MOTION 2020-07:

A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

To provide immediate relief and support to Port employees

and Port tenants and concessionaires.

AMENDED AND ADOPTED

APRIL 1, 2020

INTRODUCTION

The Port of Seattle and its employees, tenants and concessionaires face extraordinary

challenges from the global pandemic caused by COVID 19. Every aspect of Port operations –

including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the marine cargo terminals, cruise terminals,

and fishing marinas – have been impacted. These facilities are assets of statewide significance,

and the continued operation of these facilities are critical to the state’s economy.

The Port of Seattle has an essential role to play during this difficult time by providing limited,

short-term relief to help maintain continuity of Port-affiliated businesses. In particular,

prioritizing the health and economic well-being of the Port’s tenants, concessionaires and their

employees returns a public benefit, facilitating continued services necessary to support the

Port’s functions and furthering the Port’s financial interests and the region’s economic

recovery.

TEXT OF THE MOTION

The Commission directs the Executive Director to take steps to implement economic relief during

the COVID-19 crisis using the following guidance:

Port Employees

The health, safety and well-being of employees is the Port’s highest priority. The Commission

hereby provides the following direction for the Executive Director’s actions to review and enact

workplace policies that enhance the ability of employees to care for themselves and their

families while continuing to provide the work essential to Port operations. Priority shall be

given to maintaining employment and benefits to the greatest extent possible.

To further the Executive Director’s efforts to support employees, the Commission hereby

expands the Executive Director’s authority through June 30, 2020 to expend up to $1,000,000

without Commission approval, as needed, to advance these efforts.

Port Tenants and Concessionaires

The Commission hereby supports the Executive Director’s ongoing efforts to evaluate the

impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on the Port, and authorizes the Executive Director to

implement immediate financial relief to Port tenants and concessionaires in a manner that is

legally consistent with advancing the Port’s financial interests and thereby creating ongoing

benefit to the resident of King County.

The Port depends on these tenants and concessionaires to provide services to Port customers

and generate revenue for Port operations. Maintaining its base of tenants and concessionaires

is critical to the Ports financial strategy to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,

and also to the tens of thousands of workers whose livelihood are dependent on Port

operations.

Just as important to supporting the tenants themselves is supporting their employees. The

economic success of the airport and its concessionaires post-COVID-19 is inexorably tied to the

ability of these businesses to bring back their employees once customer demand returns. To

ensure that these employees are available, healthy and open to returning, the best way to

support them during the immediate crisis is providing continuing payments and/or benefits.

The Commission is grateful to the large majority of its concessionaires who are already doing

so, and urges these efforts to continue; the provision of economic relief is a key way for the

Port to facilitate the provision of that support.

Port-initiated short-term economic relief shall complement the evolving state and federal

assistance programs and prioritize Port tenants and concessionaires that:

• Are directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that have been

implemented to address it;

• Can reasonably commit to continued operations within current public health directives

or can reasonably commit to resuming full operations as demand recovers; or

• Provide services essential to the Port operations.

Protection of Tenants and Residents:

The Commission hereby directs the Executive Director that tenants and residents at Port of

Seattle facilities shall not be evicted for inability to pay rent through June 30, 2020, including

live-aboard residents and other moorage customers, and authorizes the Executive Director to

provide financial relief to these residents and customers consistent with this motion.

Assistance in finding relief from other entities:

The Port will develop an outreach program for its tenants, their employees, and port employees,

to facilitate their ability to access local, state and federal relief resources. This program will be

established as soon as possible, following additional clarity provided by the agencies as to the

eligibility and application of relief programs.

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION

The purpose of this motion is to authorize the Executive Director, within these guidelines, to

provide immediate relief to Port tenants. These efforts shall also follow the Port’s principles of

supporting regional economic vitality, environmental stewardship, equity and inclusion. In

addition to any short-term relief that is explicitly directed by the Port Commission, the

Executive Director is authorized to implement other short-term relief that falls within the

criteria of this motion.