04-21-97 Special
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Meeting
with Metropolitan Airports Commission
April 21, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Richfield Council Member Russ Susag and MAC
Commissioner John Himle at 3:58 p.m.
ROLL CALL
City Council
Members Present:Martin J. Kirsch, Mayor; Russ Susag; and Susan Rosenberg; and
Kristal Stokes.
Council Members
Absent::Mike Sandahl.
Staff Present:James Prosser, City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Steve
Devich, Administrative Services Director; Gretchen Blank, Acting
Recreation Services Director; Michael Eastling, Public Works Director;
and Dawn Weitzel, Communications/Special Projects Assistant.
MAC
Commissioners:Sandy Grieve, Chair; Steve Cramer; John Dowdle; Edward Fiore;
Alton Gasper; John Himle; Darcy Hitesman; Daniel Johnson; John
Kahler; Dick Long; Darwin Reedy; Paul Rehkamp; and Georgiann
Stenerson.
MAC Staff
Present:Jeff Hamiel, Nigel Finney, Tom Anderson, Jim Fortman, David
Dombrowski, David Gergsven, Tim Anderson, Lynn Sorensen, Jenn
Unruh.
Others Present:Dick Saunders, SMAAC; Chauncey Case, Met Council; Jon Larsen,
EQB; Laurie Blake, Star Tribune; Don Grant, Air Cargo Center; Nick
Vossberg; and Don Priebe.
Special Meeting Minutes-2-April 21, 1997
Item #1INTRODUCTIONS
City Council Members, Metropolitan Airports Commissioners, and respective staff
members were introduced. It was indicated Council Member Sandahl was not present at this
time due to his job and would try to arrive later.
Item #2PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP-DIALOGUE BETWEEN POLICY BODIES TO
ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP, WHILE
UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS.
Council Member Susag discussed the background and discussions which resulted in
the scheduling of the joint workshop meeting. He reviewed previous cooperative efforts of
the City and the MAC including:
x
The taking of East Elementary School
x
Establishment of recreational areas: ballfields, golf course, gardens
x
Mutual aid agreements (Public Safety)
x
MTC garage
x
New Ford Town/Rich Acres acquisition
Council Member Susag stated the purpose of this meeting was to provide a forum for
dialogue between the two policy bodies to establish a cooperative working relationship, while
understanding and respecting each others individual positions.
Item #3REVIEW ROLES OF EACH ORGANIZATION
Council Member Susag presented and discussed the City of Richfield’s Vision
Statement. He stated the following as the most important concerns of Richfield residents
related to the airport:
1.Noise
2.Loss of recreational assets
3.Loss of housing
Council Member Susag discussed the following issues of concern of the City:
x
Runway 4-22
x
Proposed North/South runway
x
Loss of recreational assets
Special Meeting Minutes-3-April 21, 1997
He reviewed the following City of Richfield expectations:
x
Recognition of positions
x
Cooperative working relationship
x
Deferral of the taking of recreational assets until absolutely necessary (both
bodies have now approved an agreement amendment to accomplish this)
x
Assistance in location of replacement recreational areas
x
Mitigation of noise from the proposed North/South runway
x
Redevelopment of Cedar Avenue corridor
x
Access points: 66th Street interchange, 77th Street underpass
MAC Commissioner John Himle discussed the following areas for the MAC and the
City to work together:
x
Recreational, Leases/Assets
Better communication may have changed the approach regarding the lease
termination issue. The lease amendment has been approved and phasing would
allow for mitigation and alternatives.
x
Runway 4-22 Litigation
The Runway Use System (RUS) has been voted on and approved by the MAC.
The taxiways cannot be constructed until after the cross runway reconstruction has
been completed.
x
North/South Runway
The Draft E.I.S. will probably be completed in the summer of 1997. Ground noise
data is being prepared for review.
MAC Commissioner Fiore questioned the timing of Richfield addressing the loss of
recreational assets in light of the Governor’s 1995 decision that a new airport would not be
built.
MAC Commissioner Gaspar stated he had not favored keeping the airport at this site,
but since that decision was made he felt the MAC must maximize the use and capacity of the
current airport and to minimize noise impacts of doing so.
MAC Commissioner Johnson suggested that collaboration on identifying alternative
recreational sites is possible, such as looking at the St. Kevin’s site.
Item #4ADISCUSSION OF ISSUES: RECREATIONAL LEASES
x
ALTERNATIVE BALLFIELD LOCATIONS
x
GOLF COURSE/DRIVING RANGE
x
GARDENS
Council Member Susag reviewed and discussed Richfield’s Recreation Asset Task
Forces:
Special Meeting Minutes-4-April 21, 1997
x
Multi-Agency Task Force
Metropolitan Council, Richfield, DNR, MAC, Minneapolis, Veterans
Administration, Minnesota Historical Society, and Bureau of Mines.
Cooperative planning to provide a ‘win-win’ situation for agencies and the
publics they serve.
Evaluating ‘excess’ government lands now held by several federal and state
agencies in the Fort Snelling area.
Outdoor Field Users Group.
MAC Commissioner Rehnkamp asked questions regarding payback for the golf
course.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the lease agreement terms.
MAC Commissioner Fiore stated there was limited space on the airport site and that if
any site at the airport was to be used for alternative recreational space it would be temporary
and would have to be vacated sometime between 2010-2020. He questioned whether it
would be a good business decision to use airport property for such a temporary use.
Item #4BRUNWAY 4-22 EIS LITIGATION
MAC Commissioner Himle asked about Richfield’s perspectives regarding Runway 4-
22 and the North/South runway.
Council Member Susag reviewed Richfield’s position regarding opposition to the use
of Runway 4-22 for noise redistribution purposes, cost of mitigation, and the construction of
the taxiways.
Item #4CPROPOSED NORTH/SOUTH RUNWAY
EIS STATUS/PROCESS
GROUND NOISE/MITIGATION
RICHFIELD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ACCESS ISSUES (66TH STREET INTERCHANGE, 77TH
STREET UNDERPASS)
Mayor Kirsch stated the need for the completion of an E.I.S. for the North/South
runway, the need for ground level noise data, and a mitigation plan in order to determine the
impact on Richfield.
Council Member Susag reviewed Richfield’s Comprehensive Plan elements for the
Cedar Avenue Corridor which are intended to support airport operation in the current
location and protect a quality living environment for Richfield citizens.
Special Meeting Minutes-5-April 21, 1997
Jeff Hamiel, MAC Executive Director, stated that the E.I.S. for the North/South runway
will be completed in the fall of 1997 and acknowledged Richfield’s concern about ground
level noise.
Nigel Finney, MAC Deputy Director, stated that MAC has been monitoring and
developing ground level noise data which should be available to the City in about one week
and will be included in the E.I.S.
City Manager Prosser discussed the issue of the lack of ground level noise standards
regarding time, duration, and mitigation. He stated the City had hired a consultant to
prepare a mitigation plan.
Nigel Finney indicated there were two main components of ground level noise: taxing
noise and start takeoff roll.
Discussion followed regarding noise mitigation along the Cedar Avenue corridor.
MAC Commissioner Rehkamp stated concern that noise mitigation not be used as leverage
for funding redevelopment.
Council Member Stokes reviewed the impact of airport noise on neighborhood stability
and property values.
Jeff Hamiel, MAC Executive Director, stated that the MAC is committed to providing to
the City the ground level noise data and working with the City on this issue.
City Manager Prosser stated that the City has asked the Metropolitan Council for help
in preparing the North/South runway mitigation plan.
Council Member Susag suggested that the support of MAC in lobbying for funding the
77th Street underpass would be helpful.
Tom Anderson, MAC legal counsel, stated that as MAC looks at the relocation of
businesses related to the clear zone in Bloomington for the North/South runway, there may
be redevelopment opportunities for relocating businesses in the area.
MAC Commissioner Himle stated that hopefully the MAC and the City can work
together on areas of common ground and avoid litigation on issues which they differ.
Jeff Hamiel, MAC Executive Director, stated that the MAC will provide the ground
level noise data to the City, plan to schedule a follow up MAC/City Council meeting, and
continue dialogue with City staff on airport issues.
City Manager Prosser stated that continued policy differences remain especially
related to Runway 4-22.
Council Member Susag requested continuation of MAC participation in the Multi-
Agency Recreation Task Force.
Special Meeting Minutes-6-April 21, 1997
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 5:15 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser
City ClerkCity Manager