HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-11 MinutesFAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT BOARD MINUTES
December 11, 2104
MEMBERS PRESENT: Darryl Riddell, Bill Corley, Mike Gibbs, Josh Mahony
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ken Haxel, Marty Burggraff, Rick Bailey
OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Jones-MCE; Zachary Morehart-MCE; Daniel Barnes-
MCE; James Nicholson -Financial Coordinator; Lauren Treat -Administrative Assistant;
Neal Bilbe-City Government Channel; Ray Boudreaux -Former Airport Director; Terry
Gulley -City Transportation; Daniel Barnes-MCE; Johnny Roscoe -Airport Director; Hugh
Hyde
ITEM #1: Welcome. Chairman Gibbs.
ITEM #2: Approval of the Airport Board Minutes of the November 13, 2014
meetine.
A motion to approve the minutes was made by Bill Corley, and seconded by Josh
Mahony. The motion carried.
ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports.
A. Director's Report by Johnny Roscoe.
Roscoe thanked everyone for their support over the past month. Reported that November
was an average month and we did make a profit, however we are slightly downs in fuel
sales. Discussed airport safety and the importance of securing the AMA. He also
discussed the security agreements that are currently being given out to the tenants,
contractors, museum volunteers, and even transients. Roscoe also brought up the amount
of trash, brush, etc. piling up inside of the fence line of the airport. Roscoe said he will
conduct a free, one-time big pick up airport -wide. He also discussed the areas that we
might be in violation for charging aviation rent prices for spaces being used for non -
aviation purposes. Gulley said that a pricing strategy is being looked into with an
assessor. The items that are allowed to be stored in the T hangars was also discussed.
Roscoe said he talked to the FAA and they are willing to work with us on what is allowed
in the hangars. Roscoe said he will discuss these items more in detail in January.
B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report.
Nicholson thanked Chairman Gibbs for the time he spent on the Airport Board. Reported
that operations are almost identical to last November. Nicholson said that football season,
which is typically our biggest time of the year, was not the best. There was bad weather
nearly every game and we had a lot of cancellations. Nicholson said that it did effect our
fuel sales to some degree, as well. Nicholson said that we are getting more competitive
with our prices but we do have to maintain a certain level of margins.
Discussion of the financial report followed. The FBO did very well this year. Nicholson
said that increasing the margins on our contract fuel early in the year helped substantially.
Gibbs asked if the airport administrative/maintenance side of things will be able to break
even next year? Nicholson said yes, it is a positive number in next year's budget and
prediction. Roscoe also mentioned that weather permitting, the football games next year
should bring in more traffic and we should earn more money. The FBO should help cover
us across the board and put more money in the reserve fund. Gibbs said we have done
great this year and he has no complaints. He thinks we have done a super job over the last
few years in managing this — even during the rough years we still squeaked by in the
black.
C. Administrative Assistant, Lauren Treat, T -Hangar Report.
One single T hangar is open.
D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Design Report.
Barnes discussed the option of milling it off and putting a new surface on top. He will be
in contact with the FAA and Mr. Roscoe very soon.
E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum Report.
Boudreaux said the annual Museum meeting is Sunday at 1 PM. New board members
will be elected. He said there are a few new projects in the works for next year and any
volunteers are appreciated.
F. Marketing Committee Chairman Bill Corley, Marketing Report.
He said that he will address it in the new business section.
ITEM #4: Old Business. None.
ITEM #5: New Business.
A. Brand Experience Concept.
Corley said that the marketing committee and Gott brainstormed, etc. and the committee
decided to take the marketing thing to a new level. We want to take it from messaging
and selling jet fuel, etc. but we also want to communicate brand value. Corley said they
do not need anything approved today; we just want to initiate a discussion and get the
Board and Gulley's consensus on the ideas.
Gott discussed the brand experience of the airport in terms of services, spaces, and
products. He discussed the potential revenue streams such as pilots, big business,
entrepreneurs, adventurers, and the community. The first big idea is positioning the
airport and surrounding area as the "adventure gateway" to Northwest Arkansas. This
would be leveraging the outdoorsy-ness that is already happening in Fayetteville. We
could invite Gaston's, Lewis & Clark, Pack Rat, Cabela's, etc. to set up a display in the
terminal. We want to tell the "adventure story" on the inside of the airport as soon as our
customers land. This would create an experience as customers walk through the building.
Gibbs also mentioned that the Green Way will be complete soon; the airport is very near
the end of the bike trail. Someone could fly here and ride the bike trail from end to end.
Corley also said 71 S is basically a bike trail for road bikers. Hugh Hyde said there was an
airport with a taxidermist in the terminal in South Dakota. People handed their game to
him as they got back on the plane.
Next idea is leveraging the business that already goes through here such as executives,
people from the U of A, and younger people with startup businesses. The idea is to
combine the idea of big business with the "startup" mentality. Some of the unused space
in the terminal would be converted into small offices or co -working space. Gott said there
is not a lot of this kind of space in NWA. Most offices are hyper developed and
expensive. It would be good to have something like a coffee shop here, too. An investor
would be needed.
Corley asked the board members to consider these ideas. Each of these ideas will entail
potential challenges, but they are worth thinking about. Gulley said he liked both of the
ideas. He said he is unsure where to start looking for an investor, but he does like the
mountain idea — especially with Mt. Kessler being developed nearby. He thinks the
outdoorsy concept would draw attention, but he does recognize that we have a lot of
wasted space in the terminal. This would be a cool place to have a meeting or even build
an observation deck. Gibbs said it would be great to incorporate something like an
observation deck into the plan.
Gibbs asked for a consensus from the Board. A motion to explore the ideas presented
and see where they lead the Board was made by Mahony. Riddell seconded it.
Motion passes. Corley thanked Gott.
ITEM #6: Other Business.
A. Items from the Public. None.
B. Items from the Airport Board.
Gibbs introduced Hugh Hyde who is interested in applying for the Airport Board.
Roscoe presented a certificate of appreciation for his Gibb's time and service to
Fayetteville Executive Airport.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 2:43 P.M.
Darryl Riddell, Secretary Date