Template revised April 12, 2018.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
7b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
June 23, 2020
DATE: June 23, 2020
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Specialist
Aaron Pritchard, Commission Policy Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No.3776--Introduction and Adoption of the Workforce Development
Policy Directive.
ACTION REQUESTED
Request (1) unanimous consent to adopt Resolution 3776 at the same meeting as which it is
first introduced; (2) introduction and adoption of Resolution 3776: A resolution of the Port of
Seattle Commission establishing a Workforce Development Policy Directive to guide the
increase in the number of skilled employees within the industries necessary for Port
development.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In March 2019, the Commission chartered the Port’s first Workforce Development, WFD,
committee. The committee was tasked with drafting a formal workforce development policy
directive in order to update the direction provided in the July 1, 2014, WFD motion. On
February 25, 2020, the Equity and Workforce Development Committee was chartered to
provide information, advice, and recommendations about the port’s equity, workforce
development, and career connected learning programs and policies, and diversity in contracting
goals. The Equity and Workforce Development Committee continues to drive much of the work
the was initiated by the 2019 WFD Special Committee, including many months of program
evaluation, strategy review and policy development.
POLICY
The purpose of this Policy Directive is to fulfil Century Agenda strategic objectives by increasing
equitable access for workers in port-related economic activities, create opportunities for
workers to acquire the skills, experience, and education they need to secure increasingly
complex and better compensated jobs and careers; and to guide the workforce development
efforts of the Port of Seattle to benefit workers, Port customers and tenants, and port-related
economic activities in near-port communities, King County and Washington State
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 7b Page 2 of 3
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Template revised September 22, 2016.
The policy directive also redefines the established port related sectors: aviation, maritime and
construction to: aviation, maritime, construction trades and green careers. The addition of the
word “trades” is aligned with the Port’s long history of supporting the trades that are necessary
to maintain a thriving construction industry. The addition of the “green careers” sector aligns
with the Port’s goal to be the greenest Port in North America, which includes the Duwamish
Valley Community Benefits Commitment that calls for building an inclusive green economy and
creating green job pathways.
The Policy directive intended to:
1. Center diversity, equity and inclusion
2. Create equitable access to economic prosperity
3. Leverage partnerships
4. Increase the availability of a skilled workforce for the port and port related
industries
5. Demonstrate measurable outcomes
To accomplish this, the policy focuses on two primary goals:
1. Increasing Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity by Increasing equitable
workforce access for the trades in port-related economic activities, with an
emphasis on expanding opportunities to disproportionately impacted near-port
communities which are most disproportionately impacted. Port staff will develop
program priorities, actions, benchmarks, and metrics for success. Focus on
workforce training and education in Port and port-related industries where the
greatest gaps and disparities rankings exist.
a. Promote access to wrap around services and infrastructure that are
necessary improve the delivery of services to individuals, including adults and
youth who face barriers to employment and job retention.
b. Building out career pathways and adopting best practices for career
connected learning.
2. Leveraging Port Impact and innovation by identifying and prioritizing opportunities
for leadership and influence to promote a sector-based approach to workforce
development centered on equity, diversity and inclusion.
a. Making strategic investments in the maritime, aviation, construction trades,
green career sectors and where the Port is uniquely positioned to leverage
the greatest community impact.
b. Fostering partnerships with community-based organizations, educational
institutions, and government agencies to maximize the workforce
development impact of the Port of Seattle
The policy draft recommends an evaluation process including an annual report that will
document:
1. How the Port is applying Career Connected Learning best practices
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 7b Page 3 of 3
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Template revised September 22, 2016.
2. How the Port’s workforce development resources are utilized to leverage industry
involvement and to address evolving workforce training, education and retention
demand projections as necessary
3. How many students are placed in internships
4. How many people have been trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained
5. What types of jobs program participants are being placed in and the range of
compensation for those job
6. How many and what kind of business our programs are serving
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Policy Directive
(2) Resolution
(3) PowerPoint Presentation
(4) 2014 Motion of the Port of Seattle Increasing Workforce Development and Career
Opportunities Activities
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
(1) July 1, 2014 – The Commission approved a Motion of the Port of Seattle Increasing
Workforce Development and Career Opportunities Activities
