Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8b
CORRECTED ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
December 11, 2018
DATE: December 3, 2018 (Memo revised December 10, 2018)
TO: Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck
FROM: Eric ffitch, State Government Relations Manager, External Relations
Eric Schinfeld, Acting Director, Government Relations, External Relations
SUBJECT: State Legislative Agenda for 2019
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization to pursue the legislative priorities as described in this
memorandum during the 2019 state legislative session, convening January 14, 2019, in
Olympia, Washington.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This request for adoption follows a briefing to the Commission on November 27, 2018, and
meetings with staff and commissioners both prior to that meeting and in the two weeks
following.
Since the end of the 2018 state legislative session in Olympia, Washington, staff from the
Government Affairs team has been working with subject-matter experts across the Port,
members of the Executive Leadership Team, staff from the Commission office, and the
Commissioners themselves to develop a draft legislative agenda for 2019.
The policy statements included in this memo, and set for discussion at the November 27, 2018,
commission meeting, reflect work that is ongoing at the port, core priorities laid out by our
Commission, or high-profile issues on which we may be asked to take a position. It includes
changes that reflect suggested amendments from commissioners.
DRAFT State Legislative Agenda for 2019
1) Priority Agenda Items:
a) Clean Fuels Standard: Support enactment of legislation that will incent the
implementation of transportation fuels that reduce emissions related to port
operations. Specifically, support adoption of a clean fuels standard that supports the
deployment of clean transportation fuel technologies and reduces the carbon intensity
of fuels sold in Washington, and that can promote price competitiveness between the
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Template revised September 22, 2016.
market for sustainable transportation fuels in Oregon, California, and Washington
states.
b) Workforce development: Support proposals to enhance public investment in workforce
development in the maritime, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. This includes
proposed amendments to port statute to clarify the authority of port districts to
continue to play a role in workforce development in these sectors.
c) Transportation access to Sea-Tac Airport: Continued state support for funding of
transportation networks that serve essential public facilities, including funding to follow
up on a study underway at the Washington State Department of Transportation
consider potential upgrades State Route 518; and funding for potential early
implementation of the Puget Sound Gateway program upgrades to these critical freight
corridors seek to address current and future demand related to increased regional
development, including airport growth, that will affect transportation demand on that
corridor and transportation impacts to residents.
d) Maritime Innovation Center: Support Department of Commerce budget request that
helps fund development of Maritime Innovation Center. The facility will help sustain and
accelerate Washington’s key maritime industries.
e) Land use: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington ports, with a
specific focus on zoning issues that may affect port competitiveness. This may include:
i) Proposals that are consistent with, but not limited to, the recommendations from
the state legislature’s Spring 2016 Joint Task Force on the Economic Resilience of
Maritime and Manufacturing report;
ii) Proposals that reflect the “Guiding Principles: Stewardship, Enhancement, and
Protection of Maritime and Manufacturing Lands” document that was adopted by
the Northwest Seaport Alliance on November 1, 2016;
iii) Proposals that reflect the Port's commitment to environmental sustainability,
including promoting Puget Sound health and resource stewardship, and reflect the
Commission view that areas designated under the Growth Management Act are
resource lands that are irreplaceable; and
iv) Any legislative changes that may impact the efficient functioning of statewide
essential public facilities
2) Priority Issue Areas:
a) Quality Jobs and Small Business
i) Quality Jobs: Support proposals that are consistent with the Port’s focus on bringing
quality, sustainable jobs to the region, including proposals that:
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Meeting Date: December 11, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
(1) Clarify the authority of port districts to pursue creative approaches to workforce,
and advocate for any efforts to expand state-level support for worker training
programs in the aviation, maritime, and manufacturing trades, and programs
that seek to foster maritime innovation and provide incentives to incorporate
new technology into port-related sectors.
(2) Support career-connected and work-based learning programs that seek to
expose middle- and high-school age students to professions in port-related
industries.
(3) Expand and strengthen state support for apprenticeship programs
(4) Ensure responsible enforcement of labor standards.
(5) Support rural economic development: Partner with the state and other ports and
economic development actors to promote rural economic development
initiatives, including rural broadband deployment, tourism promotion, support
for small manufacturers in rural Washington, investments in freight corridors in
rural areas, and other actions to support economic growth across Washington
state.
ii) Small Business: Support proposals that seek to provide equity in the workplace for
disadvantaged groups, and promote inclusion of small businesses, including
disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business enterprises (SMWBEs). This
includes:
(1) Continued support for the repeal of Initiative 200, and other policy proposals
that seek to achieve similar objectives.
(2) Support for proposals that provide flexibility in contracting to public owners,
including alternative public works, while ensuring that contracting practices
enfranchise SMWBEs.
(3) Support proposals that enhance the opportunities for SMWBEs to more
effectively compete for small works projects.
(4) Support business assistance programs at the state-level that are focused on
small business capacity building and help SMWBEs to compete in the
government marketplace.
b) Transportation:
i) Closely monitor, and support continued funding of, state transportation projects
that are critical to Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance operations,
including the Puget Sound Gateway Program (SR509/SR167), the Alaskan Way
Viaduct Replacement Program, State Route 518, and others. This includes support
for efforts to speed delivering of the Puget Sound Gateway program, and potential
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Meeting Date: December 11, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
acceleration of other transportation projects that are critical to freight movement in
the Puget Sound region.
ii) Support proposals that speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin
to destination through seaport and airport facilities and improve the trade
competitiveness of Washington state and our gateway.
iii) Support proposals that allow for creative approaches to infrastructure development
and funding, including potential expansion of authority of public owners to partner
with private entities, provided that such proposals do not compromise public
infrastructure.
iv) Support proposals that clarify and affirm the authority of the Port Commission to
control access to port facilities by all transportation modes -- including private
vehicle access, commercial ground transportation providers, and public
transportation providers -- and promote fairness and equity among transportation
service providers, in support of responsible operation in all areas of regulation,
including insurance, monitoring, safety, and environmental standards
v) Support state engagement in regional conversations related to a potential increase
in passenger vessel routes operating in Puget Sound.
vi) Support proposals promoting aviation safety while maintaining the authority of
airport operators to enforce their own rules and regulations at the facilities within
their control.
vii) Support state actions that promote resilience in the transportation network, and
support collaboration with other government agencies, including on issues of
climate resilience.
c) Energy and Environment:
Support and advocate for continued state investment in environmental cleanup
programs and state-level policies that promote the adoption and implementation of
clean energy sources to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels and seek to eliminate
greenhouse gas emissions. That includes:
i) Policies that promote the use of low-carbon fuels for transportation, low or zero
emission transit options, and otherwise support the continued reduction in the cost
of low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state. This would include
potential legislative changes allowing electrification of large-scale transportation
infrastructure or clarifying the role of public utilities in relation to the electrification
of transportation and building sectors.
ii) Programs directed at Puget Sound health and water quality overall, including
potential advocacy related to the recommendations made by the Governor’s
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Meeting Date: December 11, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force or otherwise concerned with orca
recovery in the Puget Sound.
iii) Programs funded through the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) that assist ports in
their efforts to promote environmental stewardship, along with efforts to stabilize
the MTCA account to ensure long-term funding availability for core programs.
iv) Continued robust funding for the state’s Recreation and Conservation Office, and
any additional state-level program or office that supports partnerships and funding
on environmental cleanup, habitat restoration, and public access to the shoreline
and marine resources.
v) Work with state and local agencies on disbursement of funds from the national
Volkswagen settlement, including efforts that direct funds to regionally significant
projects and projects that result in significant emissions reductions at airports and
seaports across the state.
vi) Policies that promote use of clean energy technology, build energy efficiency, and
support a statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as statewide
goals for clean power, and that can be implemented in ways that: leverage our
state’s competitiveness; maintain the efficient operation of essential public facilities
such as airports and seaports; and support equity between our business partners.
vii) State support for partnership with the Port on sustainable aviation fuels, including
state-level actions intended to drive development of clean fuels within the state for
use at in-state transportation facilities.
viii) Support state actions that promote climate change resilience, and support
collaboration with other government agencies in this effort, including a focus on
resilience within the transportation network.
ix) Policies that reduce carbon and air pollution emissions for passengers and
employees traveling to and from Port facilities, including promoting and improving
the efficiency of public transit transportation improvements, public transit, and
increasing the availability of low carbon fuels.
x) Policies advanced as part of the Washington Maritime BLUE: 2050 initiative, which
seeks to ensure that Washington state is home to the nation’s most sustainable
maritime industry by 2050, through maritime clean tech innovation and best
management practices that support living-wage jobs, a healthy environment and
resilient communities.
xi) Close consultation and coordination with the Public Oversight Board, established by
Initiative Measure Number 1631 and charged with recommending expenditures
from the Clean Up Pollution Fund, regarding priority investments to reduce carbon
emissions from port-related infrastructure and activities.
d) Tax, Governance, Technology:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. ___8b_ Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: December 11, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
i) Tax: Support tax policies at the state level that support the economic health of port-
related businesses and activities, including:
(1) Policies that promote the efficient movement of freight and supports those
communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructure
necessary to enable the Port of Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and its
partners to serve Washington State businesses, including those in agriculture,
manufacturing, and trade sectors.
(2) Policies that reduce manufacturing costs in port-related businesses, including
businesses that support the efficient functioning of Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport and that incentivize construction of fishing vessels in Washington State
shipyards.
ii) Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of representatives
between the two homeports in their governing of the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
And further, advocate that any legislative proposal that would alter the previously
voter established governance structure of either homeport include ratification by
citizen vote within the respective homeport district(s).
iii) Cybersecurity: Monitor proposals that seek to balance the importance of
transparency and public disclosure with the vulnerability of public governments that
manage critical infrastructure.
iv) Broadband: Support continued state and local government efforts to bridge the
digital divide and bring high-speed internet connectivity to communities around the
state.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
November 27, 2018 – The Commission was briefed on the Draft 2019 State Legislative
Agenda
October 24, 2017 – The Commission adopted the 2018 State Legislative Agenda
October 10, 2017 – The Commission was briefed on the Draft 2018 State Legislative Agenda
