Airport board to hear restaurant plan, snow-removal savings and terminal delays Oct. 14

The Big Bear Airport District board meets Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. in the Temporary Terminal Building board room, 501 Valley Blvd. in Big Bear City^[1]. Staff say a funding error means the district will pay about $4,098 for new snow-removal equipment, not the roughly $95,154 reported in September^[1]. The board will also hear from restaurant consultant RealFood about plans for a dining spot in the new terminal, and get word that construction there is running slower than expected^[1]. For residents, the stakes are public money, the pace of a roughly $14.6 million terminal, and a restaurant meant to serve the community.

Snow-removal equipment cost drops sharply

In a report prepared for the board, General Manager Ryan Goss says a closer review of the FAA grant agreement showed the federal government is funding the snow-removal equipment at 95%, not the 90% staff reported in September^[1]. The packet says this is the final year of the enhanced 95% federal funding level^[1].

The district received its Caltrans grant award on Sept. 16, 2026^[1]. The revised split is $1,557,068 from the FAA, $77,853 from Caltrans and $4,098 from the district^[1]. That is $168,909 less than the $173,007 staff said the district could owe if Caltrans money had not come through^[1].

RealFood presents restaurant planning

Kristen Kelly, RealFood's project manager of strategy and operations, is scheduled to give a brief presentation on the strategic planning process, anticipated schedule and key deliverables^[1]. Goss took part in an hour-long kickoff meeting with RealFood on Oct. 5^[1]. The stated goal is a restaurant that serves pilots and visitors and also becomes "a valued dining destination for the Big Bear Valley community"^[1]. Staff will keep working with RealFood on how an operator is selected, including a future role for the board^[1].

Terminal construction runs behind

The packet says construction "continues, although progress remains slower than anticipated"^[1]. Ceiling installation has been delayed again because a shipment of materials was reportedly lost in transit^[1]. Exterior block walls and concrete flatwork around the building are progressing^[1]. Staff will wait until April or May 2027 to plant landscaping because of the weather^[1].

The terminal budget is $14,611,500, and $3,106,716, or 21.3%, had been spent through August 2026^[1]. Staff are also awaiting a formal cost estimate for furnishings after a Sept. 30 visit to GM Business Interiors^[1].

Long-range federal projects

After an Oct. 7 annual capital planning meeting with the FAA, the district's list includes $10,000,000 for terminal apron design and construction in fiscal year 2030^[1]. The district also plans to defer its annual $150,000 FAA entitlement allocations in 2028 and 2032 to build up money for future projects^[1].

Closed session

The board will also go into closed session with labor negotiators to discuss fringe benefits for all unrepresented district employees, and will give a report afterward^[1]. The packet does not include the contractor's side of the delays or any pilots' association comments.

The board's next regular meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. in the Temporary Terminal Building^[1]. The agenda is posted at www.flybigbear.com (opens in a new tab), and the Airport Office can be reached at (909) 585-3219^[1].