ARC Meeting Packet 03.17.2026
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
March 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights
1. Call to Order
2. Election of Officers - Chair and Vice Chair
3. Consent Agenda
a. Approve meeting minutes from the January 21, 2026 Airport Relations Commission
Meeting.
b. Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1. Complaint Information
2. Runway Use Information
4. Public Comments
5. Business
a. ARC 2026 Work Plan
6. Information and Correspondence
7. Announcements and Commissioner Comments
8. 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.
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2.a
Airport Relations Commission
MEETING DATE: March 18, 2026
TO: Airport Relations Commission
FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Election of Officers
BACKGROUND:
At its meeting on March 18, the ARC should elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice
Chair take office immediately following their election and hold office until their successors are
elected and assume office.
The ARC's current chair is Gina Norling and Vice Chair was Arvind Sharma, who has now left
the Commission.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
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CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
January 21, 2026
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 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, Bobbitt, Sloan, Dunn, Neuharth
Commissioners absent: Hamiel
Staff present: City Administrator Jacobson and Administrative Coordinator Desmond
Public present: Rose Agnew, Scott Norling, Harvey Arbit, Ryan Anderson, and Michelle Ross.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve Minutes from the September 17, 2025 Meeting
b. Approve Minutes from the October 8, 2025 Special Meeting
c. Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1. Complaint Information
2. Runway Use Information
Chair Norling approved the consent agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Scott Norling, 1280 Lakeview Ave, shared a diagram of flights over Mendota Heights and asked
for 12L and 12R runways to have better dispersion. Mr. Norling noted that flights occur over
residential areas, but there is an industrial area close by that could be used instead.
Harvey Arbit, the Commission’s newest member introduced himself.
4. BUSINESS
a. MSP- Noise Oversight Committee Runway 12L/12R Departure Operations Report
Ryan Anderson presented the Runway 12L and 12R Departure Operations Report from the
Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which included an overview of recent runway
departure activity and related noise monitoring data. The report highlighted an increase in
noise complaints from residents in Mendota Heights. Ryan Anderson stated that they are
going to be looking at the traffic on the runways.
Commissioners discussed the relationship between complaint data, sound monitoring, and
the use of modeled noise contours, including questions about how complaints are counted,
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the differences between modeled contours and actual sound event data, and how those
differences affect city planning.
Commissioners also discussed runway traffic patterns, historical changes to noise contours,
and the role of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in flight dispersion and noise
management.
Staff noted that MAC continues to work with the FAA and uses both modeled and actual data
in its reporting. Commissioners also requested additional information regarding the location
of complaints in areas with higher reporting levels.
Commissioner Neuharth left the meeting.
b. ARC 2026 Work Plan
City Administrator Jacobson asked commissioners to review the information and consider
whether there were any additional items they would like to add for discussion at the next
meeting.
5. INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
a. NOC Monthly Operations Summary Reports (September, October, November and
December 2025)
No comments.
6. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Chair Norling acknowledged and thanked Vice Chair Sharma.
Vice Chair Sharma welcomed the new member, Harvey Arbit.
City Administrator Jacobson mentioned the NOC listening session being held next week.
7. ADJOURN
Motion by Dunn and second by Sloan to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
Chair Norling adjourned the meeting at 7:25pm.
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5.a
Airport Relations Commission
MEETING DATE: March 18, 2026
TO: Airport Relations Commission
FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
SUBJECT: ARC 2026 Work Plan
BACKGROUND:
The Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission advises the City Council on matters
relating to airport noise and operations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The
commission monitors proposed rules, procedures, and programs that impact air noise within
the city and makes recommendations regarding strategies to mitigate the city's air noise
exposure.
The Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission has developed an annual work plan for
several years. The commission is asked to review and discuss the 2025-2026 work plan and
recommend updates or new action items for inclusion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2025-2026 ARC Workplan
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City of Mendota Heights
Airport Relations Commission
2025-2026 Work Plan
Priority: Mitigate the city’s air noise exposure
1. Advocate for modified takeoff procedures and corridor compliance, as needed.
2. Advocate for specific noise control measures through operational changes and advanced
technology.
3. Advocate for the equitable distribution of aircraft traffic and a more equitable runway use
system.
Priority: Inform and engage Mendota Heights’ residents regarding airport related issues
1. Include airport related information in city communications and social media channels.
2. Attend city events, when invited, to share information about MSP Airport.
3. Host a NOC Listening Session.
Priority: Monitor airport operations and trends and advocate for the Mendota Heights
community
1. Respond, as needed, to FAA RNAV procedure implementation outcomes.
2. Work collaboratively with other communities on mutual concerns regarding airport
development and operations.
3. Continue to collect and review MSP operations and complaint data.
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