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Item No.: __6b Motion_____
Meeting Date: December 19 , 2017
MOTION
OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
TO AMEND THE CENTURY AGENDA SMALL BUSINESS GOALS TO
INCLUDE DIVERSITY IN CONTRACTING
ADOPTED
DECEMBER 19, 2017
TEXT OF THE MOTION
The Port finds that minority and women businesses are under-represented and have been
under-utilized on Port Contracts. The purpose of this Motion is to amend the Century Agenda
to reflect new goals that will increase participation by minority and women owned and
controlled businesses in Port contracting for public works, consulting services, supplies,
material, equipment, and other services.
Century Agenda, Strategy 3 shall be amended as follows:
Insert “women and minority business enterprise growth” to read:
“Use the Port’s influence as an institution to promote “women and minority business
enterprise growth,” small business growth, and workforce development.
Insert new objective 10:
10. Triple the number of WMBE firms that contract with the Port and increase to 15% the
percentage of dollars spent on WMBE contracts within five years, 2018 - 2023.
11. Increase the proportion of funds spent by the Port with qualified small business firms on
construction, consulting, goods and services to 40 percent of the eligible dollars spent.
12. Increase workforce training, job and business opportunities for local communities in
maritime, trade, travel and logistics.
Renumber subsequent objectives as appropriate.
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
The Port of Seattle’s Commitment as stated in the Century Agenda is to create economic
opportunity for all, steward our environment responsibly, partner with surrounding
communities, promote social responsibility, conduct ourselves transparently, and hold
ourselves accountable. Promoting the utilization of Women and Minority Business Enterprises
(WMBE) helps to fufill our Century Agenda Commitment to create opportunity for all.
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Item No.: __6b Motion_____
Meeting Date: December 19 , 2017
The Port of Seattle 2012 Disparity Study showed a disparity in Port utilization of minority
contractors in airport construction and construction related projects. While the Port has made
efforts to increase WMBE utilization since 2003, we have been unable to meet our goals for
contracting with WMBE Port-wide. Our 2016 performance of 5.3% WMBE utilization falls
behind other public sector entities that are achieving 12-16%. The Port of Seattle Commission
held three community outreach meetings in 2017 to solicit input on how to improve small
business contracting and to increase WMBE utilization. Community input was included in the
formulation of this Motion and in Resolution 3737.
The Port of Seattle has been successful in increasing small business utilization since the
implementation of the Century Agenda in 2012 which included small business goals. The Port
has reached almost 30% of total dollars spent on small business contracts. It is the intent of this
Motion that small business utilization will continue, and that WMBE utilization will lend to that
total, increasing the total proportion of dollars spent on small businesses, tripling the number
of WMBE contracts and increasing the total percent of dollars spent on WMBE firms to 15%
within five years.
STATEMENT OF POLICY DIRECTION
The Port of Seattle shall implement the Diversity in Contracting policy directive as passed on
December 19, 2017 to reach the new Century Agenda goals and at the same time shall continue
to pursue the small business goals as currently stated in the Century Agenda.
