Two members of the Des Moines Ad Hoc Aviation Advisory Committee (DMAAC) resigned in July 2020, citing frustration that the Des Moines City Council voted to rejoin the SeaTac Airport Round Table (StART) without meeting any of the 13 reform criteria the committee had jointly developed with Burien. The resignees argued that rejoining StART without securing meaningful reforms was a strategic mistake, as prior participation in the forum had proven ineffective and potentially harmful to the city's long-term interests. Despite their resignations, they pledged to continue advocating for reduced airport noise and environmental protections through other organizations and legislative channels.Open full document
Notes
Shelia Brush and Steve Edmiston tender their resignations from the Des Moines Ad Hoc Aviation Advisory Committee (DMAAC), citing the City Council’s decision to rejoin the SeaTac Airport Round Table (StART) without meeting any of the 13 jointly established criteria and without consulting the DMAAC. They recommend the City maintain a strong, independent aviation committee and express concern that the decision to rejoin StART without reforms repeats past mistakes. The authors indicate they will continue advocacy through other organizations including Quiet Skies Puget Sound and various legislative offices.