TagDes Moines Aviation Advisory Committee(43)

The Des Moines Airport Advisory Committee's draft 2026 Workplan outlines key priorities including air quality monitoring, the SEA Airport Part 150 noise study, traffic impacts, and projected increases in airport operations. The plan addresses noise mitigation measures and public education related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's expansion, with 2032 DNL noise contours showing affected residential and commercial areas in Des Moines reaching up to 75 decibels. This workplan reflects the committee's efforts to protect community health and quality of life amid growing airport activity.

This workplan outlines a community committee's priorities for addressing the impacts of Sea-Tac Airport's expansion on Des Moines, Washington. Key goals include expanding air quality monitoring, hiring a toxicologist to evaluate the airport's environmental impact statement, researching noise mitigation alternatives beyond sound insulation, and pushing for a more thorough traffic analysis. The committee also plans to conduct a community survey in 2026 to gauge public awareness of the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and guide future outreach efforts.

This document outlines the federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental review processes related to Sea-Tac Airport, tracing key milestones from initial scoping in 2018 through the issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in September 2025 and a subsequent court appeal filed in November 2025. The NEPA process involved public comment periods, city council presentations, and a 4-city interlocal agreement, while the SEPA process determined the project required a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), with a Draft EIS expected in Q1 2026. Together, these timelines reflect years of coordinated efforts by multiple cities to formally challenge and scrutinize the environmental impacts of airport operations and expansion.

The Des Moines, Washington Airport Advisory Committee met on October 13, 2025, to discuss matters related to the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and noise-related community concerns, including a review of citizens' complaints received over the prior month. The committee voted unanimously to recommend adding legal services to an existing Interlocal Agreement related to airport planning, and reappointed Joe Dusenbury as the city's representative to the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) noise oversight body. The November 10, 2025 follow-up meeting agenda includes a Q&A session, further StART and SAMP updates, and continued review of community complaints and communications.

The Des Moines City Council Airport Advisory Committee met on September 8, 2025, discussing community outreach survey options, a update on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) presented at a recent City Council meeting, and an update on the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), a body focused on Sea-Tac Airport noise and related policy issues. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes in a 3-0 vote. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for October 13, 2025, with agenda items including a StART representative appointment, citizens' complaints, and further SAMP updates.

The Des Moines, Washington City Council Airport Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting on August 11, 2025, electing Joe Dusenbury as Chair and Jeffrey Bogen as Vice Chair, and received introductory presentations on the Port of Seattle's StART community partnership program and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). Members raised questions about Council expectations, existing resident survey data on airport impacts, and how to best communicate concerns about Sea-Tac Airport noise and related issues. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for September 8, 2025, to review a Council update, hear a StART report from Dusenbury, and discuss a potential community survey on airport impacts.

The Des Moines, Washington City Council Airport Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting on August 11, 2025, covering organizational matters such as member introductions and the selection of a Chair and Vice Chair. The agenda also included briefings on the Port of Seattle's StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) community engagement program and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), both of which relate to managing the impacts of Sea-Tac Airport on surrounding communities. The committee also discussed selecting a StART representative and reviewed meeting policies, reflecting Des Moines' active role in regional airport noise and development oversight.

The Des Moines, WA City Council is considering Resolution 25-034 to formally establish an ad-hoc Airport Advisory Committee focused on Sea-Tac Airport issues, including review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), interlocal agreements with airport partners, and the city's strategy with the Port of Seattle. The five-member committee would include the city's existing StART (Seattle-Tacoma Airport Roundtable) representative Joe Dusenbury and four mayoral appointees — Jeffrey Bogen, Barton DeLacy, Todd Downing, and Steve Reagin — each serving terms through December 31, 2027. The committee will act in an advisory capacity to the City Council, ensuring community involvement in decisions related to airport noise, expansion, and related environmental and policy matters.

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.