"Palm Springs airport seeks more management"

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Airport seeks more management
City manager says growth fuels need;new position to pay $150,000 a year 
By Nicole C. Brambila
The Palm Springs (CA)  Desert Sun


Palm Springs City Manager David Ready is adding a layer of bureaucracy to
the airport.

The announcement at the Airport Commission meeting Wednesday that a new
assistant city manager position will oversee the airport surprised board
members.

"I believe any time you add another layer of management, it comes with its
own issues," said Commissioner Nancy Doria, who represents La Quinta.

Richard Walsh has been Palm Springs International Airport's executive
director since 2004. Ready said the management restructuring is not a
reflection of Walsh's job.

Doria and Commission Chairman Bob Elsner called the job Walsh has done
"phenomenal."

The Palm Springs city charter structures the management of the airport to
fall under the purview of the city manager and council.

Ready, who will search for a candidate for the assistant city manager of
aviation position, said growth necessitated the position.

"It is no longer a small town airport," Ready said. "The airport is no
longer the lifeblood of the city, but the entire valley."

In 2006, Palm Springs International grew by nearly 8 percent, handling 1.5
million passengers annually. The national airport growth average is 4
percent.

The number of projects, including a terminal expansion and new air traffic
control tower, required the restructuring, Ready said.

The position will be paid for, in part, by not filling the assistant
aviation director spot vacated by Steve Zehr in August.

Ready expects to fill the $150,000 position by June.

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