Sep 10, 2025 Airport Development Board Meeting

THIS IS US. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:04]

THEY'RE MISSING OUT. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE A CONSIDERATION AND ACTION FOR APPROVING THE MINUTES.

[2. Consideration and Action Approving Minutes of the August 13, 2025 Meeting.]

SECOND. I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A LITTLE CLOSE TODAY.

ALL RIGHT, DON, YOU GO FORWARD WITH THE MANAGEMENT REPORTS.

[3. Airport Management Reports]

AND THAT'S ON THE BACK PAGE OF YOUR PACKET. THE KEY STATS THAT WE LOOK AT THE LOAD FACTOR 76%.

STILL VERY VERY GOOD. IT IS A DROP THOUGH FROM THE PREVIOUS TWO MONTHS WHERE WE WERE AT 88%.

SO AUGUST AND THIS IS AUGUST, BUT STILL DOING VERY WELL FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

WE WERE UP 15% OVER LAST YEAR AND WE'RE UP 14% OVER FOR YEAR TO DATE.

SO STILL IN IN GREAT SHAPE. THAT'S GREAT. AND THEN LOOKING AT OUR PARKING REVENUE, PARKING REVENUE IS UP 17.42% FOR THE MONTH AND 14.42 FOR THE YEAR. SO I BELIEVE WE ARE WE WILL SUPPORT WE WILL LOOK LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SURPASS 2024, WHICH IS A RECORD YEAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR REVENUE WILL SURPASS THAT EASILY.

AND AS FAR AS ENPLANEMENTS GO, PROBABLY IT'S GOING TO BE A RECORD YEAR FOR US, TOO.

WE STILL HAVE, BECAUSE THE THE ENPLANEMENTS ARE ON A CALENDAR YEAR BASIS, NOT THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH LIKE OUR PARKING REVENUE IS. BUT ANTICIPATING THAT WILL BE IN RECORD YEAR TERRITORY FOR ENPLANEMENTS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR CALENDAR YEAR. REAL QUICK ABOUT THE TAROT.

DOES THAT JUST NOT DO THEY DO THEY EVER REPORT INTO YOU OR TO US OTHER THAN JUST HOW MUCH THAT'S.

YEAH, THAT IS IT. WE JUST GET THAT MONTHLY REPORT.

THEY ARE SUCH A SMALL PRESENCE ON THE AIRPORT AND REALLY JUST WITH A CURBSIDE POSITION, WHEN THE DRIVER IS MAKING THE DIRECT EXCHANGE WITH THE CUSTOMER, WHEN A DRIVER OR A CAR OWNER LEAVES THEIR VEHICLE, THEN THEY THEY LEAVE THAT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE RENTER PICKS IT UP AND PAYS. IF THERE IS A PARKING CHARGE, THE RENTER PAYS THAT AS WELL AS THE RENTAL FEE.

SO WE REALLY HAVE NO CONTACT WITH THEM. OTHER THAN A MONTHLY STATEMENT STILL REVENUE? YEAH, IT'S A GOOD DEAL. A LITTLE BIT. WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE AIRFARE REPORT, A LITTLE BIT OF IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE LAST MONTH.

WE ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO MIDLAND THAN THAN WE HAVE BEEN, WHICH MIDLAND IS USUALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN US, AND MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN DFW. BUT WE ARE WE HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN THEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.

AND BUT THAT GAP HAS CLOSED SOME, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

ON ON THE 30 DAY, ON THE 14 DAYS OUT AND THE 30 DAYS OUT, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BELOW.

SO SOME SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS. WE WE DID BRING THAT TO AMERICAN'S ATTENTION THROUGH OUR AIR SERVICE CONSULTANT AND WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE A CHANGE BASED ON THEIR COMMENT, BUT I MEAN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER. I CAN'T ATTRIBUTE IT TO THAT CONVERSATION EMAIL CONVERSATION WITH AMERICAN.

BUT WE'LL TAKE IT. WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF IMPROVEMENT ANYWAY.

UPDATE ON PROJECTS. WELL, OH I'M SORRY. REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES.

WE ARE WATCHING THE FY 26 FEDERAL BUDGET HEARINGS AND SUCH, AND DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET OCTOBER 1ST FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MORE THAN LIKELY THEY'LL THEY'LL DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND GRAB A FEW MORE MONTHS.

BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW. AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THERE COULD BE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT WON'T NECESSARILY REALLY IMPACT THE AIRPORT MUCH. OUR FAA, OUR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT FOR FY 25 SHOULD BE AWARDED TO US BY END OF

[00:05:06]

IT'S JUST GOING FORWARD AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE, LITTLE ROCKY DEALING WITH FAA ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE ON THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL WOULD BE PROTECTED, TSA WOULD BE PROTECTED. ALL OF THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY TYPE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE WOULD STILL STAY IN PLACE. SO I DON'T REALLY SEE MUCH IMPACT COMING IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, SOME INCONVENIENCES FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME SECONDARY TERTIARY TYPE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.

ON CURRENT PROJECTS TERMINAL EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT.

WELL, I DID LIE TO Y'ALL LAST MONTH BECAUSE I SAID, OH, Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THAT MODEL, RIGHT? NO YOU HAVEN'T. YOU SAID YOU TOLD ME YOU HADN'T? SO THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT MORE AND SAID, NO, THEY HAVEN'T.

SO I DO HAVE THAT OVER HERE. YOU PASSED BY IT AS YOU STEPPED ONTO THE DAIS.

AND ANYWAY, SO THERE IT IS. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT IT WILL CONCEPTUALLY LOOK LIKE.

WHEN WHEN WE GET EVERYTHING DONE. SO. AND THEN WE CAN PULL THE, THE TOP OFF OF A COUPLE OF THOSE SECTIONS AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT THE INTERIOR KIND OF LOOKS LIKE AS WELL WITH THE SPACING OF ROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITHIN THIS.

SO ANYWAY, IT'S IT'S A COOL MODEL THAT PARKHILL DID FOR US.

AND ANYWAY, SO NOW NOW YOU HAVE SEEN IT, SO OR YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT.

AIRCRAFT RAMP PROJECT IS GOING VERY WELL. NOW THAT WE GOT PAST THE GAS LINE RELOCATION AND THE FAA FIBER RELOCATION.

SO AND THAT THAT HAD PRETTY MUCH ENDED BY LATE JUNE.

AT LEAST THE FAA FIBER DID AND WELL. AND THE GAS LINE TOO.

SO THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG VERY, VERY WELL ON THE ACTUAL RAMP.

THE EXCAVATION, I THINK, IS PRETTY MUCH DONE THERE AT THE GRADE NOW, AND THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START BUILDING THE LAYERS THAT THEY'LL BUILD THE RAMP ON TOP OF. SO WHEN IS THAT EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED. SO THEY HAVE A CONTRACT.

TIME IS FEBRUARY OF 26. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING CLOSE.

AND IF IF WEATHER HOLDS OFF THEN MAYBE MAYBE THERE'S A WELL I BETTER NOT SAY IT.

THERE IS. BUT THERE IS A CHANCE THEY COULD FINISH A LITTLE BIT EARLY. THEY SEEM TO BE MOTIVATED IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT I KNOW I DID, BUT BUT THEY HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY TO GET IT DONE.

AFTER THAT, THEN WE'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

OUTSTANDING MAINTENANCE REPAIRS. I THINK WE HAVE A BAG CONVEYOR DOWN STILL.

SEAN? YEAH, IT'S A BAG CONVEYOR BEHIND THE TICKET COUNTERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH A VENDOR TO TRY TO GET THE RIGHT PART IN FOR IT.

LAST I HEARD. SO AND THEN WE STILL HAVE OUR RESCUE TWO, WHICH IS OUR OLDEST, OLDER AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIREFIGHTING TRUCK. THE ONE THAT'S BEING REPLACED.

IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP WITH A TURRET REPLACEMENT.

SO THEY'RE REPLACING ONE OF THE FOAM TURRETS AND HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THAT.

BUT WE'RE WITHIN DAYS, I THINK, OF GETTING THAT BACK IN SERVICE.

OPERATIONS EVENTS. UPCOMING IS THE AIRSTRIP ATTACK.

THIS WILL BE YEAR FOUR FOR THIS. AND THAT'S COMING UP OCTOBER 16TH AND 17TH, 18TH AND 19TH.

SO, YEAH, OCTOBER 18TH AND 19TH. THAT HAS GONE REALLY WELL THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO WE'VE WE'VE KIND OF GOT A RHYTHM WITH THESE GUYS.

AND SO WE'RE, WE, WE KIND OF USE THE AIR FEST MODEL AS FAR AS CLOSING THAT AREA DOWN.

AND BUT WE DO HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN THAT TAXIWAY ON THE PARALLEL RUN FOR THE PARALLEL RUNWAY.

AND BUT WE DO ESCORT AIRCRAFT THAT NEED TO COME THROUGH.

WE DON'T WE DO NOT CLOSE THE AIRPORT TO ANY AIRCRAFT DURING THAT EVENT.

SO WE ACCOMMODATE THEM THROUGHOUT THE TIME. NO ISSUES WITH TENANTS OR THEIR PERFORMANCE THAT I'M AWARE OF. NOTHING UNUSUAL.

THE AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD IS STILL IN DESIGN. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO BID THAT THING OUT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR TO, I'LL SAY SIX WEEKS ON THE OUTSIDE.

WE ARE STILL WE'RE COORDINATING WITH TXDOT BECAUSE THE ROAD DOES CONNECT WITH HIGHWAY 36, AND WE'RE PROPOSING A SIGNAL LIGHT AS PART OF OUR PROJECT IN

[00:10:07]

SO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY AT TXDOT HERE LOCALLY JUST MONDAY.

AND WE'RE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. SO BUT THAT MAY, MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WHAT IT WILL ALSO TAKE IS LIKELY IS GOING TO TAKE A RESOLUTION FROM CITY COUNCIL.

SO THROUGH YOU GUYS AS WELL PROBABLY BRING IT TO YOU NEXT MONTH.

JUST ASKING FOR TXDOT APPROVAL FOR THAT WORK WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

SO. YEAH, IT'S RIGHT THERE AT THAT. FM 18. HIGHWAY 36 INTERSECTION.

YOU. KNOW WHEN WE CANNOT DO THAT? BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROTECTED SURFACE FOR THE RUNWAY IN THAT AREA, SO WE CANNOT PUT A ROAD THROUGH THERE. THAT'S A SHAME.

THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL THING. IT WOULD BE. IT WOULD BE.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME PERSONALLY. SO YEAH, WE WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF.

NO WE CAN'T. WE WE HAD LOOKED IN THAT A WHILE BACK AND YEAH IT WASN'T POSSIBLE AT THAT POINT. SO WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT FOR THIS AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.

BUT ANYWAY. SO ALL I'VE GOT ON UNDER THAT AND I'LL THROW IT OVER TO ELIZABETH TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT SHE'S GOT GOING ON.

ALL RIGHT. HI. HOW ARE. HOW IS EVERYONE? HAPPY? WHAT IS THIS? WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON? SO DAWN ALREADY COVERED THE, ER SERVICE STATISTICS FOR AUGUST 2025.

I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW. SINCE WE RECEIVED THE OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FROM OUR AIR SERVICE CONSULTANT FOR MAY 2025.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME QUICK HIGHLIGHTS. YOU'LL REMEMBER WE REPORTED, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR OWN INTERNAL REPORTING, SOME REALLY GOOD NUMBERS.

SO SOME REMINDERS FOR YOU PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN MAY 2025 TOTALED 18,375.

THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 19.3% COMPARED TO MAY 2024.

THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE IMPROVEMENT. LOAD FACTOR REACHED 84.1%.

THAT'S UP 9.4 POINTS YEAR OVER YEAR. WOW. YEAR TO DATE THROUGH MAY, ENPLANEMENTS TOTALED 79,000 ZERO 71, UP 11% FROM THE SAME PERIOD IN 2024. OUR AIR SERVICE CONSULTANT NOTED THAT THIS PERFORMANCE IS VERY ENCOURAGING, AS IT SUGGESTS POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS AND SEAT CAPACITY GROWTH AT ABI.

SO DON. DON DID SAY HERE IN AUGUST IT WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT STILL VERY STRONG COMING OUT OF SUMMER.

ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES TRAVELING, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S NORMAL.

THAT'S NORMAL TRAFFIC FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT STILL SO MUCH, SO MUCH IMPROVEMENT FROM JUST A YEAR AGO.

AND LOOKING BACK TWO YEARS AGO, THAT'S A MASSIVE CHANGE.

SO AS FAR AS MARKETING AND ADVERTISING YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PROGRAM TRANSITION HERE.

PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE TO ENSURE THE MARKETING PROGRAM TRANSITIONS SMOOTHLY AS THE CITY PHASES OUT THIS POSITION DUE TO FUNDING CHALLENGES.

SO MY EFFORTS RIGHT NOW ARE FOCUSED ON LEAVING RESOURCES, CAMPAIGNS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN A STABLE PLACE FOR CONTINUITY.

OKAY, SO THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, LIKE THE ABI INSIGHTS TRANSPARENCY CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN PLACE WE HAVE BILLBOARDS AND DIGITAL ADS AND A LOT OF MARKETING ASSETS THAT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED THAT WILL THAT CAN BE EVERGREEN ASSETS THAT CAN BE REUSED OR REFRESHED AS NEEDED. SOME OTHER FUN THINGS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE ABILENE CHAMBER'S MEMBERSHIP DINNER HERE NEXT WEEK, WE'VE DESIGNED A 48 FOOT LONG BANNER THAT'S GOING TO BE SHOWCASING THE HISTORY, THE TIMELINE OF THE ABILENE AIRPORT FROM BEFORE IT WAS AN AIRPORT.

YOU KNOW, CHARLES LINDBERGH LANDING, AMELIA EARHART HERE IN ABILENE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE DECADES THROUGH PRESENT DAY AND WHAT'S COMING SOON.

SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT THE BIG TERMINAL EXPANSION PROJECT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CALL OUT IN THAT BANNER.

WE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE DEEP HISTORY THAT THE AIRPORT HAS OUR DEEP CONNECTIONS TO AVIATION, AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, REASON TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL AIR SERVICE.

IN ADDITION, THAT FLY LOCAL PLEDGE WALL THAT I'VE MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES FINALLY GOT THAT REVIEW OF LOGOS COMPLETED.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING A FEW MORE TO THAT, BUT THAT'S ANTICIPATED TO BE INSTALLED THIS MONTH.

SO YOU'LL YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

[00:15:02]

YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS OR ADVERTISERS. DON ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE AIRSTRIP ATTACK.

YOU KNOW, THE PROMOTION THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LOT STRONGER.

YOU KNOW, A LOT TIGHTER COORDINATION, YOU KNOW, CONSULTING WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF BILLBOARDS, WHERE TO PUT THOSE UP, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT INFORMATION TO MORE LOCAL FOLKS.

SO HOPEFULLY WE SEE SOME STRONGER ATTENDANCE THERE AS WELL.

LASTLY, THE WEBSITE, JUST A FEW FINAL TOUCHES YOU KNOW, ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THERE ON OUR PASSENGER SERVICES PAGE.

AND OUR DEVELOPMENT PAGE AS WELL. SO I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

OTHERWISE THAT'S IT. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY MOTHER NATURE HAS KICKED US IN THE TEETH ON THE AIRSTRIP THING.

I MEAN, TWO, TWO OUT OF FOUR YEARS, RIGHT? IT'S JUST BEEN I HAD PLANNED TO COME, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, I CAN'T. IT WAS WINDY ONE TIME. IT WAS SUPER WINDY THREE YEARS AGO.

DON'T. DON'T JINX US FOR THIS YEAR. YEAH. NO.

JONATHAN JINXED IT. IT'S FINE. NO. BUT ANYWAY, I HOPE IT REALLY COMES OUT WELL.

I'M EXCITED THAT THEY CONTINUE TO COME BACK. YEAH.

SO THE FIRST WEEK, FIRST YEAR WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL.

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. SECOND YEAR THEY MOVED IT UP.

THEY MOVED IT INTO NOVEMBER, AND WE HAD A COLD SPELL.

IT WAS LIKE HIGH IN THE MID 40S, WHICH WAS UNUSUAL EVEN FOR EARLY NOVEMBER.

AND KIND OF RAINY. SO YEAH, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS AND LAST YEAR WAS REALLY GOOD TOO.

SO THAT WAS THE SUPER WIND. WHEN DID THE HIGH WINDS COME THROUGH? OH, WAS IT TWO YEARS AGO? OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. EVERYBODY I WAS THERE.

YEAH. GOOD FOR YOU. GOOD. YES, MA'AM. GOOD OUTDOOR EVENT.

IT'S VERY, VERY IN THE FALL. YEAH. SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, STEVE.

YES. YEAH. ANYWAY, FINGERS CROSSED FOR IT TO BE GREAT.

YES, MA'AM. WHERE WILL IT BE? AN AIRPORT. THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WELL, IT'S FOR. WELL, IT'LL BE 48FT LONG, SO NOT SURE WHERE THAT COULD BE DONE, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR MARKETING AGENCY THAT WE WORKED WITH, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE CREATED A NUMBER OF DISPLAYS LIKE THIS FOR MUSEUMS. SO IN THE FUTURE, IF MAYBE YOU KNOW, THE TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET FOR ARTWORK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WE HAVE THIS OUTLINE, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE NEED, YOU KNOW, MORE RESEARCH CAN BE DONE.

YOU KNOW, SOME MORE CAPTIONS CAN BE ADDED. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE WORKED WITH TO DISPLAY THE HISTORY OF THE AIRPORT.

YEAH, BECAUSE IT CAN CERTAINLY BE ADDED TO. THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY.

I. HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO WHERE IT COULD GO IN THE TERMINAL AFTER THE CHAMBER BANQUET, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT.

HOW HOW STURDY IT IS. WE'VE GOT THAT. WE'VE GOT THOSE BLACKED OUT WINDOWS ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING ON THE UPPER LEVEL DRIVE.

THEY REALLY? THAT BEGS FOR SOMETHING TO BE THERE.

SO THAT MIGHT BE A COOL FEATURE. SO WE'LL SEE.

WE'LL SEE IF IT'S PAPER THAT WON'T WORK, BUT IF IT'S VINYL OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WELL, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT FOR AIRFEST PERHAPS.

WE'LL GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. WE WE WON'T USE IT FOR.

SCRATCH PAPER. YEAH. AND I ALSO WANTED TO TOUCH ON.

SO WE DID A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR AN ADVERTISING FIRM TO MANAGE THE INTERNAL ADVERTISING, SELLING THE ADS THAT ARE ON OUR SCREENS. WE RECEIVED NO PROPOSALS FROM THAT.

SO WE ARE NOW FREE TO GO TALK TO INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO START THAT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE. THERE IS ONE COMPANY THAT IS FOR SURE INTERESTED IN THAT.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND, AND MAYBE GET A CONTRACT WITH THEM OR SOMEBODY.

BUT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOW FREED UP TO, TO DO THAT.

SO THEY'RE INTERESTED. WHY DIDN'T THEY COME FORWARD.

THERE WERE A COUPLE COMPANIES THAT WE EXPECTED TO COME FORWARD, AND BOTH OF THEM HAD DIFFERENT REASONS.

BUT I HAVE TALKED WITH HIM AND IT WAS A KIND OF A CLERICAL ERROR WRONG, WRONG DATE.

SO FOR FOR COMPANIES LIKE THIS, A BID LIKE THIS IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL.

SO ANYWAY. BUT. LAND DEVELOPMENT, NOT A WHOLE LOT CHANGING ON THAT AND STAFFING. WE'RE WE'RE FULLY STAFFED.

I THINK WE DO HAVE A OPS POSITION. OPERATIONS OFFICER POSITION STILL OPEN.

RIGHT. SO BUT THAT'S OUR ONLY VACANCY RIGHT NOW.

[00:20:01]

[4. Discussion and Action to Amend the Recommendation for the Purchase of an Index B Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Truck]

BUT AT THAT POINT, I WAS REALLY PRESENTING KIND OF TWO OPTIONS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAA WAS GOING TO LAND ON THIS PURCHASE.

WE DO NOW. SO WE HAD ASKED FOR A PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT IN OUR BID.

WE WE ACTUALLY ADDED THAT AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE BID DURING THE BID PROCESS.

AND BOTH COMPANIES WHO BOTH BOTH COMPANIES WHO MANUFACTURERS WHO BID ON THIS PROVIDED A PRE PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS SO THESE THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, THESE TRUCKS ARE OVER $1 MILLION AND THEIR DELIVERY TIME IS WELL OVER A YEAR FOR BOTH OF THEM. SO I HAVE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AND THE CITY HAS HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE NOT PURCHASED FOR THE AIRPORT.

BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LONG LEAD ITEM, YOU CAN.

WE'VE HAD VENDORS SAY, HEY, IF YOU PAY US UPFRONT, WE WILL OFFER YOU A DISCOUNT THAT SAVES THEM MONEY ON INTEREST TO FINANCE THAT MANUFACTURING PROCESS, BASICALLY. SO THEY PASS SOME OF THAT SAVINGS ON TO THE BUYER.

AND SO WE TRIED THAT WITH THIS BID. I HAD A VERBAL OKAY FROM FAA THAT WE COULD DO THIS.

AND WE GOT OUR BIDS IN. AND THE DISCOUNT WAS WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE DISCOUNT THEN THE BASE BID PRICE, THE BASE BID VENDOR, WHICH WAS OSHKOSH, WHO HAD THE LOWEST BASE BID.

THEY BECAME THE HIGHER BID. SO WE PRESENTED THAT TO FAA AND THEY SAID, I SAID, I NEED THAT IN WRITING FROM YOU, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THEY SAY, OH, WAIT A MINUTE, WE DIDN'T. WE CAN'T FUND THAT.

SO I ASKED FOR IT IN WRITING AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE'VE WE'VE GOT TO SEND THAT UP TO FAA HEADQUARTERS IN DC.

AND THEY DID. AND HEADQUARTERS SAID, WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE.

ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE DONE BEFORE. SO WE RECOMMEND THAT ABILENE GO WITH THE BASE BID.

THE LOW BIDDER BASED ON THE BASE BID. SO. SINCE, SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT FULL INFORMATION LAST MONTH FOR YOU, I WANTED TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU AND AND JUST CLARIFY THAT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AWARDING TO OSHKOSH.

FOR A PRICE OF. THEIR BASE BID OF $1,029,194. AND THEN WE ARE ASKING WE ARE ACCEPTING THEIR OPTION OF WELL, THAT THAT'S IT.

SO THAT IS THE WITHOUT THE DISCOUNT IS $1,029,194.

AND THAT IS WITH THE OPTION FOR THE UNDER TRUCK TURRETS OR THE UNDER TRUCK NOZZLES THAT WILL SPRAY WATER UNDER THE TRUCK.

IF WE HAD A FIRE DEVELOP FROM FUEL OR SOMETHING THAT STARTS FLOWING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK.

SO WE CAN PUT THAT FIRE OUT AND YOU DON'T HAVE FIRE GETTING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK.

SO THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION. TO YOU AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO COUNCIL.

THAT IS WELL WITHIN WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR THIS PURCHASE.

WE BUDGETED 1.2 MILLION. BECAUSE PRICES HAVE JUST BEEN GOING UP LIKE CRAZY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO ANYWAY, THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION, JUST TO CLARIFY, IN, IN LAST MONTH'S OPTION OR ACTION BY YOU, YOU ACTUALLY, THE WAY I DID IT WAS OKAY.

IF IF ONE WORKS, THEN WE CAN DO IT. IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE CAN DO THE OTHER.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL WERE GOOD AND THAT Y'ALL WERE SETTLED ON THIS OSHKOSH PURCHASE.

AND NOT GOING WITH THE PREPAID DISCOUNT. BIDDER.

DON, DO WE HAVE A SERVICE BAY AVAILABLE TO STORE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT? WE DO? YES. WE HAVE THREE BAYS IN OUR FIRE STATION NOW AT THE AIRPORT.

TWO OF THEM ARE FOR ACTIVE FIRE TRUCKS. AND THEN WE HAVE ONE.

THAT IS, WE KEEP A OPERATIONS VEHICLE, A PICK UP TRUCK IN IT.

[00:25:04]

WE WILL EVENTUALLY AUCTION THAT OFF. THANKS.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE A MOTION TO AMEND. MOTION SECOND.

IT WAS THE SECOND ONE. OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE INDEX.

B AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING TRUCK. DO I HAVE PLEASE VOTE BY SAYING I, I SORRY, I FORGOT WHERE I WAS.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT. ANY OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. I'LL PASS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BRIEFLY.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

551 .072. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. 51.

551 .076. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES.

SECTION 551 .087. DELIBERATE DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

REBECCA. IT'S NOW 4:39 P.M., AND WE CAN RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION.

NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL RIGHT. AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 8TH EIGHTH IN THIS VERY ROOM.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE AND MAYBE A FEW OTHERS. WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THAT.

I BELIEVE I AM OUT OF TOWN, BUT I'LL HAVE TO CHECK MY CALENDAR.

BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT THE OTHER DAY, I WAS GOING TO PUT TBD ON THAT, BUT.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. I WON'T BE HERE IN NOVEMBER.

I'LL BE ACROSS TOWN AT OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

BUT WHENEVER YOU ARE HERE, WHENEVER IT IS, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, I GUESS.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. I COULD SEE IT ON RANDY'S LIPS IN A SECOND.

SECOND? EXACTLY THE SAME. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 4:40 P.M.. I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO COME HOME FROM THE CAYMANS.

WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE. PLEASE SIGNIFY THAT YOU BY SAYING I.

IF YOU'RE READY TO ADJOURN, I ANY THE SAME SIGN FOR.

NO THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.