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City moves on airport mowing contract and advances taxi-lane construction grant
Summary
Staff recommended awarding the airport mowing contract to Natural Design Landscaping (low bid $63,650) and presented a DOT/PTGA amendment that helps fund rehab of T-hangar taxi lanes on a roughly $2.76 million project with FAA covering most costs and the city's share about $150,000.
Troy Hidle briefed the commission on several airport items. For annual airport mowing (ITB 2623) staff received 11 bids and recommended awarding the contract to Natural Design Landscaping, the lowest responsive bidder at $63,650. The contract is one year with renewal options up to five years and covers mowing inside the airport fence line.
Hidle also described a PTGA amendment for rehabilitating T-hangar taxi lanes. He said the overall project is about $2.76 million and that the FAA is expected to cover 90 percent; the city's contribution was described as roughly $150,000 (about 5 percent), and the PTGA amendment adds $138,500 to the DOT portion to cover construction. Staff said the city has budgeted its portion.
Commissioners discussed hangar funding and development prospects. Staff reported a waiting list of roughly 55 people for hangars and noted potential grant opportunities through FDOT and FAA to expand hanger capacity. They also discussed the potential and coordination needs for a digital remote air traffic control tower, including spectrum and FCC/FAA coordination, and said they expect further updates while they continue federal conversations.
Commissioners also discussed robotic mowing technology; staff said the city uses remote-control mowers in some park settings but that unmanned robotic mowing near active runways raises safety concerns and is not yet being adopted for routine airport mowing.
