2023-06-21 Special Meeting Minutes
New Hanover County Airport Authority
June 21, 2023
Page 1
NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
AND
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JOINT MEETING MINUTES
June 21, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
The New Hanover County Airport Authority met in joint session with the New Hanover County
Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 8:30 am in the Executive Conference
Room at Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Authority members present were Spruill Thompson, Chairman; Nick Rhodes, Vice-Chairman;
Thomas Wolfe, Secretary; Lee Williams, Faison Gibson, and LeAnn Pierce. ILM staff present
included Jeff Bourk, Airport Director; Robert Campbell, Deputy Director; Granseur Dick,
Deputy Director; Carol LeTellier, Business Development Director; Rose Davis, Executive
Assistant; Stephanie Lawson, Accountant; Erin McNally, Marketing, Air Service Development,
and Public Relations Manager; Kenny Smith, Operations Manager; and Keaghon Stark, Facilities
Manager.
County Commissioners present were Bill Rivenbark, Chairman; LeAnn Pierce, Vice Chairman;
Jonathan Barfield, Jr., Dane Scalise, Rob Zapple, and Kymberleigh G. Crowell, Clerk to the
Board. County staff present included Chris Coudriet, County Manager; Jessica Loeper, Assistant
County Manager; Crystal Whittaker, Executive Aide; Wanda Copley, County Attorney; Jordan
Smith, County Attorney; Kemp Burpeau, Deputy County Attorney.
Authority Chairman S. Thompson and Commissioner Chair Rivenbark called their respective
Boards to order for this Special Meeting for the purpose of hearing the Annual Report of the
Wilmington International Airport. Commissioner Barfield gave the invocation.
ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. Bourk provided the Annual Report to the County Commissioners starting with the
Landside/Airside leases that are currently active and moving forward, representing 150 acres of
ground leases.
New Hanover County Airport Authority
June 21, 2023
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Active projects include: Cold Storage Warehouses - CIL, CIL 2, CIL 3, Hotel, 84 Lumber, GA
Hangars/Westside, GA Hangar/Training Facility/Eastside, Auto Auction and Car Wash/Bank.
Mr. Bourk explained that these ground leases and the Business Park are important because they
diversify ILMs revenue stream and allow ILM to lower rates and charges to the airlines which
will help ILM bring in more airlines and grow air service further which is good for the
community and benefits everyone, even the people that dont fly. (Ref. DOT Economic Impact)
Mr. Bourk shared a map of the remaining parcels of property available for future development.
Mr. Bourk announced changes coming to the terminal concessions which include the addition of
Port City Java, Flying Machine Brewing Co., Dunkin Donuts and Jimmy Johns, along with a
new retail convenience center.
Mr. Bourk outlined the second portion of the Annual Update regarding the $165M Five-year
Capital Plan which touches every aspect of the airfield, and all projects are needed.
The biggest project in the Capital Plan is the Terminal Curb and Roadway Improvements which
will cost $92M. Mr. Bourk showed slides detailing the plans to straighten and lengthen the
terminal curb, improve the traffic flow in front of the terminal and increase the available parking
spaces. Mr. Bourk noted that parking is the number one biggest complaint that we hear from
customers that we can control. Mr. Dick explained to the Commissioners the Contract Manager
at Risk (CMR) delivery method that is being used for the Terminal Curb, Roadway
Improvements and parking project.
New Hanover County Airport Authority
June 21, 2023
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Mr. Bourk noted that ILM could use the Commissioners help in changing the stormwater
permitting process with DEQ. All airports in the state have a master permit but are only allowed
to have one permit open at a time. Why cans in process at one time?
Additional projects in the Five-Year Capital Plan include the next phase of the Terminal
Expansion; RWY 6-24 Rehabilitation; TWY B relocation; and various airfield projects.
Mr. Bourk explained the FAA environmental process under the National Environmental
Protection Act (NEPA) and noted that ILM should receive Federal Grants to pay for the
environmental work. Discussion followed regarding the cost and consultants involved in the
process.
Mr. Bourk reported that ILM is receiving a $1M grant for a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study
which is a community process taking 18-24 months. It looks at current noise impacts on
surrounding area and future impacts based on growth of the airport. If impacts are found,
mitigating money may be available for those communities. Discussion followed.
Mr. Bourk shared slides showing the impact of ILM on the local economy including jobs,
personal income and tax revenues and the economic impact of one new Non-Stop route.
Mr. Bourk noted the TDA and CVB have been great in marketing the new routes in the
destination cities. ILM is not permitted to spend advertising revenue outside of our market area.
Mr. Campbell provided a review of ILMs income and expenses for fiscal year ending June
2023. Mr. Campbell reviewed the funding available from state and federal sources, as well as
Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) and Customer Facility Charges (CFCs) for the Five-Year
Capital Plan projects. Mr. Bourk noted that if we dont use this money, we will lose it. The
Capital Plan will require $60M not currently funded but we can use reserve funds, discretionary
grants, and incur future debt, if needed to fill that shortage or projects can be deferred until the
funding becomes available.
Mr. Bourk shared ILMs Route Map and reported that the 10 new Non-Stops (4 in 2022; 6 in
2023) represent 128,517 new seats annually to ILM.
New Hanover County Airport Authority
June 21, 2023
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Mr. Bourk shared information about upcoming inaugural flights and promotional events in the
community.
Discussion followed regarding air service development and the process of attracting new airlines
to ILM, as well as new destinations on existing airlines.
Discussion followed regarding ILMs marketing campaigns, both locally by ILM and outside of
the local area by the Tourism Development Authority and CVB, and the need to continue to be
mindful of diversity in all marketing efforts.
Mr. Bourk updated the Commissioners on ILMpartnership with Genesis Block to help get
local businesses certified as Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE),
as well as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The airport is required to have an ACDBE
program which is a separate qualification by the state. Genesis Block is working to register more
local companies for ACDBE.
Mr. Bourk shared monthly passenger numbers and seat capacity in the market supporting recent
rd
reports that ILM is NCs fastest growing airport and the 3 fastest growing airport in the US.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the joint session the meeting was adjourned at
9:46 am.
Prepared by: Respectfully Submitted
Rose M. Davis
_______________________________
Thomas Wolfe, Secretary
Approved: July 12, 2023