03-08-05 Worksession
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/CITY COUNCil/PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Concurrent Worksession of
HRAlCity Council/Planning Commission
March 8, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:37 p.m.
Council Members
Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Fred Wroge; Bill Kilian; and Sue
Sandahl.
HRA Members
Present: Martin Kirsch; Kristal Stokes; Sue Sandahl; and Joan Heimberger.
HRA Members
Not Present: Thomas Harms, Chair.
Planning Commission
Members Present: Gordon Hanson; Greg Van Sickle; Maureen Scaglia; Jeffrey Karr; David
Schneider; and Kyle Hartnett.
Planning Commission
Members Not Present: Jeffrey Walz; Donna Drummond; and Kim Houle.
Staff Present:
Steve Devich, City Manager; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development
Director; Bruce Nordquist, Housing and Redevelopment Manager; Pam
Dmytrenko, Assistant to City Manager; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording
Secretary.
Item #1
Assistant to the City Manager Dmytrenko introduced MAC representatives Chad Leqve,
Manager of Aviation Noise and Satellite Programs, and Melissa Scovronski, Relations Specialist, who
provided an update on airport - related issues.
Mr. Leqve discussed the Part 150 Noise Insulation Program. The MAC is anticipating the
FAA's response on the revised noise contour maps and the 65 dnl forecast on the homes in the
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program before the North-South Runway is operational. The MAC is waiting for the acceptance of
the noise compatibility program by the FAA.
Mr. Leqve explained the revised insulation program regarding only an air conditioning
package. He explained the communications efforts regarding the new runway and associated
impacts. Feedback is welcome on suggestions to get the information to the public.
Mr. Leqve discussed the MSP 2020 Expansion Plan, including history back to 1990. The plan
is intended to be implemented upon demand and need at the airport.
Mr. Leqve reviewed the process of the three phases. Phase I includes expansion of the
Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) terminal with a completion anticipated for 2007. Phase II includes 17
new gates at the Lindberg terminal, new Concourse H, internal terminal improvements, additional
parking and new hotel construction on airport property with approximate completion by 2010. Phase
III includes an additional 23 gates, four at HHH and the others at Lindberg, with a timeframe of 2015-
2020.
Council Member Sandahl asked about the continuation of the noise abatement program.
Mr. Leqve said all the homes in the 1996 65 dnl program will be insulated.
Council Member Sandahl asked which eight homes remained to be insulated.
Mr. Leqve explained the homes are on thee~st side of 6600 block of 17th Avenue.
Council Member Kilian asked if these homes would be insulated because they are in the 65
dnl. However, they are also slated to be removed as part of the 87 db airport impact development
zone.
Mr. Leqve explained the process to evaluate and mitigate low frequency noise (LFN). The
FAA does not recognize LFN so there is no framework to mitigate.
Mr. Leqve explained the status of the evaluation of the LFN process undertaken by MIT and
Penn State. MAC's mitigation of LFN is contingent upon the impacts determined on a federal level.
Nothing will be done until a federal framework is set.
Council Member Kilian asked if Richfield homes were all off the table from the perspective of
mitigation.
Mr. Leqve said yes, for LFN mitigation.
Council Member Kilian asked if there is mitigation for those homes in the 65 dnl if they are not
removed.
Mr. Leqve said yes, unless there are other factors. It depends on analysis and quantifying
LFN, there may be some crossover.
Assistant to the City Manager Dmytrenko explained the Mayor sent two letters to MIT seeking
a status report on the LFN study, but getting feedback has been difficult. Richfield wanted MSP used
as a site for the study, but MAC disagreed.
Mr. Leqve stated he understands the study is moving forward. MSP was determined not to be
an optimal site for measurement of LFN. Dulles airport was the selected site. He said he would do
his best to facilitate discussions to get information on the study.
Council Member Kilian asked about the phasing of the new runway.
Mr. Leqve explained the FAA's intention is that when it's open in October 2005, it will be used
at full capacity, with no phasing.
Council Member Wroge asked about the original intent of the runway. He also asked if a
statement that this runway's purpose was so NWA could fly non-stop cargo planes was not accurate.
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Mr. Leqve stated the new runway was constructed to increase the capacity at the airport. He
said it was not an accurate statement. The extension of Runway 4-22 was for cargo planes but it did
not reach fruition.
HRA Commissioner Heimberger asked if 4-22 was continuing to operate.
Mr. Leqve said it is used very infrequently.
HRA Commissioner Heimberger asked if the airport expansion is within the current property
footprint.
Mr. Leqve said discussions today indicate the expansion is within the current footprint.
A Planning Commission Member asked about the direction of landings and takeoffs and which
way the jet points when taking off.
Mr. Leqve explained the approach is south to north, departures are to the south. The queuing
configuration is with the jet tail pipes predominantly to the east.
A Planning Commission Member asked about the equation of takeoffs and landings per gate.
Mr. Leqve explained the projected flight forecasts.
Council Member Sandahl asked about the NWA maintenance facility relocating on the airport
property as part of the airport expansion.
Mr. Leqve explained that regardless of the expansion plans, the maintenance building was
coming down. It was an airline decision, not MAC. There are no plans to relocate here.
Council Member Kilian asked about the hours of operation.
Mr. Leqve stated the new runway allows growth and increased demand. There will be some
pressure on the nighttime hours. MAC monitors flights closely but flights are controlled on the federal
level.
City Manager Devich asked about the type of aircraft used on the runway.
Mr. Leqve explained 30% of the flights per month are by hush kit aircraft. The runway can
accommodate basically any aircraft except a heavily weighted 747. Airlines consider fleet mix,
passenger count and fuel costs.
Council Member Kilian asked about the new runway's use currently because it feels like the
aircraft are closer than experienced previously.
Mr. Leqve stated the cargo ramp is open so they are closer. MAC aggressively addresses the
extended noise from jet engines. The runup pad is used 98% of the time, but 30% was outside the
pad this year. Discussion of this issue will be at the next Noise Oversight Committee meeting.
Mr. Leqve invited the City Council to watch the video, "The New North-South Runway-Paving
the Way for Growth".
A brochure regarding Runway 17/35 was distributed to the City Council.
The City Council thanked Mr. Leqve and Ms. Scovronski for attending tonight's Worksession.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:17 p.m.
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Date Approved: March 21, 2005
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Cheryl K umho
Recording Secretary