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2000-05-10 Airport Relations Commission MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA Airport Relations Commission Minutes May 10, 2000 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chair Beaty called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. The following members were present: Beaty, Fitzer, May, Petschel, and Stein. Commissioners Leumann and Roszak were absent. Administrator Batchelder was also absent. APPROVAL OF APRIL 12, 2000 MINUTES Commissioner Petschel stated that she was listed as absent but, in fact, had notified the Commission at the March meeting and City Hall that she would not be able to attend the April meeting. Therefore, she requested that the minutes reflect that she was excused. Commissioner May moved and Commissioner Fitzer seconded a motion to approve the April 12, 2000 minutes as amended. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS Discussion of Minneapolis Resolution on Multi-Family Insulation Chair Beaty stated that Administrator Batchelder's report states the Minneapolis resolution regarding Part 150 prioritization to be consistent with current prioritization. The new prioritization program will begin before the 1996 program is completed so as not to have a gap in time between the two programs. MAC has suggested that the multi- family phase be completed in one year and the single-family program continue to 2005. Eagan has expressed concern that the Part 150 funding for the multi-family programs will delay single-family home insulation. Inver Grove Heights has suggested that equal prioritization between multi-family and single family homes. The City does not appear to be affected, and Administrator Batchelder recommended that the Commission endorse the existing prioritization system with the provision that the single-family insulation continue unabated from the 1996 program to the 2005 program. Commissioner May moved and Commissioner Fitzer seconded a motion that the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission endorse the existing prioritization system in place for the 1996 program with the provision that single-family insulation continue unabated from the 1996 program to the 2005 program. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 Ground Run Up Enclosure Chair Beaty noted that at the MASAC Operations Committee meeting it was voted to deny the MAC recommendation to build Option 2b for the Ground Run Up Enclosure. Northwest Airlines opposes it, as does Eagan. The City Administrator then made a motion to spend $5 million to build a ground run up enclosure, but there was no second. Part 150 Update Commissioner Fitzer noted that the study shows that over 22,000 people would be added to the noise contours if the new 17-35 runway were not built. Chair Beaty noted and agreed with the City's position to advocate fanning operations because creating "no-fly zones" creates problems among communities. The City does not want MAC to limit any future options for the use of Runway 17. Chair Beaty noted that if hush-kitted aircraft were eliminated, the reduction in the noise contours around the airport would be over 30,000 people. Just eliminating hush-kitted aircraft at night would reduce the noise contours by over 20,000 people. However, Northwest only plans to phase out the 727s by 2005; the DC-9s are not scheduled to begin being phased out until 2009. Chair Beaty stated that Northwest has enough planes to begin the phase-out immediately and he does not understand why it is being delayed. He would like to see more pressure put on Northwest to begin the phase-out of hush- kitted aircraft. Commissioner Fitzer stated that although the media is aware of some information, more education needs to be done on the issues. It is a matter of government mandates. If the government expects hush-kitted airplanes to be eliminated, it will happen. Commissioner Petschel noted that hush-kitted aircraft are not allowed at European airports. Commissioner Stein added that Europeans are pushing for Stage IV aircraft. Commissioner Fitzer explained that Northwest has not ordered new planes. A new order for planes will take three to five years to receive. Public Open Houses on the Part 150 Study will be held May 23-25, 2000 at various locations. Commissioner Stein stated that he will try to attend one and report back to the Commission. Commissioner May stated that since he volunteered to go to the Northern Dakota County Airport Relations Commission, he has not been notified of any meetings. The Commission will check with Administrator Batchelder to find out the meeting schedule. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF REPORTS March Technical Advisor's Report Commissioner Petschel noted on page 4 that there is a significant difference in the number of arrivals and departures for the City and Eagan in comparison to last year. She would like to know if there is a particular factor that would account for the big difference. March 2000 Corridor Analysis Chair Beaty noted that flights are heavier on the south side than the north side, and it is hard to understand why. The Commission will ask Administrator Batchelder to check on this information. Chair Beaty stated that the City needs publicity to push its agenda regarding airport issues. It was the consensus of the Commission to request that the new Commission brochure be sent to residents with the next issue of Highlights. To just add the brochure to the rack of others at City Hall will mean that many residents will not know about it or read it. Chair Beaty stated that he would like to begin preparing a video script at the next meeting. Commissioner May stated that he knows a contact person for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and would be willing to contact that person with information about the Commission's work for a story. He suggested inviting this media contact person to a Commission meeting to inform her of the issues from the City's perspective. Commissioners discussed a possible agenda of the following topics as educational information for a newspaper article: • Ask her to go to certain locations in the City to understand the roar of noise that residents must tolerate, such as Rogers Lake Park. • Give her a brochure and a copy of the Commission's Noise Plan of Action. • Provide information on head -to -head and hush- kitted operations. • Make sure she understands that the Commission is a grass roots volunteer group that is in a David and Goliath type of situation. • Explain positive results that have been achieved. • Information on the run -up enclosure issue. • Future equity in the runway use system @ Budget of the airport--the cost to move it versus what is being spent now. It was the consensus of the Commission to have Commissioner May invite the media contact person and invite her to the next Commission meeting on June 14, 2000. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deanne Gueblaoui Recording Secretary (