Res 1999 - 21 Reliever Airports LegislationCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 99- 21
A RESOLUTION ON RELIEVER AIRPORTS LEGISLATION
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature is currently considering House File No.
849 (Haake, Rep.- Mounds View) and Senate File No. 751 (Novak, DFL - New Brighton), said
legislation defining reliever airports in the metropolitan area by location and runway length; and
WHEREAS, the proposed definition of a reliever airport and its runway length would ,
severely curtail the diversion of general aviation operations from MSP International Airport, as
called for in the Dual Track Airport Planning Process decision made by the Legislature in 1996;
and
WHEREAS, the ability to expand the reliever airport system was a substantial factor in
assessing the need to relocate MSP International Airport; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the Dual Track Planning Process the 1996 Minnesota
Legislature did mandate that the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) maximize the use of
the metropolitan reliever airport system in order to accommodate the region's demand for air
travel through the year 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Meiropolitan Council's Aviation Guideplan adopted thereafter directed
MAC to develop plans to divert the maximum feasible number of general aviation operations
from MSP to the reliever airports; and
WHEREAS, the public has come to depend on the Legislature's 1996 Dual Track
decision.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Mendota Heights, that the restriction on runway length in HF 849 and SF 751 is contrary to
the 19961egislative mandate and will serve to limit the capacity of airport operations, both at
MSP International and the reliever airports.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this limitation on capacity would decrease the
efficiency and safety of the entire metropolitan airport system and would limit the capacity of the
system to serve both the traveling public and the business interests that rely on MSP International
and its reliever airports.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that HF 849 and SF 751, if adopted, would overturn
the essence of the 1996 Dual Track legislation and give the metropolitan community reason to
request another multimillion dollar study to landbank for and to relocate the present MSP
International Airport facility.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this 4th day of May, 1999.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
By f�-� � �6v6�..�.-�i
Charles E. Mertensotto, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kathleen M. Swanson, City Clerk