Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
October 24, 2023
DATE : September 25, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Sarah Ogier, Director-Maritime Environment & Sustainability
Jon Sloan, Sr. Manager-Maritime Environment & Sustainability
Danielle Butsick, Environmental Program Manager
Julie Yun, Capital Project Manager
SUBJECT: 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North Memorandum of Agreement with City of Seattle
& Project Funding Authorization (C801270)
Amount of this request:
$317,128
Total estimated project cost:
$2,600,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to (1) sign a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) with the City of Seattle enabling the Port to provide funding up to $500,000
and approximately $50,000 in-kind support for site characterization, design, and permitting of
the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North Project; and (2) authorize funding in the amount of
$317,128 to support City-led site characterization, design and permitting tasks. Note that
$232,872 was previously authorized for this project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Gateway Park North Project site is along the right bank of the Duwamish River adjacent to
the Georgetown neighborhood. The site includes a City of Seattle street-end and has for decades
provided informal water access for the community. The uplands of the site are adjacent to and
surrounded by industrial land. However, the Georgetown community has envisioned this site as
its only river access park, to include restored shoreline habitat, attractive and accessible
landscaping, and corridor improvements. Today’s action builds on years of Port engagement with
community members and cooperation with the City of Seattle. City and Port staff have discussed
options for making these improvements and believe the best approach is for the City to lead
project management and for the Port to contribute funds and in-kind support.
This Memorandum of Agreement commits the Port of Seattle to contribute up to $500,000 plus
approximately $50,000 in in-kind support including staff time to the City of Seattle’s 8th Avenue
S/Gateway Park North public access project for site characterization, design, and permitting
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
tasks. The project site is on the Duwamish River in Georgetown and consists of a City of Seattle
Parks Department parcel, City of Seattle Department of Transportation right-of-way, and a
portion of the former Commercial Waterway District #1 property. This site has been envisioned
as a park by the Georgetown community for over 40 years. The Port’s support of this City of
Seattle park project delivers on a commitment the Port made in the Duwamish Valley Community
Benefits Commitment (2019) and also contributes to Century Agenda objectives related to equity,
diversity and inclusion, as well as habitat restoration in the Green-Duwamish Watershed.
JUSTIFICATION
This Memorandum of Agreement supports the following Century Agenda goals and objectives:
1) Goal 4: Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America;
Objective 12: Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the
Green-Duwamish
2) Goal 5: Become a model for equity, diversity, and inclusion;
Objective 14: Ensure that all internal and external programs, structures, and
practices provide equitable opportunities for all
This Memorandum of Agreement delivers on a commitment that was included in the Duwamish
Valley Community Benefits Commitment, which identifies the 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park North
project as an action area to improve public parks and green space under the Healthy Environment
and Communities goal. Support for the 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park North project is also a priority
for the Port Community Action Team (PCAT), along with selection of a Port liaison to the project,
accomplished via the in-kind support commitment in the MOA.
Diversity in Contracting
Not applicable.
DETAILS
The project site is on the Duwamish River in Georgetown and consists of a Seattle Parks
Department parcel, Seattle Department of Transportation right-of-way, and a small portion of
former Commercial Waterway District #1 property. This site has been envisioned as a public
access site by the Georgetown community for decades. The Port’s support of this project delivers
on the item pertaining to the 8th Avenue S site in the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits
Commitment and may contribute to the Century Agenda objective to restore, create, and
enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the Green-Duwamish Watershed.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Port of Seattle and the City of Seattle and
will define roles and responsibilities for completing site characterization, design, and permitting
tasks for the Georgetown community-driven 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park North public access
project. The MOA commits the Port of Seattle to contribute up to $500,000 for these tasks.
Additionally, in-kind contributions include use of the Port’s Duwamish River Community Hub for
project team and public outreach meetings; staff technical expertise for permitting and habitat
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
restoration design; and provision of habitat materials such as large wood, native plants, topsoil,
and mulch. The City of Seattle has already initiated site characterization, design, and permitting
for the project, and will be responsible for managing and funding consultant contracts and all
permit fees. Note that this MOA is specific to the initial phase of work and does not include
funding for project construction. Staff anticipates that the City is likely to request additional port
contribution for construction support in the amount of approximately $2 million plus further in-
kind support of up to $50,000; if so a second MOA will be prepared at that time and brought to
Commission for approval. A rough estimate of the total project cost including construction is
approximately $15 million to $20 million (funded primarily by the City of Seattle).
Scope of Work
The MOA articulates roles and responsibilities for Phase 1 of the 8
th
Avenue South/Gateway Park
North project, including contracting, site characterization, design, permitting, interagency
coordination, and public outreach tasks associated with the planned public access, shoreline
restoration, and corridor improvements.
The Funding Authorization request, if approved, will provide Public Expense funds to the City of
Seattle to undertake design and permitting tasks associated with the 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park
North public access project, per the terms of the MOA. The funding authorization request in the
amount of $317,128, combined with previously authorized amount of $232,872, will account for
both the $500,000 contribution to the City of Seattle per the MOA as well as $50,000 in Port in-
kind support.
This is the first of two potential MOA’s; this MOA pertains primarily to the design, and permitting
phase, while a second MOA (or amendment) is anticipated to provide construction support which
is currently estimated at approximately $2 million of the total project cost. The decision regarding
whether and how much support to provide for construction will be part of a future Commission
authorization request. This agreement terminates in 2028 if not amended.
Schedule
Design of the Project, by the City, is expected to start in Q4 2023 with a goal of completion of site
characterization, design and permitting tasks by Q4 2025. Permitting is likely to take a substantial
amount of time for this project due to complex site ownership and in-water work components.
Future likely construction dates are shown for reference only and are not part of this phase of
work.
Activity
Commission authorization for MOA and
funding
Design start by City
Commission authorization for MOA and
construction funding
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Construction start by City
In-use date
Cost Breakdown *
This
Request
Previous
Authorizations
Total Project
Design
$317,128
$232,872
$550,000
Construction
$0
$0
$2,050,000*
Total
$0
$0
$2,600,000
*Estimated Port of Seattle costs only. City of Seattle’s total project cost is approximately $15-$20m.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
The following alternatives were evaluated pertaining to the 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park N project:
Alternative 1 – Proceed with design, permitting and construction of the bankline habitat
restoration work independently of and parallel to the City’s public access project.
Cost Implications: $2,700,000
Pros:
(1) Port maintains control over the contracting, design, and construction of the bankline
habitat restoration project.
(2) Depending on timing, Port may have an opportunity to use habitat restoration on the
site as mitigation for construction projects with endangered species or wetland impacts.
Cons:
(1) Highest cost alternative; significant costs relative to project scope and benefits.
(2) Significant uncertainties due to permitting, property ownership, and parallel design
process for upland public access project.
(3) Inefficiencies in design and construction due to separate upland and in-water projects.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Do nothing.
Cost Implications: None
Pros:
(1) Lowest cost alternative; no Port expenditure required.
(2) Resources may be allocated to other bankline habitat restoration projects.
Cons:
(1) Would not fulfill the 8
th
Ave S/Gateway Park N commitment to the Duwamish Valley
community stipulated in the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment,
Resolution 3767 (2019).
This is not the recommended alternative.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Alternative 3 – Authorize Executive Director to sign Memorandum of Agreement with City of
Seattle to provide up to $500,000 funding and approximately $50,000 in in-kind support for City-
sponsored 8
th
Avenue S/Gateway Park N project. Authorize additional expense funds to support
the permitting and design phase of the project.
Cost Implications:
Current Request: $317,128
Future Total: $2,050,000 (pending future request for contribution from City of Seattle and
separate Commission authorization)
Pros:
1) Supports Century Agenda objectives related to equity, diversity and inclusion as well as
habitat restoration in the Green-Duwamish Watershed.
2) Supports a commitment in the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Agreement
(Resolution 3767) to improve habitat and public access on the 8th Avenue South/Gateway
Park North site.
3) Improves efficiency and cost-effective use of public funds compared to stand-alone
bankline habitat restoration project alternative constructed in parallel with City project.
4) Leverage’s Port’s habitat restoration and permitting expertise to be used in City public
access project for community benefit.
5) Reduces permitting risk and costs relative to stand-alone bankline habitat restoration
project alternative due to combined permitting efforts.
Cons:
1) Port supporting rather than leading the project reduces opportunity for design input; Port
does not direct consultant work.
2) Project may not advance to construction if design and permitting phase uncovers fatal
flaw.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The following summarizes the cost implications of the recommended alternative, including
previous authorizations and the current request. It also reflects future funding authorization
requests.
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$0
$0
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
$232,872
$232,872
Current request for authorization
0
$317,128
$317,128
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Total authorizations, including this request
0
$550,000
$550,000
Remaining amount to be authorized (Est.)
$0
~$2,050,000
~$2,050,000
The current authorization request is for the permitting and design phase only. Further funding
authorizations will be needed in the future to support construction of the habitat and public
access site.
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The Approved 2023 Budget includes $150,000 for this project and the draft 2024 Budget includes
an additional $250,000 for this project. The project was included in the 2023 Capital Plan under
C801270 Gateway Park North with a total project cost of $2,700,000 (Public Expense).
This project will be funded by the Tax Levy.
Financial Analysis and Summary
N/A
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
If the design and permitting phase is successful and the Port and City choose to proceed with the
project, a request for an approximately $2 million additional contribution from the Port is
anticipated, along with approximately $50,000 in in-kind support, including staff time. Any future
project constructed as a result of the present design and permitting effort would be owned and
maintained by the City of Seattle.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Draft Memorandum of Agreement
(2) Presentation
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
N/A