Des Moines Citizens Give Overwhelming
Support to Anti-Runway Battle

Citizens of Des Moines turned out in force on January 9th to tell the City Council that it should continue full support for the no-third-runway campaign. It was standing-room-only in Council chambers, with an overflow crowd crammed wall to wall in the foyer, plus folks who could not enter the building waiting outside in the plaza. So many residents signed up to speak that the Council cleared its agenda of all but the most urgent business, to make time for public comments.

By the time the meeting adjourned at well after 10 p.m., Councilmembers had heard overwhelming support for the third-runway battle from their citizens. Twenty-two residents of the City spoke in favor of restoring funding for ACC. One resident supported defunding the runway fight, and one was neutral.

Elected officials representing Burien, Highline School District, Normandy Park, and Federal Way also urged the Council to remain in the anti-runway effort, as did several residents from nearby communities. The Council adjourned without taking action.

E-mail to the Council on the issue has been running 5:1 in support of funding the ACC.

Des Moines’ draft budget for 2003 contained a $150,000 appropriation for support of the Airport Communities Coalition, until passage (4-3) on 13 December of a surprise motion by Mayor Don Wasson to withdraw all funding. Des Moines’ contributions to the ACC have come from a special Airport Defense Fund, which receives a portion of the City’s utility tax (six percent of net billing).. Voting to de–fund ACC were Mayor Don Wasson, and Councilmembers Richard Benjamin, Gary W. Petersen, and Maggie Steenrod. Voting to retain funding were Councilmembers Bob Sheckler, Scott Thomasson, and Susan White.

In response to the huge turn-out on the 9th, the issue was on the Council’s agenda again at a special-called meeting on Monday, 13 January. Members of the Council toyed with the idea of allowing citizens to make voluntary contributions to the Airport Defense Fund––which, as City staff pointed out, is already allowed. Councilmember Steenrod offered a $500 personal contribution, saying that she “firmly believes this is NOT the time to pull out” of the runway fight. City staff were directed to develop an ordinance defining the process for making individual contributions.

The Council obviously realized that there was much more anti-runway sentiment in the city than some members had been led to believe. But how much support is there for the Council’s de-funding, and how much for going forward with runway litigation? Councilmember Sheckler moved that the City sponsor a professionally designed survey to measure public opinion on the issue. Other Councilmembers were skeptical about surveys in general, and it was decided, on a 6-0 vote, to hold a special advisory election in March or April. Details of that election are to developed by staff for future Council approval. The cost of a special election is undetermined.

The agenda also included potential reduction of the city’s utility tax from six percent to four percent, on the premise that cutting funding for ACC would reduce the need for that revenue. It was agreed that further action on the ACC de–funding and on reduction of the utility tax would be deferred till after the advisory election.