TagHighline Forum(233)
https://www.portseattle.org/page/highline-forum
The Highline Forum provides Southwest King County municipalities, educational governing bodies, and the Port of Seattle with the opportunity to share information, interact with outside speakers and other governmental organizations, and work in partnership on initiatives that benefit the residents of Southwest King County.
One elected representative and one senior administrator from the following jurisdictions or institutions make up the membership of the Highline Forum:
- City of Burien — Councilmember Alex Andrade and City Manager Adolfo Bailon
- City of Des Moines — Mayor Yoshiko Grace Matsui and City Manager Katherine Caffrey
- City of Federal Way — Mayor Jim Ferrell and Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson
- City of Normandy Park — Councilmember Jack Lamanna and City Manager Amy Arrington
- City of SeaTac — Councilmember Joe Vinson and City Manager Jonathan Young
- City of Tukwila — Councilmember Armen Papyan and Policy Analyst Laurel Humphrey
- Highline College — Vice President for Institutional Advancement Josh Gerstman and External Relations Shakira Ericksen
- Highline School District — School Board Member Angelica Alvarez and Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran
- Port of Seattle — Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed and Aviation Managing Director Wendy Reiter
An elected representative from the Port of Seattle (Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed) and a jurisdiction or institution co-chair (shared by Tukwila Council President Armen Papyan and SeaTac Councilmember Joe Vinson) moderate the meetings.
Learn more about the Highline Forum and what’s ahead this year.
Sign up to receive Highline Forum updates by email, including meeting agendas and summ
-
2025-05-28Recap 2024 and 2025-2026 Funding Cycle: Port Of Seattle Economic Development City Partnership Program
The Port of Seattle's Economic Development City Partnership Program distributed $804,052 in funding to 27 cities during its 2024 funding cycle, leveraging an additional $637,211 in city matching funds for a total investment of $1,441,263. The non-competitive program, which began in 2016, allocates funding to cities on a per-capita basis (ranging from $10,000 to $60,000) to support local economic development projects tied to Port business interests. The largest share of funding—36.5%—went toward small business technical assistance, followed by buy-local and placemaking initiatives at 26%. -
2025-05-27SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) Annual Report
The Port of Seattle's SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) brings together representatives from neighboring cities like SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines, along with airlines, the FAA, and Port staff to address community concerns about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In 2024–2025, the group focused on noise reduction efforts including promoting single-engine taxiing, launching a residential sound re-insulation pilot program, and advancing a federally required Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study. StART operates through two working groups—the Aviation Noise Working Group and the Policy Working Group—making decisions by consensus to ensure neighboring communities have a meaningful voice in airport-related policies. -
2025-04-15Burien Airport Committee agenda, April 15, 2025
The Burien Airport Committee held a meeting on April 15, 2025, to welcome new members, discuss the committee's workplan and legislative agenda, and review updates from the StART Committee and Highline Forum regarding Sea-Tac Airport issues. Draft minutes from the March 18, 2025 meeting were also presented for approval, noting outgoing member thanks and a recap of a presentation made to Des Moines City Council on forming their own airport committee. Public comments could be submitted by email or in person via Zoom or City Hall attendance. -
2025-01-22South King County Community Impact Fund: Highline Forum Presentation
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. -
2025-01-22Highline Forum Agenda: 2025 State and Federal Legislative Issues – January 22, 2025
The Highline Forum held its first 2025 meeting on January 22 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, hosted by the Port of Seattle, focusing on state and federal legislative issues affecting the Highline area. The hybrid meeting covered topics including community co-chair selection, a StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) update from the Airport's Managing Director, and opportunities for public comment via email, Microsoft Teams, or in person. Six additional meetings are scheduled throughout 2025, hosted by local municipalities and institutions including the cities of Federal Way, Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac, and Highline College. -
2025-01-22Highline Forum Agenda: 2025 State and Federal Legislative Issues, January 22, 2025
The Highline Forum held its first 2025 meeting on January 22, hosted by the Port of Seattle at SEA Airport, focusing on 2025 state and federal legislative issues affecting the Highline-area communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The hybrid meeting included a StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) update from the Airport's Managing Director and covered administrative matters such as Community Co-Chair selection. Six meetings are scheduled throughout 2025, hosted in rotation by local jurisdictions including Federal Way, Burien, Highline College, Des Moines, and SeaTac. -
2025-01-14Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act: Fact Sheet
The Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), aims to help communities near airports — including those around Sea-Tac — deal with the health risks posed by aviation noise and air pollution. The bill would create two EPA grant programs: one funding research and neighborhood-level monitoring of noise and emissions, and another supporting mitigation efforts such as home soundproofing, public health programs, and healthcare services for affected residents. The legislation responds to studies linking airport emissions to increased risks of cancer, heart disease, and asthma, as well as findings that aircraft noise negatively affects children's learning. -
2025-01-14Aviation Impacted Communities Act: Fact Sheet
The Aviation Impacted Communities Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), aims to give residents and local leaders a stronger voice in addressing excessive airplane noise and environmental impacts by requiring the FAA to engage directly with affected communities through newly established community boards. The bill would create an 'aviation impacted communities' designation, allow communities to petition for comprehensive impact studies, and expand funding for noise mitigation beyond current sound-level boundaries. It also establishes a sustainable revenue stream for ongoing relief efforts through the Airport and Airways Trust Fund. -
2025-01-07Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act (H.R. __, 119th Congress, 1st Session)
The Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act, introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Smith of Washington, would direct the EPA to establish a 3-year pilot grant program to measure aircraft and airport noise and emissions—including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and ultrafine particles—in communities near airports and flight paths. Grant recipients would use advanced monitoring technology to trace pollution to specific sources, produce neighborhood- and ZIP Code-level data, and work with local agencies and community organizations to develop mitigation strategies. The program is designed to be replicable nationwide, with a focus on identifying and protecting frontline and disproportionately impacted communities. -
2025-01-07Aviation-Impacted Communities Act: House Bill Text (119th Congress, 1st Session)
The Aviation-Impacted Communities Act, introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Smith of Washington, would require the FAA to provide noise mitigation funding to communities affected by airport noise even if they fall outside the current 65 DNL sound threshold. The bill would make these communities eligible for Airport Improvement Program funds, allow them to establish local boards to address airport noise, and direct the National Academy of Sciences to study aviation impacts at major hub airports — including King County, WA (Sea-Tac) — across the country.