12/03/2001 - Airport Relations Commission MINUTES OF THE EAGAN
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING
DECEMBER 3, 2001
A regular meeting of the Eagan Airport Relations Commission was held on Monday,
December 3, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Eric Drenckhahn, Ted Gladhill, Joe Kinard,
Mike Schlax, Steve Soderling, Charles Thorkildson and Bruno DiNella. Absent were Lance Staricha
and Michael Weller. Also present were Jamie Verbrugge, Assistant City Administrator and Mary
Swenson, Recording Secretary.
AGENDA
Upon motion by Gladhill, seconded by Kinard, the agenda was approved. All members
voted in favor.
MINUTES
Drenckhahn made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 9, 2001 meeting; Schlax
seconded the motion. All members voted in favor.
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
NOISE ATTORNEY
Verbrugge gave background on the status of retaining a noise attorney stating that it is one of
the primary goals of the City Council and the Airport Relations Commission. He gave background
of four attorneys, describing each as to what type of law they specialized in, accomplishments and
their location. The Commission discussed what they hoped to accomplish by retaining an attorney,
what airport issues they felt should be included in the plan, concerns they had for hiring a local
versus out of state attorney and, from Verbrugge's description and discussion of each, who they were
favoring and most interested in retaining.
Gladhill made a motion to eliminate the two local attorneys and continue to review the
national attorneys; Soderling seconded. All members voted in favor.
Commission members agreed upon three issues of concern; 1.) contract from the 1996
legislation, 2.) five flight paths over the City of Eagan with the opening of the North -South Runway
November of 2004 /were local concerns addressed, and 3.) low demand flight tracks.
Soderling made a motion for the ARC to recommend attorney Clem Shute to the City
Council as the noise attorney to review and prepare a plan for the City of Eagan regarding airport
issues, as long as contractual issues and concerns are in agreement; Gladhill seconded. Aye: 5
Nay: 1
Kinard stated two questions he would like to pursue with an attorney; 1.) Is Northwest
Airlines considering moving their headquarters /hub to Detroit? 2.) Why is the North -South Runway
still needed? Soderling also asked if a moratorium could be placed on the completion of the North-
Airport Relations Commission Minutes
December 3, 2001/2
South Runway. There was further discussion regarding the loss of Northwest Airlines to our
community.
PART 150 UPDATE
Verbrugge stated there are two Commissioners who have raised issue of reviewing the sound
insulation recommendation out to the 60 DNL contour. He stated this will be discussed during the
December 4 Planning and Environmental Committee meeting and also the impacts on the aviation
industry since the September 11 events.
MASAC BLUE RIBBON PANEL
Verbrugge stated that members of the Blue Ribbon Panel, representing the communities and
the industry users, have been identified. He stated the three community representatives are Jamie
Verbrugge /Eagan, Jill Smith/Mendota Heights and Councilmember Barrett Lane /Minneapolis. The
Commission members discussed ways of improving airport issues without Northwest Airlines
suffering additional financial restraints.
JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD
Verbrugge gave an overview of the Joint Airport Zoning Board meetings that he and Schlax
have attended. He stated these meetings have basically been technical reviews. He further stated
that Mary Hill Smith was named Chair to the Board.
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
Verbrugge stated that Commission terms for Soderling, Thorkildson, Schlax and DiNella will
expire in January of 2002. Applications for reappointment must be submitted to the City
Administrator's office by December 14, with interviews being held on Tuesday, January 15, 2002
and appointments will be made at the January 22 City Council meeting.
NEXT ARC COMMISSION MEETING
The next ARC meeting will be held either on Monday, January 7, or Tuesday, January 15,
instead of the regular meeting date being the second Tuesday of the month, because of a scheduling
conflict with the City Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Soderling, seconded by Drenckhahn, the Commission members adjourned
the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
mis
DATE SECRETARY