3/28/01 HF2187 AND SF2170 was Recommended to pass by the Local Government Metropolitan Affairs Committee; re-referred to Environment & Natural Resources Finance Committee.

Here is a flyer to print out to help drum up support.

This bill requires the MAC, if they purchase the Bureau of Mines property to allow the DNR to manage it. The DNR has repeatedly stated they are willing to manage the property.

This bill needs to pass finance committees to be heard on the floor. The Airport expansion of the crosswinds runway will require the overflight of Coldwater and the airport does not want major development there. If there is no parking lot for the airport, the airport does not want to manage the property and is willing to let the DNR do it. But because the airport is buying the property to ensure no development would interfere with their overflight operations, the DNR is getting the property to manage for free. All we need is for the State legislators to OK the deal. We are asking for NO MONEY from the state! Call them up and ask them to support what amounts to free park land for everyone!

Call your State Representative and ask them to support this bill!!
Text of HF2187 (Authored by Kelliher, Wagenius, and Clark, K)


A bill for an act

relating to property surrounding the Coldwater Springs area in the city
of Minneapolis; authorizing acquisition and requiring transfer by the
metropolitan airport commission of the property; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2000, section 473.608, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 473.608, is amended by
adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 2a. [COLDWATER SPRINGS PROPERTY.] (a) The metropolitan airports commission may acquire property, consisting of approximately 27 acres in and around Coldwater Springs in the city of Minneapolis, from the secretary of the interior of the United States or any other federal official or agency authorized to transfer the property. If the commission acquires the property, the commission shall (the word "shall" was changed to "may" on 4-10) convey all of its interest in the property, other than the interest permitted to be
retained under paragraph (b), to the department of natural resources for park, green space, or similar uses.

(b) To preserve its ability to conduct current or future aviation
operations at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and to
protect the commission from potential liability for those aviation
operations, the commission may:

(1) Retain an easement permitting overflight or another similar property interest in the property; or

(2) Impose restrictions on the use of the transferred property that are
inconsistent with or may create conflicts with aviation operations.

Sec. 2. [EFFECTIVE DATE.]

Section 1 applies in the counties of Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington and is effective the day following final
enactment.