Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8e
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
April 16, 2024
DATE: April 8, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Karin Zaugg Black, International Business Protocol Liaison
LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Deputy Chief of Staff
Aaron Pritchard, Commission Chief of Staff
SUBJECT: Approval of Commission International Travel – Second Quarter 2024 Requests.
ACTION REQUESTED
Commission approval of international travel requests for known travel in the second quarter of
2024.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Article III(5)(h) of the Commission’s Bylaws and Rules of Procedure requires approval of
Commissioner international travel requests by Commission authorization. The authorization shall
include: the number of commissioners traveling (if applicable), the port-related reason for travel,
and the dates and destination of travel. International travel requests shall be submitted to the
Commission Office 21 days in advance of each calendar quarter. Travel change requests for
previously approved international travel shall again be put before the full Commission for review
and action. Commissioners not receiving advanced travel authorization for international travel
shall report to the Commission regarding the purpose of their travel, dates of travel, location of
travel, benefit received by the Port through the travel, and shall seek majority approval of the
post-travel authorization in order to submit claims for travel expense reimbursement. Travel
requests of Commissioners should be equitable to all members and consistent with the interests
of the Port. Domestic travel requests are approved by the Commission President consistent with
the requirements of Article III(5)(h).
The following are known travel requests for approval as of this authorization date:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 2 of 3
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Travel
Dates
No. of
Attendees
Reason for
Travel
Destination
Other Information
April
13 - 20
1
Seattle Metro
Chamber and
Greater Seattle
Partners’
Regional
International
Leadership
Mission to
South Korea
Seoul,
Daejeon, and
Busan, South
Korea
This International Leadership Mission
of regional leaders from Snohomish,
King, and Pierce counties will study
insights and best practices from Seoul,
Busan, and Daejeon, focusing on key
sectors such as Aerospace, Bio/Life
Sciences, Clean Tech, Education, and
Maritime. The trip includes a visit to
Port of Seattle’s sister port of Busan,
South Korea, with a chance for
Commissioner Sam Cho to showcase
our sister port’s activities to this
regional group of leaders, and further
engage our port partners.
April
20 - 24
1
Coast Salish
Story Pole
Dedication in
Kobe, Japan
Port of Kobe,
Japan
Port of Seattle, City of Seattle, Lummi
Nation, Puyallup Tribe, and Seattle-
Kobe Sister City Association mission to
Kobe to dedicate a new Coast Salish
Story Pole gift to the City/Port of Kobe.
The original Story Pole carved by
Lummi Nation carver Joseph Hillaire
stood by Kobe City Hall from 1961-
2015, and this new Story Pole carved
by Puyallup Tribe carver Shaun
Peterson will stand in the park near
Kobe City Hall, marking 67 years of
sister city, 57 years of sister port
relations with Kobe. Commissioner
Cho will also meet with Port of Kobe
leaders during the visit.
April
20 - 26
1
Global
Sustainable
Tourism Council
Stockholm,
Sweden
The Global Sustainable Tourism
Council Conference aims to unite
global and local tourism professionals
engaged in advancing and advocating
for sustainable travel and tourism. This
includes participants from the public
sector, hotels, tour operators,
corporates, online travel agencies,
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 3 of 3
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
academic institutions, development
organizations, non-governmental
organizations, consultants, and a
variety of other stakeholders.
Commissioner Felleman will attend
the conference to network and gather
best practices that will help enhance
the Port’s tourism work, related to our
cruise business, airport, and overall
sustainable tourism.
May
21-24
1
United Nations
Conference for
Trade and
Development
(UNCTAD)
Global Supply
Chain Forum
Barbados
United Nations Conference for Trade
& Development (UNCTAD) and
Government of Barbados’ Global
Supply Chain Forum focusing on
transportation, logistics, resilient
supply chains, and trade facilitation for
sustainable development.
Commissioner Cho has been invited to
speak on a panel hosted by the
International Association of Ports &
Harbors (IAPH) focused on energy
transition.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None.
