Item No: 8b_______________
Meeting Date: March 27, 2018
2018 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter Page 1 of 5
2018 ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL COMMITTEE CHARTER
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As proposed March 27, 2018
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I. INTRODUCTION
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The Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda outlines a strategic objective to become the greenest and
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most energy efficient port in North America and sets specific greenhouse gas reduction targets.
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An Energy and Sustainability Committee was originally chartered by the Port of Seattle
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Commission on January 26, 2016. On October 24, 2017, the Commission passed a motion
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supporting the committee’s recommendation to align the Port’s greenhouse gas reduction
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goals with those of King County and the City of Seattle and instructing Port staff to develop a
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Sustainability Evaluation Framework to assist the Port in meeting its greenhouse gas reduction
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and sustainability goals.
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Pursuant to the 2017 motion, the framework was to be developed over the course of 2018
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through a series of pilot projects to be identified. The pilot projects will help determine how to
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incorporate environmental and social considerations and create transparency for the
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Commission’s review of project proposals. Adoption of the 2017 motion concluded the work
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outlined in the 2016 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter.
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The purpose of this new committee, which shall be called the 2018 Energy and Sustainability
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Special Committee, is to develop policy recommendations and provide oversight in pursuit of
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the Port’s Century Agenda environmental and sustainability goals. The committee shall conduct
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its work in the context of other Century Agenda goals, the 2017 motion, and continued
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commitment to fiscal responsibility and social equity and justice.
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II. COMPOSITION
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The 2018 Energy and Sustainability Special Committee will consist of two Port of Seattle
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Commissioners appointed by the President after consultation with the full Commission at the
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beginning of each calendar year in which the committee is active. Non-voting members from
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within and outside the Port may be invited to participate at the discretion of the committee.
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III. SCOPE OF WORK
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The work of the 2018 Energy and Sustainability Special Committee shall include the following:
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A. Oversee the development of a Sustainability Evaluation Framework and pilot projects,
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including:
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1. Review and recommend to the Commission a Port-wide Sustainability Evaluation
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Framework to assist the Port in meeting its greenhouse gas reduction and
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sustainability goals.
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Item No: 8b_______________
Meeting Date: March 27, 2018
2018 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter Page 2 of 5
2. Review the selection of four pilot projects, divided between the airport and
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maritime, beginning with a solar project on Pier 69, to test and validate the
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framework and determine how to incorporate the following environmental and
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societal components into the framework to be used to better inform the
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Commission of project proposals that:
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a. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
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b. Increase energy resilience
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c. Protect public health and the environment
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d. Support local economic development
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e. Advance racial and social equity
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f. Leverage partnerships
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g. Advance innovation
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B. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Strategy Development and Implementation Oversight,
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including:
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1. Review and recommend to the Commission the final strategic plan as directed by
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the Commission’s December 19, 2017, motion and informed by the “Port of
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Seattle and (Airlines)” memorandum of understanding agreed to in the Airline
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Signatory Lease and Operating Agreement IV (SAF MOU) and work with the
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Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Workgroup established by the Office of Clean
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Technology at Washington State University to share progress.
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2. Oversee the development of the strategic plan agreed to in the SAF MOU to
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reduce carbon emissions and air pollutants, and the community and
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environmental impacts from existing and forecasted aviation growth at Sea-Tac
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Airport.
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3. Track efforts to establish a regional source of SAF at a commercially competitive
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rate and ensure a commitment from the airlines that they will use SAF
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preferentially to meet goals specified in the Commission’s December 19, 2017,
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motion.
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4. Track initiatives to ensure cost-competitiveness for SAF through a variety of
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methods that are not mutually exclusive, and as stated in the December 19, 2017,
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motion, to include:
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a. Work with airlines to support state and federal legislation establishing a cost-
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effective Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) consistent with bills, executive
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orders, policies, and regulations implemented in the States of California and
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Oregon and the Province of British Columbia; or similar provision that
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includes options for aviation tax credits as well as tax credits for use of
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marine and on-road renewable diesel.
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Item No: 8b_______________
Meeting Date: March 27, 2018
2018 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter Page 3 of 5
b. Work with airlines to advocate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
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federal and state legislators, regulatory agencies, industry groups, and other
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partners for use of airport revenues to offset costs of SAF through their co-
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benefits to human health and the environment.
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c. Work with airlines to advocate to the FAA for new grant programs, or to
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adjust existing Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) grant programs to
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support SAF through their co-benefits.
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d. Seek mutual financial investments with the Port and its partners.
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5. Work with Port staff, local, state, and federal decision-makers to develop a
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comprehensive, coordinated series of events to engage interested stakeholders
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along the value chain including but not limited to: farmers, financiers, bio-refiners,
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logistics operators, as well as end-users such as Washington State Ferries, cruise
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lines, tug boat operators, other harbor craft, truck operators, fishing boats, the
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United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense.
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6. Work with Public Affairs to develop a strategic communications plan tailored to
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the Commission’s SAF goals that positions the Port of Seattle as a leader in the SAF
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industry locally, nationally, and internationally.
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7. Review and recommend sustainability certification standards for SAF.
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C. Blue Carbon Policy Development
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1. Develop a Blue Carbon policy in collaboration with the University of Washington
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for incorporation into the Port’s aquatic habitat restoration work. Blue Carbon is
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the carbon stored and sequestered in coastal ecosystems such as wetlands,
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seagrass meadows, or intertidal saltmarshes. These valuable ecosystems hold vast
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carbon reservoirs; they sequester atmospheric CO
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through primary production
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and then deposit it in sediments.
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a. Oversee and support the Port’s progress on its pilot project that includes
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planting eelgrass, kelp, and potentially developing clam beds near Terminal
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91 to capture carbon and improve water quality. The results to assess the
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efficacy of the carbon sequestration pilot program will take several years,
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after which potential applications for Port of Seattle mitigation efforts and
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innovative uses of mitigation will be the focus of the committee’s work.
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b. Work with the University of Washington to engage graduate students in the
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studies and review of the scientific literature to inform future policy
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development.
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D. Environmental Awards Update
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Item No: 8b_______________
Meeting Date: March 27, 2018
2018 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter Page 4 of 5
1. Review and recommend to the Commission an updated approach to the Port of
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Seattle’s environmental awards to:
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a. Create a rigorously vetted environmental award in collaboration with Port
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stakeholders in the maritime, aviation, labor, and environmental justice
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sectors; and
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b. Elevate the public’s awareness of the Port’s support for environmental
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innovation by generating media attention to the awards.
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IV. AUTHORITY
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In pursuit of its purposes and scope, the committee is authorized to conduct the following
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activities:
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A. Review and recommend a Sustainable Framework Policy Directive and
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B. Conduct oversight of framework pilot projects.
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C. Review and recommend to the Commission the SAF strategy as required by the
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Commission motion of December 19, 2017.
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D. Review and recommend a Blue Carbon strategy to the Port of Seattle Commission and
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oversee the marine habitat creation pilot project near Terminal 91.
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E. Review and recommend an environmental awards program for the Port of Seattle.
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The committee is authorized to seek public engagement by way of community meetings,
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workgroups, and testimony as part of regular or special Port of Seattle Commission meetings as
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deemed necessary.
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The committee may seek Commission approval to retain a consultant if it determines one is
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needed to meet aforementioned responsibilities.
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The committee is not authorized to take final action on adoption of policy directives, approval
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of project authorizations, or other matters for which final action is reserved to the Port of
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Seattle Commission.
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V. DURATION
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The committee shall meet as necessary until completion of the outcomes described in its
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purposes and scope and the conclusion of pilot projects for which the committee is responsible
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for oversight.
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VI. RESPONSIBILITY
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A. The role of committee chair(s) shall be to:
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1. Preside at meetings and serve as committee sponsor
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2. Ensure that the committee is addressing the purposes described in this charter
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3. Set committee meeting agendas
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Item No: 8b_______________
Meeting Date: March 27, 2018
2018 Energy and Sustainability Committee Charter Page 5 of 5
B. The Commission Policy Manager is the Committee Liaison, and Commission Specialists
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will support the work of the committee as assigned. The role of the Committee Liaison
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shall be to:
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1. Regularly update the Commission in memos, individual briefings, and public
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session.
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2. Support the work of the committee.
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3. Help develop, manage, and distribute meeting materials.
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4. Provide logistical support including procuring meeting rooms, scheduling, creating
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meeting records, and providing technical assistance.
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C. The Port of Seattle Environment and Sustainability Center of Expertise Director will
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support the committee as the primary Executive Staff contact. The role of the Executive
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Staff contact shall be to:
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1. Support the committee with timely and responsive information.
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2. Serve as a resource for committee deliberations.
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VII. MEETINGS
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A. The committee will meet at least quarterly and will subsequently report out to the full
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Commission in public session to provide transparency and update on progress in
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meeting the charter.
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B. Workgroups may be formed by the committee and are expected to meet more
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frequently as needed.
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C. A quorum of the committee is required to conduct official committee business. A
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quorum is defined as the presence of both Commissioners assigned to the committee.
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Committee members are welcome to attend workgroup meetings but a quorum is not
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needed to conduct the business of a workgroup.
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D. Meetings of the 2018 Energy and Sustainability Special Committee shall be open to the
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public when required by applicable law or the bylaws of the Port of Seattle Commission.
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E. Agendas will be prepared and made available to the committee and workgroup
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members in advance of meetings.
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F. Agendas for updates to the full Commission will be presented in public session and will
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be published as part of regular or special Commission meeting notices.
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G. Minutes will be prepared and retained for all meetings associated with the work of the
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2018 Energy and Sustainability Special Committee.
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H. Records of committee meetings, including any meeting minutes, shall be provided to
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the Commission Clerk for appropriate retention in accordance with applicable law.
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