Sum Up
Minutes of Spaceport Authority Meeting
March 20, 2007
Members Present:
Rick Homans, Chairman
Designee: Jerry Hanks
Jim Manatt
Ben Woods
William Loomis
Richard Holdridge
Casey Luna (via teleconference)
Officials Present:
Lou Gomez
Mike Holston, Procurement Solutions
Frank Wengler, DMJM
John Connor, DMJM
Sum Up:
- Chairman Homans discussed New Mexico Senate Bill 827, advising that the first $33 million can be accessed with a bona fide cost estimate of the spaceport, with the remaining $67 million to be available upon obtaining the Federal Aviation Administration license.
- Mike Holston reviewed the program task plan, breaking it down into five sections: site development, contractual support, government/regulatory, financial/business, and spaceport operations.
- Holston said that the New Mexico Department of Transportation is evaluating the short- and long-term road development options.
- Holston stated the construction cost estimate is complete.
- Jim Manatt initiated discussion to ensure that the spaceport's budget included facilities that accommodate vehicles with instrument navigation systems. DMJM indicated that there are sufficient funds in the budget for this.
- Holston reported that a draft of the FAA license application is complete and projected that the final application would be submitted in May or June, 2007.
- Holston reported that field work for the Environmental Impact Study was expected to be completed on March 23, 2007.
- Holston also stated that the federal Bureau of Land Management, the New Mexico State Land Office, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs are working together to draft a management plan for the historic Camino Real.
- Holston added that a new long-term agreement with UP Aerospace was under negotiation and several discussions with new potential tenants were underway.
- Richard Holdridge shared that Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences, Deming, Hatch, and Alamogordo have formally approved the resolution forming a Community Advisory Committee. The first meeting is expected to be in May 2007 and will be publicly advertised.
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