Idaho Falls council hears airport director on new rental‑car deals, Turo agreement and fee changes

The Idaho Falls City Council on Thursday received an update from Airport Director Ian Turner on the airport’s on‑terminal rental‑car concession process, a proposed contract with peer‑to‑peer platform Turo and the status of staffing and screening operations.

Turner said the airport reissued an RFP this fall to modernize agreements negotiated in 2015 and renewed annually since 2020. The RFP aimed to update rates, rebalance terminal counter and ready‑return space, and open limited opportunities for smaller operators. Turner said three respondents were determined to be successful and that staff ranked Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car the highest by bid amount and space selection, with Overland West (operating Hertz) and a National/Alamo offer also in the results. He told council the current contractual rent revenue of $194,933 would rise to about $218,075 in the first contract year, an 11.9% increase, and that the airport’s overall rental‑related revenue could reach $302,512 in 2026 — a roughly 55% increase over 2025.

“The customer facility charge has been increased to $6 per transaction day,” Turner said, framing the CFC rise as a move to bring rates closer to peers and to stop subsidizing terminal rent with parking revenue.

Turner also explained that one incumbent missed the initial deadline and that staff reopened a supplemental opportunity for the remaining space; he recommended moving forward with the higher supplemental offer rather than reopening bilateral negotiations that could create fairness concerns.

On shared‑vehicle platforms, Turner said the airport has negotiated a draft agreement with Turo to allow shared‑vehicle transactions in paid airport lots, require use of airport parking, and collect a 10% privilege fee on gross revenues. Turner said the city anticipates conservative revenue of “on the low end that it could be $6,000 a month upwards of $10,000 per month,” while cautioning other airports have sometimes realized larger gains.

Turner gave a brief operational update on worker screening (TSA‑approved local screening), saying three of four frontline positions have been filled, equipment is performing acceptably and staffing remains a challenge. He warned an active appeals‑court review in Washington, D.C., of related TSA rulemaking could produce changes that affect local screening programs.

Councilors asked whether moving major brands off‑site could hurt market share for Idaho Falls. Turner said he expected most operators to retain market presence and noted the three‑year contract term was chosen in part to avoid long‑term lock‑in while growth and space needs remain uncertain.

Turner said Overland West’s contract will be on the consent agenda for the next meeting and that Enterprise’s signed agreements were due by Thursday the 18th; he said contracts would start Feb. 1, 2026. The council did not take a formal vote on the airport agreements during the update.

What’s next: staff will return any signed concession agreements for council approval as required (Overland West is slated for the consent agenda), finalize any supplemental space selections and implement the Turo agreement after final legal review and operational setup.