COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
ACTION ITEM
DATE:

August 7, 2019

TO:

Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

FROM:

Mike Merritt, Commission Chief of Staff
Paul J. White, Commission Clerk

Item No.
Date of Meeting

8d
August 13, 2019

SUBJECT: Commission bylaws object statement amendment
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Introduction of Resolution No. 3761: A resolution of the Port of Seattle Commission
amending Resolution Nos. 3742, 3744, and 3754, regarding bylaws governing the organization
and transaction of business of the Port of Seattle Commission, to revise the object statement in
Article I.
SUMMARY
The Port of Seattle currently lacks consistent messaging in its mission as an entity. As the Port
continues advancing economic growth in a sustainable and equitable manner, its mission
statement should be one that reflects those priorities consistently.
The Port's current mission statement exists on the Port's website. There are different iterations
of the mission statement on publicly accessible documents such the Port's Long Range Plans,
the Commission bylaws and the footer of Commission regular and special meeting agendas.
The overarching goal for updating the Port's mission statement is to have a statement that
simply and accurately conveys the Port of Seattle's duties and commitment towards King
County and its residents that is consistent across the board. Important elements of an updated
mission statement are commitments to equity, accountability/transparency, environmental
sustainability, and quality of life. The proposed revision would read as follows:
Founded in 1911 by a vote of the people, the Port of Seattle is a special-purpose
government led by a board of elected Commissioners. Its mission is to benefit the quality of
life of King County residents by expanding economic opportunity by advancing trade, travel,
and commerce. It achieves these goals in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally
sustainable manner.
This proposal reflects basic port authority around trade, travel, and commerce and adds the
responsibilities to support quality of life, equity, accountability, and environmental stewardship.

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. _8d_
Meeting Date: August 13, 2019

Page 2 of 2

If approved for introduction, Resolution 3761 would be made available for adoption at the
commission regular meeting of September 10, 2019.
Attachments to this memo include a draft of Resolution 3761 and redline of the proposed
bylaws change.

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