Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 19, 2019
DATE: November 11, 2019
TO: Port of Seattle Commission
FROM: Aaron Pritchard, Commission Policy Manager
Leslie Stanton Senior Manager, Environmental Programs
Paul Meyer, Senior Manager, Environmental Programs
SUBJECT: Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive, Introduction
ACTION REQUESTED
Request introduction of Resolution No. 3768: A resolution of the Port of Seattle Commission
establishing a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The primary purpose of this policy is to require the application of the Sustainable Evaluation
Framework to all capital projects and key operational decisions to advance the Port’s
sustainability goals and other social objectives.
A secondary outcome of the policy will be to ensure that the decisions associated with the
application of the framework are documented in a manner that is transparent for the public,
the commission, and staff.
“Sustainable Evaluation Framework” refers to a set of criteria recommended and adopted by
the Commission on December 19, 2017, to assist the Port in achieving its sustainability goals.
The criteria are in addition to other project evaluation criteria such as return on investment or
total cost of ownership. Resilience and equity have been added to the criteria to reflect current
Commission direction.
The Framework criteria are:
• Reduce GHG emissions
• Increase resilience
• Protect health and the environment
• Support local economic development
• Advance innovation
• Leverage partnerships
• Advance equity
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b Page 2 of 2
November 19, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
The Framework will be applied using the following approach:
• Develop and implement a tiered approach to identify the level of project scrutiny.
• Establish a Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Committee to:
o Apply the sustainable evaluation framework criteria to capital projects and key
sustainability decisions.
o Review the tiered capital projects and develop a sustainable design strategy that
will be incorporated into the projects.
o Review key operational decisions and recommend sustainability options.
The Policy builds in flexibility for the Executive to test, revise and report back over two years on
the following subjects:
• Embodied Carbon Within 90 days
• Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document March 31, 2020
• Annual Sustainable Evaluation Framework Progress Report June 30, 2020 (annual)
• Key Operational Decisions process recommendations June 30, 2021
• Equity and Resiliency recommendations June 30, 2021
• Update Port construction specifications and standards December 30, 2021
• Long-term lease agreement recommendation December 30, 2021
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Draft Resolution No.3768
(2) Draft Resolution No.3768, Exhibit A: Draft Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy
Directive
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
September 24, 2019 – Commission briefing on the Sustainable Project Evaluation Framework
December 17, 2017 – Commission Motion 2017-14, directing staff to develop an evaluation
framework, the Sustainability Evaluation Framework, (framework) which
will inform commission decision-making to advance the port’s energy and
sustainability initiatives by transparently documenting environmental and
societal considerations associated with commission actions.
