN A COUPLE WEEKS. TRY TO GET CONNECTED WITH SOMEBODY WHO CAN PUSH SOME BUTTONS FOR US AND HAVE SOMEBODY LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFULLY. THAT'S ALL I GOT ON THE STATISTICS. ANY QUESTIONS?

[00:05:01]

>> LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND UPDATES.

>> LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. IT REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. NOTHING THAT IS PENDING THAT WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AFFECTS OUR OPERATIONS OR OUR PROJECTS ANYTIME SOON. SO , I THINK WITH ACR, CONTINUING RESOLUTION OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET MEANT, THAT GOES RIGHT NOW UNTIL DECEMBER 20 FOR FY 25 AND POSSIBLY , GIVEN IT BEING AN ELECTION YEAR AND TURMOIL, IT COULD GO EVEN LONGER THAN THAT. UNLIKE LAST YEAR, WE ARE NOT WAITING ON NEW FUNDS TO BE APPROVED IN ORDER TO SUPPORT A PROJECT. THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ONGOING , INCLUDING THE ROAD AND THE TERMINAL DESIGN , ARE ALL FUNDED OR WILL BE FUNDED WITH MONEY THAT IS ALREADY APPROPRIATED IN FY 25. WE WILL BE GOOD. WE WILL BE ABLE TO

KEEP OUR PROJECTS ROLLING. >> CURRENT PROJECTS. DETERMINE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION. I HAVE A MEETING WITH OUR ARCHITECT, PARK HILL , AND OUR CAPITAL IMPLEMENTATION CONSULTANT, BRIAN HUTCHINS, ON OCTOBER 10, TO GO THROUGH , AGAIN, WHERE WE ARE ALONG THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND UPDATE ON THE OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THE OPTIONS THAT WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD NEXT MONTH, ACTUALLY. AND THEN AT A COUNCIL RETREAT, THAT WILL PROBABLY BE SCHEDULED SOMETIME IN DECEMBER. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. AT LEAST NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE CITY MANAGER DID SAY LAST WEEK THAT HAS MOVED FROM FEBRUARY, TYPICAL TIMEFRAME, TO DECEMBER. WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT TO YOU TO LOOK AT NEXT MONTH BECAUSE IT IS , PROBABLY -- BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF DIGESTING ON YOUR PART. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THAT OUT TO YOU AS EARLY AS I POSSIBLY CAN FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, AND THAT WAY THEY MEETING IT WON'T BE THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE IT. OR EVEN THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE MEETING TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO LOOK AT IT AND COME UP WITH QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE HOW AND THE WHY AND THE WHAT , AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. WE ARE ON TRACK FOR THAT. OUR AIRCRAFT PROJECT.

WE DID OPEN BIDS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE

BIT. >> CAN WE BACKUP A SECOND? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DID NOT MISS THIS. SO IN THE TERMINAL RIGHT NOW, I JUST HAPPEN TO FLY IN THIS MORNING SO I WAS NOTICING STUFF. THE YELLOW TAPE , IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND THERE SHUT DOWN WITH YELLOW TAPE IN FRONT OF IT. THERE IS A BUNCH OF STUFF SHUT DOWN WITH YELLOW TAPE IN FRONT OF IT.

STAIRS. ESCALATORS. IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> IF THEY HAD THE STAIRS CLOSED, THEY PROBABLY JUST ABOUT THAT AND I WILL ASK THEM WHY THEY DID IT AT THAT TIME?

>> ACTUALLY -- I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN I SAW IT. I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST THE ESCALATORS BUT IN TWO DIFFERENT

LOCATIONS. >> THE OUTSIDE ESCALATORS?

>> I KNEW THOSE WERE GOING TO CLOSE DOWN.

>> THE OUTSIDE ESCALATORS ARE WORKING. THE INSIDE ESCALATORS ARE NOT WORKING AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE RESTORING THOSE .

WE DO HAVE TAPE ACROSS THOSE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM TRYING TO USE

THOSE. >> SO WHAT IS HER PLAN FOR

THAT? >> WELL, WE HAVE NO PLAN FOR THAT. THAT IS, WE WILL BE ENCLOSING THOSE , KIND OF WALLOWING THEM UP. THE REMODEL PROPOSAL THAT WE GAVE TO

COUNSEL WAS REJECTED . >> I NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION. I GOT THE AIRPLANE AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE TERMINAL AND I WAS LIKE, WE HAVE YELLOW TAPE.

>> IT'S THE INSIDE ESCALATORS .

>> HAVE A QUESTION. WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE PARKED AND USE THE

STEPS? >> THEY DO NOT MEET A.D.A.

CRITERIA FOR STAIRS. THE FALL AND THE WITS -- WITH OF THE

STEPS. >> THERE IS AN ELEVATOR THAT

MEETS A.D.A., CORRECT? >> YES. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT DOES NOT MEET A.D.A. FOR

THE PUBLIC TO USE. >> OKAY. SORRY I BROUGHT IT UP.

>> QUITE ALL RIGHT. QUITE ALL RIGHT. THE CAR RENTAL QUICK TURNAROUND FACILITY , YOU WILL BE -- SO , REMEMBER IN AUGUST THE BOARD APPROVED AN INCREASE TO THE CUSTOMER FACILITY CHARGE

[00:10:05]

IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET KIDS EXPOSED TO AVIATION .

ELIZABETH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH EAA ON MARKETING THAT AND GETTING THE WORD OUT FOR IT. LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIG CROWD.

>> AND THEY ARE MOSTLY ALL BOOKED. AND WHEN WE PUT THE INFORMATION OUT ON HER SOCIAL , THEY HAD 37 SIGN-UPS REALLY FAST. IF YOU DO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT OR TRY, I WOULD GET THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ALMOST FULL. I THINK THEY'RE ANTICIPATING 300 SIGN-UPS. THEY ARE OVER 200. SO

GET IN ON IT FAST. >> THE RESTAURANT AND BENDING SERVICES , WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, MOBLEY , MAYBE BY NEXT WEEK, ABOUT A VENDOR, WELL , A RESTAURANT COMING IN. BRAVED THE BOARD ABOUT THAT LAST A MONTH IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. HAD A QUICK TEXT YESTERDAY EVENING AND WITH THE OWNER. THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT COMING IN AND STILL ON TARGET. TENANT ISSUES AND PERFORMANCE . EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING REALLY WELL . WE WILL DISCUSS SOME ISSUES AND EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE WILL NEED TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, MR. CHAIR. AND I WILL LET ELIZABETH TALK ABOUT AIR SERVICE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

>> DO YOU WANT TO COVER ANYTHING WITH FLIGHT STABILITY BEFORE GOING TO THESE OTHER ITEMS?

>> LOOKING AT OUR FLIGHT SCHEDULE GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR , INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH THINGS BEING VERY STABLE. FIVE DEPARTURES A DAY SO WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. AMERICA IS KEEPING

THE SCHEDULE PRETTY CONSTANT. >> SUPER. AND I WILL GO OVER THE REST OF THESE ITEMS. AND FYI, WE DID NOT HAVE A

[00:15:03]

I THINK IT WAS WELL RECEIVED . WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE . RELATED NOTES, WE DID BUILD THE NEW PAGE SO WE WILL BE BUILDING ON THAT OVER TIME, TRYING TO BUILD A NEW LAYOUT , SOME NEW CONCEPTS , BUT BUILDING ON WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL THERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A GOOD WEBSITE BUT IT REALLY NEEDS SOME GOOD RETHINKING. REGARDING THE VIP PROGRAM. THAT HAS BEEN ON HOLD AS I HAVE BEEN GETTING INTO THIS POSITION. THE INTENTION IS THAT WE HAVE THIS FLY LOCAL PLEDGE/CAMPAIGN , WHICH CAN BE LIKE A VIP PROGRAM BUT FOR BUSINESSES . SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE IMPLEMENT THAT IS I'M HOPING TO TAKE SOME OF THAT STRUCTURE INTO THE NEW VIP PROGRAM AS WE RETHINK THAT AND GET SOME NEW SPONSORS FOR THE VIP PROGRAM . AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU , OR A LOT OF YOU, MOST OF YOU, HAVE BEEN FREQUENT FLYERS TO OUR AIRPORT SO ANYTHING YOU THINK ABOUT THE PREVIOUS VIP PROGRAM THAT WAS A BENEFIT, I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE TO INCLUDE IT IN THE NEW VIP WHEN WE LAUNCH IT. WE ARE FINALIZING PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAY AD CAMPAIGN. WE ARE BUILDING NEW GRAPHICS AND IMAGES FOR THE BILLBOARDS AND TERMINAL SIGNS AND FOR PRINT MEDIA WE ARE DOING. WE MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE ANOTHER COMMERCIAL . IT DEPENDS ON A BUDGET PLAN AND SOME OF THE TV OPPORTUNITIES. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, BUT WE WILL BE MAKING A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, REALLY TARGETED TOWARD THE PUBLIC.

DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU GET A CALL FOR ME TO VOLUNTEER. TO BE IN ONE OF THOSE VIDEOS. WE WILL ALSO BE COORDINATING WITH DCOA ON SOME OF THOSE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS. THEY HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO VARIOUS BUSINESSES AND GETTING TESTIMONIALS. THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO THESE BUSINESSES ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT HAS BEEN TO MAKE A DECISION TO BE IN ABILENE, HOW IMPORTANT IT HAS BEEN TO HAVE AN AIRPORT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COORDINATE WITH THEM AND HELP TEACH THAT TO THE PUBLIC. OUR DOUBLETREE VISIT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR THIS FRIDAY . THEY WILL COME OUT AND SEE US AND WE WILL TAKE THEM AROUND THE AIRFIELD AND AROUND SOME OF THE TENANTS . WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH DOUBLETREE . OF COURSE, WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO FEEL WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY . REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THEY DID SITE UP TO TAKE THE FLY LOCAL PLEDGE SO THEY ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO MAKE A COOPERATIVE CAMPAIGN WITH US. ACO ATHLETICS SPONSORSHIP IS ALSO UNDERWAY SO HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF VISITS THROUGH OUR AIRPORT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO NOTE GOOD CONTENT WITH THAT AND ANYTIME THEY SHARE ANYTHING FROM AIRPORT IT JUST GETS SKYROCKETING VIEWS . ATHLETICS IS PRETTY POPULAR. HENDRICK HOSPITAL JUST PUT UP THEIR NEW AD CAMPAIGN ON A REVOLVING DOORS IF THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL. CELEBRATING THEIR CENTENNIAL PREPARE PARTIAL PLACEMENT ON BOTH OF THE DOORS. IT WAS DON'S IDEA TO HELP THEM OUT RATHER THAN JUST BEING ON ONE DOOR. THEY COULD GET MORE VISIBILITY SO WE HAD A SECOND ADVERTISER BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET FOLLOWED THROUGH SO WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT SOLIDIFIED OR MAYBE OPEN UP THAT OPPORTUNITY. DON ALREADY MENTIONED THE AIRSTRIP

[00:20:02]

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. A COUPLE, ACTUALLY. ON YOUR FLY LOCAL PLEDGE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE . ARE YOU TYING THE BUSINESSES THAT PLEDGED TO FLY LOCAL, THE PLEDGING TO FLY WITHIN A CERTAIN DOLLAR RANGE?

>> YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAGE ON A WEBSITE , THEY HAVE VARIOUS OPTIONS. THEY CAN PLEDGE TO FLY REGARDLESS OF THE COST, AND A MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES ARE PLEDGING . FOR THEM , THEY SEE THE BENEFIT. THEY CAN PLEDGE TO FLY $150 OR LESS AND THEN, I THINK THE RANGE WAS UP TO $250 AND THEN $400. AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES ARE CHOOSING REGARDLESS OF THE COST. I THINK I HAD MAYBE ONE OR TWO BUSINESSES CHOOSE THE LOWEST OPTION. BUT THE RESPONSES BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CAN SELECT , IF THEY ARE MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BECAUSE WE DID THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM , IT'S THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WILL RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF A COORDINATED SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH US . AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A DISCOUNT ON TERMINAL ADVERTISING . AND THEN WHATEVER CREATIVE CONCEPTS WE CAN COME UP WITH, WE WILL TRY TO PUSH

THAT AND DEVELOP IT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION.

TERMINAL ADVERTISING. SINCE THE ESCALATOR ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP.

ARE WE WORKING -- BECAUSE I HEARD IN THE COUNCIL MEETING AROUND THAT TOPIC WHEN THE WALLS GET UP, ARE WE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING ADVERTISING ON THOSE WALLS OF ANY KIND?

>> SO, THERE WILL BE A WALL THAT WILL GO FROM THE FLOOR TO CEILING DOWNSTAIRS. THERE WILL NOT BE ON THE UPPER LEVEL. IT WOULD JUST GO UP AND COVER AT THE HANDRAILS JUST BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE SCREENING AREA. WE HAVE TALKED WITH THAT. ELIZABETH WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. TO BE DETERMINED. BUT WOULD APPRECIATE THE INPUT TOO. THERE

IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. >> ALSO. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AND

ROADWAY. >> SO , REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NECESSARILY ON THAT . OUR ROAD IS FUNDED AND WE HAD OUR KICKOFF MEETING FOR THE DESIGN ON MONDAY . MONDAY OR LAST WEDNESDAY, I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW. RECENTLY. TODD IS DOING THE DESIGN ON THAT FOR US. AND THAT WAS MONDAY. BUT WE DID HAVE A KICKOFF DESIGN KICKOFF MEETING WITH THAT TO GET THEM GOING. THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED SURVEY WORK AND, ANYWAY, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THAT WILL TAKE PROBABLY ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO GET DESIGNED. SO I EXPECT US TO BE OPENING BIDS, PROBABLY, IN MARCH TIMEFRAME IF EVERYTHING

GOES PERFECTLY . >> STAFFING.

>> AND STAFFING , WE ARE FULLY STAFFED RIGHT NOW. OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IS ON HIS WAY , SEAN CHATHAM , AND HE WILL BE HERE OCTOBER 21. SO, I THINK HE IS EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING HIM HERE.

>> WHERE IS HE COMING TO US FROM QUACKS

>> SO, HE HAS LIVED IN THE TULSA AREA FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM SWEETWATER. HE AND HIS WIFE BOTH ARE FROM SWEETWATER SO HE IS COMING BACK HOME. HE HAS WORKED FOR THE TULSA AIRPORT AUTHORITY. HE HAS WORKED FOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEMS, AT ELLINGTON FIELD, AND HOBBY .

[00:25:01]

BUT I SAID, HEY, SMALL AIRPORTS ARE JUST AS, IF NOT MORE,

CHALLENGING. YOU >> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING

HIM ON BOARD TO GET GOING. >> COMMITTEE REPORTS ,

FACILITIES AND PLANNING . >> THAT DID NOT MEET IN OCTOBER

. >> MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT .

[5. Discussion and Action to Approve a Recommendation to City Council to award a contract to Webber Construction to construct the Air Tanker Ramp.]

>> YES. WE DID OPEN BIDS ON THAT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THEY CAME IN AND WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS. THEY CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED . THE CITY HAS DECIDED TO NOT REBID THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK WE WILL GET SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER BIDS , AND WE DON'T THINK THAT WE WOULD NECESSARILY GET MORE BIDDERS BY REBIDDING.

>> HOW SUBSTANTIAL A DIFFERENCE?

>> SO, I MEAN, WE ARE ALREADY -- TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT IS WE THINK IT WOULD STILL COME IN OVER BUDGET AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO COVER THAT DIFFERENCE. SO, IF WE WERE ABLE TO VALUE ENGINEER THIS PROJECT, THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT ABOUT $1 MILLION SAVINGS. BUT WE DON'T LEAVE , I MEAN, WHEN YOU REBID IT, THE BIDDERS, THE NEW BIDDERS WILL LOOK AT WITH HER PREVIOUS BIDS WERE . AND SO THEY WILL SAY, I'VE GOT ROOM TO PLAY HERE . WE JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO GET US

ANY SAVINGS. >> WHAT WAS OUR ORIGINAL ESTIMATION OF WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD COST?

>> I GUEST AROUND $19 MILLION. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF IT. THE LOWER BID IS FROM WEBBER LLC . THEY ARE BASED IN TEXAS . THEY HAVE AN OFFICE IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA .

THAT IS THE OFFICE THAT ACTUALLY BID ON THIS PROJECT.

THEIR BID WAS $26,521,860. SO, AGAIN, WE WERE LOOKING FOR $19 MILLION. HOPING FOR EVEN A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT . BUT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN WITHIN BUDGET. SO, THAT, ALONG WITH THE NEXT ITEM , WHICH IS GARVER TASK ORDER, THAT PUTS US OVER BY $5.8 MILLION OVER THE BUDGET. OVER THE TOTAL FUNDING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH THE $20 MILLION GRANT FROM TXDOT AND THE $2.2 MILLION CASH MATCH FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE. SO, THE CITY NEEDS ABOUT $5.8 MILLION MORE TO MEET

THAT. >> SO THAT IS A $7 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED THE COST AND WHAT THE BID CAME IN. IS THERE A REASON WHY WE WOULD NOT SCRAP ALL THE BIDS? I MEAN THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY .

>> AGAIN, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR ENGINEERS IS THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO SAVE US A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND IN ORDER TO GO BACK AND , REALLY, REDO THE SPECS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO GET SOME SAVINGS AND A NEW BID , WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE SOME ITEMS IN THE SPECS , POSSIBLY EVEN HAVE TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE RAMP . AND I THINK THE CITY MANAGER IS WISE IN SYNC WE DON'T WANT TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE RAMP. WE KNOW THE DEMAND IS THERE FOR THAT AIRCRAFT SIZE , THE NUMBER DESIGNED IT FOR. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH TEXAS FOR SERVICE THROUGHOUT THIS DESIGN PROCESS TO COME UP WITH TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE .

>> IS THIS A FUNCTION OF THE ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN WHEN IT WAS ESTIMATED AND NOW THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SUBSTANTIAL

INCREASE? >> YEAH. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND, YES, THERE PROBABLY IS SOME INFLATION IN THAT.

>> WERE THERE MISTAKES MADE IN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE? I'M

[00:30:03]

>> NO. I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THERE ARE SOME LINE ITEMS IN THIS BID COME IN BOTH PROPOSALS BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOW BID BEING $7 MILLION. THE NEXT BID WAS $33 MILLION NOT $26 MILLION. WE ARE SEEING SOME LINE ITEMS IN THE BID THAT WERE WAY HIGHER THAN WHAT OTHER CONTRACTORS OR OTHER PROJECTS THAT OUR ENGINEER HAS BEEN A PART OF IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, SIMILAR PROJECTS -- THOSE LINE ITEMS ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY ESTIMATED BASED ON THOSE OF THE PROJECTS. SO, SOME OF THAT MAY BE THAT BOTH OF THESE COMPANIES ARE NOT , HAVE NOT DEALT WITH THE CONCRETE MIX THAT WE HAVE SPECIFIED TO BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIFIC CONCRETE TO AIRCRAFT RAMPS , TO AIRPORTS. IT'S BUILT TO FAA SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONCRETE. SO WE THINK THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THERE THAT MAYBE THEY WERE A LITTLE UNSURE OF , HAVING NOT DEALT WITH THEM BEFORE, AND THAT WHEN YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR AND YOU ARE UNSURE OF SOMETHING, YOU JUST RAISE THE PRICE OF IT AND SAY I WILL DEAL WITH IT? SO WE THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY A BIG FACTOR IN THIS. BECAUSE , QUITE A FEW ITEMS THAT THE ENGINEER WAS GOING THROUGH IT WITH ME AND SAYING, WAY HIGHER , WAY HIGHER. BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IF WE REBID IT, WE ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO GET MORE BIDDERS BECAUSE CONTRACTORS ARE PRETTY BUSY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW . AND THERE WERE 12 THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS BID PRIOR TO , WHEN THE BID ADVERTISEMENT FIRST CAME OUT AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO BID FOR VARIOUS REASONS THAT ONLY

THEY KNOW YOU >> YOU PRESENTED THIS TO CITY

COUNCIL LAST WEEK? >> NOT , THE CONTRACT AWARD HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED. THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION WAS PRESENTED TO THEM IN THE FORM OF THE NOTICE, THE PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE THE CO WAS WHAT COUNCIL VOTED ON

LAST WEEK. >> BUT THE COUNCIL KNOWS THERE IS A SIZABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED AND WHAT THE COST LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE. WHAT -- WHAT KIND OF DISCUSSION -- I'M SORRY. I DID NOT SEE ANY.

>> AND I WAS NOT HERE FOR THAT. I WAS OUT OF TOWN, ACTUALLY, SO I MISSED THAT DISCUSSION BUT I DON'T THINK THEY GOT INTO A LOT OF DEPTH IN THAT. WHEN WE BRING THIS ITEM TO COUNSEL, OF COURSE THEY WILL . THAT WILL BE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DISCUSS THIS EXPERIMENT THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT WHEN IT'S PRESENTED TO THEM OR DID THEY APPROVE?

>> THEY DID APPROVE THE NOTICE, YES . ESSENTIALLY, THERE WAS SUPPORT TO PROCEED WITH THE NOTICE, BUT IT STILL COMES BACK TO COUNSEL AND A MEMBER TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE ISSUANCE

OF THE DEBT . >> SO, JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. WEBBER CONSTRUCTION' IS BID WAS $26

MILLION? >> YES.

>> UDEL, PLUS -- YES . >> YES.

>> SO YOU NEED A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD?

>> YES. >> AND I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.

>> SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION

PASSES. >> AND GOOD DISCUSSION. I DON'T MIND THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION AT ALL. THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR. NO ISSUES WITH THAT AT ALL.

>> THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE I HAVE

BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT IT . >> OKAY. YET.

>> AND WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND I CANNOT REALLY GET GOOD ANSWERS BECAUSE I DID NOT REALLY HAVE -- LET ME ASK YOU THIS. I'VE GOTTEN INTO PROJECTS AND SOME WILL SAY HOW MUCH OF THIS COST? AND THERE ARE SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS BUT THEY STILL WANT A PRICE . AND SO, OF COURSE, I WILL BID IT AND TELL THEM THIS IS THE MAXIMUM I WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THIS. IT COULD COST LESS . DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN

[00:35:02]

>> SO -- >> CAN WE STILL DISCUSS THIS

ITEM? >>

>> I DON'T THINK IS PERTINENT . BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. YOU NOT GOING TO GET THEM TO COME DOWN ON THEIR PRICE SO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING --

>> AND LET ME CLARIFY THAT . WE HAVE, IN THE PAST, BEEN ABLE TO VALUE ENGINEER PROJECT AND REDUCE BY TAKING OUT SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS ARE REDUCING THE QUANTITY OF SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS. WE WERE PREPARED TO DO THAT FOR THIS PROJECT.

>> TXDOT SAYS NO. >> TXDOT FUNDS $20 MILLION AND THEY SAID WE CANNOT DO THAT. YOU TAKE THE LOW BID OR YOU

REBID. >> WE DID THAT ALL THROUGH THE EXPO BOND PROJECT. ALL THROUGH IT BECAUSE, REALLY, WE DO NOT REALLY ASK FOR ENOUGH MONEY TO START WITH AND THEN WHEN IT WAS REALIZED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY THAN THEY DID NOT DOWNSIZE THE PROJECT SO IS THE NEW COMMISSIONER TAKING OVER IT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, YEAH, I GOT TO VALUE ENGINEER PROJECT THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN $20 MILLION MORE THAN IT WAS WAS ASKED FOR. SO, ALL THROUGH IT BUT THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION PICK $7 MILLION, TO ME, IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND I MIGHT HAVE CONSIDERED SAYING, AND THIS DOES HAPPEN IN GOVERNMENT AS YOU ARE ASKING, THAT IF IT COMES OUT WHERE IT'S WAY MORE THAN WHAT YOU EVER ANTICIPATED AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH WAYS OF, WHERE ARE WE GETTING THAT? THEN YOU MAY WANT TO SCRAP IT AND SAY, LET'S TRY IT AGAIN. BUT, IF THE DYNAMICS FALL IN PLACE THAT IMPACT THOSE BIDS AND THOSE BID COSTS , THEN, YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU MAY BE WASTING YOUR TIME REDOING

BIDDING . SO. ANYWAY. >> DID WE GET YOUR QUESTION

[6. Discussion and Action to Approve a Recommendation to City Council to award a Task Order with Garver to perform Construction Phase Services for the Air Tanker Ramp]

ANSWERED? >> GOT IT.

>> OKAY. TO TAG ALONG WITH NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER SIX.

DISCUSSION ACTING TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TOWARD A TASK ORDER WITH GARVER TO PERFORM CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES FOR THE AIR TANKER

RAMP. >> GARVER IS THE ENGINEER AND THEY DID DESIGN THIS PROJECT . SO, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES. IT'S A REALLY GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY REPRESENTING THE ENGINEER AND THE AIRPORT ON THESE PROJECTS OUT THERE EVERY DAY WHEN YOU'VE GOT CRITICAL THINGS HAPPENING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DONE PER THE PLANS AND THE SPECS. SO, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU NOW IS THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. IT ALSO GETS THE ENGINEERS ONBOARD TO MAKE ANY CHANGE ORDERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MAKE ANY FIELD CHANGES , AND TO EVALUATE TEST RESULTS . THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE TESTING , THE QUALITY CONTROL TESTING THAT WE WILL DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONCRETE MEETS THE SPECS . SO, A LOT GOES INTO THAT , BUT IT IS A REASSURANCE THAT THE PROJECT, THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS PERFORMING PER THE SPECIFICATIONS. SO , I HAVE A SCOPE AND FEE PROPOSAL FROM GARVER TO PERFORM THIS SERVICE AND THAT IS FOR $740,200. NOW, WHAT I HAVE DONE IS SUBMITTED THAT TO COACHES AND GROW, THE CAPITAL IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES CONSULTANT. THAT CONTRACT INCLUDES AN INDEPENDENT THE ESTIMATE OR IFE. THEY ARE RE-EVALUATING THAT SCOPE AND FEE TO MAKE SURE THAT $740,200 IS IN LINE WITH THE MARKET .

THAT GARVER IS NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US IN ANY WAY.

THAT THEY ARE GIVING US A MARKET RATE FOR THAT . THAT IS AN FAA REQUIREMENT. NOT THIS IS CELL IT TXDOT REQUIREMENT. BUT TXDOT , WHEN WE DID THIS FOR THE DESIGN, WE DID THE SAME THING FOR THE DESIGN FEE . THEY SAID, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA AND WE WILL FIND THAT. IS 3000 TO $5000 TO HAVE THEM REVIEW THIS. AND THEY ASKED ME , BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT TXDOT PROJECTS DO A LOT SO THEY ASKED ME, HEY, CAN WE SEE HOW YOU DID THIS? I THINK THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD PRACTICE, AS WELL. IT'S NOT SOMETHING STANDARD THAT THEY

[00:40:01]

>> WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE RECEIVING THAT?

>> BY THE END OF THIS WEEK . >> AND THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE

FAA, CORRECT? >> IN MY FAA PROJECTS, YES.

THIS IS A TEXT PROJECT BUT TXDOT THINKS IS A GOOD IDEA TO

DO. >> OKAY.

>> MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR NUMBER SIX TO APPROVE A TASK ORDER TO GARVER FOR NOT TO EXCEED $740,200 FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ? FOR THE AIR TANKER RAMP.

>> I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> RANDY. >> ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED?

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. NUMBER SEVEN.

>>> OKAY. AT 4:54 WE RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT , ADJOURNMENT

. >> MOVED TO ADJOURN .

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.