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Middleton committee authorizes RFP for airport manager services amid questions on role, accounting and term
Summary
The committee authorized issuance of an RFP for Middleton Municipal Airport manager/management services and discussed the manager’s liaison role, whether the contract should record rent and expenses separately, a five-year term with a five-year renewal option, and possible staffing of the airport commission.
The Middleton Finance and Personnel Committee voted to authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals for airport manager/management services for the Middleton Municipal Airport (AC18 2026). Alder Haneiro moved the recommendation and Chair Lurman seconded it.
Committee members pressed staff to clarify what the RFP means by a manager serving as a “liaison between the airport, city, and community.” Staff explained the intention is broad: to liaise with the city administration, the airport commission and, where appropriate, the broader community of airport users and nearby residents. “So not necessarily just the airport community but the general community,” staff said, adding the airport manager can help get information out to residents and tenants.
Members raised several contract and accountability questions. One member proposed the manager’s compensation and any rent charged to an operator be recorded separately—expense under the city’s expenditures and revenue as rent—so accounting would balance. Staff said that detail could be handled in the final contract negotiations rather than the RFP document. Members also asked whether the airport manager could be assigned the task of staffing the airport commission to free up city administrators; staff and members agreed that could be discussed with respondents and written into a final contract if appropriate.
The draft RFP proposes a five-year base agreement with an option for an additional five years by mutual agreement. Members asked whether an annual escalator clause or inclusion of the city’s equal benefits policy should be required; staff said those items could be negotiated with the selected respondent and could be included in the final contract.
A member noted a city ordinance that requires the administrator to submit a quarterly report of airport income and expenses to council; that reporting practice is not happening as written and the committee suggested adding an agenda item for the airport commission or council to reconcile practice with ordinance.
The committee approved proceeding with the RFP by voice vote. The RFP authorization directs staff to draft and issue the solicitation and to return contract recommendations to council when selection processes are complete.
