Airport Moves Forward on Terminal, saves $10 mil

The Panama City – Bay County International Airport Authority has approved the design and construction of the terminal building at its new airport now under construction in West Bay.

The new terminal design includes several improvements and cost saving measures planned to keep the project on budget.

At the request of the Airport Authority Board, the general contractor, Walbridge, worked with the airport’s architect (HNTB), engineer (PBS&J) and construction manager (KBR) to identify cost savings in order to bring the cost of the terminal building within budget.

Through value-engineering, the construction team was successful in lowering the cost by $9.8 million to $58.8 million.

The new terminal will be 125,000 square feet and have 7 gates. The airport aims to have the first LEED certified Terminal Building in the nation, with a state-of-the art storm water management system, extensive use of sustainable materials and a landscaping plan that will not require supplemental irrigation.

“From the beginning of this project we have been focused on two things. First, we want to build a world-class facility capable of serving our region for decades to come with more flights and lower fares. And second, we are closely managing this project to ensure our community gets the best value for every dollar we spend,” said Joe Tannehill, Airport Authority chairman.

“We challenged the decision team to identify cost savings while improving the overall design of the terminal. I’m proud to say they delivered,” said Tannehill.

Last month, the Airport Authority announced its intentions to construct a 10,000-foot main runway, subject to obtaining necessary permits and approvals. The Authority also had approved a thicker runway and centerline lighting to accommodate a 10,000 foot runway.

Construction of the $318 million state-of-the-art airport began in January 2008 and is now nearly three months ahead of schedule. The runway has been graded and paving is scheduled to begin in early October, four months ahead of schedule.

The new commercial airport, the first built in the United States since the mid-1990s, is scheduled to open in May 2010.

Discount Tickets to Music Festival

The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival kicks off the weekend festivities Friday, October 10th at Frank Brown Park on Panama City Beach.

The festival will feature musical entertainment from .38 Special, Blues Traveler, and Craig Morgan with tons of stuff to do with the kids in between.

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY: 4pm-11pm – 38 Special @ 9pm

Gates Open – 4pm – Marketplace, Bouncer Village, Food & Amusements all open
Sand Sculpture Ribbon Cutting – 4:45pm – Sponsored by Pineapple Willy’s
Jones & Company Band – 4pm-7pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Grand Wine Tastings in Wine Garden – 4p-6p
Chef Exhibition in Chef Tent – 5pm (Chef John from Hammerhead Fred’s)
VIP Tent Open – 5p-11p (VIP passes required)
Panhandle Star Competition (Top 10 finalists) – 7p – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
King Cotton Band – 8p – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
38 Special – 9pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)

**Unlimited amusements & bouncers arm bands are available for one price through Saturday – see amusements ticket booth and/or bouncers ticket booth for details

SATURDAY: 11a-11pm – Blues Traveler @ 9pm

Gates Open – 11a – Marketplace, food, Family Fun Days activities, amusements, all open
Family Fun Days 11a-3p – Stilt Walkers, Balloon Artists, Face Painters, Bouncer Village, Sand Sculpting, Hands on Art by Visual Arts Center, live kids concerts, Gallaghers Gymnastics presentations, and more
Lunch With Sponge Bob – 11:30am-12:30pm – Coca Cola Tent (dining tent) $5 per child up to 12 years old, $8 per person 13+ (includes Pizza & Coca-Cola)
Steve’s Kazoo Krew Band – 11a-12:30pm – Coca Cola Stage (dining tent)
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Band – 12:30p-1:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Half Price Temp Tattoos @ Tat Shack – 12:30p-1:30pm – KIDS VILLAGE
Sand Sculpting for Kids with master Sand Sculptor Mark Flynn – 1:30-2:30p – KIDS VILLAGE
On-Call Jazz Band – 1:30pm-4pm – Coca-Cola Stage (dining tent)
Gallagher’s Gymnastics Team performance – 2:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Chef Exhibition – Chef of Reggae J’s – 3pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Grand Wine Tastings – 4p-6p – Wine Garden @ Chef & Wine Tent
De Lions of Jah Reggae Band – 4p-6:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Chef Exhibtion – Chef Conrad of Boatyard – 4pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Chef Exhibition – Chef Paul of Firefly – 5pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Panhandle Star Competition Top 5 finalists – 6:30pm-7:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience – 7:30p-8:45pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Blues Traveler – 9pm-11pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)

SUNDAY: 11a-9:30pm – Craig Morgan @ 8pm

Gates Open – 11a – Marketplace, food, Family Fun Days activities, amusements, all open
Family Fun Days – Stilt Walkers, Balloon Artists, Face Painters, Bouncer Village, Sand Sculpting, Hands on Art by Visual Arts Center, live kids concerts, Gallaghers Gymnastics presentations, and more
Lunch With Sponge Bob – 11:30am-12:30pm – Coca Cola Tent (dining tent) $5 per child up to 12 years old, $8 per person 13+ (includes Pizza & Coca-Cola)
Steve’s Kazoo Krew Band – 11a-12:30pm – Coca Cola Stage (dining tent)
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Band – 12:30p-1:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Half Price Temp Tattoos @ Tat Shack – 12:30p-1:30pm – KIDS VILLAGE
Sand Sculpting for Kids with master Sand Sculptor Mark Flynn – 1:30-2:15p – KIDS VILLAGE
Timeless Band – 1:30p-3:30pm – Coca-Cola Stage (dining tent)
Gallagher’s Gymnastics Team performance – 2:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Chef Exhibition – Chef of The Back Porch – 3pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Chef Exhibition – Chef Debbie of Breakers – 4pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Grand Wine Tastings – 4p-6p – Wine Garden @ Chef & Wine Tent
Todd Allan Herendeen Band – 3:30p-5:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Chef Exhibition – Chef of Saltwater Grill – 5pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Panhandle Star Competition Top 2 finalists perform – 5:30pm-6pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Southern Satisfaction Band – 6:15p-7:45pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Craig Morgan – 8pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Festival officially over after Craig Morgan show – estimated time 9:30pm

*schedule subject to change without notice

Tickets can still be bought today (10/9/2008) at the advance ticket discount price. Save up to 35% and buy your tickets now! Click here to buy tickets.

PCBDaily Twitter Weekly Updates for 10-7-2008

About to adjorn for an hour to allow architecture firm to come up with costs. #
At airport workshop meeting. Airport board grilling architecture firm about fees for redesign. #
The race has started and the bud light boat is in the lead. Holy crap these things are fast. And loud, very loud. #
On top of seahaven, full course in view, waiting for races to start #
They justed started the aqua mania. It has a turbine jet engine and sounds like it is about to take off. #
These boats, as they crack to life and the revs roar, I’m certain they can be heard for miles. #
At the boat race pits at marina landing. These boats are crazy loud. #

The New TDC Website

Imagine that you’re a tourist (which we all are, at some point and place). You’re heading home from a great (or not-so-great) visit to Panama City Beach, Florida. You see 2 or 3 billboards on your way out, thanking you for choosing Panama City Beach, and a sincere request to “let us know how we’re doing!”

You see a HUGE “VisitPanamaCityBeach.com” web address and the good old-fashioned “1-800-PCBEACH” phone number to send your feedback. Whether you give feedback or not, doesn’t this at least make you think about how you feel about your vacation?

The new ability to phone right then and there from the car, or get online quickly once you get home, is something that today’s consumer is taking advantage of. Customers are letting their voices be heard, and they’ll talk to Bay County too, especially if we ask them. (And we need to ask more than 400 of them per month).

Those billboards and a feedback campaign would be a pretty smart way to spend TDC advertising dollars, if TDC advertising dollars must be spent.

The TDC/CVB’s staff’s main objective should be to listen to our tourists, save the data and share it with local bed tax collectors and Bay County businesses. This is marketing research. And in such a campaign, a very simple website is all that is needed to accomplish this tactic.

Instead, the TDC’s new website plans include selling ads, renting rooms and generating revenue. They will be able to accomplish this after they spend money to develop the new site, to the tune of $110,000.

If the CVB succeeds at building an effective, easy to use, money-making e-commerce website (HARD TO DO, I ASSURE YOU), our governmental Council is then, in one way or another, competing with a multitude of other business’ websites. From the bed tax collectors themselves, all the way to sites such as Google and Expedia, VisitPanamaCityBeach.com would be in the business-website business. Which is no business for real Tourism Development, in my humble opinion.

Just remember this, bed tax collectors… every dollar you spend on online marketing is about to be supplanted with your own bed tax dollars, in a partner-like, yet competitive kind of way.

Please use that hard-earned bed tax to get information you need to improve your own marketing and advertising. Don’t let the TDC get into the business of competing with your business.

PCBDaily Twitter Weekly Updates for 09-30-2008

Bikes all over pier park lavela #
Fall is here with a cool morning at 66 degrees #
Bikers everywhere. #
Marty mcdanial is saying that our 2 percent increase this year in bed tax over last year may have been directly from recovery collectios #
At revenue enhancement meeting. Talking about how to increase bed tax #
Frank brown park and la vela are coming to life #
Airport meeting over check pcbdaily.com for the full update this afternoon. #
10,000 foot runway not final. 15 depth is. Waiting on final permitting from faa for 10,000 feet. Also centerline lighting approved. #

PCBDaily Twitter Weekly Updates for 09-23-2008

Walbridge terminal contractors and hntb architects being grilled at bid costs increase #
At the airport meeting now. Stay tuned for live updates. #
I just want to welcome all those that are following us on twitter. Be sure to set up your mobile device for instant updates. #
At airport site getting update #
Leaving the new airport now will post update this afternoon. #
On runway now at the new airport #
Oo. A helicopter. Maybe for us? #
Four other media news companies here. Weird. Competition! Some don’t like me much. #
Getting motion sick. Too much off roading. #
Onsite. They’ve paved the loop that goes to. The terminal. Paving runwa in 3 weeks !!! #
Airport media meeting this morning. Hopefully they have something fun planned for us! #
On commercial break! #
Getting ready to start shooting news view with former pcb mayor lee sullivan #
Oh. Ill be on tv at 9pm #

New Airport Runway Deeper, but Not Longer – yet.

In a somewhat boring meeting that was exciting at the same time, the Airport Authority unanimously accepted the lowest bid for the terminal, with the stipulation that they needed to come back $4 to $6 million less than where they were at. If that confuses you, let me clarify, because it was confusing to me at first.

The bid for construction was awarded to Walbridge, who was the low bidder at $68 million. The Airport Authority had determined a budget of $54 million for the terminal based on preliminary studies and had confirmed this as recently as May of this year. Former Panama City Mayor Gerry Clemons pointedly asked what changed between May and now to cause an increase of $14 million and after not being answered once, he asked again. Again David Hanson of Walbridge danced around and avoided the question. The gracious Joe Tannehill eloquently stated “we are where we are”, indicating he was ready to move on from that particular merry-go-round. Mr. Tannehill asked Hanson and a representative from HNTB, the architecture firm, whether they had been in communication and working together to come up with the best solution to cut costs without effecting the overall usability, quality, and public appearance of the new airport terminal. The answer was a quick no, only not said in so few words. Again, Mr. Tannehill so eloquently stated that if they didn’t come together, they would be both looking for work as the airport job wouldn’t be a job their firms would have any longer. The two firms assured the board that they would have a presentation in a week specifying the approach that would lower the costs an additional $4 to $6 million and they would have a suitable, acceptable contract for the bid on or before October 7th. Wow, say that out loud – what a mouthful.

Mr. Jeff Dealy, in his construction update, announced that currently, test strips were being laid down for the runway.

The Board unanimously approved increasing the runway depth to 15 inches with the top layer consisting of concrete. It was discussed lightly the need to go ahead and construct the entire 10,000 feet of the runway, which is an extension of the initial 8,400 feet. This was not voted on as they are still awaiting permitting from the FAA for the extension, and they didn’t want to “get ahead of the FAA”. This will be formally decided upon the meeting after the permitting is approved. Centerline lighting on the runway was also approved.

During the public participation portion of the meeting John Caylor, candidate for County Clerk and zaney “investigative reporter” tried to get in some hoopla about how the public showed they did not want the airport through vote and proceeded to talk about how St. Joe was a bunch of crooks. John, throwing the vote on a Democratic ballot and seeing a 22% voter turnout with 54% of overall turnout voting against the airport is hardly overwhelming. After a quite boistrous performance, he was told to leave by the Airport Cheif of Police.

TDC Needs New Formula for Special Events

Special events at the beach are wonderful for Bay County. The biggest events, Spring Break and Thunder Beach, drive huge amounts of tourists to Panama City Beach.

Smaller events bring in good revenue for the bed tax collectors (and beneficiaries), such as the Ironman and Gulf Coast Triathlons, Emerald Coast Cruizin’ car show, and hopefully, the new Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine, & Music Festival.

There are a few other small events, but we need many more small and large in order for the tourism economy to thrive year-round. It is — and should be — a top priority for the TDC/CVB to enable and promote special events.

But with special events come special interests, and special interests have no place in our government spending decisions.

Therefore, in order for the TDC to be fair to all event planners, promoters, the bed tax collectors (and beneficiaries), and the citizens of Bay County, they must avoid any conflict of special interests.

Here are a few ways to make this happen:

1. Put bed tax dollars into infrastructure that holds special events, such as stages, fairgrounds, parking lots, ball fields and other outdoor venues. Make it a great place for a promoter to put on an event and succeed.

2. Provide additional support for safety and trash-control during events.

3. Maintain infrastructure.

4. Instead of paying to promote events to tourists, promote Panama City Beach to potential event promoters.

5. Provide marketing research staff to survey event attendees. This tells the individual businesses which events bring what tourists, and helps them do their own marketing/advertising/event sponsorships accordingly.

6. Provide Public Relations support and website exposure for all events.

There! Good! No complaints from anyone.

Hopefully bed tax collectors will agree there needs to be a new policy. But whether you do or not, here are some clear examples of what has happened recently to prove why it is unwise for the TDC to put funding into promoters’ pockets.

1. There is a process in place that a promoter must go through to be considered for TDC event funding. As pointed out in recent PCBDaily.com articles, that policy has not been followed. Therefore, it’s unfair to some, very fair to others and no fair to the rest of us.

2. The promoters are sometimes more shifty than thrifty. Some claim they don’t need TDC money, then get it anyway. Some disappear. Some make promises they have no intention of keeping. It’s no fun watching – or participating in – a government body that must make spending decisions on people / events that really do not have to be accountable.

3. Events can fail. The Circus by the Sea proposal was unique in that they approached the TDC for a $100K “loan” that would be paid back upon success. Most everyone on the TDC and in the business community, including myself, was certain the circus would be a success. Unfortunately it was not. That money is gone, unless the Circus by the Sea miraculously figures out how to market its event and fill its tent. We would have been better off buying 100,000 Lotto tickets.

Hey… Lotto Tickets with Bed Tax Dollars! Not a bad idea compared to the way Special Event money has been handed out lately.

PCBDaily Twitter Weekly Updates for 09-16-2008

I’m preparing for my appearance on Lee Sullivan’s News View show tonight. See me on TV! Channel 28 WPGX #
I’m sitting outside thinking about how remarkably pleasant it is outside right now. #
Beware of price gouging at gas stations. 3.95 a gallon at some 3.65 at others. #
Hrcn ike has sent storm surge under beach houses and is currently eroding our beach. Check pcbdaily.com in an hour for video #
Stuck in the rain on my motorcycle at pier park. Trying to get to an airport meeting. Shoot! #
The skies are beautiful and clear, but man is it hot! #

See Me on TV!

Former Panama City Beach Mayor Lee Sullivan has been gracious enough to invite me on his weekly News View Show aired on WPGX every weekday evening at 9 pm.

Last Tuesday he had the current Panama City Beach Mayor, Gayle Oberst, on the show discussing beach tourism, the local economy, the TDC efforts, and the bed tax, just to name a few.

Today, when I’m on, we’ll be discussing all the fun stuff we cover on pcbdaily.com.

Be sure to join us for 30 minutes of fun and “attitude”!

Again, it airs at 9 pm on WPGX. I have Dish Network so the channel for me is 28. I hope you get a chance to see it, and hopefully I won’t look like a fool!