ST. PETERSBURG - City residents voted overwhelmingly to keep Albert Whitted Airport. Now, city officials have selected a task force to guide its future.
The 19-member committee includes a neighborhood association president, the head of trauma at Bayfront Medical Center and the chairwoman of the Airport Advisory Committee. Their objective is to make recommendations for the development of Whitted, which is in dire need of repair.
They must also decide how to integrate the airport's neighbors, especially University of South Florida-St. Petersburg, which will need space for expansion in the future. Bill Heller, the university's former dean, has been named to the list.
Each City Council member was allowed to select two appointees. Mayor Rick Baker was given three. The council will vote on the members Thursday. The task force will be given nine months to study options. Members will receive a small budget to fund trips to visit other airports.
The committee is one person short. Council member Jay Lasita has not picked a second nominee but is expected to do so before Thursday's vote.
Task force members
Here are the people selected for the task force:
Karl Nurse, incoming president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations.
Don Shea, president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.
Randy York, owner of West Florida Helicopters.
Henry Van Kesteren, member of the Airport Advisory Committee.
Ed Montanari, commercial airline pilot and former military flight instructor.
Tony Collins, former city director of economic development.
Steve Lange, architect and airport supporter.
Bob Carter, president of the Carter Group, a public relations firm.
Ruth Varn, chairwoman of the Airport Advisory Committee.
Joe Vulgamore, airport supporter and anesthesiologist at All Children's Hospital.
Don Morris, member of the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society.
Effie Alexander, longtime civic activist.
Ernst Vieux, head of trauma at Bayfront Medical Center.
Grady Terrell, owner of Terrell Industries.
Bill Heller, former dean of USF-St. Petersburg.
Mark Stroud, president of Echelon Real Estate Services.
