Motion 2020-14 – Environmental Grant Program Page 1 of 2
MOTION 2020-14:
1
A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
2
3
To support the creation of the Environment and
4
Sustainability Grants Program under the South King County
5
Fund
6
PROPOSED
7
JUNE 9, 2020
8
9
INTRODUCTION
10
In November of 2016 the Port of Seattle Commission directed the creation of a $1,000,000
11
Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund to support projects and programs in Sea-Tac Airport-area
12
communities to improve ecological and environmental attributes in airport-area communities.
13
The motion named the cities of Sea-Tac, Des Moines, and Burien as the focus of the ACE Fund.
14
15
The ACE Fund has been very successful in funding community projects on public property led by
16
small non-profits and local groups around the airport. The success of the program has led the
17
Executive Director to support the creation of Environment and Sustainability Grants Program
18
under the South King County Fund (SKCF) to immediately bolster the Port of Seattle’s COVID-19
19
Recovery efforts. This motion supports that recommendation.
20
21
The Environment and Sustainability Grants Program will include the communities of Sea-Tac, Des
22
Moines, Burien, Federal Way, Tukwila and Normandy Park, while adhering to the geographic
23
designation under the SKCF principles. The current ACE Fund will continue to operate as it was
24
established until all of those funds are expended on projects within the cities of Sea-Tac, Des
25
Moines, and Burien.
26
27
TEXT OF THE MOTION
28
29
The Port Commission hereby supports Executive Director’s recommendation to designate a
30
portion of the SKCF to advance the environmental strategies of the fund as the Environment and
31
Sustainability Grants Program.
32
33
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
34
35
RCW 35.21.278 is the RCW that explicitly outlines the Port’s the power to engage in the “ACE
36
Fund” activities and remains our strongest option for providing environmental grants to
37
community groups.
38
39
The creation of the Environment and Sustainability Grants Program under the SKCF will adhere
40
to the eight guiding principles of the SKCF, including focus on community input and equity.
41
42
ACE has provided tremendous community benefits to Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac. Despite
43
challenges such as the 3:1 match, stakeholders are overwhelmingly in support of continuing the
44
Item Number: 8b_motion
Meeting Date: June 9, 2020
Motion 2020-14 – Environmental Grant Program Page 2 of 2
ACE Fund and of creating a new program with expanded geographic boundaries. This program
45
is one of the only environmental grant programs that specifically targets South King County.
46
47
The Port will continue to explore new and innovative options for environmental investments
48
using South King County Community Fund dollars, including expanding green jobs workforce
49
development initiatives.
50
51
ATTACHMENTS:
52
Presentation Slides
53
