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Item Number:
Meeting Date:

10b_reso
January 14, 2025

PORT OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION NO. 3833
A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle Commission establishing a revised Code
of Ethics for Port Commissioners and repealing Resolution
No. 3681, as amended; and making a corresponding
amendment to the Commission's Governance Committee
charter scope of work to include jurisdictional review of
written complaints alleging behavioral standards violations
of Commissioners when such complaints are
unaccompanied by a formal ethics complaint filing.
WHEREAS, the voters of King County authorized and approved the formation of a port
district coterminous with King County to be known as the Port of Seattle in a special election on
September 5, 1911; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission is the legally constituted governing body of
the Port of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, high moral and ethical standards among public officials are essential to
good government; and
WHEREAS, a strong and clear code of ethics for Port Commissioners promotes and
strengthens the faith and confidence of the people of King County in their elected Port
Commissioners, and assists the Commissioners in the performance of their public duties; and
WHEREAS, the Port Commission believes its Commissioners should be held to the
highest moral and ethical standards and strongly supports organizational policies and procedures
that maintain the public's trust and confidence and ensure fair dealings in all Port transactions;
and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the Port Commission amended its Bylaws and Rules of Procedure
to adopt its commitment to upholding and conducting respectful interactions and fostering a safe
and healthy work environment for all through this commitment; mandated reoccurring ethics
training for Commissioners; and gave the Board of Ethics the jurisdiction to review potential
violations of the Commission's standards of conduct; and
WHEREAS, the Port Commission last updated its ethics code through adoption of
Resolution No. 3681, as amended, in May 2013; and

Resolution No. 3833, Revised Commission Code of Ethics

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WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission Code of Ethics has not undergone another
thorough analysis of defined process or procedure since the 2013 recodification; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 3833 is the cumulation of a two-year review of the code,
applicable statutes, port policy, and municipal and other codes related to ethics; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 3833 has received detailed legal review and input; and has
been reviewed and recommended for approval by the Board of Ethics and the Commission's
Governance Committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port of Seattle Commission as
follows:
SECTION 1. Policy Directive Amendment. The technical and substantive amendments
contained in Exhibit A of this resolution are hereby adopted, as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Corresponding Amendment to Governance Committee Charter. The
Governance Committee Charter scope of work shall be amended to reflect the committee's
oversight over written complaints of alleged Commission behavioral standards violations when
these allegations are unaccompanied by a formal ethics complaint filing to the board of ethics or
the office of workplace responsibility or have been forwarded by the Board of Ethics.
SECTION 3. Scrivener's Errors. The Commission Clerk is hereby authorized to execute
scrivener's error revisions in finalizing amendments to the Port Commission Code of Ethics made
through adoption of this resolution, as needed, to address technical corrections.
SECTION 4. Effective Date. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed public meeting thereof,
held this ___ day of January, 2025, and duly authenticated by the signatures of the commissioners
voting in favor thereof and the seal of the commission.

Port of Seattle Commission

Resolution No. 3833, Revised Commission Code of Ethics

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EXHIBIT A to Resolution No. 3833

Resolution No. 3833, Revised Commission Code of Ethics

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