TagSAMP(336)

The City of Des Moines, WA is proposing the formation of a permanent Airport Advisory Committee to advise the City Council on matters related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), potential interlocal agreements with airport partners, and the city's strategy with the Port of Seattle. The committee would consist of at least three Des Moines residents, including at least one City Council member, and would meet quarterly to evaluate airport-related issues and provide recommendations. Staff submitted the proposal for Council approval at the February 6, 2025 meeting, following a unanimous Council vote in October 2024 to establish such a committee.

The Port of Seattle submitted an environmental checklist in January 2025 for a limited update to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Water System Plan, covering the period 2025–2028. The update addresses routine maintenance and infrastructure improvements to SEA's drinking water and fire protection system, including pipe replacements, new surge tanks, additional water storage, and a backup water supply connection to Highline Water District. Washington State Department of Health approval and Port of Seattle Commission adoption are required before the plan can be implemented.

Four cities near Sea-Tac Airport — Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac — have joined together under a formal interlocal agreement to coordinate their review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant noise and environmental impacts to surrounding communities over the next 20 years. The agreement establishes a shared process for hiring consultants, submitting joint public comments, and responding to environmental documents produced under federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law. The collaboration is set to run through December 31, 2027, with the City of Des Moines managing consultant contracts and the City of Burien overseeing fiscal matters.