Airport director: passenger traffic up, terminal rehab progressing; safety upgrades and grants planned

The airport director delivered a broad operations update, reporting that the airport handled 259,040 passengers in 2025 and that about 130,000 passengers used the airport in the first three months of 2026. He said phase 2 of the terminal rehabilitation — covered walkways, baggage claim and new restrooms — could open by mid‑to‑late May, and staff still expects overall project completion in June or early July.

On commercial and rental‑car operations, staff said negotiations are ongoing with the original developer for the car‑park expansion and that the consolidated rental‑car facility has civil site work underway. Assistant director Will Howard told the commission a small outparcel beside the hotel site (roughly one acre) could be reserved for a restaurant or other commercial use; a Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel remains the primary development focus.

Safety and compliance items included a summary of a recent FAA airport certification inspection: staff reported five discrepancies (mostly faded signs/markings and minor fueling facility or equipment write‑ups) that are being addressed and said replacement signage should arrive within a week. The FAA set a rectification deadline of July 24; staff expects to clear issues well ahead of that date.

The director said rising schedules — and an expected increase in Index‑C aircraft departures — will require an Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) upgrade. Staff characterized the additional cost as "just under" $1,000,000 and said the county has indicated it can be implementation‑ready by Jan. 1; the airport provides equipment and the county provides personnel and training under contract arrangements that staff will negotiate.

On airfield safety technology, a commissioner raised the FAA's surface awareness initiative and recommended deploying ADS‑B transponder units on airfield vehicles. Staff said the installation cost is about $3,000 per transponder, that AIP grant funding could cover roughly 90% of the cost, and that the airport will pursue grants to fund transponders for ARFF and other high‑use ground vehicles.

Staff also reported progress on the midfield weather equipment relocation project, which staff said would free up developable midfield land if AIP/AIG grant funding and formal agreements among the National Weather Service, FAA and the airport can be finalized. Finally, staff warned that increased leasing, badging and tenant work are stressing existing staff and said a May budget amendment will add an operations and security administrator and that the next fiscal budget will propose a business specialist position and more part‑time capacity.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations on the car‑park and hotel leases, pursue FAA/AIP funding for the midfield relocation and transponders, negotiate the county ARFF contract terms, and return to the commission and city council with lease, bid and budget items for approval.