04/16/2025

Meeting Minutes for:
Public Relations Committee Meeting
Yuma International Airport, Conference Room
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 01:00 PM

    Call to Order:
    The Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc. (YCAA) Public Relations Meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 1:00PM on April 16, 2025, in the Yuma International Airport Conference Room, 2191 E. 32nd Street, Suite 218, Yuma, Arizona 85365. The Presiding officer was Juan Guzman, Committee Chairman.

    YCAA PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT WERE:
    Juan Guzman, Committee Chairman and YCAA 2nd Vice President
    Dr. Brian Cullen, Secretary
    Ken Scott, Director

    YCAA PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WERE:
    None

    ALSO PRESENT WERE:
    Gladys Brown, Airport Director
    Andrea Lopez, Executive Assistant

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    REGULAR AGENDA
    1) Public Relations Committee discussion and possible recommendations for event celebration.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, briefed the Committee on the upcoming Yuma County Airport Authority’s 60th anniversary which is December 30, 2025. The committee discussed ideas to celebrate the YCAA’s ‘Diamond’ anniversary including the possibility of an anniversary logo, challenge coin, event date/guest list and/or photo boards.

    The Committee proposes that the celebration should be conducted in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Social event that takes place at the Airport in July. The East Mezzanine is to be designated as the commemorative site for the Airport's Anniversary. It is recommended to prepare a thoughtful memento for the guests. The exhibit will be reestablished in December for the enjoyment of passengers and guests alike. In celebration of the Anniversary, it is suggested to distribute stickers every Friday to passengers in December. For the General Aviation Social, a coin should be created to mark the Anniversary. The committee also suggests creating a slide show presentation filled with historical Airport photos. Mr. Guzman, Committee Chairman, recommended a website called Fiver, which is renowned for its exceptional restoration of old photos.

    2) Public Relations Committee discussion and possible recommendation related to tenant and concessionaire services promotion.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, briefed that the Yuma County Airport Authority (YCAA) allocates funds in its annual marketing budget for the promotion and advertising of its tenants. This initiative aims to reach target markets: Commercial Air, General Aviation, and Corporate Aviation, with the slogan "Fly Yuma, we've got your travel covered".

    The YCAA employs a range of traditional advertising methods and collaborates with various community organizations, including the Caballeros de Yuma, Chamber of Commerce, City of Yuma, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, and Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, to amplify outreach efforts.

    Furthermore, the YCAA offers airport tours, participates in local events, and sponsors both for-profit and non-profit organizations within the community. This approach facilitates personalized engagement and connection with the local community.

    The Yuma County Airport Authority has designated a marketing budget of $161,289 for the year 2025. These funds will be utilized to promote the services of its tenants and concessionaires through various channels such as radio, print ads, social media, local sponsorships, Chamber of Commerce events, cross-organization promotional partnerships, media interviews, and interactions with the public.

    3) Public Relations Committee discussion and possible recommendations regarding recruitment of commercial air service and the retention of the existing airline.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, provided a presentation on Air Service Development. In her presentation, she discussed the management of community expectations, and the duration of two to five years required to entice new air services or additional routes to Yuma. Furthermore, she elaborated on the complexity of our market and catchment area. She highlighted the significance of meetings with airlines at conferences such as JumpStart, Routes, and others. Ms. Brown provided an in-depth explanation of community utilization and "leakage," or the tendency to utilize other airports. She also discussed the goals, direction, and incentives related to air service development, as well as potential airlines and destinations. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of community collaborations and sources of air service-related funding objectives.

    The Committee’s direction to staff is to form a Public Relations Airline Task Force, with the objectives of accumulating and compiling information, devising an airline incentive package, formulating a plan, and soliciting participation from both the community and business sectors. The Committee has also directed staff to initiate a new demand study.

    4) Public Relations Committee presentation and update regarding current construction projects, associated contracts, grant status, general aviation, marketing efforts, terminal improvements, aviation conferences, meetings, and items of interest with the city and county or other federal or state agencies. This will include, but is not limited to, additional information, FAA and ADOT grant updates, an overview of projects underway, airport operations, Rolle Airfield, airline recruitment and retention efforts, general aviation, future events, and other Airport business.

    Ms. Brown, Airport Director, explained YCAA staff has held multiple meetings with AeroSky who are interested in offering point-to-point air-taxi/commuter services in Arizona and Southern California to regional airports that are underserved by larger airlines.

    Their target segments are tourism, business travelers and will cross-promote with each city they serve. They would operate out of Million Air FBO.

    CALL TO THE PUBLIC
    There were no Public Comments.

    ADJOURNMENT
    There being no further business before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 2:05PM.



    // Approved //
    Juan Guzman
    2nd Vice President, Yuma County Airport Authority; Public Relations Committee Chairman


    Other Board Minutes

    Group IconTue Jun 10, 2025 -- June Board
    Person IconWed May 21, 2025 -- Finance Committee
    Person IconTue May 20, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee
    Group IconTue May 13, 2025 -- May Board
    Person IconWed May 7, 2025 -- Election and Personnel Committee
    Person IconWed Apr 16, 2025 -- Public Relations Committee
    Group IconTue Apr 8, 2025 -- April Board
    Person IconTue Mar 18, 2025 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Group IconTue Mar 11, 2025 -- March Board
    Person IconTue Mar 4, 2025 -- Finance Committee
    Group IconTue Feb 11, 2025 -- February Board
    Group IconTue Jan 14, 2025 -- January Board
    Group IconTue Jan 14, 2025 -- Annual Board Meeting 2025
    Group IconTue Dec 10, 2024 -- December Board
    Group IconTue Nov 12, 2024 -- November Board
    Person IconWed Oct 16, 2024 -- Elections and Personnel Committee
    Group IconTue Oct 8, 2024 -- October Board
    Person IconMon Oct 7, 2024 -- Finance Committee
    Group IconTue Sep 10, 2024 -- September Board
    Group IconTue Aug 13, 2024 -- August Board
    Person IconTue Aug 6, 2024 -- Finance Committee
    Person IconThu Jul 18, 2024 -- Elections ad Personnel Committee
    Group IconTue Jun 11, 2024 -- June Board
    Person IconTue May 21, 2024 -- Strategic Planning Committee
    Group IconTue May 14, 2024 -- May Board
    Group IconTue Apr 9, 2024 -- April Board
    Group IconTue Mar 12, 2024 -- March Board
    Group IconTue Feb 13, 2024 -- February Board
    Person IconThu Feb 8, 2024 -- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
    Group IconTue Jan 9, 2024 -- January Board