There are times in life when I really do wish that I could “un-ring” the bell. I’m currently having one of those times right now. I said/wrote something about the City’s relationship with Flying Cloud Airport that I wish now that I had not said/written. I wish that because what I said wasn’t a fair characterization of the City’s position on the airport. In the hustle & bustle of getting ready for a trip to Washington DC, I used the word “expand” when I should have used the word “improve”. It was a sloppy. So now I’ve got to fix it.
I wrote a commentary for the Eden Prairie News and Eden Prairie Sun-Current explaining the error and my proposed remedy. I’ve also pasted in below the cover letter and revised airport position statement.
We all make mistakes. I subscribe to the point of view in life that if you don’t want to make any mistakes, don’t do anything. That’s not me. I think it’s important when you make a mistake to own up to it; be accountable; and try to fix it. That’s what I’m going to do.
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REVISED VERSION POSITION STATEMENT
The Current State of Affairs between the City of Eden Prairie and the Metropolitan Airports Commission concerning Flying Cloud Airport in May 10, 2007.
Over the past fifty years, the City of
has had what might best be described as a “mixed relationship” with. Prior to 2002, the relationship between the City and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) was contentious. But in December 2002, the City Council and MAC jointly signed what we call The Final Agreement which outlines the conditions for the ultimate magnitude and scope of the future development of Flying Cloud Airport. The implementation of The Final Agreement has been followed by a period of relative peace regarding airport issues.
In 2005, the Eden Prairie City Council re-established the Flying Cloud Airport Citizen Advisory Commission. The Commission, which includes representatives from MAC, the Eden Prairie business community, general aviation interests at the airport and citizen groups concerned about the future of the airport, began meeting in April 2006. The Commission’s busy and productive inaugural year is described in its February 20, 2007 report to the City Council. As the Commission’s 2007 Work Plan has been approved by the City Council, I have enclosed both documents with this memorandum for your reference.
I am providing this report as a demonstration of the new, positive relationship between the City of Eden Prairie and MAC. The City Council sees Flying Cloud Airport as an important economic development amenity for our City that must be balanced with the quality of life of our residents. The City Council wants to restate to Eden Prairie’s federal legislators that the City continues to affirm the 2002 Final Agreement with the Metropolitan Airports Commission regarding the future of Flying Cloud Airport.
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott H. Neal,
City Manager
REVISED COVER LETTER
Date
Name
Address
City, state zip
Dear ___________;
On March 12, 2007 City Council Member Sherry Butcher, Fire Chief George Esbensen and I met with your staff to discuss the City of Eden Prairie’s federal legislative priorities for 2007. During that visit I provided your staff with a package of written materials that presented and explained the City’s position on nine public policy issues. The section describing the City’s relationship with Flying Cloud Airport requires clarification.
While the airport section accurately characterized the City’s relationship with the Metropolitan Airports Commission as increasingly positive and cooperative, it may have unintentionally left the impression that the City now supports the expansion of Flying Cloud Airport. This section, rather, was only intended to convey the City’s position regarding advocacy for federal funding assistance pertaining to airport security, hangar improvements, and sewer & water projects. We did not intend to imply or state any city government advocacy for federal funding for the proposed runway improvement projects at the airport.
I have enclosed a revised version of the City’s legislative letter concerning Flying Cloud Airport that is dated May 10, 2007. If you have any questions about this matter, please feel welcome to contact me.
Sincerely,
Scott H. Neal
City Manager