DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Noel T. Jones
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Air Traffic Control Tower Project at Stinson Municipal Airport
SUMMARY:
Consideration of two Ordinances related to the Air Traffic Control Tower project at Stinson Municipal Airport:
A. An Ordinance authorizing an amendment increasing the total amount to a grant with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to $573,990.00 for the design of the project; increasing the local matching share from $53,763.00 to $135,115.00; and, appropriating an additional $81,351.20 from the Airport Capital Improvement Fund.
B. An Ordinance authorizing an amendment increasing the total amount to a grant with TXDOT to $4,337,740.18 for the construction of the project; increasing the local matching share from $2,135,649.00 to $2,776,615.18; and, appropriating an additional $640,966.18 from the Airport Capital Improvement Fund.
The amendments to the grants, totaling an additional $722,317.38, will allow the design elements of the competition winner of an American Institute of Architects (AIA) sponsored contest to be incorporated into the design and construction of the Air Traffic Control Tower at Stinson Municipal Airport.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Aviation Department has coordinated with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in the development of a new air traffic control tower at Stinson Municipal Airport. This project plans, designs and constructs a new tower to eliminate anticipated line-of-sight issues that will occur with future development. This project is part of a grant program in which TXDOT provides 90% of the total project cost and the City provides the remaining 10%, up to a total project cost of $2,000,000.00. All project costs, including design and construction, exceeding $2,000,000.00 is the responsibility of the City.
Previous Council Action
In August 2011, through Ordinance 2011-08-18-0666 and required as a condition of the grant, City Council authorized TXDOT as its agent for the purpose of administrating all funds for these improvements, selecting the consultants and contractors and administering the contracts necessary for the implementation of these improvements. As such, TXDOT must receive the matching funds prior to implementation of the various work efforts. As part of the grant program, TXDOT provided for 90% of the project costs, up to $2,000,000.00.
The August 2011 City Council ordinance authorized the submittal and acceptance of a grant for the design of the Tower with a subsequent amendment. In October 2014, City Council authorized a grant for the construction phase of the project through Ordinance 2014-10-16-0794. With the grant for the construction phase, the share for TXDOT exceeded $2,000,000.00 and the City was required to pay for all remaining costs. The total construction grant amount totaled $3,683,500.00, of which the City contributed its match of $2,135,649.00 and TXDOT provided $1,547,851.00.
In 2015, AIA San Antonio released the Stinson Municipal Airport Air Traffic Control Traffic Replacement Design Enhancement Competition which invited architects “to enhance the cultural history and identity of south San Antonio, and inspire civic pride while also honoring the legacy of Stinson Field.” The competition was open to all AIA San Antonio professional members who met the qualification. Contest submittals were due in November 2015 and AIA announced the winning team on December 1, 2015. The team included Brantley Hightower of HiWorks, and Jay Louden and Rebekah Perez of Work5hop. Their design “Wings Over Stinson” has been incorporated into the design by consultant, AJT Engineering, who was awarded the contract by TXDOT. The costs for the additional design and associated construction total $722,317.38 and will be funded by the City.
Following approval of this ordinance, the design work will be completed and submitted to the Historic and Design Review Commission for approval. TXDOT will release the solicitation for construction for this project. Following the review of the construction bids, TXDOT will then take the contract for the recommended firm to the Texas Transportation Commission for approval.
ISSUE:
Approval to accept the TXDOT award in support of various airfield projects is consistent with City Council's policy of improving facilities at Stinson Municipal Airport and utilizing other funding when available.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could elect not to approve the amendments to the grants; however, this would result delaying the project or possibly cancelling the project and reimbursing TXDOT for their share of the grants. Additionally, rejection of the grant may negatively impact the City's ability to receive future grant funding for future development and expansion of the airports' facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact for these two amendments is $722,317.38. This action will amend the FY 2016 Aviation Capital Budget and the funds will be appropriated from the Airport Capital Improvement Fund.
A. This ordinance will appropriate an additional $81,351.20 to increase the design grant for the tower.
B. This ordinance will appropriate an additional $640,966.18 to increase the construction grant for the tower.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends amendments to the design and construction grants with TXDOT to increase the total project costs in the amount of $722,317.38 to incorporate the design enhancement elements for the Stinson Municipal Airport Air Traffic Control Tower.