A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY. HERA s New Fire Station. 2 New Board Secretary & Members. 3 FY 16 Budget

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1 A PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PORT AUTHORITY Volume 11 Issue Fall Edition HERA s New Fire Station 2 New Board Secretary & Members 3 FY 16 Budget The Virgin Islands Port Authority will be constructing a new 12,000 square feet fire station, replacing its old station at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix. The existing fire station has been in a deplorable condition for several years, which the fire fighters have had to endure. VIPA received a Federal Aviation Administration Grant in the amount of $6,870,128 of which $2,575,084 are discretionary funds. The total cost of the project is $7,182,801, and the remainder will be funded by the Port Authority. This is an important project for St. Croix. The Rohlsen Airport will receive a significant improvement and the project will employ St. Croix residents during the construction phase, said VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe. 4 Port Upgrades on St. John 5 New CEKA Fire Truck & Aviation Fees 6-7 Employee News 8 Upcoming Events and a VIPA Summer Student Success Story Facebook.com/usviports Twitter.com/usviports

2 New Board Secretary and New Members Gateways to the USVI Economy The VIPA Portfolio is published by: The Virgin Islands Port Authority P.O. Box St. Thomas, VI Tel: (340) Fax: (340) Web site: The Honorable Kenneth E. Mapp Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands The Honorable Osbert E. Potter Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Roberto C. Cintron, P.E. Chairperson of the Board Private Sector Member, St. Croix The Honorable Beverly Nicholson Doty Vice Chairperson of the Board Commissioner of Tourism Mr. José A. Penn Secretary of the Board Acting Chairman, Economic Development Authority Board The Honorable Clade E. Walker, Esq. Acting Attorney General The Honorable Gustav James Commissioner of Public Works Mrs. Laurel Hewitt-Sewer Private Sector Member, St. John José A. Penn, the acting Economic Development Authority board chairman, was elected as the new VI Port Authority board secretary in June. He replaced former board secretary, Allison Petrus, who resigned from the VIPA board in May. Penn is the chief financial officer of his family's group of local businesses. He is also a member of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, Inc., a charter and honorary member of the José A. Penn VIPA Board Secretary Acting EDA Chair Rotary Club of St. John, Inc. and is the chair of the Enterprise & Commercial Zone Commission. Penn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. Attorney Claude Earl Walker sits on VIPA s board as the acting Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands and is the head of the VI Department of Justice. Attorney Walker, an Albany Law School graduate, served as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development litigator; senior legal counselor at Scotia Bank; policy adviser at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Terrorism and Claude E. Walker, Esq. Attorney General Financial Intelligence; and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney and adviser. Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen Private Sector Member, St. Thomas Mr. Carlton Dowe Executive Director Mr. David W. Mapp Assistant Executive Director Mrs. Monifa Marrero Brathwaite Public Information Officer Editor & Layout Assistant Editors Ms. Julice Harley Chief of Staff Ms. Damali Rogers Special Assistant Laurel Hewitt-Sewer was confirmed to the VIPA board in September. Hewitt-Sewer will sit on the board as a private citizen representing St. John. She is a part-time professor of Inclusive Early Childhood Education in the School of Education at the University of the Virgin Islands and a retired Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. Hewitt-Sewer holds a Master of Science Degree in Child and Youth Care Administration from Nova South Eastern University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics, Child Development from Georgia Southern University and an Associate in Arts Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of the Virgin Islands. Established on Feb. 11, 1969, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) is a semi-autonomous agency that owns and manages the two airports and the majority of the public seaports in the United States Virgin Islands. We are also charged with controlling the harbors in the territory. VIPA is a critical arm of the USVI economy, and is committed to maintaining and developing the airports and seaports of the territory to accommodate the current and future demands of its users. The Port Authority is self -supporting and receives no tax revenues from the U.S. Virgin Islands government. Page 2 VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015 VIPA BOARD ACTIONS ARE ONLINE: Laurel Hewitt-Sewer Private Citizen St. John

3 VIPA Board Approves Fiscal Year 2016 Budget The VI Port Authority s Governing Board approved a $82.4 million budget for Fiscal Year a 6.7 percent decrease over last year s $88.3 million budget. The decrease is attributed to cuts in travel, utilities and maintenance costs, and a scaled-back capital improvement program. Although the budget includes projected increases in aviation and marine traffic, the board has made the fiscally responsible decision to operate the agency based on conservative assumptions to avoid over-expending its financial resources, said Executive Director Carlton Dowe. Dowe added that over the past three years, the Authority focused on critically needed infrastructure improvements. While this work will continue, VIPA will be using Fiscal Year 2016 to rebuild its financial standing, he said. The FY16 budget anticipates operating expenses, excluding depreciation, of $43.5 million, debt service cost of $5.7 million, and capital expenditures of 33.2 million for a total outlay of $82.4 million. These outlays are funded by $54.6 million from current revenues derived from operating fees and charges, $2.9 million from passenger facility charges, $2.2 million from restricted cash on hand, $7.2 million from capital grants, and $15.7 million from bond proceeds. A double level parking garage and a new US Customs Facility at the Urman Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook. Dredging the Schooner Bay Channel and improving the Gallows Bay Facility to accommodate small cruise ships. Relocation of the King Airport s maintenance building in order to expand the general aviation area for private jet parking. Construction of a new fire fighting facility at the Rohlsen Airport. Developing a paid parking facility in Cruz Bay and a paved cargo area at the Moorehead Marine Facility at Enighed Pond, St. John. Major developments planned for FY 16 include: The expansion of the Crown Bay Cruise Ship Pier in Crown Bay, St. Thomas. VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015 Page 3

4 Moorehead Marine Facility Cargo Apron Under Construction The Port Authority has hired Rumina Construction to build a new cargo apron at the Theovald Moorehead Marine Facility at Enighed Pond, St. John. The construction of the paved storage area was part of the original plans when the facility was built in However, VIPA did not have enough funds at the time. In the meantime, shipping companies have been temporarily storing containerized cargo on a sandy lot near the dock, said VIPA Senior Engineer Byron Todman. The paved lot will be safer and more sanitary. Todman said he expects the $1.2 million project to be completed by April Paved Parking Lot at Enighed VIPA is upgrading the existing parking lot near the Moorehead Marine Facility. The gravel lot will be paved and a paid parking system will be installed. VIPA has awarded a contract to The dejongh Group in the amount of $70,260 for engineering services to design a paved parking lot at the Theovald Moorehead Marine Facility at Enighed Pond, St. John. The existing gravel-covered lot near the Moorehead Facility will be paved and a paid parking system will be installed. The project is funded by bonds secured by the Port Authority in VIPA anticipates about $525,000 per year in new revenue once the parking lot has been completed. The design for the new lot should be ready by February Page 4 VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015

5 CEKA s New Fire Truck The Virgin Islands Port Authority has added a new Global Striker 4x4 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) apparatus to its fleet at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas. The apparatus includes a 1,500-gallon water and a 200-gallon aqueous film-forming foam fire suppression system, which is essential for extinguishing fuel fires. Features exclusive to this new truck include a digital, computerized operating system that can be operated by one fire fighter, and a penetrating snozzle that can pierce the walls of a plane and extinguish fires in a concentrated area of the aircraft. The new truck replaces Oshkosh Engine 5 at the King Airport which is about 15 years old and in poor condition. CEKA now has three firefighting apparatuses and meets the Federal Aviation Administration s requirements regarding adequate capacity to transport fire extinguishing agents (water, foam and dry chemicals). All 18 of CEKA s firefighting crew are currently being trained to operate the new truck by a certified technician from Oshkosh Corporation, the company that built the truck. The ARFF apparatus cost $923,421 and was paid for by an FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant. VIPA paid 10 percent of the total cost, as per the grant requirements. Oshkosh Corporation was the successful bidder on a request for proposal to provide a commercially-produced diesel engine apparatus for CEKA, which is classified as an Index C airport by the FAA. New Aviation Fees to Fund Airport Improvements Private taxi and rental car services that provide service from the Cyril E. King Airport and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport will be required to pay fees to help maintain and improve both airports. Off-airport taxi service providers are required to pay $10 each day they pick up passengers at CEKA. VIPA has provided 10 designated parking spaces for private taxis pick up passengers with pre-arrangements. There is also a $25 fee to pick up passengers at the general aviation area where private planes are parked. The fee will cover escort and security services needed to access that area. Off-airport rental car companies are required to pay $1 per contract for all customers picked up at the airport. The off-airport taxi fees went into effect on Oct. 1, and the off-airport rental car fee went into effect on Nov. 1 on St. Thomas. On St. Croix, both fees will go into effect on Dec. 1. VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015 Page 5

6 Employee Medical Insurance Rate Increases Effective October 1, 2015, VIPA employees will pay a.33% increase for medical insurance under its CIGNA health plan. CIGNA has also made changes to the insurance plan and will mail these changes to all insured employees. VIPA employees with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Human Resources office at (340) Medical Premium CIGNA Monthly Premium VIPA Semi-Monthly Cost (85%) Employee Semi-Monthly Cost (15%) Employee Medical $ $ $55.20 $1, $546,95 $96.52 CIGNA Monthly Premium VIPA Semi-Monthly Cost (85%) Employee Semi-Monthly Cost (15%) Employee Medical $17.54 $4.39 $4.39 Employee & Family Medical $44.75 $11.19 $11.19 Employee & Family Medical Dental Premium Page 6 VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015

7 Board & Staff Bid Former Chairman O Connor Farewell Robert O Connor Jr. VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe and Robert O Connor Jr. Current and former VIPA Board members and members of the Authority s executive staff hosted a dinner to bid former VIPA Board Chairman Robert O Connor Jr. farewell on his retirement from the board. O Connor served on the board as a private citizen representing St. John from June 27, 1991 through February 13, He served as chairman, vice chair and secretary of the board over his 24 years of service. VIPA Portfolio Fall 2015 Page 7

8 A VIPA Summer Student Success Story October 29 STT-STJ Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Crown Bay Center, St. Thomas 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. November 28 Virgin Islands Nice Peace Concert Crown Bay Center, St. Thomas Time to be Announced December 1 Holiday Fest & Tree Lighting Crown Bay Center, St. Thomas 10 a.m. 12 a.m. December 5 Holiday Tree Lighting Ann E. Abramson Pier, St. Croix Time to be Announced December 20 Holiday Youth Chorale Crown Bay Center, St. Thomas 12 p.m. 4 p.m. Find Us Online Facebook.com/usviports Twitter.com/usviports Ajani Price Corneiro dreamt of becoming an engineer as a young boy while building elaborate masterpieces with his Lego blocks. In 2007, he worked as a summer intern in the Virgin Islands Port Authority s engineering office and assisted engineers with major projects such as the construction of the marine facilities at Red Hook and Crown Bay on St. Thomas and Enighed Pond, St. John. The 2008 graduate of All Saints High School now has a degree in civil engineering from the University of New Haven in Connecticut, and is employed as an engineer for the US Department of Transportation. A typical day on the job for Corneiro involves designing engineering plans for major roads, highways and all the accompanying infrastructure such as sidewalks and culverts. At just 24 years old, he has already worked on projects valued upwards of $20 million. However, Cornerio said his biggest and most exciting project to date was working on the team that designed a bridge in Connecticut, referred to as Route 2 Westbound Over I-84. It s really exciting to see three dimensional plans that I did on a computer become a reality. Working on projects of that magnitude is what my legacy will be, he said. Corneiro s interests are also multi-dimensional. In addition to playing the steel pan for recreation, he is an entrepreneur with plans to start his own biking excursion on St. Thomas offering self-guided tours of downtown Charlotte Amalie using mapped guides to historical and cultural landmarks.