Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem Page 1 of 3
PORT OF SEATTLE 1
RESOLUTION NO. 3811 2
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A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle Commission setting the daily per diem 4
allowance Port of Seattle commissioners can earn to be equal 5
to that of Washington state legislators, and increasing each 6
commissioner’s maximum number of days of per diem 7
reimbursement per calendar year from 120 days to 205 days. 8
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WHEREAS, the voters of King County authorized and approved the formation of a port 10
district co-extensive with King County to be known as the Port of Seattle in a special election on 11
September 5, 1911; and 12
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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is governed by five commissioners elected to four-year 14
terms of office by the voters of King County and whose mission is to promote economic 15
opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job 16
creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner; and 17
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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is unique amongst most ports in the nation in the diversity 19
of operations it manages that includes an airport, seaport, grain terminal, three cruise ship berths, 20
four recreational marinas, Fishermen’s Terminal, industrial lands, and parks, and is engaged in 21
an expanding variety of economic development activities such as workforce development, 22
tourism, as well as a joint cargo terminal operating agreement with the Port of Tacoma known as 23
the Northwest Seaport Alliance; and 24
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WHEREAS, in a representative democracy, it is essential for elected officials to reflect 26
the full diversity of their constituency and that those citizens who choose elected office can 27
maintain the economic means to participate while in office; and 28
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WHEREAS, as a matter of good governance and sound public policy, the Port of Seattle 30
Commission wishes to set a livable wage for Seattle Port Commissioners to encourage residents 31
of King County from diverse backgrounds to seek election to the Seattle Port Commission; and 32
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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission is the legally constituted governing body of 34
the Port whose primary duties are to establish policies that guide the Port’s future, hire the 35
Executive Director to implement those policies, execute its fiduciary responsibilities in the 36
oversight of the expenditure of public funds, and to annually determine the amount of tax levy 37
will be assessed on properties in King County; and 38
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Item Number: 10b_reso
Meeting Date: January 24, 2023
Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, Port of Seattle Commissioners are responsible to the voters in protecting 42
the public’s interests and resources, which is different than a corporate board accountable to 43
shareholders; and 44
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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda, established in 2012, envisions 46
extensive outreach across King County by Seattle Port Commissioners to other regional 47
government officials, industry and union stakeholders, educational institutions, and community 48
organizations; and 49
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WHEREAS, the role of Port of Seattle Commissioners has expanded considerably since 51
the adoption of the Century Agenda and the passage of Resolution No. 3678 in 2013, which set 52
the salary of Port of Seattle Commissioners to that of legislators in the State of Washington, but 53
did not address the per diem rate and allowance for commissioners; and 54
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WHEREAS, the creation of the Northwest Seaport Alliance in 2015, the nation’s first 56
joint port development authority, established a unique marine cargo operating partnership with 57
the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma in which the five Commissioners from each Port hire and oversee 58
an independent executive thereby creating significantly expanded oversight duties of investments 59
and operations in both the Seattle and Tacoma harbors; and 60
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WHEREAS, additional Commission responsibilities include providing oversight and 62
assuring the implementation of significant new policy directives passed by the Commission to 63
include much greater emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion, workforce development and 64
more stringent environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals; and 65
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WHEREAS, there is a significant need for oversight of unprecedented levels of 67
construction and operational changes occurring at the airport and seaport, as well as development 68
of surrounding Port properties which increases pressure for commercial development on 69
industrial lands; and 70
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WHEREAS, the current per diem for a Seattle Port Commissioner of $128 per day with 72
an annual maximum of $15,360 per calendar year, which equates to 120 days per calendar year, 73
is not commensurate with the substantial year-round commitment of time and effort required to 74
fulfill the duties of the office which is exacerbated by significant rising cost of living in King 75
County; and 76
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WHEREAS, Port Commissioners are currently not eligible for the Public Employee 78
Retirement System nor the per diem set by the Washington State legislature; and 79
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WHEREAS, as of July 1, 2022, port commissioner salaries annually, not including per 81
diem or other allowable reimbursements, is $56,881 as determined by the Washington Citizen’s 82
Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials for members of the State legislature on which 83
Resolution 3678 based Port Commissioner salaries; and 84
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WHEREAS, Washington’s legislators’ per diem is currently $185 per day and it is tied 86
to 89% of the federal per diem rate; and 87
Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem Page 3 of 3
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WHEREAS, Article II of the Washington State Constitution provides that legislators 90
receive compensation “…for each day's attendance during the session” and RCW 44.04.120 91
provides that members may receive an allowance, "in lieu of per diem or any other payment, for 92
a day or major portion thereof in which he or she is engaged in legislative business…;" and 93
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WHEREAS, unlike Washington state legislators, the official work of Port of Seattle 95
Commissioners extends throughout the calendar year and beyond the legislative session. 96
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Commission of the Port of Seattle as 98
follows: 99
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SECTION 1. Port of Seattle Commissioners’ per diem shall be equal to that of 101
Washington state legislators and shall be increased or decreased consistent with changes made to 102
the legislators’ rate. A commissioner may not receive more than 205 days of per diem in a 103
calendar year. 104
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SECTION 2. This change in per diem rate and the increase in the maximum number of per 106
diem days that can be reimbursed for each commissioner in a calendar year shall apply to all newly-107
elected Port of Seattle commissioners and not enter into effect for any currently-serving 108
commissioner until that commissioner is re-elected to another term of office. 109
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SECTION 3. As provided by RCW 53.12.265, a Port of Seattle Commissioner may waive 111
all or any portion of the compensation payable under RCW 53.12.260 by filing a written waiver 112
with the Secretary of the Port of Seattle Commission. In accordance with commission bylaws, such 113
waiver shall become a public record held by the Port of Seattle Commission Clerk. 114
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ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed public meeting thereof, 116
held this ______ day of _______________________________ 2022, and duly authenticated in 117
open session by the signatures of the commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the 118
commission. 119
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Port of Seattle Commission 131
