Template revised April 12, 2018.

DATE: January 4, 2019

TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

ACTION REQUESTED

Request Commission adoption of the 2019 local and regional government policy priorities for

staff to engage with local and regional officials and other partners in support of these priorities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Port of Seattle government relations staff worked with Commissioners, executive team

members, internal subject matter experts, and external stakeholders to develop local and

regional policy priorities to guide Port advocacy efforts.

Throughout 2018, staff worked to executive the 2018 regional and local policy priorities. While

• Climate, Energy and Sustainability: Support legislative or regulatory policies by King County

cities and King County that align with the Port’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions,

promote energy-efficient operation of transportation infrastructure, and encourage

renewable energy generation. Facilitate collaboration with those jurisdictions on climate

resiliency, including Seattle City Light, the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C)

and the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). Participate in local and regional partnerships

to support policy at the State and Federal level that relates to the Port’s sustainability goals,

including the Clean Fuels Standard and scaling sustainable aviation fuels.

• Regional Mobility: Actively partner with relevant public transportation agencies on critical

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

Link extensions to protect industrial lands and freight mobility as well as growing regional

capacity. Work with regional partners, stakeholders, and other public agencies to improve

sustainable transportation options and mobility, while considering opportunities for mode

shifts. Focus on the timely and on-budget delivery of priority projects including SR 509, the

SR 518 study, improved transit and/or multimodal access to the airport,

“WaterfrontSeattle”/Alaskan Way, the Safe and Swift Corridor, and the Interbay corridor.

• Workforce Development and Priority Hire: Support implementation of the Port of Seattle’s

Priority Hire Policy in construction contracts by finalizing an interlocal agreement between

King County, City of Seattle and the Port of Seattle to ensure a pipeline of eligible workers

economic opportunities, by collaborating with surrounding communities and regional

partners.

• Economic Opportunity: Support legislative or regulatory policies by King County cities and

King County that support the Port’s efforts to promote economic diversity and healthy,

livable communities.

• Equity and Inclusion: Facilitate collaboration with King County cities and King County to

promote an inclusive economy where opportunity and prosperity are widely shared

regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status, including highlighting the

• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project Implementation: Continue to engage local

jurisdictions and other partners in securing and expanding support for the Maritime and

Economic Development projects contained in the Port’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan,

especially focused on the proposed fourth cruise berth. Continue to educate and engage

local elected officials and public agencies on the economic benefits of the new cruise berth

and other waterfront capital projects. Work closely with the City of Seattle to ensure all

necessary permitting, including environmental mitigation, and other administrative

approvals for these projects.

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

and all relevant stakeholders on the environmental highlights and economic benefits of the

project – including, but not limited to the Air Quality Management Program and T-5 Rail

Quiet Zone. Explore opportunities to reduce cost drivers through leveraging support from

other local jurisdictions and public agencies.

transportation solutions related to the Magnolia Bridge and Ballard Bridge and the Interbay

corridor. Continue to advocate for freight mobility through the corridor and transportation

solutions to minimize or mitigate impacts to Port property and operations, including

impacts to Terminal 91 and Fishermen’s Terminal.

• Safe and Swift: Continue to coordinate with the City of Seattle to support the Safe and Swift

Corridors MOU, which includes the Lander St Bridge, Heavy Haul network, and

improvements to the corridors around the Key Arena redevelopment, a body of work that

potentially includes up to $15 million in additional Port investments beyond prior

commitments. Encourage strong collaboration around Port/City transportation priorities,

review and proposed execution of the SAMP Near-Term Projects to address regional

demand. Promote the SAMP Near-Term Projects, together with other Port-wide initiatives,

as key to supporting future growth and economic opportunity to the communities near the

airport and across the region.

• Highline Forum, Soundside Alliance, and Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table

(StART): Demonstrate Port leadership in South King County community issues through

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

through the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) to address airport

community concerns.

• South King County Support Program: Work with the cities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma

International Airport to help identify proposals to implement the Port Commission’s airport

communities support program.

• Community Employment, Workforce Development, and Equity in Contracting: Encourage

airport-area cities to help promote workforce development opportunities for their

residents, through the Fair Works Center in South King County, the Equity Program, and the

land stewardship plan, water quality programs, and wildlife management programs such as

honeybee boxes and raptor relocation.

City of SeaTac Interlocal Agreement: Continue working collaboratively with the City of

SeaTac, daily and through the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), to implement the Interlocal

Agreement (ILA) concerning issues such as planning, land use and zoning, transportation,

surface water management, critical environmental areas, issues related to North SeaTac

Park, and public safety.

Additional Priorities

• State and Federal Legislative Agendas: Work in coordination and enhance activities related

to implementing the 2019 state and federal legislative agendas, including transportation

• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC): Advocate for regional ports’ perspectives and

priorities with respect to preparing for the 2020 grant cycle, the implementation of the

Amazing Place Regional Economic Strategy, the development of VISION 2050 and support

for Manufacturing & Industrial Centers, and other key PSRC efforts in 2019. Monitor and

provide support, as needed, to the Regional Aviation Baseline Study. Monitor the agencies

engagement around regional efforts to expand passenger ferry service.

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

policies, as well as mechanisms that maintain or enhance maritime and manufacturing

lands, and the critical road and rail infrastructure required for freight mobility. Advocate

strongly for legislative and regulatory decisions that preserve industrial lands, enhance

freight mobility, allow for the anticipated development of marine cargo facilities and

support the growth of related living wage jobs.

• Economic Development Grant Programs: Work with the Economic Development Division to

promote statewide economic development through partnerships with cities, ports and

nonprofit agencies, including the Port’s Economic Development Partnership Grant and the

Tourism Grant programs.

• Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness: Continue to strengthen the Port’s partnerships

with local and regional agencies for mutual aid, coordination and communication.

• City of Seattle Beacon Hill Air and Noise Study: Monitor and constructively engage on this

community health study.

• Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee: Monitor and support lead staff on

engagement with committee members and staff. The effort was created by an act of the

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST

(1) Presentation slides

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS

January 8, 2019 – The Commission was briefed on the 2019 local and regional government

relations priorities

December 11, 2018 – The Commission adopted the 2019 federal legislative agenda

December 11, 2018 – The Commission adopted the 2019 state legislative agenda

February 27, 2018 – The Commission adopted the 2018 local and regional government

relations priorities