Council approves FAA grant and separate work order for Gate 2 boarding-bridge project after questions on master agreement

As part of the consent agenda the council approved a grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to fund Gate 2 of a passenger boarding-bridge replacement project at the airport and approved a work order for professional services with RS&H for that project. A council member asked why the city brings separate work orders for individual projects when a multi-year master agreement with the consultant already exists and whether the hourly rate under the work order differs from the master agreement. Staff said the master agreement lists projects but does not bind detailed scopes and that the historical practice is to issue work orders when a specific project's scope and costs are known. City staff also noted hourly rates in practice can increase over time as overhead rises. City staff said the grant and associated work order will allow the project to proceed; a purchase contract related to another airport grant (for snow removal equipment) was noted as forthcoming. The council approved the items as read on the consent agenda.