Mission Statement

To formulate, through a public process, a new Steamboat Springs Airport Master Plan, to prepare a comprehensive review of the value of the Steamboat Springs Airport to the economic and social environment of the Steamboat Springs area and to provide guidance to the community as to whether it is best served by the property remaining a city-owned general aviation facility or being converted to an alternative use.

Provide a forum for the presentation and debate of issues, resolve conflicting opinions of “facts” and focus debate. Any issues, conclusions, or facts brought forth from the Committee by consensus should have the faith of the community and its leaders.

Solicit public input through a series of open meetings and sort questions concerning the airport from the public, members of City government, airport users and interested parties by topic into a comprehensive set of issues that must be addressed by the committee.

Determine which topics/questions will be answered during the development of the Airport Master Plan or Comprehensive Airport Review. In addition, insure that all data collected are made available to the public and all consultants to minimize cost and duplication of consulting tasks.

If, at any stage of the process, the majority of the committee believes that a definite conclusion is obvious, the committee will recommend to city council that the study be terminated and incur no additional cost to the city.

Oversee and assist Armstrong Consultants in the development of a new SBS Airport master plan.

Oversee a study conducted by an outside consulting firm that will answer the socioeconomic questions raised by all interested parties that cannot be answered by the airport master plan. The committee will not conduct the study, but guide, monitor and review the process.

Generate a scope of work for, and obtain through an RFP process, a consulting firm to conduct the part of the Comprehensive Airport Review that is not related to the Airport Master Plan being prepared by Armstrong Consultants.

Determine the economic impact of the SBS airport on the community.

Determine the current and long term operating costs and revenues of the City-owned airport.

-Cost of operating the airport.
-Amount of revenue/tax it generates.
-Annual budget.
-Estimate of future costs of operations and capital improvements at the airport.

Determine the economic impact on the community of closing the Steamboat Springs Airport.

Determine cost of closing the airport.

-Legal standing of FAA grants.
-Possible FAA grants or other financial assistance if consolidation with YVRA is possible
-Private infrastructure buy-out.
-Redevelopment cost including demolition and environmental remediation

Investigate other options for the use of the airport property if it is no longer a city-owned general aviation airport.

Insure that data sources are documented with the objective that information can be verified and updated in the future.

Present to City Council a final report of the review based on the conclusions of the outside consultant and the new Airport Master Plan. The report may or may not include a recommendation to City Council based on the majority opinion of the committee.