City Council - 02/03/2009 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WITH
THE FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION
& OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 3, 2009 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Ron Case, Jon Duckstad,
and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen,
Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and
Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the
City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION: Richard King —Chair, Jeff
Larsen—Vice-Chair, Judy Gentry, Joe Harris, Greg McKewan, Mark Michelson, Kurt Schendel,
Scott Kipp —Staff Liaison
Heritage Room H
Greg McKewan was absent.
I. 2008 ACTIVITIES (Rick King —Chair)
King said the Commission's goals for 2008 were to provide education and information
about Flying Cloud Airport to various groups, to increase Commission visibility and
communications, and to continue to monitor the Final Agreement.
In addition to its six regular meetings, the commission held two special meetings. A
public meeting was held at Hennepin Technical College on June 12 to discuss the Phase I
runway extension. More than 220 residents attended the meeting. The other special
meeting involved a tour of the airport that included one-on-one meetings with a number
of operators and a tour of the tower operation.
The City Council asked the Commission to address two key issues in 2008: airfield
security and nighttime noise.
The Commission dedicated a meeting to airport security. The meeting was attended by
representatives of FAA, TSA, Department of Homeland Security and MAC as well as
Eden Prairie's Police and Fire Chiefs. The Commission determined that the airport
continues to be among the leaders in aviation security.
King said that most noise complaints are made during the early morning hours and noise
complaints in general have picked up over the past few years. The Commission met with
officials from FAA and MAC to discuss options for reducing night time noise.
FAA cannot make the curfew mandatory but offered to cooperate with plans to reduce
noise. MAC asked the FAA to add a noise statement and voluntary restriction notice to its
outgoing Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) message. MAC also added
language about the voluntary night time curfew and noise abatement procedures to the
Airport Facility Directory. MAC and the FCAAC also met with the airport's top
operators to discuss ways to limit night time noise.
Other accomplishments for 2088 include:
• The FCAAC added a public comment section as a standard part of its meeting
agenda.
• The FCAAC reviewed and commented on the City's Comprehensive Guide Plan
Update.
• The Commission monitored FAA planning for the Republican National Convention
to determine whether or not air traffic at Flying Cloud Airport increased during the
event.
• The Commission worked with the City's Communication Division to enhance the
airport portion of the City's website.
• The Commission welcomed two student representatives for the first time this year.
• The MAC FCM Operator of the Year Award was presented to Executive Aviation at
the FCAAC's November meeting.
II. 2009 WORK PLAN (Jeff Larsen—Vice Chair)
Larsen said the Commission plans to continue to focus on education and information in
2009, especially as the second runway extension gets underway. The Commission would
also like to increase visibility through various communications channels and will
continue to monitor the Final Agreement. Two added goals are working to reduce night
time noise and to improve the appearance of the airport.
III. 2009 MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAC
AND THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE (Scott Kipp —Staff Liaison)
Staff Liaison Scott Kipp reviewed the 2009 update of the Management Audit of the Final
Agreement.
Article 2 — Conditions Precedent: The City and MAC continue to be in compliance.
Article 3—MAC Commitments and Representations: MAC continues to be in
compliance. Kipp noted that more work can be done with fixed based operators to ensure
compliance with the intent of the agreement regarding prohibition of night time
operations. King noted that a portion of each FCAAC meeting is devoted to noise
complaints.
Article 4— City Commitments and Representations: The City continues to be in
compliance.
Article 5— Third Party Challenges: The Northwest Airlines challenge was withdrawn in
November 2007. There are no other known challenges.
Article 6—Dispute Resolution: No disputes have been filed.
Article 7—Remedies: No remedies need as of the date of the updated audit.
IV. THANKS TO COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF (Rick King)
King thanked the Commissioners for their hard work over the past year. He also praised
staff Liaison Scott Kipp and Recorder Carol Pelzel for their support of the Commission's
work.
V. DISCUSSION
Mayor Young thanked the Commission for their work. He said the public meeting at
Hennepin Technical College was a highlight of 2008. He feels a similar event would be
appropriate in advance of this year's runway extension. He would like the FAA to be
invited to participate in the meeting.
Case asked for clarification on whether or not it can be verified that no Stage 2 aircraft
have landed or taken off at the airport for the past four years. Joe Harris explained that
radar data identifies each takeoff at the airport, and that a Stage 2 aircraft would be
identified by radar.
Case asked whether or not the clock has started on the two year time frame for noise
testing since the Phase I runway extension has been completed. Tim Anderson and Rick
King indicated that they thought it might have begun upon completion of the Phase 1
runway extension,but they were not certain.
Aho, Nelson and Duckstad also thanked the Commission for its work and agreed that
another public meeting should be held in 2009.
Neal asked for input on a letter the City received from MAC on establishment of a Joint
Airport Zoning Board to implement Airport Safety Zoning at Flying Cloud. Mayor
Young asked what issues the board will consider. Harris said the Board will consider
matters both inside and outside the fence. Chad Leqve, Manager, MAC Aviation Noise
and Satellite Programs Office, has scheduled a meeting for March 12 at which details of
the Board will be clarified. Tim Anderson said he will find out more about why the
Board is being formed now and what issues it will address. Nelson asked why
Bloomington is included since it is not close to Flying Cloud Airport. Neal said he will
bring forth additional information and staff recommendation on membership at a future
Council Meeting.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT