Edina Officials Left Out of Airport's Flight Rerouting Discussion

Certain areas of Edina could see a substantial increase in aircraft traffic in the near future, pending a vote next week from the Metropolitan Airports Commission on new navigation procedures.

The only problem, according to City of Edina officials, is that they were never given any sort of warning of the significant change.

In an email message to Edina residents, City Manager Scott Neal said Edina was not granted the same opportunity to learn about the issues as other communities impacted by aviation noise. In neighboring cities like Minneapolis, Richfield, Eagan, Mendota Heights and Apple Valley, Neal said the MAC engaged in outreach, including meetings with city officials, public forums and via printed notices in newspapers.

"MAC did not share information with City of Edina staff members until last week, after we initiated contact with them," Neal wrote.

Neal spoke before the MAC's Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) when they considered the proposed changes earlier this week, but the subcommittee voted 10-1 in favor of the changes, despite the city's concerns.

The Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration for implementation at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport—if approved—would concentrate flights into more narrow bands coming into and leaving the airport.

The changes would limit the potential for collisions and reduce the noise burden on large parts of the community, but would also increase the burden on select areas. The flights would be concentrated north and west of the Minnesota River, largely over southwest Minneapolis and Edina.

The MAC is set to vote at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, on whether to provide a letter of support to the FAA regarding the proposed procedures.

The City of Edina doesn't have an official position on the changes, noting it will not take one until residents have been given a change to share their opinions and City officials have enough information to make an educated decision.

Mayor Jim Hovland said the NOC has been working on the matter since 2007, but never saw fit to notify the City of Edina of the potential changes during all of that time. Edina has no representation on the NOC.

"This weekend, Scott Neal and I will be meeting with three members of the MAC Board to express our concerns regarding the lack of due process regarding this proposed change in flight patterns and request a postponement by the MAC in order to give Edina sufficient time to understand the facts surrounding the new technology and the potential impact on Edina of the adoption of the more concentrated take-off plan," Hovland said, in an email.

Hovland has also asked Gov. Mark Dayton to intervene and delay the MAC from taking any further action until Edina can learn more about the issue. If Dayton does not intervene, the MAC is set to move forward with the matter on Monday.

"In the event our request for a postponement is denied, we will need to consider other remedies for the City and the residents to protect our interest," Hovland wrote. "In the interim, emails to MAC Board members regarding this matter would be appropriate. Their names and addresses can be found at www.metroairports.org."

The Monday afternoon meeting is open to the public and will be held in Room 3048A of the Lindbergh Terminal at the Airport. Residents interested in attending the meeting need to obtain a pass from the information desk on the terminal's tram level to get through security.

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