Item No.               9b
Date:       November 19, 2019
Draft 2020 State Legislative Agenda
Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
November 19, 2019
Nate Caminos, Director, Government Relations, Port of Seattle
Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations, Port of Seattle



1

Overview
Olympia preview
What to expect from 2020 session
Next steps on Referendum 88 and Initiative 976
Agenda development process
Evaluate progress made last session
Incorporate ongoing work and core priorities
Consultation with subject matter experts around the Port
Meetings with commission staff and individual commissioners to review
Next steps
Incorporate additional Commission feedback between now and 12/10
Seek Commission adoption of final agenda in 12/10 meeting

Questions on process?
2

Priority Agenda Items
Protecting and Promoting Assets of Statewide Significance:
Land use: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington ports, with a specific focus on zoning
issues that may affect port competitiveness. This may include:
Proposals that reflect the "Guiding Principles: Stewardship, Enhancement, and Protection of
Maritime and Manufacturing Lands" document that was adopted by the Northwest Seaport
Alliance on November 1, 2016;
Proposals  that  reflect  the  Port's  commitment  to  environmental  sustainability,  including
promoting Puget Sound ecosystem health and resource stewardship, and acknowledging the fact
that manufacturing and industrial centers designated under the Growth Management Act are
resource lands of statewide economic significance that are irreplaceable; and
Proposals that recognize the role industrial resource lands play in global port competitiveness and
in supporting job retention in diverse economic sectors that provide ladders of opportunity to
underserved groups; and
Recommendations related to the Department of Commerce's Interbay Public Development
Advisory Committee; and
Any legislative changes that may impact the efficient functioning of statewide essential public
facilities.
Port grant program: Emphasize importance of including a port-specific grant program within any long-term transportation package under
development, in order to ensure that infrastructure upgrades at ports keep pace with infrastructure investment statewide
Export promotion: Continue to deepen partnership with Washington State Department of Commerce and other stakeholders on
promoting Washington state as an international trading partner, supporting the state's exporters while also ensuring that transportation facilities
that support trade are modernized, world-class, and can operate efficiently.
Port facilities as assets of statewide significance
3

Priority Agenda Items  Continued
Protecting the environment and promoting sustainable economic development:
Clean Fuels Standard: Support enactment of legislation that will incent the implementation of
transportation fuels that reduce emissions related to port operations. Specifically, support
adoption of a clean fuels standard that supports the deployment of clean transportation fuel
technologies and reduces the carbon intensity of fuels sold in Washington, and that can promote
price competitiveness between the market for sustainable transportation fuels in Oregon,
California, and Washington states.

Maritime decarbonization: Pursue continued state partnership with efforts to reduce carbon emissions from waterfront operations while
maintaining the international competitive edge that supports job growth in Washington state. This includes partnership on electric transmission
infrastructure development, on innovation in the clean maritime sector, and on the state's ongoing Maritime Blue 2050 initiative.
Partnering for community improvements: Improve the ability of port districts and other local governments to partner with community service
organizations to provide public improvements to parks and other open spaces by reducing the required financial contribution that must be
provided by those organizations.


Reducing Emissions, Promoting Community Partnerships
4

Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business
Quality Jobs: Support proposals that are consistent with the Port's focus on bringing quality,
sustainable jobs to the region, including through proposals that:
Ports engaging in workforce training
Career-connected learning efforts at the state
Apprenticeship programs
Responsible enforcement of labor standards
Support rural economic development

Quality, Sustainable Jobs  Workplace Equity  SWMBE Support
5

Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business 
Continued
Small Business: Reduce barriers and provide equity in the workplace; promote inclusion of small businesses, including
disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business enterprises (SMWBEs)
Continued support for repeal of Initiative 200
Contracting flexibility for public owners
SMWBEs compete for small works projects
Small business capacity building and SMWBEs compete in the government marketplace



Quality, Sustainable Jobs  Workplace Equity  SWMBE Support
6

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation
Continued funding of state transportation projects that are critical to Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance
operations
Speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin to destination through seaport and airport facilities
Improve the trade competitiveness of Washington state and our gateway.
Allow for creative approaches to infrastructure development including potential new revenue mechanisms
Affirm the authority of the Port Commission to control access to port facilities by all transportation modes



Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely
7

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation  Continued
Potential increase in passenger vessel routes; other mobility options that ease access to port facilities.
Promote aviation safety while maintaining the authority of airport operators.
Promote resilience in the transportation network, including on issues of climate resilience.




Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely
8

Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment
Support environmental cleanup programs and state-level policies that promote the adoption and
implementation of clean energy sources, including:
Low-carbon fuels for transportation, low or zero emission transit options, and otherwise support the
continued reduction in the cost of low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state
Puget Sound health overall, including orca recovery work
Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funding and partnerships
Funding for the state's Recreation and Conservation Office,
partnerships and funding on environmental cleanup
Disbursement of funds from the national Volkswagen settlement
Clean energy technology, building energy efficiency, statewide goals
for clean power

Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion
9

Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment  Continued
State partnership with the Port on sustainable aviation fuels
Climate change resilience
Reduce carbon and air pollution emissions for passengers and employees traveling
to and from Port facilities
Policies advanced as part of the Washington Maritime BLUE: 2050 initiative



Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion
10

Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more
Tax: Support tax policies at the state level that support the economic health of port-related businesses and activities, including:
Supports those communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructure necessary to support the Port of
Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and its partners
Policies that reduce the cost of manufacturing activities that support port-related businesses
Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of
representatives between the two homeports in their governing of
the Northwest Seaport Alliance
Cybersecurity: Vulnerability of public governments that
manage critical infrastructure.
Broadband: Bridge the digital divide

Port Facilities Support Thousands of Jobs at Businesses across WA
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Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more - continued
Technology: Monitor biometric technology proposals.
Human trafficking: Continued partnership with state and local governments to combat human trafficking
State building code: Seek changes to state code that support work
to promote all-gender restrooms
Equity: Support creation of State Equity Office



Biometric, Human Trafficking, Restrooms, Equity
12

Next Steps
Today  Commission briefing in public session
Now through December 10, 2019 Incorporate feedback received
December 10, 2019  Seek Commission adoption in public session
November and December 2019  Distribute agenda to key legislators; continue staff and
elected level meetings with legislators
January 13, 2020  First day of 2020 state legislative session

Questions?
13