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MOTION
OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
INCREASING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ACTIVITIES,
AS AMENDED
ADOPTED
JULY 1, 2014
TEXT OF MOTION
The Port Commission of the Port of Seattle hereby directs the Chief Executive Officer to develop
plans and policies as described in the statement of policy direction below to complete a strategic
plan and implementing policies to improve upon and expand current workforce development
efforts in port-related sectors, develop new partnerships with regional stakeholders, and establish
contracts with service providers as necessary to deliver on the plan for formal consideration by
the Port Commission.
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
The Commission of the Port of Seattle believes that workforce development is critical to
achieving the Port’s primary mission to serve as an economic development agency generating
quality, family-wage jobs and economic growth for the region and increasing operational
efficiency and economic mobility.
The Port has been directly engaged in workforce development efforts and initiatives for over 20
years, including helping to create the non-profit organization Port Jobs and the Apprenticeship
Opportunities Project. In the last six months, staff has collaborated with the Port Commission,
industry and workforce development experts, and community stakeholders to identify options to
enhance these workforce efforts and do so in a manner consistent with Port policy and applicable
legal requirements.
Our over-arching workforce development objective is to ensure that the maritime, aviation,
airport, and related sectors have access to workers who have the necessary skills to provide safe
and efficient maritime and aviation services, and that the workers have opportunities to acquire
the skills and education they need to secure increasingly complex and better compensated jobs.
STATEMENT OF POLICY DIRECTION
The Commission directs the CEO to (1) complete a strategic plan to improve upon and expand
current Port funded and/or Port sponsored workforce development efforts in port-related sectors,
(2) complete policies necessary to implement the strategic plan, (3) develop new partnerships
with regional stakeholders, and (4) establish contracts with service providers as necessary to
deliver on the plan.
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For purposes of this motion, workforce development is defined as education, training, job
matching, and related services that both help connect local workers to careers, and that help
ensure area companies have access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive and grow.
The plan should focus on achieving the following goals:
Identify the current and future workforce demands of port-related industries
Support the development of a supply of qualified candidates in alignment with port-
related industry demand
Ensure that all members of the community we serve have access to quality jobs in port-
related industries, and increase opportunities for career advancement
Work to make all jobs at Port-owned facilities quality jobs
Integrate our efforts with regional stakeholders, and use our influence to increase the
capacity and efficiency of the regional workforce development system
The plan should include, but not be limited to, identifying:
Education, job placement assistance, training, coaching, navigation assistance, and skills
needs of workers to acquire jobs and advance in their careers
Current and future labor and skills needs of employers
Gaps in training and education offerings
Recommendations for expanding current offerings and adding new education and training
opportunities, which would include on-site community college courses
Additional funding sources and partnership opportunities
Any changes to Port policies needed to implement the strategic plan
The Commission directs the CEO to assign the appropriate staff in the Office of Social
Responsibility to finish the strategic plan and associated policy, budget, and requests for
proposal (RFPs) on an aggressive timeline in 2014, as follows:
June
o National solicitation for workforce development consulting services issued;
review and selection process underway
o Complete Legal Department review of potential legal and financial risks
associated with engaging in expanded workforce development efforts
o Initial 2015 workforce development budget plans submitted to Commission
July/August
o Execute a contract with a selected consultant; consultant to begin work with OSR
and other port staff
o Implications of Legal review translated into RFP and policy guidance and
communicated to Commission
o OSR and Central Procurement Office finalize RFP(s) for expanded services;
current contracts extended if needed to ensure no interruption of ongoing
workforce development services
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September
o Policy resolution drafted for Commission review, as required by legal and
financial regulatory context
o Budget proposals refined
o RFP(s) published
October
o Evaluation of proposals received in response to RFP(s)
o Commission approval of policy resolution necessary to enable implementation of
the workforce development plan, per the legal and finance context
November
o Commission approval of 2015 workforce development budget, as a part of the
overall Port budget
o Negotiation of contracts for services based on proposals received
December
o Commission approval to award workforce development contract(s) so that work
on those contracts can begin in 2015
