2026-11-04 - Airport Commission

00:00this meeting, the bids that came in,

00:01what the you know, the what they um have

00:04put in, and we'll see sort of where we

00:06land expenditure wise.

00:08And then next week we've got a two-day

00:10workshop next Monday and Tuesday. So

00:12it's actually going to be more focused.

00:14We we have been focusing on the east

00:16side, which would be the bag and

00:17handling internal improvements, but it's

00:19going to be more focused on the west

00:21side with the concourse and the central

00:22utility plant.

00:24Um and then we're actually meeting with

00:26the airline reps, the local um airline

00:28reps. We're going to go through some

00:30gate layout, get their feedback on it.

00:32So I think that'll be a very productive

00:33session, hopefully informing some of the

00:35decisions that we make really from a

00:37more operational standpoint.

00:40Go to the next slide.

00:42Runway 10 left 28 right is wrapping up.

00:45Um we've got um three phases three and

00:48four underway, but we're done paving,

00:50which is an exciting kind of point to

00:51get in a project of this size for this

00:53season. It is a two-year project, so

00:55we'll pick it back up in the spring. For

00:58the east half of the runway, um you can

01:00see kind of some of the details about

01:02the taxiway Charlie being

01:03decommissioned. We've got a new um ARFF

01:06and snow turnaround point that's been

01:08placed. Um and then taxiways Juliet,

01:10Whiskey, and and Golf are now open. So

01:13you can see the kind of the the punch

01:14list, I'll call it, on the right-hand

01:16side of some of the remaining work. The

01:18big deadline that we're sort of tracking

01:20is the FAA flight check. I think it's

01:22tentatively scheduled for the 13th of

01:24November. So that's

01:25we're trying to get as most as much of

01:27this as we can wrapped up so that that

01:29flight check happens, and then we'll be

01:31able to open it shortly after.

01:34Next. Concourse A apron phase two is

01:38coming to a close as well. Um there's a

01:40little bit of um

01:42you know, we're opening up B uh phases B

01:44and C, but then we're going to have to

01:46close um the first portion that we did

01:49earlier in the season really to just

01:50kind of wrap up some final seal coating

01:53and pavement marking work that will

01:55happen. And then um it'll give us five

01:57more remain overnight parking spots.

01:59That's kind of the big that we're

02:00getting and we're getting the work done

02:02ahead of the concourse. Um so we're

02:04getting pavement in place that we can

02:06use for the next couple of years.

02:10Fuel farm is tracking along. We've got

02:12painting that's happening um you know

02:14admin operations building. That's really

02:16on the southeast portion of the fuel

02:19farm and then work that they're doing

02:21with the transfer line and then the

02:23truck transfer location. So all of that

02:25is in work and this is really funded.

02:27It's a consortium by the airlines. You

02:28can see the airlines that are involved

02:30and they're still on track to finish

02:32this coming spring.

02:36Uh taxi lane Sierra widening and

02:38reconstruction. So um we had a tenant

02:41that was looking to bring in a larger

02:43aircraft so we needed to not only widen

02:45it but also strengthen the pavement and

02:47we took this opportunity also to do some

02:49sewer line uh repair and work that

02:51needed to happen. So we've moved into

02:53phase two of that. I think it's tracking

02:55to finish later this month. So we're

02:57making great progress on the pavement

02:59side there.

03:02Re-ru uh we're 83% complete with this.

03:05We're just kind of getting to the

03:06complicated pieces around the skylights

03:09um but the majority of that I think that

03:11one yellow section is actually over

03:13baggage handling building. So that

03:14should get wrapped up here in November

03:17um and it's it's on track.

03:21Master plan um we did get the approval

03:23from the FAA on the forecast. We did an

03:26alternatives workshop in um October.

03:29We're now sitting down with different

03:30tenants getting their one-on-one input

03:32from the alternatives that we presented

03:35and so that's uh taking a few weeks to

03:38get through a huge list of all um of our

03:40tenants.

03:41And then the big event that's coming

03:43later this month is we'll be doing an

03:44open house uh in this room the 19th of

03:47November from 6 to 8 p.m. Of course

03:49you're welcome to attend. There won't be

03:51a presentation or anything. It's more

03:53having boards up and giving community

03:55members an opportunity to ask questions

03:57and provide feedback.

04:01And we've been doing some work our

04:03baggage claim area, really just trying

04:05to kind of do some replacement on

04:07carpets and then just sort of tie the

04:09theme together with the carpet

04:11replacement that we did in the terminal

04:12or in the ticket lobby area. So all of

04:15that work wrapped up late last week.

04:18And you can see some of the areas where

04:20the carpet was replaced.

04:24And I think that was it. There's any

04:26questions.

04:34>> Okay. Thank you both, Kathleen and Beth.

04:37I think we can go to commissioner's

04:39comments and then we'll go to this last

04:41staff report. So we'll start to my left,

04:43commissioner Westerberg. Any comments

04:45today?

04:47>> I have nothing at this point in time.

04:49>> Okay. Thank you commissioner

04:51Vasconcellos.

04:52>> No, I don't have anything either other

04:54than congratulations to the people that

04:58got promoted and of course to Beth.

05:02>> Thank you. Commissioner Hughes.

05:05>> I'd also like to congratulate Beth.

05:07Super excited to be in the airport in

05:09our future.

05:11And welcome Mario.

05:13That's a great position to have here and

05:17pass along to our next commissioner.

05:22>> Commissioner Cunningham.

05:23>> Mr. Chair, just one comment. First of

05:25all, or two comments. Welcome Mario. And

05:27then secondly, I'm following closely the

05:30developments with the parking, the the

05:32new system and I just want to commend

05:34Sean and the team for staying current

05:37and following best practices. When I

05:39review the financial statements, I'm

05:41amazed at the parking revenue that's

05:42generating here. While business is

05:44primarily airport related,

05:46you're also very much in the parking

05:48business. So

05:51it's good to see you staying current.

05:53That's all I have. Thank you.

05:55>> Thank you, commissioner Westerberg.

05:57>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have

05:58anything just to congratulate Beth,

05:59Mario and then the

06:01motions from the other staff at the

06:07>> Great. Councilman Morales.

06:08>> Yeah, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I just also

06:10a quick comment. It was a pleasure to be

06:12part of the process, the finalists, and

06:15uh to be able to to see Beth interview

06:17for that and uh and such a strong

06:19candidate to be able to have someone

06:22um with her experience

06:24that is already significant, but then

06:26also

06:27um to have the knowledge of the

06:28relationships and the team that you

06:31already have here is is just really,

06:32really exciting. So

06:34thank you uh for all the work that you

06:36do and have led to this point.

06:37Congratulations.

06:40>> Excellent.

06:42Just quick comments. Kathleen, thank you

06:43for ushering and leading us through the

06:45transition.

06:47Did a great job.

06:48Bet you're excited for Beth to come on

06:50board.

06:53And for all of you, you're welcome.

06:55Idaho Air National Guard gave you an

06:57incredible leader some years ago.

07:01I I was surprised Beth how many Idaho

07:05Guardsmen texted me about your

07:07selection. So we're

07:09super excited uh that you're an alumna

07:12and veteran from the Idaho National

07:14Guard. So congratulations.

07:16Look forward to working with you in the

07:17future.

07:19Okay.

07:20Uh we'll go to the next

07:22item of business. So I'll be presenting

07:26what I'd like to do. There's only two

07:28slides to this presentation.

07:31The focus of this discussion

07:34and recommendation is to uh propose

07:37change to how we field questions and

07:39comments from the public.

07:41And what I'd like to do is just give the

07:42commission a chance

07:44to read this slide and then I'll do a

07:46voice over and then we'll go to the next

07:48slide where the real discussion

07:50about the proposed uh change will

07:53happen.

08:19>> So this is the background.

08:22Really the essence of this slide is to

08:24bring the airport commission process in

08:27line with all other city run boards

08:31with how we address public comments.

08:34We can always come back to this slide,

08:35but we'll go to the next slide.

08:39So this is the proposed public comment

08:42process change

08:44aligning with other city run boards.

08:47And again, I'll give the commission a

08:49few minutes to review the process and

08:52then we'll walk through it together.

09:27So a couple of points of emphasis that I

09:30would like to offer is this is truly to

09:33be more thoughtful and deliberate about

09:36how we engage with the public

09:40and to keep discussions,

09:43things that we bring up in the agenda

09:45public questions and comments, keep it

09:48relevant to the

09:52the purpose of the commission. So

09:54there's no no intent to

09:57stifle any public comment. In fact, it's

09:59more of a process to be more thoughtful

10:02in how

10:03we respond, be prepared. So I think this

10:07process as we walk through it

10:09there's an opportunity to for the public

10:12um to submit their concerns and

10:15questions.

10:17And then we we vet those um with an

10:19acknowledged receipt.

10:21And then we review it to make sure it's

10:23pertinent business to the commission.

10:25And then it's brought forward

10:28to the chair to consider whether it

10:29comes onto a future agenda.

10:33And then if that's the case, then we we

10:35make sure that the public is aware that

10:37we're going to discuss this

10:39and the the members of the public that

10:41brought the concern forward or any other

10:43members that of the public that want to

10:45be part of the conversation come to that

10:47specific commission meeting.

10:50So by no means have we made a decision

10:51that this is um very deliberately meant

10:54to be a discussion amongst the

10:55commission, so I'll open the floor

10:57for discussion and comments.

11:06>> Mr. Chairman.

11:08>> Commissioner Hughes, please.

11:09>> Um

11:11I appreciate the thought that's gone

11:13behind

11:14the process. I think it's

11:16it makes sense. Um it would allow us to

11:19be able to be more responsive or have

11:21the right staff be able to respond

11:23during a meeting and we still wouldn't

11:25be able to walk out public.

11:28Um so I think it's a little odd,

11:29well-rounded and

11:32um

11:33you know, I like it.

11:36>> Thank you.

11:40I think one one point of discussion that

11:42I would like to offer to the commission

11:45is item number three

11:47um and making sure that the commission

11:50is fully aware of

11:53the questions and concerns that are

11:56offered through this new process.

11:59Um

12:00I think I would be

12:02for discussion, I would be more

12:04comfortable. I know when we have had

12:06comments, the airport staff has provided

12:08us

12:09uh their assessment of the concerned

12:12boost engagement and commissions

12:14and allow us to read the, you know, the

12:17all of the submissions from the member

12:19of the public and then

12:21the airport staff weighing in on whether

12:23this is commission business or not. And

12:25right now number three

12:30defines that consideration to bring it

12:32forward on the agenda as as the chair

12:34and the airport staff or the airport

12:37director. So I would offer that

12:39potentially we could refine refine that

12:42so all commissioners could review what

12:45was brought forward

12:47and then in the preparation for the next

12:49agenda or however the proper method is

12:52to decide whether it comes forth on an

12:53agenda that every commissioner got a

12:56chance to look at what was offered and

12:59essentially have that discussion

13:02to bring it forward in an agenda. And I

13:04would I don't know exactly what the

13:06mechanism is, if that's a formal process

13:09or if it's just a preparation point.

13:12>> Mr. Chairman.

13:15>> Commissioner Bosiger and then

13:17Commissioner Westerberg please.

13:19>> Mr. Chair thank you. Yeah my

13:22my concern is that

13:26the airport commission serves at the

13:29mayor

13:30and that the messages brought forth for

13:32public comment would be sent to the

13:35airport

13:37first for for filtering. I want to make

13:40sure that

13:41the commission is able to see all of the

13:44the comments

13:45and we collectively decide how well we

13:48should respond to everyone because the

13:50public comment is important. It's an

13:52important part of of this

13:56partnership.

13:58So I want to make sure that that is done

14:00respectfully and deliberately.

14:05>> Okay so if I can just for the record say

14:09back to you what I think you said.

14:12One I think in the process that we're

14:13proposing that every submission will get

14:16an acknowledged receipt, which I think

14:18is

14:19which is important to make sure the

14:20public knows that we we acknowledge the

14:22receipt. And then your your other

14:24comment is that

14:25whether we take it forward to an agenda

14:29and a discussion with the commission,

14:31uh we respond with some kind of

14:33substantive response. Uh it's it's a

14:36it's within the realm of the commission,

14:38but we don't feel it's worthy of agenda

14:41or it's not

14:43commission business, something like that

14:44that gets them some path.

14:47>> Um

14:49we don't have any

14:51we don't have any

14:53responsibility or really

14:56it's not under our purview, right?

14:58Airspace,

14:59for example, although it's important, we

15:01don't have any jurisdiction over

15:03airspace. That would be an example. But

15:05we acknowledge that thank you for and we

15:07can

15:09help

15:11help get that information to where it

15:12needs.

15:13Um

15:14but it's still important to the public.

15:16So they don't know how to

15:18the public needs to to be informed on

15:21how they can be heard.

15:22But maybe the commission

15:24Yeah?

15:25Does that make sense?

15:27>> Yes. So a proper a proper referral or

15:29redirect

15:31Um and I do believe I heard you say also

15:33that you would like every commissioner

15:34to see what the public is uh

15:37offering. Um commissioner Westford,

15:39please.

15:41>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

15:43I think you've I appreciate the thoughts

15:45you put into this.

15:46You

15:47I I can

15:48see you've given it a lot of thought,

15:49and I think I I quite frankly agree with

15:52the direction you're trying to go with

15:54this, particularly having to solicit to

15:56the discussion in terms of item number

15:59three.

16:00I think we'd we've probably got a

16:01process here

16:03that will make for a

16:04efficient

16:06uh communication with the airport and

16:08the commission.

16:09I just want to add one observation, and

16:11I you know I

16:12I spend a lifetime attending

16:14public meetings, either sitting there

16:17one in one capacity

16:18at the other.

16:20And I've always appreciated the public

16:22wanting to participate.

16:24And I've also recognize that the public

16:27isn't always on board with what's going

16:29on and sometimes we are a little

16:31confused. So

16:32I want to make sure that what we're

16:33doing today in a matter of policy can

16:36never be construed or misinterpreted out

16:39there with the public

16:40as not wanting to hear from them.

16:43And I think you've you've got us to that

16:45point and I'm very pleased.

16:49>> I so appreciate those comments. Um

16:52I believe part of that will be, you

16:54know, clear messaging to the public when

16:56we roll this out that there's still a

16:58method to

17:00um

17:01engage with the commission. So I

17:03appreciate those comments. Mr.

17:06Commissioner Cunningham, please.

17:07>> Thank you. Um I just wanted to echo what

17:10Russ and Jamie had had mentioned about

17:13the public perception. I think it's

17:15important that

17:16public still feels like they have an

17:18avenue. And um but I do like that I

17:20think this will be a more efficient

17:22process. As um media past chair, I often

17:26felt ill prepared to respond to public

17:29comments here. And and

17:31those that took the time to come and

17:33present and prepare themselves had to

17:36wait um a long period of time to get a

17:38response. So I I

17:40support this um and I echo what

17:43what Russ and Jamie had said. And

17:46Russ both Russ and Bill have been good

17:48about reminding us of what our purpose

17:50is here and keep, you know,

17:52keeping that top of mind so that

17:54um

17:55you know, this isn't just for show that

17:57the public does feel like they have a

18:00an opportunity to be heard. So thank

18:02you.

18:04>> Not great remarks. Thank you. Any other

18:06comments or concerns? Councilmember

18:08Rowland.

18:09>> Yeah, I just like to comment. I think um

18:11you know, from a council

18:13perspective, this is similar to what we

18:15have

18:17like at the end of a council meeting. We

18:19do get quite a bit of correspondence

18:21throughout the week uh at a level where

18:23we get a Friday, every Friday, that

18:26shows that correspondence. It shows how

18:28staff has responded, if they have

18:30responded, or if it's just general kind

18:32of commentary

18:34to respond. And so,

18:35you know, I think that this this aligns

18:37with that. And I think too,

18:39Commissioner

18:41Mostinger's point of being able to know

18:43that the commission is going to be able

18:44to see all of that correspondence,

18:47regardless of whether it's under your

18:48purview or not, that you'll be able to

18:50see it, I think is important.

18:52Thank you.

18:54>> Okay. Appreciate those comments.

18:57Any other discussion? I'm sorry.

19:00>> One

19:01>> Commissioner, you've already had your

19:02chance. Only one who hasn't.

19:04[laughter]

19:05Please, go ahead.

19:08>> There's one other point I wanted to

19:09make. I'm sorry to go back, but

19:12it was mentioned about the potential

19:13liability. Again, as well-intended as

19:15our comments might be, this commission,

19:17myself especially, maybe not the most

19:19well-informed to be commenting about

19:21some of the matters that are brought

19:22forward. And so I think that's another

19:25reason for

19:27you know, going,

19:28you know, forward with this

19:30proposed process.

19:32Thank you.

19:33>> Agree. Thank you.

19:35Okay. I'm going to If there's no further

19:37discussion, I would like to

19:40Please. And sorry for overlooking.

19:42Go.

19:43>> So, one question for

19:46Councilman

19:47>> Mora.

19:48>> Thank you. Morales.

19:50How long does

19:53a person have to speak at city council

19:56meetings?

20:01>> Um, it has to pertain to the topic at

20:02hand, right, on the agenda, but it's 3

20:04minutes.

20:05Um.

20:06>> 3 minutes?

20:07>> Yeah. Usually 3 minutes. Neighborhood

20:09association would have more than another

20:11type of application and so on.

20:14>> That seems pretty short.

20:16But anyway,

20:18um

20:23I I think it would be important if we're

20:25using an online tool

20:27to be sure that it has

20:29the submitter's contact information, in

20:33particular a phone number and email

20:35address,

20:37which

20:39what these things probably do, but it

20:40wasn't mentioned in the memo.

20:43Um

20:44finally

20:46I would be interested um as to whether

20:50um legal counsel has any comment on

20:54um the proposal.

20:59>> Yes, Mr. We have looked at it

21:02in terms of compliance with all the

21:04local and state legal requirements.

21:07And frankly it's more

21:10Jordan Scatton, it's more consistent

21:12with what the other departments are

21:14doing.

21:15>> And apparently the other the procedure

21:18process has worked pretty well for other

21:20commissions and boards

21:22and the city council.

21:24Yeah.

21:25All right. [clears throat]

21:26Um

21:27I think that's it. Thank you.

21:29>> Mr. Chair.

21:31>> Just one moment if I can

21:33uh reflect back Commissioner

21:35Vasconcellos, your remarks

21:37um something to the effect in number one

21:40of I mean what I wrote was potentially a

21:43a just a very basic template for

21:46submission of questions or concerns to

21:48the commission that includes contact

21:50information so we're able to follow

21:53through on what we said we would do,

21:55which is respond.

21:56So I think that would be a a recommended

21:59change. And then

22:01for those online uh the question about

22:04uh legal uh

22:06the response that wasn't on mic is that

22:08it's in line with other city processes

22:10and appears to meet legal

22:12requirements. Is that Is that good

22:14enough?

22:14>> Yes.

22:15>> Okay.

22:17Um please Commissioner Bosecker.

22:20>> Good. I like Jordan's comment about um

22:23the commission getting a

22:24memo, summary memo. It may not need to

22:27be weekly,

22:28but if there are any online

22:30um submissions, that we get a summary of

22:32that.

22:33That would be in a something in addition

22:36to or more complete on number three.

22:39That would be a way for us to stay

22:40informed about the commission's

22:43uh comments, public comments, and also

22:44for us to study up on if we need to

22:47study up on

22:49our response.

22:51>> Okay.

22:52Um

22:53I have got that. Uh a summary of any

22:57public submissions to the entire or the

23:00full commission for review.

23:02Um any other discussion?

23:07Okay. So I'm going to try what I'd like

23:10to do and I'll take corrections

23:12[clears throat] right here in front of

23:13everybody if I get this wrong. So we've

23:16got a recommendation

23:18to change our process and how we engage

23:20the public on both in questions and

23:22concerns.

23:24Um

23:25we've got recommended changes.

23:29So what I'd like to do is uh

23:33I'll review the changes as I see them

23:35and take corrections in the moment and

23:37then we'll agree that that's the changes

23:38we want to make and we'll we'll do a

23:40motion and a vote for the changes.

23:43And then we'll do a motion and a vote

23:45to approve or not this new process. Does

23:49that sound fair?

23:51Okay. So what

23:53what I believe I heard from the

23:54commission discussion

23:56is that for item number one

24:00uh we need some kind of standardization

24:03to guide the public in their comments

24:07that are emailed that allows us to

24:09ensure

24:10that we can

24:12respond both in receipt of

24:14acknowledgement,

24:16acknowledged receipt, and then uh

24:20later on either

24:23a response that it will come to agenda

24:25or uh a a

24:27or

24:29um a redirect.

24:31So specifically, some kind of

24:34template

24:35for the public to be able to have

24:37consistent responses. Does that sound

24:39good for number one change?

24:43Okay. And then number three

24:46I think should read something like

24:52the airport will provide

24:56a summary of all public submissions

25:01to the full commission for review.

25:05And

25:07the commission and airport will consider

25:11placement on a future agenda

25:15or redirect a referral to another

25:19entity.

25:20You'll make those words better, I'm

25:21sure, but that's the the gist.

25:25Does that sound

25:27close to what we

25:28Okay.

25:30So I will entertain a motion to

25:32incorporate those changes to item one

25:34and three.

25:36>> [clears throat]

25:38>> Mr. Chairman, I have one question.

25:39>> Please.

25:41>> When this if this policy is adopted,

25:43which I think it probably will, probably

25:45should be

25:47what are you going to do if a member of

25:48the public shows up at our next meeting

25:50says I want to say something?

25:54>> We will usher them out of the room.

25:57My humor probably doesn't work for on

25:58the record.

26:02Okay, so scratch that. Stop being trying

26:04to be funny.

26:08It's a great question. Legal, do you

26:10have a

26:12a recommendation or if how do we handle

26:15those if it's not part of how we run our

26:17businesses

26:18or not our business but our

26:21agenda?

26:23>> Direct them to the process that we're

26:26trying to put in place right now.

26:27>> Okay.

26:29That sounds great. And

26:30folks online,

26:32um

26:33we would uh

26:36redirect them to the process that's now

26:38in in place or will be in place

26:41to acknowledge their presence,

26:42acknowledge that they would like to

26:43speak and we'll help them. Might be

26:46helpful to have a a slide in the queue,

26:48a backup slide

26:49for a commission meeting so we could

26:51just pull it up, maybe a QR code that

26:53guides them to

26:55um

26:56the address and they could take that and

26:59and walk away with that.

27:01Okay. Any other

27:03discussion?

27:05>> I'm comfortable, Mr. Chairman, with if

27:07you're going to explain to that person

27:08when they show up and I won't have to.

27:11>> [laughter]

27:12>> I will take that on. Thank you. And I

27:14will not use humor.

27:17Okay. I will entertain a motion to

27:20um incorporate the changes discussed in

27:23item one and item three.

27:26>> Mr. Chair,

27:27I propose that we adopt the changes to

27:30item one and item three

27:32public comment process.

27:34>> Okay. Thank you. Do we have a second?

27:37Second. Okay. We have a second. All in

27:40favor?

27:41Aye.

27:41>> Aye.

27:41>> Aye.

27:42>> Opposed?

27:45Okay. So the changes, the recommended

27:47changes in session today to one and

27:49three are approved.

27:51And now I would like to entertain a

27:53motion to make this our new process

27:54going forward

27:56um and further to be in place for our

27:59next commission meeting in December.

28:02>> Mr. Chairman,

28:04I so move.

28:06>> Do we have a second?

28:07>> I'll second.

28:08>> Okay. We have a motion and a second. All

28:11in favor?

28:12Aye.

28:14>> Aye.

28:14>> Opposed?

28:17Okay.

28:18The new process is approved and we'll

28:20begin that uh at our next commission

28:22meeting in December.

28:25Okay. Because we're still on the old

28:27system, we'll go to the next uh

28:30item on the agenda, questions and

28:31comments from the public.

28:33And just before I this statement, do we

28:35have anyone today that would like to

28:37address the commission?

28:41Anyone online?

28:45Okay, then I'll forego reading the

28:47statement.

28:49Um, I would entertain a motion to

28:51adjourn.

28:53>> Move to favor motion, Mr. Chairman.

28:57>> Right, do we have a second?

28:59A second? All in favor?

29:01>> Aye.

29:02>> Aye.

29:03Okay, this is the shortest of my tenure

29:06in commission meetings where we're on

29:08time.

29:09Thank you everybody for attending. Have

29:10a good day.

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