Measure J commission OKs more money for airport seating; stadium repairs expected to top budget

The Measure J Oversight Commission unanimously approved an additional $150,000 last week for new seating in Palm Springs International Airport’s Bono Concourse. Commissioners also learned that repairs at Palm Springs Stadium will exceed the $841,000 budgeted.

The airport funding will allow the city to replace furniture throughout the concourse, covering gates 1 through 10. Airport Commission Chair Kevin Corcoran said the original budget covered only gates 1 through 4, but savings of about $700,000 from the airport’s shade structure project made a full replacement possible.

A senior city civil engineer speaking on behalf of the Department of Aviation said the selected seating package costs about $650,000, with $500,000 already approved.

Palm Springs Finance Director and Treasurer Kristopher Mooney said about $2.8 million in airport funding remains in the Measure J reserve. While some is committed to future projects, more than $150,000 is available, largely because of the shade structure savings. The money comes from an aviation fuel tax that federal rules require be spent on airport capital projects.

The new layout will reduce seating from 609 to 458 while increasing charging stations from 147 to 210. Kreider said the changes accommodate a new duty-free area and revised airline boarding configurations. Fewer seats are also intended to ease congestion and encourage passengers to visit airport concessions.

To speed up the project, the city plans to purchase the furniture through a cooperative purchasing agreement rather than a traditional bidding process. Kreider estimated 16 to 20 weeks for the furniture to arrive, followed by about four weeks for delivery and installation.

The request now heads to the City Council. Corcoran said that if approved by the end of October, the furniture could be installed by the end of May.

In other business, commissioners received an update on deferred maintenance at Palm Springs Stadium, where costs are expected to exceed the $841,000 budgeted.

Mooney said some of that funding has already been spent, likely on drainage work. A city staff member said a feasibility study is underway, with surveying expected to begin soon.

The work is expected to cost more than the available funding, but the full amount remains unknown. Staff said the goal is to establish a reliable cost estimate before deciding how to proceed.

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