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Airport Advisory Board

Minutes - November 3, 2004

The meeting was called to order by Chairman, B.J. Hunter, at 12:30 p.m. in the North Terminal Conference Room on Wednesday, November 3, 2004.

Present: James Elliott, Don Miles, B.J. Hunter, Robert Taylor, Larry Foster, Ron Craft, Nicholas Shapiro, Greg Cecil, Rick Shanker, Randy Eckley
Bill Boston, Tammy Puett – Airport Administration
Miglena Sternadori – Tribune
Howard Cerini – Hertz
Clay Atkins – E-3 Group
Adam Lechtenberg, Tim Schaumburg – Enterprise

Excused: Skip Elkin

Absent: No one

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Randy Eckley moved to approve the October minutes, Don
Miles seconded the motion and the minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS: Discussion on Airport Ground Transportation. Examples of ordinances from Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport, the Regional Airport Authority of Louisville KY, and St. Louis Lambert Airport were reviewed and discussed. Mr. Boston pointed out that Columbia’s present airport ordinance deals with taxicabs and limousines but not rental cars. Adam Lechtenberg and Tim Schaumburg were present from Enterprise Car Rental and pointed out that they were present so that they could learn what a new ordinance might mean to them. They also reported that when one of their customers leaves a car keys at the airport they are doing it on their own; they do not tell their customers to leave keys with airport employees. The board agreed that the issues raised last month involving off-airport businesses relate only to rental cars, and that taxis and limousines are adequately dealt with in City ordinances. The board also agreed that there should be a level playing field and that those companies serving arriving airport passengers should have to pay the same fee that Hertz has to pay. Bob Taylor made the motion that the Airport Advisory Board send a report to City Council recommending they consider an ordinance requiring all car rental agencies to collect a 10% fee to be paid to the City from any customer who originates or terminates a car rental at the Columbia Regional Airport. Rick Shanker seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Bill Boston will prepare a report to send to City Council.

Airport Internet Service. Bill is working other City staff on a draft Request For Proposal to issue to vendors for operation of a wireless internet “hot spot” at the airport. The tenants at the airport are also interested in high speed internet service. The City fiber optic link has not yet been activated, but it may bear on the issue of such service to the public and to the non-City tenants.

NEW BUSINESS: Don Miles reported he had received some comments from passengers regarding the screening process at the airport. They thought screeners were unfriendly and that the process was more intense here than at other airports. Several other Board members said that they had not observed this, however. Mr. Boston said he would pass the comments on to TSA and see if they would like to attend the next meeting and respond.

Greg Cecil wanted to know if there was going to be some kind of advertising done to counter all of the Kansas City Airport ads being played here. Bill reported that an informational letter about the airport was going to be mailed out in the near future. The letter will include signed testimonials from frequent fliers. Bill reported that he and Beth Harrison (AmericanConnection Marketing) were planning to visit with local corporations and travel agents.

REPORTS: Airport Manager, Bill Boston. Last fiscal year, passenger facility charges were estimated to be $70,000. Actual receipts were $79,891. This fiscal year we estimated we would receive $80,000. This may be a high estimate based on enplanements so far.

Last Monday the History Channel aired the show that was taped at the airport. Bill reported that he has a tape of it if anyone is interested in viewing the program.

The runway and taxiway repair project will start on November 15. This phase of the runway repair will not close the runways. In the Spring there will be two weekends when the runway will be closed for major repairs.

The enplanement numbers were up by about 25% in October. Some of the increase may have been passengers rerouted from Kirksville while their service was suspended.

Clay Atkins was present from E-3 group. He said he attended to see how the board operated and he reported that he was interested in building a hanger at the airport. Mr. Atkins reported that he was looking at options and may have a proposal in the future.

The meeting was adjourned by B.J. Hunter, Chairman, at 1:16 p.m.