Template revised April 12, 2018.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6i
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
January 8, 2019
DATE: December 26, 2018
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Sandra Kilroy, Director Maritime Environment and Sustainability
Jane Dewell, Maritime Stormwater Program Manager
Pamela Tupper, Contract Administrator
SUBJECT: Contract for Maritime Salmon-Safe Recertification
Amount of this request:
$60,000
Total estimated project cost:
$60,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a contract with
Salmon-Safe, a non-profit organization, for an amount not to exceed $60,000, for the Port’s
Salmon-safe certification and that commission determine a competitive process is not
appropriate or cost effective and exempt this contract from a competitive process consistent
with RCW 53.19.020.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Port of Seattle Maritime Parks have been Salmon-Safe certified since 2008. This is an
environmental certification program, conducted exclusively by the non-profit Salmon-Safe
organization for the West Coast, that highlights water quality and habitat work that the Port
performs. The certification cycle is five years with the current cycle ending in 2018. The
requested contract authorization covers the cost to continue the Salmon Safe certification for
the next three cycles.
JUSTIFICATION
Staff conducted research and have determined that a competitive solicitation is not appropriate
or cost effective considering the Salmon-Safe organization has the exclusive peer-reviewed and
accreditation program in Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia.
The Salmon-Safe non-profit organization exclusively certifies farms and urban landscapes in the
Salmon-Safe certification program recognizing practices that protect water quality, maintain
watershed health and restore habitat. It is consistent with the Century Agenda to be the
greenest Port in North America. The Port’s maritime parks have participated in this program
since 2008, and recertification assessments are due every five years. To keep Salmon-Safe
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6i Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
certification, the Port needs to perform required objectives and then be assessed. The
assessment process involves time and effort from Salmon-Safe staff and experts, and a contract
to cover these costs is needed. The request for the exemption would allow the Port to continue
supporting and being recertified as Salmon-Safe.
DETAILS
Since 1998, Salmon-Safe has successfully defined and promoted ecologically sustainable
development and land management practices that protect water quality and aquatic
biodiversity throughout the Northwest. The Salmon-Safe parks initiative is the nation's first
certification program linking park system development and operation with the protection of
water quality and an imperiled species. In Washington State, Salmon-Safe activities include
more than 100 farms, orchards, and dairies. Together they engage corporate, commercial and
institutional landowners in addressing critical issues impacting Northwest salmon and Puget
Sound including urban and municipal parks projects.
Businesses and other urban landowners achieve Salmon-Safe certification after a rigorous
assessment and independent verification of their operations by experts in stormwater,
landscape management and fish biology. The Port’s system of parks and public access points on
the Duwamish and Elliott Bay were among the first Washington sites to achieve Salmon-Safe
certification in 2008.
The Salmon-Safe certification is a continuous improvement program that involves reassessment
every five years. The Salmon-Safe contract being requested would cover the 2018/2019
recertification assessment work and include two additional five-year recertification cycles in
2023 and 2028.
Scope of Work
Salmon-Safe will conduct an assessment for site-wide certification of the approximately 50-acre
Port of Seattle system of eight parks and 22 public access areas, including review of restoration
master planning and activity to date, landscape management, stormwater systems, and design
guidance in future park development to ensure alignment with Salmon-Safe standards into the
future. Policy and field-level evaluations will be conducted using Salmon-Safe’s peer reviewed
park standards to evaluate whether park system planning, operations and restoration activities
are consistent with Salmon-Safe principles of net-positive watershed impact.
The actions will include the following in 2019, 2023 and 2028:
(1) Certification site visit and meeting – visit a number of Port parks and publicly
accessible properties to evaluate landscape, stormwater treatment, and habitat
restoration projects developed between each recertification cycle.
(2) Certification report and outreach – a report of findings and recommendations for the
2019, 2023 and 2028 cycles will be provided to the Port, with meetings to discuss
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6i Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
findings and next steps for continuous improvement. This includes Salmon-Safe
support in public and media outreach.
(3) Certification verification – annual review of progress and to address questions and
changes will be provided by Salmon-Safe staff and experts.
Schedule
The Salmon-Safe evaluations would occur every five years. The 2013-2018 cycle will be
addressed in early 2019, and the next two five-year cycles would occur in 2023 and 2028.
Annual verification work would occur each in-between year.
Activity
Salmon-Safe Assessment & Verification
2018-2023 certification assessment
2018-2023 annual verification
2023-2028 certification assessment
2023-2028 annual verifications
2028-2033 certification assessment
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
2018-2023 Certification Assessment &
Annual Verification
$18,000
2023-2028 Certification Assessment &
Annual Verification
$20,000
2028-2033 Certification Assessment&
Annual Verification
$22,000
Total
$60,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Three alternatives are presented. A possible fourth, to contract some other organization to
conduct the Salmon-Safe assessments and verifications, is not feasible since Salmon-Safe is the
only organization that can certify and verify the program that they have developed.
Alternative 1 – Not fund Salmon-Safe certification program for Maritime Parks
Cost Implications: No contract costs ($0)
Pros:
(1) Do not expend money on Salmon-Safe contract
(2) Do not expend staff time and effort to support Salmon-Safe related projects
Cons:
(1) Discontinue Salmon-Safe program for Maritime Parks
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6i Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
(2) Reduce focus on and community recognition of conducting voluntary and pro-active
program that supports salmon protection
(3) Reduce efforts that support Century Agenda
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Fund request for Salmon-Safe certification for Maritime Parks for two cycles
Cost Implications: $38,000 over 10 years
Pros:
(1) Continue the Maritime Parks Salmon-Safe program
(2) Support Century Agenda goals through Salmon-Safe recommended elements
(3) Recognition by community for doing voluntary and pro-active salmon protection
projects
Cons:
(1) Cost of Salmon-Safe contract
(2) Time and effort by staff to support and implement Salmon-Safe related projects
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Fund request for Salmon-Safe certification for Maritime Parks for three cycles
Cost Implications: $60,000 over 15 years
Pros:
(1) Continue the Maritime Parks Salmon-Safe program
(2) Support Century Agenda goals through Salmon-Safe recommended elements
(3) Recognition by community for doing voluntary and pro-active salmon protection
projects
(4) Demonstrates our commitment to water quality and habitat best practices over the long
run and demonstrates contract efficiencies.
Cons:
(1) Cost of Salmon-Safe contract
(2) Time and effort by staff to support and implement Salmon-Safe related projects
This is the recommended alternative.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 6i Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$60,000
$60,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
0
0
Current request for authorization
0
$60,000
$60,000
Total authorizations, including this request
0
$60,000
$60,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Contract costs will be funded by the Stormwater Utility fund.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
Business Unit (BU)
8001 (Stormwater Utility)
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
CPE Impact
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
June 28, 2016 – Salmon-Safe certification was presented to the Commission.