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Port of Seattle Commission
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Century Agenda Policy Directive
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Proposed
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May 26, 2020
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Document last updated May 12, 2020
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Policy Directive Page 2 of 6
SECTION 1. Purpose.
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The purpose of this policy directive is to establish the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda goals to
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guide the strategic planning, budget, and resource allocation throughout the Port of Seattle. It
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also provides guidance to the Executive Director, the Executive Leadership Team, and Port
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employees on the formulation, execution and modification of the Century Agenda.
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SECTION 2. Definitions.
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When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given
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below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise:
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“Century Agenda” means the 2012 comprehensive, strategic initiative to guide Port priorities for
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the next quarter century. The Century Agenda aligns the Port’s strategies and objectives to 21st
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century challenges and innovative solutions. In 2010, the Commission launched an extensive
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public engagement effort and formed a Century Agenda Committee to guide the Port’s long-
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range vision. More than 1,000 people attended over 60 events and engagements to help develop
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the Vision, Strategies and Objectives.
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“Goal” means the enduring and aspirational aims for the Port of Seattle. Goals are set by the
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Commission and used as the basis for all Division and Centers of Excellence (COEs) strategic
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business planning and resource allocation.
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“KPI” means Key Performance Indicator and are performance based, data driven tools and
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metrics intended to monitor and demonstrate progress towards goals and objectives. KPIs are
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set by Divisions and COEs and reviewed by the Executive Director and the Commission.
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“Objective” means set of strategies to be implemented by Divisions and COEs to achieve “goals.”
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Set by the Executive Director and reviewed by the Commission. Implemented through Division
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and COEs business planning.
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“Target” means qualitative or quantitative goal that, if attained, defines the success in reaching
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or making significant progress towards a “goal” or “objective.” Set by the Divisions and COEs and
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reviewed by the Commission.
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SECTION 3. Scope and Applicability.
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This policy directive applies to all Divisions and COEs within the Port of Seattle. The goals set by
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the Commission will be the basis for strategic planning, budget and resource allocation
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throughout the Port of Seattle. All business planning and resource allocation efforts will be clearly
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aligned to the goals set by the Century Agenda, the objectives established to execute on them
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and the KPIs developed to ensure accountability and progress.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Policy Directive Page 3 of 6
SECTION 4. Responsibilities.
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This section establishes responsibilities for the formulation, execution and modification of the
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Century Agenda.
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A. The Commission shall set the Century Agenda goals and require Commission action. Goals
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represent the highest priorities of the Port of Seattle and are reflected in all business
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plans, strategic plans and resource allocation. These goals are intended to be enduring.
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Objectives, as formulated by the Executive Director, will be presented to the Commission
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for review and input on adherence to Century Agenda Goals.
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KPIs and Targets shall be reviewed by the Commission annually during the budget
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process.
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B. The Executive Director shall engage in the following activities in pursuit of this policy
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directive, either directly or by appropriate delegation of authority:
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i. Develop and update objectives every five (5) years, or as needed, to inform strategic
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planning, annual business plans and resource allocation.
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ii. Develop KPIs that measure progress towards goals and objectives in a quantifiable
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manner. Annual and longer-term KPI targets will be set by the Executive Director and
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reviewed by the Commission.
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iii. Deliver updates on metrics tracked through KPIs to the commission on an annual basis
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as part of the budget approval process.
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iv. Demonstrate clear alignment between Division and COEs strategic business plans,
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budget and resources allocations and Century Agenda goals and objectives.
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C. All Divisions and COEs, through the Executive Leadership Team, shall use the goals set by
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Commission as the basis for annual and strategic business planning. Each Division and
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COE will align its planning and resource allocation to Century Agenda goals and objectives.
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The Executive Leadership team will work with the Executive Director to develop or update
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the objectives every five (5) years or as necessary.
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The Executive Leadership Team will work with their respective Divisions and COEs to
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develop KPIs and targets to measure progress towards Century Agenda goals and
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objectives as appropriate.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Policy Directive Page 4 of 6
SECTION 5. Policy.
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The Commission establishes the following Century Agenda goals. Each goal will guide the
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development of objectives and KPIs.
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A. Goal 1: Position the Puget Sound Region as a Premier International Logistics Hub –
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Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure it meets and supports the international
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trade needs of the region and keeps the Northwest Seaport Alliance competitive in the
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global marketplace while it prioritizes environmental sustainability and the needs of the
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local economy.
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B. Goal 2: Advance this Region as a Leading Tourism Destination and Business Gateway –
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Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that the Seattle Tacoma International
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Airport (SEA) stays competitive, sustainable, efficient and customer-focused. As an
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anchor institution, the Port will strive to meet the region's air transportation needs and
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maintain the facilities and infrastructure to make that possible.
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C. Goal 3: Responsibly Invest in the Economic Growth of the Region and all its
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Communities – Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that we are creating
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opportunities for all of our communities. Supporting, sustaining and advancing port-
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related industries and industrial lands is essential to the region’s continued growth and
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prosperity. The Port will consider the cultural, economic, and community impacts of that
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growth as responsible stewards of the public trust.
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D. Goal 4: Be the Greenest, and Most Energy Efficient Port in North America – Through this
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goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that as an institution, in all our programs, initiatives,
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efforts and projects, that we are dedicated to sustainability and environmental
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protection. The Port is dedicated to leaving our environment better than we found it. A
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basic tenet of the Port’s work includes meeting the needs of the region, our partners, and
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our customers while reducing the Port’s carbon footprint, increasing the use of renewable
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energy sources, restoring and preserving the habitats we occupy.
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E. Goal 5: Become a Model for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Through this goal the Port
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of Seattle will ensure that equity is at the core of all our work and the principles the Port
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embodies. The Port will continue to focus on community investment and engagement in
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regional workforce development, use of and partnership with women and minority
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owned businesses, and small businesses. Internal and external programs, structures, and
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practices will be viewed and reviewed through an equity lens.
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F. Goal 6: Be a Highly Effective Public Agency – Through this goal the Port of Seattle will
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ensure that its function as a public agency is marked by accountability, transparency,
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safety, innovation, and responsible financial stewardship. The Port of Seattle will strive
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to be a good community partner and use our influence to ensure that all the communities
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we serve are healthy and safe.
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Objectives, developed to align with these goals, will be presented to the Commission for review
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and input. When new objectives need to be developed, the Commission will have additional
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opportunity for review and to provide input.
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SECTION 6. Program Evaluation.
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A. Reporting Process
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i. During the annual budget planning process, the Executive Director shall report to
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the Commission on progress towards achieving Century Agenda goals and
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objectives, through KPIs. KPIs will be evaluated against Targets and the
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Commission will review progress and provide input as needed or desired.
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ii. Each Division and COE will report to the Executive Director on their progress
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towards the Century Agenda goals through these KPIs.
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B. Review Process
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i. Goals – Review of goals will be reserved for major, necessary, and long-term shifts
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in the priorities of the Port of Seattle or the regional landscape.
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a. Changes to Century Agenda goals will require Commission Committee review
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and Commission action.
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ii. Objectives – The Executive Director shall deliver objectives to the Commission
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which correlate directly to the goals and demonstrate vertical alignment between
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the goals, business plans, KPIs, projects, resource allocation and budget.
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a. Objectives will be formulated and reviewed by the Executive Director and the
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Executive Leadership Team every five (5) years. During this time, the
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Commission will review and provide input on objectives for their adherence to
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the goals.
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b. Changes or modifications to the objectives can be made periodically as KPIs
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indicate or port priorities shift over time. The Executive Director will formulate
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the objectives and review the proposed changes with the Commission to
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ensure that any changes reflect the intent of goals provided in this policy.
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iii. KPIs – The Executive Director shall deliver KPIs to the Commission which show
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vertical alignment between goals, objectives, business plans, projects resource
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allocation and budget.
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a. The Executive Leadership Team will work with their respective Divisions and
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COEs to develop KPIs and Targets to measure progress towards Century
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Agenda goals and objectives as appropriate. Each KPI will endure for three (3)
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to five (5) years at a minimum so that progress and trends can be monitored
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and reported.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Policy Directive Page 6 of 6
b. Changes or modification to the KPIs and Targets can be made periodically as
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port priorities shift over time. The Divisions and COEs will update the KPIs and
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review the proposed changes with the Executive Leadership Team and
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Executive Director. The Executive Director will inform the Commission when
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changes to KPIs are made that may have a significant impact on achieving
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objectives and goals.
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