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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirport.Minutes.02-16-1993AIRPORT BOARD MEETING Tuesday February 16, 1993 Those present: Board Members: Staff: Jerry McClanahan, Chairman Douglas Leslie Steve Robertson Donna Rubach Bill Walker J. Fred Waltz Visitor: Allan Maki J. Ronald Fischer The meeting was called to order at 4:25 p.m. by Chairman McClanahan. It was requested by Waltz that the word "tentatively" be added to the motion approving the location of the fuel farm in the minutes of the February 2, 1993 meeting. Walker made a motion to approve the minutes as amended, Waltz seconded the motion and motion carried. A motion was made by Walker to go into executive session, the motion was seconded by Waltz and motion carried. The board came out of executive session and continued their meeting with discussion on a marketing plan for the airport. McClanahan suggested that the Airport Board take about 20 minutes of each meeting to tour a part of the airport. This may help in coming up with ideas on marketing. It was discussed that the new terminal building restaurant will be accessible by from the ramp. Pilots may still migrate to the F.B.O., but the corporate passengers should go to the terminal. Walker expressed the need to focus on the future and a possible link of the intermodal transportation system - river port, rail road and airport. The need the Airport Board and management to focus in the same direction was expressed. Maki commented on the need to set some attainable marketing goals for the new Airport Manager. Waltz expressed the purpose of this meeting as starting the process of marketing the airport, getting the City's attention, and starting to move forward. Fischer replied that the board should develop a focus of the airport marketing plan and "sell" that focus to Leslie or himself. He mentioned that the Airport Board should direct the Airport Manager and is not expected to carry out the marketing plan. City staff will be available for that. Waltz commented that the airport would he receiving a lot of free publicity with the opening of the terminal building and that the opening will reacquaint people with the airport. A report mailed by Overbey to the Airport Board members was discussed. a.. - 2 - The following questions and points were discussed to help in the development of a marketing plan. t) What is for sale'? The airport. 2) Who are we selling to? Freight companies and other potential users of the airport. 3) How to sell it? a. Too close to St. lawis and Memphis for a big passenger increase. b. Kit Planes are coining back. c. Assemble a slide or video presentation. d. Find a company that needs different modes of transportation. e. L(x)k at different industrial development in Cape Girardeau. f. Possibility of having Bart bring people to the airport. g. Be more service oriented. h. Check into possibility of servicing federal express. i. Develop a museum at the airport. The limitations of having one airline flying to one location was discussed. It was mentioned that some people had been "burned" on the reliability of the airline and do not trust it anymore. Walker mentioned that he thought flights to Chicago and/or Nashville would make a big difference in the passenger count. The possibility of the new restaurant helping the image of the airport was also discussed. Robertson suggested running the airport like a successful business by "rolling out the red carpet" for airport users and treating them like we want their business. This will promote word of mouth advertisement which can be very helpful. Leslie stated that the projected completion date for the terminal building is March 18th but will likely be extended beyond that. Maki suggested announcing the marketing plan at the opening along with the other prgjects such as the entrance road, parking lot and water system. Robertson suggested having an "after hours" for the Chamber to introduce the new Airport Manager and new restaurant to the business community. He expressed the need for the new Airport Manager and the FRO to work together to make the airport a success. The results from the Vision 2000 survey were discussed. It was mentioned that the people surveyed were not necessarily users of the airport and this fact would influence the outcome of the survey. Mr. "Tomlinson will be present at the next meeting of the Airport Board on March 2, 1993. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.. Respectfully Submitted, Donna S. Rubach Administrative Secretary