Airport Welcome Center location decided: East side is FBCC preference

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 24, 2014 5:54 p.m.

During a Special Meeting held at 5:00 p.m. on October 21, 2014, the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) rejected the recommendation of the city’s Airport Advisory Commission (AAC) and sided with the City Manager in deciding to locate the proposed airport welcome center on the east side of the airport property.  After a unanimous vote from the FBCC, City Manager Gerrity said that he would prepare an RFP seeking bids to construct the facility with a private partner.  If no bids were received, he said he would revisit siting the facility on the north side, as the AAC recommended.

The FBCC decided to take public input before discussing the matter among themselves.

Richard Gray, AAC Chair, spoke first to the commissioners.  He indicated that he was not speaking in an official capacity but as a private citizen.  He urged the FBCC to issue an RFP seeking a public/private partnership to build the welcome center on the east side of the airport.  The airport has invested considerable money in building infrastructure on the east side, he said.  At stake is an FDOT grant in the amount of approximately one million dollars.  But he added that such a building without an FBO [Fixed Base Operation] would be a dead building, a “monument to wasted dollars.”  He said, “We need a partnership with a viable FBO in that building.  If we get no responses to the RFP, then we will know that no one is interested in partnering with us.”  He urged, “Do not kick this can down the road.  Let’s protect the economic viability of this airport.”

Tom Piscatello (l) and Richard Gray (center) listen to location arguments for airport welcome center.
Tom Piscatello (l) and Richard Gray (center) listen to location arguments for airport welcome center.

At that point, City Manager/Acting Airport Manager Joe Gerrity advised commissioners that at a previous meeting AAC members had voted 3-2 in support of locating the facility on the north side of the airport.

Andy Curtin
Andy Curtin

Former AAC member Andy Curtin addressed the commission in support of locating the facility on the north side of the airport.  He cited the current Airport Layout Plan, which calls for a “terminal” on the north side, where land has been cleared and a ramp exists.  He said that the existing road system supports the north side location, where all services are available.  He suggested that the east side infrastructure had been added to support private development.

Kent McKee
Kent McKee

AAC member Kent McKee spoke next.  He reminded commissioners that the FDOT grant would “go away if we don’t use it this time”—a reference to an earlier grant for the same project which had to be returned when public sentiment ran against the project. He said that the existing building housing the sole FBO is shabby by any standards.  He feared that if a welcome center were to be built on the east side, it would be an empty building.  He expressed his opinion that it would probably be cheaper to build on the north side.

Tom Piscatello, another airport user, also supported the north side, since there was a backup power generator there that the FDOT would find useful in operating a “hardened building” as an emergency operations center as well as a welcome center.

DSCN3394Following public input, Gerrity explained why he was at odds with the AAC’s preference for the north side location.  He said that whereas today it might look sensible to place the building on the north side, that picture would change in looking 20 years down the road.  He said that future development will be on the east side, and that he wants to seek an FBO partner for a welcome center on the east side.

The FBCC sought advice from Andrew Halesko of Passero Associates, the city’s airport consultant.  Halesko reinforced that the location decision was the commission’s.  He advised that access road issues need attention and will be addressed in the Airport Master Plan.  He said that the title of the building—terminal, welcome center, etc.—was not important.  But he reminded commissioners that the use of the building and its tenancy were factors that needed to be considered.

Andrew Halesko addresses FBCC.
Andrew Halesko addresses FBCC.

In addressing concerns and statements of the commissioners and the public, Halesko said that a tree mitigation plan would be developed for the east area of the airport with any type of development.  He also added, “I can’t imaging anything more difficult than putting two FBOs and the city in the same building.”  This was a reference to suggestions from some speakers that a welcome center be located between two FBOs, who could then share the facility.  He confirmed that there is more room to expand the apron on the east side, but that his company would make the building work in either location.

Commissioners discussed the options and agreed that the future development for the airport is on the east side.  They voted to accept that option with the proviso that if no bids were received to the city’s RFP seeking a partner to develop the building on the east side, they would return to the north side option.

Suanne Thamm 4Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

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Karen Thompson
Karen Thompson (@guest_22913)
9 years ago

A welcome center at the airport? Tell me how this benefits the taxpayers of Fernandina in any way. What is the city’s share of the cost? Why aren’t our commissioners asking questions? This is another really bad idea. There are so many high priority projects to spend our money on……

Richard Gray
Richard Gray (@guest_22929)
9 years ago
Reply to  Karen Thompson

Karen – The funding for a “welcome center” will come primarily from FDOT money with perhaps additional funding from a partnership with the city or airport sponsor. Where does FDOT get this money? The funds for this will come from the contributions that all aviators pay in the form of tax on fuel and services. The Fernandina Beach Airport is operated as an enterprise fund, theoretically needing no input of taxpayer’s dollars, although taxpayers benefit from having a local airport. Those of us who are tenants or lessees pay $$ into the airport fund through rental agreements or lease payments. Unlike the golf course or marina, the airport fund is about $400K in the black is self sustaining and even revenue generating. As an enterprise fund, the city is not allowed to reallocate dollars generated by the airport to other projects. The welcome center will have the airport manager and operations offices, provisions for additional commercial operations as well as Fixed Base Operator facilities and meeting capability for taxpayers. Therefore, the building will generate additional $$ for the continued development and viability of this valuable asset to the community of Fernandina Beach. Although not designated as an “emergency operations center”, this building will be engineered to withstand a category 5 hurricane forces and can serve as a focal point for disaster recovery should we get hit with such a disaster.

Louis Goldman
Louis Goldman(@lgoldmngmail-com)
9 years ago

If the welcome center is partnered with an FBO it would be very hard for another FBO to complete on the field. Therefore we will wind up with only one FBO. What the airport needs most of all is a second FBO with both FBOs competing on a level playing field. The FBOs have their own welcome areas and facilities. There is no need for City to sponsor a welcome center – the money from FDOT could be repurposed for something that the airport really needs. Or the money could be used for a airport managers operational building.

Andrew J.Curtin
Andrew J.Curtin(@bkdriverajcgmail-com)
9 years ago

Lou:I agree,the FBO[s] should determine the services and amenities they will provide IAW with the MOS and only one could occupy a Welcome Center.
However,the airport’s activity level will not yet support two FBO’s and will unlikely be able to do so in the foreseeable future.Therefore,if we have two,one will likely fail.Fine,let the market work,but the City should not be in the mix.
The City’s task is to ensure the airport is ready to respond to the demands of the market.That means runway,taxiway,and ramp conditions and adequacy,weather information,signage,instrument approaches,vehicle parking,etc.
I do support the issuance of an RFP to determine the level of interest in development of the east side.