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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 07/09/2009 (5) APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION THURSDAY,JULY 9, 2009 4:30 P.M. AVIATION CENTER 10100 Flying Cloud Drive COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rick King; Commissioners: Judy Gentry, Greg McKewan and Jeff Nawrocki COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeff Larsen, Mark Michelson and Kurt Schendel STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: J.P. Maslyn and Tanay Mehta VISITORS: Scott Skramstad, MAC Mike Harder, MAC Toni Howell, MAC STAFF: Scott Kipp, Senior Planner Carol Pelzel, City Recorder I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair King called the meeting to order at 4:43 p.m. II. SWEARING IN OF REAPPOINTED COMMISSION MEMBERS A. KURT SCHENDEL The swearing in of Schendel will occur at the next regular Commission meeting since he was not in attendance at this meeting. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Gentry moved, seconded by McKewan, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried, 4-0. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2009 MOTION: Nawrocki moved, seconded by McKewan, to approve the May 14, 2009, regular meeting minutes as published. Motion carried, 4-0. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 2 B. COMMISSION MEETING HELD THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009 King asked on Page 4, the sixth sentence in Item IV. be changed to read "However, they are appointed by the Governor and Mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis." MOTION: Nawrocki moved, seconded by McKewan, to approve the May 28, 2009, special meeting minutes as corrected. Motion carried, 4-0. VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. DISCUSSION ON VICKI PELLAR PRICE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH FAA/TSA POLICIES AND RULES King explained Pellar Price had brought to the City's attention certain items regarding Flying Cloud Airport she would like the City to address. King said he would like the Commission to discuss each of these items and decide if any further action needs to be taken regarding each specific item. King asked Kipp to prepare a memorandum to the City Manager including the Commission's discussion and/or recommendations. 1. Open access to non-authorized personnel Nawrocki explained for general aviation airports there are no requirements or mandates regarding gate security. They will be reinstalling 12 gates at Flying Cloud and anticipate completing the project in the fall of this year. The gates will require a key pad code for access including a screen on the pad displaying all of the operator's information. This will help control people who want to look at the airport or for people who have no reason to be in the airport. Nawrocki indicated everything will be locked down. King said from Nawrocki's explanation and including the safety review, this would satisfy the concerns on securing the openings to the airport including the requirement of businesses having to allow their customers access through the gates. No further action on this issue would be required. 2. Surface surveillance radar Nawrocki said the FAA is working with MAC on some type of program but is not something they are required to do. This is an ongoing issue and it is a joint effort with MAC and the FAA. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 3 3. Annual review of safety records from FAA Runway Safety Office Nawrocki said he assumes this review refers to runway incursions. MAC has met with the FAA and in addition to the secured gates they will also be adding airfield lighting to the runway intersections as well as additional signage and markings that are above what is needed. Additional training was also conducted with the control tower staff and quarterly meetings are held with the tenants. King stated the gate access should help as well as the lights at the key intersections with signage at the end of the alleyways and markings on the pavement. The quarterly education should also assist in eliminating incursions. Nawrocki explained the FAA's initiative is to conduct runway safety meetings along with seminars conducted by a runway safety team. They will hold additional meetings at Flying Cloud. These meetings are separate from the quarterly meetings. With regard to safety, McKewan asked how Flying Cloud compares to other reliever airports. Nawrocki responded there have been issues at Crystal and Anoka, however, Flying Cloud is a challenge. This is a result of the way the airport is laid out and the 12 access points. Gentry asked if there is any information included in the pilot's manuals showing the airport layout. Nawrocki responded the pilots should be familiar with the airport and the control tower is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. if a pilot should need assistance. Scott Skramstad, MAC representative,pointed out the incursions that have occurred at Flying Cloud were vehicles going across the runway. 4. MAC retesting of remaining wells and sroundwater Mike Harder, MAC representative, explained the wells at Flying Cloud are owned and maintained by the tenants. There are 14 wells on the property and they must comply with the Minnesota Department of Health code. MAC does not monitor the wells. The adjacent landfill is regulated under the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. There is some type of monitoring program for the landfill and the last report was issued in 2005 and is a public document. There are no monitoring wells located on Flying Cloud property. Harder further explained the sewer and water project recently completed requires the tenants to connect to City water within two calendar years or the spring of 2011. Toni Howell, MAC representative, said MAC has no reason to believe the landfill has contaminated Flying Cloud's system since the water runs down grade. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 4 Harder said Pellar Price expressed concerns MAC is not Professional Engineer (PE) compliant. He explained they have voluntarily had an SPCC plan in place since 1991 and it is signed by a PE. This plan was recently updated in 2009. Howell said the challenge she sees is the distinction between MAC and the tenants. The tenants are also required to have an SPCC. Harder explained the State Agency would enforce this with the FBO's. MAC's role is to provide guidance. Ultimately it is the State agency the FBO's have to comply with. King said it is important to state MAC has its items in place and clarify MAC has its own plan and the tenants must comply with State regulations. If there are additional questions, the Pollution Control Agency is the organization to be contacted. King asked MAC to provide a copy of the SPCC plan to Kipp so he can place it on the City's website. Howell pointed out Harder makes sure MAC is PE compliant and he is in charge of all six airports. Gentry questioned if Flying Cloud is in compliance with TSA security. Nawrocki answered there is no TSA guidance for reliever airports only for commercial airports. They do receive a visit from a TSA representative annually and they do acknowledge they have no jurisdiction over general aviation airports. Flying Cloud does have a security plan and it is distributed to the FBO and operators located at Flying Cloud. King explained the Commission reviewed security plans for Flying Cloud in 2007 and 2008 and recommended in 2008 to review the security plan every two years. The City Council did approve this recommendation and a review will occur again next year. The Commission found there were no activities at the airport suggesting the Commission look at the plan every year based on statistics from MAC and the Eden Prairie Police Department. King suggested they have no further discussion on security at Flying Cloud particularly since the access gates will be locked this fall. Nawrocki said there currently are no security issues at Flying Cloud Airport. In response to Pellar Price's comments regarding crops planted on airport property, Nawrocki explained there are areas west of the airport leased for agricultural purposes. MAC will be re-evaluating for next year if any land is suitable for agricultural activities. The area around the VOR building is restricted and use of that land would be eliminated. This will be further reviewed when it comes time to renew the lease for use of the property. King addressed Pellar Price's statement that he lobbied Oberstar's office for the airport expansion. King explained part of his job at his company is to do government affairs work and every quarter he meets with the congressional delegation in their offices. He has met numerous times with Oberstar but does not lobby for funds for his company, for MAC or for the City. The Congressional delegation is very much aware of this Commission, the airport's expansion, etc. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 5 King said he disagrees with Pellar Price's inference that the chair of a Commission or Committee has to be neutral. He stated the chair is usually from one party or another and advocates a certain position and makes sure his opinion is heard. To say the chair would need to be neutral in any political environment would be a very unusual position to take and to say the Chair has to be fair in the discussion is a requirement. King said he is very comfortable with his position and he would be very happy to discuss this further with Pellar Price. B. TOP NOISE ABATEMENT/MITIGATION SUGGESTIONS FROM AIRPORT BUSINESS MEETINGS King suggested this item be continued to the next meeting since Larsen was going to do the presentation and he is not at this evening's meeting. VII. EDUCATIONAL ITEMS VIII. FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND MAC A. NOISE COMPLAINTS/STAGE 2 OPERATIONS REPORT (MAY-JUNE) Skramstad reported they have been tracking a high number of complaints since early last year. The pace has stayed steady even after the June public meeting. For the months of May and June there were 548 total complaints filed from 52 households. Of those complaints, 256 were for operations during nighttime hours. About a year ago 90 to 95 percent of the complaints were for nighttime operations. For the past two months just under 50 percent of the complaints were for operations other than nighttime operations. Skramstad said in the past two months they sent out 80 letters and for year-to-date they have sent out 238 letters. One operator received 24 letters. Those operators receiving one letter are more than likely an operator who is not based at the airport. Year-to-date they have had 1,797 complaints from 96 households. Over the last two months the top five households filed 62 percent of the complaints with the top household filing 29 percent of the complaints. Skramstad explained most of the helicopter complaints were a result of training occurring during this time period. Training procedures are conducted close to a runway and with the south parallel runway closed the helicopters are being shifted a different direction. Skramstad said there may be some other reasons why air traffic isn't sending traffic to the south. He indicated he would ask them to shift some of that traffic. King indicated normal operations are off of the north parallel runway. If the helicopter training is occurring during the day there must be something they can do to redirect those flights. Skramstad said he would call air traffic control to see if there is a specific reason for not sending the helicopters to the south. Skramstad stated even with the runway closed operations are normal at the airport. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 6 IX. NOISE ABATEMENT/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS A. LIFE LINK III HELICOPTER FLIGHT TRACKS (MAY-JUNE) Skramstad reviewed the flight tracks for the Air Methods helicopters. He explained the map now shows touch and go flights. These flights actually depart and come back on the same track. Skramstad further explained they don't have actual flight track data from the new tracking system but for the piece that processes and handles data they can do segment tracks in the arrival and departure categories. Skramstad stated for the past two months the trends are what they have been seeing in the past. They do have a spike in helicopter complaints related to training and operations during the day. Household No. 2 left 71 percent of the complaints and those were exclusively helicopter training flights. Sixteen of the complaints generated were for nighttime helicopter flights and eight of those were specifically from Life Link Air ambulance flights. X. NEW BUSINESS Skramstad explained some information had been passed on to them from Chair King that he had picked up at other airports regarding noise abatement. Skramstad said they have developed something similar for the City of St. Paul and their downtown airport. A noise abatement brochure was created to fit into a pilot's Jeppesen binder. MAC has an agreement similar to Eden Prairie's with the City of St. Paul with regard to the airport flood wall construction project. One of the things specific to this noise abatement agreement was to develop a pilot brochure to give to all FBO's and tenants and to reach out to itinerant pilots. When they received the information from King they thought it would be prudent to develop something similar for Flying Cloud. Skramstad distributed a draft brochure including a summary of the voluntary noise abatement plan as well as some of the additional conditions agreed to. This brochure also includes important airport information. This would be useful information for a pilot to put in their Jeppesen publication. Skramstad asked Commission members to review this brochure and suggested they discuss it further at their next meeting. Once it is approved it will be distributed to the tenants and FBO's at Flying Cloud. They have found this document to be very successful in St. Paul. McKewan thanked Skramstad for taking the initiative to develop this brochure. Skramstad said once they have the pilot information formalized they will include some graphics explaining the different procedures and recommendations. King said he would rather not wait until the next meeting to review this brochure but asked that brochures be mailed to those Commission members absent this evening and to get their feedback to Scott Kipp within the next seven to ten days. He said he believes this brochure will not only help with noise but will also help with runway incursions. McKewan said once the document is finalized he will put it up on the City's website. King suggested once it is completed they send a memo from the Commission to the City Council and City Manager informing them the Commission asked MAC to develop such a brochure for Flying FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 7 Cloud and this is the result of that discussion. This is another example of the City's and MAC's partnership. Gentry also suggested a copy be sent to Vicki Pellar Price. XI. OTHER BUSINESS (various FYI items) 1. Approved FCAAC Minutes of March 12, 2009 2. Letter to MAC on City Accepting Request to Participate on Joint Airport Zoning Board 3. Letter Responding on MAC's Request for Commercial Development on Airport Property Kipp explained this letter is in reference to the expansion of ball fields on MAC property. MAC asked the City to consider a land exchange allowing MAC to control and commercially develop approximately four acres of MAC owned property at the southeast corner of the intersection of Mitchell Road and Pioneer Trail. The City has responded they would like to maintain the agreement between the City and MAC and to keep this property as ball fields. 4. Information from MAC's LTCP Open House on June 18, 2009 Kipp said both Michelson and Larsen attended this meeting. Kipp also reported on other related airport topics including some Hennepin Village concerns about the berm in back of the new hangars - should be raised or trees planted; screening of landing strobe lights; and,relocation of the control tower. It was explained there are no funds to relocate the control tower. It was also mentioned Flying Cloud was number two in incursions for unauthorized access. That is being addressed by installing key pads on all of the gates. Discussion was also held on the status of Flying Cloud and the opposition to a 6,000 foot runway or change in status. Kipp explained the documents of the Met Council's Aviation Task Force still show the classification of Flying Cloud as a Minor 11 airport. The Met Council has a copy of the City Council's resolution in opposition to the reclassification of the airport. Nawrocki pointed out they are running out of space at Flying Cloud and there is no room to add an additional 1,000 feet to a runway. 5. Letter on Newly Appointed Student Reps BeOnnins! in September 6. Thank You Letter to Brian Fox of Air Methods 7. Various Airport/Aviation Related News Articles 8. Next Commission Meeting—September 10, 2009 FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES July 9, 2009 Page 8 King asked if it would be possible to put some verbiage regarding the voluntary curfew at the bottom of the itineraries operators distribute. He thought this would be a good way to make the pilots aware of the voluntary curfew. Nawrocki responded he does not know if the operators have itineraries but this is something they could add to their field slips. Nawrocki said they would look at what the operators have and where this information could be added. Skramstad said typically the charter companies leave operation notes for the pilots and this information could possibly be included in the operation notes. Skramstad suggested he develop text for this Commission's endorsement to be included in the itinerary or operations data base. King thanked Student Representative Maslyn for serving on this Commission and wished him well in his upcoming studies. He also welcomed Tanay Mehta as a new student representative. MOTION: King moved, seconded by Gentry, to thank the student representatives for their participation and diligence over the year and to wish them the best of luck in school wherever they may be going and that the Commission send them a thank letter as well. Motion carried, 4-0. XII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Motion was made by King, seconded by Gentry, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried, 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.