June 14, 2023August 1, 2026

Candidates briefing

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Sea-Tac Airport

This June 2023 candidates briefing from Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck outlines how the Port manages its operations across four business lines — Aviation, Maritime, Economic Development, and Corporate — guided by interwoven priorities including equity, sustainability, safety, fiscal responsibility, and cybersecurity. It also breaks down the Port's $2.0 billion in funding sources, showing that operating revenues (45.2%) and bond proceeds (35.0%) make up the bulk of funds, while the property tax levy accounts for just 4.1%. The document does not directly address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

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A candidates briefing presentation by Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck, covering the port’s interwoven strategic priorities across Aviation, Maritime, Economic Development, and Corporate lines of business. The presentation also details port-wide sources of funds totaling $2.0 billion, highlighting that the Tax Levy represents only 4.1% of port funds.

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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