Minnesota Session Laws - 2006, Regular Session

CHAPTER 261--S.F.No. 1940

An act

relating to metropolitan government; modifying definitions; modifying eligibility requirements for assistance from state airports funds; providing a residency requirement and for terms of office for members of the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Airports Commission; creating a nominating committee; requiring disclosure of airport zoning regulations; modifying a reporting requirement;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 360.013, subdivision 39; 360.017, subdivision 1; 360.065, by adding a subdivision; 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 360.013, subdivision 39, is amended to read:

Subd. 39.

Airport.

"Airport" means any area of land or water, except a restricted landing area, which is designed for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, surfacing, or repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo, and all appurtenant areas used or suitable for airport buildings or other airport facilities, including facilities described in section 116R.02, subdivision 6, and all appurtenant rights-of-way, whether heretofore or hereafter established. The operation and maintenance of airports is an essential public service.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 360.017, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Creation; authorized disbursements.

(a) There is hereby created a fund to be known as the state airports fund. The fund shall consist of all money appropriated to it, or directed to be paid into it, by the legislature.

(b) The state airports fund shall be paid out on authorization of the commissioner and shall be used:

(1) to acquire, construct, improve, maintain, and operate airports and other air navigation facilities;

(2) to assist municipalities in the acquisition, construction, improvement, and maintenance of airports and other air navigation facilities;

(3) to assist municipalities to initiate, enhance, and market scheduled air service at their airports;

(4) to promote interest and safety in aeronautics through education and information; and

(5) to pay the salaries and expenses of the Department of Transportation related to aeronautic planning, administration, and operation. All allotments of money from the state airports fund for salaries and expenses shall be approved by the commissioner of finance.

A municipality that adopts a comprehensive plan that the commissioner finds is incompatible with the state aviation plan is not eligible for assistance from the state airports fund.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 360.065, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 3.

Disclosure of airport zoning regulations.

Before accepting consideration or signing an agreement to sell or transfer real property that is located in safety zone A, B, or C, excluding safety zones associated with an airport owned or operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, under zoning regulations adopted by the governing body, the seller or transferor, whether executing the agreement in the seller or transferor's own right, or as executor, administrator, assignee, trustee, or otherwise by authority of law, must disclose in writing to the buyer or transferee the existence of airport zoning regulations that affect the real property.

Sec. 4.

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

Subdivision 1.

Composition.

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, one 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. For appointments after the date of final enactment of this act, a member must have resided in the district for at least six months and in the state for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment. The terms of the members from districts A, B, F, and H expire on January 1, 2007. The terms of the members from districts C, D, E, and G expire on January 5, 2009. The successors of each member must be appointed to four-year terms. 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. The members must be appointed by the governor as follows: 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. The successors of each member must be appointed to four-year terms commencing on the first Monday in January of each fourth year after the expiration of the original term. 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.

Sec. 5.

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 by February 15 March 30 of each year concerning operations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and each reliever airport. Regarding Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, 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. The report must include information in all the foregoing categories as it relates to operations at Wayne County Metropolitan Airport in Detroit. 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. The report must include the aircraft operations, based aircraft, and status of major development programs at each reliever airport.

Presented to the governor May 22, 2006

Signed by the governor June 2, 2006, 11:49 a.m.