City staff to kick off terminal area plan with federal earmark, seeks advisory committee input

Agency official told the commission a distinct terminal area plan and design project will begin in a few weeks and that the work is funded initially as a planning effort by a congressional earmark, Oregon lottery bond allocations and an anticipated FAA grant. "This is the plan that is funded by or had money allocated to it from [a congressional office]," the Agency official said, adding the plan will develop short‑, mid‑ and long‑range options for the terminal and produce near‑term construction documents.

The agency official said the funding at this stage is for planning; construction funding is expected later, when FAA dollars and permanent lottery funds are available (staff cited a federal fiscal year timing and a March 2027 lottery funding timing). Commissioners asked whether the identified funds covered construction; Agency official replied the current funding is for planning only and that construction funding would follow in subsequent budget cycles.

Staff proposed forming a terminal advisory committee of roughly 10 to 20 people to review the terminal area plan and requested commission input on the committee's composition and time commitment. "The thought was if it goes through a staff formed committee, then we have a little bit more flexibility... and we can do it a lot quicker than if we were to form it through the commission," the Agency official said. Staff member clarified the proper term is "advisory committee," not a commission, and asked commissioners for recommendations.

The advisory committee will advise short‑term planning and help shape construction documents; staff said they will circulate a proposed charter and time commitment in the coming days and welcome commissioners’ suggestions. No formal committee appointments or votes were taken at the meeting.