Mr. Piccolo presented the Board with a PowerPoint on the tremendous growth issues the airport is experiencing and strategies to prepare and handle its growth in the future. He noted the slide that shows enplanement growth for the next five years with SRQ ranked as the #1 fastest enplanement growth airport in the country at 72.6%. He discussed construction projects that are in progress, including the fuel farm expansion, taxiway bravo rehab, the parking lot expansion that is estimated to be completed in the fall of this year. Site work is underway for the new aircraft maintenance hangar and the A&P Mechanic School, improvements to rental car counters to increase space in baggage claim, and curbside renovations, He reviewed design projects in process including the ground transportation center, the U.S. Customs stand-alone facility for general aviation, consolidated rental car facility, the build out for additional space in the terminal to increase capacity for passengers and to accommodate concessions, and remove, redesign and relocate existing gate podiums, add a second desk/position to support the common use equipment at each gate. He noted we will be looking to complete the terminal build-outs very quickly. He reviewed the re-design of the consolidated baggage belt system, the 15th Street observation area, and replacing the roof and air conditioning system on the Honeywell building. He reviewed plans for the ramp expansion, layout and parking locations for remote and overflow aircraft parking and servicing. He reviewed Properties projects, Operations, Police and ARFF staffing evaluations, and the challenges of gate management for the future.
Mr. Piccolo noted that TSA approved the equipment for the fifth security lane, and it is due for installation on April 19. He advised that the last Cares Act allocation should bring between $8 and $9 Million to the airport, which is a total of $36 to $38 Million in Cares Act funding. He reviewed upcoming challenges and the importance of maintaining the airport's brand of comfort, convenience, and cleanliness. We are staying ahead of things we can control and preparing for all challenges as best possible. Mr. Piccolo noted that in his fifty years in aviation, he has never seen an airport deal with growth issues such as what this airport is experiencing today. There were no questions from the Board.
Mr. Piccolo introduced Howard Klein from AECOM. Mr. Klein made a presentation on the final draft of the Airport Master Plan prepared by AECOM on behalf of the airport. He advised that Liebowitz & Horton, the firm that prepared the Financial Analysis for the Master Plan, is on teleconference for any questions on financial issues. He advised that the plan is complete in draft form with three (3) deliverables: large scale drawings submitted to FAA, an extensive technical report providing all analysis, and the Executive Summary. He distributed a copy of the Executive Summary to the Board. He advised his presentation will focus on a summary of the recommended projects that were presented to the Board in September 2020, the capital improvement program, and the financial feasibility analysis. Following the presentation, they are requesting the Board accept the plan in the current draft form and authorize staff to submit to FAA and FDOT for review and comment. AECOM will respond to any comments, and when approved by FAA and FDOT, they will publish final reports. He reviewed the projects on the airfield and discussed correcting an approach surface obstruction on runway 4/22 by creating a small shift in the runway, taxiway relocations, construction of a new taxiway on north end to provide additional space for development, and relocating a weather observation system to the same area as the radar and current weather system. He noted that aircraft holding bays were recommended at the north and south end of Taxiway A by the air traffic control tower and reviewed the relocation of a service road from the southeast corner of the airfield. He briefly addressed the 16 terminal projects and 10 parking projects ongoing or in design as discussed by Mr. Piccolo in his earlier presentation. He discussed the 7 bump-outs proposed on the hold room that provides 31,000 sq. ft. of additional