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>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS NOW 2:08 P.M. ON APRIL 7, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
JUST FOR THE -- OUT OF RESPECT FOR EACH OF THE APPLICANTS' TIME, WE'LL START OFF WITH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL GIVE A FEW MINUTES FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS TO GET HERE AND WE'LL BEGIN THE INTERVIEWS AT THAT POINT .
OH, YES. ITEM 1 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM MARCH 3.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE. MOTION CARRIES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M JAMIE NIETO, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. I WILL BE PRESENTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION AND ON OUR PROCESS. THEY ADVISE ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE AIRPORT AND AIR TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES . THE COMMISSION IS COMPOSED OF 19 AT-LARGE MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE AVIATION INDUSTRY, TRAVEL, AND TOURISM INDUSTRY. GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, AIRPORT BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LARGE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY AT-LARGE.
INCLUDING A MEMBER OF THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND A NON-VOTING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. EACH MEMBER SERVES A TWO-YEAR TERM WITH APPOINTMENTS STAGGERED FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK OPENED APPLICATIONS ON DECEMBER 18, 2025, 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE CURRENT TERM. THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT RELEASED A WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING ON FEBRUARY 2 OF THIS YEAR.
BY CLOSING DATE OF MARCH 5, WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 60 APPLICATIONS.
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VETTED 60 APPLICATIONS AND 53 WERE ELIGIBLE.
AN AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS FORMED BY THE CHAIR AND THAT INCLUDED DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 9 COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE AD HOC COMMITTEE REVIEWED ALL 53 APPLICATIONS AND SHORT-LISTED TO 16 APPLICATIONS. THE COMMITTEE WILL INTERVIEW THOSE APPLICANTS TODAY AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE FULL BOARD APPOINTMENTS DURING AN A SESSION.
AFTER THE VOTE, THE CITY CLERK WILL NOTIFY THE APPOINTED INDIVIDUALS AND ASK THEM TO COMPLETE THE PROPER FORMS, ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND INVITE THEM TO COMPLETE THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TRAINING.
ONCE THOSE STEPS ARE COMPLETED, THEY CAN BE SEATED ON THE BOARD.
ON THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL FIND THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE SHORT LIST FOR THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. ANYONE LISTED UNDER THE COMMUNITY CATEGORY CAN SERVE IN OTHER CATEGORIES. I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE INFORMATION LISTED ON THE SLIDE. JUANITA SEPULVEDA IS NOT HERE TODAY AND DID NOT PROVIDE A WRITTEN STATEMENT. THE PROCESS TODAY WILL BEGIN WITH EACH APPLICANT PROVIDING A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT.
FOR ANY APPLICANTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, A WRITTEN STATEMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. IF THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO READ THE STATEMENT, I AM PREPARED TO DO SO. ALL CANDIDATES WILL BE SEQUESTERED DURING THE INTERVIEWS AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE WILL INTERVIEW ALL APPLICANTS, THEN MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE.
NO FORMAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AFTERWARDTHE COMMITTEE WILL RECONVENE AND A MOTION FOR RECOMMENDATION WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR APPOINTMENT. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, JANIE. JESUS, THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU. BECAUSE I KNOW BEFORE RUNNING FOR COUNCIL I WAS PART OF THE AIRPORT SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. IS THIS THE SAME COMMITTEE OR IS THIS A DIFFERENT ONE? AND IF IT'S DIFFERENT, HOW DO THEY INTERACT?
>> CAN I MAKE A CORRECTION? THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS DISTRICT 4 AND 1.
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NOT 9. >> SAENZ: SO HISTORICALLY WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AN AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION AND AN AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE , OF WHICH THOSE ARE BEING JOINED. SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ASKED IF THEY WERE INTERESTED TO BEING A PART OF THIS ADVISORY COMMISSION TO HAVE ONE SINGULAR COMMISSION WORKING TOWARDS THE GOALS OF THE AIRPORT. HISTORICALLY, THE AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED AND PUT TOGETHER BY MAYOR NIRENBERG TO HELP GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WE HAVE NOW BROKEN GROUND WITH THE NEW TERMINAL SO THAT WAS AN EFFORT COMPLETED AND DONE WELL BY THE ASDC COMMITTEE. SUPER PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE THERE.
NOW WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE PROGRESS OF THE AIRPORT SO IT WILL BE ONE SINGULAR COMMISSION, AND THAT WOULD BE THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION.
>> GAVITO: THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL FOR THE CONTEXT. JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, ASDC, THE AIRPORT SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WAS COMMISSIONED BY MAYOR NIRENBERG, IS NOW FOLDED IN WITH THIS AIRPORT ADVISORY AND IT'S GOING TO BE ONE SINGULAR ONE. HOW OFTEN ARE THEY GOING TO MEET? I'M ASSUMING THEY WOULD STILL MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO
GIVE FEEDBACK AND INPUT? >> SAENZ: ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO MEET ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. WE'LL ELECT OFFICERS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SOMETIMES IF WE HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS, WE'LL ADD SOME ADDITIONAL MEETINGS IN THERE BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'LL MEET ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND HAVE INFORMATION WE'LL
BE SHARING WITH REGARDS TO ALL OF OUR PROGRESS. >> GAVITO: THANKS.
AND I THINK IT'S EXCITING, ESPECIALLY FOR BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KNOW AND HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS AND ALL THE DYNAMICS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH THE AIRPORT.
THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR BEING WILLING TO WORK WITH THIS COMMITTEE SO THAT WAY WE CAN
ALL HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR AIRPORT IN MIND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> GIVE IT ABOUT TWO MORE MINUTES AND IF COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS IS NOT HERE IN TWO MINUTES, WE WILL BEGIN THE INTERVIEWS.
WE CAN BEGIN TRANSITIONING. I'LL LET EACH OF THE APPLICANTS TO THE OUTER ROOM. I'LL ASK ALL BUT THE FIRST APPLICANT, WHO I BELIEVE IS ELIDA SMITH. EVERYBODY BUT ELIDA SMITH WILL BE ESCORTED TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. OH, OUTSIDE. PERFECT.
INTO THE HALLWAY YOU GO. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN TWO MINUTES. EACH APPLICANT IS GOING TO HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. THAT WILL BE THE FIRST THING YOU DO.
YOU CAN INTRODUCE US, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION. AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I REALIZE COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA JUST LEFT AND ONCE HE GETS BACK, I'LL ASK YOU TO
START. AND HE'S BACK. >> THE FLOOR IS YOURS,
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MS. SMITH. >> THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR FOR SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS ELIDA SMITH. I GO BY ELLIE SMITH.
I'M HOME GROWN IN SAN ANTONIO WITH AVIATION EXPERIENCE AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FIELD AS AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER WORKING FOR THE FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER. I ALSO COME FROM A PROUD MILITARY FAMILY, WHICH INSTILLED SERVICE AS A HALLMARK OF LIFE. THESE ATTRIBUTES DRIVE MY PASSION TO SEE OUR CITY REACH THE NEXT LEVEL OF OPPORTUNITY, PROVIDING A STATE-OF-THE-ART PASSENGER EXPERIENCE AT OUR BELOVED AIRPORT, WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CENTRAL TO MAXIMIZING OUR INDUSTRIES AND LIFTING OUR COMMUNITY. THE AIRPORT PROVIDES THE CITY'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF SAN ANTONIO AND MUST REFLECT 21ST CENTURY PASSENGER EXPECTATIONS WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING WHAT MAKES US UNIQUELY SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE SOME RELEVANT EXPERIENCES I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT I HOPE SETS ME APART. AIRLINES FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, HOW THEY WANT TO OPTIMIZE THEIR FLEET, AND WHAT THEY NEED FROM AN AIRPORT TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS. FROM CARRYING OUT OVERNIGHT REPAIRS UP HIGH IN THE TAIL OF AN AIRPLANE TO HAVING PERSONALLY BRIEFED MOST U.S.
CARRIER CEOS, I CAN HELP ADVISE ON WHAT WILL ATTRACT AND RETAIN THEIR BUSINESS HERE. I UNDERSTAND AIRFIELD DESIGNS AND THE APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN MAKE OUR OPERATIONS SAFER INSIDE THE BUILDING AND OUT.
NOT ONLY DO I UNDERSTAND THE FAA'S VISION, I UNDERSTAND THE EMERGING AIRCRAFT VEHICLES ENTER U.S. MARKETS AS PART OF OUR ADVANCED AIR MOBILIT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE IMPLICATIONS THOSE CHANGES WILL HAVE.
EN FINALLY, I'M AN AVID TRAVELER, HAVING TRAVELED TO AN AIRPORT IN ALL 50 UNITED STATES AS WELL AS THROUGH 20 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS. I ENJOY THE TRAVELING EXPERIENCE AND SEEING THE DESTINATION'S CULTURE EXPRESSED THROUGH DESIGN.
THIS EMPOWERS ME WITH ADVISING ON BEST OF BREED DESIGN IDEAS.
SIMPLY PUT, I HOLD EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHTS AS A TRAVEL CONSUMER AND AS A TRUSTED AVIATION PROFESSIONAL. I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A STRONG ASSET TO THE AAC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: ROOKIE MISTAKE. AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS.
TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS?
>> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT QUESTION. IT REALLY IS A CONSIDERATION OF AN ECOSYSTEM OF STAKEHOLDER NEEDS, DESIRES, SOMETIMES LIMITATIONS.
I THINK HELPING TO KIND OF BRING THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO BEAR AND ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDED AS THE AAC IS ADVISING ON AIRPORT EXECUTIVES AND WHAT TO MAKE IS THE WAY TO GO. BUT IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BALANCING ACT OF UNDERSTANDING, FROM A DATA-DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THE TRADE SPACE IS AND THEN MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS TO GO FORWARD.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THEM
>> WELL, I HAVE OVER 25 YEARS IN THE AVIATION FIELD BUT I ALSO REFLECT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF HOW A CAREER WITH AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER.
I HAVE A CAREER ADVISING THE FAA ON AIRFIELD OPERATIONS AND SAFETY .
AND THEN MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES HAVING BEEN A CONSUMER OF TRAVEL AND A USER OF THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE.
I THINK THAT MAKES ME UNIQUE IN TERMS OF KIND OF BRINGING THAT SET OF INFLUENCES AND PERSPECTIVE TOGETHER TO ACCOMMODATE THAT BALANCE AND THINKING ABOUT HOW THE AIRPORT NEEDS TO BE POSITIONED, BOTH TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO SET UP SHOP HERE. THINKING ABOUT -- AND THAT'S PART OF THE SEAMLESS PASSENGER EXPERIENCE, CERTAINLY. THE EASIER IT IS TO GET IN AND TO BE WELCOMED AND TO GET A TASTE OF SAN ANTONIO, IT REALLY SETS THE TONE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE'S TRAVEL, A LOT OF PEOPLE'S TRIPS AND STAYS HERE.
WE NEED TO USE THAT TO MARKET OURSELVES FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS THAT WANT TO SET UP HERE. THAT'S A BIG COMPONENT OF A LOT OF THEIR DECISION MAKING AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEND THEIR DISPOSABLE INCOME HERE AS PART OF THE
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TOURISM INDUSTRY. SO THINKING ABOUT THE RETAINING OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, THE THINGS THAT GIVE US OUR SAN ANTONIO CHARM AND SET US APART.THOSE ARE THINGS, AS A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO
THAT I HAVE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT
ROLE? >> THIS AIRPORT IS UNLIKE SOME OTHER AIRPORTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH WE HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS THAT POSE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW WE EXPAND. AND CERTAINLY CONSIDERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY TEND TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. THERE ARE ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN HELP REDUCE THAT. THERE ARE PROCEDURAL ELEMENTS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MAX TAKEOFF SPEED DURING CERTAIN PARTS OF THE EARLY MORNINGS OR LATE AT NIGHT. THAT IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING JUST NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
YOU KNOW, THE CHURCHILL ESTATES OVER BY PHIL HARDBERGER PARK AS WELL AS BY NORTH STAR MALL. I THINK CONSIDERING THAT WOULD BE A BIG, BIG -- I'M SURE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORTS AND HIS TEAM ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS OPTIMIZED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I THINK THAT IS ONE. AND THEN MY OTHER ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN, WOULD BE FOR HOW THE AIRPORT CAN BE THE GATEWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY TO BASICALLY PUT TRAVEL DOLLARS OF VISITORS INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. THINKING ABOUT THE RETAIL OPTIONS THAT THE AIRPORT MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE. MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A BIT OF A SHOP LOCAL COMPONENT. THOSE HELP ELEVATE OUR BUSINESS FOLKS. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT COME TO MIND WITH THAT
QUESTION. GREAT QUESTION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU APPLYING AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THE REST OF THESE INTERVIEWS AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND MAKE A DECISION AND WE'LL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION HOPEFULLY AROUND -- A LITTLE BIT BEFORE 4:00.
YOU CAN STICK AROUND OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. WISH YOU A GOOD DAY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU AS WELL. UP NEXT WE HAVE BRETT FINLEY.
THANK YOU, MR. FINLEY FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF. TELL US WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN AND WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BRETT FINLEY. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE METRO SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 1,000 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING FROM A SMALL BUSINESS STORE TO A MIDDLE MARKET COMPANY TO SOME PRIVATE LARGE-SCALE CORPORATIONS. I HAVE BEEN A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA FOR MORE THAN 12 YEARS NOW.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE FOUR YOUNG BUT HEALTHY KIDDOS ALONGSIDE MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE. I THINK THAT LEADS ME TO MY WHY, WHICH I'VE CHOSEN TO APPLY FOR THE AAC TODAY. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE UNDER RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL SALINAS ON THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH AND UPWARD TRAJECTORY THAT OUR AIRPORT HAS. I THINK CONTINUE TO SEE AND UTILIZE OUR AIRPORT AS A COMMUNITY ASSET. SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
SOMETHING THAT I LOOK AT IT IS FOURAS. AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, ADVANCEMENT OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, AND SOMETHING AESTHETICALLY LOCAL SAN ANTONIO. IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE A RENDERING OF THE NEW REDEVELOPMENT PHASE OF THE AIRPORT THAT LOOKS A WHOLE LOT LIKE THE RIVER WALK.
IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE A BODY OF WATER FLOWING THROUGH IT. THEY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE DESIGN CONCEPT.
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FOLKS COMING BACK FROM PERSONAL OR BUSINESS TRAVEL OR FOLKS TRAVELING HERE INTERNATIONALLY OR DOMESTICALLY. WE WANT THIS TO BE A FIRST AND LONG LASTING POSITIVE IMPRESSION FOR ALL OF OUR PATRONS AND RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS TRAVELING, SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.FROM AN ACCESSIBILITY COMPONENT, WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER. THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL WITH THE SENSORY IMPROVEMENT AREAS, STATE-OF-THE-ART, THAT CAN BE HECTIC. FOLKS WITH CHALLENGES, BOTH IN THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SIDE. HAVING SENSORY BREAKOUT ROOMS THEY CAN GO TO. ACCESSIBILITY IS KEY. I WOULD SAY AFFORDABILITY IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE OFFERING COMPETITIVE RATES. IT PAINS ME EVERY TIME SOMEONE PULLS ME ASIDE TO SAY, HEY, I TRAVEL TO AUSTIN BECAUSE IT WAS MORE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
WE'RE CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT AND I FEEL CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE STRIDES. BE ABLE TO SUPPRESS THE AIRLINE MARKET RATES DOWN.
MAKE SURE IT'S A COMPETITIVE BUT FAIR PROCESS FOR OUR AIRLINE PROVIDERS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE TRAVELERS. WHETHER YOU'RE CONNECTING HERE, IT FEELS LIKE SAN ANTONIO OR YOU'RE FLYING OUT OF HERE BECAUSE YOU CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. MAKING SURE IT'S A PLEASANT AND AS REASONABLE PROCESS AS
POSSIBLE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS.
TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS?
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN. IT CAN BE CONFLATING AT TIMES. THERE ARE COMPETING INTERESTS.
JUST A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT I COULD PRESENT TO THIS BODY IS MY INTERFACE, NOT ONLY WITH MY LIVED EXPERIENCES. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN FREQUENT STOPS, WHETHER IT WAS CONNECTING FLIGHTS OR DESTINATION TRAVEL. MY FULL-TIME ROLE WITH THE CHAMBER, BEING ABLE TO INTERFACE WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, WITH EMPLOYEES, TAKING THEIR INPUT. SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD, BAD, OR OTHERWISE FEEDBACK BURE WE'RE DG THOSE RESPONSES BACK TO YOU ON THE COUNCIL, TO THE AIRPORT STAFF.
TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THEIR TOUGH QUESTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE BEING ANSWERED OR BEING REASONABLY MET. AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF OBJECTIVE TO MAKE SURE OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE PROUD OF TO CALL OUR AIRPORT HOME AND MAKING SURE -- LOOKING AT IT THROUGH AN OBJECTIVE LENS WITH A FILTER AND NOT HAVING PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OR UNDERLYING OBJECTIVES ALONG
THE WAY. >> EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMISSION ADDRESS BOTH
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE AIRPORT? >> I THINK ON THE REGULATORY SIDE, I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER.
UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OFTENTIMES I THINK JUST UNKNOWN TO THE PUBLIC ARE A LOT OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT THEY ARE REALLY TIED BY THE FAA.
AND SOME THINGS ARE OUT OF THE CITY AND THE AIRPORT'S CONTROL.
AND SO THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PLAYING BALL, SO TO SPEAK, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS IT RELATES TO ANY SORT OF REGULATORY GUIDELINES.
I THINK JUST MAKING SURE, GOING INTO ANY SORT OF CONVERSATION WHERE, HEY, THIS MAY NOT BE NECESSARILY A CHANGE IMPACTING US. THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE BUT WE HAVE TO, JUST BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING AND JUST ULTIMATELY THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. WE'RE MILITARY CITY, USA.
WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY'RE ACTIVE DUTY OR RETIRED MILITARY SERVICE.
JUST BEING INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE SERVICES AND THE WAYS THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. UNDERSTANDING THAT AGAIN THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT COULD COME DOWN THE FEDERAL PIPELINE THAT MAY NOT BE NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT CITY COUNCIL CAN EVEN CONTROL.
IT MAY BE OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION, NECESSARILY. BUT WE NEED TO WRAP OUR HANDS AROUND IT AND MAKE THE BEST OF THAT SITUATION. AND I THINK BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THOSE CHANGES TO THE BROADER PUBLIC. CERTAINLY WITH THE HELP OF THE AAC AND WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICES. IT HAS TO BE KIND OF A TRUE
EFFORT PLAY IN AND PLAY OUT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANKS, BRETT. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE
COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE? >> I THINK AS AN ECONOMIC CATALYST, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ADVANCING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, IN MY OPENING RESPONSE. BEING ABLE TO TRULY LEVERAGE IT AS AN ASSET.
SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S FOR CORPORATE RELOCATION, BUSINESS RETENTION PURPOSES.
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TRULY HARNESS. WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY BUDGETARY CHALLENGES CURRENTLY. MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO JUST BE ABLE TO CATALYZE, FROM AN ECONOMY LOCAL PERSPECTIVE, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THINGS HERE. AGAIN, IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROUD OF AND SHARE BACK WITH OUR CITIZENS.
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FROM AN EASE OF USE PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER YOU'RE PARKING ON OR OFF SITE, GOING THROUGH BAGGAGE CLAIM, NAVIGATING TSA CHECK LINES. HAVING SMALL BUSINESSES THERE TO REPRESENT SO IT'S NOTGOT THE FLAVOR. I THINK ABOUT WHEN I TRAVEL THROUGH NASHVILLE, I MAY BE A CONNECTING FLIGHT BUT IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE NASHVILLE. WE HAVE MADE STRIDES AND WE'RE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THEIMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE SURE IT FEELS LIKE SAN ANTONIO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW. WE HAVE EIGHT MORE INTERVIEWS TO GO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION.
YOU CAN STICK AROUND OR YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO. THANK YOU.
UP NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL GIBBS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. GIBBS. WE'LL START OFF WITH A QUICK TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. Y'ALL HAVE MY RESUME. I'LL JUST DO A QUICK RECAP ON THAT. STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL I WENT TO COLLEGE AND GRAD SCHOOL. MY FIRST JOB I WORKED FOR A LARGE ELECTRIC UTILITY IN ATLANTA AS A SUPERVISOR IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT .
I WORKED IN A COUPLE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A COMPANY THAT DESIGNED AND BUILT PHARMACEUTICAL FACILITIES.
I WAS THE VP OF OPERATIONS. ALL ALONG THROUGH THOSE JOBS I HAD TO WORK WITH LAWYERS FROM TIME TO TIME. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED. FREQUENTLY FOUND THEM UNHELPFUL. SO AT AGE 38, WITH THE HELP OF MY WIFE, I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL. I FINISHED MY LEGAL CAREER AT WHATABURGER AS COUNSEL.
I WORKED THERE ALMOST 18 YEARS. I NAVIGATED THE SALE OF THE COMPANY FROM THE DOBSON FAMILY TO A PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM OUT OF CHICAGO IN 2019.
I REMAINED WITH THE COMPANY ABOUT 30 MONTHS, RETIRING IN 2022.
WHEN I HIRED MY REPLACEMENT. I WAS TAPPED BY MAYOR NIRENBERG IN 2018 AS AN INITIAL MEMBER OF THE AIRPORT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
AND I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE UNTIL IT RECENTLY DISBANDED. MY EXPERIENCE ON THAT COMMITTEE, THE RELATIONSHIPS I MADE, AND MY ELEMENTARY CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE MAY BE OF SOME BENEFIT TO MY PARTICIPATION ON THIS COMMISSION.
I HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN THE CITY EVER SINCE I HELPED MOVE WHATABURGER'S OFFICES UP HERE IN 2009. I PERSONALLY INVESTED MY TIME AND TALENTS IN THE AIRPORT PROJECT AS A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT CITY.
IF YOU THINK I WOULD BE A FIT, I'M AT YOUR SERVICE. IF NOT, NO HARD FEELINGS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. GIBBS. I WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS. TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, AND NEARBY RESIDENTS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES
COMPETING INTERESTS? >> FIRST, I WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO DEFINE WHERE THE COMPETITION IS. AND WHERE THOSE PAIN POINTS ARE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO BALANCE PRIORITIES. I WOULD HATE TO PICK A WINNER AND A LOSER RIGHT NOW AMONG THOSE COMPETING INTERESTS, OTHER THAN I WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT YOU WILL HAVE COMPETING INTERESTS AND THAT SOMETIMES IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME COMPROMISES AND SOME SACRIFICES.
BUT IF IT'S -- YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THOSE AGAINST YOUR OVERARCHING GOAL, WHICH IS A NEW AIRPORT. THERE WILL BE SOME PAIN POINTS.
I DON'T HAVE A PROCESS, OTHER THAN TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND THEN ANALYZE THE PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND GET INPUT FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT
PARTIES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR
[00:30:02]
PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMISSION ADDRESS BOTHOPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE AIRPORT? >> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE. I'VE BEEN ON THE PROJECT SINCE 2018 SO I'VE KIND OF WATCHED IT DEVELOP. GOT TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE. ONE OF THE THINGS IN ANY BUSINESS IS LEARNING THE METRICS AND LEARNING THE VOCABULARY.
ONCE YOU CAN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO DISCERN THE FACTS.
SO I THINK THAT HELPS. IT PROBABLY DOESN'T HURT THAT I'M A LAWYER BECAUSE
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS TOO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE
COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE? >> SO AS AN OVERARCHING CONCEPT, IT'S TRANSPORTATION. AND TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS, TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO COMMERCE.
ESPECIALLY WITH AN AIRPORT WHERE YOU HAVE SUCH A LONG HORIZON.
YOU HAVE TO PLAN WAY OUT IN ADVANCE FOR TRAVEL. IF BUSINESSES ARE HERE AND PEOPLE CAN'T FLY WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, THAT'S A CONSTRAINT AND YOU DON'T WANT YOUR TRANSPORTATION TO BE A CONSTRAINT. WHETHER IT'S ON GOODS OR ON PEOPLE. IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHATABURGER MOVED ITS OFFICES UP HERE IS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI, REALLY, EXCEPT TO HERE. THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME HERE AND GO TO DALLAS, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. SO I THINK IT PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN BRINGING TOURISM, ALLOWING FOR BUSINESS TO OPERATE NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
AND ACTUALLY BRINGING IN A LOT OF GOODS. SO IT'S A KEY PART OF ANY
LARGE CITY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SEVEN MORE INTERVIEWS AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXEC FOR A DISCUSSION AND COME BACK OUT WITH A RECOMMENDATION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STICK AROUND, BUT YOU'RE FREE TO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT WE HAVE EARL JACKSON. HELLO, MR. JACKSON. >> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE.
WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A QUICK TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL
MEMBERS. >> I'M EARL JACKSON, JR. I WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO.
MY EXPERIENCE IN THE AVIATION PERIOD HAS BEEN AS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FOR OVER 40-ISH -- I DON'T WANT TO TELL IT ALL BECAUSE YOU'LL GET THE WHOLE STORY OF HOW OLD I AM. BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT HAS BEEN HERE AT SAN ANTONIO.
GREW IN MY CAREER WITH SEVERAL OF THE SENIOR STAFF AT THE AIRPORT.
RYAN, I WAS A SUPERVISOR, HE WAS A SUPERVISOR. I WOUND UP BEING AN OPERATIONS MANAGER. THE OPERATION MANAGER DID SOME OTHER JOBS IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP AT THE AIRPORT. MR. TIM CROMLEY AND I ALSO DID SOME WORK WORKING WITH SOME TEDIOUS THINGS WITH DECONFLICTION WITH AIRPORTS OVER AT RANDOLPH AND KELLY.
SO MY INTEREST IS, NUMBER ONE, THIS IS HOME. BUT NUMBER TWO, I HAVE SEEN OUR AIRPORT GROW FROM A LITTLE SPINDLE TERMINAL TO THIS TREMENDOUS PLAN THAT'S TAKING IN EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO PUT US ON THE MAP AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GOES FORWARD IN A TREMENDOUS MANNER.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I ALSO WANT TO ATTRIBUTE A LOT OF THAT TO OUR CURRENT MANAGER.
[00:35:04]
HE REALLY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US, SUPPORTED BY THE CITY STAFF AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I'VE BEEN AROUND. I KNOW WHERE A FEW OF THOSE BODIES ARE BURIED AND I HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS ON THE AIRPORT AND IN THE CITY THATCOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMITTEE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE ARE NO BODIES AT THE AIRPORT. [LAUGHTER] WE'LL START OFF WITH SOME
QUESTIONS. >> FOR THE RECORD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ:
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: AIRPORTS SERVE STAKEHOLDERS, TRAVELERS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. HOW WOULD YOU SUPPORT BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES
COMPETING INTERESTS? >> I WANT TO SAY THIS. WE ARE, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REALLY SUPPORTS A PROFESSIONAL TEAM THAT WORKS ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS. THEY'RE PAID TO DO THAT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE INTERNATIONALLY NOTED ON THE AAE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO WORK THAT THROUGH. SO THAT'S REALLY NOT MY BAILIWICK. MY AREA IS TO ASSIST AND ADVISE AND HELP GUIDE IN AREAS THAT I THINK WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL, YOU KNOW, ENHANCE THE DIRECTION THAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS WORKING TOWARDS. AND I DON'T SAY THAT FLIPPANTLY BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THIS TEAM AND THEY HAVE TAKEN ON SOME TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT AND -- COULD I SAY GNARLY THINGS THAT THEY COULD RECEIVE BAD PRESS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT THEY DO IT IN A TREMENDOUS MANNER WHILE ALSO GETTING INFORMATION FROM US AND OUR VIEWS ON HOW TO -- HOW TO BEST MOVE FORWARD. SO MY PLACE ISN'T TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. MY PLACE IS TO ASSIST THEM IN DOING IT THE BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN. AND IF I CAN AFFORD ANY HELP IN HELPING THEM GET TO THOSE DIRECTIONS, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. I'M NOT THE MANAGER, BUT I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH THE TEAM AND I KNOW THEM TO BE CREDIBLE AND EXPERIENCED
AND EFFECTIVE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMISSION ADDRESS BOTH
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE AIRPORT? >> SKILLS.
AS PART OF MY DUTIES IN THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY, I WAS A MEDIATOR FOR THE ALAMO AREA EXECUTIVE BOARD . SO WE WORKED THROUGH SOME ISSUES WITH GRIEVANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. ADDITIONALLY, AS I MENTIONED IN MY STATEMENT, I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES ON THE AIRPORT, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS.
H-E-B, VALERO, AND KNOW HOW ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS AFFECT OUR AIRPORT.
IN ADDITION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MILITARY BASES AND TRAFFIC FLOW AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE I COME IN.
AGAIN, THERE ARE NO BODIES, AS THE COUNCILPERSON SAID, NO BODIES, BUT I TELL THE YOUNGSTERS A LOT OF TIMES THAT YOU CAN'T TEACH EXPERIENCE.
SOME STUFF YOU HAVE TO LIVE. I'VE SEEN THE CONFLICTS WITH THE MILITARY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I HAVE SEEN THE DIFFICULTY OF FINAL FOURS AND THE LAST SEVERAL HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY MANAGED TO A HIGH LEVEL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT IT DIDN'T START OUT THAT WAY.
SO MY EXPERIENCE, MY BACKGROUND, AND ACTUALLY KNOWING THE OPERATIONS FROM
THE INSIDE IS WHERE MY VALUE IS TO THE COMMITTEE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK
YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OFF, THANKS FOR REAPPLYING.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE?
[00:40:03]
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE, QUITE FRANKLY, IS GETTING THE WORD OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I'VE WORKED THROUGH MAYBE SIX DIFFERENT AIRPORT MANAGERS AND I REMEMBER BEFORE JESUS CAME IN, THERE WAS A BIG TALK ABOUT AUSTIN AND PEOPLE GOING TO AUSTIN BECAUSE THE FARES WERE CHEAPER. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IT'S MINUSCULE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AND OUR SERVICES IN TERMS OF HOW WE WORK WITH OUR RENTAL CARS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WE'RE ABOVE THAT. AND THEY'VE REALLY TAKEN SOME PRETTY BIG HITS ON THAT SIDE. QUITE FRANKLY, MANY OF THEM ARE TRYING TO JUMP SHIP TO OUR TEAM. AM I RIGHT? SO ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MENTION OF IS WE HAVE GONE -- WE'VE BROADENED OUR AUDIENCE. I BET SOME OF YOU ALL WOULD KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE FROM INTERCONTINENTAL DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO TO TAKE FLIGHTS RATHER THAN DEAL WITH THAT INTERCONTINENTAL. THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE -- OUR TSA. WE HAVE WON AWARDS FOR PUTTING THROUGH.
EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON NOW, OUR TSA IS STILL WINNING AWARDS YEAR AFTER YEAR IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE DOING OUR THING. AND SOMETHING ELSE YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT OUR AIRPORT HAS EVEN MADE SPECIFIC AREAS TO HELP THE TSA.
WE WERE THERE AT ONE MEETING AND THEY HAD BROUGHT CPS IN TO HELP DELAY BILLS AND THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T GETTING THEIR SALARIES.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS YOU DON'T FIND. AND IT'S THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE JEWEL THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO GET TO AN
AIRPORT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON.
WE HAVE SIX MORE INTERVIEWS TO GO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'LL COME OUT, IDEALLY BY 4:00, WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
YOU CAN STICK AROUND. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST
YOU. >> I PROBABLY WON'T BE STICKING AROUND.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: NO WORRIES. >> SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU. AND AGAIN, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TYPE OF JOB THAT THE TEAM, COMPLETE TEAM IS DOING.
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL AND WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. JACKSON. UP NEXT WE HAVE RYAN FENDER.
HELLO, MR. FENDER. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE
COMMISSION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
AS YOU ALREADY KNOWN, MY NAME IS RYAN. I SERVE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO. JUST BY WAY OF VERY BRIEF BIO , IM A GRADUATE OF HOLE SCHOOL OF HAGUE WITH A BACHELOR'S IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE WORKED FOR HYATT HOTELS IN A RANGE OF LEADERSHIP ROLES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MOST RECENTLY, BEFORE MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO, I WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF FIFTH AVENUE IN NEW YORK .
ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY TENURE IN SAN ANTONIO THUS FAR IS REALLY QUITE HOW RELIANT THE CITY IS ON OUR INBOUND TRAVEL.
IN TURN THE CITY IS VERY RELIANT ON THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR.
THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR ONE IN EIGHT JOBS.
IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST REVENUE GENERATORS FOR THE COUNTY.
[00:45:04]
I REALLY FEEL THAT THE AIRPORT IS SUCH A MISSION-CRITICAL PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. IT CAN REALLY SERVE AS EITHER A CHOKE POINT OR A BOTTLENECK OR IT CAN SERVE AS A WELCOMING GATEWAY TO THAT INBOUND EXPERIENCE.SUFFICE TO SAY, THE FORTUNES OF MY INDUSTRY AND IN TURN THE CITY ARE SO CLOSELY INTERTWINED WITH THAT OF THE AIRPORT AND THE SUCCESS OF THE AIRPORT, I SHOULD SAY.
REALLY, IN MY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BODY, I AM REALLY LASER FOCUSED ON TRYING TO HELP FILL THE FUNNEL OF DEMAND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE AIRPORT IS REALLY ONE OF THOSE EARLIEST CRITICAL TOUCHPOINTS, NOT ONLY FOR POTENTIAL CONVENTIONS BUT FOR POTENTIAL TOURISTS BUT ALSO CORPORATIONS WHO MAY LOOK TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
AND SO SUFFICE TO SAY THE AIRPORT REALLY FILLS THAT FUNNEL.
AND IN CLOSING, WITH THE EXCITING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERMINAL C, I THINK NOW IS SUCH A CRITICAL JUNCTURE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, SUCH AS MYSELF, TO REALLY INVEST TIME AND ATTENTION IN SUPPORTING AND STEWARDING THE AIRPORT AS THE GATEWAY TO ONE OF THE LARGEST METROS IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
I HOPE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE IN THE FUTURE.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY MUCH A NATIVE
TEXAN ACCENT I HEAR. >> I WASN'T BORN HERE BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD.
[LAUGHTER] >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS.
TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS?
>> COMPETING INTERESTS. I THINK WHAT PEOPLE LOOK FOR, TO SOME EXTENT IS ACTUALLY UNIVERSAL. WHETHER YOU ARE A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION OR YOU'RE A MULTI-PERSON FAMILY, YOU WANT CONVENIENCE, EASE OF ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY. I THINK SOME OF THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR AN AIRPORT ARE PROBABLY UNIVERSAL, REGARDLESS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
I'M SORRY IF THAT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. DO YOU WANT TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER? OKAY. SO YES, I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE -- AND ALSO I SHOULD ADD THE AIRPORT SERVES EVERY FACET OF OUR COMMUNITY. ALL THE ONES YOU JUST LISTED.
SO I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE MAY BE DIFFERENCES OF NEEDS AND OPINIONS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A CONNECTED WORLD AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IMPACTS LOCALLY, EVEN THINGS THAT HAPPEN INTERNATIONALLY. SAN ANTONIO LAST YEAR ATTRACTED 2.5 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS SO THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT WE DO THAT EXISTS IN A VACUUM. SO I THINK A CITY REALLY OF ANY SIZE, BUT ESPECIALLY THE SIXTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, NEEDS A REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING AIRPORT THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW IT TO BE THAT GATEWAY THAT I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMISSION ADDRESS BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
FACING THE AIRPORT? >> GREAT QUESTION. SO I DO SERVE ON -- I HAVE SERVED IN OTHER MARKETS ON BOARDS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND ALSO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WITH THE TPID.
THAT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS VERY CLOSELY WHEN I THINK BACK TO WHAT I SHARED ABOUT THE DEMAND FUNNEL. HOW DO WE GET AS MUCH ATTENTION TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO AN EASY CHOICE. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE TOUCH POINT I WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN TO DRIVE THAT DEMAND BUT THE WORK I ALREADY AM DOING AND THE SKILLS, THE RELATIONSHIPS I'M DEVELOPING WITH VSA, WITH THE TPID ORGANIZATION, I THINK I CAN ALSO BRING TO BEAR IN SUPPORT OF THIS
MISSION AS WELL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR APPLYING.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY. HMM.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY WORD, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MANY STAKEHOLDERS, RIGHT? MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, CONVENTIONS, AND SO FORTH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO NEED AND RELY ON A FUNCTIONING AIRPORT AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, ACCESS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
[00:50:03]
SO WE OBVIOUSLY VERY OFTEN TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE LIFT. HOW MANY TAKE OFF AND LANDINGS PER DAY? BUT THERE'S OTHER ELEMENTS. THE AIRPORT HAS ITS OWN MICROCOSM OF A FUNNEL, WHETHER THAT'S PARKING, CONCESSIONS, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT.SO I THINK LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS ALSO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THAT WOULD BE CERTAIN WAYS. YES, THE ROLE THAT THE AIRLINES PLAY AND THEIR PRESENCE HERE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BUT THERE ARE OTHER BOTTLENECKS ALONG THE WAY OR OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE FUNNEL THE COMMUNITY RELY ON SO THEY HAVE CONVENIENT
ACCESS TO USE THE SERVICES THAT THE AIRPORT PROVIDES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. THIS CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIVE MORE INTERVIEWS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION. HOPEFULLY BY 4:00 WE'LL COME OUT WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
YOU CAN STICK AROUND. WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU IF YOU DON'T.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, GUYS. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: UP NEXT WE HAVE DEBORAH OMWALE JARMON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HELLO, HELLO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN TWICE IN ONE DAY. WE'LL START OFF WITH A QUICK INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF. TELL US WHO YOU ARE, YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE COMMISSION, WHY YOU'RE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> GREAT.
DON'T READ MY STATEMENT? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FEEL FREE.
PLEASE DO. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, DISTINGUISHED COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DEBORAH OMWALE JARMON AND IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG INTEREST IN CONTINUING THAT SERVICE.
I BRING TO THIS ROLE BOTH PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED ADVOCACY.
AS A RETIRED AIR TRAFFIC MANAGER, I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY, THE SAFETY STANDARDS, AND THE OPERATIONAL DEMANDS OF AVIATION.
BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, I UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF ACCESS.
WHO SEES THEMSELVES IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WHO DOES NOT. THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS. TO EXPOSE THEM TO CAREERS IN AVIATION AND RELATED FIELDS. BECAUSE MANY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW THAT THESE PATHWAYS EXIST, REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND ACCESS CHANGES TRAJECTORIES.
IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS THE CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM, SAAACAM, I CONTINUE THAT WORK, CONNECTING HISTORY, OPPORTUNITY, AND FUTURE VISION. I SEE THE AIRPORT NOT JUST AS INFRASTRUCTURE BUT AS A GATEWAY TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY, TO GLOBAL CONNECTION, AND TO INSPIRATION. SERVING ON THIS COMMISSION ALLOWS ME TO BRIDGE TWO CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES. TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY VOICE. I ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT, ENSURING THAT AS OUR AIRPORT GROWS AND EVOLVES, ALL COMMUNITIES FEEL SEEN, WELCOMED, AND INVESTED IN ITS SUCCESS. I WOULD BE HONORED TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING IN THIS CAPACITY, BRINGING BOTH EXPERTISE AND INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO HELP ENSURE OUR AIRPORT REFLECTS THE FULL STRENGTH AND DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I WILL HAVE SOME COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS, TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS?
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DO -- AUDIO]. AND I FEEL HONORED TO DO SO.
FOR EXAMPLE, I SPEAK WITH PEOPLE THAT OFTEN WILL SAY I FLY OUT OF AUSTIN BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER. AND MY RESPONSE IS IT CANNOT BE.
IT ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE CHEAPER. BY THE TIME YOU ADD $15 A DAY FOR PARKING -- THAT'S UNHEARD OF, RIGHT? AND THEN THAT'S WHAT WE CHARGE. AND THEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO GET THERE. AND THEN THE SAFETY OF YOUR CAR.
WE COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON. RIGHT, JESUS?
[00:55:06]
I JUST SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS AN AIRPORT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.SO I DON'T SEE IT AS A BALANCING ACT AS MUCH AS BEING TRUTHFUL.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVE DO YOU BRING?
>> AGAIN, AS A RETIRED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER -- AND I'VE WORKED AT -- I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY DIFFERENT AIRPORTS . I BRING THAT SKILL FROM LOOKING AT IT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. BUT ALSO REALLY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I ENCOUNTER KNOW THAT I'M ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION AND I'M A CHEERLEADER FOR OUR AIRPORT.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT OUR AIRPORT NEEDS INFORMED CHEERLEADERS. SO THAT'S WHAT I DO. AND I'M PROUD OF IT.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER.
>> PUENTE: .>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BUT FROM NOT THE OBVIOUS PLACES.
AGAIN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT AVIATION, I THINK ABOUT ACCESS.
I THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN I WAS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, 2% OF THE CONTROLLER WORKFORCE LOOKED LIKE ME. AND OUR AVIATION COMMUNITY -- I'M SORRY. OUR COMMUNITY, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL IN AWE OF AVIATION, JUST FLYING. SO TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE WONDER OF FLIGHT, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CAREERS IN AVIATION.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO JUST COME TO THE AIRPORT AND LOOK.
SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY CAN COME TO THE AIRPORT.
CAN YOU GO PAST SECURITY? IT TAKES A LITTLE WORK BUT YOU STILL -- NO, REALLY.
YOU CAN GET A PASS TO GET INSIDE OF TSA. SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT. SO I SEE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM NOT JUST THE LENS OF JOBS BUT ALSO WHAT IT COULD BE FOR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT'S
FOR THEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW. WE'RE GOING TO -- WE HAVE FOUR MORE INTERVIEWS TO GO AND THEN -- YEAH. FOUR MORE INTERVIEWS TO GO AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION IN EXEC. WE'LL COME BACK HERE HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT BEFORE 4:00 WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL OBLIGATED TO STICK AROUND. >> MAY I SAY ONE THING,
PLEASE? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY.
>> I REALLY SEE MYSELF AS A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE. I KNOW I'M UNDER TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THAT'S BECAUSE I'M ON THE BOARD OF VSA AND I OWNED A BED AND BREAKFAST. BUT I SEE MYSELF MORE AS A COMMUNITY VOICE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE I GET TO SERVE AGAIN.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. UP NEXT WE HAVE CAMILLA MONTOYA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M CAMILLA MONTOYA. I HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. 21 YEARS IN TEXAS. I TEACH MARKETING AT A&M SAN ANTONIO, FULL-TIME. AND BUSINESS AT ST. MARY'S PART-TIME.
SOME SEMESTERS. I HAVE A MASTER'S IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ALSO AN MBA. I LOVE BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY DOING SERVICE AND JUST REALLY BEING CONNECTED IN THE COMMUNITY. I AM GOOD AT MAKING CONNECTIONS AND LOVE CREATING PARTNERSHIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I AM DEFINITELY AN AVID TRAVELER. LOVE TRAVELING SO JUST, YOU KNOW, AS A CONSUMER OF AIRPORTS I'M THERE. I SAW THE AD ON FACEBOOK FOR THIS COMMISSION AND IT JUST REALLY SPOKE TO ME. AND SO OTHER PEOPLE TOO, I GUESS. SO IT REALLY SPOKE TO ME AND I JUST SAT DOWN THAT SAME DAY AND I FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION AND HERE I AM TODAY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THAT LEAP AND GLAD TO KNOW THAT
THE FACEBOOK ADS WERE WORKING. >> YEAH.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE'LL HAVE A FEW COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS.
[01:00:02]
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. SO AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS, TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES
COMPETING INTERESTS? >> I THINK THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY COMPETING BUT THEY ARE A PART OF MULTIPLE GROUPS. AS A MARKETING INSTRUCTOR, PROFESSOR I SEE THAT THE MESSAGE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO CAN REALLY ADDRESS MULTIPLE GROUPS. I ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND LAST YEAR I WAS JUST REACHING OUT TO THE AIRPORT TO TRY TO ADVERTISE WITH THE AIRPORT AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I THINK THAT IT'S LESS OF CREATING POCKETS BUT MORE OF, LIKE, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SEEING WHERE THEY OVERLAP.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING?
>> YEAH. I LOVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT BRING OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE.
AND SO AS I SAID, I LOVE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO ORGANIZATIONS.
IN MY CLASSES RIGHT NOW, I HAVE MADE ALL OF MY CLASSES EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
HAVING THE STUDENTS WORK DIRECTLY WITH NONPROFITS OR MICRO BUSINESSES.
AND SO I THINK THAT DIVING INTO THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AN ORGANIZATION REALLY IS AND WHAT IT REALLY DOES AND WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I THINK IT CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL. I AM A TRUE BELIEVER IN HONEST FEEDBACK AND BELIEVING HONEST FEEDBACK. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE JUST WANT NICE, POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND THAT DOESN'T DO ANYONE ANY GOOD.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU CAN'T REALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A REALIST AND THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.
YEAH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT
ROLE? >> I THINK IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TO TRAVEL A LOT MORE THAN THEY USED TO BEFORE.
AND SO IN A WAY THE AIRPORT IS THAT PORTAL FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND GO.
TO BRING PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO TO USE AND SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND WE REALLY WOULD HOPE AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO COME FLY INTO SAN ANTONIO INSTEAD OF DRIVING AN HOUR AND A HALF TO AUSTIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO TO ME, STRENGTHENING THE AIRPORT THAT WE HAVE HERE WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO USE OUR AIRPORT TO COME AND GO.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO >> RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW.
WE HAVE THREE MORE INTERVIEWS AND WE'LL HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION.
>> WHEN I MOVED HERE I CHOSE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE THAT WAS CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME. SO I LIVE 12 MINUTE TO THE AIRPORT BY CHOICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS SORRY, I WAS MAKING MY NOTES. WE'LL START OFF WITH A QUICK TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO CHAIR AND COUNCIL. I AM BILL BRINDLE, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO VISITOR ALLIANCE. I'VE WORKED IN THE SAN ANTONIO HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SINCE 2004 AS A HOTEL GENERAL MANAGER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS RUNNING THIS VISITOR TOURISM HOSPITALITY ORGANIZATION.
[01:05:04]
I'VE SERVED IN A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP ROLES IN MY TIME IN SAN ANTONIO.I SERVE THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT THE ALAMO CURRENTLY.
I'VE ALSO SERVED ON THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION BOARD, THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD, THEIR TPID BOARD AND I ALSO SERVED ON CENTRO'S BOARD FOR A TIME.
I'M INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE AIRPORT'S ROLE IN SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IT PROVIDES. AS A KEY GATEWAY TO OUR REGION, THE AIRPORT DRIVES OPPORTUNITY, TOURISM AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
I HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE EXPERIENCE TO ENSURE IT CONTINUES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY. PARTICULARLY MOTIVATED TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM PLANNING THAT'S GOING ON AT THE AIRPORT AND THE CITY'S GROWTH THAT WILL BE PART OF THAT. I BELIEVE THE PROSPECTIVE OF MY ORGANIZATION AND RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP GUIDE DECISIONS AT THE AIRPORT THAT STRENGTHENS OUR APPEAL AS A DESTINATION.
OVERALL I VIEW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND HELP GUIDE THE FUTURE AFTER MOST VITAL PUBLIC ASSET LIKE OUR AIRPORT.
I'D BE HONORED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADVISORY COMMISSION AND REPRESENT THE PROSPECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M ADRIAN RESIDENT AND ALSO OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE MY VISITOR ALLIANCE AS I FEEL I HAVE A VOICE OF A LOT OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM BUSINESS THAT CAN SPEAK THROUGH ME TO THE BOARD AND
THEN BACK AGAIN. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK
YOU SO MUCH. COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS, TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS.
>> I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO -- IS INFORMATION AND THE SHARING OF INFORMATION, SOMEONE'S HOT BUTTON THERE MIGHT NOT BE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S RADAR, BUT IF THEY'RE GIVEN THE PROPER INFORMATION OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS INVOLVED THEN YOU CAN GET UNDERSTANDING OR AT LEAST RAISED INNING FROM THE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: WHAT SKILLS, PERSPECTIVES, DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFICULTIES FACING THE AIRPORT?
>> AS I SAID IN MY INTRO, MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE IS IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY. NOT ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT IN OTHER MAJOR MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES. I'VE SERVED IN DENVER AND I SERVED ON THE COLORADO HOTEL BOARD THERE. I'VE WORKED IN MIAMI ON SOUTH BEACH.
I WORKED IN NASHVILLE. AND CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.
SO I'VE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF MARKETS. ALL THAT RELIED HEAVILY ON AIR SERVICE AND MANY OF THOSE ARE MAJOR AIR SERVICE MARKETS.
SO I THINK I BRING THAT EXPERIENCE AND ESPECIALLY FROM A TRAVELER, VISITOR EXPERIENCE ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD, YOU KNOW, DELIVERING THE HOTEL SERVICE OR THE HOSPITALITY SERVICE, WHAT TRAVELERS ARE TELLING US ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO
THEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU
HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE? >> IT'S SAID QUITE OFTEN BUT THE AIRPORT IS SORT OF OUR FRONT PORCH, AND IT'S ALSO THE DEPARTING POINT.
SO YOU GET A FIRST IMPRESSION OF A CITY AT THE AIRPORT QUITE OFTEN WHEN YOU ARRIVE AND I KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPANSION OF TERMINAL C, THERE'S A BIG EFFORT TO MAKE THE AIRPORT FEEL LIKE SAN ANTONIO FROM THE MOMENT YOU GET HERE. SO I THINK GIVING A FIRST IMPRESSION AND A FINAL IMPRESSION IS THE TWO BEST THINGS THAT THE AIRPORT CAN PROVIDE, AND I THINK GIVING THAT INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION'S PERSPECTIVE TO THE AIRPORT AND THE OPERATORS AT THE AIRPORT IS THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO JESÚS AND HIS
TEAM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR APPLYING. WE'RE GOING TO -- WE HAVE TWO MORE INTERVIEWS AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO EXEC, HAVE A DISCUSSION AND COME OUT IDEALLY BEFORE 4:00 WITH A RECOMMENDATION. FEEL FREE TO STICK AROUND.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD IT AGAINST YOU IF YOU DON'T. >> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. UP NEXT WE HAVE KATHLEEN FRAZIER.
[01:10:25]
HELLO, HELLO, WE'LL START OFF WITH A QUICK TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF, TELL US ABOUT YOU, YOUR INTEREST IN THE COMMISSION AND THEN WE'LL HAVEQUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> PERFECT.
YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YES.
>> OKAY. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS KATIE FRAZIER AND I'M A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER PROVIDING WEATHER COVERAGE TO TV STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'VE WORKED WITH NINE DIFFERENT TV STATIONS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. OF COURSE SHARPENING MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND HELPING PEOPLE MAKE POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING DECISIONS.
MY INTEREST IN THE AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMES FROM THE NATURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN AVIATION AND METEOROLOGY, KNOWING AND FORECASTING THE WEATHER IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST PUSH ASIDE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN IGNORE WHEN IT COMES TO AVIATION. IT'S ESSENTIAL WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SAFETY DECISIONS AND OF COURSE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
THUS MY BACKGROUND GIVES ME A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THOSE IMPACTS PLAY OUT IN REAL-TIME. I'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO NINE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND APPLY FLY IN A WIDE RANGE OF AIRCRAFT FROM SMALL TWO-SEATER PLANES TO INTERNATIONAL JET FLIGHTS, THE 777, AND LAND IN MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRPORTS SUCH AS SMALL TINY AIRPORTS SUCH AS CEREMONY SEDONA AIRPORT IN ARIZONA TO THE MASSIVE MADRID AIRPORT IN SPAIN.
EVERY TIME I GO TO A NEW LOCATION I GO INTO AN ANALYTICAL TYPE MODE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCY, EASY TO UNDERSTAND SIGNAGE, WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR CUSTOMERS.
TRAVELING THE WORLD HAS GIVEN ME A VERY PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE OF HOW AVIATION FUNCTIONS AT EVERY LEVEL AND A STRONG APPRECIATION FOR THE HUBS WITH THE BEST EFFICIENCY. I'M MOTIVATED TO BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE TO HELP OPTIMIZE TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF OUR CITY. OF COURSE SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENSURE OUR AIRPORTS ARE OPERATING AT THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS, PUBLIC AND STAFF ALIKE. AND I WOULD BE HONORED TO BRING A PERSPECTIVE THAT CONNECTS WEATHER EXPERTISE WITH OPERATIONAL AWARENESS
TO THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK
YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
AIRPORTS SERVE MANY STAKEHOLDERS. TRAVELERS, BUSINESSES, NEARBY RESIDENTS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH
BALANCING THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS. >> WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT?
>> KAUR: ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WHEN IT'S RESIDENTS
VERSUS BUSINESSES VERSUS A TRAVELER'S EXPERIENCE. >> SURE.
WELL, I MEAN DEFINITELY YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, LET THEIR OPINIONS ARE KNOWN. LET THEIR OPINIONS BE HEARD AND GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. THEN YOU CAN HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT, HEY, CAN WE FIND A COMPROMISE TO A CERTAIN ISSUE? YES WE CAN, NO, WE CAN'T AND THEN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IF YOU CANNOT COME TO A RESOLUTION.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES OR PERSPECTIVES DO YOU BRING THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMISSION ADDRESS BOTH OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE AIRPORT?
>> SURE. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD SAY ALSO BECAUSE I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AS WELL, I HAVE A WIDE BACKGROUND FROM DOING MARKETING, ADVERTISING, SALES, JOURNALISM, METEOROLOGY AS WELL.
SO I WOULD SAY I HAVE A PRETTY BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE.
SO UNDERSTANDING WHERE DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AND OF COURSE TAKE AN OUTSIDER'S LOOK INTO WHAT PROBLEMS THE AIRPORT ARE DEALING WITH.
I FEEL LIKE I WOULD DEFINITELY BE A GOOD THIRD-PARTY TO ANALYZE THOSE
TYPES OF ISSUES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER AUDIT ALDERETE GAVITO. >> WHAT DO YOU SEES MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE
AIRPORT STRENGTHEN THAT ROLE? >> THE AIRPORT IS THE VERY FIRST VIEW, EXPERIENCE, FEEL OF THE CITY WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN OR IT'S A WELCOME BACK HOME AS WELL FOR MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE. MY ROLE WOULD BE TO AT LEAST HELP US MAKE DECISIONS TO MAKE THE -- MAKE THE AIRPORT FEEL MORE LIKE HOME OR FEEL, YOU KNOW, MORE LIKE WHAT SAN ANTONIO HAS TO OFFER FROM, YOU KNOW, OUR
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY TO OUR CULTURE AND WHATNOT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON TO GO AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION.
[01:15:05]
AND BY 4:00 HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON YOU HERE.YOU CAN STICK AROUND, WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU IF YOU DON'T.
>> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. LAST WE HAVE MICHAEL FRYE. HELLO, HELLO.
>> HI. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WE'LL HAVE A QUICK TWO-MINUTE INTRODUCTION. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE INTEREST IN THE COMMISSION, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> VERY GOOD. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW FOR THE POSITION.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL FRYE. I AM A PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD. BEEN THERE 18 YEARS.
I'M ALSO THE ENDOWED CHAIR FOR ENGINEERING. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND, AGAIN, I HAVE A PH.D IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.
I INTERNED WITH CONTINENTAL AIRLINES BACK IN THE '90S, WORKED AT HOBBY AIRPORT, WATCHED IT GROW OVER THE TIME I WAS THERE, WORKED OVER AT GEORGE BUSH.
SO I HAVE KIND OF AN OPERATOR EXPERIENCE FROM THE AIRLINE PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF AIRPORT OPERATIONS. WORKED FOR THE SKUNK WORKS UP IN CALIFORNIA.
WORKED ON THE EARLY VERSIONS OF THE AI THAT WE SEE NOW ON UAV'S.
I'VE BEEN IN ACCUSE DEEM IN A NOW FOR 20 YEARS, 18 YEARS AT UIW.
MY SPECIALTY IS IN DRONES. LATELY I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NASA AND ENHANCED VARIABILITY, AND A SPECIFIC INTEREST IN URBAN AIR MOBILITY, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION.
AGAIN, I THINK MY INTEREST IN BEING PART OF THE AAC IS THE FACT THAT I THINK I BRING IN A LITTLE BIT OF THE ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE. I DO HAVE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN DRONE SAFETY, DRONE OPERATIONS, DRONE RESEARCH, AI, AND I HAVE SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WORKING ON THE AIRLINE SIDE OF THE AIRPORT.
AND I JUST LOVE AIRPORTS. I'VE BEEN AROUND AIRCRAFT ALL MY LIFE.
SO THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU. AIRPORTS ARE STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUSINESSES AND TRAVELERS AS A WHOLE.
HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE COMPETING INTERESTS? >> I'M AN ENGINEER.
I UNDERSTAND TA THERE ARE PRIORITIES, EVERYTHING IS BASED ON CONSTRAINTS.
MY BIG POSITION IS FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THE POLICY IN THE PRIORITY OF THE CITY AND BASED ON THAT WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES? AND AGAIN WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE -- WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO SO THEY SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY. HOWEVER, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT ARE THE BUDGETARY AND PHYSICAL ENGINEERING CONSTRAINTS THAT AFFECT OPERATIONS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER.
>> MUNGIA: WHAT SKILLS, EXPERIENCES OR PERSPECTIVES WOULD YOU BRING TO HELP THE
COMMISSION TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE AIRPORT? >> RIGHT NOW I THINK THE BIG CHALLENGE, AND IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S ACTUALLY AN URBAN AIR MOBILITY, UAM. ONE -- THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS GOTTEN FUNDING FROM THE FAA AND FROM THE FEDS TO EXPLORE EV TALL UAM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS PORT SA IS INVESTIGATING SOME OF THAT. HAVING AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT FLYING AROUND A NATIONAL AIR SPACE IS GOING TO BE BOTH A CHALLENGE AND BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY. I BRING KIND OF THAT THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT PERSPECTIVE. I DO WORK WITHIN THE ENGINEERING SOCIETIES THAT ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT DIGITAL OFF ONTICS SO THIS IS NASA FAA, BICYCLE, LOCKHEED. I BRING IN A LOT OF THE CURRENT POLICIES AND HOW OTHER CITIES ARE KIND OF DOING THAT.
HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY UAM AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD TAKE THE CHARGE ON THAT AND BRING BACK SOME OF THAT EARLY GLORY THAT WE USED TO HAVE
IN THE EARLY 1900S FOR AVIATION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE THE AIRPORT PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP THE COMMISSION STRENGTHEN THAT
ROLE? >> YOU KNOW, WE'RE BASICALLY A CENTRALIZED HUB IN ORDER TO MOVE FOLKS IN AND OUT OF THE CITY. FOR FOLKS COMING IN TO THE
[01:20:02]
CITY, USUALLY THE AIRPORT IS THE FIRST FACE OF THE CITY. SO WE ACTUALLY -- THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE THERE. AND A CERTAIN WAY WE'RE KIND OF A CENTER, A HUB, THAT KIND OF JUST REPRESENTS BOTH THE CULTURE, THE MISSION, KIND OF THE VALUES OF WHAT WE REPRESENT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF EMBRACE THE HISTORY AND THE MAKEUP OF SAN ANTONIO AND MAKING SURE THE AIRPORT, ESPECIALLY AS WE GO LARGER WITH THE NEW TERMINAL, KIND OF REFLECTS THAT.>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES THE INTERVIEW. WE'RE GOING TO -- YOU'RE THE FINAL INTERVIEW OF THE DAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A QUICK CONVERSATION AND THEN YOU CAN EITHER STICK AROUND, WE WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU IF YOU DON'T.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE TIME IS NOW 3:21 P.M. AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONCERNING ATTORNEY LISTEN CLIENT MATTERS ACCORDING TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. SEE
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE TIME IS NOW 3:50 P.M. THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE IS BACK IN OPEN SESSION. I WANT TO GIVE SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE FUTURE OF THE AIRPORT. WHILE NOT ALL CAN BE APPOINTED YOUR INTEREST IS DEEPLY VALUED AND WE URGE YOU TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHEN OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO APPLY AGAIN.
AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR RECOMMENDATION OF APPOINTMENTS.
>> CHAIR, I MOVE THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION THROUGH MARCH 18TH, 2028. WE'LL HAVE BAILEY ANCHONDO AND ELLIE SMITH FOR THE AVIATION CATEGORY. BRETT FINLEY FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CATEGORY. RYAN FENDER FOR THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY CATEGORY. EARLY JACKSON FOR THE FAA TOGETHER.
NICHOLAS CANNON, MICHAEL DILLARD, MICHAEL FRYE AND [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR THE
COMMUNITY CATEGORY. >> COUNCILMEMBER, I WANT TO CLARIFY, IT'S FOR
APRIL 18TH WHEN IT WILL GO. >> IT SAYS FROM MARCH 18TH
MARCH 18TH, 2028. >> IT HAS TO BE APRIL. >> IT HAS TO BE APRIL.
>> APRIL 18TH, 2028. >> >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WOULD IT BE THE 16TH? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU ALL.
THE TIME IS NOW 3:51 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.