Loading...
09-18-2025 ARC Minutes 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. 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. 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.