HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 - MINUTES - 6/18/2001 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
' CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JUNE 18, 2001
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, was called to
order by Mayor Kleindienst, in the Airport Celebrity Restaurant, 3400 Tahquitz Canyon
Way, on Monday, June 18, 2001, at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Jones, Hodges, Oden, Reller-Spurgin,
and Mayor Kleindienst
Absent: None
REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: City Clerk reported that the agenda was posted in
accordance with Brown Act Provision for call for Special Meetings.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS LISTED ON AGENDA: None.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
1. PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MARKETING PLAN
Recommendation: That the Council consider marketing alternatives for the Palm
Springs International Airport.
' Power Point Presentation by SH & E, copy on file in Office of the City Clerk.
Tim Ellis, stated there were a number of points brought up in the report that are
already known; that the questions is what more can the City do; and that the
airport is at a stumbling block and needs to do better; that the relationship
between the airport and the hospitality industry is very important; that the
Industry needs to participate in maintaining a strong relationship; that the
relationship has worked well over the past five years and does need to be
maintained.
Jim Dunn, Convention Center Manager, stated that it is difficult to get groups in
the summer and questioned what can be done to overcome the difficulty.
Mike Fife stated that conventions are booked years in advance; that the Valley is
not perceived as being year around; that the business is seasonal; that group
business is very important to the economy and added that regional jets are not
the answer to the Valley's problem.
SH & E reviewed statistics from presentation regarding seating available on
regional jets and added that the industry is headed that way; that currently the
City does subsidize American Airlines; that the subsidy does not sit well with the
other airlines; that the opportunity to push forward is now; that as passenger
demand increases, so will the jet size; that Palm Springs has been doing well,
but the situation needs to be viewed from a carriers point; that it is recommended
to get the regional flights; that all carriers want to be a part of success; that once
Palm Springs establishes that success more carriers will want to be a part of the
action; that the investment for the airlines is smaller for the regional jet, but
patterns develop that encourage the use of larger jets and that the sole purpose
of the report is to help find avenues to bring business to the airport.
Mayor stated that the report does need to be studied in depth; that the key
message seems to be to develop a strategy to a targeted audience on a regular
basis; that media needs to be used; that contacts with carriers encouraged; that
a single spokesperson at the airport is being recommended; that it has been
determined that the Foreign Trade Zone and the Customs Office should not be
the priority at this time; that closer hubs need to be enticed to the airport; that the
growth at the airport has been good, but can be better; and that more study
should be given to the written report.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Mayor declared thq meeting adjourned.
PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk