DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Aircraft Display Agreement with Witte Museum
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes the Aviation Director to negotiate and execute an aircraft display agreement between the City of San Antonio (City) and the Witte Museum (Witte) for the display of a restored Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” biplane ca. 1918 valued $1,000,000.00 in the San Antonio International Airport. As part of the agreement, the Witte will loan the City the airplane to be installed in the ceiling of the Terminal B ticket lobby. The City will provide accompanying informative material about the rich aviation history in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Witte Museum (Witte) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote lifelong learning through innovative exhibitions, programs and collections in natural history, science and South Texas heritage. The Witte has agreed to loan the City a restored Curtiss JN-4D biplane circa 1918 that is valued at $1,000,000.00. The Curtiss JN-4D biplane was utilized as a trainer for the U.S. Air Service during World War I but most widely recognized for its role as a mail-carrying airplane in the 1920s. Katherine Stinson, a member of the Stinson family that Stinson Municipal Airport is named after, flew this type of aircraft for fundraising tours for the Red Cross during World War I.
On June 30, 2016, City Council authorized the appropriation of $353,877.00 through Ordinance 2016-06-30-0509 to this project in order to provide the necessary engineering work for the development of the agreement with the Witte.
The Agreement
The Witte will pack and transport the airplane to the San Antonio International Airport (Airport) and be responsible for all insurance coverage during the transport and delivery of the aircraft components to the airport. In addition, the Witte will be responsible for and provide all labor and materials necessary to assemble the aircraft within 24 hours of aircraft delivery to the airport.
The City will be responsible for all the work, including the engineering services, to suspend the aircraft from the ceiling of the Terminal B ticket lobby. The Witte will approve in writing the rigging company that the City will procure to install the aircraft and will be present to supervise the rigging and suspension of the aircraft. The Witte will clean the aircraft every six months after installation with scaffolding and lifts provided by the City. Additionally, the City will place a kiosk in the Terminal B ticket lobby that will recognize the donation from the Witte. All publicity regarding the aircraft will credit the Witte for the loan.
The agreement will allow the City to display the aircraft for a five-year term from the date the aircraft is delivered to the airport anticipated in October 2017. This term may be extended beyond the term upon the written agreement of both parties.
ISSUE:
This Ordinance will authorize the Aviation Director to negotiate and execute an agreement between the City and Witte for the loan of an aircraft to be displayed in the Terminal B ticket lobby of the Airport.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could elect to not approve the aircraft display agreement with the Witte and not allow the installation of the loaned aircraft in Terminal B of the airport.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Once the plane is delivered to SAT in October 2017, the Office of Risk Management will pay the premium for the insurance in the amount of $1,250.00 annually and the Aviation Department will reimburse the fee. All future expenditures will be contingent upon available funding as approved by City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization for the Aviation Director to negotiate and execute the aircraft display agreement between the City and the Witte for the display of a restored Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” biplane ca. 1918 in the San Antonio International Airport.