Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

7b

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

September 24, 2019

DATE: September 6, 2019

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund, authorized by the Port Commission in November

2016, recognizes that near-airport communities experiencing more impacts from Port

operations should also experience more benefits. The ACE Fund was designed to serve Burien,

Des Moines, and SeaTac communities impacted by the Port’s Flight Corridor Safety Program.

Following a dedicated outreach program, the Port identified a two-pronged approach to meet

Commission and community priorities including: 1) Small scale, community-based projects that

should make immediate impact; and 2) broad, long-term investments that can ensure healthy

urban forests now and in the future. The $1 million fund was allocated accordingly: $550,000

round of funding, the Port received 10 applications for ACE grants, the highest number received

since the program began. Six projects were awarded, including four first-time recipients.

Forterra’s Green Cities Partnership works with 15 cities and one county across the region to

steward and restore urban forests. The program has a commitment to restoring 13,000 acres,

has planted 1.2 million trees and shrubs, and trained 284 volunteers as forest stewards.

Together, Green Cities serve more than 1.6 million residents. ACE funding has helped to bring

Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac into the network and Forterra is working with all three cities on

Urban Forest Enhancement Plans or Guides which include a Tree Canopy Cover Assessment, a

Forest Health Assessment, and findings from extensive community engagement activities

accomplished in 2018. The Plans also provide a path forward for equitably increasing canopy

Template revised September 22, 2016.

While the Small Matching Grants program has had positive impact in the communities, it has

illuminated challenges for inclusive participation by diverse community stakeholders:

1. RCW 35.21.278 requires non-profits to provide a 3:1 match identifying three times the

2. ACE Fund application processes and reporting requirements, though comparably more

3. The ACE Fund does not fully served low income, or historically underserved

challenging to distribute the full $550,000 in small matching grants over the anticipated 3-year

time period, it has allowed staff, city partners and community members the opportunity to

continue to refine the application and reporting process, increasing access by removing

barriers. Staff recommend the following steps to continue to improve the ACE Small Matching

Grants Program:

1. Government Relations will work with Washington state Legislature to amend RCW

2. Work with Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to conduct an equity evaluation and

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Forterra is currently moving into the implementation phase of the project. This kicks off with

forest stewards and working with the cities to secure tools, trees and support for volunteers.

Additionally, they will be conducting tree distribution events in each city and supporting the

Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Alliance in the planting of historic Elm trees.

identifying the feasibility of planting Elms, which will be used to work with city and private

landowners to restore the “Living Road of Remembrance.”

Staff has recommended continuing the Forterra contract through 2021 to create a path for the

sustainable transition of programmatic and volunteer management to each of the cities. This

will allow for nearly two years of on-the-ground implementation; training forest stewards,

acquiring tools, and hosting volunteer events. Port staff has heard concerns from the cities

December 12, 2017 – the Commission authorized execution of contracts with community

June 13, 2017 – the Commission exercised its authority under RCW 35.21.278 to authorize

November 22, 2016 – The Commission approved the creation of the Airport Community