COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                Item No.       6c 
ACTION ITEM                   Date of Meeting    November 8, 2016 
DATE:    November 8, 2016 
TO:     Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Pearse Edwards, Director, Government Relations 
Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations 
SUBJECT:  Final Adoption of 2017 State Legislative Agenda 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization to pursue the legislative priorities as described in this
memorandum, both specific agenda items along with general issue areas, during the 2017 state
legislative session, convening January 9, 2017, in Olympia, Washington. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
In advance of the 2017 state legislative session in Olympia, Port of Seattle government relations
staff has worked with Commissioners, executive team members, internal subject matter
experts, and external stakeholders, to develop an agenda to guide Port advocacy efforts. The
following Draft 2017 State Legislative Agenda consists of two categories: Priority agenda items,
and priority issue areas. The "items" section is comprised primarily of specific actions that Port
staff will work to accomplish with the help of allies in the state legislature. The priority "areas"
are more general and could encompass a range of efforts, allowing the Port staff the flexibility
to work with key allies and advocate for priorities that may arise during session. 
DRAFT STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 
Priority Agenda Items 
Maritime and manufacturing land use: Provide detailed information to legislators and
to House and Senate Committees on the current land use issues facing Washington
ports, with a specific focus on zoning issues related to the Growth Management Act that
may affect port competitiveness. This may include testimony from subject matter
experts or Commissioners, letters to relevant committees, along with potential
development of legislative proposals through which the state can express its support for
port facilities as facilities of statewide economic significance. 
Workforce development: Support proposals to enhance state investments in workforce
development in the maritime, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. This may include

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.6c                        Page 2 of 4 
Meeting Date: November 8, 2016 
advocating for additional funding for the Core-Plus Program and possible amendments
to port statute to ensure ports can continue to play a role in workforce development in
these sectors. Continue to support funding for high school students to pursue summer
internships in maritime and manufacturing related fields. 
Fishing fleet modernization: Support policies that will promote construction of new
fishing boats in Washington State shipyards while making the fleet more efficient, both
operationally and environmentally. Identify additional funding mechanisms through the
state that can further lower the cost of building new fishing boats in Washington
shipyards. 
Statewide tourism marketing authority: Support efforts to establish a statewide
tourism funding authority to fund statewide tourism marketing efforts. Identify a means
of funding the statewide tourism authority, and ensure that funds collected for tourism
marketing are not used for other purposes or transferred to the state general fund. 
REAL ID compliance: Provide detailed information on the potential ramifications of
Washington State's continued non-compliance with federal REAL ID law, and work with
legislators and stakeholders to build collective support behind a legislative solution that
will bring the state into compliance with federal law prior to the January 2018 deadline. 
Priority issue areas: 
Transportation: Closely monitor, and support continued funding of, state transportation
projects that are critical to Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance operations,
including the Puget Sound Gateway Project, the Lander Street Grade Separation Project,
the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, and others. Support proposals that
speed the movement of freight from origin to destination, and to export markets
through seaport and airport facilities. 
Environment: Closely monitor, and support continued funding of, state investments in
environmental cleanup programs. That includes those programs funded through the
Model Toxics Control Act, such as Remedial Action Grants, Public Participation Grants,
and local stormwater grants, which assist Port efforts to promote environmental
stewardship and support Washington State's pursuit of a healthier Puget Sound. 
Quality Jobs: Support proposals that seek to provide equity in the workplace for
disadvantaged groups, including through the possible repeal of Initiative 200, and

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.6c                        Page 3 of 4 
Meeting Date: November 8, 2016 
augment existing Port efforts to promote the health of small businesses, including
disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business enterprises. 
Energy: Support proposals that may reduce carbon emissions from Port operations and
promote energy efficient operation of transportation infrastructure. This may include
proposals to allow municipal utilities broader flexibility in installing infrastructure that
can incent energy consumers to transition to clean sources of power; proposals that
seek to incentivize biofuel production for aviation purposes; and policies that promote
renewable energy generation, among others. 
Tax: Support tax policy that promotes the efficient movement of freight and supports
those communities that house the infrastructure necessary to maintain the maritime
and manufacturing base of the Puget Sound region. 
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND 
Below you will find the "problem statements" to accompany each of the policy statements in
the first section of the draft state legislative agenda. 
Maritime and manufacturing land use: In 2007, Governor Gregoire convened a group of city,
state, and port representatives to identify recommendations for improvements to land use
policy that could "help ensure the effective function and long-term viability of the state's
marine container ports." The recommendations made by that work group were passed into law
in the 2009 legislative session. Among its many provisions, the law required the cities of Seattle
and Tacoma to consider the efficient and effective functioning of their large container ports
when making land use decisions. Since that time, the City of Seattle, the Port, and the broader
industrial community, have had different ideas about how the law should be implemented. The
most recent example of this issue, the proposed siting of a sports arena near Terminal 46 and
the Duwamish MIC, caused significant concern in the industrial community and with some in
the state legislature. 
Workforce development: The maritime, manufacturing, and industrial sectors are critical to the
economic vitality of the Puget Sound region. The workforce in those sectors is aging and
nearing retirement, and there is not currently a new generation of workers with the skills
required to support the growth of these sectors. From a lack of clear understanding from
students, teachers, counselors, and parents of the opportunities that are available to young
people in maritime, manufacturing, and industrial jobs, to a lack of investment at the state level
into Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, the challenges to building a strong
workforce are myriad. The future economic success of the region, and the state as a whole,
relies on addressing this challenge and building a skilled workforce in these critical sectors. 


Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.6c                        Page 4 of 4 
Meeting Date: November 8, 2016 
Fishing fleet modernization: The North Pacific Fishing Fleet, based at the Port of Seattle's
Fishermen's Terminal, is comprised of vessels that have an average age of 30 years. Many of
these boats are in need of replacement. The cost of replacing the fleet is estimated at $14.3
billion. New vessels are more fuel efficient and can allow fishermen to make better use of raw
products thus earning them more money. But the cost to replace a vessel is a barrier to many
fishermen. Action at the state and federal level, and from other entities such as the Port of
Seattle, could help reduce the cost and incentivize the replacement of many boats in the fleet.
Such action could also promote replacing the vessels with ships built in Washington shipyards.
This process would have long-term economic benefits to the region as a whole.
REAL ID: Currently, Washington State is out of compliance with a federal law passed in 2005
known as REAL ID. That law established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's
licenses and identification cards, including the requirement that the issuing agency verify the
legal status of the applicant. Washington State is currently the only state in the union that does
not require proof of legal status when issuing a driver's license. Beginning January 22, 2018,
driver's licenses issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing, with the exception of
the Enhanced Driver's License, will not be sufficient for federal purposes. This would prevent
Washington residents from passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints
at airports across the state, significantly complicating the process of airline travel and harming
the economy in the process.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
October 25, 2016  The Commission was briefed on the draft 2017 state legislative agenda
in public session. 







Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.