City council unanimously referred a set of options to the Public Safety, Neighborhoods and Infrastructure committee for follow‑up after airport staff presented demand forecasts, storm damage impacts and three approaches to rebuild hangars damaged in last year's hurricane.

Airport manager Rich Lesniak told council that three T‑hangar buildings were destroyed in the storm, producing a gross rental revenue loss of roughly $275,000 and reducing annual hangar rent revenue by about 20 percent. Lesniak outlined three conceptual rebuild approaches: (1) a city‑funded reconstruction (public option); (2) privately funded construction under a long‑term land lease (private option); and (3) a public–private hybrid with an operator (Sheltair) financing construction and recouping revenues during a payback period before reverting to the city's standard management split.

Friends of Albert Whitted and private proponents urged a prestressed‑concrete design that would be hardened against hurricane winds and purportedly could be privately funded. "We came to the city with an opportunity to have a public–private partnership, where the group... would put up the building," said Walt Driggers, representing the Friends group, who urged a no‑cost city option under a long‑term ground lease.

Council members stressed a need for more detailed financial analysis before adopting a path. Several council members noted federal assistance (FEMA) and insurance might reimburse a large share of city reconstruction costs if the city itself funded reconstruction and that such reimbursement would not be available if a private party rebuilt the structures on leased land. Councilmember Brandy Gabbard and others asked staff to produce an apples‑to‑apples financial comparison on revenue, lifecycle maintenance, insurance and the risk of using long‑term land leases.

After substantial public comment and questions from council about revenue assumptions, structural durability and timing for repairs, the council voted to refer the matter to PSNI for committee review and negotiation. The referral passed unanimously.