WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Airports Commission has prepared an Anoka County-Blaine Airport Long-Term Comprehensive Plan dated May 1997, and

WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed said Comprehensive Plan and acknowledges that the plan is basically consistent with the best interests of the community, and

WHEREAS, there remain specific concerns which City Council expresses regarding the Anoka County-Blaine Airport;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blaine that the following policy be established to guide and provide direction regarding interaction of Council and Staff with Anoka County-Blaine Airport which are not adequately addressed in the Comprehensive Plan:

1. Runway Protection Zone: The City acknowledges land use limitations within the runway protection zones as indicated on Page 3-16 of the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan and will take said runway protection zones into consideration as underlying land uses evolve.


2. The City will support activities by the Moundsview-Spring Lake Park-Blaine Fire Department in providing fire protection for the airport, but expects inappropriate uses by hangar occupants will be addressed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission in its leases such that inappropriate exposure to fire protection personnel would not occur due to hazardous activities occurring within hanger areas.


3. Utilities: The City intends to cooperate with the Metropolitan Airports Commission in the extension of utilities, both water main and sanitary sewer, and would anticipate entering into a Joint Powers Agreement for the connection, extension, and ongoing maintenance of said utilities.


4. Noise: The Comprehensive Plan indicates that disturbing noise is contained within the boundaries of the airport proper. However, noise levels are also subject to the receiver’s willingness to accept aircraft noise. The City of Blaine has instituted noise attenuation construction standards for those development properties within approximately ¼ mile in proximity to the airport. The Metropolitan Airports Commission is encourage to manage an ongoing noise abatement program and provide personnel to respond to noise complaints. It is recommended that the Metropolitan Airports Commission pursue improvements to communication with residents of the surrounding community relative to noise and other issues. A suggestion is to establish a specific phone number for Anoka County-Blaine Airport noise complaints and to report quarterly the results of said complaints to surrounding communities.


5. East Building Area Expansion: The east building area expansion is located in the closest proximity to existing residential development within the City of Blaine. It will be the City’s policy to discourage the Metropolitan Airports Commission construction of any development in that area.


6. Airport Property Land Use: The Metropolitan Airports Commission has control of a number of properties that could be made available for more intensive land use. The Commission is encouraged to work with the City where possible to consider use of those properties, while recognizing that open space around the airport provides both increased safety and valuable passive property.
   
7. Comprehensive Plan Policy: The City Council acknowledges that the presence of the Anoka County-Blaine Airport is of both economic benefit and burden to the residents of the community. The Long-Term Comprehensive Plan indicates continued growth of numbers of aircraft and anticipated aircraft operations at the airport with the expectation that additional runways and instrumentation would be provided to better accommodate the operations and storage of the aircraft. Increase in that activity will cause an ever increasing impact on the activities of residents in proximity to the airport throughout the City of Blaine. The Council endorses and encourages the City of Blaine staff and the Metropolitan Airports Commission staff to actively respond to the issues which occur with regard to the airport. The Council acknowledges that the Comprehensive Plan designates the airport as "Minor", and the Council does not support upgrading the airport to "Intermediate" status.

PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 18th day of November, 1999.