COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8b 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting     December 10, 2019 
DATE:     November 22, 2019 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Christina Billingsley, Sr. Program Manager, Environmental Engagement 
Veronica Valdez, Commission Specialist 
SUBJECT:  Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request adoption of Resolution No. 3767: A resolution of the Port of Seattle Commission
establishing  a  Duwamish  Valley  Community  Benefits  Commitment  Policy  to  guide  the
implementation of the Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program (DVCEP) and other Port
operations that impact the Duwamish Valley Community (Community). 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
On May 28, 2019, the Port Commission adopted Motion 2019-07 authorizing the creation of the
DVCEP and directing staff to collaborate with the Community to achieve three shared goals:
Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration, Healthy Environment and
Communities, and Economic Prosperity in Place. Motion 2019-07 directed Port staff to develop a
policy directive to include guiding principles, a list of immediate and future actionable items, a
strategy and timeline to accomplish goals, and auditable reporting standards for the DVCEP. 
Port staff embarked on a collaborative effort to co-write the policy directive with the Community 
who will be directly impacted by the implementation of the DVCEP. Port Community Action Team
(PCAT) representatives conducted over two months of outreach to various community
stakeholders in the form of one-on-one meetings, group presentations, and meetings with
community organizations to ensure Community feedback was incorporated into the policy
directive. In total, over 300 community stakeholders and 27 community-based organizations
were informed or consulted about the policy directive. 
BACKGROUND 
Recognizing that some near-Port communities experience a higher proportion of environmental
impacts and lack equitable access to the benefits generated by the Port, the Port of Seattle and
the near-Port Duwamish Valley Community launched a pilot project in 2017. Originally as part of
a U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Pilot Project technical assistance grant, the pilot project focused
on improving Port engagement with near-Port communities that experience environmental
justice issues. 

Template revised January 10, 2019.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. __8b__                              Page 2 of 4 
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019 

Over the course of the pilot project, Port staff learned that the challenges facing the Community
were not limited to environmental impacts. Due to historic and current discriminatory policies
and institutional racism practiced by local governments, industries, and other institutions,
Duwamish Valley community members have been excluded from generations of economic
mobility and civic involvement. Previous inequities such as redlining and underinvestment in
community infrastructure established patterns of disparities that continue to this day,
contributing to significant cumulative health impacts. As a result, the DVCEP established by the
Commission Motion 2019-07 addresses multiple inequities affecting the community. 
In addition, Port staff gained knowledge about multiple community assets that have anchored
the Duwamish Valley as a cultural, economic, and social base for a resilient and diverse
community despite inequities. In 2017, the Port Community Action Team (PCAT) was established
to ensure that representatives from the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South Park and
Georgetown could meaningfully participate in the pilot project. As part of a groundbreaking
contract to advance equitable engagement principles at the Port, PCAT members act as
community-based consultants and are compensated for contributing  their expertise.  This
partnership has created significant mutual benefit to the Port and the Community. 
The PCAT provides training and coaching to Port staff on inclusive engagement practices and
cultural competency that directly impact the effectiveness of achieving Century Agenda goals. In
addition to co-writing Port of Seattle Motion 2019-07 and Resolution No. 3767, PCAT members
provided consultation on areas such as: 
Multicultural leader engagement during the scoping for environmental review of the
SAMP Near Term Projects; 
Hiring and recruitment for the Senior Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion position; 
Marketing and visual communications best practices for multicultural audiences; 
Public event programming and design, such as the 2019 Multilingual Duwamish River
Boat Tour; and 
Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy stakeholder engagement. 
DETAILS 
This policy directive will ensure the Port's collaboration with the Community to achieve three
shared goals: 
Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration 
Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities 
Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place 
The Executive Director, or a delegate, shall be accountable to ensure the implementation and
adequate annual funding of the DVCEP. To date, the Port has allocated $292,000 in 2020 toward
implementing the DVCEP. 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. __8b__                              Page 3 of 4 
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019 
Goal 1: Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration 
In alignment with the Port's equity initiatives to address institutional racism and recognizing that
the most effective methods for solving inequities come from communities themselves, the
DVCEP shall build Port and Community capacity to ensure meaningful, equitable engagement and
partnership. To this end, the DVCEP will foster shared decision making, support existing and
upcoming community leaders, and collaborate with Community on activities that advance
mutually beneficial outcomes. The Port's action areas include, but are not limited to: 
A.  Inclusion 
B.  Training and Education for Port and Community 
C.  Port and Community Engagement 
D.  Community Feedback 
E.  Inter-agency Collaboration 
F.   Data-Driven Results 
Goal 2: Healthy Environment and Communities 
The Port shall proactively address climate change and other environmental factors that affect the
health of the Community. The Port shall encourage the NWSA to partner with Community to
address impacts on the Community resulting from the movement of goods to and from NWSA-
operated cargo terminals, such as climate change and air quality emissions, truck traffic and noise
issues, and water quality. The Port's action areas include, but are not limited to: 
A.  Climate Change 
B.  Air Quality 
C.  Truck Traffic 
D.  Noise Impacts 
E.  Public Parks and Greenspace 
F.   Water Quality 
Goal 3: Economic Prosperity in Place 
The Port shall support anti-displacement solutions that enable the Duwamish Valley Community
to thrive in place through equitable access to training, jobs, career pathways, and Port-related
economic opportunities. The Port's action areas include, but are not limited to: 
A.  Recruiting and Retention 
B.  Youth and Adult Workforce Development 
C.  Economic Development 
D.  Support for an Equitable, Diverse, and Green Economy 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Resolution No. 3767 
(2)   Resolution No. 3767 Exhibit A: Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment
Policy Directive 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. __8b__                              Page 4 of 4 
Meeting Date: December 10, 2019 

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
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
Policy Direction to the full Commission 
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 the Community 














Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).