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12-10-1997 ARC MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION DECEMBER 10, 1997 - MINUTES The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, December 10, 1997 in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 11,01 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were Present: Beaty, Des Roches, May and Leuman. Commissioner Stein arrived late. Commissioners Gross and Fitzer were excused. Also present was City Administrator Kevin Batchelder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Des Roches moved to approve the November 12, 1997 minutes. Commissioner Leuman seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR RUNWAY 4/22 Chair Beaty acknowledged the Metropolitan Airport Commission's response to our letter submitted for the Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Extension of Runway 4/22. Beaty inquired if any of the Commissioners or Staff would be attending the December 18, 1997 Public Hearing at MAC offices. City Administrator Batchelder stated that he would attempt to go to this meeting. Chair Beaty stated his concern over MAC's comments on Item 9b which state: due to the litigation of the City of Richfield and the unknown outcome, redistribution was not considered for the year 2001 analysis. Cumulative impacts were considered for the year 2005 with a North South Runway in place which precludes potential redistribution benefits of Runway 4/22. Chair Beaty stated that MAC is basically finding an easy way out of the Richfield litigation by not redistributing any aircraft traffic on this runway until Runway 17/35 is built. Chair Beaty stated he feels that air traffic could AIRPORT RELATlOiYSColillilIISSIOiYjlfljYUTES-DECEjVBER 10, 1997 be redistributed on Runway 4/22 during the time period in which Runway 17/35 is being constructed. Chair Beaty stated that MAC's projection for runway completion in the year 2003 is very optimistic and he is not entirely convinced that the runway will be up and running that soon. Chair Beaty stated it would make sense to redistribute aircraft traffic now in order to enjoy these benefits during the interim period of the construction of Runway 17/35. REQUEST FOR VARIANCE TO PARALLEL RUNWAY SEPARATION Administrator Batcheldor stated that an initiative had been presented to the Northern Dakota County Airport Relations Coalition (NDCARC) by the. City of Inver Grove Heights to request a Variance from FAA procedures for the 15 degree parallel runway separation requirement. Batchelder stated that, in theory, a variance would allow for smaller separation requirements that would provide an opportunity to better concentrate traffic within the air corridor where more compatible land uses exist. Batchelder stated the FAA requires 4,300 feet of separation for parallel runways to operate independently. Batchelder stated FAA policy is to issue operations using such runways, a heading 15 compass degrees apart during simultaneous operations to avoid aircraft converging or drifting into one another. Batchelder stated that runways at MSP are approximately 3,400 feet apart and, therefore, require this separation. Chair Beaty stated that the request by Inver Grove Heights is consistent with our attempts to narrow the industrial corridor. Commissioner Leuman stated that the City should support this request. Commissioner Des Roches inquired in whose name would the application for the variance be submitted. Batchelder responded that all three Cities would jointly submit a variance application to the FAA with a letter signed by the Mayors of each City. Commissioner Stein stated that his understanding was that the runway separation of 4300 feet is not always strictly adhered to by the FAA because not all parallel runways are exactly paraltel. The commission recalled an old discussion from 1994 in which parallel runways at other airports had been studied by the City of Mendota Heights. The Commission directed Staff to research this old study to determine if there were any FAA criteria regarding separation of parallel runways. AIRPORT RELATIONS COALVISSIONAIINUTES- DECEMBER 10, 1997 Commissioner Des Roches moved to recommended that City Council endorse the a request to the FAA for a Variance to the 15 degree separation required during simultaneous operations based on the distance of separation of the parallel runways at MSP. Commissioner Leuman seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 TOWER TOUR The Commission discussed scheduling a tour at the FAA's newly completed Air Traffic Control Tour. The Commission directed Staff to schedule a meeting in March or April when there is more daylight in the evening so that a tour of the tower would provide better viewing of the aircraft operations. Commissioner Beaty stated that the Commission may also want to consider a tour of NATCO to visit Northwest Airlines Flight Simulation Instruction. Commissioner Leuman reported on MASAC's vote regarding a by-law change to increase the membership for the City of Mendota Heights from one seat to two seats on MASAC. Leuman stated that by a 23-4 vote MASAC recommended this change in their by-laws to the MAC. Commissioner Leuman stated that the negative votes were from the City of St. Paul who was not happy about their representation being decreased. Administrator Batchelder presented a letter addressed to Mayor Mertensotto from MAC requesting that the City appoint a second MASAC Commissioner to fill this new seat. The Commission discussed their willingness to serve on MASAC as a representative or as alternates. Commissioner Stein volunteered to serve as MASAC representative and Commissioners Leuman, Beaty and May volunteered to be alternates. Administrator Batchelder stated the City Council would make appointments at their January 6, 1998 meeting. ' Commissioner Leuman stated that MASAC announced that the ANOM System would be up and running on December 18, 1997. Administrator Batchelder stated that he had received a phone call from Mr. Tom McElveen, of the Met Council, stating that Mendota Heights would receive the awaited correspondence from the Met Council regarding Land Use Compatibility in the policy noise zone areas by the end of the week. AIRPORT RELATIONS Col*yljlf]SSIONiVIIjYUTES-DECEiVIBER 10, 1997 ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF VARIOUS REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE The Commission acknowledged the MASAC Agenda for December 2, 1997 and the October 28, 1997 Minutes of MASAC. Chair Beaty noted that on Page 2 of the October 28, 1997 MASAC Minutes Mr. Roy Fuhrman, Technical Advisor, reports that the growth in Operations at the Airport was up 3% from last year. Beaty stated that with 465,000 operations in 1996 an increase of 3% is approximately 478,000 annually. Chair Beaty wondered how many years it would be before MAC would reach their capacity of 640,000 operations given this growth rate. Commissioner Stein noted that on Page 3 of the MASAC Minutes that the MAC is working with the City of Minneapolis on Sound Abatement in respect to the operations of the proposed North South Runway. The Commission discussed the Airport Noise Report for November 7th and November 21 st. The Commission felt these were valuable Newsletters and provided a lot of substantive information that helps them analyze what other communities across the nation are doing in respect to airport noise. The Commission expressed their desire to continue the subscription for the Airport Noise Report Newsletter. The Commission reiterated their request that Staff contact the St. Thomas Academy Science Class to determine if they can test waters in Mendota Heights for aircraft emmissions related substances. The Commission acknowledged the MASAC Operations Committee *Agenda for December 5, 1997. The Commission acknowledged the MASAC Technical Advisor's Report for October 1997. The Commission acknowledged the Eagan ARC Agenda for December 9, 1997. The Commission acknowledged the Part 150 Policy Advisory Committee Agenda for October 30, 1997 and the June 17, 1997 Minutes. The Commission requested that Staff provide an update on the Northern Dakota County Airport Relations Coalition as a regular agenda item each month. AIRPORT RELATIONS CojVfjVfISSIOjViVfli)(UTES-DECEMBER 10, 1997 5 Administrator Batchelder submitted a resignation letter from Commissioner Bernie Gross due to his relocation to Phoenix, Arizona. The Commission directed Administrator Batchelder to thank Commissioner Gross for his dedication and commitment to the Airport Relations Commission and to acknowledge is efforts and contributions. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Airport Relations Commission moved to adjourn its meeting at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder City Administrator AIRPORT RELATIONS CoillillliSSIOIYjVIiVUTES-DECEMBER 10, 1997