Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 19, 2019
DATE: October 23, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Christina Billingsley, Sr. Program Manager, Environmental Engagement
Veronica Valdez, Commission Specialist
SUBJECT: Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive
ACTION REQUESTED
Request introduction of Resolution No. 3767: A resolution of the Port of Seattle Commission
establishing a Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy to guide the
implementation of the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program (DVCEP) and other Port
operations that impact the Duwamish Valley Community (Community).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 28, 2019, the Port Commission adopted Motion 2019-07 authorizing the creation of the
DVCEP and directing staff to collaborate with the Community to achieve three shared goals:
Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration, Healthy Environment and
Communities, and Economic Prosperity in Place. Motion 2019-07 directed Port staff to develop
a policy directive to include guiding principles, a list of immediate and future actionable items, a
strategy and timeline to accomplish goals, and auditable reporting standards for the DVCEP.
Port staff embarked on a collaborative effort to co-write the policy directive with the
Community who will be directly impacted by the implementation of the DVCEP. Port
Community Action Team (PCAT) representatives conducted over two months of outreach to
various community stakeholders in the form of one-on-one meetings, group presentations, and
meetings with community organizations to ensure Community feedback was incorporated into
the policy directive. In total, over 300 community stakeholders and 27 community-based
organizations were informed or consulted about the policy directive.
Following the introduction of Resolution No. 3767, staff will return to request adoption of
Resolution No. 3767 on December 10, 2019.
BACKGROUND
Recognizing that some near-Port communities experience a higher proportion of environmental
impacts and lack equitable access to the benefits generated by the Port, the Port of Seattle and
the near-Port Duwamish Valley Community launched a pilot project in 2017. Originally as part
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Meeting Date: November 19, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
of a U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Pilot Project technical assistance grant, the pilot project
focused on improving Port engagement with near-Port communities that experience
environmental justice issues.
Over the course of the pilot project, Port staff learned that the challenges facing the
Community were not limited to environmental impacts. Due to historic and current
discriminatory policies and institutional racism practiced by local governments, industries, and
other institutions, Duwamish Valley community members have been excluded from generations
of economic mobility and civic involvement. Previous inequities such as redlining and
underinvestment in community infrastructure established patterns of disparities that continue
to this day, contributing to significant cumulative health impacts. As a result, the DVCEP
established by the Commission Motion 2019-07 addresses multiple inequities affecting the
community.
In addition, Port staff gained knowledge about multiple community assets that have anchored
the Duwamish Valley as a cultural, economic, and social base for a resilient and diverse
community despite inequities. In 2017, the Port Community Action Team (PCAT) was
established to ensure that representatives from the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South
Park and Georgetown could meaningfully participate in the pilot project. As part of a
groundbreaking contract to advance equitable engagement principles at the Port, PCAT
members act as community-based consultants and are compensated for contributing their
expertise. This partnership has created significant mutual benefit to the Port and the
Community.
The PCAT provides training and coaching to Port staff on inclusive engagement practices and
cultural competency that directly impact the effectiveness of achieving Century Agenda goals.
In addition to co-writing Port of Seattle Motion 2019-07 and Resolution No. 3767, PCAT
members provided consultation on areas such as:
• Multicultural leader engagement during the scoping for environmental review of the
SAMP Near Term Projects;
• Hiring and recruitment for the Senior Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
position;
• Marketing and visual communications best practices for multicultural audiences;
• Public event programming and design, such as the 2019 Multilingual Duwamish River
Boat Tour; and
• Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy stakeholder engagement.
DETAILS
This policy directive will ensure the Port’s collaboration with the Community to achieve three
shared goals:
• Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration
• Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities
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• Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place
The Executive Director, or a delegate, shall be accountable to ensure the implementation and
adequate annual funding of the DVCEP. To date, the Port has allocated $292,000 in 2020
toward implementing the DVCEP.
Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration
In alignment with the Port’s equity initiatives to address institutional racism and recognizing
that the most effective methods for solving inequities come from communities themselves, the
DVCEP shall build Port and Community capacity to ensure meaningful, equitable engagement
and partnership. To this end, the DVCEP will foster shared decision making, support existing
and upcoming community leaders, and collaborate with Community on activities that advance
mutually beneficial outcomes. The Port’s action areas include, but are not limited to:
A. Inclusion
B. Training and Education for Port and Community
C. Port and Community Engagement
D. Community Feedback
E. Inter-agency Collaboration
F. Data-Driven Results
Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities
The Port shall proactively address climate change and other environmental factors that affect
the health of the Community. The Port shall encourage the NWSA to partner with Community
to address impacts on the Community resulting from the movement of goods to and from
NWSA-operated cargo terminals, such as climate change and air quality emissions, truck traffic
and noise issues, and water quality. The Port’s action areas include, but are not limited to:
A. Climate Change
B. Air Quality
C. Truck Traffic
D. Noise Impacts
E. Public Parks and Greenspace
F. Water Quality
Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place
The Port shall support anti-displacement solutions that enable the Duwamish Valley
Community to thrive in place through equitable access to training, jobs, career pathways, and
Port-related economic opportunities. The Port’s action areas include, but are not limited to:
A. Recruiting and Retention
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B. Youth and Adult Workforce Development
C. Economic Development
D. Support for an Equitable, Diverse, and Green Economy
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Draft Resolution No.3767
(2) Draft Resolution No. 3767 Exhibit A: Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Policy
Directive
(3) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
April 10, 2018 – Commission authorization for funding to continue EPA Pilot Project
activities with the Community
May 28, 2019 – Commission establishment of Motion 2017-07, Duwamish Valley
Community Equity Program
October 29, 2019 – Energy and Sustainability Committee approves Introduction of the
Policy Direction to the full Commission
