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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/12/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jf/ St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA DECEMBER 21, 2015 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tem Gregg Lindberg, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Communications and Marketing Manager (Ms. Larson), Communications Specialist (Ms. Pribbenow), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Batra). Guest: Lisa Peilen (MAC Commissioner). 1. Discuss 2016 State of the City (Verbal) Councilmember Spano introduced the topic of the 2016 State of the City and suggested the Council change the time of the event from early morning to late afternoon(4:30 p.m.) as it would help entice attendance. The Council supported changing the time of the event. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce did not object to the proposed time change. Councilmember Spano also discussed possible locations for the event. Councilmember Spano questioned if the City would be amiable to trying a new format for the event, such as the Council co-presenting the topics with staff. He noted this would provide the Council with an opportunity for more direct contact and interaction with the community. Councilmember Mavity stated her appreciation of being involved in the process; however, if all of the Council spoke, she thought it may be too long. Councilmember Spano stated the presentations would be brief. The Council discussed potential topics to be presented at the 2016 State of the City. Councilmember Sanger suggested the event be held somewhere new and friendly, such as Wolfe Park Pavilion. Councilmember Hallfin stated he liked that the locations have been rotated for the last few years. Councilmember Spano asked Mr. Harmening where the topics were gathered from in previous years. Mr. Harmening explained in previous years Ms. Deno led a group to brainstorm different locations and then a topic was selected to highlight the operations of that location. Councilmember Spano suggested Councilmembers introduce the topic and staff can explain the details. Councilmember Mavity stated there are a lot of creative ways to get out the message. Councilmember Sanger suggested focusing on topics that have received media attention such as water quality and treatment and stated this forum could be used to provide accurate information on topics. Councilmember Brausen stated his agreement with Councilmember Spano's idea. Mr. Harmening stated he will continue discuss the event with Ms. Larson, Ms. Deno, and Councilmember Spano to put together ideas. Study Session Minutes -2- December 21, 2015 2. Draft Resolution — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Recognize Impact of Aircraft Noise in St Louis Park Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report regarding aircraft noise in the City. As the city assigned representative to the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC), he stated there have been increasing complaints the past two years from residents being disturbed by aircraft noise. Being under the approach path of the two parallel runways, immediate solutions for the City are limited. The temporary noise monitoring station at the Recreation Center during 2014 clearly recorded a high number of flights and elevated noise from them. However, current noise contour maps around MSP airport end at the SE corner of Lake Harriet and do not extend into SLP. He suggested the first step in long term solutions is to acknowledge increased awareness that aircraft noise is a concern in the City, explaining that the FAA needs to revise noise monitoring metrics and contours identifying noise impacted areas. He suggested to take the issue on, push it on to the FAA, get local government officials involved, and he could bring it back to the NOC. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) quarterly public input meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at SLP City Hall on April 27, 2016. Mr. Hoffman suggested that it would be beneficial to the City if MAC staff could attend that Council meeting to hear the residents speak. Ms. Peilen, MAC Commissioner, stated she wants to thank the City for problem-solving and discussing the issue with realistic solutions. The proposed resolution that was discussed is realistic and doable. She suggested that the City reach out to the FAA to discuss the noise. She explained that the FAA is currently studying the effect of aircraft noise and the 65 Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL). She stated that she thinks the City's work on this topic is progressive and forward thinking and could be used as a model for other cities. Mr. Harmening explained that this is not about pushing the air traffic to other cities. The City is always going to have airport traffic, but this could lead to some positive changes such as a vortex generator. Ms. Peilen confirmed the availability of a vortex generator that can be installed to help quiet the noise on some planes. Councilmember Mavity stated her appreciation with regard to the work completed on this topic as it impacts Ward 2. She stated that feedback has been received from residents about the increase in aircraft noise level. She asked when RNAV was implemented because she has noticed the number of flights flying over the City has increased. Ms. Peilen stated that RNAV has been implemented but has not impacted the concentration of the flights. In response to Councilmember Mavity's question about including a time on the proposed resolution, Ms. Peilen explained that the FAA runs on their own timetable. Ms. Peilen stated that it's up to the Council if they want to specify a response timetable. Councilmember Mavity asked whether the Councilmembers should notify the residents to complain if the noise level is unacceptable and if the MAC evaluates the complaints by the amount received by location. Ms. Peilen explained that the MAC does track complaints by number and location. Sometimes several complaints are from the same property. When asked how significant the number of complaints is to the MAC, Ms. Peilen responded that she does not know, but encouraged the Council to let residents know to complain if the noise level is bothersome. Mr. Hoffman explained that when a resident calls to complain, staff suggests reporting the concern on the MACNOISE Study Session Minutes -3- December 21, 2015 website or calling MAC staff. He stated that in a past instance, complaints had been tracked to a specific type of aircraft, which triggered repairs. Councilmember Mavity stated that most complaints occur from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 am. Ms. Peilen stated that this has come up and is considered night time. She explained that the Minneapolis airport cannot regulate night flights. A letter has been sent to the airlines asking them to think about discouraging night flights. Councilmember Brausen stated that he believes this is a thoughtful approach. He opined that the planes are lining up at 394, and he has noticed that air traffic has increased significantly. Councilmember Lindberg stated that the increase in air traffic around the area of 394 has been a topic of conversation, and residents have noticed a change. Councilmember Brausen stated he will encourage residents to call and complain. Councilmember Sanger suggested the City encourage and publicize this complaint route. In reference to the Noise Monitonng Study, Councilmember Sanger asked if the instances where over 65 DNL were recorded were in the City or the metro area. Mr. Hoffman clarified that those numbers were from the data collected during the temporary monitoring in the City. Councilmember Spano stated that if in fact MAC is using this data, maybe the Council pitches it more as a feedback tool. For example, give specific detail and in return the MAC can build a case in reference to a certain type of aircraft. Councilmember Sanger suggested that we can describe this on camera at a Council meeting and it can be put in text at the bottom of the screen. Councilmember Mavity suggested the City's website include search terms for airport noise so residents have a place to go for information She also suggested that possibly this summer an informational piece be presented about this topic to discuss with residents. Ms. Peilen stated that MAC has a presentation about what influences in the environment can send noise levels up and down, and she volunteered to attend a more general community based question/answer session. Mr. Hoffman supported Ms. Peilen's idea because an overview is helpful to explain and define the noise and how it works. This presentation will be included at the MAC public input meeting in the City on April 27. 3. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m. \-1r\ d.. (-N n ..,i (5ry, Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk Gregg Lindberg, Mayor Pro Tem