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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 08/06/1997 APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 6, 1997 7:00 P.M. City Center Prairie Rooms A& B 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie COMMISSION MEMBERS: Carlo Amato, Jeff Bauer, Tom Heffelfinger, Rob Kilpatrick, Jeff Larsen, Alan Nitchman, and Gary Schmidt VISITORS: Jeff Ullom, FCM Tower Chief STAFF: Scott A. Kipp, Senior Planner, and Barbara Anderson, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chair Heffelfinger called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Chad Leqve and Joseph Harris from MAC were present. Commissioners Carlo Amato and Jeff Bauer were not present. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Kipp requested that Item D be changed to "Review of the 1996 Noise Summary" as Roy Fuhrmann was not present to discuss the Design Framework issues. Motion: Nitchman moved, seconded by Larsen to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. II. SWEARING IN OF JEFF LARSEN Jeff Larsen read the swearing in statement, which was witnessed by two other Commissioners. Kipp noted that John Smith was appointed by the City Council to replace Carlo Amato, who had recently resigned from the Commission. III. APPROVAL OF MAY 7, 1997 MINUTES MOTION: Nitchman moved, seconded by Larsen, to approve the May 7, 1997 Minutes as submitted. Motion carried 5-0. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. MAC EIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE-Revised Forecasts - Gary Schmidt Heffelfinger stated he had requested documents regarding safety issues at the Flying Cloud Airport and MAC had made the documentation available to him which he has not yet read. MAC agreed to make additional documents available FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION August 6, 1997 Page 2 if requested. There is a draft activity forecast included in the packet. It shows significant increases in jet traffic over the next three years and later. He noted there was significant variation between these forecasts. Schmidt stated the trend was towards more jet aircraft today than there was anticipated three years ago. This is what is anticipated to happen in type of air traffic in the next few years. Charters are more popular because of the tax structure. This reflects the economic situation which is occurring. He noted that this is growing faster than anticipated which is causing some problems. Discussion ensued regarding the numbers of jet aircraft versus the projections in the long range plan. Nitchman stated they need a definition of night time to clarify the time periods during these activities. Heffelfinger stated there was an increase in turbo prop aircraft and a dramatic increase in the jet traffic which appears to be corporate jet traffic almost exclusively. The growth in the airport will result in a fundamental change in the airport as we know it today. Nitchman commented the question was whether more noise will be created with these changes and whether the mixing of these types of aircraft may result in more noise as well. Discussion ensued regarding whether the projections are good or bad for the community and the assumptions under which the City Council has been operating. Heffelfinger stated he spoke to the City Council under the Open Podium section in the Agenda and informed them that they should pay close attention to the new forecast which show significant changes occurring in jet operations which will impact the City. He questioned the accuracy of the figures and if they are accurate then as a neighbor the use level was far too high. Nitchman stated there were two sides to this issue and from a business point of view it was good for business. He discussed another Economic Study that was done for New Jersey which has a more significant impact than Flying Cloud Airport will have on the surrounding community. These airports contribute significantly to the economy of the communities in which they are located. Also, the impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods have to be looked it as well. Nitchman commented the expansion of the runway was what will have the greatest impact on the community because of the economic benefit derived from additional air traffic into and out of Flying Cloud Airport. At a recent MAC meeting, Hustad asked the MAC to purchase the acreage that would be used for the runway expansion. Schmidt stated the Commission gave MAC authorization to enter into negotiations to purchase the 100 acre portion of the property needed for the expansion project. MAC cannot move forward on purchasing Zones A and B (portion of Hustad site) because the EIS for the expansion has not been completed, but they can move on the land needed for the existing airport. Metropolitan Council has to approve any project in excess of $2 million dollars which is when they become involved in the approval process. Discussion ensued regarding safety issues being the reason for the EIS being done initially. Schmidt noted that the pilots will not compromise safety issues at Flying FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION August 6, 1997 Page 2 Cloud Airport; they will go to another airport first. Nitchman stated that the biggest percentage of relief was from MSP transient traffic. The percentage of aircraft to shift to Flying Cloud Airport is small. Discussion ensued regarding delays at MSP and the functions of other airports in the area regarding absorbing the corporate air traffic. MAC is trying to maximize the capacities of all the airports within the metropolitan area because expansion of MSP is not possible. Anoka-Blaine will also have to absorb some of the excess traffic to keep MSP workable in the future. If changes are not made there will be gridlock at MSP. Heffelfinger commented that before the scoping document is made public he felt it was important to have it reviewed by the City Council to keep them informed of what was going on and the options available. Staff commented that it would be good to get on a Council agenda when this information is ready. Nitchman agreed it would be a good idea. B. PRELIMINARY SEWER AND WATER PLAN FOR FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT - Gary Schmidt Schmidt stated the Comprehensive Plan was approved by Metropolitan Council and one stipulation was that MAC would try to implement a sewer and water system at Flying Cloud Airport. There are some trunk lines that will have to be approved and this plan shows only how these utilities could be supplied to the airport. Heffelfinger stated this plan does not take into account the increases in use projected by the EIS. The EIS Committee has discussed the expansion to a broader range of aircraft and if this is implemented how would it affect this plan? Schmidt responded the plan would have to be redesigned and one line would have to be run to serve two different locations. If they move forward with this plan there will be expansion which has to be taken into account. Kipp noted that this plan does not take existing waste traps into account. Nitchman stated they will have a drain system that has a water separator included in it and then the water goes into the sewer system. Discussion ensued regarding containment of hazardous fluids or fuel and the requirements that have to be met. Spill prevention and counter measures have to be complied with. Drains and traps in specific buildings were discussed and the holding tank that accommodates them now. Jeff Ullom, FCM Tower Chief, stated he has been at Flying Cloud Airport since November, 1996 and they are approaching gridlock at MSP rapidly. He felt that Flying Cloud Airport could be of some use to MSP. The character of the airport has changed, and they have a fair amount of IFR aircraft. The mix of the traffic has changed and the runway expansion will cause it to change even more. He thought they had a good airport, good people, and the facility was well run and maintained. Kipp asked about the noise abatement program and Ullom responded that the FAA is in the Air Traffic Control business not the noise abatement business, but as the mix of air traffic changes it will have to become part of the program. MAC could place a nighttime fly-in restriction at the airport which is common at many airports. Often this is dealt with in conjunction with safety issues. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION August 6, 1997 Page 2 Discussion ensued regarding various types of air traffic and the facilities which are available at Flying Cloud Airport. Kipp reviewed the present noise abatement program which is in place at Flying Cloud Airport. Flight patterns and the approach and take-off directions were discussed, and it was noted that the VFR traffic was already turned to avoid the power lines. Ullom stated the FAA was going through a reorganization process and positions were being cut and budgets carefully reviewed. If they are looking at adding people or extending hours of control tower operation they should put in a request for that now. C. REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT OF FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT - Gary Schmidt Schmidt stated he did not bring this to the meeting, but they may have a sheet on each hangar. There was no bound document which contains all these documents. Nitchman stated that they audited each septic system and evaluated the holding tanks. Schmidt stated there was a State regulation for this inspection to be done. Kipp said he and the City Engineer Alan Gray have been requesting this information but has yet to be supplied by MAC. He will ask Chad to get this information for Al Gray. Heffelfinger requested that an audit be given to Al Gray. D. 1996 NOISE SUMMARY- Chad Legve Leqve reviewed the MAC aviation noise program and discussed types of aircraft that used the airport and the complaints received. Kipp inquired how many over flights had occurred and Leqve responded there were may more in 1996 than in 1995 from MSP. E. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DISCUSSION -Al Nitchman Nitchman deferred this item to another agenda. V. NOISE ABATEMENT PLAN/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS Noise Complaints for April through June, 1997 - Chad Legve Leqve discussed the complaints received from April through June, 1997 and noted there was only one complaint. Heffelfinger stated he had made a complaint which was not included. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Replacement Candidate for Vacant Commission Seat of Carlo Amato - Scott Kipp Kipp stated that John Smith will replace the vacant seat of Carlo Amato. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nitchman moved, seconded by Larsen, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.