Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Page public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues in business jobs with high priority
Contour Airlines Service Performance
Contour Airlines provides commercial air service at Page Municipal Airport, and its monthly report was on the agenda. Riders and local businesses depend on this service for connections.
Small business support and recruitment
The board wants to survey local businesses about their needs — staffing, equipment, marketing, training — and hold stakeholder meetings beyond just chamber members. A prior survey got only ~20 responses, so reaching people is the challenge. Customer service training came up repeatedly.
Tourism visitation and marketing
Visitor numbers at Carl Hayden and the Chamber hub are down, and international travelers are still far below the 4.5 million pre-COVID peak. Franz cited visa costs, expensive food and tours, and geopolitical factors; the board discussed whether the city or state tourism office could advocate for relief.
Facade Improvement Program
Downtown beautification is moving toward a construction-manager-at-risk bid with construction hoped for 2027, and the facade program got $100,000 (down from $200,000) for next fiscal year. Councilor Hammond wants this board reviewing both before council does.
New Airport Concessionaire Agreement
The draft concessionaire agreement would raise Avis's monthly cost from $5,000 to roughly $9,000, cut parking from 25 spaces to 15, and eliminate the vehicle staging curb. Owners of the 50-year-old franchise say that math drives them off the airport, and the board agreed to send the lease back for serious re-review.
EAS air carrier selection for Page Municipal Airport
EAS bids are due to the federal DOT by March 6, giving the city 30 days to recommend a carrier for service beginning in September. Page must also choose between traditional EAS (DOT picks and pays the carrier) and alternate EAS (the city administers a grant and contracts directly), which affects how flexibly routes can change.
Grand Canyon region fire recovery plan
Coconino County presented its long-term recovery plan for the 200,000-acre Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which devastated the regional tourism economy. It sets 32 action items — regional marketing, smoke/air quality response, trail reopening — with quarterly public progress reporting.