Template revised January 10, 2019.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

6a

ACTION ITEM

Date of Meeting

February 25, 2020

DATE: February 3, 2020

ACTION REQUESTED

Request Commission adoption of the 2020 local and regional government policy priorities for

staff to engage with local and regional officials and other partners in support of these priorities.

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.

Top 2020 Local and Regional Priorities

• Industrial Lands

• Clean Fuels Standard and Sustainability

• T46/Cruise Terminal

• Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects

• Equity and Inclusion

• 38 Cities Outreach and Engagement

Port-wide/Regional Issues

• Climate and Energy: Support legislative or regulatory policies by King County cities and King

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) and the Puget Sound Regional Council

(PSRC).

• 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;

“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 within Manufacturing Industrial Centers, or lead to siting of incompatible uses

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

th

St Overpass,

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

Adjust and account for implications of passage of I-976 impacting critical regional and state

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

• Workforce Development: Support regional workforce development and career connected

learning initiatives that create a talent pipeline for key Port industries (aviation, maritime and

construction). Use priority hire, apprenticeship utilization and related Port programs and

policies 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.

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.

benefits of the 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.

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

sustainable waterfront at T46 that provides for a fourth cruise berth to meet current and future

demand.

• Maritime Blue: Support the region’s maritime-based blue economy through increased

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

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

minimal impacts on manufacturing and industrial center operations and Port/NWSA properties

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

and corridors, completion of relevant projects, and enhancement of Port property (or

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

Aviation/Airport Communities

the 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.

• South King County Community Fund: Established by the Port Commission in 2018, the South

• Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund: Authorized by the Port Commission in 2017, the $1

million fund supports environmental projects and programs in the cities of SeaTac, Burien and

Des Moines. The fund is bifurcated into a Small Matching Grants Program (providing grants of

up to $10K to community groups for environmental projects) and a contract with Forterra to

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

stewardship plan, water quality programs, and wildlife management programs such as

honeybee boxes and raptor relocation.

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

SeaTac, 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 in King County, 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

Councilmembers in the 38 cities to connect with Commissioners, as well as tour and be update

on aviation projects currently underway.

• Airport Communities: Work in coordination with our environmental staff to keep the Airport

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.

community.

• Beacon Hill: Continue to partner with the Beacon Hill Community equitably, in an effort to

address their concerns regarding aviation and maritime impacts.

• Vashon Island: Advance the installation of a portable noise monitor on Vashon Island.

• 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.

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

Additional Priorities

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;

partnerships on use of sustainable aviation fuels; ongoing support for studying the relationship

between aviation activity, ultrafine particulate emissions, and air quality generally; and

coordination on anti-human trafficking efforts. Support changes to federal policies, regulations

and programs to better align with local community priorities as identified by the Sea-Tac

Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART).

• 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.

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

promote statewide economic development through partnerships with cities, ports and

nonprofit agencies, including the Port’s Economic Development Partnership Grant and the

Tourism Grant programs.

• City of Seattle Beacon Hill: Enhance engagement with the Beacon Hill Community on issues

of concern regarding the effects of Port operations.

• 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

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

• 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.

• Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness: Recognizing the Port’s unique, critical

infrastructure, continue to strengthen the Port’s partnerships with local and regional agencies

for mutual aid, planning, coordination, exercises, and communication.

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS