The Dallas City Council authorized the city manager July 28 to execute a professional services agreement with Mead & Hunt Inc. to update the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport master plan, a procurement staff described as required every ten years. The authorized contract amount is not to exceed $509,321 and is contingent on county approval and receipt of grant funding.

Airport manager Jeff Renard told councilors the city selected Mead & Hunt from four bidders and that the contract will be funded primarily with federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds (approximately $300,000), a $150,000 state core grant the city received, and a small city match already budgeted. “We have selected Mead and Hunt as our preferred consultant,” Renard said during his presentation.

Renard said the project is expected to take about 18 months. He described a mix of funding sources that include federal AIP allocations, redirected expiring funds from other regional airports, and the state core grant. The city’s fiscal match is described as a 1 percent match drawn from already budgeted city funds.

Councilor McLaughlin moved the authorization, Councilor Ring seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: master‑plan updates guide capital improvements, grant eligibility and development priorities at the airport. The plan helps the city qualify for federal and state funding and coordinate with the county and regional stakeholders.

What comes next: staff will execute the agreement after required county approvals and grant award confirmations and will oversee an approximately 18‑month planning process led by Mead & Hunt.