Posted on

Sea-Tac City Council Request for Council Action: Agenda Bill 6794 — Authorization for Legal Services Letters of Engagement, Four-City Interlocal Agreement Amendment, and 2025-2026 Budget Amendment for SAMP NEPA/SEPA Review

Document Library
SAMP
Four City ILA

The SeaTac City Council is considering an ordinance to hire outside legal counsel and update a cost-sharing agreement with the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines to challenge or engage with the FAA's environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion plans. The four cities would jointly retain two law firms—Leech Tishman for federal NEPA matters and Ogden Murphy Wallace for state SEPA matters—at an estimated cost of $350,000, with SeaTac covering roughly 26% and recovering the rest from its partner cities. The effort is driven by the FAA's September 2025 issuance of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, which must be challenged by November 25, 2025.

Open full document

Notes

SeaTac City Council Agenda Bill 6794 (AB 6794), prepared by Community & Economic Development Director Evan Maxim, requesting Council authorization for City Manager to execute Letters of Engagement with legal firms Leech Tishman (NEPA focus) and Ogden Murphy Wallace (SEPA focus), and to amend the Four-City Interlocal Agreement (ILA) originally authorized under AB 6555 on December 10, 2024. The ILA involves City Of SeaTac, City of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines to coordinate response to the FAA’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI/ROD issued September 26, 2025, with a 60-day challenge deadline of November 25, 2025. Also amends the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget for Port of Seattle ILA Fund 105 to reflect $350,000 in expenditures and estimated $259,000 in revenues from cost-sharing partners. Costs shared proportionally by population among four cities; joint appeal of FAA FONSI/ROD or Port Of Seattle SEPA Environmental Impact Statement requires unanimous approval. PED Committee reviewed October 16, 2025.

Sidebar On/Off
V V