HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 7366RESOLUTION 7366
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION OPPOSING EXPANSION OF THE ANOKA COUNTY-BLAINE
AIRPORT RUNWAY(S) AND OPPOSING AND LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO
RECLASSIFY THE AIRPORT AS AN INTERMEDIATE STATUS FACILITY
WHEREAS, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners is giving consideration
to a resolution that would support an effort to extend the east-west runway at the Anoka
County-Blaine Airport to 6,000 feet; and,
WHEREAS, the draft Anoka County Board of Commissioners' resolution
proposes to support legislation that would allow for the extension of the runway; and,
WHEREAS, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners' resolution proposes to
support application for Federal funds to accomplish the runway extension; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Mounds View has steadfastly opposed extension of the
airport's runways beyond their current lengths of 5,000 feet (east-west runway) and
4,855 (north-south runway); and,
WHEREAS, an extension of the east-west runway to 6,000 feet would require
changes in state law and would change the defined class of the airport from minor to
intermediate; and,
WHEREAS, proponents of the runway extension claim the additional runway
length is for safety purposes; and,
WHEREAS, there are no documented reports of unsafe landings or take offs
from this runway or any accidents to suggest the runway length is anything but safe for
all minor airport aircraft that use the Anoka County-Blaine airport; and,
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is required by law and has provided an
Airport Development Guide that is required to take into consideration the physical,
social and economic needs of the Metropolitan area and as a result of those
considerations, the Airport Development Guide plan calls for the Anoka County-Blaine
Airport to be a minor airport; and,
WHEREAS, significant airport enhancements have already been made at the
Anoka County-Blaine airport to enhance the safety of aircraft that use the airport, such
as a precision instrument landing system, high intensity lights and an operational control
tower; and,
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Page 2
WHEREAS, these improvements were intended to reduce the number and
frequency of noise complaints; and,
WHEREAS, the extension of the runway to 6,000 feet and upgrade of the airport
class to intermediate status would significantly expand the types of aircraft that could
regularly utilize the Anoka County-Blaine Airport and would result in significant
increases in noise to residents of Mounds View and other communities near the airport;
and,
WHEREAS, the recent activity level increase related to the Republican National
Convention demonstrated the significant impact any expansion of the airport would
have as significant numbers of noise complaints occurred during that time period; and,
WHEREAS, the existing tower control personnel do not have sufficient time to
advise incoming aircraft of noise abatement procedures and that lack of noise
abatement would only be exacerbated by expanded use of the airport; and,
WHEREAS, noise complaints about the airport have been a significant and
ongoing issue for Mounds View residents; and,
WHEREAS, while the north-south runway is not permitted to be expanded until
after 2020, if the east-west runway is lengthened and becomes busier, more air traffic
could be diverted to the north-south runway which would erode Mounds View residents'
quality of life; and,
WHEREAS, if the east-west runway is lengthened, the airport becomes more
inviting to cargo and freight carriers who would utilize the facility during the day and at
night, whose aircraft that tend to be louder and more disturbing than pleasure craft and
corporate jets, which would further erode the peace and comfort enjoyed by Mounds
View residents.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Mounds View, that the City is in complete and resolute opposition to the Anoka County
Commission's resolution to extend the Anoka County-Blaine airport runway and to any
legislative efforts to reclassify the airport to an intermediate status facility, and directs
the following to occur:
1. The City Council will take appropriate steps to aggressively oppose any
legislative attempts to expand the east-west runway at the Anoka County-
Blaine Airport.
2. That the Clerk -Administrator is to forward the city's opposition to the
proposed Anoka County resolution to the Anoka County Commissioners.
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3. The Clerk -Administrator is directed to notify Legislators for Mounds View
of the City's opposition to any expansion of the Anoka County-Blaine
Airport.
4. The Clerk -Administrator is directed to take further steps as necessary to
oppose any legislative changes to the Anoka County-Blaine Airport's
minor airport status.
Adopted this 24t" day of November, 2008.
ATTEST:
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Rob arty, Mayor
James Ericson, Clerk -Administrator
(SEAL)