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Bristol Council approves $75,000 to help recruit new airline service at Tri Cities Airport
Summary
The Bristol City Council on March 31 approved a $75,000 commitment over two years to support a regional $2,000,000 minimum revenue guarantee intended to attract additional airline service to Tri Cities Airport; any disbursement requires city manager review and approval.
The Bristol City Council voted unanimously March 31 to commit $75,000 over two years to a regional effort to recruit additional airline service to Tri Cities Airport.
Randy, a city staff member presenting the item, said the contribution would be part of a minimum revenue guarantee fund the region is assembling to attract a new carrier. "to an airline, that is yet to be named and destination unknown at this point," Randy said while describing the proposal, which staff says would be held by the city until needed.
Council members framed the payment as an economic development investment. The resolution states the $75,000 would support regional recruitment work toward a $2,000,000 minimum revenue guarantee and that any disbursement "shall be subject to [the city manager's] approval of the terms of any such documents and agreements." Speaker 1, the presiding officer, described the measure as "a huge investment for our future" while cautioning that "we know it doesn't guarantee that there's gonna be a new airline coming, but it's certainly gonna help in those recruitment efforts."
Supporters said new service could expand travel options for residents and bring visitors to local attractions. "I flew out of Tri Cities 10 or 11 times" last year, Unidentified Speaker 2 said, describing current routing limits and saying expanded service would aid tourism and conferences. Unidentified Speaker 3 clarified the funding schedule: "The $75,000 is over a 2 year period, so it's not all in 1 year," and noted that other local governments and private partners are contributing toward the regional fund.
The motion to approve the resolution was made by Speaker 2 and seconded by Speaker 3. The clerk recorded yes votes from Councilmembers Farnam, Holmes, Osborne, Pollard and Mayor Nave; no opposing votes were recorded and the resolution was adopted. After the vote, the council moved to adjourn and the meeting ended.
The resolution directs that the city manager review any agreements before funds are dispersed and finds the expenditure serves public purposes including economic development; no carrier, destination or disbursement schedule was named at the meeting.
