TagCity Of Des Moines(211)

The City of Des Moines submitted formal comments to the Port of Seattle in December 2024, expressing serious concerns about the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan and its projected growth in flight operations. The letter warns that by 2032, a nearly 20% increase in annual flights will significantly expand noise exposure for Des Moines residents, with the population affected by harmful noise levels rising by roughly 37% even without the proposed expansion. The city calls on the Port and FAA to extend public review periods, develop meaningful noise mitigation measures such as sound insulation programs, and collaborate more genuinely with neighboring communities rather than treating public input as a regulatory checkbox.

Four cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines — submitted formal comments in December 2024 objecting to the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Environmental Assessment. The cities warn that planned growth will increase annual flight operations by nearly 20% by 2032, expanding the noise impact zone and exposing an estimated 22,000 residents to significant aircraft noise, up from about 14,000 in 2022. They call on the Port of Seattle to extend public review periods, improve its sound insulation program, and take proactive steps to protect the low-income and minority communities most burdened by airport noise.

The City of Des Moines, WA is purchasing $124,191 worth of Bird-X bird deterrent balls to cover a 32,000-square-foot stormwater detention pond at the Des Moines Creek Business Park, after the Port of Seattle notified the city in 2023 that the pond was out of compliance with FAA wildlife hazard standards. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33C requires physical barriers on stormwater ponds near public-use airports—such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport—when standing water persists longer than 48 hours and poses a risk of attracting hazardous wildlife that could interact with aircraft. The City Council approved the purchase on November 21, 2024, with costs funded through the Surface Water Management Maintenance Fund.

The Des Moines, Washington City Council held a regular meeting on September 26, 2024, covering a range of local government matters including approval of payment vouchers totaling over $3.3 million, municipal court agreements, and a public hearing regarding the Des Moines Creek Business Park West property sale. The council also considered a resolution opposing Initiative Measure No. 2117 on carbon tax credit trading and a resolution supporting Proposition 1, a Public Safety Levy Lid Lift. Note: this agenda does not contain content directly related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.