COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8g 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting       May 14, 2024 

DATE:     April 22, 2024 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Kathy Roeder, Executive Chief of Staff 
Pearse Edwards, Senior Director External Relations
SUBJECT:  Competitive Exemption for Studio Matthews to Provide Port-Owned Waterfront
Signage 
Amount of this request:                  $96,640 
Total estimated project cost:              $96,640 
ACTION REQUESTED 
A request that (1) the Commission determines a competitive process is not appropriate or costeffective
and exempts a contract from a competitive process consistent with RCW 53.19.020(5);
and (2) executes an agreement with Studio Matthews for development of Port-owned
waterfront signage, in the amount of $96,640.  The cost includes interpretation content
development, design, documentation, and project administration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
We have a unique opportunity this year to update existing Port-owned signs, which are badly out
of date and in some places no longer accurate, in alignment with the once-in-a generation
remaking of the visitor experience currently underway at the waterfront. 
The City of Seattle is installing more than 90 new wayfinding and interpretive signs all along the
waterfront as part of the massive new promenade, Elliott Way, and Overlook Walk projects. The
Elliott Bay Connections project is simultaneously installing new wayfinding and interpretive signs
all along the eastern part of Alaskan Way and through Centennial Park and Myrtle Edwards Park.
The Seattle Aquarium and Washington State Ferries are also initiating their own programs adding
a dozen new interpretive signs outside of their own facilities. 
All of these entities are working with a local firm, Studio Matthews, to maintain consistency in
the interpretive content and design choices.
The proposed scope of this agreement includes updating three multi-panel, existing signs that
are out of date and no longer accurate. The project installation of four new signs at key locations

Template revised January 10, 2019.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g                                   Page 2 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
on Lenora Street overpass, at Bell Harbor, at Pier 66 and at Pier 69 will be competitively procured
separately; or utilize in-house crews. These signs will market Port facilities and highlight the
working waterfront in Seattle’s history and future. Working with Studio Matthews will allow the
Port to integrate into the complete waterfront visitor experience.
JUSTIFICATION 
We request a competitive exemption, in accordance with RCW 53.19.020(5), because competing
these services would not be appropriate or cost-effective. 
• Not cost effective: It would not be cost effective to compete this project. A new firm
would start from scratch with a discovery and research phase; work already done by
Studio Matthews on behalf of at least four other clients working in the same area. Studio
Matthews has already researched the Port and even prepared content about the Port for
some of the city’s planned signs.  The firm knows where the story they have already
written for the City, Aquarium, and other waterfront neighbors stops and where to extend
the narrative to cover the Port’s unique history,  environmental and workforce
development interests. Working with Studio Matthews would be cost-effective by relying
on their previously completed discovery, research, standards, and design. 
• Not appropriate: The purpose of this project is to extend the look, feel, tone, concepts,
graphical treatment, and fabrication standards of the new 90+ waterfront signage to
locations around port facilities. The most appropriate way to do this is to use the same
creative team that is developing the interpretive vision, concepts, and standards that will
appear from Colman Dock to Centennial Park. Studio Matthews is already several years
into this project and has invaluable institutional knowledge of the project conditions,
stakeholders, and history. Some of their designs are already installed at Pier 62 and are
proving to work in the unique waterfront landscape and environment. Finally, competing
the work could create a scenario where we ask a firm to copy a non-Port project’s creative
concepts and design. Design is the core of a graphic design firm’s work product. To have
another firm attempt to  copy creative concepts and design, without credit or
compensation to the creators, would not be appropriate.

Diversity in Contracting 
Studio Matthews is a Seattle-based, woman-owned small business. 
DETAILS 
A summary of the scope of work follows. The full Scope of Work is available in the document set.



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

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g                                   Page 3 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
Scope of Work 
1.  Concept Design 
2.  Design and Content development 
3.  Design Documentation 
4.  Project Administration 
Schedule 
This schedule allows time to compete the fabrication of the signs or to develop in house if
possible. The project is designed to be ready and in-use for the FIFA World Cup and Elliott Bay
Connections opening in 2026.
Activity 
Commission authorization                      2024 Q2 
Design start                                       2024 Q3 
Construction start                                2025 Q4 
In-use date                                       2026 Q1 
Cost Breakdown                                     This Request           Total Project 
Concept Design                                           $18,440               $18,440 
Design Development                                     $29,440               $29,440 
Design Documentation                                   $28,004               $28,005 
Project Administration                                       $20,755                $20,744 
Total                                                            $96,640                 $96,640 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
This project considered moving forward with this work as a Category 2 competitively bid project.
However, given the high importance on operating within the City’s planned waterfront signage
system, and the time frame for completing the work, the project team did not fully explore
alternatives.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The scope for this agreement does not include fabrication and installation. Fabrication and
installation of the signs may be completed in-house, or through a competitively bid contract. If
bid competitively, that work would be budgeted as a capital expense and would likely fall within
the Delegation of Authority.




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

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g                                   Page 4 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary              Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                          $0         $96,640         $96,640 
AUTHORIZATION 
Previous authorizations                                    0                0                0 
Current request for authorization                          0         $96,640         $96,640 
Total authorizations, including this request                  0         $96,640         $96,640 
Remaining amount to be authorized                    $0             $0             $0 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None 












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