Item No.

8d attach 1

Date of Meeting: December 9, 2025

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR INTERGROUP COMMON ISSUES
AMONG AND BETWEEN THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE
AND THE PORT OF TACOMA AND THE PORT OF SEATTLE
THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into among and between the
Northwest Seaport Alliance, a Washington Public Development Authority ("NWSA"), the Port of
Tacoma, a Washington Municipal Corporation, and the Port of Seattle, a Washington Municipal
Corporation (referred to herein individually as "Party", and collectively as "Parties" or "Intergroup").
WHEREAS, the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle have entered into an agreement to establish
The Northwest Seaport Alliance pursuant to the following federal and state authorities: (1) the FMC
Discussion Agreement, (2) an interlocal agreement with delegated powers exercised pursuant to the
port joint powers statute (RCW 53.08.240) which expressly permits joint operation and investment
outside of a port's district, (3) RCW 39.34.030, the state Interlocal Cooperation Act, and (4) pursuant
to ESHB 1170, WA Session Laws of 2015-6, (Title 53.XX RCW), which authorizes the Ports to create a
port development authority to use, operate and manage certain marine facilities jointly, to be known
as the NWSA;
WHEREAS, from time to time, the Parties have occasion to collaborate and work jointly on issues on
which they are fully aligned and are able to share costs, and wish to do so under the Interlocal
Cooperation Act, RCW 39.34 for the limited scope, duration and cost of activities addressed herein;
WHEREAS, examples of scenarios for which the Parties could utilize this Agreement include where
collaboration on procurement would create efficiencies, the Parties are engaged in a joint study, or
the Parties seek to participate in a community or industry group such as Maritime Blue or Quiet
Sound;
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Agreement is to allow for relatively low-cost, inter-group agreements
("IGAs") between either or both Homeports and the NWSA when the entities are aligned and acting
jointly without further Managing Member or Homeport commission vote; and
WHEREAS, the Parties are authorized, pursuant to Chapter 39.34 RCW to enter into this Interlocal
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1) Authorized Scope:
NWSA and Homeport staff may negotiate and enter into IGAs for joint efforts using the
authorization provided for in this Agreement without the need for further Commission or
Managing Member action provided all of the following are met: a) the total cost of the IGA is less
than the lowest delegated amount to the leader of any of the three entities; b) the entities seek
to embark on a joint effort where interests are aligned; c) the CEO or Executive Director(s) of all
three entities are provided a draft of the IGA by the leading agency staff member five days prior
to finalizing the agreement; d) the approved IGA references this Agreement and is filed with the

NWSA Clerk; and e) the IGA is posted on the participating Parties' websites. This Agreement does
not authorize real estate transactions between the Parties.
2)
Allocation of Expenses. The method of allocating expense and the process for payment of costs
associated with IGAs will be determined by staff and captured in the IGA.
3)
Duration of this Agreement. This Agreement is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31,
2026.
4)
Communications. Each IGA shall identify the contact people for the Parties that will coordinate
the work for each IGA. It is expected that the identified contact people will communicate frequently to
coordinate the work, to confirm that interests remain aligned, and otherwise manage the IGA.
5)
Employment, Policies and Procedures. During the term of this Agreement, individuals providing
services hereunder or in connection with IGA(s) executed pursuant to this Agreement will remain fulltime employees of their respective employer, who shall continue to be responsible for salary, benefits
and retirement contributions. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as creating an
employer/employee relationship between the individuals providing support services and the entity
receiving the services. Staff will follow the policies and procedures of their respective employer in
conducting any work hereunder.
6)
Billing Rate and Procedures. Shared costs and charges will be determined during the budget
cycle for the coming fiscal year. Based on the specific IGA, costs will be allocated in one of the following
ways: (1) monthly based on a fixed charge or formula, (2) charged to projects based on developed
charge out rates or (3) performed as a fee for service based on predetermined charged out rates.
7)
Independent Municipal Governments. The Parties hereto are independent governmental
entities and nothing herein shall be construed to limit the independent government powers, authority
or discretion of the governing bodies of each Party. It is understood and agreed that this Agreement is
solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and gives no right to any other party. No joint venture or
partnership is formed as a result of this Agreement. No employees or agents of any Party shall be
deemed, or represent themselves to be, employees of any of the other Party.
8)
Legal obligations. This Agreement does not relieve either Party of any obligation or
responsibility imposed upon it by law.
9)
Timely Performance. The requirements of this Agreement shall be carried out in a timely
manner according to a schedule negotiated by and satisfactory to the Parties.
10)

Recording. Copies of this Agreement shall be posted to the web sites of the Parties.

11)
Audit of Records. During the term of this Agreement, and for a period not less than six (6) years
from the date of termination, records and accounts pertaining to the work of this Agreement and
accounting therefore shall be kept by each Party and shall be available for inspection and audit by
representatives of either Party and any other entity with legal entitlement to review said records. If any
litigation, claim, or audit is commenced, the records and accounts along with supporting documentation
shall be retained until all litigation, claims, or audit finding has been resolved, even though such
litigation, claim, or audit continues past the six-year (6) retention period. This provision is in addition to

and is not intended to supplant, alter or amend records retention requirements established by
applicable state and federal laws.
12)

Dispute Resolution

A. Process. The Parties' designated representatives under Paragraph 13 herein shall use their best
efforts to resolve disputes between the Parties. If the designated representatives are unable to resolve
a dispute, then each Party's responsible IGA Leads shall review the matter and use their best efforts to
resolve it. If the IGA Leads are unable to resolve the dispute, the matter shall be reviewed by the
department director or chief executive officer of each Party or his or her designee. The Parties agree to
exhaust each of these procedural steps before seeking to further resolve the dispute in any other forum.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, which is
not settled by agreement between the Parties, shall be settled by mediation in the State of Washington,
in Pierce or King Counties. In the event either Party reasonably believes mediation will not result in a
solution to the disagreement, mediation may be waived.
B. Controlling Law & Venue. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced according to the
laws of the State of Washington.
13)

Notices

A.
Contact Persons. Any notice, demand, request, consent, approval or communication
that either Party desires or is required to give to the other Party shall be in writing addressed to the
other Party at the addresses as follows unless otherwise indicated by the Parties to this Agreement:
NWSA:

David Morrison, Chief Financial Officer
PO Box 2985
Tacoma, WA 98401-2985
egaleno@portoftacoma.com

Port of Seattle:

Chris Wimsatt, Chief Financial Officer
PO Box 1209
Seattle, WA 98111
winsatt.c@portseattle.org

Port of Tacoma:

Erin Galeno, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
PO Box 1837
Tacoma, WA 98401
egaleno@portoftacoma.com

B.
Receipt. Notice shall be deemed "received" on the date of actual delivery or the first
attempted delivery as shown on the return receipt if mailed with the United States Postal Service by
certified mail, return receipt requested, otherwise receipt if presumed three days after deposit of mail
into US Mail, or by receipt of email.

14)

Indemnification and Hold Harmless

A.
The Parties release each other from, and shall defend, indemnify, and hold each other
and agents, employees, and/or officers harmless from and against all claims, demands, suits at law or
equity, actions, penalties, losses, damages, or costs, of whatsoever kind or nature, made by or on behalf
of the other Party and/or its agents, employees, officers, and/or subcontractors, arising out of or in any
way related to this Agreement, unless and except to the extent the same be caused in whole or in part
by the negligence of a Party or its agents, employees, and/or officers.
B.
This Agreement includes a waiver of subrogation against all losses sustained by either
Party and/or its agents, employees, officers, subcontractors, and/or insurers, arising out of or related
to this Agreement except to the extent the Parties' losses are caused in whole or in part by the
negligence of the other Party or its agents, employees, and/or officers.
C.
Each Party specifically assumes liability for actions brought by its own employees against
the other Party and for that purpose each Party specifically waives, as respects the other Party only, any
immunity under the Worker's Compensation Act, RCW Title 51.
D.
Both Parties recognize that this waiver was the subject of mutual negotiation. In the
event any Party incurs attorney's fees, costs or other legal expenses to enforce the provisions of this
Agreement against the other Party, all such fees, costs and expenses shall be recoverable by the
prevailing Party.
E.
No liability shall attach to any of the Parties by reason of entering into this Agreement
except as expressly provided herein.
F.
Each Party agrees that it will include in any contract which is related to the work of this
Agreement a provision requiring the contractor to defend, indemnify and hold harmless all the Parties
to this Agreement against any claims arising out of or related to the work of the contractor.
G.
Agreement.
15)

The provisions of this Article shall survive any termination or expiration of this

Severability

If any term or provision of this Agreement, or its application to any person or circumstance is ruled
invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected and will continue in full
force and effect.
16)

Limits of Financial Obligations/Property ownership.

Except as provided above, each Party shall finance its own conduct of responsibilities under this
Agreement. No ownership of property will transfer as a result of this Agreement.
17)

Entire Agreement/Amendment

This Agreement, together with any documents attached or incorporated by reference shall constitute
the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the IGAs hereunder and shall supersede all

prior agreements, proposals, understandings, representations, correspondence or communications
relating to the subject matter hereof. No modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be valid
and effective unless approved by both parties in writing.
WHEREFORE, the parties have executed this Agreement this ______ day of _______, 2025.
Northwest Seaport Alliance

Port of Seattle

________________________

_______________________

John Wolfe
Chief Executive Officer

Stephen Metruck
Executive Director

Date:________________

Date:__________________

Port of Tacoma

________________________
Eric Johnson
Executive Director
Date:_____________________