Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Page 1 of 4
RESOLUTION NO. 3767
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A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle Commission establishing a Duwamish
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Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy
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Directive to guide the implementation of the
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Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program and
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other Port operations that impact the Duwamish
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Valley Community.
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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is committed to creating economic opportunity for all,
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stewarding our environment responsibly, partnering with surrounding communities, promoting
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equity and social responsibility, and being transparent and accountable; and
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WHEREAS, the Port’s Century Agenda states the Port will use its influence as an institution
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to promote Women and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) growth, small business growth,
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and workforce development to include increasing workforce training, job and business
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opportunities for local communities in trade, travel and logistics; and
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WHEREAS, the Century Agenda also states the Port will be the greenest and most energy-
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efficient port in North America by reducing air pollutants and carbon emission, and restoring,
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creating and enhancing 40 additional acres of habitat in the Green/Duwamish watershed and
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Elliott Bay; and
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WHEREAS, the Port recognizes that institutional racism has contributed to both inequities
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in the distribution of the Port’s economic prosperity benefits and to environmental degradation
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amongst near-Port communities compared to others, particularly those experiencing socio-
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economic challenges; and
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WHEREAS, in 2017 the Port Commission adopted Resolution No. 3736, which was
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amended by Resolution 3746, establishing a Priority Hire Policy Directive to provide good family
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wage jobs to qualified construction workers from economically distressed areas of King County,
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including Georgetown and South Park, by increasing access to port projects; and
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WHEREAS, in 2018 the Port Commission adopted Resolution No. 3747 establishing a
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Welcoming Port Policy Directive to increase engagement with, and support for, immigrant and
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refugee communities; and
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WHEREAS, in 2018 the Port Commission adopted Resolution No. 3737 establishing a
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Diversity in Contracting Policy Directive to provide the maximum practicable opportunity for
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Item Number: 8b reso____
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019
Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Page 2 of 4
increased participation by WMBE in Port contracting for public works, consulting services,
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supplies, material, equipment, and other services; and
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WHEREAS, in 2019 the Port established an Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to
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address institutional racism and increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in Port policies,
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processes, and programs; and
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WHEREAS, the Duwamish Valley Community (Community) consists of a group of people and
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organizations that live, work, play, study, or worship in the near-Port neighborhoods of South Park
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and Georgetown along the Duwamish River and have been historically or are currently impacted
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by economic, racial, and environmental injustices, including the Duwamish People, the first people
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of Seattle; and
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the Duwamish Valley Community (Community) consists of groups or individuals that
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collectively live, work, play, study, and worship in the neighborhoods of South Park and
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Georgetown along the Duwamish River who have historically and currently been impacted by
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economic, racial, and environmental injustices, including the Duwamish People, the first people
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of Seattle; and experience disproportionately high environmental health and socio-economic
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burdens; and
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WHEREAS, the 2013 Cumulative Health Impacts Analysis published by Just Health Action
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and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group characterizes the
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Duwamish Valley Community as experiencing environmental justice issues such as
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disproportionate exposure to air pollution, lack of greenspace, and high poverty rates
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contributing to a life expectancy in South Park and Georgetown that is 13 years lower than other
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wealthier communities in Seattle; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Seattle’s 2017 Preparing for Climate Change Strategy Report
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identifies this community as one of the communities that will be most impacted by climate
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change conditions such as extreme heat, rising sea levels, and flooding; and
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WHEREAS, the Port seeks alignment with the City of Seattle Resolution 31567 and King
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County Motion 2015-0167 related to the Duwamish Waterway Cleanup and the health of
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communities adjacent to the Lower Duwamish Waterway, and other public agencies who have
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recognized historic and present inequities experienced by the Community, and have launched
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long-term initiatives within their own operations, such as the City of Seattle’s Duwamish Valley
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Action Plan that addresses environmental justice and equitable development in the community;
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and
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WHEREAS, the Port has historic involvement in the Duwamish Valley through Superfund
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cleanup and remediation as part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) along with
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the City of Seattle, King County, and Boeing., and LDWG has collectively invested approximately
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$50 million in investigating contamination in the Lower Duwamish waterway, developed
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approaches for cleanup of the waterway and means to prevent recontamination through source
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Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Page 3 of 4
control; and the Port of Seattle has individually already invested nearly $13 million into the
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cleanup of Terminal 117 Early Action Area; and
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WHEREAS, the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) and the Port of Seattle have partnered
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on several initiatives to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases such as the Clean Truck
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Program, air quality education projects, and the adoption of the Northwest Ports Clean Air
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Strategy to reduce air emissions from shipping and port operations in the Georgia Basin and
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Puget Sound airsheds from cargo-handling equipment, rail, harbor craft, ships, and trucks; and
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WHEREAS, in January 2017 the Port and Duwamish Valley community were selected by
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the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Ports Initiative to receive a technical
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assistance grant to pilot a project (pilot project) that facilitated dialogue and engagement with
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communities experiencing environmental justice issues; and
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WHEREAS, the pilot project enabled the Port to identify three areas of collaboration and
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mutual benefit with the Community: capacity building, environmental stewardship, and
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economic development to prevent continued community displacement; and these three areas,
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as well as community-based organizations such as the Port Community Action Team (PCAT), are
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key pillars for sustaining the ongoing partnership; and the Port and has expended over $450,000
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on targeted community programs such as shoreline improvements, increased access to public
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educational events, and green career pathways; and
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WHEREAS, the PCAT is a Community-convenedn advisory group established in 2017 as
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part of the pilot project and consistsconsisting of Duwamish Valley community members that
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engage the Port in collaborative action and strategic planning in order to address historical and
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current disproportionate, cumulative impacts affecting the Duwamish Valley community; and the
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PCAT provides training and coaching to Port staff on inclusive engagement practices and cultural
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competency that ensures the effectiveness of achieving the Century Agenda; and
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WHEREAS, in May 2019, the Port of Seattle Commission authorized the creation of the
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Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program and directed staff to collaborate with community
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partners to establish a Community Benefits Commitment that provides shared goals and
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definitions, a strategy and workplan with actionable items, and an evaluation framework;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port of Seattle Commission as follows:
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SECTION 1. The Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment as shown in Exhibit
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A is hereby established.
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SECTION 2: The Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment shall be labeled and
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catalogued as appropriate, together with other Commission Policy Directives, and shall
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be made readily available for use by Port staff and members of the public as a governance
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document of the Port of Seattle.
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Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Page 4 of 4
ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed meeting thereof,
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held this _____ day of ________, 2019, and duly authenticated in open session by the
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signatures of the Commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the commission.
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Port of Seattle Commission
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