HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-06-11 Airport Commission Summary - Joint Work Session Joint Work Session of the Kenai City Council
Airport Commission . ·
Harbor Commission and Economic Development Commission
June 11, 1990 7:00 P.M.
City Hall Chambers
1. The work session was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by
Councilwoman Swarner. Present were: Council members swarner
and Smalley; EDC Commissioners Thomson and Elson; Airport
Commissioners Summers, Ames, Shackleton, Garnett; and Harbor
Commissioners Quesnel, Eldridge, Thomson and Breeden.
Also in attendance were: Public Works Director Kornelis,
City Clerk Carol Freas, City Manager-Bill Brighton, Airport
Manager Randy Ernst and Chris Erickson of Erickson
Enterprises.
2. The areas to be discussed in the work session were:
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
A. Marketable aspects
B. Airport Land Promotion
C. Float 'Plane Basin Promotion
PUBLIC RELATIONS PROPOSAL
3. Councilwoman Swarner asked Mr. Ernst to chair the meeting
and to bring everyone up-to-date on what is being done to
market the airport and the float plane basin. Mr. Ernst
answered questions about the float plane basin's projected
revenues, current number of slips rented out and the efforts
made to Promote the airport and the float plane basin. A
general discussion followed concerning the current .status of
the float plane basin .....
4. Chris Erickson addressed how a marketing plan could be set up
to attract business for the airport and the float plane
basin. She emphasized that there was much more to marketing
than running ads and doing direct advertising. Some ideas
discussed during the work session were- How to go about
developing a marketing plan for the airport. The type of
industries/bUsinesses we will try to attract. Chris
discussed the benefit of using magazines and newspaper
articles about the City of Kenai and/or the Airport
activities as another way to advertise or market our airport.
What specifics about the float plane basin do we want to
market? The Council has allocated $25,000 for marketing/
promotion of the airport and the float plane basin. What
is the best way to use this money? Some ideas, suggested-
A. Continue to work towards economic diversification for
the City; ~
B. Promoting new businesses that are' compatible with the
airport through tax incentives, or othe~ means;
Pa ge Two
Joint Work Session on
Marketing/Airport Promotion
C. Promote tourism and the Bicentennial especially 'as a
way to market the airport and the basin;
D. Plan special events such as fly-ins, etc.;
E. Try-to find ways to expand the tourism season--Promote
the viewing of the northern lights, winter sports, etc.
F. Try to get Kenai to be the DESTINATION for persons
traveling, not just a stop off place. Try to get
folks from the bush to buy groceries and fuel in Kenai
rather than Anchorage. Market the idea that we have
less traffic and congestion at our basin than in
Anchorage.
G. Decide whether the airport will continue to be general
aviation or become a .commercial airport. There is
considerable cost involved in putting in a full-scale
security system needed for a commercial airport. Do we
want to spend the monkey?
H. Another idea was to develop a go~d brochure with arial
photos that~ show the airport AND the harbor facilities.
Market the two facilities together--a combined venture.
I. The key idea to promote would be "Kenai--The Gateway to
the Future". This is the idea to get across in whatever
marketing campaign is planned.
PUBLIC RELATIONS PROPOSAL: Chris felt that a real proposal could
not be started until the Council determines the direction they
want to go. The main idea that Chris stressed was to start off
small and to begin by promoting those areas that are ready to go
right now.
5. Councilwoman Swarner thanked everyone for coming and for
their input. The City Council will be making their final decison
and Commissioners and staff will be kept informed. Thanks again
for coming.
The meeting was closed at 9:00 P.M.
?~t fu~ ly submitted, ..
Patti Truesdell, Recording Secretary
for the City of Kenai