Tagcommunity engagement(222)

The South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) is a $14 million Port of Seattle investment running from 2025 to 2029, aimed at improving quality of life for historically underserved communities in South King County. The fund is divided across three programs: Economic Opportunities for Communities (70%), Environmental Improvements (20%), and Diversity in Contracting (10%). Its mission is to remove systemic barriers by expanding access to living-wage jobs in Port-related industries, enhancing public spaces, and supporting community-led projects.

Seatac Airport neighbor Stuart Jenner submitted public comments in December 2024 criticizing the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that citizens were given inadequate time to review over 4,000 pages of documents and that an Environmental Impact Statement—not merely an Environmental Assessment—is needed to properly evaluate the plan's effects on nearby residents. Jenner raises concerns about opaque computer models used to claim a nearly 50% increase in passenger traffic would have no environmental impact, shifting baseline comparisons that ignore past promises made during the third runway approval, and the absence of project cost information. He calls on Port Commissioners and the FAA to extend the public comment period and subject the plan to greater independent scrutiny.

The Port of Seattle held a public meeting on December 3, 2024 in Des Moines, WA to present highlights from the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The SAMP outlines a wide range of near-term construction and expansion projects across the airport, including airside, landside, terminal, cargo, and support facilities. The meeting provided an opportunity for community members to learn about the plan's environmental findings and submit public comments.

The Port of Seattle is seeking public comments on a proposed environmental review of 31 Near-Term Projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), designed to improve efficiency, safety, and access as the Puget Sound region prepares for one million additional residents by 2035. The public comment period runs from October 21 through December 5, 2024, with four in-person meetings scheduled across Federal Way, Des Moines, Burien, and SeaTac. Comments can be submitted online, by email at samp@portseattle.org, by mail, or in person, and will be considered by the FAA and Port of Seattle in finalizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment.

This appendix summarizes the public and agency engagement activities conducted as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects. Outreach included scoping meetings held in 2018 with seven agencies and four public sessions in surrounding cities, as well as advertisement in multiple languages across newspapers, email, and social media. Public meetings were scheduled in November 2024 at locations in Federal Way, Des Moines, Burien, and SeaTac, with a comment deadline of December 5, 2024.

The Duwamish River Parks Management Strategy, published by the Port of Seattle in October 2024, outlines a community-centered plan for improving and managing parks along the Duwamish River in the Seattle area. The strategy was developed with significant input from local community members and covers priorities such as new amenities, programming, partnerships, and branding to better serve Duwamish Valley residents. It also includes implementation steps and measures of success to guide future decision-making for the parks system.

The City of SeaTac held a Special Council Meeting on August 13, 2024, focused on North SeaTac Park, where staff presented an overview to inform potential Council action on the park's protection and preservation. The 90-minute session, led by directors from Community Economic Development, Finance, and Parks and Recreation, included public comment opportunities and an executive session. While not directly a noise policy document, the meeting reflects ongoing city efforts to safeguard green space in a community significantly affected by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport operations.

The Port of Seattle held public workshops in June 2024 to kick off an update to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Part 150 Noise Study, gathering community input from residents and other interested parties near the airport. The workshops were promoted through a wide range of online publications, social media, and community outreach channels, with materials available in multiple languages including Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, and Chinese. A follow-up workshop on Draft Noise Exposure Maps was scheduled for September–October 2025.