TagJimmy Matta(10)

The Burien City Council Regular Meeting agenda for October 6, 2025 includes an update from the Burien Airport Committee, presented by City Manager Adolfo Bailon and committee members Brian Davis and Jeff Harbaugh, which is relevant to ongoing airport-related policy discussions in the Sea-Tac area. The meeting also covers a range of other local government business, including proclamations, a Critical Areas Ordinance briefing, a mid-biennium revenue update, and consent agenda items such as voucher approvals and meeting minutes. The airport committee update spans pages 13–16 of the 387-page agenda packet and represents Burien's continued civic engagement on airport impact issues.

In a March 10, 2020 letter to Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta, FAA Regional Administrator David C. Suomi explained that an Environmental Assessment (EA) — not a full Environmental Impact Statement — is the appropriate level of review for Sea-Tac Airport's Near Term Projects (NTP), which are designed to meet projected demand through 2027. The EA will evaluate all resource categories and cumulative impacts from past, present, and foreseeable projects on and near the airport. The FAA noted that preparing an EA does not rule out a future Environmental Impact Statement if significant impacts are identified.

In this October 2019 letter, Port of Seattle Executive Director Stephen Metruck responds to Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta's questions about noise and other impacts from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). Metruck emphasizes the Port's commitment to working with surrounding communities on economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and quality of life, while noting that detailed responses addressing and correcting certain misperceptions about airport activities are attached. He highlights ongoing collaborative forums such as the StART and Highline Forum as key venues for identifying solutions to community concerns.

In this September 5, 2019 letter, Port of Seattle Executive Director Stephen Metruck responds to the City of Burien's decision to suspend participation in the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), along with similar decisions by Des Moines and Federal Way. Metruck apologizes for failing to promptly notify cities about preliminary design funding and reaffirms the Port's commitment to open communication on airport expansion and noise issues. He highlights progress made through StART—such as late-night noise limits, runway glide slope adjustments, and requests for airlines to retire louder aircraft—and pledges to work with all cities to find a constructive path forward.

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.