CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Aviation Department
1000 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78406
(361) 289-0171
PRE-BID MEETING MINUTES
OPERATION OF NON-EXCLUSIVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS
Date:
Time:
Location:
Attendees:
April 17, 2013
10:30 a.m.
Corpus Christi International Airport, Aviation Conference Room
(See attached attendees list)
Enrique Castillo, Assistant Director of Aviation, opened the meeting at approximately 10:30 a.m. He
welcomed all attendees, and asked everyone to be sure to sign the sign-in sheet. It was noted that Irene
Fuentes would be taking minutes. Mr. Castillo introduced John DeCoster and Mike Bown, with Trillion
Aviation (Airport Business and Air Service Development Consultants), as well as, Mario Tapia, Aviation
Finance Director. Mr. Castillo advised that a tour of the venues would be provided, and then a Q&A
session would follow.
 Mr. Castillo advised that two (2) of the venues are pre-security, and one (1) post-security. He
advised that one of the pre-security venues will be relocated post-security. Phil Colquitt, with
Subway, asked what the general reason was for relocating the restaurant, and Mr. DeCoster
replied that after 9/11, security does not allow food from pre-security restaurants to be taken postsecurity. Mr. DeCoster stated that they have found that the increase in sales volumes in postsecurity restaurants is much higher than pre-security restaurants. Mr. DeCoster advised that the
Airport has a plan already in place for the relocation, and that this would be the perfect time for
relocation with the coming of a new vendor(s). He further advised that the incumbent is not
participating in the RFP.
Mr. Castillo advised that the Airport is requesting an operator to do full service, coffee shop, and
snack shop. He advised that the RFP has been structured so that operators can bid on any
and/or all venues. It was noted that the Airport has over 600 badge holders who conduct
business at the Airport on a daily basis, such as airline employees, rental car employees, FBO
employees, Airport staff, etc. Mr. Castillo advised that the Airport has a Coast Guard
Development Project which will be relocating 250 people from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to
the Airport; and the FedEx Ground building located at the front of the Airport has approximately
220 people; therefore, there is a significant amount of traffic at the Airport on a daily basis. He
advised that enplanement information was included in the RFP. Mike Reilly, with Oakwells,
asked what the timeline is for relocating the restaurant, and Mr. Castillo replied that it is a timing
issue that will be phased in accordingly. Mr. Castillo advised that the modification for the
restaurant is minimal, and will only require a glass wall to be moved, and a wall put up in the
kitchen to make two (2) individual kitchens, and access control has also already been put in place
to help minimize the transition period. John Fellows, with Inverness Acquisitions, asked how
much traffic is received from FBO’s, and Mr. Castillo replied that there are 66 based aircraft at the
FBO’s; however, he would provide more information during the response portion. Mr. Castillo
advised that included in the RFP was the Airport’s General Activity Report which identifies
general aviation traffic information. He stated that there are several companies all around the
Airport which operators could provide catering services for, such as Baker Hughes. Mr. DeCoster
commented that catering services are encouraged, and can be provided to other facilities located
at and around the Airport. It was noted that the operators would be allowed to tour the venues
and take pictures. Melissa Vera, with Subway Development, asked if the measurements for each
of the venues would be provided, and Mr. Castillo replied that he would obtain the information to
provide to all Attendees. David Shelton, with Air Host, Inc., requested PDF copies of the three (3)
locations or CAD drawings, and Mr. Castillo advised that they would be put on the website
available for download.
Meeting Minutes – April 17, 2013
Pre-Bid Meeting – Operation of Non-Exclusive Food and Beverage Concessions
Page 2 of 3
 Airport Staff, Trillion Aviation Consultants, and Attendees toured the three (3) venues.
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Mr. Shelton asked who the current gift shop concessionaire is, and Mr. Castillo replied that
HMS Host is the current concessionaire, and a renewal lease had just been signed with
them.
Mr. Castillo showed the group the glass wall that would be relocated to make the full-service
restaurant post-security. He commented that it would be up to the operator whether they
wanted to keep the wall up or not, once the restaurant was relocated.
Mr. Castillo advised that vending machines are not part of the RFP.
Mr. Castillo showed the group the shared restaurant and coffee shop kitchen. He advised
that when the full-service restaurant is relocated post-security, a wall will be constructed split
the kitchen and make two (2) standardized kitchen for each of the venues. He advised that
drop-down gates are currently installed to secure the restaurant.
 Airport Staff, Trillion Aviation Consultants, and Attendees returned to the Aviation Conference
Center for a Q&A session.
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Mr. Castillo advised that one of the attendees asked during the tour what equipment would be
stay, and what equipment would be taken. He stated that he would research this information;
however, a list of equipment was provided in the RFP, and he will confirm that the equipment
listed would be equipment would be left in the venues. Mr. DeCoster advised that the exit
plan is being negotiated with the current operator by two (2) other Airport Staff, and they will
verify with those individuals which equipment will stay, and provide that information in the
responses.
Mr. Colquitt, with Subway, asked if the $700,000 gross revenue information provided in the
RFP was for all three venues, and Mr. Castillo replied that the amount was for all three.
 Mr. Castillo reviewed the RFP with the group.
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Section 2, The proposed timeline of the RFP is as follows:
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Written questions due by April 19, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. and submitted electronically.
Written responses to all questions regarding the RFP due by April 24, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.
Proposals due on May 3, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.
Recommendations to Airport Board submitted on May 15, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.
Section 7, Evaluation of Proposals
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Mr. DeCoster advised that the evaluation team will consist of Airport Staff and City of
Corpus Christi Staff. He stated that Trillion Aviation will not be part of the evaluation
team.
He advised that the evaluation team will review proposals, and make
recommendations based on criteria as shown under this section. Mr. DeCoster advised
that the recommendations will be presented to the Board for approval, and then
submitted to the City Council for final approval. He encouraged the group to include
anything they feel will make them different from the others, and to elaborate on innovative
ideas. It was noted that most of the Airport customers are primarily business travelers.
Mr. DeCoster asked the group to use their experience on what menu items work best for
their customers, whether it is a retail customer or an airport customer. He stated that for
those operators who will be proposing on the restaurant with the bar will have to obtain
their own liquor license, and if they feel they are unable to get a license in time to start
the venue, they should have a workout plan, for example, subcontracting with a caterer
who has a liquor license. He advised that all of this will factor into the evaluation teams
ranking of proposals.
Meeting Minutes – April 17, 2013
Pre-Bid Meeting – Operation of Non-Exclusive Food and Beverage Concessions
Page 3 of 3
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Section 11, Instructions of submittal of proposals and qualifications.
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Mr. Castillo advised that this section includes all information on how to submit proposals,
formats for proposals, what documentation is needed, who the proposals need to be
addressed to, etc.
Section on award of agreements includes the process taken for approval of
recommended proposals. He advised that the evaluation team will review and rank
proposals, recommendations will be made to the Airport Board, and then it will take
approximately two to four weeks before the item will be placed on the City Council
agenda. Mr. DeCoster asked that operators to base proposals on date of award. Mr.
Castillo advised that this item will be a two reading agenda item, so it will go before City
Council on two different dates.
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Mr. Reilly, with Oakwells, asked when the current operator would be vacating, and if they are
on a 30, 60, 90 day letter to vacate, and Mr. DeCoster advised that the current operator will
vacate as soon as a replacement has been selected and approved.
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Mr. DeCoster advised that if operators are interested in some of the items that are not on the
list of items that will be left in the facility, he strongly encourages the operators to request
contact information for the current operator and negotiate cost for the items.
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Mr. DeCoster encouraged the group to add in additional narratives, plans, etc, to the proposal
form.
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Mr. Colquitt, with Subway, asked about Chili’s and Whataburger. Mr. Castillo advised that
they were past operators, and were located at the Airport before he was hired. Mario Tapia
advised that in Chili’s was the original operator, and when they decided not to renew the
lease, Whataburger came in as the temporary operator, until the current operator took over.
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It was noted that the term of the agreement is for five (5) years, with an option to extend for
three (3) years. Mr. Castillo advised that once the eight (8) years is up, the operator will be
eligible to submit a proposal again.
The meeting closed at approximately 11:30 p.m.