Airport moves forward on hangars, taxiway and apron projects; manager position reclassified to director

Airport staff briefed council on completed and planned capital work and recommended a reclassification of the airport manager position to airport director.

Airport Director (presenting) reported three new medium hangars are nearly ready for tenants and an existing Hangar D office build‑out has a major tenant providing aircraft services and simulator training. The airport has upgraded its automated weather system and completed design work for a new taxiway ("taxiway golf"); bids for the taxiway construction were due the afternoon of the workshop. Staff described a planned terminal apron expansion that would increase transient parking from about six to roughly a dozen aircraft; that project is covered largely by an FAA grant with a modest city match. A crack repair and seal for Runway 10‑28 has a grant in hand to extend the pavement life and defer major rehabilitation for several years.

On staffing and classification, city managers recommended reclassifying the airport manager to airport director to reflect additional oversight responsibilities for maintenance, facilities and grant administration that have shifted to the airport manager in recent years. Council members supported the change, and staff said the budget reflects the reclassification.

Council and staff also discussed funding sources and asked whether airport enterprise reserves could be used for grant matches rather than Discretionary Sales Tax; staff agreed to evaluate options and return with recommendations. No vote to award construction contracts was taken at the workshop; staff said bids would be evaluated and brought back for contract approval if within grant parameters.