The Northwest Seaport Alliance
P.O. Box 2985 | Tacoma, WA 98401-2985 | 800-657-9808
The Northwest Seaport Alliance is a marine-cargo operating partnership of the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma.
Managing Member Special Meeting
Port of Seattle Commission Port Tacoma Commission Special Meeting
Date: February 3, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: The Conference Center at SEA 17801 International Blvd. Seattle, WA
Streamed http://www.nwseaportalliance.com/about-us/governance
MINUTES
Commissioners present:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins Kristin Ang
Fred Felleman Deanna Keller
Toshiko Hasegawa (via Teams) Dick Marzano
J.T. Wilcox
Commissioners absent/excused:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Sam Cho John McCarthy
Hamdi Mohamed
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Co-Chair Calkins.
2. Executive / Closed Session
The Managing Members immediately recessed to hold an executive session pursuant
to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation
to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is,
or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is
likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. The
executive session began at 11:05 a.m. and ended at 11:55 a.m.
3. Return to Order
Co-Chair Calkins called the meeting back to order at 12:12 p.m.
4. Flag Salute
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
5. Report by CEO
CEO John Wolfe provided his report summarizing the agenda.
6. Public Comment. None.
7. Work Group / Committee Reports. None.
8. Consent Agenda
It was moved and seconded (Keller/Marzano) to approve the consent agenda
consisting of:
A. Approve the January 6, 2026 minutes.
B. Approve disbursements totaling $2,378.61 to the State Auditor’s Office during the
period of December 22, 2025 through January 25, 2026.
C. Approve disbursements totaling $25,333,885.54 issued during the period
December 22, 2025 through January 25, 2026.
D. Authorize the CEO or his designee to execute the amended Interlocal Agreement
MOA 2023078 (Amend 001/13125) between the NWSA and National Oceanic
Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Center for
Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, for the management,
operation, maintenance and repair of the NOAA’s Tacoma and Seattle PORTS®
RealTime Systems.
E. Approve amendment to contract 071686 to increase authorized amount by
$39,221.25 for a total authorized new amount of $394,221.25.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins - aye Kristin Ang - aye
Fred Felleman - aye Deanna Keller - aye
Toshiko Hasegawa - aye Dick Marzano - aye
J.T. Wilcox - aye
(Commissioners Cho, McCarthy, Mohamed absent/excused)
9. Action
A. Terminal 7 (T7) Infrastructure Repairs and Improvements Design Authorization.
Bob Meyer, Director of Port Operations and Elly Bulega, Engineering Project
Manager II gave the presentation. Terminal 7 is located on the Sitcum Waterway
and is currently being used for autos, cargo, military, and overflow breakbulk roll-on
/ roll-off cargo. The wharf’s key elements (including the waterline, the pile caps,
bollards, pier sprinklers) are in poor condition and need to be repaired. Additionally,
the administrative building at the terminal, nearly 38 years old, requires repairs and
upgrades to achieve the desired additional 20 years of service life. This request is
for funding to complete the design to make the required improvements.
It was moved and seconded (Ang/Keller) that the Managing Members of The
Northwest Seaport Alliance grant project authorization in the amount of
$2,877,000, for a total authorized amount of $3,227,000, for design work
associated with the T7 Infrastructure Repairs and Improvements, Master
Identification No. 201207.01.
Discussion:
• NWSA Director of Government Affairs, Ryan McFarland provided insight
regarding staff’s exploration into funding through the Defense Community
Infrastructure Program (DCIP) for this project. Staff has been informed that this
project is not eligible for DCIP funding.
• Co-Chair Marzano commented on the labor benefits experienced in the
gateway from military cargo operations.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins - aye Kristin Ang - aye
Fred Felleman - aye Deanna Keller - aye
Toshiko Hasegawa - aye Dick Marzano - aye
J.T. Wilcox - aye
(Commissioners Cho, McCarthy, Mohamed absent/excused)
B. First Reading - Resolution 2026-02 Master Benefits and Salaries.
Jeniann Kaeilen and Trisha Perez, Human Resource Managers, presented the first
reading of Resolution 2026-02 proposing administrative changes to ensure
consistency, grammar and clarity. Staff is also recommending a cost of labor
adjustment of 2.8 percent for non-represented salary ranges effective April 1, 2026,
based on current market salary data and trends for the Puget Sound Area.
It was moved and seconded (Hasegawa/Marzano) to waive the second reading
and move straight to consideration of Resolution 2026-02.
Discussion:
• Commissioner Marzano supports considering adoption at first reading as the
action request does not raise salaries but adjust ranges.
• Commissioner Keller highlighted that currently no employees are below or
approaching the top of any particular range, so there is no immediate financial
impact to adopting the resolution.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins - aye Kristin Ang - aye
Fred Felleman - aye Deanna Keller - aye
Toshiko Hasegawa - aye Dick Marzano - aye
J.T. Wilcox - aye
(Commissioners Cho, McCarthy, Mohamed absent/excused)
It was moved and seconded (Hasegawa/Marzano) that the Managing Members of
the Northwest Seaport Alliance adopt Resolution 2026-02, the Master Benefit and
Salary Resolution, which supersedes Resolution 2025-03 and all prior Master
Benefit and Salary Resolutions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins - aye Kristin Ang - aye
Fred Felleman - aye Deanna Keller - aye
Toshiko Hasegawa - aye Dick Marzano - aye
J.T. Wilcox - aye
(Commissioners Cho, McCarthy, Mohamed absent/excused)
C. South Intermodal Yard (SIM) - Pacific Rail Services (PRS) Operating Contract
Approval and First Readings of Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) and BNSF
Railway Company (BNSF) Lease and Operating Agreements.
Don Esterbrook, Deputy CEO, Jeff Bellerud, COO, and Jim Vo, Sr. Director of Real
Estate gave the presentation.
Mr. Esterbrook provided a history and highlighted the importance of the domestic
rail service in the gateway.
Mr. Vo presented the terms and financial implications of the Fourth Amendment to
the Amended and Restated PRS Operating Contract and presented first readings
of the UP and BNSF Lease and Operating Agreements.
It was moved and seconded (Ang/Keller) that the Managing Members of the NWSA
authorize the Chief Executive Officer or his delegate to execute the Fourth
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Pacific Rail Services Operating
Contract.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins - aye Kristin Ang - aye
Fred Felleman - aye Deanna Keller - aye
Toshiko Hasegawa - aye Dick Marzano - aye
J.T. Wilcox - aye
D. 2025 Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) Appeal – Authorization for
Second and Final Settlement Agreement with Ecology.
Dana Henderson, NWSA General Counsel, presented the structure and proposed
final settlement agreement terms. The presentation included a summary of the
benefits of accepting the proposal.
Dual Action (NWSA/Port of Seattle Commission/Port of Tacoma Commission):
It was moved and seconded (Keller/Marzano) that the Managing Members of the
NWSA, the Port of Seattle Commission, and the Port of Tacoma Commission
approve the second and final settlement agreement with the Washington State
Department of Ecology for the 2025 Industrial Stormwater General Permit Appeal
in substantially the same form as presented and further affirm the authority to
proceed with the partial settlement agreement approved in January of 2026 without
regard to a contingency for a stay of the issues settled therein.
Discussion:
• Commissioner Felleman noted that between now and 2028, sampling will
continue to occur and that certain items such as monitoring of the wharf that the
Soundkeeper was asking for are included. He noted his concern regarding
short notice of the item being placed on the agenda.
• Co-Chair Calkins noted that in the last decade alone the NWSA has invested
more than $70 million in stormwater infrastructure across both Seattle and
Tacoma. This action is a win-win providing improved best management
practices and more clarity for the ports.
The motion carried for the NWSA Managing Members, the Port of Seattle and Port
of Tacoma Commissions by the following vote:
Port of Seattle Port of Tacoma
Ryan Calkins – in favor Kristin Ang – in favor
Fred Felleman – in favor Deanna Keller – in favor
Toshiko Hasegawa – in favor Dick Marzano – in favor
J.T. Wilcox – in favor
10. Briefings
A. Port Community Systems (PCS) Update.
Mark Storslee, Director, Operations Strategy Center and Michael Elguera,
Manager Port Community Systems provided an update on the PCS including
briefings on the goals, key performance indicators, web resources and internal
reporting additions and investments.
B. 2025 Q4 Grant Update and 2026 Forecast.
Cassandra de Kanter, Grants Specialist provided status of pending grants and
2026 opportunities. Commissioner Felleman expressed interest in exploring
eligibility for Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) funding.
11. General Business
A. Cargo / Operations Update.
Tong Zhu, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer, and Jeff Bellerud, COO, provided
an update.
• 2026 Northwest Hay Expo attended by Commissioner Cho and NWSA staff
• Signing ceremony for the Interlocal Agreement between the NWSA and Ports of
Benton, Pasco and Walla Walla.
• TPM2026 Conference
• Five vessels at berth over the weekend in the Seattle Harbor Terminals 5 and
18.
• Cranes at Terminal 46 are believed to be in better shape than anticipated.
• Trucker outreach meeting held last week was well attended.
B. CEO Announcements.
• CEO Wolfe thanked Federal Maritime Commissioners Laura DiBella and Max
Vekich for co-signing a letter of support on the position that Harbor
Maintenance Tax should be applied to cargo coming through a foreign port into
the United States.
• Senator Patty Murray has indicated the appropriations bill is moving to the
President of the United States for signature today. Within that bill, $8 million will
be going toward the NWSA’s shorepower project at T18. She has also
requested to increase the Harbor Maintenance Tax Trust Fund. CEO Wolfe
thanked Senator Murray for her leadership.
C. Commissioner Comments.
• Commissioner Marzano requested information regarding initiatives to
accomplish cargo loading directly onto rail without ever touching the ground.
Staff is exploring opportunities at Terminal 5 and Husky.
• Commissioner Ang would like an update on U.S. Coast Guard expansion in the
North Harbor having read in a press release from Senator Maria Cantwell that
the Coast Guard is investing an additional $323 million to prepare Base Seattle
for icebreakers.
• Commissioner Felleman commented on discussions at the Pacific Ports
Association Conference regarding a presentation panel on serving the Golden
Dome.
• Co-Chair Calkins commented on negative impacts on manufacturing due to
tariffs and other federal policies. He implored commissioners to listen to the
speech given by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at Davos.
12. Adjourn
With no further business, Co-Chair Calkins announced the meeting adjourned at
2:17 PM.
Dick Marzano, NWSA Co-Chair Ryan Calkins, NWSA Co-Chair
Port of Tacoma Commission President Port of Seattle Commission President
Attest:
Kristin Ang, NWSA Co-Secretary Sam Cho, NWSA Co-Secretary
Port of Tacoma Commission Secretary Port of Seattle Commission Secretary
Prepared by: Juliet Campbell, NWSA Clerk
