2007-11-15 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
2007-11-15 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
November 15, 2007
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on
Thursday, November 15, 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; Sally Lorberbaum,
Ellsworth Stein and Dave Sloan, Commissioners.
Also present were: City Council Members Ultan Duggan and Mary Jeanne Schneeman,
Jim Danielson, City Administrator and Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City
Administrator.
Not Present: Commissioners Bill Dunn and Robin Ehrlich.
Unfinished and New Business
A. Meet with MAC Commissioner Tom Foley
MAC Commissioner Tom Foley briefed the Airports Relations Commission on his
background. He was the Ramsey County Attorney for 16 years, or four terms until
1994.
He was on the Metropolitan Council Airport Task force in the late 1980’s and was
appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura to be a MAC Commissioner in 1999. He was
reappointed twice by Governor Tim Pawlenty. His term expires in 2009.
Commissioner Foley told ARC that you learn how to be a MAC Commissioner through
“on the job training”. Being a MAC Commissioner is similar to running a small city
with
PD, FD, shopping areas etc.
The current MAC issues are dealing with change, or potential change:
• Shake up of the airline industry because of bankruptcy and merger
• Trying to bring in a low cost air line (MSP has incentive limitations that some
other
airports do not).
• Restaurants
• Oil and its impact on the airline industry
• Long range planning
- 2010 mostly implemented
- 2020 on hold because of NWA bankruptcy
Commission Meeting – November 15, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations
Commission
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Commissioner Foley described the current air noise lawsuit and stated that he
thought that
air noise was mostly a South Minneapolis issue and that Mendota Heights only had
noise
issues more recently.
Chair Petschel described the background of the airport noise as it relates to
Mendota
Heights to Commissioner Foley and clarified for him that it has been a longstanding
issue, not a recent one.
• Recently the Airports Relations Commission has been working hard to
develop good relationships with the MAC, FAA and surrounding noise
impacted cities. Commissioner Foley is the last piece of that puzzle.
• Commissioner Foley provided Airports Relations Commission members
with his cell phone number and email address.
Commissioner Foley described some of the airline industry issues the MAC is dealing
with.
• If American Airlines takes over Northwest Airlines they would probably
leave MSP
• Potential mergers are important issues to keep in mind when doing airport
planning
• Detroit gave NWA some good incentives that MSP was unable to legally
do.
• NWA has 80% of flights out of MSP
• Attempts to get Jet Blue or other low cost airlines have been unsuccessful
because of the limits on the benefits MSP can offer.
•
Commissioner Foley and ARC agreed to keep the lines of communication open, including
us copying him on correspondence to MAC and meeting notices, him keeping us abreast
of development and other issues at MSP.
B. Metro Cities / MAC / Cities Meeting
Jake and Jim updated the Commissioners on a meeting that was held on November 5,
2007 with AMM, MAC and Cities surrounding the aiport. Jeff Hamiel, MAC Director
met with Cities surrounding the airport to begin a dialog to determine how MAC can
improve relations with neighboring cities around MSP.
C. Representative Rick Hansen meeting.
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2007-11-15 Airport Relations Commission Minutes
Commission Meeting – November 15, 2007 Mendota Heights Airport Relations
Commission
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Chair Petschel updated the commission on her upcoming meeting with Representative
Hansen to discuss airport issues.
D. Corridor Excursions
Chair Petschel updated the commission on FAA Tower Supervisor Carl Rydeen’s
presentation to the City Council on recent corridor excursions. She reported that
it was
an error by the FAA that the problem was corrected.
E. NOC Meeting
Chair Petschel updated the commission on the November NOC meeting.
F. December meeting.
ARC will request cancellation of their December Meeting.
Adjourn
Commissioner Sloan made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stein, to adjourn the
meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Danielson
City Administrator
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