Pitkin County advances airport redevelopment planning and requests staff and capital funds; boilers, cameras and staff identified as priorities

Pitkin County commissioners spent a substantial portion of the June 10 work session on the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, reviewing near‑term supplemental requests and a large appropriation to begin design and scoping for terminal and airfield redevelopment.

Airport Director Diane Jackson and airport staff said the request before the board included three distinct groups of items: (1) a request to encumber roughly $38 million for phase‑one professional services and initial design/airfield work so the county could sign contracts and keep a tight schedule; (2) supplemental operating requests for near‑term airport needs (leadership transition contract, training, additional cameras, and an urgent boiler replacement); and (3) requests for new, airport‑dedicated staff positions to support procurement, grants accounting, auditing, permitting and public information during the multi‑year redevelopment.

Jackson said the $38 million figure was a planning-level rough order of magnitude and included contingencies; staff explained the county typically negotiates not‑to‑exceed prices with design firms but sought appropriations now so consultants could be hired quickly on the county’s tight timeline. Staff noted the project’s reimbursement prospects from FAA, congressional earmarks and passenger facility charges (PFCs), but also emphasized that work would proceed at risk until required federal environmental approvals (EA) and grant reimbursements are secured.

Separately, the airport manager and facilities team explained an urgent boiler replacement in the terminal: the two existing boilers are 27 years old, near imminent failure and cannot be reliably patched for winter operation. Staff recommended two new gas boilers now while retaining a commitment to an all‑electric new terminal in the long term. Other near‑term items included $50,000 for additional security cameras, training for general‑aviation tenants (including Spanish-language materials), and a leadership transition contract to retain a retiring manager on a limited basis.

County staff also proposed adding several FTEs to manage the workload created by the redevelopment: a senior contract administrator, grant specialist, senior internal auditor, budget analyst, community development support, and an airport‑dedicated public information officer. The county finance director said those positions would largely be funded by the airport enterprise fund and allocated across funds over time via the county cost‑allocation process; the net 2025 cost to the county general fund would be limited and many costs are expected to be reimbursed from grants or airport revenues.

Commissioners asked detailed procurement and contingency questions; staff said ranked firms have been identified and fee negotiations are under way. Commissioners and staff discussed the project’s environmental, noise and sustainability goals and noted public interest in design aesthetics and timelines. Staff said they will return with final contract terms and that the appropriations would be brought to the regular meeting for reading and potential approval.

The board did not take a final funding vote on the large-phase appropriation on June 10; staff said the package will be included in the Q2 supplemental reading planned for the next day.