Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

9a

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

February 11, 2020

DATE: January 23, 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Port of Seattle government relations staff worked with Commissioners, executive team

members, internal subject matter experts, and external stakeholders to develop local and

regional policy priorities to guide Port advocacy efforts.

Throughout 2019, staff worked to execute the 2019 regional and local policy priorities. While

progress was made on many of the priorities, work will continue on many of the issues for the

next several years. Some significant additional policy priorities have been added for 2020.

2020 LOCAL AND REGIONAL POLICY PRIORITIES

• Clean Fuels Standard and Sustainability: Participate in local and regional partnerships to

support policy at the regional, State and Federal level that relates to the Port’s sustainability

goals, including the Clean Fuels Standard, the use of Renewal Natural Gas (RNG), and scaling

sustainable aviation fuels.

• Industrial Lands: Support local policies and plans that: are durable and resistant to piecemeal

zoning and development changes; stimulate new compatible investment in industrial lands;

continue to make public investments that support Manufacturing Industrial Centers; and that

strengthen zoning to ensure that noncompatible land uses and activities are not located next to

Template revised September 22, 2016.

may affect efficient functioning of those facilities. This may include: 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;

Proposals that reflect the Port of Seattle'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; 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; Any land use changes or comprehensive plan amendments that reduce the acreage

infrastructure projects and policies throughout the Puget Sound region and state, with focus on

access to port facilities, key freight corridors, regional mobility and funding strategies. Engage

regional transit agencies on Sea-Tac Airport transit access, Sound Transit West Seattle and Ballard

Link extensions to protect industrial lands and freight mobility as well as growing regional

capacity. Work with regional partners, stakeholders, and other public agencies to improve

sustainable transportation options and mobility, while considering opportunities for mode shifts.

Focus on the timely and on-budget delivery of priority projects including SR 509, improved transit

and/or multimodal access to the airport, City of Kent S 228

“WaterfrontSeattle”/Alaskan Way, the Safe and Swift Corridor, and the Interbay corridor. Adjust

to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit when the Port is constructing or modernizing

facilities. Broadly advance equity within Port workforce programs and regional workforce

development initiatives.

• Economic Opportunity: Support legislative or regulatory policies by King County cities and King

County that leverage the Port’s efforts to promote economic diversity and healthy, livable

communities.

• Equity and Inclusion: Facilitate collaboration with King County cities and King County to

promote an inclusive economy where opportunity and prosperity are widely shared regardless

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s Strategic Plan, which includes: 1) Transforming the Port of

Seattle agency-wide by infusing equity principles and practices into all aspects of organizational

structure, programs, policies, and processes; 2) Guiding the Port in achieving its mission to create

jobs, and provide equitable and tangible benefits to impacted communities of color, and

immigrant and refugee communities; and 3) Building a robust Office of Equity, Diversity, and

Inclusion to lead and manage work across the Port that will result in success across King County.

Bring together other local government partners to promote immigration policies that ensure the

Port, our partners and our customers have the workforce to succeed, and that new residents and

visitors feel fully welcomed. Support federal, state, and local efforts to ensure an accurate 2020

Census.

new cruise berth and other waterfront capital projects. Work closely with the City of Seattle to

ensure all necessary permitting, including environmental mitigation, and other administrative

approvals for these projects.

• Terminal 5 Modernization Project: Continue work to secure the necessary City of Seattle

permits for this project. Continue to educate and engage elected officials, public agencies and all

relevant stakeholders on the environmental highlights and economic benefits of the project –

including, but not limited to the Air Quality Management Program and T-5 Rail Quiet Zone.

Explore opportunities to reduce cost drivers through leveraging support from other local

jurisdictions and public agencies.

collaboration between its diverse sectors to promote innovation and sustainable practices that

support a competitive gateway with a 21

• Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan: Secure partnerships with other jurisdictions

towards modernizing the electrical power distribution grid to provide clean energy to Seattle’s

working waterfront to increase regional competitiveness, create jobs, improve community

health, and confront climate change, focusing initially on providing cold ironing capabilities to

Pier 66.

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Commitment by launching the Port’s Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program with

community partners. The program achieves three shared goals: Community and Port Capacity

Building for Ongoing Collaboration; Healthy Environment and Communities; and Economic

Prosperity in Place. In 2020 the program will work with City of Seattle and King County to form

an inter-governmental team to align and leverage efforts in the Duwamish Valley.

• Natural Gas and Port Facilities: Monitor and evaluate potential actions at King County and in

King County cities that would impact diversified or transitional fuel source usage at Port facilities.

• Sound Transit 3 West Seattle and Ballard Extensions: Advocate for alignments that have

Regional Transportation corridor. Continue to advocate for freight mobility through the corridor

and transportation solutions to minimize or mitigate impacts to Port property and operations,

including impacts to Terminal 91 and Fishermen’s Terminal.

• Safe and Swift: Continue to coordinate with the City of Seattle to support the Safe and Swift

Corridors MOU, which includes the Lander St Bridge, Heavy Haul network, and improvements to

the corridors around the Key Arena redevelopment, a body of work that potentially includes up

to $15 million in additional Port investments beyond prior commitments. Encourage strong

collaboration around Port/City transportation priorities, specifically protection of freight lands

SAMP Near-Term Projects, together with other Port-wide initiatives, as key to supporting future

growth and economic opportunity to the communities near the airport and across the region.

• Highline Forum, Soundside Alliance, and Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART):

Demonstrate Port leadership in South King County community issues through engagement with

elected officials at the Highline Forum and in the Soundside Alliance. Help foster respectful,

meaningful and collaborative opportunities for jurisdictional collaboration through the Sea-Tac

Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) to address airport community concerns in

coordination with the FAA and the air carriers.

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Fund designates $10M for near-airport communities to address airport noise, environmental

health and sustainability. Informed by multicultural engagement and development of an equity

index, the funding structure, criteria, and strategies for equitable access will be opened up for

additional public input early in 2020, with an application launch date in June 2020 for the first

round of funding, and a potential second round of funding in the fall 2020. The Port hopes to

distribute up to $2 million in funding in 2020.

establish Green City Partnerships in the three cities. For 2020, the goal is to expand the program

to include all six Highline Forum cities, and to bolster it with additional dollars. Additionally, staff

will work with the newly established OEDI to conduct an equity audit with the goal of removing

barriers to access and increasing equitable distribution of funds. Finally, a Port policy priority is

to change the required match within the ACE statute from 3:1 to 1:1.

• Equitable Economic Development: Encourage airport-area cities to implement workforce

development, small business development, and diversity in contracting initiatives that support

disadvantaged workers and Women Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE).

• Natural Resources Stewardship: Keep elected officials updated and informed regarding the

daily and through the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), to implement the Interlocal Agreement

(ILA) concerning issues such as planning, land use and zoning, transportation, surface water

management, critical environmental areas, issues related to North SeaTac Park, and public safety.

Engagement and Partnership Priorities

• 38 Cities: Present to as many of the 38 cities outside of Seattle, sharing updated information

regarding maritime and aviation investments and projects, as well as the Port’s role as an

economic engine for the region.

• Mayors and Councilmember Tours: Offer frequent opportunities for the Mayors and new

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Communities apprised of all updated information concerning the Sustainable Airport Master Plan

(SAMP) to meet current and near-term demand for aviation services.

• Eastside Communities: Partner with Eastside Cities to address the region’s aviation and

maritime needs.

• Pioneer Square: Continue to educate and work with the Pioneer Square neighborhood

regarding the progress of T46/Cruise Terminal redevelopment, and their concerns.

• Duwamish Valley: Address long-standing issues related to equity for the Duwamish Valley

• Tribal Relations: Build a robust relationship with area tribes, in an effort support Port growth

and environmental goals related to maritime, aviation, and economic development.

Additional Priorities

• State and Federal Legislative Agendas: Work in coordination and enhance activities related to

implementing the Port’s 2020 State and Federal legislative agendas, including: industrial lands

preservation and enhancement; transportation projects and funding requests; coordination

around seeking equity among transportation network providers; efforts to study future regional

air capacity and air cargo; noise insulation grant funding for airport-area public schools;

• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC): Advocate for regional ports’ perspectives and priorities

with respect to preparing for the 2020 grant cycle, the implementation of the Amazing Place

Regional Economic Strategy, the approval of VISION 2050 and support for Manufacturing &

Industrial Centers, the development of the Regional Transportation Plan Update, and other key

PSRC efforts in 2020. Monitor and provide support, as needed, to the Regional Aviation Baseline

Study. Monitor the agencies engagement around regional efforts to expand passenger ferry

service.

• Maritime and Manufacturing Stewardship: Support local land use and transportation policies,

Template revised September 22, 2016.

and regulatory decisions that preserve industrial lands, enhance freight mobility, allow for the

anticipated development of marine cargo facilities and support the growth of related living wage

jobs.

• East King County: Enhance community and government engagement in East King County to

develop partnerships and collaborative strategies on regional policy issues and support for Port-

wide initiatives.

• Economic Development Grant Programs: Work with the Economic Development Division to

promote statewide economic development through partnerships with cities, ports and nonprofit

• Orca Recovery: In collaboration with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), identify priority

areas for the Port and the NWSA that support Orca recovery, such as efforts to reduce noise

impacts on Southern Resident Orcas.

• Seattle Central Waterfront Oversight Committee: Staff will serve on the City’s Local

Improvement District oversight committee. The committee will advise on central waterfront

operations, maintenance, safety, cultural and recreational programming. It will also identify

performance stands in coordination with Friends of the Waterfront and the City, as well as

provide an annual report to the Mayor and Council.

of Port-owned facilities.

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