SF 1940

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to the Metropolitan Airports Commission;
requiring senate confirmation for certain
appointments; providing term limits for certain
members; requiring commissioners to have aviation
experience and knowledge; creating a nominating
committee; modifying a reporting requirement; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 473.604, subdivision
1; 473.621, subdivision 1b.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.604,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Composition.

new text begin (a) new text end The commission consists
of:

(1) the mayor of each of the cities, or a qualified voter
appointed by the mayor, for the term of office as mayor;

(2) eight members, appointed by the governor from each of
the following agency districts:

(i) district A, consisting of council districts 1 and 2;

(ii) district B, consisting of council districts 3 and 4;

(iii) district C, consisting of council districts 5 and 6;

(iv) district D, consisting of council districts 7 and 8;

(v) district E, consisting of council districts 9 and 10;

(vi) district F, consisting of council districts 11 and 12;

(vii) district G, consisting of council districts 13 and
14; and

(viii) district H, consisting of council districts 15 and
16.

Each member shall be a resident of the district
represented. new text begin Each member's term expires on September 30, 2005.
The members must be appointed by the governor as follows: the
terms of the members from districts A, C, E, and G begin on
October 1, 2005, and end on March 14, 2007; the terms of the
members from districts B, D, F, and H begin on October 1, 2005,
and end on March 14, 2009. The successors of each member must
be appointed to four-year terms. new text end Before making an appointment,
the governor shall consult with each member of the legislature
from the district for which the member is to be appointed, to
solicit the legislator's recommendation on the appointment;

(3) four members appointed by the governor from outside of
the metropolitan area to reflect fairly the various regions and
interests throughout the state that are affected by the
operation of the commission's major airport and airport system.
Two of these members must be residents of statutory or home rule
charter cities, towns, or counties containing an airport
designated by the commissioner of transportation as a key
airport. The other two must be residents of statutory or home
rule charter cities, towns, or counties containing an airport
designated by the commissioner of transportation as an
intermediate airport. new text begin Each member's term expires on September
30, 2005. new text end The members must be appointed by the governor as
follows: deleted text begin one for a term of one year, one for a term of two
years, one for a term of three years, and one for a term of four
years. All of the terms start on July 1, 1989 deleted text end new text begin two for terms
beginning on October 1, 2005, and ending on March 14, 2007, and
two for terms beginning on October 1, 2005, and ending on March
14, 2009 new text end . The successors of each member must be appointed to
four-year terms deleted text begin commencing on the first Monday in January of
each fourth year after the expiration of the original term deleted text end .
Before making an appointment, the governor shall consult each
member of the legislature representing the municipality or
county from which the member is to be appointed, to solicit the
legislator's recommendation on the appointment; and

(4) a chair appointed by the governor for a term of four
years. The chair may be removed at the pleasure of the governor.

new text begin (b) Appointments to the commission are subject to the
advice and consent of the senate as provided in section 15.066.
new text end

new text begin (c) Appointed members of the commission must have
demonstrated aviation experience and knowledge.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of transportation shall create a
nominating committee, composed of nine members appointed by the
commissioner. The nominating committee consists of: the
director of aeronautics, who is the chair; a representative of a
major airline at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport; a
representative of a major airline union at Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport; and a representative of each reliever
airport. The nominating committee shall oversee the nominating
process for the 12 members of the commission appointed by the
governor. Following the submission of applications as provided
under section 15.0597, subdivision 5, the nominating committee
shall conduct public meetings, after appropriate notice, to
accept statements from or on behalf of persons who have applied
or been nominated for appointment and to allow consultation with
and secure the advice of the public. Following the meetings,
the committee shall submit to the governor a list of nominees
for each appointment. The governor is not required to appoint
from the list.
new text end

new text begin (e) In addition to the notice required by section 15.0597,
subdivision 4, notice of vacancies and expiration of terms must
be published in newspapers of general circulation in the
metropolitan area and the appropriate districts and in aviation
oriented publications published in the state. The notices must
describe the appointments process and invite participation and
recommendations on the appointment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.621,
subdivision 1b, is amended to read:

Subd. 1b.

Annual report to legislature.

The corporation
shall report to the legislature new text begin under section 3.195 and
specifically to the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over aviation issues new text end by February 15
of each year concerning operations at deleted text begin Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport deleted text end new text begin each airport in the metropolitan airports
system new text end . The report must include the number of aircraft
operations and passenger enplanements at the airport in the
preceding year, current airport capacity in terms of operations
and passenger enplanements, average length of delay statistics,
and technological developments affecting aviation and their
effect on operations and capacity at the airport. deleted text begin The report
must include information in all the foregoing categories as it
relates to operations at Wayne County Metropolitan Airport in
Detroit. deleted text end The report must compare the number of passenger
enplanements and the number of aircraft operations with the 1993
Metropolitan Airports Commission baseline forecasts of total
passengers and total aircraft operations. new text begin The report must
include the commission's proposed operating and capital budgets,
capital improvement program, and a review of rates and other
charges set by the commission.
new text end