10/08/2007 - Airport Relations CommissionMINUTES OF THE EAGAN
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 9, 2007
A regular meeting of the Eagan Airport Relations Commission was held on Tuesday, October 9,
2007 at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Curtis Aljets, Steve Beseke, Maggie Jensen, Jack Prentice,
Charles Thorkildson and Bret Walsh. Absent was Tanury Mencel. Also present was Assistant to the
City Administrator Miller.
AGENDA
The agenda was amended to include an update under Staff Report regarding the reopening of
Runway 12R. Upon motion by Beseke; seconded by Aljets, the agenda was approved as modified. All
members voted in favor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Aljets made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 14, 2007 regular meeting of the
Eagan Airport Relations Commission as presented; Walsh 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 noted that the September 19 Legislative Public Hearing is currently being aired on the
local access cable channel.
MAC MONTHLY REPORTS — EAGAN/MENDOTA HEIGHTS CORRIDOR
ANALYSIS /TECHNICAL ADVISORY REPORT /17 -35 DEPARTURE ANALYSIS REPORT
Miller introduced the item stating the enclosed August 2007 Eagan/Mendota Heights Corridor
Analysis, August 2007 Technical Advisory Report and the August 2007 Runway 17 Departure Analysis
Report are the most current reports available on the MAC website. Miller reminded the Commission
that Runway 12R is presently closed and it should be noted along with the data contained in the August
reports. Aljets noted that the number of complainants and complaints from Eagan residents have been
down since the runway's closure.
Eagan Airport Relations Commission
October 9, 2007
Page 2 of 4
DIALOGUE WITH MAC COMMISSIONER BERT MCKASY
Miller introduced MAC Commissioner Bert McKasy, stating Senator Jim Carlson and
Representative Sandra Masin were also present. Commissioner McKasy gave background on himself
and his appointment to the MAC.
Commissioner McKasy discussed the state of the airline industry. He stated in 2006 there were
475,000 aircraft operations at MSP as compared to a peak in 2004 of 541,000. He stated in 2005, 35
million people came through MSP and 53% of those passengers' flights ended here and 47% were sent
on to connecting flights. McKasy noted that the airport needs to get ready for a Senior /Executive
Management change because management staff has been there a long time and nearing retirement.
McKasy also discussed parking at the airport. He stated the ramp at the Lindberg Terminal contains
16,000 parking spaces and the ramp at the Humphrey Terminal can handle 4,500 vehicles. He further
stated they are in the process of adding 5,500 spaces through an additional ramp at the Humphrey
Terminal. He also stated completion of construction on Runway 12R has been delayed, but is scheduled
to be completed by October 22. McKasy noted that the MAC is in the process of adding a restaurant
outside of security and, hopefully, it should be opened by spring of 2008.
McKasy briefly discussed the MAC lawsuit stating it went to trial in February of 2007 and on
July 23, 2007 there was a settlement proposal and the proposal continues to be discussed. McKasy
noted that he has pushed for a settlement and for getting more houses insulated. McKasy also discussed
the Senator Craig issue.
Commissioner McKasy presented a letter he wrote dated September 27, 2007 to Carl Rydeen,
Manager, MSP Air Traffic Control Tower, in support of Eagan and the NOC. McKasy gave feedback
from the FAA stating the draft FEIS shows 480,000 operations with 37% of them off Runway 17. He
further stated the forecast in 2005 was for 575,000 operations with 37% off Runway 17, but the actual
figure in 2006 was 446,000 operations. He commented that it's possible the FAA questions why the
City of Eagan has a problem when operations are less than the original forecast. McKasy agreed with
Eagan that there are less operations, so why not redirect flights from Runway 17 to Runway 12.
McKasy stated in his opinion the FAA continues to defend its original decision for 2 reasons; 1.) the
gate -to- runway time has been decreased, and 2.) arrival flow can be better handled because it does not
have to be metered. McKasy stated there is an old saying, "Man proposes and God disposes ". He stated
in our case, the MAC proposes and the FAA disposes and the FAA has the final say. McKasy agreed
that it makes sense to move operations from Runway 17 to Runwayl2.
McKasy stated in his opinion the MAC is big enough and, if an Eagan is successful in getting a
sole representative on the MAC, the number of representatives should stay the same. He also stated that
the representative would need to be open to represent more than Eagan. McKasy noted that all MAC
meetings are public and their minutes can be found on MAC's website. He also emphasized that he and
MAC staff are sensitive to the City of Eagan and the concerns brought forth by the City.
Eagan Airport Relations Commission
October 9, 2007
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1998 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FEIS) AND 2003
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENHT (EA) ON 2.5 NAUTICAL MILE
Miller introduced the item noting that per the request of the Commission at the July 10 ARC
meeting, a copy of the 1998 Final Environmental Impact Statement was obtained and the introductory
and executive summary sections of the document were enclosed for Commission review. She further
stated the 2003 Final Assessment for the hnplementation of a Departure Procedure off Runway 17 was
also enclosed.
Miller noted that much of tonight's meeting was dedicated to a discussion with Commissioner
McKasy and, if the Commission would like to spend additional time on this item, the Commission could
request this item be added to the November 13 ARC meeting agenda. The Commission requested the
item be brought back for discussion at the November ARC meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE RE: NIGHTTIME AIR TRAFFIC
Miller introduced the item stating a letter was sent from the NOC to Carl Rydeen, MSP Air
Traffic Control Tower Manager, requesting the FAA examine the feasibility of moving night -time air
traffic from Runway 17 to Runway 12R when capacity allows for it. Miller also noted correspondence
from State Representative Masin and MAC Commissioner McKasy in support of the NOC's letter.
Miller stated there was a lengthy discussion on this issue at the last NOC meeting, and following
the NOC's action, the MAC unanimously endorsed moving night -time air traffic from Runway 17 to
Runway 12R. She noted there is an average of 38 nighttime flights per month that could be affected by
the change.
SEPTEMBER 4 MEETING WITH EAGAN PILOTS
Miller stated on September 4, 2007 four Eagan residents, two active pilots and two retired pilots,
met with Assistant to the City Administrator Miller, MAC Noise Manager Leqve, FAA Control Tower
Manager Rydeen and Northwest Chief Pilot Tim Beutell to discuss airport noise issues. She noted two
comments made by the pilots were; 1.) sitting on Runway 17 waiting to take -off when Runway 12 is
open and no waiting, and 2.) they were surprised by the in depth process for addressing environmental
documentation. Thorkildson commented that the parallels should be used for noise abatement and not
use Runway 17 -35 to capacity.
UPDATE ON THE SEPTEMBER 19 LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING
Miller introduced the item stating on September 19, 2007 a public hearing was held at the Eagan
Community Center by the House Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee and the House
Transportation Working Group. She stated the purpose of the hearing was to gather input from residents
regarding the governance of MAC and the affects of the airport on surrounding neighborhoods. She
further stated approximately 75 people attended and much of the testimony received was regarding
representation on the MAC and noise concerns. Miller noted that Committee Chairwoman Hilstrom
stated that the Eagan hearing would be the first in a series of public hearings on the topic of MAC
governance. Miller thanked Commission Aljets for testifying at the hearing.
The Commission discussed ways of corresponding with MAC Commissioner McKasy to receive
updates on legislative issues regarding airport issues. They also discussed inviting him to ARC
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October 9, 2007
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meetings 2 to 3 times a year. Miller stated she will provide the link to the MAC minutes for an update
to the Commission.
BUSINESS WEED ARTICLE
Miller introduced the item noting an article that appeared in the September 10 edition of
Business Week entitled "Fear & Loathing at the Airport". The Commission discussed the article and
noted the system is in need of repair.
UPDATE ON THE CLOSURE OF RUNWAY 12R
Miller noted the construction on Runway 12R is behind schedule because of rain, but is
anticipated to be complete within the next two weeks. She noted that residents need to be aware that
operations will be back to normal at that time which could mean an increase in air traffic for some areas.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Aljets, seconded by Beseke, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. All members
voted in favor.
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SECRETARY