Everett, Wash.
Published: Monday, December 17, 2007

Bringing jets to Paine Field

The County Council could vote today to consider commercial passenger flights at the small airport, which many cities oppose

By Bill Sheets
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- In an end-of-the-year bombshell, Snoho­mish County officials are expected to be asked today to support passenger air service at Paine Field.

The County Council is expected to vote on a resolution that says the county is "in principle willing to consider some level of appropriately conditioned commercial air service at Paine Field, and is willing to engage in a discussion of benefits and burdens with any interested commercial air carrier."

The resolution is unsigned, but several people said it is being introduced by Councilman Kirke Sievers, who leaves office at the end of the month because of term limits. Sievers, who represents Everett and Mukilteo, could not be reached for comment.

Councilman-elect Mike Cooper, who is a former state legislator, said the resolution carries no real power.

"In the Legislature, we referred to these as letters to Santa Claus," he said.

Still, Cooper, who lives in Edmonds and opposes commercial flights at the Snoho­mish County-run airport, said if the resolution is approved he would push for a counter-­resolution against passenger service when he takes office in January. Today's resolution also suggests studying whether air service at Paine Field could reduce vehicle traffic to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport enough to make a dent in carbon emissions. Under the resolution, that study would be presented to the council no later than June 30, 2008.

While jurisdictions can't prevent passenger flights, they can encourage or discourage them with policy and money, Cooper said.

"I'm certainly not interested in spending any money to encourage them," Cooper said. "I'm more interested in spending money to discourage them."

The resolution lists the study as a supplement to a 2004 economic development study done for the county that suggested Paine Field air service could help the local economy.

Members of the Private Enterprise Coalition, a business group that has been pushing for commercial service at the airport, recently presented their point of view to some County Council members, said Greg Tisdel, a member of the group.

The group recently launched a Web site, flyfromeverett.org, to promote the cause and said last spring it is spending $100,000 to study the issue.

Greg Hauth, president of Save Our Communities, the leading opponent group, called the resolution "an 11th hour, back-door attempt" to subvert county policy against air passenger service at Paine Field. A late 1970s agreement between the county and surrounding communities describes Paine Field's mission as serving small planes and aviation-related businesses, and the County Council has affirmed that agreement several times since.

County Council members decided in June to take no action on a review of the 1970s agreement issued earlier this year. A committee of businesspeople and officials, who spent 2006 studying the issue, came to a split conclusion on the agreement. Some said it should stand; others said it should be scrapped.

Commercial flights have not been formally proposed for the airport. While the business community contends such flights would be beneficial for jobs and convenience, opponents say aircraft noise would have a detrimental effect on neighborhoods.

Most south county cities have issued resolutions against air service. Mayors Joe Marine of Mukilteo, Gary Haakenson of Edmonds and Don Gough of Lynnwood are expected to attend the meeting.

Cooper said he'd like to see county elected officials, including executive Aaron Reardon, get together next year and "see if we can agree on a position (on Paine Field) that represents the county and put it forth."



Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Debate begins at 10:30 a.m. today

The Snohomish County Council plans to discuss a plan to consider commercial air service at Paine Field. The debate begins at 10:30 a.m. today at the Snohomish County Administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
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