"San Antonio Airport's new boss has more time for it"

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Airport's new boss has more time for it 
By Patrick Driscoll
The San Antonio (TX) Express-News


In one of her first major moves as city manager, Sheryl Sculley has swapped
out interim airport directors, saying the airport is too important and
there's too much going on right now for it not to get more attention. 

Roland Lozano, an assistant to the city manager who took over airport duties
after Kevin Dolliole left in May to take the top airport job in St. Louis,
wasn't in trouble, Sculley insisted. 

"No, this was about having someone out there full time," she said. "We have
a very critical time for the airport." 

Mark Webb, director of the city's year-old contract services department, was
named interim director of San Antonio International Airport on Nov. 21, just
two weeks after Sculley came onboard. 

Unlike Lozano, who also oversees the San Antonio Convention & Visitors
Bureau, convention facilities, the Alamodome and cultural affairs, Webb has
temporarily stepped away from his job to devote all his time to the airport,
which is undergoing a major expansion. He reports to Lozano. 

Webb brings expertise in compliance reviews and monitoring of high-risk
contracts, skills that likely will come in handy to smooth out some contract
and bid troubles at the airport. 

One problem involves a process to select a firm to manage airport
concessions. 

In September, a City Council committee kicked back a recommendation for
Unison-Maximus Inc. of Chicago, saying experience wasn't ranked high enough
in the list of criteria. 

Committee members also voiced concerns about Dolliole sitting on the
selection committee after starting work at the St. Louis airport, where
Unison-Maximus has an office. 

A recommendation could be headed back to the council next month, Webb said. 

Another issue concerns negotiations with Fresquez Concessions, which closed
its AJ's ice-cream parlor at the airport last month and is trying to get out
of a lease that lasts until July 2007. 

The matter was set to go to a council executive session this week but was
postponed. 

"We're still negotiating," Webb said. 

Though most airport businesses are doing well, a few that are having trouble
making rent are watching to see what happens to Fresquez. 

Then there's the $425 million project that started three months ago to
expand the airport by a third in six years. 

Plans call for two new terminals, another parking garage and runway
extensions. The first terminal and the garage are expected to be finished by
2008, after which the oldest of two existing terminals will be razed. 

"There's a lot going on on the construction side," Webb said. 

Sculley said she's taking a look at plans and will keep a sharp eye on the
work. 

The airport isn't just a place to get on and off planes, she said, it's a
gateway that should be inviting to visitors and help fire up the local
economy. 

"Everything out there is a concern to me, in that we want to do it right,"
she said. 

The council will get an update on expansion efforts when it meets at 3 p.m.
today in airport administration offices and goes on a tour. 

Meanwhile, Sculley said she hopes to hire an airport director by the end of
March.

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