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will eventually reach its capacity. The state <br />needs to implement a long-term strategy to <br />make better use of other airport facilities and <br />existing resources, reduce environmental <br />impacts, and achieve sound and sustainable <br />economic growth throughout the state. <br />Aviation planning is a multi -layered effort <br />with different levels of responsibilities. <br />Currently, the State Airports System Plan is <br />put together by MnDOT with individual <br />pieces developed by the Federal Aviation <br />Agency (FAA), Metropolitan Council (MC), <br />and Metropolitan Airports Commission <br />(MAC). Aviation planning could be <br />improved by a more unified statewide effort <br />and coordination of the various aviation <br />strategies through creation of an oversight <br />body. <br />Minn. Stat. § 360.017 establishes the State <br />Airport Fund and authorizes the Minnesota <br />Department of Transportation (MnDOT) <br />Office of Aeronautics to support cities, <br />counties and townships in the planning, <br />development, maintenance and safe <br />operation of public airports. In recent years, <br />in order to help balance the state's budget, <br />the Legislature transferred funds from the <br />State Airport Fund to the General Fund. <br />Although the borrowed funds were <br />eventually repaid in full, efforts to preserve <br />and improve the quality of airports <br />throughout the state were hindered by the <br />unavailability of these revenues. <br />The Minnesota Council of Airports <br />(MCOA), a membership organization for <br />airport authorities and municipal entities <br />who own airports, has led efforts to bring <br />stakeholders together. Most recently, the <br />MCOA established the State Airports Fund <br />Committee to work with the MnDOT Office <br />of Aeronautics to discuss and advise future <br />management practices of the State Airport <br />Fund. <br />103 <br />Response: The state needs a higher degree <br />of integration of agencies (FAA, MnDOT, <br />MC, and MAC) and communities related <br />to aviation planning. The League of <br />Minnesota Cities supports the <br />collaborative efforts initiated by the <br />MCOA and supports the development of <br />a statewide airport advisory board, which <br />could provide input, review and make <br />recommendations to assist in development <br />of a comprehensive statewide State <br />Airports System Plan. <br />The state needs to make planning and <br />investment decisions that will maximize <br />the potential for airports to become <br />economic development centers that <br />provide access to domestic and global <br />marketplaces. Investments in airports <br />allow existing businesses to remain and <br />grow, help attract new businesses, <br />increase employment, and lower product <br />and service costs for the benefit of the <br />region. <br />Finally, the Legislature should not <br />authorize shifting of dedicated State <br />Airports Fund dollars to resolve general <br />fund deficits. <br />LE-46. Airport Safety Zones <br />Issue: The field of aeronautics is regulated <br />generally by Minn. Stat. ch. 360 and Chapter <br />8800 of the Minnesota Rules. Land use <br />safety zones and other public airport zoning <br />standards are established in Minnesota Rules <br />Chapter 8800.2400, and are adopted by local <br />airport zoning regulations that are submitted <br />to the Minnesota Department of <br />Transportation (MnDOT) commissioner for <br />review and approval before adoption. <br />Airport safety zones are intended to restrict <br />land uses that may be hazardous to the <br />operational safety of aircraft using the public <br />airport, and to protect the safety and <br />