Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8f
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 21, 2023
DATE: October 31, 2023
TO: Port Commissioners Cho, Hasegawa, Calkins, Felleman, and Mohamed
FROM: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
Lance Lyttle, Aviation Managing Director
SUBJECT: 2018 Port-SeaTac Interlocal Agreement Continuation Confirmation
ACTION REQUESTED
Requesting Commission concurrence with the 2018 Port-SeaTac Interlocal Agreement (ILA) Joint Advisory
Committee (JAC) recommendation to continue and complete the 2018 ILA.
BACKGROUND
The Port of Seattle entered into the current Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the City of SeaTac (City) in
2018. The City and Port have used interlocal agreements (ILA) since 1997 to address respective
operational and authority issues that could be anticipated to arise regarding the operation of the airport
and related facilities. There has been almost no litigation between the Port and the City during this time,
resulting in greater efficiency, economic benefit and operational cost savings for both the Port and the
City, especially with regard to the Airport’s capital program and property development.
Staff teams from the Port and the City negotiated throughout 2017 on behalf of a new agreement to bring
to the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC), a standing body created by the ILA comprised of two port
commissioners and three city councilmembers. With a recommendation from the JAC, the Port
Commission and SeaTac City Council adopted the ILA in public session, and it took effect February 17,
2018 for a term of 10 years.
The agreement is intended to be a comprehensive and cohesive package of elements with mutual value
to both the Port and the City, and a commitment to successful partnership, providing predictability and
consistency for activities between the Port and the City. Each element reflects a negotiated outcome
between Port and City positions, for overall benefit.
MID-TERM REVIEW
Section 2.3 of the ILA specifies the procedure, in the fifth year of the ILA term, for recommendation to the
Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) whether to “complete the term without renegotiating the terms of the
provisions of the Agreement or reopen negotiations immediately.” This provision was included in the ILA
primarily because several new elements were introduced into the agreement, and a re-opening would let
the elected bodies revisit the agreement if elements were not successful as were envisioned.
On April 4, 2023 City Manager Carl Cole and Port Aviation Managing Director Lance Lyttle issued a Letter
of Recommendation to the JAC for completion of the ILA with no re-opening needed.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8f Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date: November 21, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
The Letter of Recommendation was reviewed and discussed at the May 16, 2023 JAC meeting, at which
time JAC members unanimously supported the recommendation to complete the full term of the 2018
ILA. With Commission concurrence with the JAC recommendation, the 2018 ILA will end in February 2028.
Negotiations on the next ILA would commence sometime after February 17, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Port Commission Resolution No. 3741, approving the 2018 ILA with the City of SeaTac
(December 12, 2017)
(2) Letter of Recommendation from City Manager Cole and Aviation Managing Director Lyttle
recommending completion of the 2018 ILA (April 4, 2023)
(3) 2018 ILA Summary provided to the Joint Advisory Committee (August 30, 2023)
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
December 12, 2017 – Commission approval of the proposed 2018 ILA with the City of SeaTac
