05.21.2025 ARC Meeting PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
May 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights
1.Call to Order
2.Consent Agenda
a.Approve Minutes from the September 18, 2024 Meeting
b.Approve Minutes from the November 20, 2024 Meeting
c.Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1. Complaint Information
2. Runway Use Information
3.Public Comments
4.Business
a.ARC Update to the City Council
b.Commission Structure Discussion
5.Information and Correspondence
6.Announcements and Commissioner Comments
7.Adjourn
Alternate formats or auxiliary aids are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.
Please contact city hall at 651-452-1850 or cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
Page 1 of 15
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
September 18, 2024
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Norling called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Commissioners present: Norling, Sharma, Sloan, Dunn, Hamiel, Bobbitt, Neuharth.
Staff present: City Administrator Jacobson and Administrative Coordinator Desmond.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve Minutes from the May 15, 2024 Meeting
b. Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1. Complaint Information
2. Runway Use Information
3. Noise Monitor Information
Chair Norling approved the consent agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rob Meyer, 1399 Clement St, had questions about why airplanes are flying over his area so
much and why they were turning in the directions they were turning. He was also wondering
about the 12L Total Operations spreadsheet and the 0% operations for July-August 2024, and
if it would skew the data. He asked if the commission could make a chart without the no-flight
time. He then questioned where the August complaint number for Mendota Heights came
from.
City Administrator Jacobson explained that the numbers were from the complaints submitted
to the MAC Noise Office.
He then asked if the committee could do anything about the flight patterns and how much they
fly over the area. Commissioner Dunn explained that if the City receives more complaints than
normal, the commission could make a comment to the airport to see if anything can be done.
Dennis Anderson, 2336 Lemay Shores Drive, had questions about the Eagan Mendota Heights
corridor and how long it is. The commissioners answered his question. He suggested to
mitigate the noise that the airplanes should go the full three miles and then turn. In addition,
sharing that the airplanes have been turning sharply before they are supposed to.
Page 2 of 15
2.a.
Commissioner Bobbit stated that the turning was established years ago and that is the way it
has always been. Commissioner Sharma stated that they are supposed to turn at 62 and
Delaware Avenue.
Commissioner Hamiel then explained that it is more about when the airplane gets to a certain
altitude, then after it gets to that altitude, it can make a turn rather than getting to a specific
area, and it has been in the agreement for the last 40 years.
Chair Norling commented that she didn’t like how the Eagan Mendota Heights Corridor is
named because it makes it seem like it is more industrial, but it is also residential. Michelle
Ross from MAC explained that they do try to take the residential and industrial areas into
account and consider the noise abatement best practices and weather.
Scott Norling, 1280 Lakeview Ave, had comments about the FAA RNAV public meeting and
that the flights should be more dispersed using the 90 and 120 headings more since the noise
from the airplanes flying over his area are no longer just an annoyance.
Michelle Ross from MAC stated that air traffic control gives the pilots the direction, and they
do try to disperse the flights as much as they can depending on the flight traffic, weather and
the flights destination.
4. BUSINESS
a. MSP Airport Update
City Administrator Jacobson stated that runway 12L is planned to reopen on September 21
and flight patterns are expected to go back to normal.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that FAA closed the RNAV 30-day public comment period
on September 15.
City Administrator Jacobson stated that if the body has a request for the NOC Workplan the
commission needs to put something together. Chair Norling agreed to write a draft of the
requests and work with City Administrator Jacobson on it.
Commissioner Bobbitt asked if the Commission should hold a special meeting to discuss and
approve the request. City Administrator Jacobson stated that once the draft is completed, she
will send it to the commissioners to get their input and a special meeting is not needed.
5. INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
Chair Norling received two emails from citizens regarding the noise increase around Dodd
Road and questions about the corridor.
6. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Chair Norling stated that the FAA RNAV public meeting wasn’t fully helpful and that the FAA
didn’t answer questions or comments made during the presentation. She also added that it
didn’t have a lot of public engagement.
Commissioner Bobbitt thanked City Administrator Jacobson for all of the dedication and work
she has done for the city.
Page 3 of 15
7. ADJOURN
Motion by Bobbit and second by Dunn to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 7-0.
Chair Norling adjourned the meeting at 7:20pm.
Page 4 of 15
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE
CITIES OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS AND EAGAN AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSIONS
November 20, 2024
A joint meeting of the Eagan and Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commissions was held
on Tuesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INTRODUCTIONS
Members of the Eagan Airport Relations Commission and Mendota Heights Airport
Relations Commission introduced themselves. Staff present included Mendota
Heights City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson and Eagan Assistant City Administrator
Sarah Alig.
Also present were Michele Ross and Brian Ryks of the MAC.
3. VISITORS TO BE HEARD
No one from the public wished to be heard.
4. GUEST PRESENTATIONS
a. State of the Airport
Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, shared an overview of
the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and the MAC, highlighting the
importance of the MAC’s system of airports to the region and the state.
5. UPDATES ON CURRENT EFFORTS
Airport Commission members from both cities discussed current events, including
last summer’s runway construction and the unexpected change in airplane noise in
Mendota Heights.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business presented.
7. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned 7:45 pm.
Page 5 of 15
2.b.
Complaints by Location—By Month
(2024, 2025)
Location = Complainants
2024 Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
January 68 34 9 4 5
February 66 43 9 7 6
March 66 39 11 9 4
April 75 30 10 9 7
May 96 44 9 12 9
June 131 76 11 19 19
July 82 83 9 16 13
August 92 70 16 30 17
September 141 77 7 18 21
October 89 44 16 10 9
November 65 34 9 8 8
December 52 34 8 5 6
2025 Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
January 47 22 8 5 3
February 37 17 4 1 2
March 79 35 10 6 8
April 87 35 2 15 5
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Percent of All Departures by Location –By Month
(2024,2025)
2024 Mpls
30R
Eagan
12R
Edina
30L
MH
12L
Blmgtn
17
January 23% 4% 32% 9% 32%
February 20% 7% 26% 11% 36%
March 20% 8% 33% 11% 29%
April 21% 9% 29% 13% 28%
May 19% 9% 17% 18% 35%
June 1% 25% 32% 1% 40%
July 0% 40% 17% 0% 43%
August 0% 44% 18% 0% 37%
September 6% 15% 13% 4% 62%
October 19% 4% 21% 13% 42%
November 22% 4% 29% 12% 33%
December 20% 5% 26% 12% 38%
2025 Mpls
30R
Eagan
12R
Edina
30L
MH
12L
Blmgtn
17
January 32% 1% 43% 3% 21%
February 23% 2% 26% 7% 39%
March 21% 6% 27% 10% 35%
April 3% 0% 0% 40% 33%
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Page 6 of 15
Ϯ͘Đ͘Ϯ͘
66
39
11 9 4
79
35
10 6 8
20%
8%
33%
11%
29%
21%
6%
27%
10%
35%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
March Complaints by Location and Departures by Location
Complaints 2024 Complaints 2025 %Departures 2024 %Departures 2025
March Complaints March Night Departures
2023 2024 2025 2023 2024 2025
Minneapolis (30R) 1,072 2,111 2,662 81 60 76
Eagan (12R) 1,897 2,150 1,671 186 124 90
Edina (30L) 117 268 197 237 263 152
Mendota Heights (12L) 136 144 46 98 39 50
Bloomington (17) 52 19 40 24 35 64
Total 3,274 4,692 4,616 626 521 432
Page 7 of 15
75
30
10 9 7
87
35
2
15
5
21%
9%
29%
13%
28%
3%
0%
0%
40%
33%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
April Complaints by Location and Departures by Location
Complaints 2024 Complaints 2025 %Departures 2024 %Departures 2025
April Complaints April Night Departures
2023 2024 2025 2023 2024 2025
Minneapolis (30R) 2,317 2,442 1,343 80 51 32
Eagan (12R) 1,557 1,956 1,012 129 129 0
Edina (30L) 320 175 4 175 135 0
Mendota Heights (12L) 97 168 466 41 34 106
Bloomington (17) 61 37 30 33 52 55
Total 4,352 4,778 2,855 458 401 193
Page 8 of 15
Data used for UCL calculation Chart Notes: Above normal incidences of downward southerly flow winds during
January 2009 through December 2013 the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2023.
Mean: 12.4 Runways 12L/30R and 4/22 closed from 6/3/24 to 9/21/24 for construction
St Dev: 3.06 Runways 12R/30L closed from 4/14/25 to 5/23/25 for construction
UCL: 18.4
35.8%
11.8%
18.40%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
O
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Month
12L Total Operations
Operations Mean UCL
Mean: Rolling 24/mo
Page 9 of 15
Data used for UCL calculation Chart Notes:
January 2009 through December 2013 Runways 12L/30R and 4/22 closed from 6/3/24 to 9/21/24 for construction
Mean: 19.5 Runways 12R/30L closed from 4/14/25 to 5/23/25 for construction
St Dev: 7
UCL: 33.5
16.1%
13.7%
Mean: Rolling 24/mo
36.5%
12.5%
33.50%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
O
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Month
12L Night Operations
Operations Mean UCL
Page 10 of 15
Data used for UCL calculation Chart Notes:
January 2009 through December 2013 Runways 12L/30R and 4/22 closed from 6/3/24 to 9/21/24 for construction
Mean: 7.7 Runways 12R/30L closed from 4/14/25 to 5/23/25 for construction
St Dev: 2.96
UCL: 13.4
0.0%
10.3%
13.40%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
O
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Month
12R Total Operations
Operations Mean UCL
Mean: Rolling 24/mo
Page 11 of 15
Data used for UCL calculation Chart Notes:
January 2009 through December 2013 Runways 12L/30R and 4/22 closed from 6/3/24 to 9/21/24 for construction
Mean: 28.9 Runways 12R/30L are closed from 4/14/25 to 5/23/25 for construction
St Dev: 8.82
UCL: 46.5
46.50%
26.1%
0.0%0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
O
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Month
12R Night Operations
Operations Mean UCL
Mean: Rolling 24/mo
Page 12 of 15
Data used for UCL calculation Chart Notes:
January 2009 through December 2013 Runways 12L/30R and 4/22 closed from 6/3/24 to 9/21/24 for construction
Mean: 2.2 Runways 12R/30L are closed from 4/14/25 to 5/23/25 for construction
St Dev: 0.98
UCL: 4.2
2.2%
1.6%
4.20%
0%
1%
1%
2%
2%
3%
3%
4%
4%
5%
5%
Pe
r
c
e
n
t
O
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Month
Departures North of Corridor
Operations Mean UCL
Mean: Rolling 24/mo
Page 13 of 15
4.a
Airport Relations Commission
MEETING DATE: May 21, 2025
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Airport Relations Commission
Gina Norling, Commission Chair
ARC Update to the City Council
BACKGROUND:
The mayor and city council requested that the ARC provide an update to the city council. There
are additional themes and considerations to address beyond the 2024 activity report. The city
council is reviewing each commission’s purpose and activities. Some questions that are being
asked specifically about the ARC is if it is still relevant and if the ARC should remain a
commission. It is cited that the Eagan ARC has disbanded. The primary reason given is the
perceived redundancy of NOC and Eagan ARC. The ARC needs to have a discussion on the
future as a commission.
The mayor has suggested that our ARC update to the city council includes the following talking
points:
1.A brief history of the ARC
2.Purpose of the ARC
3.Current Activities
4.Future of ARC
The action for this topic is to discuss and brainstorm talking points to assemble the update.
With the intent of getting an outline of talking points to prepare.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
3agH oI
4.b
Airport Relations Commission
MEETING DATE: May 21, 2025
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Airport Relations Commission
Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
Commission Structure Discussion
BACKGROUND:
Advisory commissions play an important role in supporting the City Council by offering
recommendations, community input, and specialized expertise on a range of topics. As
community needs evolve and priorities shift, the city council periodically assesses whether
existing commissions continue to serve their intended purpose and whether adjustments are
needed to their structure, scope, or focus areas.
At their April work session, the city council considered the following in reviewing advisory
commissions:
•Purpose: Are the commissions addressing issues of ongoing relevance and importance?
•Membership and engagement: Are commissions adequately staffed, and do they reflect
the diversity and interests of the community?
•Productivity and impact: Are the commissions generating meaningful recommendations
and contributing to policy decisions?
•Alignment: Do commission activities align with the City's strategic plan and current
priorities?
•Resource use: Are staff and financial resources being effectively allocated to support
these commissions?
After reviewing the function, activity, and structure of the Airport Relations Commission, the
council asked that further review of the ARC take place and that a recommendation to either
disband or change the format of the ARC to a committee structure be a future consideration of
the council.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
3aJe oI