4A Wichita Falls Economic Development Minutes - 08/17/2012MINUTES OF THE
WICHITA FALLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
August 17, 2012
PRESENT:
Gary Shores, President
Reno Gustafson
Dave Lilley
Gary McLendon
Glenn Barham, Mayor
Darron Leiker, City Manager
Jim Dockery, Assistant City Manager /CFO
Kevin Hugman, Assistant City Manager
John Burrus, Director, AT &T
Miles Risley, City Attorney
LeAnn Moran, Airport Administrator
Lin Barnett, MPO Director
Ramona Coln, Recording Secretary
Tim Chase, President
Kevin Pearson, Vice President
Dick Bundy, Vice President/Sec.- Treasurer
1. CALL TO ORDER
§ Members
§ City Council
§ City Staff
§ Chamber of Commerce & Industry
§ Absent
President Gary Shores called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dave Lilley moved for approval of the August 2, 2012 minutes. Seconded by Gary
McLendon, the motion carried.
I FY 2012 -2013 BUDGET APPROVAL
Mr. Lilley moved, seconded by Reno Gustafson, for approval of the budget, including the
following findings. The motion carried.
• Chamber Personnel expenditures in the Economic Development Services
Contract with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $330,164
administration and $70,000 promotional
• Regional Marketing Taskforce expenditures in the Economic Development
Services Contract with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $30,000
administration and $70,000 promotional
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§ Chamber of Commerce & Industry
§ Absent
President Gary Shores called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dave Lilley moved for approval of the August 2, 2012 minutes. Seconded by Gary
McLendon, the motion carried.
I FY 2012 -2013 BUDGET APPROVAL
Mr. Lilley moved, seconded by Reno Gustafson, for approval of the budget, including the
following findings. The motion carried.
• Chamber Personnel expenditures in the Economic Development Services
Contract with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $330,164
administration and $70,000 promotional
• Regional Marketing Taskforce expenditures in the Economic Development
Services Contract with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $30,000
administration and $70,000 promotional
H: \_legal \4A & 4B \4A Corp \Minutes \2012\2012.8.17\2012.8.17 4a minutes.doc
WFEDC — Minutes of August 17, 2012
• Sheppard Military Affairs Committee, Inc. - 100% administration and 0%
promotional
• Business Plan Contest (Lalani Center) of MSU - 100% administration and
0% promotional
• Downtown WF Development, Inc. - 100% promotional
• Community Wide Promotional Expenditures - 100% promotional
4. MILITARY - INDUSTRIAL MEETING FACILITIES AT AIRPORT PROJECT - Proposed
construction of military- industrial meeting areas at Municipal Airport Air Force Facility in the amount of
up to $2,800,000 of expenditures (to be paid as $140,000 per year of debt service to be issued by City to
pay for said facilities), with said facilities to be used primarily by military, manufacturing, and
management personnel, for the creation of primary jobs at Air Force -owned airport on Armstrong Drive
in Wichita Falls - -- including making the attached Findings and Allocations and Authorizations relating to
said project, authorizing execution of agreements between the Wichita Falls Economic Development
Corporation and the City of Wichita Falls, and authorizing the President of the WFEDC to execute related
notes, leases, investment agreements, and other documents in a form to be approved by the attorney for
the WFEDC.
John Burrus said the City is seeking final sources of funding for a new municipal airport
terminal building. The terminal is owned by Sheppard Air Force Base and was built in 1959. The
17,500 square foot building has been remodeled a half -dozen times since its construction. The
new building would nearly double the size of the existing facility.
There are several issues with the current facility, including security requirements,
congestion, appropriately serving those with disabilities, and little room for expansion.
The security holding room will hold 90 passengers once screened; charter planes can
accommodate 140 -160 passengers. Once the passengers can board the aircraft, then security will
continue to screen the remaining passengers. This bottleneck often results in departure delays.
The Airport has lost some charter flights due to its inability to adequately board disabled
passengers.
Having a new terminal building could help attract new business and retain businesses, as
well. It is the first impression visitors have of Wichita Falls when they fly into the community,
and allows businesses to access domestic and world markets. It would also provide an
opportunity for Wichita Falls to attract additional commercial airlines.
Sixty percent of the airport's passengers are military personnel. Sheppard AFB is the
largest employer in the region. A modern facility would better support its missions. Another
positive aspect of this project would be the ability to provide employment for local construction
workers.
Included in the terminal facility would be a USO room, a chapel /non - denominational
meditation room, and a VIP conference room.
W FEDC — Minutes of August 17, 2012
The project would be completed in phases:
Phase 1 — parking lot and entry road (funding already in place) — 12 -month
project
Phase 2 - $24.5 million — terminal building, rental car service facility, taxiway
and apron repair — begin in October 2013
Phase 3 — FAA will fund at 90% level — apron servicing new building coming
off taxiway C.
Other costs have been identified, including removing the older terminal building, adding
some security fencing, and remodeling the entrance to Landmark Aviation.
The FAA is willing to provide $28 million toward this project; $7.2 million is available
from local funding. Considering worst case scenario, the City will need to borrow $20 million at
4% interest for 20 years, with an annual debt service of $1,445,000 per year. The City is seeking
a partnership with the 4B Sales Tax Board and the Wichita Falls Economic Development
Corporation to annually commit up to $140,000 each over the next 20 years toward this project,
as it has committed an equal share from its general fund. The 4B Board made that commitment at
its meeting held August 13.
Mr. Shores asked if the City had an assurance that American Eagle will continue to
service the Municipal Airport. Mr. Burrus said that airport is one of AE's 30 most popular non -
hub airports. He cannot guarantee it will continue to serve, but he is confident that the
profitability of the airport would entice other airlines to service the facility. In addition, he does
not believe the FAA would invest at this unprecedented level if it was not confident that an air
carrier would provide service to the airport.
Mr. Shores asked what effect any downsize of the training aspect of Sheppard AFB
would have on its use of the airport, and how would that effect revenue. Mr. Burrus said there
would certainly be some negative impact, but he believes the new facility might improve the
chances of retaining those missions, and perhaps even attracting additional ones.
Mr. McLendon asked if he believes the charter flights would return after installation of
the jet bridges. Mr. Burrus said it would put the airport in a better position to retrieve those
flights.
Mr. Shores asked the contingency plan should the FAA funding fall through. Mr. Burrus
said this is a big commitment on the part of the FAA. The City could halt any construction
following the end of phase 1, as it would know before entering into phase 2 whether the money
would be available.
Mr. Gustafson asked if the income generated by the airport would be increased if the
terminal building is constructed. Mr. Burrus said the City has worked closely with a firm out of
Denver, and it is clear that the numbers trend up due to capacity gained. The goal is at the end of
five years to have an additional $150,000 in revenue. That includes a 15% increase in
WFEDC —Minutes of August 17, 2012 4
expenditures. Increasing parking from $3 per day to $10 per stay would increase revenues by
$60,000.
The Airport is profitable in part due to the City's relationship with Sheppard AFB. It is a
great partnership and is unique to only 22 airports in the United States. A full one -third of
Abilene and Lawton's airports' operating budget comes out of their cities' general fund. This is
the first project requiring general fund assistance in over 20 years.
Darron Leiker said the 50 -year lease was renewed with Sheppard AFB about five years
ago. Mr. Burrus said the FAA requires a minimum 20 years left on a lease before it will grant
any funding for projects.
Mr. Shores asked if there was a provision in the 4A statute which prevents this Board
from committing funds for future boards. Mr. Risley said the Board is going to vote on funding
$2.8 million for a 20 -year period. The Board cannot obligate future boards unless it issued the
debt from the 4A Board. The City is taking the risk that future boards could terminate funding.
The Board is not funding the airport construction, but rather, the military industrial meeting
facilities at the airport. There is a 4A prohibition from funding a project that has as its primary
purpose to provide transportation. He has highlighted on a map the areas considered not
primarily for transportation. Mr. Shores asked if any vote on this issue needs to be contingent
upon the facility being built. Mr. Risley said it can be contingent upon the construction, but in
any event, 4A funds can only be used for a portion of this facility. If it is not constructed, then
the money could not be used. The area highlighted is conservative; the 4A Board is being asked
to fund a smaller percentage of this project than is legally permissible. The project is limited to
the construction of the part of the proposed airport in accordance with the highlighted floor plan
submitted to the Directors, which is depicted below:
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WFEDC — Minutes of August 17, 2012
Findings:
The proposed Projects are found by the Board of Directors to be in full compliance with the Bylaws and
Articles of Incorporation of the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation and the Texas
Development Corporation Act of 1979 and Chapters 501 through 504 of the Texas Local Government
Code and are land, buildings, equipment, facilities, expenditures, targeted infrastructure, and
improvements (or "costs" thereof) that:
(1) are for the creation or retention of primary jobs and are required or suitable for the development,
retention, or expansion of:
(A) manufacturing and industrial facilities;
(B) research and development facilities;
(C) military facilities, including closed or realigned military bases;
(D) transportation facilities, including airports, ports, mass commuting facilities, and parking
facilities;
(E) sewage or solid waste disposal facilities;
(F) recycling facilities;
(G) air or water pollution control facilities;
(H) facilities for furnishing water to the public;
(I) distribution centers;
(J) small warehouse facilities capable of serving as decentralized storage and distribution centers;
(K) primary job training facilities for use by institutions of higher education; or
(L) regional or national corporate headquarters facilities.
or
(2) are job training required or suitable for the promotion of development and expansion of business
enterprises and other enterprises described by this subtitle, as provided by Texas Local Gov't
Code § 501.162
or
(3) are promotional expenditures that advertise and publicize the City of Wichita Falls for the
purpose of developing new and expanded business enterprises
To the extent that funds are designated as "administrative" or "promotional" in the attached agreements or
other documents, the proposed expenditures are hereby determined to be, respectively, administrative or
promotional. Funds designated therein as "administrative" or "administration" are for the administration
of projects intended to create primary jobs, and are not intended to be within the "promotional" category
of expenditures.
The proposed Projects are found by the Board of Directors (1) to not have a primary purpose to provide a
transportation facility, a solid waste disposal facility, a sewage facility, a facility for furnishing water to
the general public, or an air or water pollution control facility, and (2) to be intended to benefit property
acquired for a project with a primary purpose other than a project named in Texas Local Government
Code § 504.103(a).
Allocations and Authorizations:
With respect to the approved Projects, the Board of Directors:
1. allocates the funds authorized herein, which shall constitute notice and publication of the Project
for purposes of applicable notice provisions of the Texas Development Corporation Act of 1979,
WFEDC — Minutes of August 17, 2012 b
2. authorizes the President of this corporation to execute all documents necessary to expend the
funds allocated pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, documents securing the
corporation's interest in loans to business entities funded hereunder, closing documents, and
performance agreements with the enterprises funded pursuant to this Project, in a form to be
approved by the City Attorney of the City of Wichita Falls or attorney for this corporation,
containing, at a minimum:
(1) a schedule of additional payroll or jobs to be created or retained;
(2) the capital investment to be made by the business enterprise;
(3) the terms under which repayment must be made by the business enterprise to the Section
4A corporation should the business fail to meet the performance requirements specified in
the agreement; and
(4) the terms provided in any attached performance agreement and other terms as approved
by the City Attorney, including modifications to the attached agreement(s).
3. appoints the City of Wichita Falls as agent for the Wichita Falls Economic Development
Corporation to expend and administer funds on behalf of this corporation as requested by the
President of the corporation, and authorizes the City Manager and Finance Director of the City of
Wichita Falls to expend and administer the funds allocated herein.
Mr. McLendon said the City needs a new terminal. He moved that the 4A Board approve
the expenditure of up to $140,000 per year for the next 20 years contingent upon construction,
for the municipal airport terminal building. Seconded by Mr. Gustafson, the motion carried
(note: Dave Lilley abstained from voting).
5. TRANSFER OF UNEXPENDED PROMOTIONAL FUNDS TO FUTURE FISCAL YEARS
Kevin Hugman stated the sum of $165,901 of promotional dollars needs to be expended
in future years. In order to keep this money designated as promotional funding, the Board needs
to specifically allocate it to promotional funds, and it would be shown on the budget under
remaining carryover from previous years. Miles Risley added that the Board can use a maximum
of 10% of its revenue every year on promotional funds, and this action allows unused
promotional expenditures to be spent in future years.
carried.
Dave Lilley moved to approve such transfer. Seconded berry McLendon, the motion
6. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Shores adjourned the meeting into executive session at 2:15 p.m. pursuant to TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE § §551.071, 551.072, and 551.087. He announced the meeting back into
regular session at 2:25 p.m. The subjects posted in the Notice of Meeting were deliberated, and
no action was taken on these items in executive session.
7. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m. /
Gary hores, President