Item Number:   6f_Reso 
Date of Meeting: September 11, 2014 
PORT OF SEATTLE 

RESOLUTION NO. 3696 

A RESOLUTION   of the Port Commission of the Port of Seattle establishing a
Port Stormwater Utility and adopting a Stormwater Utility
Charter pursuant to RCW 53.08.040 et seq. and other
statutes  for  the  purpose  of  establishing,  operating,
furnishing, and funding a stormwater system comprising
facilities, services,  and programs for the management,
collection, control, conveyance, treatment, and discharge of
stormwater within the Port of Seattle. 
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda calls for the Port to create jobs and
economic vitality while becoming the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America;
and 
WHEREAS, as a steward of Puget Sound waters and the environment, the Port works
diligently to ensure its stormwater management strategies are efficient and effective, and will
meet or exceed all requirements; and 
WHEREAS, the Port owns, operates, and maintains an extensive stormwater collection,
conveyance, control, and discharge system ("Stormwater System") for the Seaport and Real
Estate (jointly "Marine") divisions serving over 1,300 acres of Port-owned properties and
adjacent non-Port-owned properties; and 
WHEREAS, the Port owns, operates, and maintains an extensive Stormwater System for
the Aviation division serving over 1,600 acres of Port-owned Airport properties; and 
WHEREAS, the Port manages its Marine and Airport Stormwater Systems in accordance
with local, state, and federal stormwater regulations and requirements, including the Phase I
Municipal Stormwater General Permit for Marine properties, and the Airport's individual
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Waste Discharge Permit No. WA-
002465-1 issued by the State Department of Ecology; and 
WHEREAS, the Port is responsible for the cost of maintaining, inspecting, cleaning,
upgrading, and operating both the Marine and Airport Stormwater Systems to meet those
requirements; and 
WHEREAS, the cost to the Port of meeting its Marine Stormwater System
responsibilities is estimated at nearly $25 million over the next several years; and 
Port Stormwater Utility Resolution No. 3696                                       Page 1 of 3

WHEREAS, the cost to the Port of meeting its Airport Stormwater System
responsibilities is estimated at nearly $16 million over the next several years; and
WHEREAS, neither the Marine nor the Airport Stormwater Systems contribute any
material stormwater discharge to the stormwater systems operated by the cities of Seattle and
SeaTac; and 
WHEREAS, the Port and its tenants pay the cities of Seattle and SeaTac fees to support
operations of the cities' stormwater utilities, for which the Port and its tenants receive no
benefits; and 
WHEREAS, in 2014, the Port and its private operators will pay approximately
$4 million in fees to the City of Seattle, which the City plans to increase by 10% in 2015, with
further increases planned for subsequent years; and 
WHEREAS, in 2014, the Port and its tenants will pay approximately $451,860 in fees to
the City of SeaTac, which could substantially increase in 2016 after the expiration of the 2005
Interlocal Agreement between the City of SeaTac and the Port of Seattle, with further increases
planned for subsequent years; and 
WHEREAS, RCW 53.08.040, RCW 53.08.043, and other statutes grant port districts the
authority to establish and operate stormwater systems and stormwater utilities to serve port
district properties and other properties and to set the terms, conditions, and rates for such
enterprise; and 
WHEREAS, a stormwater utility operated by the Port, as set forth in the Stormwater
Utility Charter attached at Exhibit A ("Port Stormwater Utility"), will provide direct funding
dedicated to local oversight, attention, and management of the Port's Stormwater System; and 
WHEREAS, the Port Stormwater Utility would have immediate access to the funds
needed to improve stormwater management and services for the benefit of Puget Sound, and
better meet environmental and other requirements affecting the Marine and Airport Stormwater
Systems; and 
WHEREAS, applying that dedicated funding directly to the Port's stormwater activities
will mean better use and economy of the Port's taxpayer and tenant revenues;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port Commission of the Port of
Seattle as follows:
Section 1.    The recitals set forth above are hereby adopted by the Port Commission as
authority, findings, and conclusions supporting the actions taken herein.

Port Stormwater Utility Resolution No. 3696                                       Page 2 of 3

Section 2.    The Port of Seattle Stormwater Utility Charter, attached as Exhibit A and
incorporated by this reference, is adopted to establish the Port Stormwater Utility and operate the
Port Stormwater System.
Section 3.    The Port's executive staff is directed and authorized to implement the Port
of Seattle Stormwater Utility Charter and to work with adjacent jurisdictions for the efficient
transfer, integration, and coordination of stormwater management activities.
Section 4.    The foregoing actions shall be implemented by the executive staff with all
due speed, with the goal of implementation on or before January 1, 2015. The executive staff
shall brief the Commission on its activities as appropriate.
Section 5.     The Airport Utility will become activated pursuant to subsequent
Commission action. 
ADOPTED by the Port Commission of the Port of Seattle at a duly noticed meeting
thereof, held this ______________ day of _______________, 2014, and duly authenticated in
open session by the signatures of the Commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the
Commission. 




Commissioners 






Port Stormwater Utility Resolution No. 3696                                       Page 3 of 3