Chairperson Kelly O’Donnell called the meeting to order at 10:00am. Roll call was taken with six members present. Officials and guests present included Rick Homans, NMSA, Lou Gomez, NMSA, Mike Holston, Procurement Solutions, Luci Woodard, DMJM, and Frank Wengler, DMJM.

Authority Members Present:
Kelly O’Donnell, Chairperson
Jerry Hanks representing Lt. Gov. Diane Denish
Jim Manatt
Toots Green
William Loomis
Richard Holdridge

Authority Members not present:
Ben Woods
Casey Luna

Motion: Richard Holdridge moved to approve the agenda. Jim Manatt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion: William Loomis moved to approve the minutes from the NMSA meeting held on April 19, 2007. Richard Holdridge seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

Kelly O’Donnell advised that Casey Luna has submitted his resignation from the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to Governor Richardson. She also advised that recommendations will be taken to replace him.

Chairman’s Report
Rick Homans
Chairman Homans commented on the Gross Receipts Tax that passed in Dona Ana County. He thanked all who assisted and supported the tax and stated that this marked a huge stepping stone in the spaceport project. He also stated that during the special legislative session, GRIP II funding passed which includes the $10 million for spaceport transportation infrastructure and the other $15 million will be introduced at the next legislative session in 2008.

Program Update
Rick Homans/Mike Holston/DMJM
Rick Homans reviewed some of the program milestones such as the design competition RFP was issued on April 26h, UPA successfully reached space from Spaceport America on April 28th. He advised that DMJM hired a new program manager (Luci Woodard) and the new NMSA Executive Director (Rick Homans) began on May 1st. He also stated that the 1st draft of the EIS was submitted on May 4th.
Mr. Homans reported that field activities such as test well installation, site topographic surveying and geotechnical investigations are currently in progress.
Frank Wengler from DMJM reviewed the NMSA comments and provided a matrix with responses to the comments and concerns voiced at previous meetings. Mr. Wengler briefed the authority on the two major concerns which were the crosswind issues and water issues at the spaceport. He addressed the concern of the crosswind and advised that
Virgin Galactic will not operate if there are wind problems. If they are in the air and the winds change they will have a range of 98 miles in which they can use an alternate landing site. They will have an operational procedure for alternate landing sites. On the water issue, he advised that a water supply analysis is underway. He also stated that water use at the spaceport will be very low. He advised that a CD with the programming report can be provided in the next three weeks.

Rick Homans discussed the process that will take place for the design RFP. He advised the three finalists will be interviewed on July 24th and 25th. Mr. Homans reviewed the selection committee members and Chairman Kelly O’Donnell appointed Ben Woods to the selection committee for this process. He also stated that the professional advisor on this committee will be Roger Schluntz, FAIA, who is the Dean of UNM School of Architecture.

Rick Homans gave an overview of the functions of the Spaceport America Planning and Design Advisory Committee (SAPDAC) which was just formed. He advised that representatives from the National Park Service, State Land Office, Ranchers, Sierra County, National Trust for Historic Preservation, BLM, CARTA, WSMR, Dona Ana County and SHPO have been invited to participate. The meetings will be held the last Tuesday of the month in TorC. This group has been formed to get input and advice from the participants.

Mr. Homans stated that the DMJM team is moving forward with the design/development process.

Jim Manatt expressed concern on item #21 on the comment and response form provided by DMJM, having to do with the evaluation of the need for an instrument landing system.

His concern is that there has been no need identified. He would like information on what the current available navigational facilities are and how they would be integrated and used in horizontal flight arrivals and departures at the spaceport.

Frank Wengler from DMJM discussed the development phase services. He stated that they have received the notice to proceed from the state to begin the design phase. This phase includes program management, basic design services, third party design coordination and special services. He also reviewed their organization of services. Mr. Wengler introduced Luci Woodard who is now the new DMJM Program Manager.

Luci Woodard reviewed the program management and the DMJM design team. She also discussed the third party coordination which includes the designers, FAA-AST and NMSU PSL, environmental consultants, state legal counsel, NMDOT, ranchers and Sierra and El Paso Electric. Ms. Woodard also reviewed the special services, which include geotechnical investigations, land surveys, aerial photography, topographic mapping, test well drilling and LEED’s sustainability and commissioning.

Tom Mills gave an update on the Virgin Galactic lease agreement. He advised that a negotiating team has been formed which consists of Warren Adams, Sutin, Thayer & Brown Law Firm, Rick Homans and Mike Holston. There are 3 negotiators on the Virgin team. He advised that the goal is to translate the MOA into a facilities lease. He stated they are attempting to come to an agreement on final documents by the end of July 2007, which will include a development agreement and a facilities lease.

Mr. Mills also advised that negotiations are on-going for an agreement with the NMDOT for the road improvement and also with Sierra Electric Coop. for an electric substation.

He advised that the WSMR MOU is also being renegotiated and a more detailed agreement with UP Aerospace is also needed.

Rick Homans gave an update on the FAA and EIS process. He advised that a complete final draft application will be submitted in the next 30 days. Mr. Homans also advised that a draft EIS has been submitted by Tetra Tech. The schedule for receiving the license is still early in 2008.
Mr. Homans discussed the need for a marketing person and the possibility of obtaining a contract for this.

Richard Holdridge gave an update on the Community Advisory Committee. He advised that one of the concerns to be discussed is launch day activities and how to handle the spectators. He also discussed the need for signs on the freeway and information packets to hand out at the chamber of commerce locations. He also discussed the need for a visitor’s center and will be brought up at the first meeting. He advised that the participants will be given an overview of the spaceport at the first meeting. At this point 9 counties have signed up to participate in the committee.

Rick Homans discussed the issue of meeting with companies who have been in this business. He advised that they have met with a couple of companies and have other meetings scheduled in order to determine what types of services these companies can offer. Mr. Homans announced that Mike Holston, Dave Donahe and himself will be going to Wallops flight facility in Virginia where they will share their operation procedures. He advised that all of these conversations will assist with establishing things such as operation costs.

A 60 second video was shown on the April launch by UP Aerospace. Mr. Homans advised that the booster was recovered but the payload has not been recovered to date.

Mr. Homans stated that the launch and flight were successful with the rocket reaching 72.7 miles. He advised that the reviews prepared from each launch will be incorporated into a procedures manual.

Budget
Mary Ann Myers gave an overview of the FY08 budget. Rick Homans discussed the budget and the salary that is being paid for the Executive Director’s position. He discussed putting together a proposal for operation costs and revenue sources from the spaceport. Discussion followed on the process of the bonds, the lease payments to the ranchers.

Motion: Jim Manatt moved to approve the budget. Toots Green seconded the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.

Rick Homans advised that the June meeting will focus on the draft EIS and license application. The meeting in July will focus on the design competition for the terminal and hangar facility. In August, the focus will be on the complete construction schedule, all of these will include the regular updates.

Discussion followed on meeting locations, with suggestions of the June meeting being in Las Cruces, the July meeting in T or C, August and September to be determined, and the October meeting in Alamogordo to coordinate with the air show.

Motion: Toots Green moved to adjourn the meeting. Jim Manatt seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00pm.