PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.:       4b 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting:     January 4, 2011 
DATE:    December 22, 2010 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Jane Kilburn, Director of Public Affairs 
SUBJECT:  Special Order of Business: the Port's Centennial  1911 to 2011 

The Port of Seattle was the first public port established in the State of Washington after passage
of the Port District Act in March 1911. At a special election on September 5, 1911, the voters of
King County cast their ballots and approved a measure to create a municipal corporation known
as the Port of Seattle. This vote wrested control of the Seattle waterfront from railroad and
private interests and gave the citizens of the port district the right to control their waterfront.
During this Centennial year, we will celebrate the history of the Port in various ways. 
This briefing at the first Port Commission meeting of our 100th Anniversary year will cover an
outline of the Centennial program, a preview of the historical video, and a demonstration of the
online timeline. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS OR MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BRIEFING: 
Video clip. 
Timeline demonstration. 
Calendar of Centennial events for 2011.