COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8g
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
December 12, 2023
DATE: November 16, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Peaches Thomas, Program Coordinator, Environmental Engagement
Ramona Tellez, Habitat Stewardship Community Engagement Coordinator
Sally del Fierro, Director, Community Engagement
SUBJECT: Two Project Specific contracts to support Duwamish Valley Community Equity
Program Activities Promoting Capacity Building and Green Career Pathways
Total estimated contract costs:
$1,450,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute two indefinite delivery,
indefinite quantity contracts for the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program to promote
Port-Community capacity building (“Contract 1”) and green career pathways (“Contract 2”) with
a total estimated value of $1,450,000 and contract periods of up to five years. No funding is
associated with this authorization.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Resolution 3767, the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive, guides
the implementation of the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program (DVCEP) and other Port
activities that impact the Duwamish Valley Community (Community). These two contracts enable
the Port to continue implementing two action areas stated in Resolution 3767’s Work Plan:
“support formalization of PCAT structure, leadership development, and collaboration with the
Port” and “continue the Port’s maritime habitat stewardship program.”
JUSTIFICATION
In 2011, the Port’s Century Agenda called for the Port of Seattle to create opportunity for all,
steward our environment responsibly, partner with surrounding communities, and conduct
ourselves with accountability and transparency. Since 2016, Port staff and Duwamish Valley
community members have partnered to support these core values. These contracts enable Port
staff to continue engaging the Duwamish Valley community using best practices in equity and
inclusion that promote economic and environmental opportunities in near-Port communities.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 2 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Contract 1: Port-Community Capacity Building. In 2017, the Port Community Action Team
(PCAT) was established to ensure that representatives from the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods
of South Park and Georgetown could meaningfully engage with the Port. PCAT members serve
as community-based consultants and are compensated for contributing their lived-experience
and community expertise. For example, the PCAT provides training and coaching to Port staff on
inclusive engagement practices and cultural competencies that directly impact the effectiveness
of achieving Century Agenda goals. The contract enables PCAT members to serve as liaisons for
Port staff on various project areas such as Gateway Park North and Port park enhancements,
Duwamish River Community Hub operations, and freight/transportation policy issues. This
contract sustains the PCAT by providing critical wraparound services and thereby ensures the
Port’s ability to continue equitable engagement best practices with community partners, as
directed by Resolution 3767.
Since Resolution 3767 was adopted, and because of this contractual work, PCAT members have
been engaged in decision making to direct DVCEP resource distribution, strategies, and impact
evaluation. Some examples include overseeing the DVCEP budget and operations; advising on
the Duwamish River Community Hub; engaging with, and building relationships with all levels of
Port stakeholders including the Executive Leadership Team and Commissioners; advocating for
sponsorship funding; recruiting for new members (onboarding nine new members in 2023); and
improving equity in contract solicitation processes. In addition, the PCAT has developed an
operating structure guided by their vision and values that informs program operations and
ensures outcomes are centered in anti-racism and community leadership, resulting in better
long-term health and viability of the partnership between the Duwamish Valley and the Port.
Over the last four years, Port staff and PCAT members have partnered to co-present at numerous
regional, national and international conferences and workshops being recognized as a model of
equitable engagement and best practices between Ports and near-port communities. Audiences
have included the American Association of Port Authorities, Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation
- Maritime Working Group, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation
Resource Board, EPA Ports Collaborative, International Association of Public Participation, and
many others.
Another tangible result of PCAT engagement and capacity building has been their developed
practice of advancing community-led activities to the Port for sponsorship using the Port’s
authority granted under Trade Business and Community Development. These high-impact,
community-led projects promote Port-related economic activity and public education about the
Port while advancing community-identified benefits. Projects are chosen for funding
consideration based on 1) alignment with the Port’s funding criteria as dictated by state statute,
2) project alignment with CBC goals and strategies, 3) impact in community, and 4) project
feasibility and evaluation. Some project examples include a Solar Energy Education Youth
Workshop resulting in the installation of solar-powered lights constructed by youth at Duwamish
River People’s Park; a Youth-led Pedestrian and Bike Safety study that has informed Port,
Northwest Seaport Alliance, and City collaborations on traffic safety improvements in the
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 3 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Duwamish Valley; an Economic Justice Storytelling Series organized by Duwamish Valley
journalists to elevate stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color entrepreneurs in Port-
related industries, including SEA Airport; and Gateway Park North Youth Cleanups at the Port
shoreline-property and the only public access point to the river in the Georgetown community.
Contract 2: Duwamish River Green Jobs Program. The Duwamish River Stewardship and
Inclusive Green Economy Project was a one-year pilot to support the Port’s Century Agenda
environment and sustainability commitments to restore, create, and enhance an additional 40
acres of habitat in the Green/Duwamish Watershed and Elliott Bay, partner with near-Port
communities, and provide economic opportunities for all. The pilot project, which launched on
Earth Day 2019, resulted in over 90 youth and a dozen Duwamish Valley adult community
members receiving hands-on training and mentorship on habitat stewardship skills and riparian
shoreline restoration techniques. The pilot project was an anti-displacement and environmental
stewardship innovation that sought to enable those that live nearest to the Duwamish River to
gain the expertise needed to participate in a viable career pathway while restoring an ecologically
critical area of the watershed.
In 2020, the Port contracted with DIRT Corps, a Georgetown-based WMBE, to lead the formation
of the Port’s Duwamish River Green Jobs Program. DIRT Corps contracted with Duwamish Valley
community-based organizations as well as a racial equity trainer to implement a complex scope
of work including the development of a “coalition” mindset for the contractors, that focused on
racial equity work. Coalition members include DIRT Corps, Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, ECOSS,
Duwamish Tribal Services, and SM Watts Consulting LLC. After the first year of trainings that
focused on exposure to port-related green jobs, the second year zoomed in on three specific
career areas for curricula development: water-based environmental education, land-based
shoreline restoration, and green stormwater infrastructure. These were careers within port-
related sectors that were identified to be accessible for English Language Learners, those who
experienced the criminal justice system, and Black/Indigenous/Youth of Color. The youth were
recruited from the Duwamish Valley and included those with the most barriers to secure and safe
employment, reaching the youth who would most benefit from the Port’s investment.
Each year, the Duwamish River Green Jobs Program hosts a summer youth training series and a
fall adult training series. Activities organized by the program include career awareness through
panel presentations and worksite tours, career exploration through networking and industry-
based experiences, career preparation through worksite learning, and hands-on career skills
training and mentorship. The number of youth and adults placed in internships and (or) jobs
include: 2021- 15 youth, 10 adults. 2022- 11 youth, 10 adults. 2023 – 9 youth, 11 adults.
The Green Jobs Program has provided instruction and training at thirteen shoreline sites,
including Lake Washington Ship Canal, Elliott Bay, and Duwamish Waterway locations. A total of
nine public shoreline access/habitat restoration sites have been improved (t
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COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 4 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Park, Salmon Cove/Turning Basin 3, Jack Block Park, and Centennial Park) and the program has
conducted more than fifty events/site activities. Principal focus of many site improvements is
establishing native vegetation as fundamental environmental resources, providing important
habitat values as well as green/safe open space. More than 1,750 native trees and shrubs and
1,100 native marsh plants have been installed by trainees along with kelp propagation at three
waterfront locations. Planting includes clearing areas of invasive vegetation, preparation of
planting locations, plant installation, and ensuring plant survival. Site work has included
installation of pedestrian shoreline access trails and bank-line steps, installation of protective
waterfowl fencing, and removal of obstacles/debris for site safety.
As of 2024, the new procurement will continue and advance the racial equity and environmental
justice focus areas of the Duwamish River Green Jobs Program. The three sectors will remain as
primary training topics (water-based environmental education, land-based shoreline restoration,
and green stormwater infrastructure). Improvements to the next iteration of the contract include
more racial equity best practices to be implemented as well as increased focus on follow-up job
placement and retention tasks.
Diversity in Contracting
The Diversity in Contracting Department has been contacted regarding these procurements and
Contract 1 and 2 are under review, but are seeking an aspirational goal of ten percent established
for women- and minority-owned business enterprise. The reason for a lower percentage in this
metric is because a significant amount of the budget is expected to be distributed to non-profit
organizations based in the Duwamish Valley. Non-profit organizations are not considered
WMBEs, even if they are BIPOC or WMBE led organizations.
DETAILS
The two contracts allow the Port to continue implementation of the Duwamish Valley Community
Benefits Commitment, which ensures that the Port’s collaboration with the Community achieves
three shared goals:
• Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration
• Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities
• Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place
Contract 1 consultant will provide capacity building trainings for community partners and Port
staff, technical assistance, and translation services, facilitate community events and meetings,
support community leaders and organizational development for the PCAT, and assist community
members’ equitable participation in shared decision-making processes with the Port.
Contract 2 enables the Port to continue implementing the Port’s successful Duwamish River
Green Jobs Program. This contract’s consultant builds on a multi-year initiative, increases diverse
workers’ access to green jobs by providing on-the-job training, and provides intentional outreach
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 5 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
focused on the recruitment and training of youth, women, people of color, LGBTQAI+, veterans,
and other underserved community members.
After the last three years of experience in contracting this procurement using service directives,
CPO and the Project Management Team have identified that this contract is better suited to being
categorized as a “Project Specific Contract.” This will reduce administrative burden on Port staff
and the contractor and allow greater flexibility in how the contractor can spend funds in
alignment with Port objectives. This will serve the lifespan of both contracts, expected to be up
to five years.
Scope of Work
Contract 1 enables Port staff to continue collaborating with key Community stakeholders to
achieve mutual benefit. The scope of work consists of four principal tasks:
(1) Strategic consultation to the Port and the PCAT
(2) PCAT coordination and community engagement activities
(3) PCAT leadership and organizational development
(4) Implementation of Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits
Commitment
Contract 2 supports Port staff in building the inclusive green economy as it relates to multiple
maritime environmental strategies (i.e. land-based habitat restoration, water-based
environmental education, and green stormwater infrastructure). The scope of work consists of
four principal tasks:
(1) Project management
(2) Habitat steward recruitment, training, and career development
(3) On-site field training for youth and adults
(4) Problem solving and program innovation
Schedule
Activity
Commission authorization
2023 Quarter 4
Contract execution
2024 Quarter 3
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
From yearly expense budgets
$0
$1,450,000
Contract 1: Port Community Capacity
Building
$650,000
Contract 2: Duwamish River Green Jobs
Program
$800,000
Total
$0
$1,450,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 6 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Port staff conduct all community engagement and job training activities.
The Port’s Community Engagement Team would conduct all trainings, project management,
leadership development, PCAT support, habitat stewardship planning, curricula development,
hands-on training, green career pathway development, recruitment event planning and
execution, and other program activities. Existing staff would only be able to perform a small
portion of the necessary work. There would be at least one additional Port position needed to
provide the full staffing required.
Cost Implications: $200,000 - $300,000 per year. At least one additional full-time staff would be
needed to ensure the Port’s adequate implementation of action items stated in Resolution
No. 3767. Significant increase in external Category 1 contracts would be necessary to execute
activities.
Pros:
1) Internal staff capacity building to understand and implement Resolution No. 3767.
2) New employees will gain community engagement experience and relations in
Duwamish Valley.
Cons:
(1) In both contracts, the equitable engagement model championed by the DVCEP would
not be able to function in the same way, as Port staff need the flexibility of external
consultants to serve the PCAT using equity and inclusion best practices. Further, the
Community prefers working through a non-Port staff external advisor, it reduces the
risk of bias towards the Port and improves trust in the partnership.
(2) Port staff taking on all roles of the DVCEP on behalf of the Community is unsustainable
and undermines equity principles. A core tenant of Resolution 3767 is that the
Duwamish Valley partners represent themselves and participate in an equitable way.
(3) In both contracts, Port staff would not have capacity to ensure high-quality internal and
inter-agency alignment with stated goals.
(4) For Contract 2, the Port does not have existing staff with the level of experience and
knowledge for what is needed: a combination of technical ecological knowledge about
habitat stewardship and the equitable community engagement strategies that serve as
foundation for the DVCEP.
(5) This alternative is more costly than other alternatives.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Port provides multiple Category 1 contracts to multiple consultants for limited
scopes of work.
Cost Implications: Multiple consultants would take on a limited scope of the work, costing up to
$50,000 every year per consultant. At least one additional part-time staff would be needed to fill
the administrative and project management gaps, which may cost between $50,000 to $80,000
per year).
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 7 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Pros:
(1) The consultants would take on limited scopes of work which may result in a higher
quality of deliverables.
(2) This alternative creates opportunities to outreach for WMBE, non-profit, and Duwamish
Valley contractors.
Cons:
(1) This alternative requires Port staff to significantly increase administrative oversight and
coordination of multiple disparate contractors that seek to achieve common outcomes.
(2) Contract administration needs would increase. This alternative creates inefficiencies for
Port staff to train up and onboard new consultants to take on and close out specific
deliverables every year.
(3) Managing multiple consultants conducting limited scopes of work increases strain on
limited community capacity to engage with the Port. This alternative can undermine
equity principles.
(4) Port staff would not have capacity to ensure high-quality internal and inter-agency
alignment with stated goals.
(5) This alternative is more costly than other alternatives.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Scope of work completed through two contracts in coordination with Port staff
teams.
Cost Implications: $1,450,000 for up to five years.
Pros:
(1) Existing Port staff would be able to focus on the Port’s institutional implementation of
Resolution 3767, while the consultants would be able to do complementary work
needed to sustain community participation.
(2) The equitable engagement model championed by the DVCEP would be able to function
in the same way, as Port staff need the flexibility of an external consultant to serve the
PCAT using equity and inclusion best practices. Further, the community advisory group
prefers working through a non-Port staff external advisor, it reduces the risk of bias
towards the Port and improves trust in the partnership.
(3) This alternative creates opportunities to outreach for WMBE, non-profit, and Duwamish
Valley prime and sub-contractors.
(4) Contract administration is more efficient and requires less staff resources compared to
other alternatives.
Cons:
(1) Capacity building would be needed to educate Community partners on IDIQ processes
and accounting.
(2) Requires ongoing coordination between consultant and Port staff so outcomes are met.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 8 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$1,450,000
$1,450,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
$850,000
$850,000
Current request for authorization
0
$1,450,000
$1,450,000
Total authorizations, including this request
0
0
0
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$2,300,000
$2,300,000
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Funding for this contract will be sourced from multiple departments. Contract 1 is sourced from
the External Relations Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program. Contract 2 is sourced from
a combined External Relations Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program, Office of Equity
Workforce Development Department, and Maritime Environment and Sustainability.
Consequently, there is no funding request associated with this authorization.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
October 25, 2022 – Commission briefing on the DVCEP and Duwamish River Green Jobs
Program at The Museum of Flight
January 26, 2021 – Commission authorization to lease the Duwamish River Community Hub
October 27, 2020 – Commission adoption of New Names for Duwamish River Parks and
Shoreline Habitat
December 10, 2019 – Category 3 Duwamish Valley contract authorization and Commission
adoption of Resolution 3767 the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment
Policy Directive
November 19, 2019 – Commission introduction of Resolution 3767, Duwamish Valley
Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive
October 29, 2019 – Energy and Sustainability Committee approves Introduction of the Policy
Directive to the full Commission
May 28, 2019 – Commission establishment of Motion 2017-07, Duwamish Valley Community
Equity Program
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 9 of 9
Meeting Date: December 12, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
April 10, 2018 – Commission authorization for funding to continue EPA Pilot Project activities
with Community
