ARC 06-11-2014
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
June 11, 2014
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, June 11,
2014 at 7:00 p.m. at 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
The following commissioners were present: David Sloan, William Dunn, Gina Norling, Jim Neuharth, Paul Portz,
and Sally Lorberbaum
Absent: Kevin Byrnes
Also present: Councilmember Liz Petschel, City Administrator Justin Miller, MAC Staff John Nelson
Approval of Minutes
Lorberbaum made a motion, seconded by Dunn, to approve the May 7, 2014 minutes as presented. All voted in
favor.
Introduction of Commissioners and Reports of Interest
Due to this meeting being televised, the commission introduced themselves and reported on their specific areas of
focus. Chair Sloan reviewed the duties of the commission as well as the 2014 work plan. Dunn explained how he
compares remote monitoring towers (RMTs) to similarly located towers in Minneapolis. Lorberbaum displayed
her charts about complaint airplane noise activity. Neuharth reviewed departure data for Runways 12L and 12R
as well as the flights north of the corridor. Norling reviewed noise sensor data, and Portz detailed the latest MAC
meeting.
MAC Staff Presentations
John Nelson, Manager of Noise, Environment and Planning from the Metropolitan Airports Commission provided
updates on several topics of interest:
1) Noise Contour Report
2) Eagan/Mendota Heights Corridor Compliance Report
3) Runway Use System
After the presentation, Norling asked how the runway usage compares to the Environmental Impact Statement
that was conducted when the new runway was constructed, and what the penalties would be if these percentages
differed by a significant amount. Nelson said that they would continue to monitor the runway usage statistics but
that he was not aware of any penalties for differences in the projected and actual numbers. Neuharth asked about
strategies for keeping flights in the corridor, and Nelson indicated that they consistently work with the FAA when
they see anomalies. Dunn noted that the city had done a good job in planning by not putting residential uses in the
flight paths.
Councilmember Petschel thanked Nelson for his outreach to the community and asked him to explain why some
residents may be experiencing more noise than in the past. He indicated that a mid-air near miss at MSP caused
the FAA to change their procedures and direct departures to certain runways based on their destinations, and due
to the number of flights heading south and west from MSP, that has changed the runway use patterns.
Norling noted that the number of 80dB noise events has been trending higher and Nelson said that they will
continue to monitor this issue.
th
Miller reminded the commission about the MAC listening session to be held on July 29 at 7:00 pm at Mendota
Heights City Hall.
Adjourn
Dunn made a motion, seconded by Portz, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm. All voted in favor.
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