Burian and Des Moines City airport committees coordinate SEA comment drive and seek public hearing under state rule

Burian and Des Moines City airport advisory committee members met in a special joint session to coordinate responses to the Port of Seattle’s supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) comment period, plan a June 17 community outreach workshop and pursue a petition or council request to trigger a formal public hearing under WAC 197-11-535.

Joe Denberry, chair of the airport advisory committee, opened the meeting by framing the central concern: “we expect proper compensation for our cities and our residents for the disproportionate sacrifice that we make so that the airport may grow,” and argued the Port’s economic accounting understates local harms and benefits. Denberry and others cited figures from the Port’s analysis showing a small share of jobs and tax revenues flowing to their communities, which they say underscores the need for more substantive mitigation and compensation.

Why it matters: committee members said the SEA process is a critical opportunity to force targeted analysis or mitigation. Rebecca Deming, community development director for Des Moines City, told the group that under WAC 197-11-535 a formal public hearing must be held if at least 50 impacted persons request one, and members discussed mechanics for collecting signatures and for city councils or multiple agencies to submit written requests.

What the committees will do: members agreed to package concise, evidence-backed comments for city councils, deploy outreach at a June 17 Glacier Middle School workshop to educate residents and gather signatures, and to lean on consultant and staff work products (including technical traffic, noise and environmental analyses) to build the most legally and technically defensible comments. “When you go to these things, you don't get answers,” said Jeff Boen, urging greater substance in public submissions and legal follow-up.

Technical and legal focus: several participants asked Jeff (committee member) to summarize the technical critiques he has prepared — including alleged mathematical errors in capacity projections and questions about whether the Port followed Washington state law in structuring its analyses — so those items can be translated into formal comments and, if needed, legal briefs. Denberry and others emphasized prioritizing “low-hanging” but high-impact issues that counsel can use for appeals or formal challenges.

Deadlines and process: the group noted the Port’s website currently shows a 60-day comment period (no extension posted) and identified June 21 as a practical deadline to submit public-hearing requests if they hope to trigger a hearing before comments close. Committee members also described following the prior NEPA-era model: consultants’ consolidated ILA draft comments, city-specific letters developed after public input, and then city-council sign-off.

Outreach and equity: members prioritized reaching schools, nursing facilities and immigrant communities that face disproportionate exposure and may lack the time or resources to engage. The committees plan to produce templates and sample language to make commenting accessible to residents at the June 17 event and at upcoming council presentations where members will supply prioritized questions for port representatives.

Next steps: committee leaders (Joe Denberry and Brian Davis) will consolidate technical inputs, work with city staff to finalize petition wording and signature forms, and circulate a draft consolidated comment package to committee members for quick revision ahead of council meetings and public events scheduled before the comment deadline. The group set additional joint meetings before the comment period closes to refine their submission.

The meeting closed with a renewed call for persistent advocacy and for the Port to consider direct compensation and broader mitigation for cities under flight paths; committee members said they will continue coordinated public engagement and legal follow-up as the SEA review proceeds.