Airport Director Jose Cebaja told the Business & Economic Development Committee on Monday that Bangor’s aging fuel-storage facility must be relocated inside the airport perimeter to meet current regulatory standards and reduce operational risk. He said the airport is currently "the sole fuel provider on the field" and that the fuel operation supports a substantial share of airport revenues.

Cebaja recommended the committee appropriate funds from the airport’s fund balance to complete a design phase so the airport can pursue outside funding. "The airport allocated a $100,000 to start the design phase," he said, and a consultant proposal to complete design work came in "at close to $865,000." Cebaja said the airport’s fund balance is expected to be "in the neighborhood of about $14,000,000" and that staff will draft a council order for the appropriation and forward it to the full council.

The director also presented plans for a consolidated rental‑car facility included in the airport master plan and said consultants recommended implementing a customer facility charge to finance the project. Cebaja said the consultant recommended a "$6 fee per day," and that the change would require identical amendments to five concession agreements (Avis/Budget, Hertz, Alamo, National and Enterprise) to implement the CFC.

On grant opportunities, Cebaja described a competitive Military Airport Program that the airport is now eligible to apply for and said, "if awarded, the airport could qualify for up to $7,000,000 in funding." He asked the committee to authorize staff to submit an application before the stated deadline of January 12. He added that if federal awards are not secured, the airport has been building reserves and could issue enterprise‑fund bonds to cover project costs, and that enterprise bonds would likely not require a citywide referendum.

Cebaja also discussed the airport terminal program and passenger facility charge (PFC) funding tied to a proposed TSA checkpoint relocation. He said that pursuing competitive terminal-program funding for the TSA checkpoint could free PFC resources for other airport projects.

Where the committee approved staff recommendations to proceed, the items will be drafted as council orders and brought to the full city council for formal consideration.