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April 1, 1988
TO: Mayor Hoke
Councilmembers Napper
Oxborough
Walsh
Wippermann
FROM: Stephan Jilk, Administrator/Clerk
RE: Airport Discussion - City position
I and Community Development Director Dean Johnson have put
together the attached discussion paper for your consideration in
setting a position on the issue of the airport, the media
coverage on it and citizen concerns about the process occurring
presently dealing with this issue.
This discussion paper is not intended as a position for your
adoption without changes but rather an attempt at addressing the
process, the problem and a possible position to take on them.
It is hoped to be used as a source of direction for your
discussion on this issue and an assist in setting a "city"
position to take at this time.
smj
Attachment
0 AIRPORT POSI`T'ION PAPER
Stephan Jilk, Administrator/Clerk
March 31, 1988
The Metropolitan Council is responsible for the planning of all
transportation systems in the seven county metropolitan area of
the State of Minnesota. Part of this responsibility entails the
complete decision making process for the adequacy of and future
planning for the operation, expansion and the replacement, if
necessary, of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
The Metropolitan Council has commissioned,by direction of the
Governor,a subcommittee designated as the Airport Adequacy Task
Force with representatives from the Metropolitan Council, the
Federal Aviation Administration, the Air National Guard, the
airline industry and several cities representing some of the
metropolitan districts
The sole purpose of this task force is to determine the adequacy
of the existing airport to handle the projected demand on it for
use by private, public and military users until the year 2018.
If that adequacy cannot be met through projected changes in
technology in the airline industry or by physical expansion of
the facilities at the existing airport, should a new airport be
constructed?
In determining whether a new airport should be built,if the
present facility cannot handle the projected demands, the task
force looks at the effects on the regional economy of placing
constraints on the expansion of the airport.
This task force has called upon leading experts in the areas of:
(a) airport planning;
(b) airport marketing;
(c) government regulating agencies in air traffic;
(d) mathematical consultants to place an analytical
determination on the projected demands and capacity of
the existing airport.
The results of this study will be concluded in December of 1988,
and a report is to be given to the Minnesota State Legislature in
January of 1989.
Coinciding with this process a study which will determine answers
to similar questions is being conducted by the Metropolitan
Airports Commission, Their study is part of their twenty year
master plan update, the purpose of which is to plan for
operation, maintenance and expansion of the existing facility.
The results of this study will also be completed about the same
time as the Metropolitan Council's study in the last months of
1988.
If the determination of both of these studies is that the
existing facility will not be adequate to handle what is
determined to be the demand on the existing facility, a
recommendation to construct a new airport will become a reality.
At that juncture a lengthy process to select possible sites and
determine the adequacy of those sites based upon environmental,
social and economic factors will commence.
Ongoing studies, media coverage of the process and other
proponents' recommendations for moving the airport have led to
the general public's perception that Rosemount is being
considered and in fact already chosen for the new airport. The
public is beginning to believe the entire adequacy/need
determination and the site selection process has been shortened
to a series of "behind the scene" decisions by "those really in
control".
It is important that this public perception be cleared away by
the Metropolitan Council, the Metropolitan Airport Commission and
the Governor's Office which has commissioned the study. This
clarification is essential for two reasons: (1) the general
public must perceive that the formal process is working and will
continue to work, and it is essential to maintain integrity in
that process; and (2) the general public must believe that no
decision has been made with regards to any particular site at
this time; or for that matter, whether or not a new airport will
be built. This clarification can come through press releases,
television news releases/statements, or other means; but must
come from top levels of the organizations involved.
As the process of adequacy determination is completed, or if it
is recommended that a new airport is needed; the governing bodies
of impacted counties and their municipalities must be brought
formally into the siting process. Until that step in the process
occurs, the City of Rosemount through staff initiative will
continue to monitor information and decision making as it occurs.
SIMPLY STATED
(1) Studies to determine adequacy of existing airport are
continuing.
(2) Studies will be completed in 1988.
(3) Outcome-- Is current facility adequate? If not,
should new facility be built?
(4) If new airport is needed --siting process will start.
2
(5) Other nonconfirmed, unofficial proposals are being
perceived as possible "official" positions concerning a
new airport in Rosemount. These must be clarified by
agencies designated to complete airport decisions.
(6) Rosemount and other units of government must be brought
into the process if it gets to a siting level.
(7) Until that point, we will monitor the process to stay
educated and "involved".