2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
MAY 9, 2007
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on
Wednesday, May 9, 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, and Dave Sloan, Commissioners.
Also present were: Jim Danielson, City Administrator; Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to
the
City Administrator; and Mary Heintz, Recorder.
Not Present: Brian Linnihan and Sally Lorberbaum, Commissioners.
Approval of Minutes
A revised set of minutes was distributed, to replace the draft minutes, which had
erroneously been distributed, and a motion was made by Commissioner Sloan, seconded
by Commissioner Dunn, to approve the April 11, 2007, Airport Relations Commission
Meeting those minutes as submitted.
Unfinished and New Business
A. Update Plan of Action
Chair Petschel said she had reviewed the plan more closely and requested comment
regarding the main focus and goals of the ARC and other issues. It was suggested
that the
layout goals and objectives be on the same page or numbered by priority 1 through 5,
displayed in a more easy-to-read format. The Commissioners recommended keeping up
with new technology and pressuring MAC to obtain real time records from MAC (as San
Francisco) and possible use of continuous descent approach at MSP.
Discussion ensued regarding the high priority issues and they were reprioritized:
1. Legislative oversight of the MAC
2. Monitor adherence to the environmental impact statement for runway 17/35
3. Continue efforts to keep planes in the air corridor over Mendota Heights
4. Input with NOC
5. Residential land use in Mendota Heights, particularly developable parcels that
may be
affected by airport noise
Page 1
2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
6. Night-time restrictions
The individual issues were then reviewed and revised by the Commissioners.
Commission Meeting – May 9, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission
2
Issue #1. Residential land use in Mendota Heights, particularly developable parcels
that may be affected by airport noise. Revise action steps to be listed
alphabetically.
Issue #2. Continue input and dialog with the MSP Noise Oversight Committee
(NOC). Revise action steps to be listed alphabetically.
Issue #3. Adherence of Runway 17-35 to the environmental impact statement.
Delete action steps 3 (Revisit corridor operations after a few months of use of the
new runway and impact on head-to-head operations, non-simultaneous departures,
turning, etc.) and 5 (Ask MAC to revisit/revamp the Technical Advisors Report
once the new runway is complete), as these have been accomplished. Revise remaining
action steps to be listed alphabetically.
Issue #4. Elimination of head-to-head operations. Delete.
Issue #5. Conversion from hush kitted to Manufactured Stage III and Stage IV
aircraft. Delete, though continue to monitor until the last DC9 is gone.
Issue #6. Non-simultaneous departure procedures. Merge action step into issue to
read “Monitor and encourage use of non-simultaneous departure procedures.”
Issue #7. Night-time restrictions on aircraft operations. Revise to read “Monitor
night-time departure trends over Mendota Heights.”
Issue #8. Definition of the air corridor over Mendota Heights. Merge action step
into the issue to read “Define the air corridor over Mendota Heights and monitor
flight data to ensure adherence to the corridor.”
Issue #9. Legislative oversight of the MAC. Revise action steps to be listed
alphabetically. Delete current action step 3 (“Propose a bill to our legislators to
have MAC board members be elected to improve MAC accountability”) and add as
action step B) “Monitor and actively lobby for proposed changes to MAC structure
and their method of appointments,” and revise listing of current action step 2 to
action step C) “Testify as necessary on MAC/airport legislation.”
Issue #10. Revise to read “Develop a relationship with FAA representatives and
legislative leaders and monitor and, beginning in the summer of 2007, actively
lobby them regarding airport issues.” Revise action steps to read: A) Invite
Legislators annually to a regular ARC meeting and encourage Senator Metzen and
Representative Hanson to have MAC Board elected, B) Invite Carl Rydeen annually
Page 2
2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
to an ARC meeting, and C) Invite MAC Commissioner Tom Foley annually to an
ARC meeting.
Issue #11. Define capacity at MSP. Delete.
Commission Meeting – May 9, 2007
Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission
3
Issue #12. Oversight of 2020 Plan. Revise action steps to be listed
alphabetically.
It was Commission consensus to merge action steps into the Issues of the “Other
Issues to
be Monitored.”
Issue #1. “Monitor correspondence between Rogers Lake East Noise Reduction
Committee and MAC.” Then delete action steps 2-5.
Issue #2. “Promote standard instrument departures and final approaches through
the use of global positioning satellites to keep plans from flying over residential
areas of the City (tracks versus headings).
Issue #3. “Monitor correspondence and new information on international noise
mitigation efforts and monitor legal precedent/litigation regarding noise level
averaging.”
Issue #4. “Part 150 Study: Monitor/Support Minneapolis’ efforts to require
greater sound abatement measures and continuously monitor the Minneapolis and
Bloomington lawsuits.” Add: “Work collaboratively with other cities on issues of
mutual concerns regarding airport development and operations.”
Issue #5. “Heighten awareness and communication of Mendota Heights' noise
concerns. Delete action steps 1-4.
Issue #6. “Mendota Heights land use planning has respected limitations to the MSP
air corridor." Delete.
Chair Petschel stated strongly that there be nothing in the document that conflicts
with the
ARC brochure and that the Commission’s view be global.
Commissioner Sloan suggested that specifics be identified in the document, such as
dates,
if it’s intended to be a living action document. Discussion ensued regarding the
best time
to lobby legislators. Chair Petschel commented that the goal will be to find out
when
hearings will take place and the best times to invite Carl Rydeen, Tom Foley,
Senator
Metzen and Representative Hanson for their annual visits to ARC meetings.
Page 3
2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
Mr. Danielson will redraft the Plan of Action, distribute to ARC Commissioners for
final
review and acceptance, and then it will be presented to the City Council for
acceptance.
It was reiterated that the titles and numbering need to be in sync.
Commission Meeting – May 9, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission
4
B. Edit Thank-You Letters
Chair Petschel requested feedback to the proposed thank-you letters to Chad Leqve
and
Carl Rydeen before sending. Commission feedback was positive but recommendations
were made to 1) revise the last line of Mr. Rydeen’s letter to read “We feel that
the
runway will be a tremendous asset to the Airport and the communities surrounding the
airport” and 2) to send a copy of Mr. Leqve’s letter to his supervisor, Jeff Hamel.
C. Guy Heide Letter Discussion
There was general discussion and explanation provided to the Commission regarding
Guy
Heide’s letter to MAC Commissioner Foley.
D. Updates for Introduction Book
No action required.
Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence
Commissioner Dunn commented that he experienced how easy it is to make a complaint
online.
Mr. Sedlacek reported there were 1,941 Eagan complaints in March, and Chair Petschel
responded that the rise was due to the increased usage of Runway 17 fanning over
that
area. It was noted that Bloomington/Eagan experienced 36.7% of Runway 17 arrivals,
compared to 15.9% last year, and 20.6% of departures, compared to 0% last year.
The corridor analysis was reviewed, and it was suggested that a future meeting be
televised when Mr. Rydeen and Mr. Leqve are in attendance to explain in simple terms
what the concept means. Chair Petschel stated that in the future attorneys are
expected to
embrace the concept of the noise effects contours, so using noise effects instead of
numbers will be difficult to quantify. She said the Met Council went with the
Page 4
2007-05-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
annoyance
issue when they changed the buildable contour from 65 to 60.
Mr. Danielson asked attending Commissioners whether they could hear flights at night
in
their area. Commissioners Dunn and Sloan responded no, their homes were built to
specifications. Commissioner Stein responded that his home was retrofitted but he
could
hear noise, though had gotten used to it.
A. March 2007 ANOM Technical Advisor’s Report
B. March 2007 ANOM Eagan/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis
C. Airport Noise Report, April 6, 2007
D. Airport Noise Report, April 13, 2007
E. Airport Noise Report, April 20, 2007
F. Airport Noise Report, April 27, 2007
Commission Meeting – May 9, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission
5
Other Commissioner Comments or Concerns
None.
Upcoming Meetings
• City Council Meeting – May 15, 2007 – 7:30 p.m.
• NOC Meeting – May 16, 2007 – 1:30 p.m.
• MAC Meeting – May 21, 2007 – 1:00 p.m.
Public Comments
None.
Adjourn
Commissioner Sloan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dunn, to adjourn the
meeting at 8:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Heintz
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Page 5