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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 01/14/2021APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL RD COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chair: Bob Barker Vice Chair: Daniel Dorson Commissioners: Keith Tschohl Andy Kleinfehn Kurt Schendel (Business Representative) Blaine Peterson (Airport Manager) STUDENT MEMBERS: Evelyn Hemler, Abshir Noor, Pranav Kartha, Yash Salunke, Jake Dorson COMMISSION STAFF: Scott Gerber, EP Fire Chief Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary MAC STAFF: Jennifer Lewis I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Barker called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commission meeting was held in hybrid model. All Commission members were present. Jake Dorson was present and it was asked for staff to include him on the agenda in the future. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Dorson moved, seconded by Kleinfehn to approve the revised agenda with the addition of the 2020 Operator of the Year Award in Item VII. Motion carried 5-0. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Schendel moved, seconded by Kleinfehn to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2020 meeting amended to change in Section VII B the weight limit from 60 pounds to 60,000 pounds and to correct the spelling of Brian Ryks’s name under Section VII C. Motion carried 5-0. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 14, 2021 Page 2 VII. STANDING DISCUSSION ITEMS A. NOISE REPORT - MAC Jennifer Lewis, Community Relations Coordinator for MAC, gave the quarterly noise report for the fourth quarter of 2020. 37.6 percent of the traffic across MAC reliever airport was associated with Flying Cloud Airport, and 88.8 percent of the complaints were related to Flying Cloud activity. There were 6,215 complaints filed from 35 locations. 1,015 of these were related to nighttime activity filed from 22 locations. This represented a substantial increase in complaints, but the number of locations remained fairly consistent compared to the same period in 2019. Most of the complaints in 2020, particularly in the fourth quarter, were related to frequency and excessive noise and half of the complaints specified low flights. January 2020 was the only month in the 2020 year that had a lower number of complaints compared to 2019. In 2020 overall there was a 420 percent increase in complaints over 2019. The greatest increases were in the middle and the end of the year. Most occurred during the late morning or early afternoon. 79 percent of nighttime complaints occurred from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Overall there were 24,071 complaints in 2020 from 100 households, a 9 percent increase in households lodging complaints over 2019. In general the number of households lodging a complaint stayed below the 2019 levels for the first half of the year, until July, when they rose, and 54 new locations filed complaints. The complaints were directly related to increased flight training and an increase in the amount of time residents spent at home. Piston aircraft generated 74 percent of the complaints in 2020, compared to 23 percent in 2019. Residents highlighted repetitive flight training in their concerns when speaking to MAC staff. There was actually a reduction in nighttime operations at Flying Cloud in 2020 compared to 2019, but an increase overall. Due to difference in metrics there would be a difference in numbers in this report compared to Peterson’s report. A deeper level of information was available on the online heat map. Changes to outreach included visits to flight schools to talk about their flight activity and the concerns expressed by the residents, speaking to residents about why there was increased flight training, and holding two virtual meetings with pilots to inform them about the noise abatement plan and noise reduction courtesy. Gerber added this was part of the final agreement with MAC, and feedback from both sides on the real impacts of noise was positive. Flying Cloud was becoming more busy, even more busy than MSP for 63 days in 2020, and the significance of this was realized by all parties. There was a mistaken perception that no one was flying due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Dorson added pilots had thanked the commission for the information. Gerber agreed and stated this was a FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 14, 2021 Page 3 positive public relations opportunity. Kleinfehn added the tower controllers at MSP were doing their part to intercept charter planes and direct flights from residential areas. Gerber asked how Flying Cloud compared to other airports during April- December 2020. Lewis replied Flying Cloud had by far the largest percent increase in complaints, but other airports also saw increases during this time period. B. 2020 OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Peterson presented the award to Scott and Brenda Elhardt. C. ORDINANCE 97 MONITORING – MAC Peterson gave the update. The last quarter of 2020 saw three different aircraft violate the Ordinance: two in October and one in November. None were repeat offenders. Letters were sent to all three. D. AIRPORT INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONAL UPDATES – MAC Peterson reported that from October through December 2020 there were four runway incursions, one pilot deviation, and two controller saves. He explained there was a new tower supervisor, Anthony Walsh, who was identifying how many times controllers identified planes lined up on the wrong runway. When a tower controller made that identification and corrected the error, so the plane landed on the correct runway, that was a “controller save.” There were 125,610 operations at Flying Cloud in 2020. This was up substantially from 2019 roughly (105,000). He offered to get the precise 2019 figure at the next meeting. Comparatively there were 7,776 in operations in November 2019 and 9,647 in November 2020, representing a 24 percent increase, and 7,372 operations in December 2019 versus 9,259 in December 2020, for another 24 percent increase. He would report official percentages at the next meeting. The Flying Cloud monthly newsletter was available to the public. Some sub- tenants might not receive it and he asked everyone to contact him with contact information of those who might not receive it in order to get the word out. Crystal and Lake Elmo airports also had newsletters, and anyone interested could sign up at the MAC website. Construction in 2021 would be for the Delta-Echo-LED taxiway project, which was supposed to have been completed two years ago but was pushed back due to budget constraints. It would be completed in late August. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 14, 2021 Page 4 On January 27, 2021 there would be a Lunch and Learn from noon to 1:00 p.m. including Bob Barker, Anthony Walsh tower supervisor, Brian Ryks, Peterson, Joe Harris, and Chad Lefke, Vice-President of Operations. Gerber stated his department was updating its Fire and EMS response services for the airport. He commended the help from Peterson for getting information to firefighters and dispatchers. D. PRIMARY RELIEVER AIRPORTS VISIONARY STUDY - MAC Peterson stated this was on hold due to the lack of an airport planner at MAC. There would be an ALP update in 2022, and this report would be a part of that. Barker stated he asked Lewis about the status, who said Phase I was completed. Peterson agreed, but added he could not give a timeline for Phase II or next steps, due to the lack of a planner. VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. AIRPORT TOUR This item was tabled. IX. NEW BUSINESS I. MAC FLIGHT TRACKER TUTORIAL This item was tabled. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PRESENTATION Barker announced the presentation would be given the following Tuesday. He thanked Lewis, Peterson and Dorson for compiling the data for it. Gerber would introduce Barker who would give the presentation. There were three commissions scheduled to present. There was a limited audience for this, but everyone was invited to attend online, and Gerber would send that link to the commission members. Dorson asked if City workshops were normally broadcast, and Gerber replied they were not, but would be in this case. The hybrid model was being used due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Barker added this new model with workshop presentations allowed the City Council to be more interactive than in the Council Chambers. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 14, 2021 Page 5 IX. UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOPICS FOR FUTURE FCAAC MEETINGS Dorson asked Peterson if there would be a possibility of a walk-through of the Flying Cloud development. For example, Hummingbird Aviation had new construction. He also wished to see the Comprehensive Plan, a three-to-five-year vision for the airport in addition to the visionary study. Peterson offered to recap this in future meetings. Kleinfehn asked if there could be an airport rough estimate of tax revenue generated by the airport. Dorson replied that would be available from the City, but he was not sure if there was a breakdown. Peterson replied he had done some research, and the amount was significant. Barker added the airport also generated jobs. He also asked for data on pending new tenants. Peterson stated in 2019 operations totaled 105,000. Barker announced this was his last meeting as chair and thanked the commission. Schendel stated this was also his last meeting. Gerber thanked them both. XI. ADJOURNMENT The next FCAAC meeting will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Rooms. MOTION: Kleinfehn moved, seconded by Schendel to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.