County commissioners are to vote this week on creating an advisory board to pinpoint concerns about Miami International Airport’s operations and propose solutions to enhance the airport and its sometimes-disparaged reputation. The proposal from commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez would establish a seven-member board, to which he would appoint two members. The legislation cites only positives: three consecutive years of record air passenger gains, an ongoing airport modernization, a new Concourse K that is to add six passenger gates, a vast concession revamp now in process, a 2,240-space garage that opened last week, and upgrades to elevators and escalators. The advisory board, the legislation says, would let the commission “benefit from a structured and transparent mechanism for receiving first-hand, practical, and expert input to ensure that MIA provides the best overall airport experience possible.” The legislation cites no concerns about the airport as reasons to create an advisory board. The appointments would be by Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis, in whose district the airport sits; Mayor Daniella Levine Cava; the Beacon Council, the county’s economic development partnership; the Greater Miami Convention Visitors Bureau; the chairperson of the county’s legislative delegation; and two by Mr. Rodriguez. Five of the seven members must be long-term county residents who use the airport. The Consumer Advisory for Responsive Experience at MIA (CARE-MIA) Advisory Board would work under the county commission, which could assign it duties. Initial powers and duties would be: ■Recommend “areas for improvement to the operations and the day-to-day experiences of passengers, employees, and visitors at MIA for the overall purpose of ensuring that MIA provides the best airport experience possible.” ■“Maintain a continuous review of the operations and day-to-day experiences of passengers, employees, and visitors at MIA and identify areas of concern and propose solutions.” ■Review Aviation Department reports or records. ■“Serve as a forum at which individuals and groups can express concerns and provide suggestions related to operations and the day-to-day experiences of passengers, employees, and visitors.” Such user concerns, while not in the legislation, are frequently expressed, including by commissioners, who at meetings pick apart areas of airport operation. Targets have included frequently out-of-service elevators, escalators and moving walkways, which are now part of a major modernization. Past aviation directors have targeted the airport’s internal hotel, built in the 1950s. A new on-site hotel is in progress. The advisory board would be unique among county boards in meeting at least monthly and making monthly reports to the commission. Reports would summarize issues addressed at the board’s most recent meeting; pinpoint areas of concern and suggest how to meet those concerns; and make other suggestions to improve airport user and employee experiences. While the Aviation Department has a director appointed by the mayor, airport finances involve a separate enterprise fund that neither draws from nor enhances the county’s general fund. The legislation doesn’t cite costs of the advisory board, which county workers would staff. If the measure passes this week, a hearing must follow at least six weeks from now at which the mayor would provide a full report, followed by a final commission vote. The post Board would aim to upgrade reputation of Miami International Airport appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less