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2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES June 13, 2007 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. The following Commissioners were present: Liz Petschel, Chair; Ellsworth Stein, Vice Chair; Bill Dunn, Robin Ehrlich, Brian Linnihan, Sally Lorberbaum, and Dave Sloan, Commissioners. Also present were: Sandra Krebsbach, Councilmember; Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Mary Heintz, Recorder. Not Present: Jim Danielson, City Administrator Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Ehrlich, seconded by Commissioner Dunn, to approve the May 9, 2007, Airport Relations Commission Meeting those minutes as submitted. The minutes were approved, with Commissioner Lorberbaum abstaining. Agenda Chair Petschel recommended that the agenda be amended to include a possible revision to the date of the September meeting and a correction to the pamphlet. Unfinished and New Business A. Update on May Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) Meeting (out of corridor violations) Chair Petschel stated that there were a substantial number of excursions north of the corridor in the corridor analysis and she is anxious to see if there is a trend. She then reported that she had attended the NOC meeting on May 16 and lack of corridor compliance was on the agenda, requested by Chad Leqve, since it is the worst count since records have been kept. Chair Petschel said Carl Rydeen had no ready response as to the cause. He is suspicious it is the regional jets. The heavier jets tend to stay in the corridor almost by default because they are not as agile. Chad Leqve said the method of reporting Page 1 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes corridor excursions is not as precise as it could be and will work on a new method of reporting this. For the next five months or so, the old and new methods of reporting will be sent together for comparison and to give time to get used to the new system. Commission Meeting – June 13, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 2 She stated that aircraft engine efficiency declines with humidity and comments made at the meeting were very validating for ARC, i.e., group picking up that the numbers were not right and have Mr. Rydeen confirm. Chair Petschel reported that Mr. Rydeen will do a complete analysis and report back to the next NOC Meeting as to what the problem is and how to rectify it. Commissioner Sloan asked whether the goal should be zero nationally, and Chair Petschel responded that it is less than 1%, allowing for wind. Councilmember Krebsbach said, based on that, planes are out of the corridor 80% of the time. Chair Petschel responded that NOC reinforced that the planes are bound by the corridor and have a 90-degree track, just south of 110. Councilmember Krebsbach said she took issue with defining 110, in that it should be limited to the Industrial Park. Commissioner Dunn commented that airlines should be accountable when they are out of the corridor. Commission Linnihan said he was surprised if the airline data showed a pattern, as it will be the type of aircraft involved. Commissioner Dunn responded by saying, in that case, a memo to someone would be needed to tell them to pay attention. Commissioner Ehrlich said it is a matter of education, making sure pilots know this is where to go. Commissioner Lorberbaum distributed a graph looking at cross tracks for feedback. Vice Chair Stein commented that certain airlines fly certain planes. Chair Petschel commented that there should be no turning until Delaware, as an earlier turn affects 300-400 homes, a significant part of the population. Page 2 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes Commissioner Linnihan asked how it might be possible to get Mr. Rydeen to become more proactive. Chair Petschel responded by saying that things have to be called to his attention, noting that it would be a good question to bring up when Mr. Rydeen attends the next ARC Meeting and ask him about his own quality assurance. Commissioner Sloan asked what the FAA guidelines and policies were, and Chair Petschel responded that she didn’t know but said they like to see less than 1%. Commissioner Linnihan added that it is a guideline, not a hammer, and there are no ramifications if 100% is reached. Commissioner Sloan said there might be some federal policies to follow and notification of noncompliance made be needed it no changes are made. Chair Petschel added that it is a combination of the Tower and airlines. Chair Petschel reported that Minneapolis-St. Paul will not be a test candidate for the continuous descent approach, though the Tower and airlines will do a test and see how it works. She said Farmington would be the community most affected. Commissioner Linnihan stressed the importance for separation of planes during the test. Chair Petschel agreed and said it would likely be done at night. Commission Meeting – June 13, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 3 Chair Petschel said some pilots raised the issue that taxiing to use 17 was making waiting lines longer and Northwest is concerned about burning fuel, but it has been found that waiting times are actually going down. She reported about low frequency noise in Richfield along 17/35 where residents in that area report that their houses vibrate but FAA has no standard way to measure low frequency noise. Chair Petschel said the Centers for Excellence studies did a low frequency noise project and the results won’t be available until publication, but it’s believed there are more engine run-ups there. The Assistant to the Administrator stated that the perception is that it is caused by the hangers for Sun Country and Champion thrusting back at the neighborhood but Mr. Rydeen has found the noise being due to multiple take-offs rather than when planes are moving in and out of the maintenance hangers. Commissioner Linnihan asked if the homes could be insulated for low frequency noise, and Chair Petschel responded another option would be to put in big box buildings Page 3 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes along the edge, such as Home Depot and Target stores. She said it is up to the City now, as the Airport has purchased what they want to buy. Chair Petschel reported that a pilot at the NOC meeting brought up airport needs and wants to have a friendly discussion regarding pilots putting their wheels down early to create a drag, which is very noisy, and request that air carriers agree not to put wheels down until a certain amount of miles. She said it was interesting that a pilot was bringing this subject forward. Chair Petschel then reported that a school teacher from Burnsville had commented in the public comment section of the NOC meeting, expressing displeasure with the flight path move from 190 to 210 degrees stating that the change was just for people with money and clout and others were left in the dust. She was outraged, and she wasn’t going to stand for that. Discussion ensued about St. Paul’s seat on MAC, which originated with an agreement in the 1940’s because of World Chamberlain. B. Topic of September Meeting Chair Petschel stated that the scheduled September 12 ARC Meeting will affect the attendance of Commissioners Ehrlich and Lorberbaum, due to their observance of Rosh Hashanah. The Assistant to the City Administrator suggested a date change to September 11 and stated that he would bring that item to the Council as a formal request and inform Chair Petschel of their decision. Commission Meeting – June 13, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 4 C. Brochure Discussion Commissioner Lorberbaum noted that there were varied fonts in the pamphlet and suggested that they be consistent throughout. She also suggested that hyphenations be eliminated, allowing complete words to be listed on lines instead. Commissioner Lorberbaum said details within the pamphlet make the group look more professional. Page 4 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes It was Commission consensus to utilize the remaining pamphlets as is and make the cosmetic changes for future dissemination. Suggestions were made to handout at the August open house, place in the City Highlights. Commissioner Ehrlich suggested printing ARC information in the column of Highlights. The Assistant to the City Administrator stated that he would check into supplying enough pamphlets with the Highlights at the open house, so no separate mailing would be necessary. Chair Petschel asked that he check into the cost of mailing the pamphlet with the Highlights. D. Review Updated Plan of Action/Pamphlet The Commissioners discussed the distributed version of the Plan of Action and suggested additional changes. It was group consensus to remove beginning verbs from the High Priority Issues section and make the following revisions: High Priority Issues 1. Legislative oversight of MAC 2. Environmental impact for Runway 17/35 3. Mendota Heights Air Corridor 4. MSP Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) 5. Land Use in the 60 dnl and above 6. Nighttime aircraft operations 7. Hush kitted to Manufactured Stage III and Stage IV aircraft 8. Non-simultaneous departure procedures 9. Relationship with FAA representatives and legislative leaders 10. Oversight of 2020 Plan 11. Anoms locations 12. Continuous descent approach Issue #1: • Add “as necessary” to When under Action Step 2. Issue #2: • Eliminate Action Step 3. Issue #3: • Add Action Step 2 – Communicate with FAA with excess over 1% noncompliance Commission Meeting – June 13, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 5 Issue #4: • Action Step 2 – Add verb “Attend” to beginning of statement. • Add “as necessary” to When under Action Step 3. Issue #5: • Consolidate Action Steps 1-3 into one and add “advise” under When. Page 5 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes Issue #6: • Add “ARC” to Who and “continuous” to When under Action Step 3. Issue #7: • Revise wording to “Encourage phase out of hush kitted aircraft” and “ARC/NOC” under Who under Action Step 1. • Eliminate Action Step 3. Issue #8: • Add “Meet…………” and add “ARC/staff” to Who and “annually” to When under Action Step 2. Issue #9: • Remove names of Metzen and Hanson from Action Step 1. • Add “……….” as Action Step 2. • Remove name of Carl Rydeen from Action Step 3. • Revise wording to “Invite City appointed MAC Commissioner to an ARC Meeting” under Action Step 4. Issue #11: • Revise to “Work with NJOC to determine if noise monitors are at the best locations, if best locations are maintained property, and technology updated” under Action Step 1. Issue #12: • Revise to “Monitor CDA effects to Mendota Heights.” • Add Step Action 1 to read “Continue to monitor if best locations are maintained property and technology updated.” Councilmember Krebsbach recommended keeping language tight about the corridor in City materials, that it should be confined to the business park. Chair Petschel responded that the ARC would have no credibility if they did this. Commissioner Sloan commented that ARC is asking the FAA to follow policies and procedures. Commissioner Ehrlich added that ARC can’t change rules arbitrarily. Commission Meeting – June 13, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 6 It was group consensus that the Assistant to the City Administrator will revise the descriptions as directed. It was group consensus that the Action Steps remain numbered, for ease of reference. Councilmember Krebsbach left the meeting at 8:12 p.m. so Commissioners could finish their revisions, though requesting verbiage for anything that would strengthen the corridor and Mendota Heights’ representation. C. Updates for Introduction Book Page 6 2007-06-13 Airport Relations Commission Minutes No action required. Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence A. April 2007 ANOM Technical Advisor’s Report B. April 2007 ANOM Eagan/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis C. Airport Noise Report, May 11, 2007 D. Airport Noise Report, May 18, 2007 E. Airport Noise Report, May 25, 2007 F. Airport Noise Report, June 1, 2007 Chair Petschel stated that Eagan complaints are up because 17 is being used more but doesn’t think NOC will change anything to accommodate those residents, in the hopes that they will become mort used to it. Other Commissioner Comments or Concerns None. Upcoming Meetings • City Council Meeting – June 19, 2007 – 7:30 p.m. • NOC Meeting – July 18, 2007 – 1:30 p.m. • MAC Meeting – June 18, 2007 – 1:00 p.m. • NOC Cities Meeting – June 20, 2007 – 1:00 p.m. (Richfield) Public Comments None. Adjourn Commissioner Linnihan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dunn, to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary Heintz TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Page 7