Changes to Runway Use

With warmer weather comes open windows, and more noticeable airplane noise. I’ve been in ongoing dialogue with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about some issues with airport operations that are a concern to me. Those issues include that the airport operates in a north/northwest flow more than it should, and when it does, the departure runway most impactful on the 13th Ward gets used quite a bit. I’m also concerned about noise early in the morning or late at night–the noise that is particularly disruptive to sleep. I think many of these factors culminated in an increase in complaints about airport noise last summer. After much internal discussion and intense lobbying of the MAC from constituents like you, the FAA control tower is making some changes to try to improve things for Minneapolis residents. Now we will see if the changes are helpful.

During times of high capacity, the tower prefers a northwest flow (with departures over Minneapolis and arrivals over Eagan and Mendota Heights) because it allows them to land more airplanes. Therefore, this configuration is used during the busy daytime hours unless the wind or weather dictates a southeast flow. What the tower has committed to do is try using alternative configurations longer at the shoulder hours–the times when the airport is transitioning between higher and lower demand in the morning and at night. Rather than using a southwest flow (which means Minneapolis would still get arrivals), the FAA is proposing a “mixed flow” that puts arriving airplanes over the Minnesota River and Mendota Heights and departures over Eagan. In this configuration, neither departures nor arrivals are going over Minneapolis. This should reduce noise at least during these shoulder periods.

What does this mean in terms of real life experience? It should mean less noise in the early morning. Instead of starting departures over Minneapolis around 6:45 a.m., they will start closer to 7:20 a.m. While this change may seem small, I think this could make a difference for folks. The control tower is exploring how to implement a mixed flow in the evening shoulder period also, but we don’t know what they can do yet. Right now, there is high demand around 10:00 p.m. as planes head west.

The MAC has committed to monitoring this issue of runway use closely; they have requested to receive regular reports to committee. I think these changes could make a difference and I look forward to seeing what can be done at nighttime hours. I am still concerned about the preference for a north flow during high demand periods at the airport (which is virtually all day) and the potential to use certain runways more than others giving some communities an unfair share of the overall burden. I’m going to keep working with the MAC and FAA to monitor the overall conditions this summer, and the impact of these changes.

There may be airport updates that are not shared with my general newsletter list. If this topic is of special interest, please join my Airport Issues list by informing my Senior Policy Aide, Emily Ziring, that you want to be added. She can be reached at Emily.Ziring@minneapolismn.gov.

Organics Collection Roll-Out

Solid Waste and Recycling received Council direction to implement City-wide curbside organics (compost) collection in December 2014. The significant lead time to order and receive new trucks and the importance of conducting a lengthy initial public educational campaign contributed to the decision to employ a two-phase (August 2015 and spring 2016) roll-out of organics collection.

Find out whether you are in Phase I and Phase II of the roll-out here. These routes were determined with consideration to the following criteria:

• Location of existing organics collection pilots and desire to continue uninterrupted service
• Geographic distribution
• Route collection and travel time efficiencies

The Phase I roll-out is well represented across the city but does include some 13th Ward residents in West Calhoun, Armatage, Kenny and Lynnhurst. (Current customers of the pilot in Linden Hills will see no change in service.) Regardless of whether you are in Phase I or II, please contact Solid Waste & Recycling to order your organics recycling bin so that we have an accurate number of bins.

In addition to curb and alley collection of organics, Solid Waste plans to continue to service at existing organics drop-off sites (including Armatage Park) and expand efforts to include organics drop-offs at many neighborhood parks. Drop-offs are important to provide an opportunity for residents not included in Phase I to participate in organics and for Solid Waste staff to analyze participation and educational needs.

Green Building and Deconstruction Report

In August 2014—in conjunction with the changes to residential zoning that were authored under my direction—I asked staff of the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) to study methods and tools for establishing incentives related to sustainable construction and demolition of residential development. I am pleased to share the output of that study, a report that has been filed with the Zoning & Planning Committee of the City Council.

The report includes an examination of the current state of green building in Minneapolis, including incentive programs currently being offered by the City, and compared this data with research into incentives offered by peer cities and market research on the incentives most valued by developers. I welcome your feedback.

West Lake Multimodal Transportation Study

Lake Calhoun is one of the most visited parks in the state, and the intersection at Lake St. and Excelsior Blvd. is one of the highest-traffic (auto, bike and pedestrian) corridors in the city. This area, however, remains a real challenge to bikers and pedestrians. The potential to have a Southwest LRT stop located here has brought some much needed attention to this area.

Public Works—in conjunction with my office, Council Member Lisa Goodman's office and other government agencies—will be leading an areawide multimodal transportation study for the West Lake Station area. The West Lake Multimodal Transportation Study is being conducted to assess opportunities to improve safety, access, connectivity, and mobility for all modes of travel surrounding the West Lake Station area. Study efforts will be coordinated with partner agencies, with an emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian modes to identifynon-motorized needs, challenges, and opportunities in the vicinity of the West Lake Station. Motorized travel will also be analyzed to guide intersection and roadway modifications that were identified as part of the preliminary designs for the West Lake Station area. The goal of the study is to identify opportunities to address non-motorized and motorized travel within the West Lake Station area with projects that can be implemented as a part of the construction of the Southwest LRT or as part of other capital initiatives.

Additional information regarding the study and upcoming meetings will be provided on the City’s project website.

Apply for Boards and Commissions

Please consider applying for an opening on one of the City's appointed boards and commissions. The City’s boards and commissions have historically been well represented by 13th Ward residents, but we’re always looking for more people to step up. There are several boards currently seeking members, including the Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Public Health Advisory Committee. 

Click here for a complete list of vacancies. As long as an opening is posted, we welcome applications even if the stated deadline has passed!

Driving Safely Near People on Bikes

The Bicycle Master Plan
The City of Minneapolis is seeking to update its Bicycle Master Plan to include a priority network of protected bikeways. The update will help in planning as the City works to install 30 miles of more safe and protected bike facilities by 2020, as recommended in the City’s 2013 Climate Action Plan. The draft plan update and additional information can be found here.

Comments can also be emailed through May 17, 2015 to protectedbikewaysmpls@minneapolismn.gov or you can email them to directly to my office.

"Did You Know?" Videos
Have you taken a look at the safe biking educational videos that the city created? In about four minutes you can learn how to drive safely on streets with bike lanes. There is this general bike video that is available in several languages. For information specifically about bike lanes, there’s this bike lane video and a companion video about shared lanes.

In the 13th Ward, there are both lanes marked with solid lines and “sharrows.” Sharrows are simply bike symbols placed within an existing travel lane. They are meant to bring extra awareness of bike traffic to drivers on the street. They also serve as a wayfinding guide for bicyclists, too. Cars can drive over the symbols, but they must drive safely around bikes and leave a safe distance when passing--just as they would on any other street in the city. For more information about bicycle markings, click here.

Stay in the Know on Highway 100 Construction

You have likely already been affected by the reconstruction of Highway 100 at the Highway 7 and Minnetonka Boulevard interchanges in St. Louis Park. If you use this route regularly, subscribe to MnDOT email updates by visiting this page.

Working Families Resolution

I was proud to support the Working Families resolution (approved by City Council on 4/17) to address some of the biggest issues facing Minneapolis workers. The resolution sets the course for addressing earned safe and sick time, fair scheduling, preventing wage theft, and living wages for workers. Through the resolution, staff  is directed to create a workplace policies workgroup that will include many City departments to consider state, regional and city policy support.

The workgroup will be charged with:

• Developing policy proposals for City Council consideration, including subject matter and proposed ordinance language, for earned safe and sick time, fair scheduling, and wage theft prevention in Minneapolis.
• Developing a stakeholder engagement process that includes workers and businesses.
• Making a recommendation for studying the effects of establishing a regional and local minimum wage, including scope, funding and development of such a study.

What to Do with Spring Cleaning Waste

If you’re a City of Minneapolis Solid waste and Recycling customer, you can put large and bulky items out to be collected from your curb or alley!

To recycle electronics, appliances, mattresses, box springs or other items that are 50 percent or more metal at your collection point on your recycling day (up to two per week), mark them “for Solid Waste & Recycling.” The crew will place a sticker on them, and a separate crew will come the following business day to pick them up for recycling.

If you have non-recyclable large or bulky items, you may place up to two pieces at your collection point on any garbage day. Be sure to mark them “for Solid Waste” and your garbage crew will pick them up for disposal when your cart is emptied!

Additionally, if you're planning on spring cleaning or painting, residents may now bring latex or oil-based house paint and stains to participating retail drop-off locations around the City for proper disposal. If still usable, latex paint will be recycledinto new paint and oil-based paints will be sent to a cement kiln and used as a fuel source to operate the kiln. Please note that aerosol cans, solvents, and paint accessories (brushes, trays, etc.) are not accepted. For paint purchasing tips and drop-off locations visit PaintCare’s website.

For more details on this and other items you don't know what to do with, look them up here.