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08/14/2007 - Airport Relations CommissionMINUTES OF THE EAGAN AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 14, 2007 A regular meeting of the Eagan Airport Relations Connnission was held on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Curtis Aljets, Steve Beseke, Tammy Mencel, Charles Thorkildson and Bret Walsh. Absent were Maggie Jensen and Jack Prentice. Also present was Assistant to the City Administrator Miller. AGENDA The agenda was amended to include New Business item B. Proposed Procedural Change to Runway Use; and Staff Report item D. Closure of Runway 12R. Upon motion by Thorkildson; seconded by Aljets, the agenda was approved as modified. All members voted in favor. ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS Miller introduced the item stating Commissioner Jason Bonnett has resigned his position with the ARC due to accepting a new position in San Diego, California. The Commission recognized Commissioner Bonnett's contribution to the ARC. Miller stated that Alternate Maggie Jensen has agreed to serve the remainder of Commissioner Bonnett's term. She further stated since Mr. Bonnett served as the Vice Chair, that position would need to be filled until May of 2008. The floor was opened for nominations for the position of Vice Chair of the ARC. Thorkildson nominated Aljets to serve as Vice Chair to the ARC; Mencel seconded the nomination. All members voted in favor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Beseke made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 10, 2007 regular meeting of the Eagan Airport Relations Commission as presented; Aljets seconded the motion. All members voted in favor. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heard. COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE Miller introduced the item stating it is the practice of the Airport Relations Commission to discuss any communication initiatives relative to airport noise each month including articles appearing in the Experience Eagan newsletter, stories aired on the City's local access cable channels and inclusions in the ARC Notebook. Miller stated there will be three airport related items in the next issue of Experience Eagan; 1.) City Council's recent communication with the MAC regarding the increased use of Runway 17/35 and the Eagan/Mendota Heights Corridor compliance, 2.) an update on the MAC litigation, and 3.) a shadow box that will touch on the Public Hearing by the Legislative Working Committee that will take place in September at the Community Center. Eagan Airport Relations Commission August 14, 2007 Page 2 of 3 The Commission suggested including letters to the MAC regarding the increased use of Runway 17 -35 and MAC's response be put on the City's website to be accessed by residents. MAC MONTHLY REPORTS — EAGAN /MENDOTA HEIGHTS CORRIDOR ANALYSIS /TECHNICAL ADVISORY REPORT /17 -35 DEPARTURE ANALYSIS REPORT Miller introduced the item stating the enclosed June 2007 Eagan/Mendota Heights Corridor Analysis, June 2007 Technical Advisory Report and the June 2007 Runway 17 Departure Analysis Report are the most current reports available on the MAC website. Miller noted the significant improvement in corridor compliance. Thorkildson noted that Eagan had the greatest number of complaints. Aljets discussed complaint percentages for Eagan stating prior to January 2007, Eagan had 20 percent of the complaints; after January 2007, 30 percent; and during the month of July 2007, 41 percent. SOUTHERN TWIN CITIES ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SURVEY UPDATE Miller introduced the item stating Angelique McDonald, Government Affairs Representative for the Southern Twin Cities Association of Realtors, is no long with the organization. Miller stated she has tabulated and compiled a summary of the 29 surveys she received from the STCAR for Commission review and discussion. The Commission discussed the responses and comments made by realtors relative to airport noise in Eagan. Beseke made a motion to pass the summary results of the survey on to the City Council and ask if the City Council would like the survey run again in November; Mencel seconded the motion. All members voted in favor. LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING MAC GOVERNANCE AND THE EFFECTS OF THE AIRPORT ON SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS Miller introduced the item noting a Public Hearing will be held by the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs and Transportation Working Group of the Legislature at 7:00 p.m. on September 19, 2007 at the Eagan Community Center. She stated the Public Hearing is intended as an avenue to gather input from residents regarding the governance of the MAC and the effects of the airport on surrounding communities. She further noted the Public Hearing will be advertised in the cities of Eagan, Burnsville, Mendota Heights and Minneapolis and that attendance is expected to be significant. Miller also stated the Public Hearing will be noticed in the City's newsletter. PROPOSED PROCEDURAL CHANGE TO RUNWAY USE Miller introduced the item stating it has been suggested to divert operations from Runway 17 to Runway 12R for night -time operations, in accordance with the Runway Use System at MSP. She also stated this would be a public policy decision which would involve moving noise fiorn one residential area to another less densely, populated area. Miller suggested this recommendation be proposed to the City Council, and then to the NOC. The Commission discussed the proposed change, including the effect on Mendota Heights residents. Eagan Airport Relations Commission August 14, 2007 Page 3 of 3 Walsh made a motion to recommend that the City Council send a letter to the NOC asking that an item be added to the 2008 NOC Work Program to review shifting nighttime traffic from Runway 17 to Runway 12R, over the Eagan/Mendota Heights Corridor. Aljets seconded the motion. All members voted in favor. TOUR OF THE FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER Miller stated a tour of the Air Traffic Control Tower has been scheduled for September 11, 2007 and will take the place of the regular September ARC meeting. The Commission agreed on a start time of 6:30 p.m. CITIES V. MAC LAWSUIT UPDATE Miller introduced the item giving background on the lawsuit between the cities of Minneapolis, Richfield and Eagan and the Metropolitan Airports Commission noting that a ruling by Judge Aldrich is expected by August 24, 2007. She further stated mediation was held between the Plaintiffs and the MAC earlier this month, however, no agreement was reached. Miller stated she will inform the Commission once she hears the result of the ruling. JULY 18, 2007 NOC MEETING Miller introduced the item noting two memos from Chad Legve regarding aircraft fleet mix and runway use concerns raised by the City of Eagan. Miller and the Commission discussed her talking points from the July 18, 2007 NOC meeting expressing the City's concerns regarding use of Runway 17 -35. The Commission discussed the FEIS document and the fact that the cities of Minneapolis and Mendota Heights have contracts with the MAC. It was agreed that Miller would distribute to Commissioners either electronically or by link a copy of the FEIS document for their review. CLOSURE OF RUNWAY 12R Miller stated Runway 12R closed on Monday and will be closed for 2 months. She further stated Eagan could experience a decrease in noise during the construction period, but normal operations will resume in mid- October. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Aljets, seconded by Mencel, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. All members voted in favor. DATE SECRETARY