TagCity of Burien(240)

In August 2019, the City of Burien formally suspended its participation in the Sea-Tac Advisory Roundtable (StART), citing the Port of Seattle's decision to advance airport expansion designs before completing required environmental reviews, a lack of transparency, and a feeling that community concerns were being ignored. The letter raises serious questions about noise abatement, slow sound insulation programs, air quality impacts extending miles beyond the airport, and the exclusion of nighttime engine run-up mitigation measures recommended as far back as 1996. Burien called on the Port to engage in an honest discussion about how much airport growth is sustainable given the health and quality-of-life impacts on surrounding communities.

In August 2019, the Burien City Council sent a formal letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director and Commissioners raising nine pointed questions about Sea-Tac Airport's noise management failures, including the lack of updated noise studies since 2002, slow implementation of sound insulation for affected homes, unaddressed air quality concerns, and the exclusion of meaningful community input. The letter argues that the Port has prioritized airport expansion and profits over the health and quality of life of surrounding residents for more than 20 years. The Council calls for an honest, open dialogue about how much airport growth is truly sustainable given its ongoing environmental and community impacts.

In August 2019, the City of Burien sent a draft letter to the Port of Seattle raising eight pointed questions about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's handling of aircraft noise, air quality, and community impact. The letter challenges the Port's failure to conduct comprehensive noise studies since 2002, its slow implementation of sound insulation programs, and its prioritization of airport expansion planning over legally recommended noise mitigation measures. Burien officials conclude that the Port has not treated compatibility with surrounding communities as a genuine priority, citing decades of unaddressed recommendations dating back to a 1996 Expert Arbitration Panel report.

In summer 2019, Burien City Manager Brian Wilson coordinated with partner cities (Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines) and federal relations consultants at Lockridge Grindal Nauen to review a Port of Seattle presentation on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects Environmental Review, which had been delivered to the Burien City Council on June 17, 2019. The emails show Wilson requesting that consultant Emily Tranter analyze the presentation given by Port of Seattle Director of Aviation, Environment, and Sustainability Arlyn Purcell, in order to help the cities determine their next steps in responding to the airport's environmental review process. Wilson followed up with additional comments and questions on the resulting review, reflecting ongoing community concern about the potential noise and environmental impacts of planned airport expansion projects.

This March 2019 City Manager's Report from the City of Burien, Washington, covers a range of local government activities including community policing initiatives, youth programs, and regional jail operations. It details partnerships between Burien Police, schools, and community organizations, as well as funding updates for opioid treatment services at the SCORE regional jail facility shared by Burien, SeaTac, and neighboring cities. Note: this document does not contain substantive content related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

This March 2019 City Manager's Report from the City of Burien, Washington, covers a range of internal city updates including youth engagement programs, public safety initiatives, and community events. Topics include a Super Bowl youth event co-hosted with Burien Police and Highline School District, a safe firearm storage event, a Community Police Academy, and opioid treatment funding for the SCORE regional jail facility. The report does not contain information related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The City of Burien, Washington adopted Resolution No. 405 on January 28, 2019, amending an earlier resolution to update the structure of the Burien Airport Committee, an advisory body focused on issues related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key changes included consolidating community membership into up to six resident and business representatives appointed by the City Council, adding the City Manager as an Ex-Officio member, and expanding the committee's purposes to include coordinating information sharing among city representatives on airport-related bodies and staying informed on regional airport studies. The committee advises the City Council on matters such as noise and traffic impacts, land use, mitigation measures, and ways to protect residents and businesses from negative airport effects.