BURLINGTON BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS – 11/14/12 PAGE 6

burlington board of airport commissioners – 11/14/12 page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ b

BURLINGTON BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS – 11/14/12 PAGE 6
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B
MINUTES SUBJECT TO CORRECTION BY THE BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS.
CHANGES, IF ANY, WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE NEXT MEETING
OF THE COMMISSION.
URLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF MEETING
November 14, 2012
APPROVED – 12/17/12
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Munger (Chairman)
Bill Keogh
Jeff Schulman
MEMBERS ABSENT: Gene Palombo
Alan Newman
BTV STAFF PRESENT: Gene Richards, Interim Director of Aviation
Robert McEwing, Director of Planning & Development
Heather Kendrew, Director of Engineering & Maintenance
OTHERS PRESENT: Joe McNeil, City Attorney
Rich Goodwin, Finance, City of Burlington
Vince Dober, Burlington City Council
Chuck Rolecek, One Flight Up
Mike Banash, One Flight Up
David C. Foss, JJ Taxi
Marianne Riordan, Recording Secretary
1 .0 CALL TO ORDER and AGENDA
Chairman Jeff Munger called the meeting to order at 4:15 PM and noted
Gene Richards and Rick Goodwin will be delayed due to a conference
call with the financial advisors for the airport. Also, attorney Joe
O’Neil will be discussing legal matters relative to leases and
contracts in Executive Session. Reports on agenda items that can be
covered in the absence of Mr. Richards and Mr. Goodwin will be done.
2.0 PUBLIC FORUM
David Foss, JJ Taxi, expressed concern about the following:
*
Too many taxis in the taxi queue at the airport for the number of
available fares. In the past a driver would have six to eight runs
per day, but now there may be two runs during the day with a six
hour wait in between fares.
*
Increased cost for gas, fees, and cost of living and there are not
enough customers for all the taxi services.
*
Issues in the “pit” (queue overflow area) with drivers stealing
fares. Portland, Maine limits the number of taxi permits to 50 so
drivers are coming to Vermont to work and are receiving public
assistance, living 12 to 13 people in one house while their
families are back in Maine also receiving public assistance
(working both systems).
*
There is an imbalance and misperception by passengers of being
charged too much and drivers not knowing where they are going.
Passengers are objecting to the airport surcharge, perceiving the
extra charge as a “rip off”.
*
Green Cab and City Cab were getting 12 calls per driver and are
now getting 30 calls per driver because of the meters.
*
Benways and Quik Cab do not use meters downtown, calling their
service ‘contract service’.
Mr. Foss suggested holding a summit to try to resolve the concerns.
3.0 MONTHLY FINANCIALS
Rich Goodwin reported the following:
*
FY2012 audit financials will accompany the Official Statement (OS)
for the bond issuance. City Council granted approval to proceed to
the next steps.
*
Jefferies is the underwriter if the bonds cannot be sold to
investors. The rate is 6.25%. Response to the bid is needed in 24
hours. The Board of Finance approved the $12 million bond and
refinancing of existing debt.
*
There were no material findings in the audit. This is the first
time the airport has completed the audit this early for the city.
Thanks are extended to Marie Freidman and Laura Almay. Without the
audit the bonds cannot go to market within the deadline.
*
A complete financial report will be provided at the next Airport
Commission meeting on 12/17/12.
4.0 COMMUNICATIONS
4.01 Heritage Flight Services/Tech Center Discussion
Postponed until the next Airport Commission (12/17/12) when Steve
McGowan can attend.
4.02 Status of Porter Operational Readiness
Modifications to the customs area in the Heritage building have begun.
Rental vehicles will be available at the site or passengers can call
for a taxi. Porter service with 70 passenger aircraft will begin
12/15/12 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There may be
further changes to the schedule to accommodate the business community.
Next steps include preclearance in Toronto so aircraft can go directly
to the terminal and passengers will not have to go through customs
again. Construction of a separate customs building is on hold until
there is an international carrier at Burlington Airport. Customs will
not increase staff until this is known and will not construct a
building until staffing is increased.
5.0 LEASES & CONTRACTS
5.01 Food Service Concessions – Livable Wage
MOTION by Bill Keogh, SECOND by Jeff Schulman, that a ‘livable wage
subcommittee’ be formed to look at the ordinance from the Airport’s
perspective and not necessarily to do away with the livable wage
issue, and further, that members of the subcommittee are Jeff
Schulman, Gene Palombo, and Bill Keogh; findings shall be reported to
the Airport Commission. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.
Heather Kendrew will provide staff support. Ms. Kendrew will forward
background information (i.e. areas of livable wage to be addressed)
and set up a meeting calendar.
5.02 Skinny Pancake Contract
No report given.
5.03 RFP-Restaurant
An RFP was sent out to area restaurants, bars, and pubs as well as
posted on the website. Other airports and Frasca were also contacted.
There are two walk through dates (November 20th and 27th).
Chuck Rolecek with One Flight Up asked about the Skinny Pancake
construction schedule which will have an impact on the airport snack
bar. Heather Kendrew will forward the schedule to Mr. Rolecek. There
was discussion of having a food cart or kiosk service. Mr. Rolecek
said Skinny Pancake is talking to One Flight Up employees for
transition to their company.
5.04 Land Acquisition
To date 147 properties in the land acquisition program have been
acquired. There are 26 properties in the program this year. Two grants
were received for the acquisition program totaling $10 million. Once
all the properties in the program are acquired the gaps in the berm
can be filled in. The land acquisition program is voluntary and
property owners can participate at their choosing.
6.0 DIRECTOR’S REPORT
6.01 Enplanements
Enplanements for October are down by 5.7%. At regional airports air
carriers are cutting back on the number of seats so the number of
people who fly decrease and fares increase (supply and demand).
Discretionary travelers (i.e. vacationers) are postponing trips and
using their money elsewhere. A turnaround is anticipated. Burlington
Airport will have additional service with Delta to Atlanta. Delta must
establish full service at Burlington Airport. Staff is meeting with
Delta in December to discuss the Atlanta route. The old jet bridges
were built for regional aircraft so a new jet bridge and vestibule
will be needed to serve legacy carriers with larger aircraft. Cost is
between $800,000 and $900,000. PFCs will cover the cost. Ground
boarding will be done until a new bridge is built.
Jeff Schulman pointed out enplanements for October are actually down
10.11% and down 1.4% for the year. The trend is downward for the last
five months. Bob McEwing stated 54 flights were lost due to Hurricane
Sandy which means a loss of landing fees, PFCs, parking fees, fuel
sales, and more. The storm caused billions of dollars in economic
impact across the country.
6.02 Fare Comparisons
Fare comparisons between Burlington Airport and Montreal show $160
difference (Burlington’s fare is less).
6.03 New Airport Website
The airport website is operational. Comments are welcomed. Minutes of
meetings will be posted or there will be a link on the city webpage to
meeting minutes. There is a link to the webpage in French.
6.04 Marketing
The marketing campaign in Canada is underway. Advertising with local
radio stations will discuss what is happening at the airport. David
Foss (JJ Taxi) said he has heard the ads in Montreal for Burlington
Airport. People in Montreal know and like Burlington Airport.
6.05 Roof Update
Replacement of the roof is progressing well and on schedule. Staff is
waiting to hear from Vermont Gas regarding an energy incentive for the
additional insulation being installed in the roof.
6.06 Operational/Building Changes
Staff reported various offices are being moved to different locations
in the building.
7.0 COMMISSIONER’S ITEMS
7.01 Strategic Airport Committee
Boyd Group did a presentation to the committee. An RFP for a planning
consultant was sent out. The return date has been extended. Frasca
will do a presentation at the next meeting of the committee.
7.02 Taxi Committee
Jeff Munger reported the taxi committee has been very busy due to the
new ordinance and procedures in place, such as background checks on
all drivers. A training session will be held at the airport to explain
the new ordinance and procedures to taxi drivers. Vince Dober will
facilitate the session.
7.03 Limit on Number of Taxi Queue Permits
Jeff Munger stated per legal advice the Airport Commission has the
authority to limit the number of taxi queue permits at the airport,
but cannot control the number of permits for the city. The Taxi Board
can make a recommendation to City Council on the number of taxi
licenses issued in the city.
MOTION by Bill Keogh, SECOND by Jeff Schulman, to establish a
moratorium on airport queue permits effective 11/14/12 with further
discussion with the Taxi Appeals Panel and Taxi Board to determine the
proper number and the process/procedure.
DISCUSSION: Vince Dober suggested setting the number at 50 permits
which has been discussed for the past year. Attrition will winnow down
the existing number of permits. Presently there are 62 permits issued
and approximately 12 additional applications have been received in the
past week. Jeff Munger agreed the number should not be greater than 50
and maybe should be even lower. The taxi industry needs to be notified
the queue is closed and a training session will be held on the
process. Vince Dober suggested a wait list be compiled for slots in
the queue line.
CALL THE QUESTION by Bill Keogh. Discussion ceased.
VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.
8.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
8.01 October 17, 2012
MOTION by Bill Keogh, SECOND by Jeff Schulman, to approve the minutes
of 10/17/12 as presented. VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.
9.0 OTHER BUSINESS
9.01 Next Meeting: December 17, 2012 at 4 PM
10.0 ADJOURNMENT and/or EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION by Bill Keogh, SECOND by Jeff Schulman, to adjourn the regular
meeting and convene Executive Session for the limited purpose of
discussion of contract negotiations where premature disclosure would
be harmful to the City of Burlington. VOTING: unanimous; motion
carried.
The regular meeting was adjourned and Executive Session convened at
5:32 PM.
RScty: MERiordan
“To Do” List from 11/14/12 Airport Commission Meeting:
1. Heather Kendrew will forward to the livable wage subcommittee
(Keogh, Schulman, Palombo) background information (i.e. areas of
livable wage to be addressed) and set up a meeting calendar.
2. Heather Kendrew will forward the Skinny Pancake construction
schedule to Mr. Rolecek, One Flight Up.