Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
9b
BRIEFING ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 19, 2019
DATE: November 7, 2019
TO: Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck
FROM: Eric ffitch, State Government Relations Manager, External Relations
Nate Caminos, Government Relations Director, External Relations
SUBJECT: DRAFT State Legislative Agenda for 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since the end of the 2019 state legislative session in Olympia, Washington, staff from the
Government Affairs team has been working with subject-matter experts across the Port,
members of the Executive Leadership Team, staff from the Commission office, and the
Commissioners themselves to develop a draft legislative agenda for 2020. This is the same
process that has transpired each interim, in an effort to ensure the proposed agenda reflects the
Port Commission’s current priorities and values. The policy statements included in this memo
and set for discussion at the November 19, 2019, commission meeting reflect work that is
ongoing at the port, core priorities laid out by our Commission, or high-profile issues on which
we may be asked to take a position.
This appearance in public session follows meetings with commissioners and staff to revise and
sharpen this agenda, and it remains a living document that is subject to feedback from the
commission prior to the potential adoption of the agenda on December 10, 2019.
DRAFT State Legislative Agenda for 2020
1) Priority Agenda Items:
a) Protecting and Promoting Assets of Statewide Significance:
i) Land use: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington ports, with a
specific focus on zoning issues that may affect port competitiveness. This may include:
(1) Proposals that reflect the “Guiding Principles: Stewardship, Enhancement, and
Protection of Maritime and Manufacturing Lands” document that was adopted by
the Northwest Seaport Alliance on November 1, 2016;
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Template revised September 22, 2016.
(2) Proposals that reflect the Port's commitment to environmental sustainability,
including promoting Puget Sound ecosystem health and resource stewardship,
and acknowledge the fact that manufacturing and industrial centers designated
under the Growth Management Act are resource lands of statewide economic
significance that are irreplaceable; and
(3) Proposals that recognize the role industrial resource lands play in global port
competitiveness and in supporting job retention in diverse economic sectors that
provide ladders of opportunity to underserved groups; and
(4) Recommendations related to the Department of Commerce’s Interbay Public
Development Advisory Committee; and
(5) Any legislative changes that may impact the efficient functioning of statewide
essential public facilities.
ii) Port grant program: Emphasize importance of including a port-specific grant program
within any long-term transportation package under development, in order to ensure
that infrastructure upgrades at ports keep pace with infrastructure investment
statewide
iii) Export promotion: Continue to deepen partnership with Washington State
Department of Commerce and other stakeholders on promoting Washington state
as an international trading partner, supporting the state's exporters while also
ensuring that transportation facilities that support trade are modernized, world-
class, and can operate efficiently.
b) Protecting the environment and promoting sustainable economic development:
i) Clean Fuels Standard: Support enactment of legislation that will incent the
implementation of transportation fuels that reduce emissions related to port
operations. Specifically, support adoption of a clean fuels standard that supports the
deployment of clean transportation fuel technologies and reduces the carbon
intensity of fuels sold in Washington, and that can promote price competitiveness
between the market for sustainable transportation fuels in Oregon, California, and
Washington states.
ii) Maritime decarbonization: Pursue continued state partnership with efforts to reduce
carbon emissions from waterfront operations while maintaining the international
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Template revised September 22, 2016.
competitive edge that supports job growth in Washington state. This includes
partnership on electric transmission infrastructure development, on innovation in the
clean maritime sector, and on the state’s ongoing Maritime Blue 2050 initiative.
iii) Partnering for community improvements: Improve the ability of port districts and
other local governments to partner with community service organizations to provide
public improvements to parks and other open spaces by reducing the required
financial contribution that must be provided by those organizations.
2) Priority Issue Areas:
a) Quality Jobs and Small Business
i) Quality Jobs: Support proposals that are consistent with the Port’s focus on bringing
quality, sustainable jobs to the region, including through proposals that:
(1) Expand state-level support for worker training programs in the aviation, maritime,
and manufacturing trades, and programs that seek to foster maritime innovation
and incent the incorporation of new technology into port-related sectors.
(2) Support career-connected and work-based learning programs that seek to expose
middle- and high-school age students to professions in port-related industries.
(3) Expand and strengthen state support for apprenticeship programs.
(4) Ensure responsible enforcement of labor standards.
(5) Support rural economic development: Partner with the state and other ports and
economic development actors to promote rural economic development
initiatives, including rural broadband deployment, tourism promotion, support for
small manufacturers in rural Washington, investments in freight corridors in rural
areas, and other actions to support economic growth across Washington state.
ii) Small Business: Support proposals that seek to reduce structural barriers and provide
equity in the workplace for disadvantaged groups, and promote inclusion of small
businesses, including disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business
enterprises (SMWBEs). This includes:
(1) Continued support for the repeal of Initiative 200, the enactment of Initiative
1000, and any other policy proposals that seek to achieve similar equity objectives.
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Template revised September 22, 2016.
(2) Support for proposals that provide flexibility in contracting to public owners,
including alternative public works, while ensuring that contracting practices
empower SMWBEs.
(3) Support proposals that enhance the opportunities for SMWBEs to more effectively
compete for small works projects.
(4) Support business assistance programs at the state level that are focused on small
business capacity building and help SMWBEs to compete in the government
marketplace.
b) Transportation:
i) Continued state support for transportation networks that serve essential public
facilities, including: funding to follow up on a study underway at the Washington State
Department of Transportation to consider potential upgrades to State Route 518,
construction of the Puget Sound Gateway Program (SR-509/SR-167), completion of
the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, and others.
ii) Support proposals that speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin to
destination through seaport and airport facilities and improve the trade
competitiveness of Washington state and our gateway.
iii) Support proposals that allow for creative approaches to infrastructure development
and funding, including: potential expansion of authority of public owners to partner
with private entities, provided that such proposals do not compromise public
infrastructure; and potential revenue sources that account for miles traveled and
could bring stability to state transportation funding.
iv) Support proposals that clarify and affirm the authority of the Port Commission to
control access to port facilities by all transportation modes – including private vehicle
access, commercial ground transportation providers, and public transportation
providers – and promote fairness and equity among transportation service providers,
in support of responsible operation in all areas of regulation, including insurance,
monitoring, safety, and environmental standards.
v) Support state engagement in regional conversations related to a potential increase in
passenger vessel routes operating in Puget Sound, and other innovative
transportation partnerships that reduce congestion on roadways and reduce
emissions associated with transportation sector.
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Meeting Date: November 19, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
vi) Support proposals intended to promote aviation safety while maintaining the
authority of airport operators to enforce their own rules and regulations at the
facilities within their control.
vii) Support state actions that promote resilience in the transportation network, and
support collaboration with other government agencies, including on issues of climate
resilience.
c) Energy and Environment:
Support and advocate for continued state investment in environmental cleanup programs
and state-level policies that promote the adoption and implementation of clean energy
sources to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels and seek to eliminate greenhouse gas
emissions. That includes:
i) Policies that promote the use of low-carbon fuels for transportation, low or zero
emission transit options, and otherwise support the continued reduction in the cost
of low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state.
ii) Programs directed at Puget Sound health, to include: water quality, habitat
restoration, cleanups, stormwater, and issues related to orca recovery in the Puget
Sound.
iii) Programs funded through the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) that assist ports in
their efforts to promote environmental stewardship, to include not just cleanup
grants but also public participation grants to community organizations.
iv) Continued robust funding for the state’s Recreation and Conservation Office, and any
additional state-level program or office that supports partnerships and funding on
environmental cleanup, habitat restoration, and public access to the shoreline and
marine resources.
v) Continued collaboration with state and local agencies on disbursement of funds from
the national Volkswagen settlement, including efforts that direct funds to regionally
significant projects and projects that result in significant emissions reductions at
airports and seaports across the state.
vi) Policies that promote use of clean energy technology, building energy efficiency, and
support a statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as statewide goals
for clean power, and that can be implemented in ways that: leverage our state’s
competitiveness; maintain the efficient operation of essential public facilities such as
airports and seaports; and support equity between our business partners.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item _9b_ Page 6 of 8
Meeting Date: November 19, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
vii) State support for partnership with the Port on sustainable aviation fuels, including
state-level actions intended to drive development of clean fuels within the state for
use at in-state transportation facilities.
viii) Support state actions that promote climate change resilience, and support
collaboration with other government agencies in this effort, including a focus on
resilience within the transportation network.
ix) Policies that reduce carbon and air pollution emissions for passengers and employees
traveling to and from Port facilities, including promoting and improving the efficiency
of public transit transportation improvements, public transit, and increasing the
availability of low carbon fuels.
x) Policies advanced as part of the Washington Maritime BLUE: 2050 initiative, which
seeks to ensure that Washington state is home to the nation’s most sustainable
maritime industry by 2050, through maritime clean tech innovation and best
management practices that support living-wage jobs, a healthy environment, and
resilient communities.
xi) Close consultation and coordination with the Public Oversight Board, established by
Initiative Measure Number 1631 and charged with recommending expenditures from
the Clean Up Pollution Fund, regarding priority investments to reduce carbon
emissions from port-related infrastructure and activities.
d) Tax, Governance, Technology:
i) Tax: Support tax policies at the state level that support the economic health of port-
related businesses and activities, including:
(1) Policies that promote the efficient movement of freight and support those
communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructure
necessary to enable the Port of Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and its
partner entities to serve Washington State businesses, including in agriculture,
manufacturing, and trade sectors.
(2) Policies that reduce the cost of manufacturing activities that support port-related
businesses, including businesses that support the efficient functioning of Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport and that incentivize construction of fishing vessels
in Washington State shipyards.
ii) Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of representatives
between the two homeports in their governing of the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
And further, advocate that any legislative proposal that would alter the previously
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Meeting Date: November 19, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
voter established governance structure of either homeport include ratification by
citizen vote within the respective homeport district(s).
iii) Cybersecurity: Monitor proposals that seek to balance the importance of
transparency and public disclosure with the vulnerability of public governments that
manage critical infrastructure.
iv) Broadband: Support continued state and local government efforts to bridge the digital
divide and bring high-speed internet connectivity to communities around the state.
v) Technology: Monitor proposals related to the use of biometric technology, such as
facial recognition, particularly those that address the protection of individual privacy,
civil liberties, equity, and compliance with federal and state regulations.
vi) Human trafficking: Engage continued state partnership with Port efforts to combat
human trafficking at port facilities, including the airport, seaport, cruise terminals, and
marina properties, including potential advocacy in support of state anti-human
trafficking efforts that align with efforts underway at the Port.
vii) State building code: Support a change to the Washington State Building Code that
includes single-occupant restrooms to be counted as part of the total number of
fixtures in public facilities such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Advocate for
proposals that permit the use of single-occupant restrooms by any person, regardless
of sex or gender identity, and prevents those restrooms from being restricted to a
specific sex or gender identity.
viii) Equity: Seek state partnership with Port efforts to enhance our organization’s focus
on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, including through the creation of a cabinet-level
office within the Governor’s Administration that is focused on bringing these
principles to all state operations.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
December 11, 2018 – The Commission adopted the 2019 State Legislative Agenda
November 27, 2018 – The Commission was briefed on the Draft 2018 State Legislative Agenda
October 24, 2017 – The Commission adopted the 2018 State Legislative Agenda
October 10, 2017 – The Commission was briefed on the Draft 2018 State Legislative Agenda
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item _9b_ Page 8 of 8
Meeting Date: November 19, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016.
