03-22-05 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession
March 22, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 8:20 p.m.
Members Present:
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Bill Kilian; Susan Rosenberg; and Sue Sandahl.
Members
Not Present:
Staff Present:
Fred Wroge.
Steven Devich, City Manager; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant to the City
Manager; Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary; and Corrine Thomson, City
Attorney.
Item#1
City Manager Devich stated the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) received a letter
from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicating that its updated 2007 Noise Exposure Map
has been reviewed and approved. Under the MAC's sound insulation program, any homes within the
65+ DNL contours qualify for the full insulation sound package.
The MAC is now beginning the design phase for insulation modifications for the 165 homes
located in Bloomington and Richfield within the new 2007 65+ DNL contour and making contacts with
those homeowners. Richfield has eight single family homes within the 65 DNL contour (located on
the east side of the 6600 block of 17th Avenue) and 2 apartment buildings with 28 multi-family units
(located on the east side of the 6700 block of Cedar Avenue). These residential properties are also
within the 87 dB low frequency noise contour, which the Richfield City Council has identified for
acquisition and removal as funding becomes available because of the extreme negative impacts
associated with the new runway.
Assistant to the City Manager Dmytrenko stated Bloomington has successfully petitioned the
MAC to acquire 29 homes and approximately 140 multi-family housing units within the 65+ DNL
contour instead of providing sound insulation. The petition process was initiated over five years ago
as part of the new runway's Environmental Impact Statement and the funds being utilized are part of
the runway construction funds, not noise mitigation funding.
MAC's decision to acquire instead of insulate homes in Bloomington, where the City and
homeowners agreed to such a remedy, has set a precedent. However, time is of the essence in
Richfield's situation, since the MAC has only budgeted for sound insulation, not acquisition and is
moving quickly to insulate.
Special Worksession Minutes
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March 22, 2005
Assistant to the City Manager Dmytrenko added that Richfield homeowners have not been
approached yet because staff is awaiting City Council direction as to whether to explore a similar
strategy with MAC for the homes in the new 65+ DNL noise contour.
City Manager Devich clarified the Bloomington homeowners approached the MAC and
Bloomington city staff served as coordinator.
Mayor Kirsch stated it did not make sense to insulate these homes only to later have them
demolished. It would not be a good use of public money because tearing down the homes would be
at a higher cost to Richfield if the homes were insulated. The situation needs to be a win/win.
City Manager Devich said MAC could postpone the insulating because the homes are in the
87 dB noise contour.
Council Member Kilian reported that, at the Noise Oversight Committee, MAC did not
recognize the 87 dB contour. The Phase I low frequency noise study conducted at Dulles Airport is
finished, but it could be another year before any additional information is known.
Council Member Kilian said the homes in the 65 DNL need to be mitigated but it was not a
wise use of taxpayer money to insulate and later demolish.
City Manager Devich said MAC's priority is single family homes.
Council Member Sandahl requested Congressman Sabo be informed of this strategy so we
can engage his support.
The City Council consensus was to proceed with the home acquisition strategy used by the
City of Bloomington within the 65 DNL airport noise contour.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:31 p.m.
Date Approved: April 12, 2005
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Recording Secretary