COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          6i 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting      January 8, 2019 
DATE:     December 26, 2018 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sandra Kilroy, Director Maritime Environment and Sustainability 
Jane Dewell, Maritime Stormwater Program Manager 
Pamela Tupper, Contract Administrator 
SUBJECT:  Contract for Maritime Salmon-Safe Recertification 
Amount of this request:                  $60,000 
Total estimated project cost:              $60,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request commission authorization for  the Executive Director to execute a contract with
Salmon-Safe, a non-profit organization, for an amount not to exceed $60,000, for the Port's
Salmon-safe certification  and that commission  determine  a competitive process is not
appropriate or cost effective and exempt this contract from a competitive process consistent
with RCW 53.19.020. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Port of Seattle Maritime Parks have been Salmon-Safe certified since 2008. This is an
environmental certification program, conducted exclusively by the non-profit Salmon-Safe
organization for the West Coast, that highlights water quality and habitat work that the Port
performs. The certification cycle is five years with the current cycle ending in 2018. The
requested contract authorization covers the cost to continue the Salmon Safe certification for
the next three cycles. 
JUSTIFICATION 
Staff conducted research and have determined that a competitive solicitation is not appropriate
or cost effective considering the Salmon-Safe organization has the exclusive peer-reviewed and
accreditation program in Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia. 
The Salmon-Safe non-profit organization exclusively certifies farms and urban landscapes in the
Salmon-Safe certification program recognizing practices that protect water quality, maintain
watershed health and restore habitat. It is consistent with the Century Agenda to be the
greenest Port in North America. The Port's maritime parks have participated in this program
since 2008, and recertification assessments are due every five years. To keep Salmon-Safe

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.  6i                                Page 2 of 5 
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019 
certification, the  Port needs to  perform  required  objectives  and  then  be  assessed.  The
assessment process involves time and effort from Salmon-Safe staff and experts, and a contract
to cover these costs is needed. The request for the exemption would allow the Port to continue
supporting and being recertified as Salmon-Safe. 
DETAILS 
Since 1998, Salmon-Safe has successfully defined and promoted ecologically sustainable
development and land management practices that protect water quality and aquatic
biodiversity throughout the Northwest. The Salmon-Safe parks initiative is the nation's first
certification program linking park system development and operation with the protection of
water quality and an imperiled species. In Washington State, Salmon-Safe activities include 
more than 100 farms, orchards, and dairies. Together they engage corporate, commercial and
institutional landowners in addressing critical issues impacting Northwest salmon and Puget
Sound including urban and municipal parks projects. 
Businesses and other urban landowners achieve Salmon-Safe certification after a rigorous
assessment and independent verification of their operations by experts in stormwater, 
landscape management and fish biology. The Port's system of parks and public access points on
the Duwamish and Elliott Bay were among the first Washington sites to achieve Salmon-Safe
certification in 2008. 
The Salmon-Safe certification is a continuous improvement program that involves reassessment
every five  years.  The Salmon-Safe contract being requested  would cover the 2018/2019
recertification assessment work and include two additional five-year recertification cycles in
2023 and 2028. 
Scope of Work 
Salmon-Safe will conduct an assessment for site-wide certification of the approximately 50-acre
Port of Seattle system of eight parks and 22 public access areas, including review of restoration
master planning and activity to date, landscape management, stormwater systems, and design
guidance in future park development to ensure alignment with Salmon-Safe standards into the
future. Policy and field-level evaluations will be conducted using Salmon-Safe's peer reviewed
park standards to evaluate whether park system planning, operations and restoration activities
are consistent with Salmon-Safe principles of net-positive watershed impact.
The actions will include the following in 2019, 2023 and 2028: 
(1)   Certification  site  visit  and  meeting    visit  a  number  of  Port  parks  and  publicly
accessible properties to evaluate landscape, stormwater treatment, and habitat
restoration projects developed between each recertification cycle. 
(2)   Certification report and outreach  a report of findings and recommendations for the
2019, 2023 and 2028 cycles will be provided to the Port, with meetings to discuss

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

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.  6i                                Page 3 of 5 
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019 
findings and next steps for continuous improvement.  This includes Salmon-Safe
support in public and media outreach. 
(3)   Certification verification  annual review of progress and to address questions and
changes will be provided by Salmon-Safe staff and experts. 
Schedule 
The Salmon-Safe evaluations would occur every five years. The 2013-2018 cycle will be
addressed in early 2019, and the next two five-year cycles would occur in 2023 and 2028. 
Annual verification work would occur each in-between year. 
Activity 
Salmon-Safe Assessment & Verification          Timeline 
2018-2023 certification assessment              2019 Quarter 1 
2018-2023 annual verification                   2020-2023 Quarter 2 
2023-2028 certification assessment              2023 Quarter 4 
2023-2028 annual verifications                  2024-2028 Quarter 2 
2028-2033 certification assessment              2028 Quarter 4 
Cost Breakdown                                     This Request           Total Project 
2018-2023 Certification Assessment &                      $18,000               $18,000 
Annual Verification 
2023-2028 Certification Assessment &                      $20,000               $20,000 
Annual Verification 
2028-2033 Certification Assessment&                      $22,000               $22,000 
Annual Verification 
Total                                                            $60,000                 $60,000 

ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Three alternatives are presented. A possible fourth, to contract some other organization to
conduct the Salmon-Safe assessments and verifications, is not feasible since Salmon-Safe is the
only organization that can certify and verify the program that they have developed. 
Alternative 1  Not fund Salmon-Safe certification program for Maritime Parks 
Cost Implications: No contract costs ($0) 
Pros: 
(1)   Do not expend money on Salmon-Safe contract 
(2)   Do not expend staff time and effort to support Salmon-Safe related projects 
Cons: 
(1)   Discontinue Salmon-Safe program for Maritime Parks 

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

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.  6i                                Page 4 of 5 
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019 
(2)   Reduce focus on and community recognition of conducting voluntary and pro-active
program that supports salmon protection 
(3)   Reduce efforts that support Century Agenda 
This is not the recommended alternative. 

Alternative 2  Fund request for Salmon-Safe certification for Maritime Parks for two cycles 
Cost Implications: $38,000 over 10 years 
Pros: 
(1)   Continue the Maritime Parks Salmon-Safe program 
(2)   Support Century Agenda goals through Salmon-Safe recommended elements 
(3)   Recognition by community for doing voluntary and pro-active salmon protection
projects 
Cons: 
(1)   Cost of Salmon-Safe contract 
(2)   Time and effort by staff to support and implement Salmon-Safe related projects 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3  Fund request for Salmon-Safe certification for Maritime Parks for three cycles 
Cost Implications: $60,000 over 15 years 
Pros: 
(1) Continue the Maritime Parks Salmon-Safe program 
(2) Support Century Agenda goals through Salmon-Safe recommended elements 
(3) Recognition by community for doing voluntary and pro-active salmon protection
projects 
(4) Demonstrates our commitment to water quality and habitat best practices over the long
run and demonstrates contract efficiencies. 
Cons: 
(1) Cost of Salmon-Safe contract 
(2) Time and effort by staff to support and implement Salmon-Safe related projects 
This is the recommended alternative. 



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

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No.  6i                                Page 5 of 5 
Meeting Date: January 8, 2019 


FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary              Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                          $0         $60,000         $60,000 
AUTHORIZATION 
Previous authorizations                                    0                0                0 
Current request for authorization                          0         $60,000         $60,000 
Total authorizations, including this request                  0         $60,000         $60,000 
Remaining amount to be authorized                    $0             $0             $0 
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
Contract costs will be funded by the Stormwater Utility fund. 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
Project cost for analysis 
Business Unit (BU)                  8001 (Stormwater Utility) 
Effect on business performance 
(NOI after depreciation) 
IRR/NPV (if relevant) 
CPE Impact 

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
June 28, 2016  Salmon-Safe certification was presented to the Commission. 




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