DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Airport Development and Strategic Planning Services - Phase 2 at the San Antonio International Airport
SUMMARY:
Council consideration of the following ordinances related to the Airport Strategic Development Plan (ASDP) at the San Antonio International Airport (Airport or SAT). City Council authorized WSP in 2018 to oversee the development of the federally-mandated Master Plan which will include long-term recommendations for SAT:
A. This ordinance authorizes an amendment to the professional services agreement with WSP USA Inc. (WSP) to perform Phase 2 tasks for the airport development and strategic planning services for SAT in the amount of $5,072,838.22. Phase I is almost complete. Of the increased amount, $95,000.00 is funded from the Airport Operating and Maintenance Fund; $3,733,378.00 from future FAA AIP grant funds, which include funding related to Item B; and, $1,244,460.22 from the Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds. This action will appropriate funds.
B. This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application and the acceptance of funds for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant in an amount up to $2,500,000.00 with the City's share of $833,333.00 for Phases 1 and 2.
C. This ordinance authorizes a second amendment to the professional services agreement with WSP in the amount of $829,831.89 to perform an update to the Noise Exposure Maps in support of the airport's FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan. This amendment will be funded by previously-appropriated funds available in the Residential Acoustical Treatment Program including $663,865.00 from the previously-appropriated FAA AIP grant funds and $165,966.89 from previously-appropriated Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds.
The two amendments increase the contract value of the WSP agreement is in the amount of $5,902,670.11 to a revised value of $9,507,382.90.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In March 2018, City Council authorized Ordinances No. 2018-03-29-0210 and 2018-03-29-0211 for a professional services agreement for the airport development and strategic planning services with WSP and the submittal of a FAA AIP grant for Phase 1 of the ASDP in the amount of $3,604.712.79.
The FAA requires airports to maintain a current Airport Master Plan, which serves as a blueprint for future development over the next 20 years. Airport Master Plans require updates as community requirements and air service needs evolve. The explosive growth of passengers in San Antonio over the last two years, after years of steady incremental growth, and significant changes in a variety of airport design and operations factors, warrant an update to the last Master Plan completed in 2010.
To ensure the Airport System is poised to accommodate the long-term growth of the region, the City took the opportunity to initiate a Strategic Development Plan for the airport system, which would not only produce a 20-year Master Plan, but also examine the needs of the region from the airport system in the next 50 years. On March 29, 2018, WSP, a global airport planning firm, was awarded a contract to lead the San Antonio Airport System through this two-phase strategic development planning process. The plan will ultimately produce development options regarding land use, facilities and services required for the airport to accommodate the projected population growth and prosperity of the San Antonio region.
On October 31, 2018, the chairman of the Airport System Development Committee and the Aviation Department Director briefed the City Council at B Session on the outcome of the first phase of the ASDP including the ability of the current location of SAT to handle the future air travel and facility demand in the next 20 to 50 years pending new projects which would be identified during Phase 2 of the ASDP.
ISSUE:
Item A: Amendment to WSP for Phase 2 of the ASDP
The first amendment to the professional services agreement with WSP will authorize them to perform Phase 2 tasks, which include:
• Stakeholder engagement
• Minor updates to Phase 1, such as existing conditions and facility requirements to reflect key changes that will influence the Phase 2 analyses
• Performing life-cycle cost analyses for Terminals A & B, to incorporate into the financial analysis along with other facility conditions assessments of city-owned facilities
• Alternatives development & evaluation
• Implementation plan
• Financial analysis/coordination - initiated during the alternatives phase - incorporating financial evaluation into the evaluation process and into the implementation planning
• Development of the existing and future airport layout plan (ALP) set, including the airport property inventory maps
• Environmental overview
• Report documentation
Item B: FAA AIP Grant Submittal and Acceptance
The City regularly partners with the FAA for continued AIP funding for eligible projects at the Airport. AIP funding is based on the Airport’s preliminary submittal of its annual Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) to the FAA. Through the ACIP, the Airport identifies priority projects to be funded. With this grant program, the Airport System is able to share costs with the FAA on large and critical airfield projects at the San Antonio International Airport. The update to the Airport Master is eligible for FAA AIP Funding as it serves as the planning document for airfield and airport projects.
The City funded the total cost of the first phase from the Aviation Capital Improvement Fund and Operating and Maintenance Fund as the FAA generally notifies airports in September of how much the FAA will provide in funding. When the City is notified of the total amount it will receive, those funds will be used to reimburse the Aviation Capital Budget.
Item C: Amendment to WSP for Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs)
WSP will perform a five-year update to Part 150 NEMs using forecast information and data developed during Phase 1 of the ASDP. The NEMs support the airport's FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan and contains detailed information regarding existing and five-year future airport/aircraft noise exposure patterns. This update is typically done during the Master Plan process at airports as part of the planning efforts for future development. Funding is available from previously-appropriated funds in the Residential Acoustical Treatment Program.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose to not approve these items. However, SAT requires development/expansion to be able to keep pace with future requirements. Delaying this planning effort increases risk the airport may fail to meet the fast-growing air service needs of the community. Additionally, the development and strategic planning services are required in the preparation of an Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan which are required by the FAA and supports future funding requests. Failure to accept the grant or authorize the amendments would halt the development of the Master Plan and could potentially affect the City's ability to receive future FAA grant funding for additional safety, development, and expansion projects.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Item A: Amendment to WSP for Phase 2 of the ASDP
The City will fund the entire amendment in the amount of $5,072,838.22 upfront with $4,977,838.22 from the Aviation Contingency and Improvement Funds and $95,000.00 from the Aviation Operating and Maintenance Fund. Funding from the FY 2019 FAA AIP, expected in September 2019, will be used to reimburse the Aviation Capital Budget for 75% of the eligible project costs. Next year’s FAA grant will reimburse approximately $1,541,469.00 to the Aviation Capital Budget.
Item B: Grant Submittal and Acceptance
The ordinance provides for the acceptance and execution of a FAA grant, appropriates funds and authorizes execution of all related grant and contract documents for the project at the Airport. The grant application is in the amount of up to $2,500,000.00 from the FAA. The City’s match is in the amount of $833,333.00 and is funded from the Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds.
Item C: Amendment to WSP for Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs)
The City will fund the second amendment to the professional services agreement with WSP in the amount of $829,831.89 to perform an update to the Noise Exposure Maps in support of the airport's FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan. This amendment will be funded by previously-appropriated funds: $663,865.00 from FAA AIP grant funds and $165,966.89 from Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of three Ordinances related to Phase 2 of the Airport System Development Plan for the San Antonio International Airport.