OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Antonio B Session Briefing on Airport Contracts - May 20, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
BodySan Antonio, Texas
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:09
Transcript — Verbatim
0:47

Good afternoon.

0:48

The time is now two or four PM on Wednesday, May 20th, and the City of San Antonio B session is called to order.

0:54

Madam Clerk, please call roll.

0:57

Councilmember for.

0:59

Councilmember Mickey Rodriguez.

1:01

Councilmember Villa Conan.

1:03

Councilmember Mungia.

1:05

Councilmember Castillo.

1:07

Councilmember Galvan.

1:08

Present.

1:09

Councilmember Aldereta Gabito.

1:11

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

1:13

Council Member Spears.

1:14

Councilmember White.

1:16

Mayor Jones.

1:17

Here.

1:17

Mayor, we have quorum.

1:18

Great.

1:18

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:19

So this meeting is a briefing on several high profile airport contracts.

1:23

So we look forward to the discussion.

1:24

Jeff, over to you.

1:26

Mayor, thank you.

1:27

Uh Mayor and Council.

1:29

Eric is uh doing an employee event right now, so I'm gonna sit in for him uh until get he gets here.

1:35

Uh today we have three solicitations related to the airport, as you mentioned, all large high-profile contracts.

1:41

Uh, the first is for the construction manager at risk, the CMAR for the renovation of Terminal A and B.

1:49

The second is for the common use passenger processing system used by passengers to come check into their airlines in the both the new terminal and replacing the equipment in the existing terminals, and the third is uh us launching our concessions process for selecting restaurants, bars, and retailers for the new terminal.

2:11

Um Jesus is going to get to those before I turn it over to Jesus.

2:15

I just want to announce uh some good news that we just received, which is the airport uh has been awarded another ten million dollars for the terminal program.

2:25

This is from the airport terminal program.

2:31

Kudos to the team and the relationships they have built with the FAA.

2:35

This is um another 10 million dollars towards the development of the new terminal.

2:40

Uh it is the last year of the airport terminal program, which was created under the bipartisan infrastructure law, and we've been successful in four of the five years in drawing money down.

2:51

The 10 million dollars in this round is the largest of any medium hub in the country.

2:56

So we're all very excited.

2:58

Helps uh helps us build what we're all dreaming and excited about out there.

3:03

So with that, I'll turn it over to you, I see.

3:12

Good afternoon, mayor and council.

3:14

Uh glad to be here with you today, as mentioned.

3:17

Um as we look at the slide.

3:22

Today's briefing is over three specific high profile solicitations.

3:28

Um, it's going to be one post and two pre, as we move forward.

3:34

As we talk about these solicitations, and I'll go to the next slide quickly.

3:38

Um, from our perspective, the first one is a post-solicitation on the overall efforts with regards to the construction manager at risk for what we call taber, terminal A and Terminal B renovations and the rehabilitation of terminal A and Terminal B.

3:54

As you look at the dates of when it was released on uh a two-step process as it relates to the request for qualifications that then led to the request for proposals.

4:05

Um earlier uh this year uh we brought to you the master architect, very similar to the delivery on a construction manager at risk at what we did for terminal C.

4:17

We are doing the very same process for what we're doing in the process for the pre-solicitation process.

4:25

So the dates are there.

4:27

Um, as we went through the qualifications, we had four respondents into the overall process.

4:33

We looked at that uh late in 2025, did the initial evaluations, and then had three uh finalists that were reviewed as we went through the process and scored everyone.

4:46

In March.

4:48

We went through that process, um, and as I break it down, it's important to know that the two-step process, the RFQ process is experience, background, and qualifications, where we are looking at the specific submittals that are returned to us that are outlining and aligning the work to be performed with the solicitation documentation that went out for what's for the work to be performed.

5:15

And we looked at how successful they were with their staffing models, the teams that are putting being put together to assemble to do the work, all of the project sheets that are being looked at as we look at pre-construction, the phasing of the work, and then the completion of the construction work to be done.

5:37

And then, of course, historical, where have they worked, what have they done that align similarly to the work that we're asking for?

5:45

The personnel is a big factor.

5:47

We looked at all the resumes and the organizational charts of how they're putting together and assembling their teams.

5:53

On the general proposed work plan is uh 30 points, the subcontractors that are being selected for the plan and the processes that we're going to put into effect.

6:03

A very important phase to every work that we do is the pre-construction phase to ensure that as we kick off the work to be performed and we look at the construction sequencing that's going to be performed, everyone is on the same page, not just from a construction standpoint, but as it aligns to the design work that's been established by our master architect and working closely with them.

6:23

So that's the request for qualifications.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Infrastructure████████████████████████████████████████40%
Procurement and Contracting███████████████████████████████████35%
Economic Development███████████████████████23%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

San Antonio B Session Briefing on Airport Contracts - May 20, 2026

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the San Antonio City Council B Session convened at 2:04 PM to receive briefings on three high-profile airport solicitations: the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for Terminal A and B renovations, the common use passenger processing system, and the concessions program for the new Terminal C. The meeting included updates on federal grant awards, airline agreements, and council member priorities for local business participation and passenger experience.

Consent Calendar

  • No consent calendar items were discussed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments or testimony were provided.

Discussion Items

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for Terminal A & B Renovations (Post-Solicitation)

  • The solicitation used a two-step process (RFQ then RFP). Four respondents submitted qualifications in late 2025; three were shortlisted. After scoring, Manhattan and Joers (joint venture) was recommended as the top firm, followed by Skanska USA and Austin Commercial.
  • Manhattan Joers scored highest due to their pre-construction plans, phasing approach, strong design coordination with SAT standards, commitment to San Antonio's sense of place, and a clear schedule for delivering the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
  • The contract amount is $260 million, funded from aviation capital funds (airport revenues). The total project cost including soft costs is $300 million, per the airline agreement.
  • Councilmember Aldrete Gavito asked about construction start timing. Staff responded that design work will begin after notice to proceed, with 10% design expected by mid-2027, 90% design by 2028, and construction starting after Terminal C beneficial occupancy (to avoid overlap).
  • Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez asked about funding sources. Staff noted $200 million for Terminal A and $100 million for Terminal B, totaling $300 million.
  • Councilmember Kuss asked why Terminal C's CMAR (Hensel Phelps) did not apply. Staff explained that the renovation of A and B (closing gates, moving checkpoints, refurbishing hold rooms) requires different expertise than building on a brownfield.
  • Mayor clarified there are no local preference points for this federal contract.

Common Use Passenger Processing System (Pre-Solicitation)

  • This system provides non-signatory airlines (and any airline choosing to participate) with passenger check-in kiosks, improving speed of service.
  • Estimated contract value: $12 million. Term: five years with two one-year options. Funding from O&M account.
  • Evaluation criteria: 50 points for proposed plan (60-day turnkey operation), 35 points for experience/qualifications, 15 points for pricing.
  • Evaluation committee includes city staff, ITSD, and a representative from Miami-Dade International Airport.
  • Schedule: Solicitation release May 29 (subject to council approval), proposals due July, evaluation August-September, post-solicitation briefing October-November.
  • Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez asked about passenger experience. Staff said kiosks will be strategically placed in renovated A and B to avoid the current 'band-aid' approach.
  • Councilmember Spears asked if non-signatory airlines will push passengers to use kiosks. Staff said yes, coordinating with carriers and focusing on passenger journey.

Terminal C Concessions Program (Pre-Solicitation)

  • Total concessions footprint: ~35,000-36,000 square feet. Four packages: Package 1 – retail (11,000 sq ft), Package 2 – duty free (1,700 sq ft), Packages 3 & 4 – food and beverage (including sit-down dining, coffee, bars, food hall).
  • Term: 12 years (selected based on industry feedback). First-year minimum annual guarantee: $8.6 million.
  • Evaluation criteria: experience/qualifications (10 points), design/capital investment, operations/sustainability, concepts/brands, organizational management, financial projections (20 points).
  • Local participation: 46% target for concept representation. Staff noted strong local interest (over 100 attendees at industry day). Previous packages achieved 70% local participation.
  • Staff emphasized the city will strive to award multiple contracts to multiple respondents, but reserves the right to award multiple packages to a single respondent (to avoid solicitation delays as happened previously).
  • Councilmember Aldrete Gavito strongly advocated for local businesses, especially coffee shops (e.g., Oyo, Mila) and retailers. Staff acknowledged the need for balance with national brands.
  • Councilmember Mungia asked about differences from the previous Terminal C concessions RFP. Staff cited higher revenue per square foot, higher local percentage target, and a separate duty-free package.
  • Mayor raised concern about contract enforcement (e.g., if a concessionaire underperforms). Staff described monthly revenue and performance reviews, standardized operating standards, and recourse provisions (minimum operating hours, sanctions, default provisions).
  • Councilmember Viagran referenced other airports' connections and urged continued focus on passenger experience, including price points and vendor reliability.
  • Councilmember Kuss advocated for a connector behind security between A and B to allow passengers to access all concessions regardless of terminal.
  • Councilmember Viagran highlighted the need for price points for different travelers (families, business) and noted that global concessionaires must partner with local businesses.

Key Outcomes

  • The council received the post-solicitation briefing for the CMAR (Manhattan Joers joint venture) and pre-solicitation briefings for the common use system and concessions program. No formal votes were taken.
  • Council members expressed strong support for local business participation (target 46% concept representation) and urged staff to maintain competition among concessionaires.
  • Staff noted that Terminal C remains on scope, schedule, and budget. The airport was awarded an additional $10 million from the FAA Airport Terminal Program (largest of any medium hub in the country for this round), bringing total federal grants since 2022 to $188 million. Additional grants (e.g., RAISE for roadway loop) are pending.
  • Staff committed to providing historical documentation of the previous concessions solicitation to council members.
  • Next steps: The common use system solicitation is expected to be released May 29 (with council approval). The concessions RFP is expected in June, with proposals due in September, evaluation October-November, and post-solicitation briefing late 2026 or early January 2027.

Meeting adjourned at 3:21 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. The time is now two or four PM on Wednesday, May 20th, and the City of San Antonio B session is called to order. Madam Clerk, please call roll. Councilmember for. Councilmember Mickey Rodriguez. Councilmember Villa Conan. Councilmember Mungia. Councilmember Castillo. Councilmember Galvan. Present. Councilmember Aldereta Gabito. Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez. Council Member Spears. Councilmember White. Mayor Jones. Here. Mayor, we have quorum. Great. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So this meeting is a briefing on several high profile airport contracts. So we look forward to the discussion. Jeff, over to you. Mayor, thank you. Uh Mayor and Council. Eric is uh doing an employee event right now, so I'm gonna sit in for him uh until get he gets here. Uh today we have three solicitations related to the airport, as you mentioned, all large high-profile contracts. Uh, the first is for the construction manager at risk, the CMAR for the renovation of Terminal A and B. The second is for the common use passenger processing system used by passengers to come check into their airlines in the both the new terminal and replacing the equipment in the existing terminals, and the third is uh us launching our concessions process for selecting restaurants, bars, and retailers for the new terminal. Um Jesus is going to get to those before I turn it over to Jesus. I just want to announce uh some good news that we just received, which is the airport uh has been awarded another ten million dollars for the terminal program. This is from the airport terminal program. Kudos to the team and the relationships they have built with the FAA. This is um another 10 million dollars towards the development of the new terminal. Uh it is the last year of the airport terminal program, which was created under the bipartisan infrastructure law, and we've been successful in four of the five years in drawing money down. The 10 million dollars in this round is the largest of any medium hub in the country. So we're all very excited. Helps uh helps us build what we're all dreaming and excited about out there. So with that, I'll turn it over to you, I see. Good afternoon, mayor and council. Uh glad to be here with you today, as mentioned. Um as we look at the slide. Today's briefing is over three specific high profile solicitations. Um, it's going to be one post and two pre, as we move forward. As we talk about these solicitations, and I'll go to the next slide quickly. Um, from our perspective, the first one is a post-solicitation on the overall efforts with regards to the construction manager at risk for what we call taber, terminal A and Terminal B renovations and the rehabilitation of terminal A and Terminal B. As you look at the dates of when it was released on uh a two-step process as it relates to the request for qualifications that then led to the request for proposals. Um earlier uh this year uh we brought to you the master architect, very similar to the delivery on a construction manager at risk at what we did for terminal C. We are doing the very same process for what we're doing in the process for the pre-solicitation process. So the dates are there. Um, as we went through the qualifications, we had four respondents into the overall process.

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