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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 01/09/2014 APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION THURSDAY,JANUARY 9, 2014 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER HERITAGE ROOM 1 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Jeff Larsen, Chair; Keith Tschohl, Vice-Chair; Commissioners: Joe Sutila, John Pratten, Caryl Hansen, Ben McQuillan and Joe Harris, MAC representative STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Peter Humbert, Derrick Te, Amanda Minder COMMISSION STAFF: George Esbensen, Fire Chief Lori Creamer, Recording Secretary VISITORS: Jennifer Lewis, MAC Representative I. ROLL CALL/CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Chair Larsen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. McQuillan and Harris were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Tschohl moved, seconded by Pratten to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. PUBLIC COMMENT IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 MOTION: Motion was made by Pratten, seconded by Sutila, to approve the October 10, 2013. Motion carried 4-0 with Hansen abstaining. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. COUNCIL WORKSHOP GOAL SESSION OVER TOPICS Chair Larsen stated the Council workshop will be January 21 at 5:30. Anyone can attend the meeting. He stated each commission would have about 10 minutes to present. Sutila asked who would be doing the presenting. Larsen stated usually it's the chair, however, this year the Vice Chair will be presenting if he is available. Tschohl confirmed he would be available to present this year. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 9, 2014 Page 2 Tschohl used the overhead projector to review the accomplishments for 2013 and gather ideas and comments for the 2014 work plan. Larsen stated that last year there were general goals & specific goals on the work plan. Tschohl stated as a general rule we should keep the general goals, which are stated in the charter, and keep specific goals — other goals that were not met or completed in 2013 and any new items for 2014. The plan to work with MAC to reduce nighttime noise and to improve the appearance of the airport was a general goal that was added by the commission. Larsen stated this would be the year to do the security at the airport. Don't foresee any changes except for adding the airport watch visitor area at Flying Cloud for individuals who want to watch and/or photograph the planes as they land and taking off. Larsen asked who in the past has typically arranged the security set up. Esbensen stated he would talk with law enforcement to arrange that. Larsen asked if there was any particular meeting in 2014 to schedule the security conference. Esbensen stated it could be done at the next meeting April 10, 2014. Typically there are representatives from Eden Prairie Fire, Eden Prairie Police, FAA, TSA and a representative from the airport watch group would be invited to the meeting. Tschohl compiled the presentation based on last years. Goals for 2013 included web tools —which has been pushed off but would like it to continue to be a goal for 2014. Commission made two visits to the airport to accommodate out going student representatives. In 2013 the commission visited the tower, MAC maintenance facility, Runway 18-36 construction site and three FBO's (Thunderbird, Elliot and Modern Avionics). Recognized Operator of the year in 2013, FCM tower for its efforts to encourage quiet flying. Continued to monitor changes relevant to the airport and update Council as needed on non-aeronautical development and the Joint Airport Zoning Board (JAZB). The non-aeronautical development would be projects the Planning Commission and City Council would review; however, the Flying Cloud Airport Commission should be aware of them. Present FAA data for a 12month period ending 11/30/2013. 76,834 total operations, which was a decrease of 7,929 operations in 2012; lowest total traffic count in over 50 years; continues long-term trend, with most of the decrease due to reduction in local flights and itinerant VFR operations; 7ch busiest airport in Minnesota and adjacent four states. There were 18,094 IFR operations in 2013, which was a decrease of 1.398 from 19.494 operations in 2012 — similar volume to 2008 and 2009; 16th busiest IFR airport in Minnesota and adjacent four states. Working with the website tools, visiting the airport and operator of the year are goals which should be carried over to 2014. Bi-annual security conference would be another goal. Larsen stated last year they prepared additional information in a handout format— not mentioned in the presentation for Council members review. Council receives the information the Friday before the meeting so they can highlight anything they may have questions on. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 9, 2014 Page 3 Larsen proposed to make the modifications to the slides that were talked about and have it available and send it to Esbensen to distribute the final presentation for the Council meeting. B. FCAAC ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Larsen stated there are currently three terms that expire this year on the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission. They include Commission member Hansen, Pratten and Tschohl. If you are interested in re-applying for another 3 year term, please do so by Mid February. Tschohl has indicated he will re-apply. Hansen stated she wasn't aware her term was expiring! Pratten hasn't made a decision at this point. If you decide you don't want to re-apply please let Larsen or Esbensen know so the rest of the commission can be recruiting other members. C. NOISE COMPLAINTS/STAGE 2 OPERATIONS REPORT Jennifer Lewis, MAC Representative, prepared annual snapshot watching noise complaints very closely because they are higher than the past 2 years. Isolated which are general complaints are relatively few households generating the highest number of complaints. Lewis presented the noise complaints received by MAC for the months of October and November 2013. She stated the reports for December are missing a chunk of flight track data therefore the report was incomplete. Total complaints for the month of October were 748 compared to 192 for the same time period in 2012. 19 households complained compared to 23 last year. Nighttime complaints totaled 229 with 15 of those pertaining to helicopter operations. The MAC did send letters to the households that complained the most. The MAC received 1 response,however, the household with the most complaints has not responded. The information she has on complainant#81 is from the assessor's office. Lewis has written them three times—once in December, 2013 and previously in August and September of 2013. The number of letters sent to aircraft operators was a bit higher. MAC sent 25 compared to 13 last year(October). 16 letters were sent in November. These operators cannot stop during night time hours due to business needs. Operational conflict—vs- what the MAC is asking to voluntarily comply with. Larsen hasn't seen or heard anything related to noise at Flying Cloud from council members, city staff, or other citizens. Looks like household 81 feels raising complaints is the only way they want to participate. Esbensen asked if there was a way to normalize the numbers. As Chair Larsen stated there are more residents living near the airport in the past 3 years. Hennepin Village, Reeder Ridge and the Sky Lane area this could potentially be adding more complaints in years to come. What is the true number there? Pratten stated the number of household complaints went down; the odd thing is we focus on one household which is driving the issue. Have low patience with people who complain but don't follow up or respond to our efforts to contact them and find a resolution. Could this household be generating complaints through a computer set to file a complaint every so many minutes? Sutila FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION January 9, 2014 Page 4 stated there is no need to do anything. It really shouldn't matter. Pratten stated the number of households is constant, and doesn't see a push to do anything one way or the other. Lewis stated Harris and Nawrocki voted Elliott Aviation as Operator of the Year for their voluntary efforts to reduce night time noise operations. Harris has asked them to come to the April 10, 2014 meeting to accept an award presented with a plaque. Harris is looking to change it up a bit— a surprise for all of us. Lewis reported there were no stage 2 operations to report for this period. VI. EDUCATIONAL ITEMS VII. NOISE ABATEMENT/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. OTHER BUSINESS A. VARIOUS FYI ITEMS Next commission meeting is April 10, 2014. XII. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Motion was made by Tschohl, seconded by Pratten, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Larsen adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.