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2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES April 9, 2008 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 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; Bill Dunn, Sally Lorberbaum, Ken Reed, and Dave Sloan, Commissioners. Guests: Mike Heide and Mike Kosel, Rogers Lake Group. Also present were: Jim Danielson, City Administrator; John Bergman, Apple Valley Noise Oversight Committee Alternate; and Mary Heintz, Recorder. Not Present: Robin Ehrlich, Vic Chair; Lyle Odland, Commissioner; Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to Mr. Danielson. Approval of Minutes Chair Petschel requested a spelling correction to “Senator Metzen” on page one, second paragraph under Review/Update Goals and Objectives. A motion was made by Commissioner Lorberbaum, seconded by Commissioner Dunn, to approve the March 12, 2008, ARC meeting minutes as amended. The minutes were approved. Unfinished and New Business A. Presentation by Guy Heide and Mike Kosel, Rogers Lake Group Mr. Guy Heide distributed a copy of the final draft report of the MAC Environmental Assessment for the Runway 4-22 Extension. He said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reasoning for redirecting traffic at night over the Mendota Heights corridor is because fewer residences are located there, which is untrue, and commented that Eagan had pressured the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) to work on the FAA to do so. Chair Petschel stated that the measure had passed by only one vote at that time and that industry representatives and the Northwest Airlines representative had voted against it. Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 2 Mr. Heide reported that his wife has been unable to sleep because of the airplane noise overhead, even with cotton in her ears, and claims that it has damaged his and his wife’s health, their home bricks have shattered and windows have been damaged, and his and Mr. Kosel’s chimneys “have been lost.” He said he doesn’t know what ARC can do but wanted to bring the complaint to the Commission’s attention. He provided specifics of his ongoing investigation over the last five years concerning irregularities, “false statements,” and “fraud,” which have included, but not been limited to, his filing of 120 Freedom of Information Acts with the FAA, 100 with MAC, and various meetings with pertinent officials. Mr. Heide commented that Airport improvement grants were sought to extend Runway 4-22 because Northwest had threatened to reduce operations and move elsewhere if it didn’t get an 11,000-foot 2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] runway. He cited various discrepancies in the Environmental Assessment report’s data and maps, noted postdated amendments and missing accounting records, and said he believes the FAA understated activity and mislead the public. Mr. Heide said he is at the point where he wants to contact the Miller-Ciresi law firm to litigate the Airport’s “pattern of wrongdoing” that could reach in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr. Mike Kosel commented that it appears Mendota Heights was left out of the data in order to make the numbers fit and referenced discrepancies in maps, which began in 1992. He said some MAC Commissioners have violated their oaths of office in using the 1996 map 65 DNL Contour, which never existed. In addition, he said the Commissioners are suppose to disclose their conflicts of interest and cited one, in particular, who was invested in Northwest, Jet Blue and Continental but never disclosed that information before voting, and said he believes something should be done about that. Commissioner Reed said the discrepancy in numbers on the Environmental Assessment report may be math errors. Chair Petschel stated that justification for extending the 4-22 Runway was because of Northwest’s insistence to lengthen it for Korean flights and that those flights were to go over Bloomington (nine residential blocks were insulated). She added, however, that those flights never went over Bloomington, but rather onto 12L, 12R and 30s, and so the contours over Mendota Heights haven’t reflected the flights that didn’t go over Bloomington. Mr. Kosel said the maps do not reflect Mendota Heights in the least, that noise runways are dead center on the runways but that isn’t the way planes take off from the airport and instead leave 15 degrees off the ground. Commissioner Reed commented that the situation may be a huge set of bizarre coincidences. He said that he doesn’t mean to diminish any wrongdoing believed to have been done but that he worked for HNTB and knows that totals can be generated that are bad. He added that he doesn’t understand what motivation there would be for such alleged wrongdoing. Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 3 Mr. Kosel said their group has done a tremendous amount of work and the 1992 maps are not representative of the area. He then reported on the tremendous volume of flights he’s experienced overhead at home and the corresponding number of complaints he’s had to make because of it. Chair Petschel assured Mssrs. Heide and Kosel that the ARC has fought aggressively to ensure the City’s fair share of nighttime flights and concurred that it has absorbed twice as many as it should have. She reported that she’d been told that gates on the southeast are closest to 12L, so that runway is preferred in order to save fuel. Mr. Kosel invited Commissioner Reed to his home to review all of the documentation that he and Mr. Heide have pulled together, about which 5% was shared at the evening’s meeting, and Commissioner Reed agreed to do so. Commissioner Dunn offered to join Commissioner Reed when the meeting occurs. Chair Petschel reassured Mssrs. Heide and Kosel that the ARC’s first goal is to address nighttime operations. She said they would be welcome to come back to ARC with their PowerPoint presentation regarding their issues, which they reported that they have been working on. Mssrs. Heide and Kosel excused themselves from the meeting and general discussion ensued. Commissioner Reed described the public radio frequency real-time sensors that were 2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] utilized at the Tampa International Airport, where he used to work, and suggested that something similar be used at MSP. He stated that tracks, noise levels, and audio transmissions are monitored and time stamped, even identifying who assigns aircraft to particular runways, and quoted a cost of the $100,000 for such a system. Chair Petschel said the suggestion could be made to Carl Rydeen during the ARC’s May 19 Tower tour. Commissioner Dunn commented that “the surest way to change behavior is to monitor it.” Chair Petschel said the Commission also has to be prepared to address the issue of fuel cost and that the Airport’s choice will be the shortest trek to the runway. She did also note, however, that less fuel would be required to go to 12R than to burn fuel to go to 17. Commissioner Reed added that the difference between the cost to save fuel and spend money to sound-insulate homes has to be balanced. Commissioner Reed commented that not much progress seems to have been made by Chad Leqve’s group or NOC, in that he doesn’t see numbers coming down. He said in his same role at Tampa, as Mr. Leqve, improvement was charted every three months to ensure numbers were moving closer to goals. Chair Petschel said ARC needs to talk with Mr. Rydeen to develop a strategy regarding the Tower crossing the corridor over the freeway at nonpeak times and that an accounting is needed as to how frequently that procedure is being used. Commissioner Reed said he would want the measure to go back to the source, controller, pilot and/or airline policy. Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 4 B. Review Airport Section of 2008 Comprehensive Plan Chair Petschel stated that the Comprehensive Plan is revised every ten years, to address various City priorities, and that Mr. Danielson had pulled pieces relative to ARC for its review of content and to ensure they are in synch with the Airport Plan of Action, goals and objectives, and dovetail with the City and NOC. Recommended Visions • Under “Airport Plan,” second paragraph, remove first two sentences (which follow): “Since the opening of the “North-South runway, previous issues with the distribution of air traffic have been reduced. All residential areas in Mendota Heights were in conformance with the original aviation guidelines and their previous projections of air noise and air traffic.” • Under “Airport Plan,” report that the third paragraph is not true (which follows): “The Runway Use System at MSP relies heavily on “land compatibility” as a guiding principle for departure determination, thereby increasing the volume of traffic and the percentage of exclusive use of the southeast corridor, which was zoned commercial/industrial in cooperation with regional and local planning agencies. This increased traffic has impacted existing compatible residential neighborhoods in Mendota Heights.” • Under “Goals and Policies,” change Goal 1 to read: “Monitor and control where possible negative airport impacts in Mendota Heights.” • Under “Goals and Policies,” change Goal 2 to read: “To support the equitable distribution of flights within all communities located close to MSP.” • Under “Goals and Policies,” insert “population in place of “area” to read: “To work diligently with all noise issues and agencies to decrease aircraft noise in volume and to decrease noise impacts to the population.” • Under “Goals and Policies,” add Goal 4: “Add part 150 plan and subsequent noise compatibility program.” • Under “Airport Noise Policies,” change Policy 6 to read: “Advocate to increase general aviation use to other reliever airports.” • Under “Airport Noise Policies,” add Policy 8 to read: “Inform the public/media 2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] regarding MAC’s progress in addressing noise issues and limitations of noise compatibility program.” • Under “History of Noise Reduction Efforts,” asked whether it is enforceable because it’s a written agreement between MAC and the City (follows): “Agreement to a contract with MAC prohibiting construction of a third parallel runway.” • Under “History of Noise Reduction Efforts,” add Policy 6 to read: “Ongoing dialogue with adjacent communities, legislators, NOC, FAA and MAC for the purpose of noise attenuation.” • Under “History of Noise Reduction Efforts,” revise third paragraph by adding “about their participation” under that section to read: “The City has worked through the various agencies on issues including: modification of aircraft landings and departures, supporting the installation of ANOMS, supporting the prohibition of Stage II aircraft, and educating homeowners about their participation in the Part 150 program.” Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 5 • Under “Impacts of Future Land Use Planning,” second sentence in second paragraph, correct spelling to “townhome.” Inform them IT”S NOT TRUE Should guiding principle of land use development is runway usage at MSP which utilizes the parallel runway for capacity and therefore should plan noise compatible land uses in line. With parallel runways and future land use should reflect continued traffic on the parallel runways. Given time constraints, it was Commission consensus to complete the review of the document at the June ARC meeting. C. NOC Update Chair Petschel reported that MAC deputy director Nigel Finney has retired and will be replaced by Denny Probst and Kevin Hochman will replace UPS representative Pete Livermore. Mr. Livermore was a member of the original Blue Ribbon Panel that put MAC together and the only person on the carrier side that voted with the communities on the sound insulation for 60/64, to his risk and displeasure of Kathleen Nelson. Discussion had taken place regarding projected and actual noise contours, required as a result of the lawsuit. Operations off 12L are higher than projected and use of 17 is below forecast in actual numbers but up 10% over last year. The noise contour over Mendota Heights is larger than projected. ANOMS actual numbers are close to modeled numbers, so projections match the actual very closely with the exception of 12L. Runway use and nighttime operations are driving the current noise map the most. Upgrade for ANOMS software and sensors related to real-time flight tracking will cost $500,000. Worst offenders for lowering landing gear is Fed Ex; UPS is on board and Tim Butalla, chief pilot for Northwest, sits on the NOC and has been briefing pilots from Fed Ex and Delta, hoping to see positive changes. The word is getting out about compliance and the next thing to watch is to see if Apple Valley sees positive effects from the compliance. Commissioner Reed commented that no one should expect contours to match very well, as they are generated five years in advance, that the 2007 projection started in 2000. He said the area most different between projection and actual is Bloomington because flights aren’t departing on 17 as much as they want them to and there should be a bigger difference and Mendota Heights getting more equitable benefit. Commissioner Reed said the numbers don’t make sense because departure distributions are twice as much on 12L as 12R but arrivals are nearly identical. D. Tower Tour – May 19, 2008, ARC Meeting 2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] The ARC meeting has been moved from May 14 to May 19, when the Tower tour is scheduled. Those scheduled for the tour will meet at City Hall at 4 p.m. and drive together to the 4:30 p.m. tour. Attendees should RSVP to Mr. Danielson via email, as the Tower requests a complete list of names in advance of the tour. Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 6 Commissioner Sloan reported that he wouldn’t’ be able to attend. Mr. Rydeen and Mr. Leqve will meet with the Commission in a separate room after the tour. Issues to be addressed (requested in advance by the Tower) include, but may not be limited to: • Northern excursions • Nighttime operations • Crossing corridor use • Runway selection determination and who assigns the runway • Radio recording system • Conformance to EIS • Reason as to why twice as many flights utilize 12L as 12R when a similar number of gates are close to each one • Reason as to why 12R getting relief from 17, instead of relief for Mendota Heights on 12L Mr. Bergman suggested that NOC members be invited to join the tour, but it was ARC consensus that the decision to invite them be left to Mr. Rydeen’s discretion. Chair Petschel recommended that Mr. Danielson inform the City of ARC’s May meeting date change, in the event members of the public might be planning to attend. E. Reschedule October 15, 2008, ARC Meeting It was Commission consensus that the October 15, 2008, ARC meeting be moved to October 8, in that it conflicts with Yom Kippur. F. Update for Introduction Book None. Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence A. February 2008 ANOM Technical Advisor’s Report B. February 2008 (New Format) ANOM Eagan/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis C. MSP Noise News (Winter 2008) D. Airport Noise Report, March 7, 2008 E. Airport Noise Report, March 14, 2008 Other Commission Comments or Concerns None. Commission Meeting – April 9, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 7 Upcoming Meetings • City Council Meeting – April 15, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. • MAC Meeting – April 21, 2008 – 1:00 p.m. Public Comments 2008-04-09 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] None. Adjourn Commissioner Dunn made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lorberbaum, to adjourn the meeting at 9:18 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary Heintz TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.