Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10c
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
December 10, 2024
DATE: December 3, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Pearse Edwards, Senior Director, External Relations
Rosie Courtney, Senior Manager, Maritime Engagement
SUBJECT: Port of Seattle - Friends of the Waterfront Park Memorandum of Understanding
Authorization
Amount of this request:
$5.0 million
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission to direct the Executive Director to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding that establishes a strategic relationship between the Port of Seattle (“Port”) and
the Friends of the Waterfront (“Friends”) and commits Port funding of $5,000,000 over five years
for the activation of Port facilities from Pier 66 to Pier 69, plus two signature sponsorships
annually. The agreement with Friends presents a generational opportunity for the Port to partner
with Friends in the re-development of the central waterfront to highlight the Port’s innovative
programs that underscore the importance of the maritime industry and maritime career
opportunities, as well as promoting awareness of the Port’s tourism-facing facilities along with
youth training and workforce opportunities in the maritime economy. The agreement aligns with
and supports the Port’s Century Agenda values and goals of increasing tourism, training, job
creation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.
EXECTUTIVE SUMMARY
The Port has invested in Seattle’s central waterfront for decades. In the late 1990s, as part of its
economic development strategy and mission to foster maritime uses, the Port’s waterfront
planning included moving its headquarters from its original address at Pier 66 to a former cannery
at Pier 69 in 1994. Pier 66 then became the focus of an 11-acre mixed-use development that
spanned the waterside and uplands. The waterside complex with its recreational marina,
international conference center, museum, restaurants, cruise terminal, public plaza and rooftop
viewpoint was named Bell Street Pier in tribute to the Port’s first wharf. The Port-developed
uplands included office and retail space with the World Trade Center Seattle as its anchor and
two parking garages. To spur private development in the corridor, the Port offered additional
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item 10c Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: December 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
uplands parcels which resulted in the Waterfront Landings residential units and the Seattle
Waterfront Marriott Hotel.
The Port’s leadership to create a thriving waterfront continued as the community rallied to
remove the Alaskan Way Viaduct and create a world-class shoreline connected to the Port’s
development at the north end. In August 2013, the Port and the Washington State Department
of Transportation (WSDOT) entered into an agreement for a Port contribution of $281 million to
the Viaduct Replacement Program to achieve the best balance of retaining and creating jobs,
sustaining regional economic vitality, and benefiting the environment. Other direct funding to
the waterfront redevelopment includes the Port’s investment in the Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean
Pavilion featuring the Port Sound exhibit. Visitors learn about the unique features of Puget Sound
and the connections the Pacific Ocean provides between people, commerce and communities.
Visitors also learn about the impacts of underwater noise and how the Port is working to address
these challenges through policy and innovation.
Major Port investments in the central waterfront include:
$281 million
Viaduct Replacement Program (2013)
$5 million
Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion with Port exhibit (2024)
In August 2023, a private donation of $45 million driven by Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie
Scott established the Elliott Bay Connections project to connect, restore and revitalize public
parks along the Elliott Bay waterfront from Pier 62 (just north of the Seattle Aquarium) to The
Beach at Expedia Group.
Earlier this year, Friends approached the Port about being a partner in their work to revitalize
Seattle’s waterfront. Port staff, under the direction of Executive Director Metruck, worked with
Friends to ensure any Port investment in the waterfront revitalization project, focus on the north
end of the waterfront at Port properties between Pier 66 and Pier 69 and including World Trade
Center Seattle
PORT-FRIENDS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Port and Friends to activate the north end of
Seattle’s waterfront is focused on four core areas:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item 10c Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: December 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
1. Economic Development – Friends will support the Port’s workforce development work by
promoting events through its platforms and networks (e.g. job fairs) and support small
business and vendor opportunities, and educational opportunities for youth, tribes, and
diverse communities as part of activations at Pier 66, Pier 69 and World Trade Center
Seattle.
2. Marketing Port Properties – Inclusion of Port properties in Friends marketing materials
and marketing of events on Port properties.
3. Development and execution of events – Friends will collaborate with the Port to curate
and produce at least three events per year to activate the Pier 66 rooftop plaza, central
plaza, pier apron and other Port properties along the waterfront. Friends shall provide in-
kind service to plan, market, and produce the events. One event will be a family-friendly
winter activation.
4. Sponsorships – Friends will collaborate with the Port to identify two significant Port
sponsorships per year for signature waterfront events. Sponsorships will provide the Port
with public visibility through logo placement, speaking opportunities and an agreed upon
number of tickets to each event. Sponsorships include a $100,000 Bronze Level Grand
Opening Season Partner Sponsorship beginning in Spring 2025 through Spring 2026 and
a $25,000 Pier Party sponsorship slated for July 2025.
Annual work plans and reports will be created by Friends for the Port. The Port and Friends will
establish an internal work group to create, manage and deliver on elements of the Memorandum
of Understanding. In addition, Friends commits to a Port representative on the Marketing and
Communication Board Committee and a Port representative that will serve on the CEO Advisory
Committee.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The funding for the Port’s work with Friends is sourced from tax levy. The budget request of $5
million for the next five years (2025 – 2029) will be distributed in the following tranches:
DELIVERABLE
PAYMENT
AMOUNT
INVOICE DELIVERY DATE
INVOICE DUE DATE
Work Plan, due no later
than December 20,
2024, with
implementation of the
plan no later than
February 28, 2025
$2,000,000
Delivered by Friends to the
Port upon delivery of the
Work Plan.
Paid by the Port to the
Friends within 30 days
of receipt of invoice.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item 10c Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: December 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Progress Report on the
first Work Plan, due no
later than February 1,
2026
$2,000,000
Delivered by Friends to the
Port on or before February 1,
2026
Paid by the Port to
the Friends within 30
days of receipt of
invoice.
Final Report on the first
Work Plan and draft of
the second Work Plan,
due no later than
February 1, 2027
$750,000
Delivered by Friends to the
Port on or before February 1,
2027
Paid by the Port to the
Friends within 30 days
of receipt of invoice.
Progress Report on the
second Work Plan, due
no later than November
1, 2027
N/A
N/A
Final Report on the
second Work Plan, due
February 1, 2028
$250,000
Delivered by Friends to the
Port on or before February 1,
2028
Paid by the Port to the
Friends within 30 days
of receipt of invoice.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
1) Memorandum of Understanding between the Port of Seattle and Friends of the
Waterfront
2) Port of Seattle Presentation
3) Friends of the Waterfront Presentation
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
June 25, 2024 – Commission Briefing on waterfront projects including Friends of the
Waterfront, City of Seattle redevelopment projects, and Elliott Bay Connections.
