PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4e 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting      June 28, 2016 
DATE:    June 2016 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Bob Duffner, Senior Manager, Aviation Environment & Sustainability 
SUBJECT:  Auburn Wetland Mitigation Site Enhancements (CIP #C800760) 
Amount of This Request:         $720,000   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund 
Est. Total Project Cost:           $720,000 
Est. State and Local Taxes:         $26,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to construct the Auburn
wetland mitigation site enhancements in an amount not to exceed $720,000, including removing
internal maintenance roads; planting remaining road corridors with native trees and shrubs; and
constructing a chain link fence to secure the site perimeter. (CIP #800760). 
SYNOPSIS 
Commission authorization is requested to improve the Auburn wetland mitigation site in
compliance with environmental permits for the 1997 Master Plan Update and Third Runway 
construction.  This project will remove up to 6,171 feet of temporary roads and paths at the
mitigation site and install up to 5,000 mitigation plantings in the road removal corridors.  The
project also improves site security by installing approximately 5,650 feet of chain-link security
fence around the site perimeter.  Under the recommended alternative, this project will be
completed using a combination of Port Construction Services (PCS) for the road removal work;
an Inter-local Agreement (ILA) with Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) to install
plantings; and a small works contract to construct chain-link fencing around the site perimeter. 
This action will complete the final mitigation construction requirements related to the Third
Runway and helps prevent vandalism of the site.  The project provides an opportunity for
workplace development through the utilization of the WCC. 
BACKGROUND 
The Port obtained a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit and associated Section 401 water
quality certification (Permit #1996-04-02325 (Amended-2)) for the 1997 Master Plan Update
projects. These permits required compensatory mitigation for filling approximately 18.5 acres of
wetlands and relocating approximately 1,200 feet of Miller Creek.  The Auburn wetland

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 2 of 6 

mitigation site was constructed in 2006 as part of the overall mitigation requirements. The
401/404 permit incorporates by reference a Natural Resource Mitigation Plan (NRMP) detailing
required mitigation actions, which included post-construction performance monitoring and
routine maintenance. NRMP Section 7.4.5.2 requires the Port to remove temporary roads and
paths at the Auburn wetland mitigation site five years after construction if the site has achieved
relevant performance standards for two and three consecutive years, respectively. In 2015 (postconstruction
monitoring year 7), the site met performance standards for the third consecutive
monitoring year, obliging the Port to remove both the temporary roads and paths. 
In addition, the NRMP explicitly disallows human use of the mitigation site in order to prevent
impairment of site ecological functions. NRMP Section 7.3.3.3 required the Port to construct a
perimeter chain link fence along the north and west site perimeter and a barb-wire fence along
the south and east perimeter to "clearly mark the mitigation boundary and protect the mitigation
site from intrusion and damage by people and domestic animals." The Port did not construct a
chain-link fence along the site's west perimeter, instead installing a barbed-wire fence. In the
intervening time, a developer constructed a new subdivision adjoining the site's southern
boundary, including a section of trail within 10 feet of plantings along the mitigation site
boundary. Since the subdevelopment was completed, the barbed -wire fence has been cut and the
site is being accessed for purposes that include building encampments, vandalism, and dumping.
Residents have also reported the use of dirt bikes in the site. This ongoing human access and
damage has required the Port Environmental and Maintenance staff and the City of Auburn
police department to respond as once a month to the site. 
Aviation Environment & Sustainability staff previously sponsored a similar project at the Vacca
Farm mitigation site to re-amend soil and install additional plantings in underperforming areas.
As is proposed in the recommended alternative, PCS conducted the soil work while Aviation
Environment & Sustainability staff directed the Washington Conservation Corps planting effort. 
The proposed Auburn site enhancements have the additional component of constructing a
security fence, which had been installed at the Vacca Farm site during original construction. 
PROJECT JUST IFICATION AND DETAILS 
A Clean Water Act Section 401/404 permit was required for projects constructed pursuant to the
1997 Master Plan Update, and the Port is required to meet all permit conditions therein,
including ongoing post-construction monitoring and maintenance at natural resource mitigation
sites. Administrators from the Washington Department of Ecology and the US Army Corps have
submitted correspondence confirming the agencies' expectations that the Port remove internal
roads and secure the site in 2016 in accordance with Section 7.4.5.2 of the Port's NRMP. 
Operationally, Port Properties and Environmental departments are expending time and resources
to address ongoing trespassing issues at the Auburn mitigation site, including receiving and
responding to ongoing citizen complaints, coordinating with Auburn police, making monthly site
visits to identify new encampments and dumping, and coordinating with Port maintenance to
remove and dispose of encampment debris and other illegal dumping.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 3 of 6 

Removing internal roads and constructing and exclusionary fence will allow the Port to comply
with its natural resource permits and reduce long-term maintenance costs by preventing damage
to the site from human use. Port maintenance crews and ecologists are required to conduct site
monitoring and maintenance. T he new fence will reduce these existing and ongoing costs by
limiting the needs for monthly site walks, maintenance activities to remove illegal dumping, and 
active coordination with the City of Auburn. 
This project does not require major design documents for implementation.  The work can be
accomplished effectively by PCS and the WCC under the direction of Port environmental staff, 
which would comply with permitting agencies request for an ecologist to have direct supervision
of the road removal and planting in the sensitive ecological areas. 
Estimated project effort will require approximately 5,000 man-hours. Utilization of existing ILA
with Washington Conservation Corps will provide a cost-effective means to complete mitigation
planting while also providing workforce development through job and leadership training for 
recent college graduates. Staff estimated that use of the Washington Conservation Corps ILA to
install plantings will reduce planting costs approximately 25 percent compared to traditionally
procured landscaping services. 
Project Objectives 
Comply with conditions of the Clean Water Act 401/404 permits for the 1997 Master Plan
Update projects including the Third Runway by removing temporary roads and paths as well as 
constructing a chain-link fence to improve site security at the Auburn wetland mitigation site. 
Scope of Work 
The scope of work entails the following items: 
Remove temporary roads and paths 
o  Remove road fill (3-inch layer of crushed gravel) and underlying geotextile fabric
for 2,676 feet of roads and 3,495 feet of paths. 
o  Dispose geotextile fabric and fill; 
Install mitigation plantings in road removal corridors 
o  Till and decompact existing amended soil underlying the road fabric; 
o  Mulch and plant road corridors consistent with original site  design (2,100
shrubs/acres and 280 trees/acre, or approximately 5,000 plants). 
Install perimeter fence 
o  Remove up to 6,171 feet of existing barb-wire fence 
o  Install  5,650 feet of chain-link fence along the east, west, and south site
perimeters; 
o  Hydroseed fence corridor

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 4 of 6 

Schedule 
The project schedule is as follows: 
Complete Small Work Fencing Procurement ................................................... August 2016 
Complete Road Removal ............................................................................ September 2016 
Complete Fence Construction .......................................................................... October 2016 
Complete Plant Installation .......................................................................... November 2016 
Project Close-out .......................................................................................... December 2016 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 

Budget/Authorization Summary              Capital     Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                       $720,000          $0     $720,000 
Previous Authorizations                       $0          $0          $0 
Current request for authorization              $720,000          $0      $720,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request      $720,000          $0      $720,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized               $0          $0          $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost               $720,000          $0     $720,000 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Construction                                $649,000          $624,000 
Construction Management                      $46,000          $46,000 
Design                                       $0              $0 
Project Management                             $0              $0 
Permitting                                    $1,000            $1,000 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                    $24,000           $24,000 
Total                                       $720,000           $720,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Auburn Wetland Mitigation Site Enhancements (CIP #C800760) are included in the 2016-
2020 capital budget and plan of finance with a budget of $720,000. The funding source would be
the Airport Development Fund (ADF).

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 5 of 6 

Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Renewal/Replacement 
Project Type              Renewal/Replacement 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $720,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Airfield movement area 
Effect on business performance  Increase in NOI 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             $0.003 

STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
This project supports the Port's Century Agenda objective to the greenest, most energy-efficient
port in North America. This project will ensure the Port meets or exceeds environmental permit
conditions for the 1997 MPU improvement projects including the Third Runway by maintaining
and protecting ecological functions at the Auburn mitigation site. 
The proposed project will support the Port's strategy for social responsibility.  Washington
Conservation Corps provides workforce training and development while the small works
contract provides an opportunity for small business participation. 

ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
1. Status Quo  Do not remove roads or construct security fence 
Cost Estimate: $25,000 to $50,000 (annual costs for additional maintenance and security) 
Pros: 
Not constructing project avoids project costs.
Cons: 
Not in compliance with environmental permit conditions. Failing to comply could
result in the requirement for additional compensatory mitigation and increase the
difficulty of obtaining environmental permits for future projects, including the
potential for more restrictive permit conditions. 
Does not provide an opportunity for Small Business participation. 
Does not provide an opportunity for workforce development and job training. 
Does not reduce need for ongoing site security management and maintenance cost. 
This is not the Recommended Alternative.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 6 of 6 

2. Procure Major Works contract to perform all work 
Cost Estimate: $1,444,000
Pros: 
Complies with permit conditions for the Auburn mitigation site and maintains a good-
faith working relationship with environmental permitting authorities. 
Provides opportunity for Small Business participation for all scope of work elements
(road removal, planting and fence installation). 
Reduces need for ongoing site security management and maintenance cost.
Cons: 
More costly than the Recommended Alternative. 
Does not provide workforce development and job training. 
This is not the Recommended Alternative. 
3. Integrated procurement using PCS for road removal; existing WCC ILA to install
plantings; and a Small Works contract to construct the fencing 
Cost Estimate: $720,000 
Pros: 
Complies with permit conditions for the Auburn mitigation site and maintains a good-
faith working relationship with environmental permitting authorities. 
Approximately half the cost of a Major Works contract (Alternative 2). 
Provides opportunity for Small Business Participation through the Small Works
contract for fencing. 
Using the WCC ILA promotes the Port Century Agenda by providing workforce
development and job training. 
Reduces need for ongoing site security management. 
Cons: 
Does not provide opportunity for Small Business Participation for road removal and
planting. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
Site photos 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None