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09-08-1999 ARC MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA Airport Relations Commission Minutes September 8, 1999 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, September 8, 1999, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chair Beaty called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. The following members were present: Beaty, Fitzer, May, Roszak, and Stein. Also present were City Administrator Batchelder and Administrative Assistant Hollister. City Administrator Batchelder notified the Commission that the City Council has interviewed candidates for the Commission vacancy and has appointed Elizabeth Petschel. I X11201191 Commissioner Fitzer moved approval of the August 11, 1999 minutes as submitted. Discussion: Commissioner Roszak requested two corrections on page 3: 1) change the second line of the third paragraph to "...analysis of every..."; and 2) add the phrase, "at all points on the flight track" to the end of the first sentence of the fourth paragraph. Commissioner May moved approval of the August 11;1999 minutes as amended; Commissioner Fitzer seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Page 9: Commissioners continued with their review and update of the City's Airport Action Plan for the year 2000. Commissioner May stated that he felt this issue and goal stated on page 9 is redundant, as the Northern Dakota County Airports Relations Coalition (NDCARC) has been working together on common issues. City Administrator Batchelder that NDCARC works on a hit and miss basis. At the Council's direction the City has become less active in NDCARC, although its initiation was generated by the previous City Administrator. City Administrator Batchelder and Mr. Hohenstein from Eagan coordinated agendas, minutes of meetings and kept records. When Mr. Hohenstein left, no one stepped forward to continue his efforts. The issues that are now a part of the Part 150 Study are bringing more differences among cities to the surface than common ground. Commissioner Beaty noted that when NDCARC started, there were many conflicts and little that could be agreed upon. Finally, the group came together and made a list of 25 issues that they agreed on. Then many good things happened. He would like to see area cities be in a position to see that they have more in common than differences. MAC has consistently had its way with policy and operation decisions by keeping cities in conflict. If NDCARC could be stronger and more united on big issues, it would have an impact on MAC decisions. Everyone lost when close - in departures started. City Administrator Batchelder responded that close -in departures was fully discussed by NDCARC, but Inver Grove Heights voted against the City's position. He agreed, however, that it does make sense to have an open line of communication. Although the Council would like to maintain a low profile, he would be willing to continue to work with the group. The 25 issues agreed upon was updated a couple of years after they were identified. It was at that time the Council requested that the City not commit to any specific position on any issue and decrease activity with this group. Commissioner Beaty stated that in order to continue to be active, someone has to take the organizational role of putting out agendas, keeping minutes and records. He does not like to see the agenda rotated from city to city. Commissioner May stated that he would volunteer to begin attending meetings because it is important to build bridges of communication and establish relationships that could lead to consensus. Commissioner Beaty requested that a letter be sent to the Council explaining the accomplishments of the group which the Commission feels justifies continued participation. Page 10: Commissioner May stated that the stated issue and goal go hand in hand with Coalition activities which could enhance awareness of what is going on in other communities. It was the consensus of the Commission to add regular participation in NDCARC as action step No. 5. Page 11: Commissioner May asked if the Metropolitan Council has legislative powers. Administrator Batchelder explained that the legislature gives the Metropolitan Council certain powers. MAC is required to submit a comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council the same as cities, and that is where the whole issue of land use compatibility is being reviewed. The Metropolitan Council has review power and it can stop anything inconsistent with the Metropolitan System. However, it does not have statutory authority. For example, the Metropolitan Council passed a resolution opposing Mounds View's attempt through legislation to get the runway length of its airport limited in order not to serve as a reliever airport. The City Council of Mendota Heights passed a resolution stating the need for reliever airports, and MAC was mandated by the legislature to develop a general aviation reliever plan. That plan had to go to the Metropolitan Council for approval because it is a metropolitan issue. The Metropolitan Council also distributes ISTEA grants and allocates money for housing through the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The biggest issues with cities for the Metropolitan Council is MUSA, the boundary for sewer e: ,tension. Commissioner May asked who the representative is for District 15. Administrator Batchelder answered, Carolyn Rodriquez. He stated that she has been accommodating and will be supportive of the City's Comprehensive Plan amendments. Commissioner Beaty asked the size of District 15. Administrator Batchelder stated that it includes half of Dakota County: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lilydale and Mendota Heights. Page 12: City Administrator Batchelder noted the addition of No. 3, which states that most of the mitigation goals are included in the Part 150 Study. Page 13: City Administrator Batchelder noted No. 4, Renegotiation with MAC on Terms in Minneapolis/MAC contract. It was the consensus of the Commission for to review a clean draft copy of the contract at the next meeting before submittal to the City Council as a recommendation. After City Council review, a letter and contract will be sent to MAC for signature. Commissioner Beaty asked for clarification of Action Step No. 5, Direct MAC on Preparation of Exhibit of Affected Properties. City Administrator Batchelder explained that affected properties are third -party beneficiaries who have legal standing for injunctive or compensatory relief. This process was set up by the legislature in order to provide some legal powers to affected parties who are homeowners within the contour. That work has not yet been done because there is not agreement on the methodology used to generate that contour. Page 14: City Administrator Batchelder noted that in Action Step No. 1, Runway 17-35 is the new north/south runway. The following day MAC will be giving the City a preview of public workshops to be held later in September. MAC will also show base contours that the Part 150 Study will work from to project contours for the year 2000. There will be three public workshops the week of September 26. Notices will be publicized. Commissioner Roszak referred to the minutes of the July MASAC Operations Committee and noted some rather brutal exchanges. It is clear that MAC is jamming as many operations as possible into available air space. He asked if the goal to eliminate head-to-head operations is realistic or whether it should be eliminated. Commissioner Beaty agreed that the goal is difficult, but is needed because the system is inequitable. Commissioner Roszak suggested adding another action step that would advocate use of the 17-35 runway as a corridor for relieving head-to-head operations. City Administrator Batchelder noted that recently Richfield was told they could not use PFCs for low frequency flights. Richfield sued and settled with MAC, but the FAA would not approve spending for the settlement. The status of that lawsuit is that the agreement was shot down by the FAA. Commissioner Roszak stated that cities need a way to have more influence on the FAA. It was the consensus of the Commission to change Action Step No. 3 to include ways to negotiate with FAA on head-to-head operations. Page 15: There were no changes. 3 Page 16: City Administrator Batchelder stated that the gate is not at 90 degrees, so that every plane passes through the gate. If the gate were at 90 degrees, it would miss the planes that turn north before they get to the gate. The gate is so designed to catch planes that lift off early and turn early. The corridor ends at three miles. The premise of the corridor is for planes to stay within the first three miles. Commissioner Beaty stated that as the corridor becomes busier, it does not make sense to decide that the corridor is defined at 90 degrees instead of 95 degrees. The FAA has stated that it will not allow 95 -degree boundary. If the City accepts this definition of the corridor, it will never be shrunk and more planes will be squeezed in becoming an issue of FAA safety versus capacity. He is also concerned about the impact of noise which will be phenomenal. He suggested adding an action step that would state that as technology is improved, more planes not be added but an equitable system of direction maintained. Commissioner May stated that jamming the corridor with four or five planes defeats the legislation to control noise for surrounding communities. Page 17: There were no changes. Page 18: There were no changes. Page 19: It was the consensus of the Commission to modify the goal to state: Promote the implementation of Global Positioning Satellite Technology to control arrival and departure headings in corridor�Efforts should be concentrated on noise reduction, not increased capacity. Page 20: There was no change. Page 21: There was no change. Page 22: City Administrator Batchelder explained that this issue and goal relates to the use of a model ordinance that is based on a model developed by the Metropolitan Council in 1985 and 1986. There have been discussions about the need to update that model to current standards. F It was the consensus of the Commission to review this chapter of the Comprehensive Plan with the latest changes at the next meeting before making a recommendation to the City Council. City Administrator Batchelder noted a number of changes the City Council had made on the previous evening, September 7, 1999. 4 City Administrator Batchelder noted that zoning must now be consistent with land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan. Once the Comprehensive Plan is adopted, zoning and land use controls need to be consistent. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan October 26, 1999, which gives the Commission another meeting to make final comments. UPDATES 095 Corridor Boundary and Lease Agreements The Commission noted previous discussion of the 095 corridor boundary. Commissioner Roszak observed that all lease agreements are the same, except for Sun Country. MAC has not imposed any ordinances on them. City Administrator Batchelder stated that he will find a away to provide color copies of MAC reports. MAC is unwilling to provide more than one color copy, and he will request a disc to work from. City Administrator Batchelder noted that in the MASAC packet there are minutes from the August 13, 1999 MASAC Operations Committee and the August 10 meeting of the Communications Advisory Board, where the dates are listed for the public workshops in September. He will also include this information in the Friday newsletter. Commissioner Roszak asked for clarification of a letter dated August 8, 1999, from Neil Clark in Minneapolis requesting that MASAC create a report on Relative Residential Noise for 68 properties. City Administrator Batchelder stated that those 68 properties are eligible for sound insulation. There are a total of 6,700 homes in Minneapolis that qualify. Commissioner Roszak noted the statement made by Mr. Roy Fuhrman in the July 27, 1999 MASAC minutes of the general meeting that MAC goes to the based airlines to find out what type of engines they have on each aircraft to determine noise level. Commissioner Stein commented on the excellent information provided in the Technical Advisor's Report on page 5 with the breakdown percentages of Stage 11, Stage III and Stage III Manufactured aircraft. Commissioner Beaty moved that the meeting adjourn. Commissioner Fitzer seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deanne Gueblaoui Recording Secretary