TagStART(508)

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.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Late Night Noise Limitation Program is a voluntary initiative that monitors aircraft takeoff and landing noise levels between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., comparing them against established decibel thresholds at four monitoring sites. Noise exceedances are tracked quarterly and airlines are notified when their flights exceed the limits. The program originated from community discussions in 2018 and has been in operation since Q3 2019, running alongside a Late Night Runway Use Agreement with the FAA.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table has outlined shared policy priorities for the 2026 Washington State Legislative Session, addressing the challenges posed by growing operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key proposals include restoring funding for noise insulation programs, identifying additional regional airport capacity, improving air quality in nearby South King County communities, and advancing sustainable aviation fuel and clean transportation initiatives. The document reflects a joint effort by the Port of Seattle and near-airport communities to partner with state government on reducing noise, emissions, and congestion impacts.

Communities around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have outlined their top federal policy priorities for 2025/2026 to address growing aircraft noise and air emissions concerns. Key goals include passing legislation to fund repairs for failed home sound insulation packages, fully implementing noise and emissions provisions from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, and investing in sustainable aviation fuels and alternative aircraft technologies. The group also plans a 2026 Washington D.C. fly-in to advocate directly with Congressional and Administration leaders for these community-driven reforms.

The Highline Forum held its September 24, 2025 meeting at the City of Des Moines Police Training Room, with key agenda topics including an update on the Part 150 Noise Study for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the South King & Port Community Fund Environmental Improvement Program. The hybrid meeting, co-chaired by Councilmember Matt Mahoney, also featured presentations on the SEA Airport Aviation Director search and a StART update from Port of Seattle representatives. The forum meets bimonthly throughout 2025, rotating among local host cities including Federal Way, Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac.

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 SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held a meeting on August 27, 2025, focused on two main objectives: receiving an update from Washington State's Commercial Aviation Working Group (CAWG) and finalizing StART's 2025/2026 priorities. The agenda also included updates on aviation noise programs, federal and state policy activities, and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master Plan (SAMP), with presentations led by Port of Seattle and WSDOT officials. The next tentative meeting was scheduled for October 22, 2025, via Zoom.