COMMISSION AGENDA MEMORANDUM BRIEFING ITEM Item No. Date of Meeting 11a June 9, 2026 DATE : May 21, 2026 TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director FROM: Pearse Edwards, Sr. Director External Relations Sally del Fierro, Director, Community Engagement Charmila Ajmera, Sr. Program Manager, Duwamish Valley Engagement Jose Chibertoni, Sr. Program Manager, Maritime Environmental Engagement SUBJECT: Briefing on Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program and 3-Year Strategic Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This presentation will provide a three-year milestone update on implementation of Resolution 3767, the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive that guides implementation of the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program and other Port operations that impact the Duwamish Valley Community. The presentation will provide an overview of the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan that has been developed in partnership with the community. The Port's commitment in the Duwamish Valley connects to the Century Agenda goals to: Responsibly invest in the economic growth of the region and all its communities; Be the greenest and most energyefficient port in North America; Become a model for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Be a Highly Effective Public Agency. The Port recognizes that the near-port neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown, along the Duwamish River, have been historically and are currently impacted by economic, racial and environmental injustices with disproportionate exposure to air pollution, lack of greenspace, and high poverty rates contributing to a lower life expectancy rate than other parts of Seattle. Program Summary In December 2019 the Port of Seattle Commission approved its long-term commitment to equitable investment and engagement in the Duwamish Valley through the adoption of Resolution 3767, establishing the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program (DVCEP) and the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment (CBC). The purpose of the Policy Directive is to guide the implementation of the DVCEP and other port operations that impact the historically disadvantaged Duwamish Valley Community. The CBC enables the Port of Seattle to advance its mission to promote economic opportunity and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner. The Port's partnership with the community's advisory group, the Port Community Action Team (PCAT), will ensure the DVCEP achieves three shared goals: Template revised January 10, 2019. COMMISSION AGENDA - Briefing Item No. 11a Meeting Date: June 9, 2026 Page 2 of 5 Goal 1: community and port capacity building for ongoing collaboration Goal 2: healthy environment and communities Goal 3: economic prosperity in place Duwamish Valley Port Community Action Team (PCAT) The Port Community Action Team (PCAT) is the community-convened advisory group established in 2017 through a U.S. EPA Port-Community Collaboration technical assistance grant. The group consists of Duwamish Valley community members that engage with the Port in collaborative action, consultation, and strategic planning in order to address historical and current disproportionate, cumulative impacts affecting the Duwamish Valley community. The first cohort of PCAT members (active 2019-2023) co-wrote Resolution 3767, with Port staff, which the Commission unanimously adopted in December 2019. The current PCAT cohort (active 2023-present) consists of eleven members who live, work, play or pray in the Duwamish Valley and have deep, individual ties to the community. PCAT members are actively engaged in multiple Port projects, programs, and initiatives that impact the Duwamish Valley and serve as a bridge between the community and the Port. They have been deeply involved in the co-creation of the 20262029 DVCEP Strategic Plan and will be instrumental partners in its implementation. Duwamish River Community Hub (DRCH) The Port is investing in a physical space in the Duwamish Valley as a critical nexus to implement the commitments outlined in Res. 3767, leasing the Duwamish River Community Hub (DRCH) since August 2021. The DRCH is a place-based economic development center for the community to readily access workforce development resources, youth programming, information about Portled restoration and cleanup efforts in the Duwamish Valley, and as a gathering space for community meetings and events that support the CBC goals. Activities at the DRCH align with Port-related industries and career sectors in maritime, aviation, economic development, workforce development, and environment and sustainability. To date, the DRCH has hosted over 1,000 events serving community members of various age groups, ethnicities, and language abilities. The range of event types have included: technical support for high school youth applying for the Port internship positions, cruise and maritime career fairs, community-led construction trades information and recruitment fairs, trainings on green jobs and Duwamish River stewardship, Maritime High School field visits, small business development seminars and much more. 2022-2025 Program Accomplishments Since the CBC was passed, the DVCEP has evolved, matured and delivered tangible results to further the goals outlined in the policy directive. Some of the major milestones for the Port, our partners and the DVCEP. • Duwamish Valley Green Jobs Program, in partnership with OEDI, Maritime Environment and Sustainability, Dirt Corps Coalition and Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, served 44 youth and 43 adults between 2020 - 2024 in paid habitat restoration and green infrastructure education and activities; Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Briefing Item No. 11a Meeting Date: June 9, 2026 • • • • • • • • • • • • Page 3 of 5 The DRCH was activated as a resource center during the King Tide Flood Relief efforts in South Park in 2022; The grand opening of the Duwamish River People's Park and Shoreline Habitat was commemorated with a community-wide celebration event in 2022; A new cohort of PCAT members was onboarded in 2023; A full-time Hub facility coordinator was hired in 2023; Duwamish Valley organizations and community members were engaged in public input about priorities for Port parks during the development of the Port Parks Management Strategy in 2023-2024; Two former PCAT members were hired as FTEs on the Port's Community Engagement Team in 2024 and 2025; A full-time Sr. Program Manager was hired, in partnership with PCAT, in a new position dedicated to Duwamish Valley Engagement in 2025. The Program hosted 786 events at the DRCH and supported 195 events and 39 organizational sponsorships between 2023-2025. The fifth anniversary of the DVCEP and PCAT was commemorated with a community celebration and video in 2025. Two new contracts for PCAT Community Capacity Building and Racial Equity Training were established in 2025. The next iteration of workforce development support was launched through the Duwamish Valley Career Navigator Program in partnership with OEDI in 2025; The South King and Port Communities Fund was expanded to support economic and environmental projects in the Duwamish Valley in 2025. Through the dedication of Port staff, PCAT members, and community partners, the DVCEP has grown into a robust and impactful program that offers and connects residents to a wide variety of resources and opportunities in the Duwamish Valley and surrounding area. 2026-2029 DVCEP Strategic Plan In accordance with Resolution 3767, Section 4B [Responsibilities], the program is planning for the future through a comprehensive strategic planning process. The purpose of the strategic plan is to outline the specific focus areas within each CBC goal that the Duwamish Valley community, PCAT, and Port staff have identified as the most relevant and impactful to focus on for 2026-2029. The plan builds upon the existing foundation of projects and programs to date, and channels resources to priorities for community need. The DVCEP is implemented through coordinated collaboration across Port of Seattle departments, as outlined in the CBC. While External Relations leads the program, each DVCEP goal is advanced through shared responsibility and initiatives with departmental partners whose expertise aligns with the work. The External Relations Community Engagement team also collaborates closely with community members to co-design Port initiatives and programs whenever possible, solicit input on Port actions that impact the Duwamish Valley, and gather ongoing feedback. The 2026-2029 strategic planning process was co-created with PCAT and the Port Interdepartmental team, over 25 community partners and Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Briefing Item No. 11a Meeting Date: June 9, 2026 Page 4 of 5 neighborhood groups and involved 30+ individual meetings, several PCAT-led community dinners and a strategic planning open house. Below is a summary of the 2026-2029 action areas within each of the three CBC goals. Goals Purpose/Driver Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration Building shared Port-Community capacity to advance equity by supporting community leadership, collaboration, and data-driven, inclusive engagement. Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities Supporting community-driven collaboration to address climate and environmental health impacts by focusing on areas such as air quality, truck traffic, noise, greenspace, and water quality. Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place Partnering with the community to support anti-displacement and expand equitable access to training, jobs, and economic opportunities through efforts in workforce development, recruitment, and building a diverse, green economy. Action Areas for 2026 - 2029 OBJ. 1: Build a comprehensive, language accessible DVCEP Communications Strategy OBJ. 2: Support PCAT organizational capacity building for longevity and recruitment efforts OBJ. 3: Expand use of the Hub to build community and Port capacity OBJ. 1: Clean Air and Climate Change Education and Engagement OBJ. 2: Port Parks and Habitat Restoration Engagement and Outreach OBJ. 3: Duwamish Valley Cleanup Engagement OBJ. 1: Continued investment in adult workforce development OBJ. 2: Create a Youth Workforce Education and Exploration plan and program OBJ. 3: Coordinate existing Port resources and partnerships to support small businesses in the Duwamish Valley OBJ. 4: Increase applications from and awards to organizations in the DV for South King and Port Communities Fund opportunities ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING (1) DVCEP 2026-2029 Strategic Plan (2) Presentation slides PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS • • • • • October 25, 2022 - Commission briefing on Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program and Duwamish River Green Jobs Program October 27, 2020 - Commission adoption of new park names for six Port-owned shoreline and public access areas along the Duwamish River December 10, 2019 - Commission authorization of Duwamish River Green Jobs Program contract solicitation and PCAT Community Capacity Building contract solicitation 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 Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive to the full Commission Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Briefing Item No. 11a Meeting Date: June 9, 2026 • • Page 5 of 5 May 28, 2019 - Commission establishment of Motion 2017-07, Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program April 10, 2018 - Commission authorization for funding to continue EPA Pilot Project activities with Duwamish Valley community members Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).