04/09/2002 - Airport Relations Commission MINUTES OF THE EAGAN
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 9, 2002
A regular meeting of the Eagan Airport Relations Commission was held on Tuesday, April 9,
2002, at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Bruno DiNella, Eric Pehle, Mike Schlax, Lance Staricha,
Jerry Thompson, Charles Thorkildson and Michael Cook, Alternate. Absent were Eric Drenckhahn,
Joe Kinard and Michael Weller. Also present were Jamie Verbrugge, Assistant City Administrator
and Mary Swenson, Recording Secretary.
AGENDA
Upon motion by Schlax, seconded by Cook, the agenda was approved as amended, with the
addition New Business item A. Newspaper Articles. All members voted in favor.
MINUTES
By unanimous consent the minutes of the March 12, 2002 meeting were approved.
By unanimous consent the minutes of the special work session of March 21, 2002 were
approved.
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
BLUE RIBBON UPDATE
Verbrugge gave a brief update and background on the Blue Ribbon Panel that was formed as
a working forum on noise issues at the airport after the disbanding of MASAC. The Blue Ribbon
Panel is comprised of three community representatives and three industry /user representatives. He
stated the communities represented by MASAC had been Bloomington, Burnsville, Minneapolis, St.
Louis Park, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Eagan, St. Paul and Sun Fish Lake. He briefly
discussed the development and framework of the MSP Airport Noise Oversight Committee
(MANOC) organization. Verbrugge stated city representatives were largely in favor of the draft
framework report for the new MANOC organization. He also stated that MAC will be a sounding
board and will forward issues to MANOC, who will make recommendations. He further stated the
MAC Noise Complaint Hotline is 612- 726 -9411.
GOAL SETTING DISCUSSION
Staricha gave a brief summary of the special goal setting workshop that was held on March
21, along with a written synopsis of the work session. The Commission discussed which airport
issues should become goals and prioritization of the goals.
One of the primary goals of the ARC Commission for this year is communication. There was
discussion as to how the Commission can communicate goals, issues and opinions to City staff, City
Council, residents and the airport. Communication issues were discussed further along with the role
of the Commission and the City Council. There was further discussion in regards to putting an
Airport Relations Commission Minutes
April 9, 2002/2
article relative to the Airports Relations Commission in the City newsletter and local newspapers to
become more visible to the community and residents.
It was agreed upon by Commission members to form working groups /subcommittees on
some of the issues chosen as goals for this year. Commissioners Pehle and Thompson will work
together establishing an outline on communication; Cook and Staricha will put together data on
statistics such as take - offs, landings and excursions south of the corridor; and DiNella volunteered to
gather information on the ANOMS towers located in Eagan. The working groups /subcommittees
will bring information for discussion to the May 14 meeting.
Vebrugge gave an overview of information that can be accessed through the MAC Noise web
site at www.macaysat.org.
JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD
Commissioner Schlax gave an overview of the Joint Airport Zoning Board (JAZB) meeting,
which was held on April 4, 2002 stating there had been a presentation from Mike Lewis of MnDOT
discussing the opposite side of the issue. HNTB, consultants for MAC, will give a presentation at the
next JAZB meeting on April 18, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. Schlax stated they have slightly accelerated the
meeting schedule because of two prior cancelled meetings.
Verbrugge gave additional background and stated that at the May 14, 2002 ARC meeting,
staff may be looking for direction from the Commission to go before the City Council.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
There was discussion among Commission members in regards to two newspaper articles
from the St. Paul Pioneer Press entitled, "Airports commission may restore funding" and an editorial
entitled, "Tension between MAC, Northwest is inevitable ".
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by DiNella, seconded by Staricha, the Commission members adjourned the
meeting at 8:30 p.m.
mis
DATE SECRETARY