Template revised April 12, 2018.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 12, 2019
DATE: October 10, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Brendalynn Taulelei, Senior Maintenance Manager, Asset Management & Logistics
Valarie Johnson, Planning and Small Works Manager, Aviation Maintenance
SUBJECT: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Ramp Snow Removal Funds Request (Short
Form)
Amount of this request:
$1,200,000
Total estimated project cost:
$2,800,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to increase the contract value for
two existing snow removal contracts by $1,200,000 to a new contract value of $2,800,000. These
contracts provide snow removal services for the Aircraft Movement Area (AMA) at the Airport.
EXECUITVE SUMMARY
In 2018, Commission authorized $1,600,000 for two new snow removal contracts, which were
awarded December 2018. Due to the February 2019 historical snow fall events, $1.23 million of
the amount authorized was spent during the first year of the contract. In the previous 5 years
(2014 – 2018), an average of $310K per year was spent on snow removal. The ability to remove
snow from the North and South ramp operation areas is crucial to the operation of the Airport;
it is important that the Aviation division has adequate snow removal funds in place before the
next snow season. We are one year into the new contracts, which were structured as one-year
base agreements with four one-year options to be determined by the Port.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Do not authorize $1,200,000 for the two current snow removal contracts and
increase Port FTE staff, hire seasonal staff, and purchase additional snow removal equipment to
meet peak snow and ice conditions.
Cost Implications: $7 million. The cost estimate includes the purchase of snow removal
equipment, the hiring of one mechanic to maintain the equipment, and the hiring of 13 seasonal
staff to operate the equipment over the course of five years.
Pros:
(1) Hiring additional Port staff, seasonal staff, and purchasing new equipment increases the
Port’s available resource pool for extended shift rotations during lengthy snow events.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6c___ Page 2 of 3
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
(2) The additional staff can be deployed to support other Airport operational areas in the
event of extreme snow and ice conditions.
Cons:
(1) The additional FTE adds to the Port’s total staffing levels and will require compensation
and benefits which will result in increased costs to the Port.
(2) Purchasing new equipment to add to the Port’s snow removal fleet is a costly
investment.
(3) The Port runs the risk of investing purchasing heavy equipment that does not get used
due to lack of snow and ice.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Do not authorize additional $1,200,000 for the two current snow removal
contracts and request authorization to go back out to bid two new contracts.
Cost Implications: $1,200,000 for two new snow removal contracts for the North and South sides
of the Aircraft Movement Area (AMA).
Pros:
(1) Contractors are responsible for hiring of operators and for securing the heavy
construction equipment required for snow removal.
(2) Purchasing new snow removal equipment is not necessary, therefore saving the Port an
investment of $3.9 million, and not having to add it to our existing fleet to be operated
and maintained.
Cons:
(1) New contracts are not necessary as the two current contractors have met the
operational needs of the Airport.
(2) There is not enough time before snow season to go back out to bid for new contracts
and have contractors in place prior to December.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Authorization to approve a total of $1,200,000 for two current contracts for snow
removal services at the Airport.
Cost Implications: $1,200,000 for two snow removal contracts for the North and South sides of
the Aircraft Movement Area (AMA). Prior to the February 2019 snow events, the previous three
years’ ramp snow removal costs were $937,147, averaging approximately $310,000 per year.
Pros:
(1) This is the current state and has met the operational needs of the Airport.
(2) With contracted snow removal services in place, existing Port staff can focus on deicing
and snow clearing efforts on the Airport Operations Area (AOA) during peak snow
events to ensure continuity of operations.
(3) Contractors are responsible for hiring of operators and for securing the heavy
construction equipment required for snow removal.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6c___ Page 3 of 3
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
(4) Purchasing new snow removal equipment is not necessary, therefore saving the Port an
investment of $3.97 million, and not having to add it to our existing fleet to be operated
and maintained.
Cons:
(1) Total estimated cost is $1,200,000.
This is the recommended alternative.
There are no attachments to this memo.
