Transcript

The Special meeting scheduled for 2022-01-04 at Remote

  • THIS IS COMMISSION PRESIDENT FRED FELLEMAN CONVENING THE SPECIAL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2022
  • THE TIME NOW IS TWELVE THREE
  • WE'RE MEETING REMOTELY TODAY VIA TEAMS TO COMPLY WITH THE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8402, AND IN ACCORDANCE TO GOVERNOR INSLEE'S PROCLAMATION 2028
  • PRESENT WITH ME TODAY ARE COMMISSIONERS CALKINS, CHO, HASEGAWA AND MOHAMED
  • I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO DO A ROLL CALL OF ALL COMMISSIONER CHO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ON THE LINE
  • CLERK HART, THANK YOU
  • BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CALKINS, THAT'S NEW
  • I'M FIRST UP THIS YEAR
  • I'M HERE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO PRESENT
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS HASEGAWA
  • PRESENT
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED
  • I THINK SHE'S STILL HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY, BUT SHE IS HERE AND I'M NOTING HER FOR THE RECORD AS PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN PRESENT
  • THANK YOU
  • AND I DO SEE COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • SO WE DO HAVE ALL COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY
  • THANK YOU
  • TODAY'S MEETING IS STRUCTURED FOR OUR VIRTUAL FORMAT
  • WE'VE MADE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS
  • LATER, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING BY TEAMS AND WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
  • ALL THE VOTES TODAY WILL BE TAKEN BY ROLL CALL METHOD
  • SINCE ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, THAT MEANS FOR EACH VOTE, THE CLERK WILL CALL EACH COMMISSIONER'S NAME
  • COMMISSIONERS ON THE TEAM'S CALL WILL MAKE SURE THEY'RE UNMUTED AND THEN ANSWER YAY OR NAY TO BE EQUITABLE
  • WE'LL ASK ALL COMMISSIONERS TO SPEAK IN TURN AND WAIT TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE SPEAKING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
  • WE'RE MEETING TODAY ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS AND WATERS OF THE COAST SALISH PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE SHARE A COMMITMENT TO STEWARD THESE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
  • THIS MEETING IS BEING DIGITALLY RECORDED AND MAY BE VIEWED OR HEARD AT ANY TIME ON THE PORT PORTS WEBSITE AND MAY BE REBROADCAST BY KING COUNTY TELEVISION
  • PLEASE STAND OR JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  • I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS
  • ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
  • THE FIRST ITEM OF THE BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
  • COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELVES AND I'M GOING TO ASK EACH COMMISSIONER IF THEY HAVE ANY MOTIONS TO REARRANGE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY
  • AND IF YOU DO, I'LL ASK FOR A SECOND
  • ALSO, IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONERS CAN NOTE IT AT THIS TIME
  • PLEASE RESPOND WHEN THE CLERK CALL ROLL NAME
  • IF YOU HAVE NO CHANGES, JUST SAY NONE
  • CLERK HART, PLEASE CALL A ROLE FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
  • THANK YOU FOR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • NONE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO
  • NONE FOR ME EITHER
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASAGAWA NONE
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • CLERK HART WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM AB FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
  • I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR STAFF TODAY
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
  • COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
  • NO CHANGES THANK YOU
  • I CAN CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE FOR APPROVAL
  • THANK YOU
  • AND THIS IS FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA WITH ITEM 80 PULLED FROM CONSENT BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU
  • COMMISSIONERS HASEGAWA
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU
  • COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • HI
  • THANK YOU
  • COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN
  • HI
  • THANK YOU
  • THERE ARE FIVE YESES AND ZERO NOS FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
  • SO THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS MODIFIED
  • NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
  • IT'S A TRADITION FOR THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION TO HOLD A CEREMONIAL SWEARING IN OFFICE AND RECEPTION FOR OUR NEWLY ELECTED AND REELECTED COMMISSIONERS AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING ELECTIONS
  • AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE STILL IN REMOTE MEETING ENVIRONMENT AND AT THIS TIME DURING OUR ONGOING STATE OF COVID
  • IT'S WITH THIS CONDITION THAT WE FOREGO THE CEREMONIAL PROCESSION AT THIS TIME TO BE SCHEDULED AT A FUTURE DATE WHEN CONDITIONS BETTER ACCOMMODATE AN INPERSON EVENT THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY BEGIN OUR MEETING TODAY BY HEARING FROM OUR NEW AND RETURNING COMMISSIONER CHO START THE YEAR AND THEIR TERM IN OFFICE
  • CLERK HATT
  • PLEASE READ THEM INTO THE RECORD
  • THANK YOU
  • THIS IS ITEM FOUR B FOR SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
  • I'M SORRY
  • FOUR
  • A COMMENTS FROM NEWLY ELECTED AND REELECTED COMMISSIONERS
  • THANK YOU
  • CLERK HART, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA AGAIN
  • CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION
  • YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR
  • ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, STAFF, HONORED GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
  • GOOD MORNING
  • MY NAME IS TOSHIKO HASEGAWA, AND IT IS MY DISTINGUISHED HONOR TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AT SEATTLE PORT COMMISSIONER SERVING KING COUNTY AND SEATAC NUMBER FOUR
  • MY FAMILY'S AMERICAN STORY BEGINS AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE, WHERE MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS ARRIVED BY SHIP FROM JAPAN, OUR OLDEST ASIAN TRADE PARTNER IN SEARCH OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
  • THEY SET DOWN ROOTS IN THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD OF SOUTH SEATTLE, ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BUY AND OWN PROPERTY DUE TO THE EXCLUSIONARY REDLINING LAWS AND FROM OUR FAMILY HOME
  • BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND THE WATERFRONT, WE HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND, THE PORT'S IMPACT UPON OUR COMMUNITIES
  • AVIATION AND MARITIME HAVE HELPED WORKING FAMILIES LIKE MINE BREAK INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND THE PORT IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF OUR REGION
  • EVEN MORE SPECIAL, PERHAPS FISHING AND SHIPPING IS INTEGRAL TO OUR REGIONAL HERITAGE AND OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY
  • THEY SUSTAINED OUR REGION'S ECONOMY WHEN ALL ELSE CAME TO A STANDSTILL IN 2020 AND THEIR FRONTLINE WORKERS WORKED TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF US HAD WHAT WE NEEDED IN OUR DAILY LIVES
  • BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE HISTORICALLY HAS HAD FAIR ACCESS TO SUPPORT PORTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS HAVE LEFT THEIR LEGACY OF AIR, WATER AND NOISE POLLUTION IMPACTING THE HEALTH AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PUGET SOUND RESIDENTS
  • IT IS A GENUINE LOVE FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, AS WELL AS A DEEP CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR REGION THAT CALLS ME TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • I BELIEVE THE PORT HOLDS THE KEY TO A THRIVING ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND COMMUNITY, AND IT HAS A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY IN ANSWERING TO THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME
  • THE PORT IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CONTAINER PORT
  • IT'S EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE AND THE ENTRY FOR GOODS AND PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD
  • IT IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ACT LOCALLY FOR GLOBAL IMPACT
  • I HOPE TO HELP THE PORT BE A LEADER IN BRINGING IN STAKEHOLDERS FROM AVIATION AND MARITIME INDUSTRIES, BUSINESS, LABOR AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY, TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE INCLUSIVE, MORE LUCRATIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN BEFORE
  • THERE'S A SAYING IN MY CULTURE, [foreign language 00:07:42] , WHICH MEANS I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF YOU
  • IT'S A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES, THAT WE INHERIT THE LEGACY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE US AND THAT WE ARE INTERNALLY INDEBTED TO PAY GOOD WORK FORWARD
  • MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY INSTILL THIS VALUE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN ME
  • AND SO TODAY I AM JOINED ELECTRONICALLY BY SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL FIGURES FOR JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY
  • AND AS I NAME YOU, PLEASE DO TURN ON YOUR CAMERAS AND BE RECOGNIZED
  • MY MOTHER, MELINDA MAY, WHO IS JOINED HERE TODAY BY HER HUSBAND, NEALANE, MY FATHER, SENATOR BOB, HASEGAWA MY SISTER, MINEKO, WHO IS JOINED BY HER HUSBAND, JORDAN, AND MY NIECE, HER DAUGHTER SIENNA, MY HUSBAND, MICHAEL, WITHOUT WHOM NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE
  • AND MY DAUGHTER, MY REASON, KEIKO ROSE
  • I'M ALSO JOINED BY THE CONSUL GENERAL OF JAPAN, HISAO INAGAKI, AND HIS WIFE, YUKI, WITH WHOM I HOPE TO CONTINUE OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES HISTORY OF MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION TO REVOLUTIONIZE INDUSTRIES AND PROMOTE A VIBRANT, FLOWING ECONOMY
  • AND I'M ALSO JOINED BY METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER JEANNIE COLE WELLS, A PERSONAL MENTOR AND A REGIONAL LEADER IN ADDRESSING ISSUES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHO HELPED SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES OF ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION RIGHT HERE AT HOME IN KING COUNTY
  • AND I AM HONORED TO BE JOINED BY MY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS REPRESENTING THE MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN SHORELINE
  • PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER MADRID SALGADO IS HERE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONSULTANT ROLAND FATLAND
  • INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF THIS LAND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE WISDOM TO NURTURE IT STATEWIDE
  • AND HERE AT HOME, TRIBES ARE LEADING THE EFFORT TO SALVAGE OUR WILDERNESS, AND I HOPE TO MAKE GOOD ON MY CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO ESTABLISH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE TRIBES, CODIFYING HOW WE ENGAGE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES, CHIEF SELF SAID, WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS
  • WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN
  • WHAT THE PORT OF SEATTLE DOES NEXT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION AND OUR WORLD
  • WITH THE FOUR YEARS THAT THE VOTERS OF KING COUNTY HAVE AFFORDED ME, I HOPE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE TO ENSURE A VIBRANT, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS FUTURE
  • FOR POSTERITY
  • THANK YOU
  • WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • WELCOME TO THE PORT AND TO THE PORT COMMISSIONERS
  • WE NEXT HAVE COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR ELECTION TO OFFICE AS WELL
  • YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, MY FELLOW HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS EXECUTIVE STEVE METRUCK AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
  • IT IS AN HONOR TO SHARE SPACE WITH YOU ALL
  • I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING ALL OF OUR COMMISSION STAFF AND CONTENT EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSISTING US WITH ONBOARDING PROCESS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
  • I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AT CIVIL SERVANTS, SUPPORTING AND DELIVERING PUBLIC SERVICE THAT IMPACTS OUR STATE'S ECONOMY AND THE LIVES OF SO MANY, DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY
  • AS YOU ALL KNOW, I HAVE SPENT THIS LAST YEAR SHARING SO MUCH ABOUT MY STORY AND MY ISSUE PRIORITIES WITH THE VOTERS OF KING COUNTY, AND I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED AS YOUR PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSIONER
  • THOSE PRIORITIES INCLUDE ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS AND THE LABOR SHORTAGE IN MARITIME AND IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING PATHWAYS TO PERMANENT JOBS, SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, RECOVER EQUITABLY, AND PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  • I AM GRATEFUL THAT MY VISION RESONATED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ALL ACROSS KING COUNTY
  • THIS IS A HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING WITH ME TODAY
  • MY SEEDS OF SUCCESS WAS PLANTED IN KING COUNTY LONG BEFORE I CAME HERE
  • IT WAS PLANTED BY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS
  • IT WAS PLANTED BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND I PAY A LOT OF RESPECT AND HOMAGE
  • AS YOU ALL KNOW, I CAME TO THE US AS A REFUGEE FROM SOMALIA AND ONE OF MY FIRST PORTS OF ENTRY WAS AT SEATAC AIRPORT
  • AGAINST ALL ODDS, MY FAMILY SURVIVED AND THEY THRIVED HERE
  • I OFTEN SAY I AM MY ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS I GREW UP WATCHING MY MOTHER JUGGLE HER JOB AT SEATAC AIRPORT TO MAKE ENDS MEET
  • MY MOTHER WOULD COME HOME EVERY NIGHT AND SHARE STORIES ABOUT WALKING THROUGH THE AIRPORT, TALKING TO HER COLLEAGUES WHO WERE CABIN CLEANERS, WHEELCHAIR PUSHERS, BAGGAGE HANDLERS AND CAR RENTAL TRANSPORTERS
  • SHE WOULD DESCRIBE TO ME A COMMUNITY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO SHARED FOOD RESOURCES, JOY AND EVEN PRAYED TOGETHER
  • TODAY, MY WORK ETHIC AND VALUES ARE FUELED BY MY MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE AND THOSE STORIES ABOUT SEATAC AIRPORT WORKERS
  • LIKE MANY PEOPLE FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, I OFTEN FELT LIKE I WAS LIVING AND LEARNING BETWEEN WORLDS
  • KING COUNTY TRULY MADE ME WHO I AM, AND I'VE SPENT MUCH OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE WORKING TO MAKE KING COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE
  • I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE, ADVOCATING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKING FAMILIES AT THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL
  • AND NOW I AM SITTING HERE TODAY AS YOUR PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSIONERS
  • MY UNIQUE LIFE EXPERIENCE CONTINUES TO FUEL MY PASSION TO SERVE AND CONSISTENTLY INFORMS MY DECISION THAT IMPACTS COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES
  • I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHAMPION FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN WHERE THE NEEDS ARE GREATEST
  • IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, ADVISORS, THE LONG LIST OF ELECTED LEADERS THAT PUT THEIR NAMES BEHIND ME, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY
  • IF I START NAMING NAMES, IT WILL GET REALLY LONG
  • SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
  • I WILL WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THAT WE ENSURE THAT IT'S REACHING EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH
  • WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED, AND WELCOME TO THE PORT AS WELL AS WELL AS THE PORT COMMISSIONERS
  • SO, COMMISSIONER CALKINS, YOU WERE UP FOR ELECTION AS WELL
  • DO YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY? SURE
  • ALTHOUGH I FEEL LIKE IT'S LIKE COMING UP TO BAT AFTER GRIFFITH AND EDGAR MARTINEZ, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEARLY AS INSPIRING TO SHARE
  • I DO WANT TO JUST SHARE A FEW REMARKS, THOUGH IT IS AND HAS BEEN A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
  • AND I'M THRILLED TO GET TO DO THIS FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS
  • I THINK IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, THAT PRIVILEGE IS BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT THE FIVE OF US GET TO DO SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT IT'S A VALUE THAT WE ALL TRULY SHARE, WHICH IS TO TRY TO LEAVE THIS PLACE A LITTLE BIT BETTER OFF THAN WE FOUND IT
  • AND BY THIS PLACE, I MEAN THE PORT AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND IN SOME LARGER SENSE, THE WORLD, WHICH I KNOW GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF YOU IS A DRIVING VALUE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU
  • I KNOW THAT THE DAY TO DAY WORK OF THE PORT IS ENSURING THAT OUR SHIPS ARE COMING AND GOING ON TIME AND THAT THE HARBOR IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY
  • THE PASSENGERS ARE TRAVELING THROUGH SEA ARE HAVING A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND GETTING HOME TO THEIR LOVED ONES QUICKLY
  • BUT OUR LARGER MISSION AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE CARETAKING AS A COMMISSION IS THE PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE REGION THROUGH TRADE AND TRAVEL AND COMMERCE AND JOB CREATION
  • BUT DOING SO IN AN EQUITABLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER
  • AND I JUST THINK THAT TRULY IS OUR MISSION
  • HAVING SERVED ALONGSIDE COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN AND CHO AND HAVING CAMPAIGNED ALONGSIDE COMMISSIONERS HASEGAWA AND MOHAMED OVER THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT THIS GROUP OF FIVE WILL ADVANCE THAT MISSION AND IN SO DOING, MAKE THIS WORLD JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER OFF THAN HOW WE FOUND IT
  • WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION
  • COMMISSIONERS, HASAEGAWA AND MOHAMED
  • I AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED ALONGSIDE YOU, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU
  • THANK YOU, FRED
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • AND CONGRATULATIONS
  • LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING ANOTHER TERM WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO, YOU HAVE A FLOOR WANTS TO WELCOME US, EVEN THOUGH YOU WEREN'T UP FOR ELECTION
  • WELL, I HOPE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY NEWLY ELECTED COLLEAGUES
  • I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW EXCITED I AM TO HAVE MY NEW FRIENDS HERE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • I DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED MARKS, BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND I CAN'T HELP BUT HIGHLIGHT HOW MUCH CHANGE IS POSSIBLE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME
  • AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE PORT
  • THE HEADLINE AT THE SEATTLE TIME WAS THE SOLE MINORITY MEMBER OF THE PORT COMMISSION GETS SWORN IN
  • AND TODAY WE HAVE A BIPOC MAJORITY PORT COMMISSIONERS IN JUST TWO YEARS
  • AND I THINK THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT BOTH COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AND COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA HAVE PUT IN TO BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY
  • SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO RUN, TO SERVE WITH US, BUT ALSO THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FOUNDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID DOWN FOR GENERATIONS FOR US TO BE WHERE WE ARE
  • AND SO I TOO, WOULD LOVE TO PAY HOMAGE TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US
  • YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WE ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE GIANTS
  • I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED FOR THIS NEW CHAPTER AT THE PORT
  • I AM INSPIRED BY THESE NEW COLLEAGUES
  • I HAVE FRIENDS BEFORE, BUT NOW I HAVE THE HONOR OF CALLING THEM COLLEAGUES AND I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW EXCITED AND HOW FUN THIS IS GOING TO BE
  • I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR STAFF
  • THE REASON I WANT TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE CHANGE IS NOT EASY, AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE PORT HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN POSITIVE WAYS, AND OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS IN ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES AND ADAPTING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVING AN OPEN MIND AND REALLY GIVING THINGS A CHANCE
  • AND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT EVERYONE WITHIN THE COMMISSION OFFICE, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE PORT IS VERY EXCITED FOR THIS NEW ERA AT THE PORT
  • I'VE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE ELECTION OF BOTH COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA AND COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED, BUT I REALLY THINK WE HAVE A COMMISSION TODAY THAT REALLY IS ON THE CUSP OF A LOT OF REVOLUTIONARY THINGS FOR THE PORT TO DO IN THE COUNTRY
  • WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY AMBITIOUS GOALS AS A PORT, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT BUTTS IN THE SEATS TO GET IT DONE
  • AND SO WELCOME, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • COMMISSIONER MOHAMED TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE TO THE COMMISSIONERS CANNOT WAIT TO GET STARTED
  • WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO, AND HAVING BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH YOU AS WELL, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER ALONG THE WAY AS IT'S BEEN MY TRADITION
  • I WILL GIVE MY FINAL REMARKS PRIOR TO THE PASSING OF THE TORCH OF THIS BEING MY LAST COMMISSION PRESIDENCY
  • SO I JUST WANT TO START BY WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HOPING THAT EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES AS THIS IS GOING TO BE YET ANOTHER BUSY YEAR, AND MY HAT PARTICULARLY GOES OFF AND REALLY MY HEART AS WELL TO ALL THOSE WHO WORK THROUGH THIS, THE PORT AND THE SEAPORT DURING THIS PARTICULARLY BUSY AND CHALLENGING TIME, REALLY HEROIC EFFORTS DUE TO THE RESURGENCE OF COVID AND THE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL
  • SO REALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT WORK
  • AND I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES, OF COURSE, IN WELCOMING OUR TWO COMMISSIONERS, HAMDI MOHAMED AND TOSHIKO HASEGAWA, WHO BRING REALLY ADDED PERSPECTIVES TO OUR DISCUSSIONS AND THE PORT'S MISSION
  • WHILE ELECTIONS ARE ARDUOUS, THEY AFFORD COMMISSIONERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY, WHICH ENABLES US TO SHARE INSIGHTS WITH PORT STAFF SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN BETTER SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES IN KING COUNTY AND BEYOND
  • AND HAVING HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS COMMISSION PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHAT WE EXPECT TO COME FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS AND OUR GUESTS AND FEEL FOR ME YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE MY APPRECIATION TO OUR EXECUTIVE AND STAFF WHO ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES WE FACE THIS PAST YEAR
  • WE STARTED 2021 WITH THE COVID-19 DRIVERS PERSISTING FOR A SECOND YEAR
  • STILL, WE WERE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO LEAD ECONOMIC RECOVERY BUT ALSO KEENLY AWARE THE PANDEMIC WAS EXACERBATING THEIR PERVASIVE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES IN OUR SOCIETY
  • THEREFORE, WE REALIZED WE HAD TO USE TO FULFILL OUR MISSION
  • WE HAD TO CREATE BROADBASED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE HAD TO FOCUS ON HOW WE DID THAT BOTH IN OUR HOW WE BUILD AND DO BUSINESS
  • IT WAS LIKE WE WERE LIVING IN TWO WORLDS
  • FOR EXAMPLE, THE LACK OF CHILDCARE AND CLASSROOM LEARNING WREAKED HAVOC ON WORKING MOMS IN PARTICULAR, AND THEN THE COLLAPSE OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY SEVERELY IMPACTED YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
  • BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE STOCK AND REAL ESTATE MARKETS ACHIEVED RECORD LEVELS
  • DESPITE THESE ONGOING DISPARITIES, WE FOUND SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARDS OUR GOALS IN 2021 AND WILL DO EVEN MORE THIS YEAR
  • THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PARTS OF THE PORT'S PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOCUS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE CREATION OF A MORE UNIFIED PORT VISION THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF COMMISSION PRIORITIES IN THE PORT'S OPERATION
  • THIS HAS ENABLED US TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE PORT'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS WHILE PREPARING FOR MAJOR TRANSFORMATIONS TO COME IN OUR REGION IN TERMS OF THE JOB MARKET AND THE PLANET
  • I BELIEVE ONE OF THE COMMISSION'S PRIMARY OBLIGATION IS TO FIND THE RIGHT PATH BETWEEN THESE SOMETIMES COMPETING INTERESTS BY HELPING TO DECARBONISE OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS WHILE FOSTERING A JUST TRANSITION TO THE GREEN JOBS OF THE FUTURE
  • OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO, BEFORE HIS RECENT PASSING, DESMOND TUTU WROTE IN AN OP ED IN THE GUARDIAN, REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS NOT JUST A TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC NECESSITY
  • IT HAS ALSO EMERGED AS THE HUMAN RIGHTS CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME
  • SOME OF THE WAYS WE TRIED TO MAKE PROGRESS TO ACHIEVE THIS BALANCE WAS BY EXPANDING OUR COMMITMENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY, MAKING THEM NOT JUST PROGRAMS BUT INTEGRAL PARTS OF ALL PORT OPERATIONS FROM KELP TO KILLER WHALES AND CLIMATE, WHILE ALSO WORKING TO ASSURE OUR INTERACTIONS WITHIN THE PORT AND OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES WAS INCLUSIVE AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
  • 2021 WAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RECOVERY, AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE MADE MAJOR PROGRESS TO ADVANCE OUR AMBITIOUS GOALS, AND I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THEM
  • AIRPORT TRAVEL RECOVERED 74% TO 2019 PRE COVID LEVELS
  • WE COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL FACILITY, WHICH WILL REOPEN THIS QUARTER
  • WE COMPLETED PHASE TWO OF THE NORTH SATELLITE RENOVATION PROJECT THAT PROVIDED MODERN AMENITIES AND SUSTAINABLE FEATURES LIKE WATER ATTACHMENT
  • WE HOSTED THE SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL STUDY SESSION AND INITIATED A STUDY OF CONVERTING MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TO LIQUID FUELS WITH KING COUNTY
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COLE WELLS COUNCILWOMAN
  • WE ENTERED INTO A TEN YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS TO RUN HVAC SYSTEMS AND SHUTTLE BUSES AT THE AIRPORT, THEREBY ENABLING THE PORT TO MEET OUR GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION TARGETS
  • TEN YEARS EARLY, WE ADOPTED THE NORTHWEST PORTS CLEAN AIR STRATEGY, WHICH LAYS OUT A SHARED VISION FOR ZERO COMMISSIONERS MARITIME INDUSTRY, AND DEVELOPED THE PORT'S MARITIME CLIMATE AND ACTION PLAN, CHARTING A COURSE TO ZERO
  • OUR ADVOCACY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HELPED THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO ADOPT A CLEAN FUEL STANDARD THIS YEAR, AND NOT LONG AFTER THE CAUSES FOR PORT CONGESTION BECAME THE SUBJECT OF KITCHEN TABLE CONVERSATION
  • THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE, TERMINAL FIVE WILL RECEIVE ITS FIRST SHIP THIS WEEK WITH ONDOCK RAIL, SHORE POWER AND A WORLD CLASS STORMWATER SYSTEM
  • IT WILL ENABLE US TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND AIR POLLUTION IMPACTING SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND THE CLIMATE
  • WE MADE A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE REPAIR OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE SO THAT COMMERCE AND COMMUTERS CAN COEXIST AND TO ENSURE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED PROMPTLY
  • WE WORKED WITH CRUISE LINES, FEDERAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SAFELY RESTORE CRUISE OPERATIONS, WITH A TOTAL OF 83 CRUISE SAILINGS IN 2021
  • WE ALSO UPDATED CRUISE SHIP LEASE AGREEMENTS TO REQUIRE USE OF SHORE POWER FOR THOSE EQUIPPED TO DO SO AND TO RESTRICT THE DISCHARGE OF SEAWATER SCRUBBERS
  • WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TOURISM FOR THE REGION AND THROUGH GRANT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS ONGOING INVESTMENTS IN THE WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE AND VISIT SEATTLE, WHICH WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT SHORTLY
  • THE PORT WILL BE ALSO SPONSORING AN ECO TOURISM CONFERENCE IN 2022 TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR REGION'S NATURAL ASSETS AS WE MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS
  • AND WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE MARITIME INNOVATION THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN THE WASHINGTON MARITIME BLUE AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SHIP SUPPLY BUILDING IN MARITIME INNOVATION CENTER TO BE CERTIFIED AS A LIVING BUILDING
  • THE INNOVATION CENTER WAS THE FIRST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SUBJECT TO SCREENING BY THE PORT SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK I INITIATED SIX YEARS AGO
  • IT INVOLVES IDENTIFYING WAYS TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF LARGE PROJECTS WHEN THE DESIGN IS 30% COMPLETE AND WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE QUIET SOUND PROGRAM TO EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE SHIP NOISE IN THE PRESENCE OF ENDANGERED ORCA
  • WE INTRODUCED PORT EQUITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM AND LAUNCHED THE PORT'S EQUITY INDEX TO GUIDE FUNDING DECISIONS AND BROADLY INFORMED POLICIES ACROSS THE PORT
  • WE ADVANCED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUWAMISH VALLEY COMMUNITY EQUITY PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE OPENING OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY HUB IN SOUTH PARK
  • WE ADDED RESOURCES TO THE SOUTH KOREAN COUNTY FUND TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC IMPORT OPERATION ON COMMUNITIES AND TO SUPPORT REGIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY
  • AND FINALLY, WE SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT HAS ENABLED THE PORT TO HELP FLIGHT, KITCHEN AND OTHER AIRPORT WORKERS RECEIVE THE COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE OR AT LEAST BEGIN TO
  • THESE ARE SOME OF THE MANY OF THE PORT ACCOMPLISHMENTS I'M PROUD TO HAVE HELPED STEWARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  • WE ALSO SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO PASS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, WHICH INCLUDES GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN PORTS
  • JUST LAST WEEK, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG ANNOUNCED THE PORT WILL RECEIVE A $20 MILLION RAISE GRANT FOR EAST MARGINAL WAY TO ACCOMMODATE COMMUTERS WHILE IMPROVING TRUCK ACCESS TO THE CARGO TERMINALS
  • WE CONTINUE TO HELP PASS BUILD BACK BETTER ACT AND MAKE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE
  • IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A COMMITMENT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS TO COMMUNITY, COMMERCE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  • THIS YEAR BEGINS WITH THE LONG AWAITED COMPLETION OF THE IAF AND T FIVE
  • BY THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, THE COAST GUARD WILL BE RELEASING ITS EIS FOR POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF ITS BASE ON TERMINAL 46, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING USED IN PART TO STORE CONTAINERS TO DECONGEST T 18 AND TO TRAIN FUTURE CRANE OPERATORS
  • THE RELEASE OF THE EIS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN WILL KICK OFF A LONG TERM DISCUSSION AS THE FUTURE GROWTH OF SEA AND ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL AIRPORTS
  • NOW, JUST AS I WAS HOPING, THE USE OF THE TERM UNCERTAINTY TO DESCRIBE OUR RECOVERY WAS BECOMING PASSES, THE REMARKABLY FAST SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VARIANT AND ITS WIDE RANGING IMPLICATIONS ON EVERYTHING FROM THE RETURN TO SCHOOL, THE LEGISLATURE AND TRAVEL LOOM OVER THE BEGINNING OF YET ANOTHER YEAR
  • HOWEVER, THIS YEAR MARKED THE PORT'S 110TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH SERVED TO REMIND ME OF THE INSTITUTION'S RESILIENCY TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
  • YOUR INTEGRITY, HUMILITY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A UNIFIED POSITION WITH THE COMMISSION TO ADVANCE THE PORT'S MISSION
  • I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONERS CALKINS AND CHO FOR THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THE PORT AND TO REITERATE MY WELCOME TO COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED AND HASEGAWA
  • I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMISSIONERS BOWMAN AND STEINBREUCK
  • THE PORT OF SEATTLE IS A BETTER, STRONGER ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS TO MY COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY
  • THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING BUT VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR
  • I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO SERVE OUR REGION AND THE PLANET FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 110 YEARS, TRANSFORMATION IS NOTHING NEW AS EXEMPLIFIED BY OUR NEIGHBORING TRIBAL LEADERS WITH WHOM WE SHARE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
  • WE DO WHAT WE DO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
  • THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS COMMISSION PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR
  • WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD TO OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS
  • ITEM FOUR, B, ELECTION OF THE SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2022
  • CLERK HART, PLEASE READ THE SLATE OF OFFICERS INTO THE RECORD
  • THANK YOU, MR COMMISSION PRESIDENT, THIS IS ITEM FOUR, B, ORDER NUMBER 2022
  • ONE, AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION ELECTING A FLIGHT OF OFFICERS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2022
  • AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE TEXT OF THE ORDER AND THE STATEMENT AND SUPPORT INTO THE RECORD
  • THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION HEREBY ELECTS THE FOLLOWING SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2022, ALL TERMS EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2022, PURSUANT TO COMMISSION BYLAWS
  • PRESIDENT, RYAN CALKINS
  • VICE PRESIDENT SAM CHO
  • SECRETARY, TOSHIKO HASEGAWA AND A STATEMENT AND SUPPORT
  • AT THE FIRST MEETING OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR, THE COMMISSION ELECTS THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY, WHOSE TERMS RUN FROM THE DATE OF ELECTION UNTIL THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR
  • THE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY ARE DESCRIBED IN THE COMMISSION'S BYLAWS AND RULES OF PROCEDURES IN ARTICLE THREE SECTIONS FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN, RESPECTIVELY
  • THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED ABOVE HAVE AGREED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPOSED OFFICES IN 2022 HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRINCIPLE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST
  • HAVE EXECUTED ANNUAL TRANSPARENCY PLEDGES AND RECOGNIZE THAT ALL OFFICERS SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE ORDER
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • THE ORDER BEFORE YOU DESIGNATES OUR PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY POSITIONS FOR 2022
  • IS THERE A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT ORDER NUMBER 2022-01? SO MOVED
  • SECOND
  • THE MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
  • [crosstalk 00:31:56] LOT
  • BY THE WAY, THE COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELVES NOW FOR DISCUSSION
  • CLERK HART, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
  • THIS IS FOR DISCUSSION ON THE ORDER BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • NOTHING TO DISCUSS
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHIP
  • NOTHING TO DISCUSS
  • COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA NOTHING TO DISCUSS, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • NOTHING TO DISCUSS
  • BUT I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE PRESIDENT FRED FELLEMAN AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS
  • THANK YOU
  • AND THEN, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, HAVING RECEIVED A COMPLIMENT AND SPEECHLESS
  • THANK YOU
  • SEE, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION
  • CLERK HART, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE VOTE
  • COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE SAY YES OR NO WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED FOR THE VOTE
  • COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS CHO
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU
  • THERE ARE FIVE YESES AND ZERO NOS FOR THIS ITEM
  • THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY
  • OUR SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2022 IS NOW ADOPTED
  • CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONERS CHO AND HASEGAWA, CALKINS AS WELL SORRY ABOUT THAT
  • I WILL NOW PASS THE GAVEL TO COMMISSIONER CALKINS, WHO WILL PRESIDE OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING AND EVERY OTHER MEETING FOR 2022
  • COMMISSIONER, THE GAVEL IS YOURS
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
  • I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A MORE RELAXED YEAR FOR YOU IN THAT STATE
  • I IMAGINE NOT HAVING TO BE ON EVERY MINUTE
  • I DO WANT TO START OFF WITH A COUPLE OF REMARKS AS I TAKE ON THE PRESIDENCY THIS YEAR
  • IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN THAT THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT IS A TRULY CHALLENGING ONE
  • YOU SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL LIAISON TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
  • YOU FACILITATE OUR PUBLIC CONVERSATION, AND YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE JUDGMENT AND SETTING OUR AGENDA THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
  • AND YOU DID ALL OF THIS IN A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR FOR SURE
  • YOU SERVED IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
  • SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AS PRESIDENT DURING THESE INTERESTING TIMES
  • AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2022, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT IT WILL BE A HISTORIC YEAR FOR THE PORT
  • THE REOPENING OF T-5, AS COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN MENTIONED AND THE COMPLETION OF OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS FACILITY AT SEA ARE MAJOR STEPS IN MEETING OUR CENTURY AGENDA GOALS
  • BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IMPORTANT
  • IT'S ALSO HOW WE DO OUR WORK THAT MATTERS
  • AND 2022 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A CRITICAL YEAR FOR ADVANCING A MORE EQUITABLE, JUST AND SUSTAINABLE INSTITUTION AS WELL
  • TODAY, OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS PRESENTING THE FINAL REPORT ON OUR INTERNAL EDI ASSESSMENT
  • THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT REPORT, AS WELL AS FROM OUR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TASK FORCE AND FROM THE COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE ON ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS MAY NOT NECESSARILY MAKE HEADLINES, BUT THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SHAPE THE PORT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
  • AND IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING IN MY FOUR YEARS ON THE COMMISSION, IT'S THAT THE REACH OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE IS GREAT WHEN WE DO THINGS WELL
  • THEY SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OUR PEER AGENCIES, BOTH HERE IN THE REGION AND FOR OTHER PORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
  • SO A QUICK THANKS TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR, WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FACE CHALLENGES THAT WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE OR ARE NOT ANTICIPATING RIGHT NOW
  • BUT I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND IN OUR TEAM AT THE PORT TO THRIVE COME
  • WHAT MAY ALL RIGHT WITH THAT NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT
  • THIS IS PRETTY STANDARD BUSINESS
  • IF YOU'RE JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, STEVE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CALKINS, LET ME BEGIN BY WISHING YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR
  • THAT'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW ALL OF THAT
  • BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH IT
  • THIS IS AN EXCITING AND INSPIRING DAYS
  • WE WELCOME OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS, A NEW COMMISSION PRESIDENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY BUSY YEAR CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 AND THE SEVERE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY AND CROSSPORT OPERATIONS
  • UNFORTUNATELY, COVID IN SOME FORM WILL LIKELY BE WITH US FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
  • WE WILL FACE THIS CONTINUING CHALLENGE AND PROBABLY MANY MORE AS PRESIDENT COFFINS WAS SAYING IN THE COMING YEAR
  • BUT WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO ADAPT, ADJUST, AND OVERCOME AGAIN AND AGAIN
  • IF YOU LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF RESILIENCE IN THE DICTIONARY, OR PROBABLY MORE LIKELY WIKIPEDIA, YOU WOULD FIND A PHOTO OF A PORT OF SEATTLE OF EMPLOYEES
  • THEY ARE THAT RESILIENT
  • IN JUST THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE BEEN TESTED AGAIN BY THE WINTER SNOW EVENT, AND OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS DESERVE A HUGE JOB WELL DONE FOR ALL THEY'VE DONE IN THE RECENT DAYS AND ACTUALLY WELL OVER ALMOST TWO WEEKS
  • LOOKING BACK, WE'VE ENDED THE YEAR WITH POSITIVE RESULTS ACROSS OUR OPERATING DIVISIONS, WITH STRONG PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR PREPANDEMIC ACTIVITY LEVELS
  • WE ARE ALL VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT TERMINAL FIVE PHASE ONE CONSTRUCTION CAME TO A SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION LAST WEEK
  • BUT AS COVET AND ITS VARIANCE REMAINS A THREAT, THERE'S MUCH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AIR TRAVEL AND ALASKAN CRUISING IN THE COMING YEAR
  • THIS YEAR BRINGS NEW LEADERSHIP THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT
  • CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER COFFINS FOR YOUR ELECTION AS COMMISSION PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS PRESIDENT IN 2021, ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR THAT WE WORK TOGETHER THROUGH ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • I ALSO WANT TO OFFER A WARM WELCOME ABOARD TO COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA AND COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • IT IS A TRUE MILESTONE FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY
  • WELCOME
  • I'VE JUST BEEN GETTING TO KNOW BOTH OF YOU, BUT I ALREADY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND YOUR DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT ALREADY TO BRINGING TOGETHER INDUSTRY AND SMALL BUSINESSES, WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES TO CREATE A STRONGER AND MORE INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
  • LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION ON OUR AMBITIOUS WORK PLANS
  • WE WILL DIVE MORE DEEPLY INTO OUR 2022 OBJECTIVES AND COMMISSION PRIORITIES AT OUR RETREAT LATER THIS WEEK
  • OUR ROLE IN THE EQUITABLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
  • AS WE EMBARK ON THE LARGEST, MOST AMBITIOUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAM IN OUR HISTORY, WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAKING OUR OPERATIONS MORE SUSTAINABLE
  • WE'RE STEPPING UP OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, CLEANING UP HISTORICAL RIVER CONTAMINATION, AND REDUCING AIR COMMISSIONERS FROM OUR OPERATIONS
  • I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR GROWING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING EQUITY ISSUES AND ITS IMPACTS ON OUR OPERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION
  • WE'VE MADE PROGRESS, BUT WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO
  • OF COURSE, ACHIEVING THESE OBJECTIVES DEPENDS ON A STRONG AND CAPABLE AND COMMITTED WORKFORCE
  • WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS SUPPORTED AND THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT OUR IMPORTANT WORK
  • I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A SHORT UPDATE ON OPERATIONS
  • COMMISSIONERS FELON HIT ON SOME OF THESE, BUT JUST AS 2021 BEGAN, IT EXITED WITH MANY TESTS OF OUR PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED SNOW AND BITTER COLD WOULD HIT JUST AT THE PEAK OF THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON
  • JUST AS CASES OF THE NEW COVID VARIANT WERE SURGING IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS A TRIPLE HIT, REALLY
  • WE RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS DISAPPOINTMENT, FRUSTRATION, SOMETIMES ANGER OF TRAVELERS TRYING TO COPE WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
  • AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF HOW THE ENTIRE PORT TEAM, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, FOOD AND DINING, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS STEPPED UP TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO KEEP THE AIRPORT RUNNING SAFETY SAFELY
  • 24/7 OUR AIRLINE PARTNERS DEALT WITH NATIONWIDE FLIGHT DESTRUCTION THAT RIPPLED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, COMPOUNDED BY OUR TERRIBLE WEATHER AND SHORTAGES OF PERSONNEL
  • IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THE SYSTEM TO RETURN TO NORMAL, AND I KNOW THE AIRLINES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP PASSENGERS REACH THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY
  • THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THESE EVENTS TO HELP US DO BETTER THE NEXT TIME A CRISIS HITS AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WILL BE OTHER CRISIS IN THE FUTURE
  • THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF OUR PEOPLE ALWAYS IMPRESSES ME
  • I MET WITH SOME OF THE STAFF AS THE WATCH SHIFTED A FEW DAYS AGO, AND I'D LIKE TO REPEAT WHAT ONE EMPLOYEE SAID TO ME WHEN I THANKED HIM AND ASKED HIM HOW IT WAS GOING
  • HE SAID IT WAS SAD TO LEAVE THE FAMILY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
  • BUT ONCE HE JOINED HIS COLLEAGUES AT THE PORT, ALL HIS THOUGHTS WERE FOCUSED ON THE JOB AT HAND AND GETTING IT DONE SAFELY
  • WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE HERE AT THE PORT
  • THESE EVENTS REAFFIRMED OUR TEAM ACROSS THE PORT IN AVIATION, MARITIME AND IN CENTRAL SERVICES
  • THEY ARE DEDICATED TO OUR MISSION AND EVEN IN THE WORST CONDITIONS NATURE CAN THROW AT US
  • AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT OPERATIONS
  • YESTERDAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AVIATION LANCE LYTTLE ALERTED YOU TO A DEVELOPING SITUATION THAT WAS IN THE MEDIA CONCERNING THE ACTIVATION OF THE 5G WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM THAT MIGHT AFFECT NAVIGATION SYSTEMS OF AIRCRAFT OPERATING NEAR SEATAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER AIRPORTS AROUND THE NATION
  • THE CORE OF THE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER AND HOW FIVE G WIRELESS TOWER SIGNALS INTERFERE WITH RADIO ALTIMETERS, WHICH ARE USED FOR AIRCRAFT LANDINGS IN LOWER VISIBILITY CONDITIONS SUCH AS FOG OR SNOW
  • THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAD WARNED THAT FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS MIGHT BE IMPOSED ON AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING SEA, DURING LOW VISIBILITY SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE FOR US
  • THIS ISSUE IS A PARTICULAR CONCERN GIVEN HOW OUR REGION EXPERIENCE LIMITED VISIBILITY DUE TO WEATHER
  • LOOK AT LAST WEEK
  • FOR AN EXAMPLE, WE LEARNED LAST EVENING THAT THE MAJOR WIRELESS FERRIES HAVE AGREED TO DELAY ACTIVATION OF THEIR SYSTEM FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE THEY AND THE FFA CONSIDER NEXT STEPS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM
  • WE ARE GRATEFUL THE WIRELESS COMPANIES AND THE FAA HAVE AGREED TO STAND DOWN
  • WHILE THE SITUATION IS REVIEWED
  • WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WE CAN IDENTIFY A RESOLUTION THAT WILL REVERT TO POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION TO AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS ON BAD WEATHER DAYS
  • IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR PLANNING TO PREPARE RESPONSES TO THE EVENT
  • WE DO FACE RESTRICTIONS OF OUR OPERATIONS
  • AS ALWAYS, I HAVE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR BATTLE AGAINST THE COVID-19 VIRUS
  • AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE COVID-19 YESES, ACROSS THE NATION HAVE RISEN TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL, SURPASSING THE PEAKS IN JANUARY 2021
  • THESE NEW CASES ARE FUELED BY THE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA AND OMICRON VARIANTS
  • AS PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
  • HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AGAIN RISING IN KING COUNTY
  • POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES HAVE DEMONSTRATED A 145% INCREASE WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, AS WELL AS A 56% INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS
  • BOARD EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO REPORTING AN INCREASE IN POSITIVE CASES WITH 41 CASES REPORTED WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS
  • IN RESPONSE, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE DIRECTED THAT STARTING YESTERDAY JANUARY 3, SURGICAL STYLE MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR PORT EMPLOYEES IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACES AND PORT FACILITIES
  • THESE MASKS FIT SNUGLY AND DO A BETTER JOB OF LIMITING THE SPREAD OF VIRUS
  • THIS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX TO PREVENT THE SPREAD
  • THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING ALONE IN A PORT VEHICLE, OFFICE OR CONFERENCE ROOM OR A SIMILAR AREA WITH A CLOSED DOOR
  • SURGICAL STYLE MASKS ARE CURRENTLY BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT PORT FACILITIES, AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE THEM
  • AS ALWAYS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND ADJUST OUR POLICIES AS NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE AND THE PUBLIC
  • I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF AND OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM FOR THEIR CONTINUING WORK THESE LAST TWO YEARS TO KEEP US SAFE AND HEALTHY
  • IT'S AN INCREDIBLE JOB THEY'VE DONE
  • TURNING TO TODAY'S AGENDA OUR AGENDA IS RELATIVELY SHORT TODAY, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT
  • ITEM ELEVEN A IS AN UPDATE ON OUR STATEWIDE TOURISM PROMOTION EFFORTS
  • TOURISM AND THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY
  • TODAY WE HAVE A BRIEFING ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE WILL CITE THE CHANGES WE HAVE FACED BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE STEPS WE ARE TAKING TO PROMOTE TOURISM RECOVERY
  • TRAVEL IS STILL HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT THERE ARE BRIGHT SPOTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR TEAM WILL SHARE WITH YOU TODAY
  • ITEM ELEVEN C IS A BRIEFING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PORT COMMISSION'S EQUITY MOTION AND THE FINAL REPORT OF THE EQUITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ASSESSMENT, AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMISSION'S RACIAL BIAS AND EQUITY MOTION
  • IN 2019, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE, SPECIFICALLY REVIEWING WORKPLACE CULTURE, OPERATIONS AND PROCESS
  • YESES, HIRING, PROMOTIONS, COMPENSATION AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRACTING WOMEN OR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
  • THE ASSESSMENT AND CORRESPONDING REPORT DRAWS ON BOARD EMPLOYEES PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES AS IT RELATES TO OUR CULTURE, POLICIES AND PRACTICES
  • THE PORT HAS STRENGTHS TO BUILD ON AND MANY ACHIEVEMENTS TO CELEBRATE, HOWEVER, WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE AND GROWTH
  • AS YOU'LL SEE, OUR EMPLOYEES IDENTIFY, DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING
  • THIS REPORT PUTS FORWARD A ROBUST SET OF 53 RECOMMENDATIONS TO CREATE A VISION FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL, CHANGE AND CAN CREATE A MODEL OF WHAT A RACIALLY EQUITABLE GOVERNMENT CAN BE
  • AS A RELATED REPORT IS PRESENTED WILL BE ITEM ELEVEN D, THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PORT OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLANS FOR WOMEN, MINORITIES AND DISABLED AND PROTECTED VETERANS, AND A LOT OF MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT WHEN I INTRODUCED THAT ITEM
  • COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
  • THIS CONCLUDES MY OPENING REMARKS OF 2022
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
  • NEXT WE TURN TO COMMITTEE REPORTS CHIEF OF STAFF RICHARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FOR COMMITTEE REPORTS? I DO
  • THANK YOU
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT CALKINS
  • WE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS SINCE OUR LAST MEETING IN DECEMBER
  • HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A FEW UPDATES ON THE COMMITTEE PROCESS
  • COMMISSIONERS WILL BE MEETING THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, IN RETREAT TO FINALIZE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS AND DISCUSS HIGH LEVEL THINGS FOR COMMITTEE WORK PLANS
  • COMMISSIONERS AND EXECUTIVE STAFF WILL WORK TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO BUILD OUT THE WORK PLANS FOR THE COMMITTEES
  • COMMISSIONERS STAFF WILL PRESENT THOSE COMMITTEE WORK PLANS IN PUBLIC AT THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY
  • THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR TODAY AND BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT
  • THANKS
  • THANK YOU, ERIN
  • SINCE I CAN SEE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND REGARDING THE COMMITTEE REPORTS? OKAY, SEEING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON AT THIS TIME, THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EVERYONE WHO'S FIRST TUNING INTO THESE MEETINGS AND FOR OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS
  • REALLY, AS A REMINDER FOR ALL OF US, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IS OUR TIME TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
  • IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER INTO A BACK AND FORTH EXCHANGE BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS AND PERSONS WHO ARE SHARING RATHER A TIME FOR US TO LISTEN
  • THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE PUBLIC ASKS FOR SPECIFIC FOLLOW UP, IN WHICH CASE THE STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP AS NEEDED
  • WITH RESPECT TO COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RECEIVED THROUGH THIS SECTION OF THE AGENDA, WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND, IF ANY, ARE SUBMITTED FOR A MEETING
  • THOSE ARE INCLUDED IN THE MEETING RECORD AND ARE SUMMARIZED IN THE MEETING MINUTES
  • ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC FOR THIS MEETING HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF US COMMISSIONERS VIA EMAIL
  • FOR OUR INFORMATION, THE COMMISSION WILL NOW ACCEPT GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE PORT
  • WRITTEN MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE CLERK WILL BE INCLUDED IN TODAY'S MEETING RECORD
  • THE CLERK HAS A LIST OF THOSE PREPARED TO SPEAK
  • AS THE CLERK CALL ROLL NAME WILL OPEN THE LINE AND COMMENTERS WILL HAVE TO MUTE THEMSELVES
  • THEN PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME
  • FOR THE RECORD
  • IF YOU'RE ON THE TEAM'S MEETING AND ARE ALSO STREAMING THE MEETING, PLEASE MUTED THE VIDEO STREAM TO AVOID FEEDBACK, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A SHORT TIME LAEG ON THE VIDEO STREAM
  • COMMENT TIME IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER PERSON
  • CLERK HART, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER
  • THANK YOU, MR COMMISSION PRESIDENT
  • OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS IRIS ANTMAN
  • GOOD AFTERNOON
  • MY NAME IS IRIS ANTMAN
  • CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
  • IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ALL OF US THAT OMICRON HAS SLOWED DOWN, RETURNING TO MORE OPEN INTERACTIONS WITH OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
  • IN SPITE OF IT, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN OUR LIVES AND WORK AND IN OUR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THE WORLD IS CHANGING
  • THEREFORE, HOW WE LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY AND DO BUSINESS MUST CHANGE AS WELL
  • ONE OF YOUR AGENDA ITEMS TODAY IS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
  • AS A MEMBER OF SEATTLE CRUISE CONTROL, I HAVE TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION TO A THIRD CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL AT T 46 FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AS IT IS IN CLEAR OPPOSITION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
  • KOBE 19 PUT THE PROJECT ON TEMPORARY HOLD AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PORT WILL BE MAKING A FINAL DETERMINATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS
  • I AM IMPLORING YOU TO TERMINATE THIS PROJECT FOR GOOD
  • I KNOW IT IS TEMPTING AND SEDUCTIVE TO THINK ABOUT BIGGER AND MORE MORE TOURISTS, MORE BUSINESS, MORE TRAVEL, MORE CRUISING, MORE MONEY
  • BUT WITH THAT COMES MORE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WORSENING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, POORER PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES, AN INCREASE IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND A BURGEONING HOMELESS POPULATION, WHICH NOW NUMBERS MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE IN KING COUNTY'S
  • SOME MAY THINK THERE'S NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND CRUISING, BUT THERE IS CRUISING MEANS MORE TOURISTS
  • THEREFORE, MORE HOTELS BUILT, DECREASED HOUSING FOR LOCALS, MORE EXPENSIVE RENTS, MORE ADDICTIONS, MORE HOMELESSNESS
  • EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED
  • THE PORT'S TWO MANDATES ARE ECONOMIC EXPANSION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
  • YOU CANNOT SACRIFICE THE LATTER FOR THE FORMER BECAUSE THE FORMER WILL IMPLODE SEATTLE'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION AND SUSTAIN ITSELF
  • IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTH IN SEATTLE AND OUR MANDATE TO DECREASE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, THE DECISION ON T 46 IS CLEAR
  • PLEASE CANCEL THE THIRD CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL PROJECT
  • THANK YOU VERY MUCH
  • THANK YOU, MS HAMMOND
  • NEXT SPEAKER CLERK HART
  • YES
  • OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDAN VANVOST JORDAN
  • IF YOU'RE ON THE TELEPHONE, IT'S STAR SIX TO UNMUTE AND WE CAN COME BACK FOR JORDAN MOVING TO ANNE CRACKER HI 1 SECOND, IF YOU DON'T MIND
  • THANK YOU
  • MY NAME IS ANNE CRAKER, AND I NOW LIVE IN DES MOINES, WHICH IS IN SOUTH KING COUNTY
  • I HAVE LIVED IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION FOR 40 YEARS, AND I ALSO LIVE ON THE TRADITIONAL FISHING AND CLAMMING AREAS FOR THE DUWAMISH AND MUCKLESHOOT TRIBES, AND I TRY EVERY DAY TO TAKE SUSTAINABLE CARE OF THE WATER AND SOIL I HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND SOME THAT I DO NOT
  • THIS EXTENDS TO THE AIR ABOVE THIS LAND
  • I WELCOME ALSO THE NEW PORT COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR REGION AND PLANET
  • AND I THANK YOU TO THE CONTINUING COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THESE GOALS
  • OUR ECONOMY OF TRADE AND TOURISM DO NOT NEED TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR HEALTH AND IN FACT, CAUSING POOR HEALTH DETRACTS FROM OUR SHARED ECONOMIC WELFARE
  • THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION ACTS AS IF THERE'S NO CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH COMES DIRECTLY FROM CARBON EMISSIONS EMITTED FROM AIR TRAVEL AND CRUISES EMISSIONS WHICH ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REGIONAL HEAT DOME WE EXPERIENCED LAST SUMMER, WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT 700 PLUS DEATHS IN THE AREA AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF HEAT RELATED DEATHS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AROUND THE WORLD
  • TOURISM NEEDS TO ENTER THE 21ST CENTURY, ADDRESS THE CARBON EMISSIONS THEY SUPPORT, REDUCE AND MITIGATE THOSE EMISSIONS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE POLLUTION IT CREATES AND TAKE ITS POSITION IN OUR LIVES AS TRULY SUSTAINABLE AND VERY BRIEFLY ON THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THE SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS PIECE IF YOU COULD ASK FOR THE COST OF FLYING TO BE BORNE BY THOSE WHO FLY AND NOT BY ALL TAXPAYERS, IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE EQUITABLE LESS THAN 10% ACTUALLY FLY AND ANY AVIATION FUEL, WHICH IS JET OR BIO, STILL BURNS AT THE TAILPIPE AND CREATES EMISSIONS
  • THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
  • THANK YOU, MS CRAIG
  • NEXT SPEAKER CLARK
  • YES
  • WE'LL GO BACK AND CALL FOR JORDAN VANVOST AND THEN MOVING TO JC HARRIS
  • HELLO
  • AM I ON YOU ARE
  • THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
  • SO CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME
  • I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THAT THE PHRASE YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT A SQUILLION TIMES THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF KING COUNTY AND SO ON IS A RELATIVELY NEW INNOVATION
  • IT CAME ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE WHOLE NOTION OF GLOBALIZATION, AND THE PREMISE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THE RISING TIDE WILL LIFT ALL BOATS
  • I WANT TO JUST EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE REMIND PEOPLE THAT THE EXTERNALITIES STAY HERE IN DES MOINES
  • BUT THE RIVER OF MONEY, THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS HAVE ALWAYS TENDED TO FLOW NORTH AND AWAY FROM US, AND THAT DISPARITY HAS ONLY INCREASED AS THE PORT HAS SUCCEEDED
  • THE PORT HAS BEEN NICE ENOUGH TO CREATE SEVERAL GRANT PROGRAMS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THOSE DISPARITIES AND ISSUES OF EQUITY
  • HOWEVER, A DISCUSSION SHOULD BEGIN ABOUT BASICALLY A LAST MILE
  • WE NOW HAVE ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM
  • TO PUT IT PLAINLY, YOU CAN HAVE AN SKCF, BUT YOU FIRST NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM, AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T
  • SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS AND SOME OF MY RESIDENTS TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN BASICALLY STAND UP THE GROUPS THAT WILL TRY TO MOVE FORWARD THE GOALS THAT THE PORT FORT HAS
  • THANK YOU VERY MUCH
  • AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS
  • THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS
  • AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, I THINK, AS WE HEARD IN IRIS ANTMAN'S COMMENTS, A REMARK ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR DETERMINATION OF T 46, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STAFF WILL MOST CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP ON WITH MISS HAMMOND
  • ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY ONE MORE TIME WITH JORDAN AND JORDAN IF YOU CAN HEAR US BUT CAN'T SPEAK FOR SOME REASON, DO FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT THROUGH WRITTEN TESTIMONY, AS I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST
  • ONE MORE TIME
  • JORDAN
  • HI
  • CAN YOU HEAR ME? THERE YOU ARE
  • YES
  • GREAT
  • HI
  • GOOD AFTERNOON
  • AND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS AND NEWLY ELECTED
  • MY NAME IS JORDAN VAN VOST AND I'VE VOTED FOR ALL FIVE OF YOU SINCE 2019
  • I JUST REALIZED AND I APPEAL TO YOU TODAY AS A SUPPORTER, A FELLOW CITIZEN AND ADVOCATE FOR A WORLD THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SENTIENT BEINGS CAN THRIVE IN
  • PERHAPS SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE DON'T LOOK UP ON NETFLIX
  • IF NOT, I RECOMMEND IT FOR ITS ARTISTIC PORTRAYAL OF THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND CULTURE AND RESPONDING TO APOCALYPTIC THREATS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE FACING NOW
  • THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS HERE AND IT INTERSECTS WITH EVERY OTHER SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, RACIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OF OUR TIME
  • THE TOURISM RECOVERY INITIATIVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS DISCONNECT
  • I FEEL CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE WARNED US THAT EXCEEDING 1.5 DEGREES RISK SETTING IN MOTION DANGEROUS PLANETARY FEEDBACK LOOPS AND THEN WE ARE LIKELY TO CROSS THAT THRESHOLD IN PERHAPS JUST EIGHT YEARS
  • CURRENT DATA SHOWS US THAT GLOBAL GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS CONTINUE TO RISE, NOT FALL
  • AND YET THIS EXECUTIVE MEMO REFUSES ABOUT GATEWAYS OF CHOICE, SENSIBLE TRAVEL OPTIONS AND DIGITAL AD CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO PUT EVEN MORE PEOPLE ON PLANES AND CRUISE SHIPS AS IF WE ALL LIVE IN A MAGICAL ALTERNATIVE REALITY, BUILDING ANOTHER AIRPORT OR THIRD CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL OR INCOMPATIBLE WITH A HEALTHY FUTURE
  • WHERE IS THE PLAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FULL IMPACT OF THE PORT SCOPE THREE EMISSIONS? WILL YOU TRY TO EXPLOIT THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OF THE MOMENT, LIKE IN THE MOVIE WHEN THE DELUSIONAL BILLIONAIRE SCHEMES TO MIND THE COMMENT? OR WILL YOU LOOK UP FROM YOUR SPREADSHEETS AND REALIZE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW AND THAT IT'S TIME TO ACT BASED ON THE SCIENCE? THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, MR RANDMOS
  • WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL OF OUR SIGN UPS FOR TODAY
  • IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT WHO DIDN'T SIGN UP BUT WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS
  • AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA
  • ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND WILL BE ADOPTED BY ONE MOTION
  • ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADOPTION OF THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ITEM EIGHT B HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE VOTE ON THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA
  • AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS EIGHT, A, EIGHT, C AND 8D SO MOVED
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO
  • DO I HAVE A SECOND? 2ND
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED, COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE SAY YES OR NO WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ENTITY IN THE BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALKIN
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU
  • THERE ARE FIVE YESES AND ZERO NOS FOR THIS ITEM
  • PERFECT
  • THE MOTION PASSES
  • ALRIGHT
  • GIVE ME A SECOND HERE AS I CATCH UP TOP OF 16
  • THANK YOU
  • ALL RIGHT, CLARK, PLEASE READ THE ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA INTO THE RECORD
  • YOU WILL THEN HEAR FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM
  • THANK YOU
  • THIS IS AGENDA ITEM EIGHT B
  • AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO COMPLETE DESIGN ADVERTISE AND EXECUTE UP TO TWO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CONCOURSE LOW VOLTAGE UPGRADE PROJECT AND THE PARKING GARAGE LOW VOLTAGE UPGRADE PROJECT
  • ADVERTISE AND EXECUTE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZE PRE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
  • ISSUE A JOB ORDER CONTRACT TO CARRY OUT PRE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AND USE PORT OF SEATTLE CREWS FOR PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
  • COMMISSIONERS, THIS AUTHORIZATION WILL COMPLETE DESIGN AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO REPLACE MANY OF THE EXISTING POWER DISTRIBUTION PANELS AND CONCOURSE BCD IN THE PARKING GARAGE
  • MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND PASSED THEIR USEFUL LIFE
  • AS YOU KNOW WHAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU, MANY OF OUR WHICH ARE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
  • AND AS YOU CAN RECALL BACK, I REMEMBER WHEN I STARTED LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE GOING BACK TO JUNETEENTH 47, AND THIS IS PART OF THAT EFFORT TO BRING US UP, AS WE KNOW FROM THE DIFFERENT PARTS, ESPECIALLY OUR ELECTRICAL OR LOW GRADE SYSTEMS AND ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS THE UPGRADE IS NECESSARY GOING FORWARD AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT DENISE DENNIS, AVIATION MANAGING ENGINEER, AND ALSO ETHAN CONLEY, CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER, TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS PROJECT
  • DENISE, HELLO
  • MY NAME IS DENISE DENNIS
  • I AM THE ELECTRICAL MANAGER FOR THE FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ELECTRICAL GROUP AND I'M HERE TODAY WITH ETHAN CONLEY FROM THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUP AND HE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND START OFF THIS PRESENTATION
  • THANKS, DENISE
  • THANKS, STEVE
  • I'M ETHAN CONLEY
  • LIKE DENISE SAID, I'M A PROJECT MANAGER FOR THESE LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL UPGRADE PROJECTS
  • THIS WILL BE A REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO START DESIGN
  • GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • SO THESE ARE THE PROJECT LOCATIONS CONCOURSES BCD IN THE PARKING GARAGE
  • THESE PROJECTS WILL MOSTLY BE ADDRESSING EXISTING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THESE AREAS
  • AND WHEN I SAY EQUIPMENT, THESE ARE PANELS THAT ARE MOSTLY HIDDEN AWAY IN ELECTRICAL ROOMS AND JUST DISTRIBUTE POWER THROUGHOUT EACH AREA
  • KIND OF LIKE THE BREAKER PANELS YOU WOULD HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE, BUT IT INCLUDES TRANSFORMERS AND SWITCHBOARDS AND SOME OTHER EQUIPMENT AS WELL
  • IT FEEDS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF IN THE AIRPORT LIGHTING, BAGGAGE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, TICKET SPITTERS, ALL THE AMENITIES OUT THERE, LIKE COFFEE, DINING, MUSIC, ALL THAT STUFF REQUIRES ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO WORK
  • SO OBVIOUSLY, IF EVEN JUST ONE OF THESE PANELS WERE TO QUIT WORKING, IT WOULD CAUSE A PRETTY MAJOR DISRUPTION
  • AND EVEN IF NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE TYPICALLY THINKING ABOUT VERY MUCH THE PORT SEE IT
  • IT IS VERY CRITICAL FOR THE AIRPORT TO CONTINUE OPERATING
  • THE CHALLENGE IS THAT ALL THIS EQUIPMENT HAS A LIMITED SERVICE LIFE AND AT SOME POINT IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH IS NOW FOR US TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT FUTURE PROJECTS
  • THE NEXT SLIDE
  • SO PART OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE RENEWING AND REPLACING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE AREAS WE JUST SHOWED
  • THIS WILL BE TWO SEPARATE CIP, TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS, ONE FOR THE CONCOURSES AND ONE FOR THE PARKING GARAGE
  • THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROJECTS
  • THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THEM SPLIT UP, BUT FROM A HIGH LEVEL, THE SCOPE OF BOTH THESE PROJECTS WILL BE PRETTY SIMILAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO USE A CONSISTENT APPROACH FOR BOTH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PRESENTING THEM TOGETHER
  • WE'RE ONLY REPLACING PRIORITIZED EQUIPMENT
  • SO LESS THAN 30% OF THE PANELS THAT EXIST IN THESE AREAS, WE SELECT THOSE BASED OFF OF CRITERIA FOR THE HIGHEST RISK OF FAILURE TO GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE
  • AND ACTUALLY, FOR THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO DENISE FROM FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO TALK ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PROJECT SCOPE
  • YEAH
  • SO THE OLDEST PART OF THE PARKING GARAGE WAS BUILT IN 1969, JUNETEENTH 70, AND THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DATES FROM THAT INITIAL INSTALLATION
  • IT HAS REACHED END OF LIFE
  • IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF BASICALLY OUR MODERN WORLD WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND VARIOUS KINDS OF SYSTEMS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN THE PARKING GARAGE
  • NOW, THE CONCOURSES UNDERWENT AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION, 1993
  • HOWEVER, THERE STILL IS SOME LEGACY EQUIPMENT IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE THE DATES FROM THE LATE 1960S, EARLY 1970S, WHICH AGAIN HAS REACHED END OF LIFE
  • OBSOLETE, NO SPARE PARTS AND SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT IN PARTICULAR, THE AIRPORT DINING AND RETAIL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS OBSOLETE
  • IT'S AN OBSOLETE CONFIGURATION
  • WE CAN'T GET PARTS FOR IT
  • IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING AS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EXPAND OUR AIRPORT AND DINING RETAIL PROGRAM TO FIND POWER SOURCES
  • THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE ALL THE OLDER PANELS THAT ARE FROM THE 60S AND 70S PANELS THAT ARE IN POOR CONDITION
  • THE OBSOLETE STUFF
  • THERE ARE AREAS ON THE CONCOURSES IN THE PARKING GARAGE WHERE WE JUST DON'T HAVE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
  • WE JUST NEED MORE CAPACITY OUT THERE
  • AND SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL ROOMS ARE COMPLETELY FULL, AND WE NEED TO BUILD UP SOME NEW ELECTRICAL ROOMS TO PUT THIS NEW EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT OUR NEEDS ON THIS LIST IS PANELS WITH NO INDIVIDUAL DISCONNECTING MEANS
  • AND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF PANELS THAT ARE ALL STRUNG TOGETHER, IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE ON ONE PANEL OR YOU NEED TO DO WORK ON ONE PANEL, YOU HAVE TO SHUT DOWN A MUCH LARGER AREA IN ORDER TO WORK ON THAT
  • AND SO THIS PROJECT WILL CORRECT SOME OF THOSE EARLIER DESIGN DECISIONS THAT HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN AS FUNCTIONAL FOR US AT THE AIRPORT
  • SO THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FAILURES AND OUTAGES AS ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AGES
  • AT SOME POINT, SOMETHING IS GOING TO FAIL AND AN OUTAGE AT THE AIRPORT IS VERY IMPACTFUL
  • WE WILL BE PUTTING METERING ON ALL OF THE NEW PANELS SO WE CAN MONITOR OUR ENERGY USAGE AND USE THAT DATA FOR FUTURE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROJECTS TO DETERMINE WHERE WE CAN MODIFY OUR SYSTEMS AND CONSERVE SOME ENERGY AND THEN INCREASING THE CAPACITY FOR THE AIRPORT DINING AND RETAIL
  • THE PROGRAM IS GROWING
  • IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE'VE JUST BEEN REALLY CONSTRAINED ON THE CONCOURSES FOR FINDING POWER TO SUPPORT IT
  • SO THIS WILL REALLY HELP RECTIFY THAT SITUATION
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO THE SCOPE BASICALLY INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF THESE OLD EXISTING PANEL BOARDS, THE FEEDERS, THE TRANSFORMERS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT WITH NEW UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT THAT IS EASY TO MAINTAIN
  • WE WILL BE PUTTING IN SOME NEW ELECTRICAL CLOSETS
  • WE WILL BE INSTALLING AN ENTIRELY NEW ELECTRICAL ROOM ON THE END OF CONQUEST D, WHERE WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS LACK OF CAPACITY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW
  • THAT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH
  • AND THEN WE WILL ALSO BE UPGRADING THE FIRE PROTECTION AND HVAC SYSTEMS IN THE ELECTRICAL ROOMS TO MEET OUR CURRENT CODES AND OUR AIRPORT STANDARDS AS WELL
  • AND NEXT SLIDE AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO ETHAN AT THIS POINT
  • THANKS, DENISE
  • SO AFTER WE NARROWS DOWN THE SCOPE TO HIGH PRIORITY EQUIPMENT, OUR BUDGET FOR THE CONCOURSE PROJECT IS 28.3 MILLION
  • WE'RE FACTORING IN TIME FOR DESIGN PROCUREMENT NEXT YEAR
  • SO WE WILL START DESIGN NEXT SUMMER AND TARGET CONSTRUCTION STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF 2024
  • NEXT SLIDE FOR THE PIER GARAGE PLAN OF FINANCE IS 12.5 MILLION
  • THIS DID INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS ESTIMATE, BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME AT COMMISSION
  • SO THAT BUDGET FROM WHEN THE PROJECT WAS INITIATED A FEW YEARS AGO AND WHEN THAT CIP WAS INITIATED, IT WAS IDENTIFYING JUST A NEED TO REPLACE THESE PANELS
  • BUT AT THAT POINT, WE HADN'T DONE A LARGE SCALE REPLACEMENT LIKE THIS AND TO SHUT DOWN AND REPLACE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN AN AIRPORT, WE HAD TO WORK AROUND OPERATIONAL WINDOWS, SECURITY PROTOCOLS
  • WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING MEETS CODE
  • WE HAVE TO RELOCATE PANELS, GO INTO OTHER ROOMS, CREATE NEW ROOMS JUST THE OVERALL COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT IS BEYOND WHAT WE ORIGINALLY AWARE OF THE MAIN TERMINAL VOLTAGE PROJECT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ONGOING
  • IT'S FURTHER ALONG THE DESIGN WE'VE BEEN USING AS A BASIS FOR THE COST ON THESE PROJECTS
  • WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS FROM OTHER PROJECTS AFTER THE CIP WAS INITIATED AND WE'VE INCORPORATED IT BEFORE STARTING THE DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT
  • SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE COST DIFFERENCE
  • THE SCHEDULE IS SIMILAR FOR THIS PROJECT COMPARED TO THE CONCOURSES
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THERE'S A COMPARISON THERE
  • SO, YEAH, WE'RE EXPECTING THE CONCOURSE PROJECT TO FINISH SIX TO NINE MONTHS LATER IN THE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL COMPLEXITY AND THE PHASING WE'LL BE DEALING WITH FOR THIS REQUEST, WE'RE LOOKING AT 7.2 MILLION FOR THE CONCOURSE AND 4 MILLION FOR THE PARKING GARAGE, AND THAT IS FOR THE DESIGN PHASE
  • AND I WILL SAY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FOR THE DESIGN PHASE, IT DOES INCLUDE THE DESIGN FEE, WHICH MAKES UP ONE PART OF THIS, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF OUR SOFT COSTS LIKE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT, OFFICE, WORK, MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATION, PROJECT CONTINGENCY
  • AND IN ADDITION TO THAT FOR THESE PROJECTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES LIKE CIRCUIT TRACING AND OUTAGE PLANNING, AND ALL OF THAT WOULD BE UNDER WHAT WE NEED FOR THE DESIGN PHASE
  • WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE SIMILAR COMPLEXITY, AND THE 2020 5% RANGE IS TYPICAL
  • SO NEXT SLIDE
  • SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE STILL PRETTY EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT, WHICH MEANS THERE'S STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AND RISK IN OUR SCOPE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
  • NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECT RISKS HERE
  • THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT CLOSET SPACE
  • THERE ARE A FEW PANELS THAT NEED TO BE RELOCATED AT THIS STAGE
  • WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE NEW CLOSET WOULD BE AND WE HAD TO RUN CONDUIT AND ESTABLISH NEW HVAC CONNECTIONS TO JUST THE UNCERTAINTY
  • THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE IDENTIFY AS A RISK AND WE'LL FLUSH THAT OUT AND DESIGN CIRCUIT TRACING
  • I MENTIONED THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL DO DURING THE DESIGN PHASE
  • WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS THE SHUTDOWNS ARE GOING TO BE SO WE CAN REDUCE OPERATIONAL IMPACT
  • AND CIRCUIT TRACING GIVES US THIS KIND OF MAP OF ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL LOADS, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT DURING DESIGN
  • IT REDUCES A LOT OF OUR RISK DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT IS A LABOR INTENSIVE PROCESS, SOMETHING WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
  • SO WE DID LIST IT HERE
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • AND WE ALREADY MENTIONED STEVE MENTIONED THE ACTION REQUESTED BASICALLY TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION, COMPLETE DESIGN ADVERTISE, AND EXECUTE CONTRACTS FOR DESIGN SERVICES ON BOTH PROJECTS AND THEN AUTHORIZED RECONSTRUCTION SERVICES ON BOTH PROJECTS
  • NEXT SLIDE ALL WE HAVE QUESTIONS
  • THANK YOU, ETHAN AND DENISE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
  • AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS ASKED THAT YOU UNMUTE YOURSELVES FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS OF STAFF
  • WE WILL GO AROUND AND CALL EACH PERSON
  • I'D LIKE TO GIVE COMMISSIONER MOHAMED THE FIRST QUESTION SINCE SHE PULLED IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
  • GREAT
  • THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CALKINS, AND THANK YOU, DENISE AND ETHAN, FOR THIS DETAILED PRESENTATION TODAY
  • I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
  • MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THE 11 MILLION FOR DESIGN COSTS COMPARE RELATIVE TO OTHER PORT PROJECTS? YEAH
  • SO I MENTIONED BEFORE, AS FAR AS WHAT WE TAKE OUT FOR DESIGN, IT INCLUDES THE DESIGN FEE AND THEN ALL THE DIFFERENT SOFT COSTS THAT WE WRAP IN FOR THESE ELECTRICAL PROJECTS
  • WE HAVE SOME PRE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
  • WE DID GO OUT AND LOOK HISTORICALLY AT WHAT OTHER PROJECTS
  • THEY'RE KIND OF SIMILAR IN COMPLEXITY TO THIS, HOW MUCH THEY TAKE OUT FOR DESIGN JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN THE SAME BALLPARK
  • AND THE 20% TO 25% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT ESTIMATE IS FAIRLY TYPICAL
  • I MENTIONED THE MAIN TERMINAL PROJECT
  • THEY ACTUALLY HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE DURING THE DESIGN PHASE
  • THERE ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT DO THIS KIND OF LIKE HEAVY RECONSTRUCTION DURING THE DESIGN, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT BEING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS COMPLEX PERCENTAGE WISE
  • THANK YOU
  • THAT'S HELPFUL
  • 11 MILLION IS A LOT
  • AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC ALSO JUST BENEFITS FROM HEARING THESE QUESTIONS AND ALSO HEARING YOUR ANSWER
  • MY SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO OUR DIVERSITY AND CONTRACTING LEVELS
  • I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE FORMULA WE MUTED TO ARRIVE AT OUR DIVERSITY AND CONTRACTING LEVEL
  • AND HAVE WE MET THOSE GOALS HERE? MR PRESIDENT, IF I CAN JUMP IN AND SAY WE DO HAVE MIAN RICE, I THINK HE'S PROBABLY BEST TO ADDRESS THAT AND TO TALK ABOUT THE PERSON CONTRACTING AND ME AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT
  • THAT'D BE GREAT
  • AND I THINK I HAVE LAWRENCE HERE AS WELL
  • I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING THE WHOLE TEAM ON HERE REAL QUICK
  • AND BEFORE I FORGET, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU COMMISSIONERS, AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE IT
  • I WISH I COULD JUST TAKE A QUICK PICTURE JUST TO SEE THE DIVERSITY ON THIS
  • IT'S SO COOL TO SEE IT ANYWAY
  • I DIGRESS ANYWAY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION
  • WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU SEE IN THESE VARIOUS COMMISSION MEMOS THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND ALSO IN THE FUTURE, YOU WILL SEE SCOPE ITEMS AS WELL AS DIVERSITY CONTRACTING AND ALSO SCOPE ITEMS BEHIND THAT
  • A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR TEAM WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PROJECT TEAM TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THOSE ELEMENTS IN THOSE SCOPE ITEMS AND THEN WE IDENTIFY WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE WOMEN AND MINORITY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT POTENTIALLY CAN PARTNER WITH US TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT
  • AND SO AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, I'M GOING TO GIVE MR LAWRENCE COLEMAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS BEFORE WE DIVE IN EVEN MORE SO IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTIONS
  • SO GO AHEAD, LAWRENCE
  • ALL YOURS
  • HEY
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
  • AND WELCOME TO OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS
  • CERTAINLY HAPPY
  • IT'S A GREAT DAY TO START THE NEW YEAR BEING HERE AND SEEING ALL YOU ALL
  • BUT AS MIA MENTIONED, IT'S AN ANALYSIS, AND IT STARTS WITH A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT SIZE, SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE PROJECT MANAGERS
  • AND I'D SAY IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE ARRIVE AT THIS FINAL GOAL
  • THE SIZE AND SCOPE, ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT FROM THE PROJECT MANAGER, HELPS US DETERMINE A WEIGHT
  • SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY SEE ONE SCOPE ELEMENT OF, SAY, DESIGN FOR JUST ROUGHEN IT HERE, SAY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • RIGHT
  • AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO GET A WEIGHT OF THAT
  • AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT AVAILABILITY FOR AVAILABILITY
  • WE'RE LEVERAGING THE OFFICE OF WOMEN AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES DATABASE THAT HOUSES CERTIFIED FIRMS IN IT, AND THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHO'S OUT THERE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK
  • I'D SAY THE NEXT STEP IS A CONVERSATION WHERE WE ARRIVE AT A GOAL THAT WE FEEL IS REALISTIC, AGGRESSIVE AND ATTAINABLE, GIVEN ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS
  • AND WE ARRIVE AT A GOAL THAT WE FEEL THAT'S ONE AGAIN THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY OUR PRIMES THAT ARE CHASING IT, BUT ALSO STILL KEEPS IN MIND THAT WE HAVE SOME GOALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH INTERNALLY AS THE PORT, AS THE STEWARD OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES DRIVEN TO WOMEN AND MINORITY BUSINESSES
  • SO I'D SAY THIS IS BALANCE, AND SOME OF IT IS LARGELY QUANTITATIVE
  • BUT THERE IS A QUALITATIVE PIECE WHERE WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND TRYING TO ARRIVE AT A GOAL THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE
  • LAWRENCE, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD THERE? NO, I DON'T
  • I WAS GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO ME AND SEE IF HE HAD ANYTHING
  • YEAH
  • WE WORK REALLY HARD TO TRY TO MOLD THE GOALS PER THE ACTUAL SCOPES OF WORK
  • SO WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING OUTRAGEOUS
  • WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BASED OFF OF THE AVAILABILITY THAT WE SAW AS A BASELINE FROM OFFICE OF A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
  • THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE, BUT AT A MINIMUM, THOSE CONTRACTING BUSINESSES, THOSE PRIMES AS A BASE HERE'S WHAT THEIR TARGET IS
  • BUT WE'RE LOOKING HOPEFULLY THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE AS THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD
  • ALL RIGHT
  • ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED, YOU'RE MUTED ON ME
  • YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT AT LEAST ONCE ON A VIRTUAL CAR RIGHT NOW, THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL
  • ME AND LAWRENCE, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION
  • AND AS STEWARDS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE
  • AND SO THE INFORMATION YOU'RE PROVIDING IS HELPFUL TO ME AND ALSO THE PUBLIC
  • ABSOLUTELY
  • AND COMMISSIONERS AND ALL OF YOU FOR 2022 WANTED TO ALSO OFFER, IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO MORE DETAIL IN TERMS OF HOW WE SET THE GOALS
  • AND SO FORTH EVEN MORE
  • SO WE'RE HERE AT YOUR DISPOSAL
  • THANK YOU, MAN
  • CONTINUING THROUGH THE ROLE, COMMISSIONER CHO, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ONE COMMENT AND ONE QUESTION
  • I THINK AS FAR AS ADDING ON TO AND BUILDING OFF OF COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED'S CONCERN FOR MINORITY BUSINESS CONTRACTING, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO NICHE PROJECTS LIKE THIS, OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THERE ACTUALLY AREN'T A LOT OF MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN THIS SPACE
  • IT MIGHT BE THE CASE
  • IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK WHENEVER WE STRUGGLE TO MEET THESE BENCHMARKS IN TERMS OF MINORITY BUSINESS CONTRACTORS, THE ROOT CAUSE OF OUR FAILURE IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T TRY IT'S BECAUSE THERE JUST, LIKE, AREN'T A LOT OF POC OWNED BUSINESSES IN DRYWALLING OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT
  • SO I HOPE THAT AS WE CONTINUE THIS PROJECT, BUT OBVIOUSLY ALL PROJECTS GOING FORWARD, WE TAKE NOTE OF ALL THOSE INDUSTRIES AND SPECIALTIES WHERE WE ARE LACKING GCS OR SUBS AND IN THE FUTURE, I HOPE WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN KIND OF CULTIVATING A PIPELINE FOR THOSE PRACTICES AND INDUSTRIES
  • SO THANK YOU, ME, AND THANK YOU, LAWRENCE, FOR ALL YOUR TERRIFIC WORK IN THIS SPACE
  • I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD TO TRY AND FIND FOLKS WHO DO THIS WORK
  • MY QUESTION WAS ACTUALLY FOR ETHAN AND DENISE, PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION THAT I MISSED OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THERE IS IF THERE ARE ANY IMPLICATIONS FOR THESE UPGRADES IN TERMS OF CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES BOTH IN THE PARKING LOT AND OR IN THE TERMINAL
  • DOES THIS PANEL UPGRADE HAVE ANY IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR ABILITY TO INSTALL IN THE FUTURE A CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PLAIN TUGS AND OR EVS THAT MAY PARK IN A PARKING LOT? AND HAVE WE TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT, OR IS IT COMPLETELY RELEVANT? IT IS RELEVANT, AND WE WILL NOT BE INSTALLING EV CHARGING AS PART OF THIS PROJECT
  • BUT THE UPGRADES THAT WE DO TO THE SYSTEM WILL MAKE THE SYSTEM MUCH MORE ABLE TO SUPPORT FUTURE EV CHARGING, ESPECIALLY IN THE PARKING GARAGE
  • WE'RE DEFINITELY KEEPING THAT IN MIND
  • THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING TO HEAR
  • AND I HOPE THAT COULD BE A PHASE TWO OF THIS PROJECT
  • SO I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR STAFF TO THINK ABOUT
  • YEAH
  • AND I KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THEY ACTUALLY JUST SENT ME A MEETING INVITE YESTERDAY TO GO OVER THEIR PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR EV CHARGING THROUGHOUT THE AIRPORT
  • SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING WHERE THE CHARGING NEEDS TO GO, WHAT LEVEL OF CHARGING IT IS, WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE TO SUPPORT IT NOW AND WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES WOULD BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT INTO THE FUTURE
  • EXCELLENT
  • THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THAT
  • LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FOLLOW UP ON THAT
  • THAT'S IT FOR ME
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELONY
  • YES
  • WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION
  • THE ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS DO WE LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE REGION IN TERMS OF THERE'S LIMITATIONS OF CERTAIN EXPERTISE
  • THIS IS A BIG CONTRACT
  • IT'S PARTICULARLY TECHNICAL, BUT ARE THERE NICHE INDUSTRIES ELSEWHERE OR BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO? WOULD THIS BE FOR DESIGN OR CONTRACTING IN GENERAL, REGARDLESS? I MEAN, IF WE'RE LOOKING TO MEET MORE AMBITIOUS GOALS, DO WE LIMIT OURSELVES BY JUST WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OR ARE WE TRYING TO DRAW FOLKS IN FROM ELSEWHERE? WE HAVEN'T STARTED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS YET, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CONSIDER ME, AND I THINK YOU HAD SOMETHING ON THAT
  • WELL, BASICALLY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE TAKE A LOOK AT FIRST AT OUR OWN BACKYARD, RIGHT
  • WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE KING COUNTY FOLKS IN KING COUNTY SPREAD OUT TO THE KING PIER AND SO FORTH, AND THEN EVEN ACROSS OUR NEIGHBORS IN PORTLAND
  • SO SOMETIMES WE EVEN ADVERTISE OUT IN PORTLAND BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGE CONTINGENCIES OVER THERE
  • SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, FROM A WIMPY PERSPECTIVE, FROM AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL, NOT TO MENTION WHEN WE SET OUR ASPIRATIONAL GOALS
  • WHEN WE PUT OUT THE CONTRACT, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY TO COMPETE AGAINST
  • SO FOLKS FROM OUT OF THE STATE ALSO COMPETE ON CONTRACTS SUCH AS THESE
  • SO THIS IS KIND OF A BORDERLESS EFFORT
  • THANKS, MAN
  • I CERTAINLY WOULD AGREE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE THE COMMUNITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFIT THE MOST
  • I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE REACHED OUT TO WIDER COMMUNITIES JUST TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS IF THEY'RE NOT LOCALLY FOUND
  • YEAH, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY CONSIDERED DURING PROCUREMENT, AND I KNOW THAT ON SOME OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS, WE DO HAVE SOME FIRMS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY LOCAL WORKING ON IT
  • IT'S JUST LIKE ME
  • I THINK OUR PRIORITY IS TO TRY TO GET CLOSER FIRMS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE'LL CONSIDER
  • THIS IS A LITTLE MORE TECHNICAL OF A PROJECT
  • THANK YOU
  • ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, HOW'S IT GOING? THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT
  • I GUESS AWAY FROM DIVERSITY AND CONTRACTING, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE ITSELF, AND I'M WONDERING HOW MANY JOBS THIS PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO CREATE
  • WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A FEW DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE
  • WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS
  • WE'LL HAVE A GCCM ON THE CONCOURSE PIER
  • WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ECCM WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL IN TERMS OF NUMBERS
  • THAT'S SOMETHING I PROBABLY HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT I THINK THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALLER FIRMS TO COME IN, LIKE SUB OR WHATEVER
  • I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK ON THE PROJECT
  • AGAIN, WE'RE USING SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING RIGHT NOW AS A BASIS FOR THAT
  • SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE OUT IN THE FIELD AND ALSO JUST FOR DESIGN DURING THE DESIGN PHASE
  • I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I COULD FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON IN TERMS OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE ON THE MAIN TERMINAL LOW VOLTAGE UPGRADES PROJECT, WHICH IS BASICALLY THIS PROJECT, BUT IN THE OLD MAIN TERMINAL, WE'RE DOING IT AS A GCCM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR WHO'S BEEN GREAT
  • AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S DOING AS WE GET FURTHER INTO DESIGN IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT AND ACTUALLY TRYING TO PHASE IT SO THAT WE CAN BRING SMALLER BUSINESSES IN TO DO PARTICULAR PARTS OF IT AND TO OPTIMIZE THE NUMBER OF SMALLER PACKAGES THAT THE CONSTRUCTION CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO TO GET AS MANY WINDY FIRMS ON THAT PROJECT AS POSSIBLE
  • SO WE CAN DO A SIMILAR EFFORT WITH THIS ONE AS WELL
  • AND IT'S A GREAT LESSON LEARNED BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT
  • WE'RE SEEING THIS IN ACTION
  • WE CAN TAKE THAT AND APPLY IT TO THIS PROJECT
  • SO IF I MADE A REAL QUICK, COMMISSIONER, WERE YOU MORE SPEAKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL WORKFORCE AND NOT THE BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL
  • SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE OF THE ACTUAL TRADES, MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE DOING THE WORK FROM A LABOR HOURS PERSPECTIVE
  • IS THAT WHAT? YES
  • YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT I'M PUTTING DOWN ALSO, DIRECTOR PRICE, IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE TOOLS THAT THE PORT IS GOING TO EMPLOY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT GCCM THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IS GOING TO PROMOTE OR TRACK IN SOME WAY RACE AND GENDER DIVERSITY AMONG THEIR WORKFORCE
  • RIGHT
  • I WOULD HAVE TO REALLY PREFER TO AND WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION TO YOU IN REGARDS TO THE WORKFORCE AND LABOR HOURS PER THAT ACTUAL PROJECT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT RIGHT FOR YOU WHEN WE SEND IT OFF AND GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT'S INCORRECT
  • COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS
  • NO, THANK YOU
  • ALL RIGHT WITH THAT, I THINK WE'VE RUN THROUGH THE ROLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ME, I WOULD ONLY HAVE TO COMMENT THAT I THINK THE CONVERSATION KICKED OFF BY COMMISSIONER CHO AROUND REALLY AROUND WORKFORCE SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THAT I THINK AT THE PORT WE'RE DEDICATED TO, WHICH IS THE UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS, IN PARTICULAR IN THE FOUR KEY AREAS MARITIME AVIATION, CONSTRUCTION AND OUR NEWLY ADDED GREEN JOBS SECTOR
  • AND AS WE SEE EVERY DAY WITH THE LABOR SHORTAGE WE'RE EXPERIENCING ON THE FERRY FLEET, THE CHALLENGE TO HIRE WORKERS FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS
  • IT IS REALLY INCUMBENT UPON LARGE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PORT OF SEATTLE, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, TO INVEST IN THE UPSTREAM PREPARATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE FROM K THROUGH TWELVE ON
  • AND SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY STRONG REMINDER OF HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS DONE THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS, SO THAT BY THE TIME WE GET TO THAT MIDDLE RUNG OF THE CAREER LADDER THAT EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT EVERYONE HAD ACCESS TO THOSE EARLY RUNGS OF THE LADDER AS WELL
  • SO THANK YOU, DENISE, ETHAN, ME AND LAWRENCE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS
  • IS THERE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT? B MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED
  • AND SECONDED, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? IF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, COMMISSIONERS, FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I DO NOT SEE ANY HANDS
  • YEAH
  • THANK YOU, CLERK, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? YES FOR THE VOTE ON ITEM EIGHT, THE BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALKINS
  • AYE
  • THANK YOU
  • THERE ARE FIVE YESES AND ZERO NOS FOR THIS ITEM
  • ALL RIGHT
  • AND WITH THAT, THE MOTION PASSES
  • THANK YOU VERY MUCH
  • STAFF FOR PRESENTATION
  • MOVING ON IN THE AGENDA
  • WE HAVE NO FURTHER NEW BUSINESS ITEMS TODAY
  • SO WE'RE NOW ON TO ITEM ELEVEN, WHICH IS PRESENTATION AND STAFF REPORTS
  • CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM INTO THE RECORD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRIC WILL THEN INTRODUCE THE ITEM
  • THANK YOU
  • THIS IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN, A PORT OF SEATTLE TOURISM RECOVERY INITIATIVES BRIEFING COMMISSIONERS TOURISM AND TRAVEL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR STATE'S ECONOMY
  • VISITORS GENERATE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT ALIKE AND REPRESENT A CRITICAL DRIVER OF WASHINGTON FUTURE
  • THIS BRIEFING PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE INITIALS CARRIED OUT WITH $1.5 MILLION INVESTMENT BANKED BY THE COMMISSION IN JUNE 2020 TO SUPPORT TOURISM PROMOTION
  • A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF THE 2021 TOURISM MARKETING SUPPORT PROGRAM, PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS, RECOVERY EFFORTS WITH THE WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE AND 2022 PRIORITIES FOR THE TOURISM TEAM
  • PRESENTERS ARE DAVE MCFADDEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, DAVID SANSA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON TOURIST ON THE LINE
  • THANK YOU
  • AND GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND EXECUTIVE METRUCK
  • I WOULD ECHO EARLIER COMMENTS AND WELCOME OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS ON BOARD
  • WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS
  • IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR
  • WITH TODAY'S BRIEFING, YOU'VE GOT THE DECK UP
  • LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • WE WANTED TO COVER SEVERAL THEMES
  • WE WANTED TO JUST PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT
  • WHY IS THIS INDUSTRY IMPORTANT TO THE PORT? WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE INDUSTRY? I'M NOT GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR PARTNER AND COLLEAGUE, DAVID BLANFORD WITH THE WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE
  • HE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE TOURISM RECOVERY INITIATIVE WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING ON
  • BUT THEN I'LL RETURN TO HOW WE MAKE INVESTMENTS THROUGH OUR OWN TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM, OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING PROGRAMS, AND LEAVE A LITTLE ROOM AT THE END TO TALK ABOUT OUR 2022 PRIORITIES
  • SO WITH THAT GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, TOURISM IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • YOU SEE THIS SLIDE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED
  • AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WHEN OUR PASSENGERS HAVE GONE DOWN, IT HAS CREATED HUGE CHALLENGES FOR US AND OUR ENTIRE REGION
  • WHILE SOME OF THOSE TRAVELERS MIGHT BE ON BUSINESS
  • AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM ARE REALLY TRAVELING AND TOURING TO OTHER PLACES OR COMING HERE TO ENJOY OUR WONDERFUL OFFER
  • AND SO TOURISM IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US
  • WE HAD TO REALLY FIGHT HARD TO COME OUT OF THIS TROUGH
  • SOME OF THE LESSONS AND INFORMATION YOU WILL HEAR TODAY REALLY TALKS ABOUT THAT JOURNEY, HOW WE'VE BEEN CAREFUL TO TIME OUR INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM TO REFOCUS OUR MARKET ON MORE LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES WHEN IT MADE SENSE AND TO REPOSITION OURSELVES FOR THE FUTURE
  • SO WITH THAT, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND I THINK THAT IS MY INTRO TO TURN IT OVER TO DAVID BLANFORD
  • DAVID, THANK YOU, DAVE
  • AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • THANK YOU
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
  • THANKS TO THE GREATER PORT STAFF, MANY OF WHOM I WORK WITH EVERY DAY IN RECOVERY
  • WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE TRY TO GET OUR INDUSTRY BACK ON ITS FEET AGAIN
  • TO BEGIN WITH
  • I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SHOW YOU ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS HERE SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT THEN ALSO GIVE A LOOK FORWARD HERE TO THE FIRST HALF OF 2022, BEGINNING WITH TRAVEL TRADE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS REALLY KEY FOR US, ESPECIALLY HERE IN RECOVERY
  • THIS IS REALLY WORKING WITH TOUR OPERATORS, TRAVEL AGENTS, TRAVEL SUPPLIERS, AND THE GREATER INDUSTRY, BOTH IN NORTH AMERICA BUT ALSO WORLDWIDE
  • WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEAR TERM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE LONGER TERM
  • AND SO THESE CLIENTS WHO ARE SO KEY TO US ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT LOOKING AHEAD SEVERAL MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS, ALL THE MORE REASON FOR US TO BE OUT WITH THEM AND PROMOTING WASHINGTON DIRECTLY
  • SO WE DO THAT THROUGH A VERY AGGRESSIVE TRADE SHOW SCHEDULE
  • YOU'RE LOOKING AT 2022 HERE, BUT IT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT WE DID IN 2021, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH COVID, SOME OF THESE SHOWS WERE VIRTUAL, OTHERS WERE IN PERSON, BOTH IMPORTANT, BOTH REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THESE KEY CLIENTS AND DEPLOY OUR SALES EFFORTS, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • THE LARGEST INBOUND TRADE SHOW IN THE US IS THE IPW CONFERENCE, AND ALL OF THE WORLD COMES TO THE US AND US DESTINATIONS, THEN CAN PROMOTE TO THEM A SMALLER SHOW IN 2021, FOR SURE, BUT VERY IMPACTFUL
  • AND WE WENT WITH OUR PORT OF SEATTLE PARTNERS
  • WHAT WE LEARNED, I THINK, WAS REALLY KEY AND UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THERE, WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS TERRIFIC DEMAND FOR TRAVEL
  • WE LEARNED THAT IN THE DECADE SINCE THE STATE OF WASHINGTON HAD CLOSED ITS TOURISM OFFICE, THAT MUCH HAD BEEN LOST AND THAT MUCH OF THE INDUSTRY WAS ACTUALLY FERRY ENCOURAGED TO SEE US BACK AGAIN, HAD A TERRIFIC DEMAND FOR DEVELOPING TOUR PRODUCT
  • GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • ANOTHER COMPONENT OF OUR TRAVEL TRADE PROGRAM IS ADVERTISING
  • WE DON'T PUT A LOT OF BUDGET TO THIS, AT LEAST NOT YET
  • BUT WE LOOK FOR VERY IMPACTFUL WAYS TO DO IT
  • AND SO WE WORK WITH OUR VISIT USA TRAVEL PARTNERS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND ALSO BRAND USA, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION FOR THE US
  • WE WORK THIS IN TERMS OF A CO OP PROGRAM SO THAT THE BROADER PRIVATE SECTOR INDUSTRY CAN PARTICIPATE AS WELL AT A VERY, VERY LOW COST
  • IT'S A WAY OF GETTING THE BROADER DESTINATION BRAND OUT THERE ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT THEN ALSO VERY SPECIFIC MESSAGES AS WELL
  • NEXT SLIDE WITH THE PORT OF SEATTLE MAKE A SALES MISSION TO THE UK IN THE SPRING
  • WHY THE UK? WHY WOULD THAT BE THE FIRST? WHY IS THAT AN IMPORTANT OVERSEAS MARKET TO US? IT IS TO MANY DESTINATIONS
  • IT IS FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT AIR SERVICE
  • OF COURSE, IT'S 9 HOURS OVER THE TOP
  • BRITS HAVE A GREAT DEGREE OF DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL
  • THEY ARE ROBUST
  • THEY KNOW THIS DESTINATION
  • WE SEE THIS AS A MATURE MARKET
  • THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HERE
  • THEY LIKE THE OUTDOORS
  • THEY ARE INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS, AND WE THINK THAT LENDS WELL TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
  • SO IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET BACK THERE AND MEET DIRECTLY WITH TOUR OPERATORS AND OTHER TRAVEL SUPPLIERS
  • WE ALSO WILL DO SOME WEST COAST CALLS ON RETAIL SELLERS OF TRAVEL RECEPTIVE OPERATORS AND TAKE MANY INDUSTRY PARTNERS WITH US SO THAT THEY CAN BOOK DIRECTLY WITH THESE IMPORTANT CLIENTS
  • GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • AS MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THE LEGISLATURE CLOSED THE STATE TOURISM OFFICE
  • IT'S BEEN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE A TRUE STATE DESTINATION BRAND WAS DEVELOPED
  • IT'S RIGHT UPON US NOW
  • WE ARE JUST COMPLETING ABOUT A YEAR OR MORE OF WORK TO REVISE A DESTINATION BRAND AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT
  • THE COMPONENTS OF THIS BRAND WILL BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, NAMELY A NAME CHANGE
  • THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES
  • WE THINK THAT THIS NAMED IS AUTHENTIC
  • IT IS THE STATE'S OFFICIAL NAME, SO WE HAVEN'T CREATED SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST
  • WE'RE JUST SIMPLY LEANING INTO WHAT IS OFFICIAL
  • YOU WILL SEE, I THINK SOME PHOTOS AND SOME COLORS HERE THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONAL IN STATE TOURISM MARKETING
  • YOU CAN IMAGINE THE OLD SORT OF POSTCARD STYLE WITH MAYBE MOUNT RAINIER IN THE BACKGROUND, A HIKER IN THE FOREGROUND
  • IT WORKED REALLY WELL FOR A WHILE
  • WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, I THINK, TO CREATE A MORE MODERN BRAND, ONE THAT SHOWS REAL PEOPLE IN ACTION, CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT, DOING THINGS THAT A VISITOR COULD DO TOO
  • THE BRIGHT COLOR PALETTE HERE IS A LITTLE COUNTERINTUITIVE
  • I THINK WE'RE USED TO EVERGREEN COLORS
  • THESE ARE ACTUALLY ROOTED IN NATURE, BUT AMPED UP IN VIBRANCY TO SHOW THE SENSE OF OPTIMISM THAT EXISTS HERE NATURALLY, BOTH FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BUT ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT AND WITH THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, THEY EXPECT GO TO THAT NEXT SLIDE AND WE'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE MESSAGING HERE THAT I THINK WILL BE REALLY KEY FOR THIS DESTINATION BRAND
  • WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROMOTING A DESTINATION, A PLACE WHERE VISITORS WILL COME FROM OUT OF STATE TO EXPLORE, VISIT, CREATE ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT ALSO CULTURAL EXCHANGE
  • VERY IMPORTANT
  • WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN THE POSTCOVID WORLD, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROMOTE THE WAY THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL
  • AND THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLY THAT GOING FORWARD
  • WHETHER YOU'RE A RECREATIONIST OR YOU'RE VISITING AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY, A GATEWAY COMMUNITY TO OUTDOOR RECREATION, YOU MUST MAKE TRAVEL PLANS
  • YOU MUST DO SOME RESEARCH
  • YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE
  • WE LIVE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF SPECTACULAR OUTDOOR RECREATION, BUT ALSO REALLY INTERESTING AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SENSITIVE
  • AND SO WE WILL BE ASKING VISITORS TO GUEST TRAVEL
  • PLEASE DO COME HERE
  • BUT TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY BE STEWARDS OF ALL OF THE ABOVE, JUST LIKE WE ARE BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SLIDE, I'LL JUST POINT OUT A FEW OTHER BRAND ELEMENTS HERE
  • YOU'LL SEE A FONT THAT IS REMINISCENT OF NATIONAL PARKS
  • YOU WILL SEE SORT OF A TEXTURAL ELEMENT HERE ON THE SIDE, ON THE SIDEBAR, THE LOGO, OF COURSE, AND THE NAME YOU'LL SEE IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER
  • WE CALL THIS ELEMENT AN EASTER EGG
  • IT MAY BE HARD TO SEE HERE ON MICROSOFT TEAMS, BUT THIS IS LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
  • WE KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES, I THINK, IS, WHERE IS WASHINGTON? THE NAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE
  • IS IT WASHINGTON, DC? IS IT ONE OF THE OTHER WASHINGTON'S? WE ALL KNOW WHERE IT IS, BUT WE NEED TO REMIND TRAVEL CONSUMERS WHERE IT IS
  • WE'LL DO SOME INTERESTING THINGS WITH THIS
  • THIS WILL CHANGE NOT ONLY JUST ABOUT THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE STATE IS, BUT ALSO THE DESTINATIONS WITHIN THE STATE NATIVE LANDS
  • WE WANT TO BEGIN TO SUBTLY INTRODUCE A LITTLE BIT OF GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • DIVERSITY WILL BE REALLY KEY FOR US
  • AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE BRAND
  • IT'S DIVERSITY OF PEOPLES, OF CULTURES, GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY
  • THIS BRAND IS REALLY PROMOTING THE WHOLE STATE, NOT JUST SEATTLE, NOT JUST THE KEY GATEWAYS
  • THE WHOLE STATE, RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE KEY COMPONENT OF WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO
  • IT'S A PART OF OUR MISSION
  • IT'S A PART OF OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION AND MUCH OF OUR FUNDING
  • SO THESE ELEMENTS WILL CARRY FORWARD AS WE GO
  • THERE WE GO
  • SO AGAIN, DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, DIVERSE ATTRACTIONS, DIVERSE PEOPLES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
  • VERY IMPORTANT
  • AND TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • SO WITH A NEW BRAND, WHICH IS REALLY A BROAD PLATFORM FOR OUR MARKETING, OUR ADVERTISING, OUR COMMUNICATIONS
  • THEN WE WILL BEGIN, I THINK, IN FULL BEGINNING NOW, BEGINNING THIS WEEK, A VERY ROBUST CONSUMER MARKETING AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE DELTA VARIANT AND OMICRON TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE, EVERY OTHER CITY, SO MANY OTHER TOURISM MARKETERS
  • WE'VE HAD TO PAUSE AND WAIT AND SORT OF REPOSITION OUR CAMPAIGNS, BUT WE INTEND TO GO FORWARD IN SPITE OF OMICRON
  • WE KNOW THAT MUCH OF WHAT WE PROMOTE NOW WILL THEN DRIVE LONGER TERM TRAVEL BOOKINGS AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
  • THE TIME HAS COME, I THINK, TO GO FORWARD AND TO, OF COURSE, PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TO ISSUE REAL TIME TRAVEL ADVISORIES
  • BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE, ASPIRATIONAL WE DO HAVE TO OUTREACH TO OUR KEY MARKETS
  • SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DID IN 2021, I THINK, WAS IMPACTFUL WITH SOME MORE REGIONAL CAMPAIGNS IN STATE FEEDER MARKETS
  • THE RETURN ON THE SPEND HERE, I THINK IT SHOWS THAT SOME PAID PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXPEDIA, SOME PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS, SOME SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
  • WE WANT TO GO BIGGER THAN THAT
  • WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DRIVING US CANADA AIR MARKETS
  • THOSE ARE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH SCA AND SO BEGINNING NOW AND FOR THE NEXT TWO QUARTERS HERE, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF OUTBOUND ADVERTISING ON TV, SOCIAL DIGITAL
  • OF COURSE, WE HAVE COMPLETED ONE HALF OF OUR WEBSITE RELAUNCH OUR CONSUMER WEBSITE
  • NOW THE NEXT HALF IS UNDERWAY
  • WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF ENERGY AND BUDGET INTO RECREATING PHOTO AND VIDEO ASSETS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE STATE
  • WE'RE PARTWAY THROUGH THAT, AND WE'LL BE COMPLETING THAT AS WELL
  • GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • WE HIRED A DESTINATION PR FIRM IN 2021
  • THIS FIRM IS REALLY THERE TO STIMULATE EARNED MEDIA OUT OF STATE, AND IT ENCOMPASSES MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FROM ONGOING PITCHING PRESS RELEASES, TARGETED MEDIA PITCHES THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR TARGETS, WE'LL DEPLOY KEY MEDIA MISSIONS IN 2022 TO LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, THE KEY MEDIA CENTERS WHERE WE CAN FIND TRAVEL FEATURES, LIFESTYLE MEDIA
  • WE WILL BE HOSTING INCREASED NUMBERS OF TRAVEL PRESS HERE THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE AND THEN ISSUING MEDIA LEADS TO THE BROADER INDUSTRY AS WE GO AND WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • OKAY
  • I'M NOT SURE THAT'S MY SLIDE
  • THAT'S BACK TO ME
  • OKAY
  • THANK YOU, DAVID
  • JUST TO PUT A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT AROUND DAVID'S PRESENTATION, AND IT IS IN YOUR COMMISSION MEMO REALLY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE SOME PIVOTAL RECOVERY INVESTMENTS, BOTH BEHIND WORKFORCE, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM RECOVERY
  • AND WE'VE BEEN PATIENTLY IMPLEMENTING THIS INITIATIVE WITH WASHING TOURISM ALLIANCE AND EVEN SLOWING IT DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MADE SENSE
  • SO WE'RE IN THE FINAL PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM, AND DAVID AND HIS TEAM AT THE STATE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED AN INFLUX OF STATE FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE THAT I THINK WILL ALLOW US TO CARRY FORWARD THESE EFFORTS IN A ROBUST FORM
  • WHAT I WANT TO DO NOW IS JUST ADD ON TO THAT STATEWIDE EFFORT THAT WE'RE PART OF AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER AND IMPLEMENT TO SUPPORT STATEWIDE TOURISM
  • AND WE CREATED THESE PROGRAMS, THE MARKETING PROGRAM
  • ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, WE ADDED THE SPOTLIGHT ADVERTISING PROGRAM AT THE AIRPORT, I BELIEVE, FOUR YEARS AGO ALL REALLY TO PROMOTE THE REGION AS A REGIONAL TOURISM DESTINATION TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THE UTILIZATION OF OUR PORT FACILITIES, SEA OUR CRUISE TERMINALS
  • BUT DURING THE PANAMA, WE ALSO KNEW WE WERE SUPPORTING IMPACTED VENUES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT OUR INVESTMENTS WERE HELPING THEM PAY THE BILLS AND KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN TO SOME EXTENT
  • AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL
  • YEAH
  • WE WANT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PORT OF SEATTLE VISITOR AND VISITOR EXPENDITURES THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE
  • LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THESE ARE JUST A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF OUR TWO GRANT PROGRAMS SPOTLIGHT ADVERTISING
  • WE BUY SPOTS AT THE AIRPORT, AND THEN WE THREW A SELECTION PROCESS, WORK WITH DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, DESTINATIONS
  • THEN WE PROVIDE THEM THE SPOT TO USE TO PROMOTE THEIR ACTIVITIES
  • SOME OF THOSE SPOTS AT THE AIRPORT ARE RESERVED ON AN ONGOING BASIS FOR CITIES IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT
  • YOU CAN SEE WE DO THAT ON A QUARTERLY CYCLE
  • WE CAN PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THAT ADVERTISING PROGRAM EACH YEAR THAT'S COMPLEMENTED WITH A TOURISM MARKETING GRANT PROGRAM
  • WE HAVE $200,000 FOR THAT
  • ABOUT $10,000 IS THE MAX
  • WE ENTERTAIN ANNUAL APPLICATIONS, MAKE A SELECTION PROCESS EACH SPRING, AND THEN ALLOW THOSE PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THEIR PROJECTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOLLOWING SEVEN TO NINE MONTHS
  • WE DO REQUIRE A MATCH FOR THAT
  • AND REALLY, WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS IN THE FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE REALLY PUT A MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE TOURISM
  • I AM NOT YOUR TOURISM DIRECTOR
  • RON PECK WAS OUR TOURISM DIRECTOR, AND HE RECENTLY RETIRED, BUT I WANT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT NOW FOR REALLY DOING SOME GOOD OUTREACH AND REALLY GOING OUT AND FINDING SOME OF THESE NEW OPPORTUNITIES, THESE NEW, INTERESTING DESTINATIONS, AND REALLY BRINGING OUR VALUES AS THE PORT INTO THIS PROGRAM
  • AND SO WE WILL BE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION AT OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE TOURISM MARKETING PROGRAM
  • SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THAT
  • AND THEN I HAVE PUT IN THE APPENDIX A LIST OF ALL THE 2021 TOURISM MARKETING GRANT RECIPIENTS
  • LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES
  • WE'VE BEEN REALLY DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH PARTNERS ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM OPTIONS, BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN SEEING A GROWING NUMBER OF PARTNERS THAT REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON OUR CULTURAL AMENITIES AND OFFERINGS, AND THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT, THEY'RE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES
  • THESE TWO TO ME AND THE TEAM ARE, I THINK, WHERE WE WANT TO PUT A LOT MORE EMPHASIS ON GOING FORWARD
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • NOW, SUCH A GEARS A LITTLE BIT
  • WE GOT A GRANT PROGRAM, BUT, I'M REMISS
  • I WANTED TO REALLY MAKE SURE YOU ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT GAIL MUELLER IS OUR BACKBONE FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM, AND I KNOW SHE'S ON THE CALL TODAY
  • I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HER A CALL OUT
  • SHE HAS BEEN A VERY CAPABLE PERSON HELPING US MANAGE OUR TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM
  • SHE'S BEEN SO GOOD AT IT THAT SHE ALSO SUPPORTS BOOTY AND THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FUND ADMINISTRATION
  • SO GAIL IS A CHAMPION FOR THE PORT
  • AND FOR THIS PROGRAM, PATTY DENNY IS ALSO HERE WITH US TODAY
  • SHE IS OUR INTERNATIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF PROMOTING US IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
  • SHE HAS CURTAILED AND PULLED BACK ON THOSE ACTIVITIES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
  • BUT WE HAVE KEPT SOME VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS
  • WE'VE KEPT A LITTLE BUZZ IN THE MARKETPLACE
  • THESE COUNTRIES, UNITED KINGDOM, GERMANY, AUSTRALIA, ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US
  • THEY GENERATE A LOT OF OUR TRAVEL THROUGH OUR GATEWAYS
  • THEY GENERATE A LOT OF TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES AND SEATTLE
  • THESE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS TEND TO SPEND MORE TIME AND MORE MONEY IN LOCATIONS, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE REALLY HERE TO GET ON OUR CRUISE AND PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY
  • SO THE MESSAGE IS THAT PATTY REALLY IS SENDING IS THAT WE ARE A GREAT GATEWAY
  • IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE NORTHWEST, YOU'RE A CRUISE GATEWAY OF CHOICE IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALASKA ON A SHIP
  • AND FINALLY, WE OFFER SOME GREAT POST CRUISE AND POST FLY OPPORTUNITIES, SPEND A FEW EXTRA DAYS IN SEATTLE, GET OUT OF SEATTLE, SEE THE REST OF WASHINGTON STATE
  • WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER
  • SO THAT'S WHAT PATTY HAS BEEN DOING ON OUR TEAM
  • LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • AND I THINK THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THAT GOOD WORK, SOME PROMOTIONAL DIGITAL MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
  • YOU CAN SEE GOOD OPEN RATES, A LOT OF EARNED VALUE CREATING IMPRESSIONS FOR VISITORS IN AGAIN, THOSE STRATEGIC MARKETS
  • NEXT SLIDE, A LOT OF IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT PARTNERSHIP
  • IF YOU REALLY CLICK IN THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE MANY PARTNERS WOVEN INTO THE THINGS WE'RE PROMOTING AND HOW WE DO OUR WORK
  • AND SO YOU LOOK AT OUR WORK WITH TOUR OPERATORS, DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS, THE RESORTS, THE HOTELS
  • IT'S A PACKAGE
  • AND IT REALLY IS A TEAM EFFORT
  • AND AGAIN, I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO PATTY
  • SHE DOES A GREAT JOB HERE
  • LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • THIS IS A SLIDE FROM VISIT SEATTLE
  • LOOKING FORWARD, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS TRAVEL HAS CHANGED A LOT
  • THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL AND A LOT OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE IN TERMS OF FOLKS THAT WANT AND ARE PLANNING TRIPS
  • NOW, I KNOW THIS WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE OMICRON VIRUS HIT THE STREETS, BUT I STILL SENSE THAT WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE
  • SO IT IS A GOOD TIME TO MARKET, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, AS DAVID MENTIONED
  • SO LET'S GO TO THE LAST SLIDE, PLEASE
  • OUR PRIORITIES REALLY FOR THE NEXT YEAR IS REALLY TO WORK WITH DAVID TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE RECOVERY OF THIS VITAL INDUSTRY, TO USE OUR GRANTS TO SHOWCASE OUR GATEWAYS, BUT ALSO TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY TO MARKET OUR AREA IN SELECT INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
  • AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL
  • WE'RE GOING TO ORGANIZE AND SPONSOR A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CONFERENCE
  • FRED MENTIONED THIS EARLIER IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DAVID AND THE WASHINGTON TOURIST ALLIANCE ON THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS TODAY, AND I'D BE HAPPY WE'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS
  • THANK YOU, DAVE AND DAVID, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
  • NICE TO HAVE DAVE HERE TO PRESENT COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELVES FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
  • COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO FIRST, I KNOW THAT SUPPORT FOR TOURISM HAS BEEN A MAJOR COMPONENT OF YOUR WORK RECENTLY, SO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE LEADING OFF WITH QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD? THANK YOU
  • YOU SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST IN THE TOURISM CONFERENCE
  • I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO MEET WITH DAVE HERE AND TRY TO PICK A DATE AND GET REALLY FOCUSED ON HAVING OUR COMMITTEE WORKING ON THAT
  • I THINK OVERALL, THE EMPHASIS, THE MARKETING SOUNDS REALLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN CALKINS ABOUT OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO
  • AND THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF FIGURES THAT I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO
  • I'VE MENTIONED IN THE PAST ON PAGE 14 OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR DESIRE TO NOT ONLY PUT WASHINGTON ON THE MAP, BUT TO SHOW THE DIVERSITY OF WHAT WASHINGTON STATE REALLY IS
  • A PICTURE OF THE STATE WITH THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT ARE REPRESENTED ASIDE, THE KILLER WHALES DON'T COME WITH THAT PICTURE ALL THE TIME, BUT JUST THAT FIGURE
  • I THINK THE MORE YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION
  • THERE MAY BE COMPLICATED FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT FIRST, BUT I THINK IT CERTAINLY GIVES THE IMPRESSION, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE ACCURATE AND THEN JUST GOING BACKWARDS ANOTHER MOMENT
  • I JUST THOUGHT THERE'S SOME GREAT LANGUAGE
  • I'M TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE PAGE NUMBER IS, BUT TWO SLIDES BEHIND THAT IS NO WRONG PATHS, ONLY DIFFERENT ONES
  • I THINK THAT'S A GREAT STATEMENT
  • AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LOST TO FIND YOURSELF
  • THAT'S LIKE I KIND OF THINK THEY'RE BOTH BRILLIANT, AND IT JUST REALLY WARMS MY HEART TO SEE CLEVER APPROACHES TO THESE THINGS
  • THERE'S THE OTHER ONE, OF COURSE, FOR THE KAYAKERS AND ALL OF US, TAKING ALL THE MOMENTS LEAVE ONLY RIPPLES
  • I'VE HEARD LEAVE NO TRACE AND ALL THAT THE ONE THING THAT I DID FIND TO BE A LITTLE INTERESTING
  • I DON'T THINK IT'S OURS TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THERE'S THIS ORGANIZATION YOU CALL TREAD, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ACRONYM IS COMPLETELY CONTRARY TO WHAT IT'S ABOUT
  • IS TREAD, THE GROUP THAT'S DOING THE APP? YESES, COMMISSIONERS FELLEMAN
  • THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP
  • WE ARE IN DEVELOPMENT OF A LOCATION BASED APP FOR RECREATIONISTS THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE FOR REAL TIME UPDATES, TRAVEL ADVISORIES, CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS WHEN NEEDED WITH WILDFIRES THINGS LIKE THAT
  • YEAH
  • TREAD IS AN ODD SORT OF AN ACRONYM
  • BUT THE UPSHOT HERE, I THINK, FOR THE TRAVELER, IS THAT IT IS REAL
  • THE PORT OF OFF THE GRID INFORMATION THE USERS RECREATIONISTS ARE SHARING IT WITH LAND MANAGERS
  • SO WE'RE COMBINING ALL OF THOSE FOLKS TO INPUT REAL TIME INFORMATION IN THE GREATER PURPOSE
  • HERE IS DESTINATION MANAGEMENT
  • WHEN A TRAIL IS PACKED, WE WANT USERS TO KNOW WHERE THE NEXT ONE IS THAT IS NOT PACKED
  • WE WANT TO GIVE THEM OPTIONS IF THERE'S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO BE ALERTED ABOUT, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT IN REAL TIME
  • THIS IS A WAY OF BALANCING TOURISM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, RATHER THAN SEEING SOME AREAS BESIEGED AND OTHERS NOT GETTING ENOUGH LOVE
  • SO THIS IS OUR ATTEMPT, TOO
  • I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT MARKETING AS MUCH AS MANAGING THE FLOW
  • I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY
  • BUT JUST FOR NOW, TREAD MEANS TRAILS, RECREATION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT
  • IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE YOU'RE TREADING ON SOMETHING
  • BUT ANYWAY, HAVING SAID ALL THESE THINGS, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, THOUGH, THIS INSERTION OF THOSE FOUR COLOR BLOCKS OF WASHINGTON, LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO YOU THAT IF THAT WAS A FRAME OF THESE BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF PICTURES, IT WOULD SEEM SO MUCH LESS DISRUPTIVE
  • AND I KIND OF LIKE THE IDEA THAT YOU WANT THIS SPLASHY COLOR AND STUFF
  • BUT AGAIN, THIS AESTHETICS IS OBVIOUSLY A QUESTION OF PERSONAL CHOICE
  • BUT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, I JUST SEE THE INSERTION OF THAT SEEMING ABRUPT AND NOT KIND OF SPOILING A LITTLE BIT OF THE OVERALL IMAGE BUT AS A FRAME TO THESE PICTURES
  • I KIND OF LIKE THE IDEA
  • BUT ANYWAY, I COULDN'T SAY EVERYTHING NICE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENT
  • WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND ALSO YOUR SUPPORT OF TOURISM
  • YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A CHAMPION THIS PAST YEAR, SO THANK YOU AND STAY MUTED
  • MORE EXAMPLES OF OUR CREATIVE TO COME, AND NOT ALL OF THEM WILL BE FRAMED IN THAT WAY
  • A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THIS PRESENTATION IS JUST SORT OF THE INITIAL WORK, AND IT WILL EVOLVE AS WE GO
  • I WOULD JUST ADD ONE OTHER THING, WHICH IS THAT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
  • THERE'S A LOT TO ENCOMPASS IN OUR STATE
  • THERE'S A LOT OF DIVERSITY FROM TEMPERATE RAINFOREST TO WINE COUNTRY
  • THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BRAND
  • AND SO WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WOULD UNIFY EVERYONE
  • SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THOSE ELEMENTS COME FROM
  • WE HOPE IT WILL PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY HERE AS WE GO
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PALMER
  • SO AS A REMINDER, THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM
  • NO VOTE IS REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM
  • BUT I DID WANT TO SEE BY SHOW OF HANDS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO'D LIKE TO MAKE A QUESTION COME
  • AND I SEE COMMISSIONERS CHO, GO AHEAD
  • AND COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED, YOU'LL GO NEXT AND HASEGAWA GREAT
  • I'LL RUN THROUGH THE ROLE
  • YEAH
  • SO HOW YOU UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE? CAN WE PLEASE REAL QUICKLY, GO BACK TO THE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION TO SEATTLE SLIDE
  • YEAH
  • AUBREE IS JUST SCROLLING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION TO BRING THAT SLIDE UP
  • JUST ONE MOMENT
  • NO PROBLEM
  • THANK YOU, AUBREE
  • SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS
  • I'M OBVIOUSLY A NUMBERS GUY
  • AND IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, IF WE LOOK AT THE COLUMN THAT SAYS 2021 VERSUS 2020, IS MY UNDERSTANDING CORRECT, THAT THE YEAR OVER YEAR VISITATION DECLINED BY, FOR EXAMPLE, 51% FROM CHINA
  • IS THAT CORRECT? SO COMPARED TO 2021, THERE WERE 51% LESS TOURISTS FROM CHINA
  • I THINK THAT'S WHAT I READ TO
  • OKAY, SO SOUTH KOREA 61, JAPAN, 62, ETCETERA
  • SO WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
  • AND I THINK THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM HERE IS THAT YOUR OUTREACH PLAN IS VERY EUROCENTRIC
  • YOU'RE LOOKING AT GERMANY, AUSTRALIA AND THE UK, AND STRATEGICALLY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO INVEST THE MONEY IN PROMOTING AREAS WHERE WE HAVE DECLINED THE MOST AND GET THEM TO COME BACK, WHICH WOULD BE, ACCORDING TO THIS CHINA, SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, INDIA
  • IF WE LOOK AT IT FROM A YEAR OVER YEAR BASIS
  • AND SO PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE COUNTRIES WE'VE PICKED ARE THE COUNTRIES THAT WE PICKED RELATIVE TO THE ASIA COUNTRIES? ADDY I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP HERE
  • AND THEN I MIGHT ADD, ONCE YOU HAVE MADE SOME COMMENTS OR, DAVID, YOU CAN HELP TOO
  • WELL, GREETINGS, COMMISSIONERS
  • HAPPY NEW YEAR
  • WE ARE ACTIVE IN KOREA
  • WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH DELTA AIRLINES AND THE CRUISE LINES IN KOREA TO PROMOTE SEATTLE
  • THERE'S SOME STRONG INTEREST ALSO IN JAPAN
  • OUR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM ACTUALLY STARTED MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO WITH OUR FIRST FLIGHT INTO SEA FROM JAPAN
  • SO WE ARE VERY ACTIVE NOT ONLY WITH TOURISM, BUT CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WE HIGHLIGHTED JUST TODAY THE UK, GERMANY, AND AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE THERE ARE MOST ACTIVE MARKETS THAT SHOW US REAL RESULTS
  • IN CHINA, WE'VE PULLED BACK OUR MARKETING STRATEGY
  • WE DO HAVE A REALLY GREAT WECHAT PROGRAM FOR THE SEA AIRPORT, BUT RIGHT NOW, FOR THE AVERAGE CHINESE PERSON, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET A VISA TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES
  • AND I THINK UNTIL OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IMPROVE THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING MARKET
  • AND I WOULD ADD COMMISSIONERS, THAT WHAT WE SHOW IS A SLICE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING
  • BUT I THINK IT MAY BE JUST A BIT MISLEADING BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PLAYERS THAT WERE PARTNERS IN OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
  • AND ONE OF THE KEY ONES IS SEATTLE
  • AND SO THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE FOLLOW
  • WE DON'T LEAD
  • THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE WE ARE MAKING REALLY DEEP INVESTMENTS ARE RELATED TO TRAVEL PATTERNS THAT REALLY DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR PORT FACILITIES
  • BUT THEY ARE COMPLEMENTED BY VISIT SEATTLE
  • AND I THINK I TURN IT OVER TO DAVID BLANFORD BECAUSE I KNOW THE WTA IS ALSO A PARTNER ON THAT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
  • SO THE PICTURE I PAINTED, THE PICTURE THAT PATTY AND I PAINTED, I DON'T THINK IT'S A COMPLETE ONE
  • AND I'D ASK MAYBE DAVID TO JUST EXPAND ON THAT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING WHAT REALLY SAM IS ASKING OR COMMISSIONER CHO IS ASKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO THIS SLIDE
  • YEAH, COMMISSIONERS, JOE, THESE ARE ALL PRIMARY MARKETS FOR US, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE A GOOD DEAL OF TIME WITH IN MARKET REPRESENTATION, SOME MAINTAINED BY THE PORT OF SEATTLE, SOME MAINTAINED BY VISIT SEATTLE, NONE MAINTAINED BY THE STATE JUST BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN OUT OF TOURISM FOR SO LONG AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING
  • SO FOR US AT WTA, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE FIRST FEW MARKETS TO DIVE INTO AND FOR US RIGHT NOW, IT MAKES SENSE TO REALLY LOOK AT UK, THE GERMAN SPEAKING MARKETS, THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE GOT THAT DIRECT AIR SERVICE, FRANKLY, ENGLISH AS A REAL STRONG LANGUAGE, THE TRAVEL PSYCHOGRAPHICS THAT WOULD LEAD SOMEONE TO RENT A CAR AND DRIVE AROUND THE STATE BEYOND SEATTLE
  • THAT'S WHERE WE START
  • BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE MARKETS ARE SO CRITICAL TO US
  • I THINK THE ASIAN MARKETS ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT HERE IN THE HEART OF DELTA AND OMICRON TO DIVE INTO QUITE AS ROBUSTLY, BUT WE WILL BE BACK FOR SURE
  • OKAY
  • I THINK THAT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE TOUCHED UPON THIS AND CLEAR THE AIR BECAUSE I AGREE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE COMPREHENSIVELY, SOME THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE OUR HANDS ON DIRECTLY, BUT I JUST NEEDED TO DO A QUICK CHECK
  • SO THANK YOU ALL FOR OBLIGING AND ENTERTAINING MY QUESTIONS
  • THANK YOU
  • OKAY WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN TO COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
  • THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CALKINS
  • I'LL KEEP MY QUESTION SHORT FOR DAVID AND MCDONALD
  • THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION
  • THAT WAS HELPFUL IS VERY DETAILED
  • MY QUESTION IS THERE'S A FOCUS ON WASHINGTON STATE AS A WHOLE? I'M WONDERING, HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH OTHER PORTS THAT COULD BE BENEFITING FROM ALL THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING HERE AROUND TOURISM? ARE WE IN COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU COULD JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT THAT'D BE HELPFUL
  • YES
  • THE ANSWER IS YES
  • I WOULD LIKE TO DO AN ILU SO I CAN DIG IN AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH MORE DETAILS
  • BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS STATE WITH OTHER PORTS
  • MANY OTHER PORTS ARE VITALLY INTERESTED IN TOURISM
  • I KNOW WE'VE MADE A FEW GRANTS TO THE PORT PARTNERS THROUGH OUR OWN PROGRAM, SO THE CONNECTIONS ARE THERE
  • I'VE GIVEN YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES
  • MAYBE I WOULD CALL ON PATTY TO COMPLIMENT ANYTHING I SAID
  • BUT
  • ALSO, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED, I WOULD LIKE JUST A MOMENT AND DIG A LITTLE FURTHER TO MAYBE PUT A LITTLE OF THIS IN WRITING FOR ALL OF YOU
  • PATTY OR DAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THERE THAT WOULD HELP? YES
  • I WOULD ADD THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH THE PORT THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON SALES MISSIONS
  • FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE TRAVEL OVERSEAS, WE'VE HAD COMMISSIONERS JOIN US TO SHARE THEIR MESSAGES AND THE WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE AS WELL
  • WORKING WITH PORT DISTRICTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, MARINE HERITAGE AREAS
  • THINGS LIKE THAT ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE
  • WE'RE RUNNING PARALLEL COURSES, AND IT OFTEN MAKES SENSE TO PARTNER ON PROJECTS AND PROMOTIONS
  • SO THAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT I'VE PRESENTED EARLIER
  • THANK YOU, DAVE, PATTY AND MCDONALD
  • I APPRECIATE THAT
  • I HAVE TWO SISTERS THAT LIVED IN LONDON
  • SO SINCE I WAS 13, I'VE BEEN TRAVELING TO LONDON A LOT
  • AND AS AN IMMIGRANT, WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS ALL OVER THE WORLD
  • AND SO AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, I WOULD JUST GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND JUST STAY AT SOMEBODY'S PAL
  • SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AROUND TOURISM AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING AND BEING INCLUSIVE AND THINKING ABOUT EQUITY AND HOW TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE HAS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT
  • AND I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU
  • ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER
  • HOW'S IT GOING? THANK YOU
  • PRESIDENT CALKINS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
  • DAVE MCFADDEN, DAVE BLANFORD
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH, GAIL, FOR YOUR TIME
  • YOUR EXPERTISE
  • I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR GRANT PROCESS AND HOW IT WAS PROMOTED
  • I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST OF GRANTEES HERE, AND I'M WONDERING IF ANY OF THESE HAVE INCORPORATED
  • IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S NO ONE HERE THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON SOME OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PORT ADJACENT
  • THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE WATERFRONT
  • THEY HEAVILY RELY UPON THE TOURISM THAT COMES THROUGH AND THAT WE'RE HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THE RECESSION AND THE HALT AND TOURISM
  • SPECIFICALLY, I'M THINKING OF CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND THINKING OF LITTLE SAIGON
  • I'M THINKING OF AFRICA TOWN
  • I'M THINKING EVEN OF SOUTH KING COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO REALLY MAKE THEMSELVES APPEALING DESTINATIONS
  • I AM PLEASED TO SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT SEATAC AIRPORT ADVERTISING PROGRAM, BUT I WAS HOPING THAT YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE GRANT PROCESS
  • IT'S GOING TO BE THESE COMMUNITIES THAT SHOWCASE THEMSELVES AS A DESTINATION FOR FOLKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO COME TO
  • BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CONTEND FOR THOSE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THEM
  • NO, THANK YOU
  • ONCE THE COMMISSIONERS AUTHORIZE THE PROGRAM, WHICH I SAID WAS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, STAFF WILL SIT BACK AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THE APPLICATION OUT AS FAR AND AS WIDE
  • WE WILL ECHO THAT WITH MEDIA RELEASES, WEB POSTINGS AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUTREACH
  • WE GATHERED THE APPLICATIONS AND WE HAVE A ROOT REVIEW TEAM, AND LIKE NORMAL GRANTS, WE HAVE A SELECTION PROCESS
  • WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE OUTREACH IS THAT WE HAVE BUILT THAT AND WE ADD MORE NEW NAMES AND ORGANIZATIONS EVERY YEAR
  • AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT RON DID PARTICULARLY WELL IS GO, WHERE ARE THOSE SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS? WHERE ARE THOSE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC ORGANIZATIONS AND START GOING OUT AND VISITING AND ENGAGING WITH THEM? SOMETIMES WE GET THE APPLICATIONS
  • SOMETIMES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF CYCLES
  • THE SUQUAMISH MUSEUM TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS OF CULTIVATION TO GET AN APPLICATION IN
  • AND SO SOME OF THAT IS SOME SPECIALIZED, MORE INTENSIVE OUTREACH
  • I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A GOOD LIST, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN AND IT'S NEVER COMPLETE
  • AND SO I NEED THE COMMISSIONERS HELP HERE
  • IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, PARTNERS THAT YOU CAN INTRODUCE US TO, PLEASE DO IT
  • SEVERAL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU MENTIONED, I SMILED BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE CONNECTED WITH THEM, BUT DEEPENING THAT CONNECTION, MAKING SURE WE'RE HOLDING THE HANDS TO ADDRESS MAYBE SOME CAPACITY ISSUES AROUND OUR PROGRAM
  • WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP
  • WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU
  • AND I WILL ONLY ADD THAT
  • YES
  • PLEASE DO CONSIDER ME PERSONALLY AND ALL OF US AS COMMISSIONERS AS A RESOURCE TO YOU IN HELPING REACH SOME OF THESE HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES WHO, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER HAVE TROUBLE EITHER LEARNING ABOUT OR CONTENDING FOR SOME OF THESE REALLY WONDERFUL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
  • SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
  • AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • THANK YOU ALL
  • THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANKS FOR THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS
  • WE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALKINS, BECAUSE I DID NOTE, THOUGH WE HAD A VERY OPTIMISTIC LOOK AT THE RETURN OF CRUISE AND WE BUDGETED, I BELIEVE, 25% LAST YEAR, AND I THINK WE'RE BUDGETING 75% RECOVERY FOR THIS YEAR
  • AND OBVIOUSLY THE CDC'S LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT ENCOURAGING HOW LONG THIS WHOLE SITUATION SUSTAINS ITSELF, HOPEFULLY FOLLOWING THE SOUTH AFRICA GLOWOVER
  • BUT I'M JUST WONDERING, IN TERMS OF WHETHER YOUR STRATEGIES WILL CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH IF THAT CRUISE SITUATION DOES NOT LOOK AS ROSY AS IT'S PROJECTED TO BE
  • PATTY WELL IN OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND PARTICULARLY GERMANY, AUSTRALIA AND THE UK
  • WE HAVE VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE KING COUNTY BASED CRUISE LINES, AND THEY'RE GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD
  • THEY ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO STAY OPTIMISTIC
  • A LOT OF THE PASSENGERS THAT THEY WILL HAVE IN 2022 WILL BE PASSENGERS THAT HAD TO DELAY THEIR TRIPS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC
  • BUT FOR EXAMPLE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS, WE'LL BE DOING A ROAD TRIP WITH RCL IN GERMANY IN LATE MARCH APRIL TO VISIT SOME 13 DIFFERENT CITIES IN GERMANY, AUSTRALIA AND SWITZERLAND TO PROMOTE SAILING FROM SEATTLE TO ALASKA FOR OUR SALES MISSION
  • ACTUALLY, AT THE END OF MARCH, RCL WILL BE JOINING FORCES WITH US TO HOST A WELCOME RECEPTION
  • SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY VERY ACTIVELY WITH THESE DIFFERENT CRUISE LINES
  • WE SEE THEM AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR SALESFORCE, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US
  • I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SAYING WE DISCOURAGE YOU FROM TAKING CRUISES
  • THAT DOESN'T HELP, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE NOT SAYING THERE'S A PROHIBITION ON THAT
  • AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE RATE OF INFECTION IS ANY WORSE THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ON THE STREETS, WHICH IS TERRIBLE
  • BUT ANYWAY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAD A CONTINGENCY PLAN IF AND THINGS LOOKED POOR TO RESPOND
  • I THINK WE ALL HAVE A PLAYBOOK CALLED CONTINGENCY THE SHORELINE THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADJUSTING, REPOSITIONING AND RETIMING THE THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR THIS INDUSTRY
  • AND CRUISE IS A PART OF THAT
  • AND SO AS MUCH AS PATTY AND WE HAVE PLANS AND PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO FILL THOSE VESSELS, THINGS CAN CHANGE AND WE WILL CHANGE AND ADJUST ALONG WITH THAT
  • I WOULD JUST ADD THAT ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN PRODUCING INSPIRATIONAL DESTINATION PUBLICITY
  • WE'VE BEEN TURNING OUT NEWSLETTERS BASED ON VARIOUS THEMES JUST TO KEEP SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE ON THE RADAR
  • WE SHOULD BE TELLING PEOPLE TO FLY TO SEATTLE WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET ON A CRUISE THE CONTINGENCY
  • SO SPEND A WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS INSTEAD
  • IF YOU HAVE TO, YOU CAN FIND GLACIERS HERE, TOO
  • BUT, STEVE, YOU HAD A POINTER
  • YEAH, COMMISSIONERS
  • SINCE YOU MENTIONED CRUISE AND YOU MENTIONED THE CDC ORDER, I JUST HAD TO MENTION SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THAT WE HAVE STEPHANIE JONES STEVENS HERE, A MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MARITIME HERE
  • I JUST WANT TO LET ALL THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THAT SITUATION
  • AND I THINK DAVE MCFADDEN SAID IT VERY WELL
  • WE HAVE TO JUST PLAN AND WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPT TO IT
  • BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE MONITORING THAT SITUATION VERY CLOSELY IN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND KEEPING CONTACT WITH THE CRUISE INDUSTRY AS WELL TO SEE HOW THESE TRENDS WILL GO IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS HERE BEFORE CRUISES AND COMES TO US
  • SO I'LL JUST STOP THERE SINCE IT WAS MENTIONED
  • COMMISSIONER FELLOW, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT US
  • WE'RE NOT UNAWARES OF MONITORING
  • THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
  • ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT
  • THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
  • AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK CLERK HART TO READ THE NEXT ITEM INTO THE RECORD
  • AND THEN AGAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK WILL INTRODUCE THE ITEM
  • THANK YOU, MR COMMISSIONERS
  • PRESIDENT, THIS IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN B, THE 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BRIEFING
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • THANK YOU, CLERK HART, COMMISSIONERS
  • NEXT, YOU'LL RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON THE PORT'S 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
  • IT CONTINUES SOME 2021 PRIORITIES AND ADDS ITEMS THAT REFLECT CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO PORT PRIORITIES
  • THIS DRAFT INCORPORATES FEEDBACK FROM YOUR STAFF AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS
  • WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED INPUT ON THIS DRAFT BEFORE WE SEEK FINAL APPROVAL AT THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS MEETING
  • KEY FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE COMPETITIVE TRADE POLICIES, SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND FLEXIBILITY
  • WITH THAT PRESENTER, I'LL INTRODUCE THE PRESENTER, ERIC SCHINFIELD, SENIOR MANAGER OF FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
  • ERIC
  • FANTASTIC
  • WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK, REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY AGAIN
  • ERIC SCHINFELD, SENIOR MANAGER OF FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
  • REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY
  • THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING OF THE YEAR, THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING FOR OUR TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS
  • SO WELCOME
  • I WILL SAY THAT TRYING TO DO THIS PRESENTATION IN THE LIMITED TIME THAT WE HAVE TODAY, I WILL MOSTLY FOCUS ON THE NEW ITEMS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR 2022
  • OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THE AGENDA IS ROLLED OVER FROM 2021
  • SO FOR THOSE TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO BRIEF YOU ON SOME OF OUR EXISTING AND CONTINUING ITEMS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THOSE DURING THE Q AND A PERIOD TODAY
  • ALSO HAPPY TO TALK OFFLINE AND DO A FULL BRIEFING JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME HERE
  • BUT WE WILL CONTINUE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO WHAT WE DO WITH OUR FEDERAL AGENDA EACH YEAR, WE TALK ABOUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OUR SUCCESSES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR
  • WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE POLITICAL CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE YEAR AHEAD
  • AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND REALLY THREE TRANCHES
  • FIRST OF ALL, OUR PRIORITY ITEMS, THOSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MOST AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT ON
  • SECOND, THOSE ITEMS THAT WE WILL SUPPORT AND ENGAGE ON AS NECESSARY AS NEEDED
  • AND THEN FINALLY, THOSE ITEMS THAT WE WILL MONITOR AND ONLY ENGAGE ON IF WE ARE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED TO DO SO
  • AND OF COURSE, WE'LL TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY
  • AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, METRUCK SAID, WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT BRING THIS AGENDA BACK TO YOU AT THE MEETING ON JANUARY 25
  • AND THEN WE WILL ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION
  • SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • LIKE I SAID, WE DO LIKE TO START WITH OUR SUCCESSES, AND THIS LIST IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT, NOT BECAUSE IT SHOWS WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FEDERAL LOBBYIST I AM ON BEHALF OF THE PORT, ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY I AM
  • BUT REALLY IT SHOWS THE IMPORTANT AND REALLY VALUED SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION THAT WE GET
  • YOU'RE SPEAKING UP
  • I'M SORRY
  • CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? IS IT JUST ME? I'M SORRY I LOSE YOU THERE FOR A SECOND
  • NO
  • CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I HEAR ERIC
  • FINE
  • MY APOLOGIES
  • GREAT
  • I WILL UNMUTE FRED
  • SO, AS I SAID, THIS LIST REALLY SHOWS THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM DC, FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, FROM OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, FROM WASHINGTON STATE AND OTHERS
  • THEY TRULY RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF SEAPORTS OF AIRPORTS, AND THEY ARE INVESTING BOTH IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND POLICY TO HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR MISSION AND OUR GOALS
  • SO YOU CAN SEE HERE SOME OF THE DOLLAR FIGURES, IN PARTICULAR THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR, $154,000,000 TO BACKFILL LOSSES FROM COVID AT SEA AS WELL AS $21 MILLION THAT ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE RENT RELIEF TO SOME OF OUR TENANTS AND CONCESSION HEIRS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT ACT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT JUST PASSED RECENTLY
  • WE WILL GET JUST BY FORMULA ALONE ABOUT $240,000,000 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
  • AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY FOR MONEY FOR BOTH THE AIRPORT AND THE SEAPORT
  • THESE NUMBERS ARE TOTAL GUESSES RIGHT NOW
  • BUT OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE GOALS
  • IF WE'RE REALLY ON OUR GAME AND REALLY APPLYING FOR ALL THE MONEY WE CAN POSSIBLY APPLY FOR, IT COULD BE IN THAT $50 TO $25 MILLION RANGE
  • THERE THE ALASKA TOURISM RECOVERY ACT, A HUGE SUCCESS
  • AND AGAIN, A RECOGNITION FOR SENATOR CANTWELL, SENATOR MURRAY, ALSO, SENATOR MURKOWSKI FROM ALASKA
  • WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A CRUISE SEASON AT ALL LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTION ON CRUISING IN CANADIAN WATERS IN 2021
  • AND SO AGAIN, JUST AN INCREDIBLE THANK YOU TO OUR SENATORS AND TO OUR WASHINGTON CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
  • THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR WORK, AND THEY'RE TAKING EXTRAORDINARY STRIDES TO MAKE SURETY THAT WE'RE SUPPORTED
  • YOU'LL SEE HERE THIS LIST OF VISITS FROM FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS
  • AND IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CABINET
  • OTHER KEY APPOINTED OFFICIALS SHARE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THE PORT OF SEATTLE IS DOING, TALK ABOUT AREAS FOR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION AND REALLY BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, THE COMMERCE SECRETARY, THE DEPUTY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY, THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, ALL FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY PURSUE OUR AGENDA JOINTLY WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
  • AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL HIGHLIGHT ON THIS SLIDE IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON, WHICH IS ADDRESSING AIRCRAFT EMISSIONS AND NOISE
  • AND THAT WORK IS NOT ONLY DONE IN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE WASHINGTON CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, BUT ALSO WITH THE CITIES AROUND THE AIRPORT
  • AND THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS
  • AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION ON THESE ISSUES
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • SO 2022 IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT YEAR, AS IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
  • THIS IS A MIDTERM ELECTION FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
  • AND SO USUALLY IN A MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS LEGISLATION AND MORE FOLKS FOCUSED ON THEIR ELECTIONS
  • THERE IS STILL SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME LEGISLATION TO PASS THIS YEAR, AND EVEN MORE SO, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE GREAT PROGRESS THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION, THROUGH RULEMAKING, AGENCY REGULATIONS, ETC
  • SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS ARE APPROPRIATIONS, SOME SCALED BACK FORM OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
  • AND AS I SAID EARLIER, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL NOT ONLY GETTING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN FOR OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR PARTNER'S PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT AS THE REGULATIONS ARE STRUCTURED FOR WHAT THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS WILL LOOK LIKE, THAT THEY'RE STRUCTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL COMPETING FOR THOSE DOLLARS
  • AND AGAIN, IN AREAS OF EXECUTIVE AGENCY PROGRESS, COVID, CLIMATE, TRADE, IMMIGRATION, JUST A FEW EXAMPLES THERE
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • SO WE DIVIDE OUR PRIORITY ITEMS INTO PORT WIDE ISSUES AVIATION AND MARITIME FOR PORT WIDE
  • EVERY YEAR, WE REALLY HAVE THREE PORT WIDE PRIORITIES, AND THOSE ARE TRADE, CLIMATE AND IMMIGRATION
  • THEY'VE BEEN PRIORITIES FOR A LONG TIME NOW
  • WE WORK REALLY HARD ON THESE ISSUES
  • THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO US BUT TO OUR PARTNERS AND TO OUR COMMUNITY
  • THE CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS REALLY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED AROUND NOT ONLY THE SUPPLY CHAIN CONGESTION ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD, BUT ALSO THE INFLATION THAT CONSUMERS HAVE FACED
  • AND THAT'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE TARIFFS TO ADDRESS SUPPLY CHAIN CONGESTION
  • THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN A GREAT PARTNER
  • LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2022 TO LOWER PRICES AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE GOODS THAT THEY WANT ON TIME
  • NEXT SLIDE FOR AVIATION
  • AGAIN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS KEY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS FOR THE BUILDBACK BETTER ACT
  • YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE BUILDBACK BETTER ACT SEVERAL TIMES NOW, INCLUDING IN COMMISSIONER FELLOWMAN'S OPENING REMARKS
  • IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE FULL BILL THAT WAS PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE
  • UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT 50 VOTES IN THE SENATE FOR THAT BILL, BUT WE DO FEEL REAL OPTIMISM THAT THERE IS A DEAL TO BE HAD IF ALL PARTIES ARE INTERESTED IN THE DEAL AND THE CLIMATE PROVISIONS IN PARTICULAR HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM BEHIND THEM
  • FOR US, THE PROVISIONS AROUND SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS, BOTH THE TAX CREDITS AND THE GRANT PROGRAM REALLY WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND VALUABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE OUR GOALS AROUND SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS
  • NEXT SLIDE AND THEN THIS SLIDE IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ITEMS RELATED TO AVIATION, NOISE AND EMISSIONS ARE ALREADY SHARED CONSENSUS PRIORITIES WITH THE SIX CITIES AROUND THE AIRPORT
  • WE'VE DEVELOPED THESE PRIORITIES THROUGH OUR START FEDERAL WORKING GROUP
  • AND SO THESE ARE PRIORITIES THAT THE OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON
  • AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITIES ON IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THESE
  • SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ADDITIONS, AS YOU SEE THERE IN THE ITALICS, ARE THE NEW LEGISLATION THAT REPRESENTATIVE SMITH HAS INTRODUCED THAT WOULD ALLOW THE EPA TO STEP IN WHERE THE FAA DOES NOT IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING AIRCRAFT NOISE AND EMISSIONS
  • NEXT SLIDE ON THE MARITIME SIDE, OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, INFRASTRUCTURE, BOTH THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AS WELL AS THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
  • I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS HERE AT THE BOTTOM THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR ADDITION, ONE IS MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
  • WE KNOW THAT MARITIME DECARBONISATION IS TRULY A GLOBAL ISSUE, NOT JUST A NATIONAL ISSUE
  • AND SO WE NEED TO DO MORE AND MORE AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS NEW REGULATIONS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES THERE
  • AND OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED AT GREAT LENGTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO OFFSHORE WIND
  • LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THROUGH LEGISLATION, BOTH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • THESE ARE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE CARRYOVERS FROM MARITIME NEXT SLIDE
  • AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THIS SORT OF SECOND TRANCHE
  • THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT
  • WE WILL ENGAGE IN AS NECESSARY
  • I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT TWO THINGS ON HERE
  • NUMBER ONE, AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC ARE CONTINUING TO IMPACT US
  • AND WE'RE HEARING LOTS OF DISCUSSION, EVERYTHING FROM ON THE AVIATION SIDE
  • SHOULD THERE BE VACCINE MANDATES FOR AIR TRAVELERS TO, OF COURSE, WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT RECENTLY RELATED TO WHAT THE CDC SAYS ABOUT THE SURETY OF CRUISE TRAVEL
  • SO WE WANT TO MONITOR THAT
  • WE WANT TO ENGAGE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS
  • AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, METRUCK HAS ALWAYS SAID OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR TRAVELERS AND OUR WORKERS
  • AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ON BOTH THE AIRPORT AND THE SEAPORT SIDE REALLY BEEN A LEADER IN THAT
  • AND I COVID ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME BEST PRACTICES AND SOME GUIDANCE TO THE CDC AND THE FAA AS THEY CONSIDER THESE POTENTIAL CHANGES
  • AND THEN THE OTHER THING ON THIS SLIDE TO HIGHLIGHT IS JUST OUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO AFGHAN REFUGEES, NOT ONLY WELCOMING THEM THROUGH OUR AIRPORT AS THEY ARRIVE, BUT ALSO PLAYING A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING THEM SETTLE HERE AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES ONCE THEY GET HERE
  • NEXT SLIDE ON THE AVIATION SIDE AGAIN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL
  • I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
  • I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES IN VARIOUS MEETINGS THAT THERE'S MONEY THAT IS DIRECTLY FOR AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS, BUT THERE'S ALSO MONEY THAT IS GENERAL THAT WE MIGHT BENEFIT FROM
  • AND THIS IS JUST TWO EXAMPLES RIGHT HERE MONEY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FOR EV INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
  • MAYBE THAT MONEY DOESN'T COME TO US, BUT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS TO GET SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND REGIONAL BENEFIT
  • AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT
  • NEXT SLIDE ON THE MARITIME SIDE AGAIN, WE MENTIONED EARLIER THE ALASKA TOURISM RESTORATION ACT THAT TEMPORARILY LAST YEAR WAIVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT CRUISE SHIPS FROM SEATTLE TO ALASKA STOP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
  • THAT WAS A ONE TIME WAIVER FOR LAST YEAR
  • THERE ARE CERTAINLY ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAIVER WILL BECOME PERMANENT OR THE ALASKA TOURISM RECOVERY ACT WILL SERVE AS SOME SORT OF MOMENTUM FOR CHANGING THE PASSENGER VESSEL SERVICES ACT
  • I WILL JUST SAY THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, BRITISH COLUMBIA IS AN ATTRACTION FOR MANY OF OUR CRUISE TRAVELERS
  • SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS REQUIRED, CERTAINLY WE BELIEVE THAT CRUISE ITINERARIES WILL STILL CONTINUE TO INCLUDE BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT CERTAINLY WE WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW ITSELF CHANGES
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • AND THEN THESE ARE SORT OF, AGAIN, THE ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT WILL MONITOR
  • WE WILL ONLY ENGAGE IF WE'RE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED TO DO SO
  • BUT CERTAINLY THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, EVERYTHING FROM REAL I'D TO HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
  • NEXT SLIDE AND THEN SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO AVIATION AND MARITIME, SOME OF THESE VERY BASIC THINGS THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO, PARTICULARLY, AS YOU SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM, RELATED TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY, THE RECOVERY OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY, AND ANY SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY
  • SO THAT WAS A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF A VERY DENSE DOCUMENT THAT IS OUR PROPOSED 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
  • AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT AND FINAL SLIDE HERE AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE
  • WE'LL INCORPORATE THOSE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU AT THE END OF THE MONTH FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND THEN WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU TO MEET WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO MEET WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND TO IMPLEMENT THIS FEDERAL AGENDA
  • AND I WILL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE SO MANY OF OUR COMMISSIONERS WITH DEEP RELATIONSHIPS AND DEEP EXPERIENCE WORKING ON FEDERAL POLICY, WORKING WITH FEDERAL ISSUES
  • AND SO WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE IN NORMAL TIMES
  • IF THERE IS SUCH A THING ANYMORE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY GET YOU ON A PLANE AND GO TO DC
  • WE'LL SEE HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT
  • BUT IN THE MEANTIME, VIRTUAL MEETINGS HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND IN THE STATE, LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMISSIONERS TO ENGAGE NOT ONLY ON WHAT THE POLICIES ARE, BUT HELPING US ACHIEVE THESE POLICY GOALS
  • SO I WILL STOP THERE
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME
  • AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE
  • THANK YOU, ERICA
  • WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ROLE ON THIS ONE ALPHABETICALLY BECAUSE I'M CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE HAS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON IT
  • AND SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH COMMISSIONER CHO, ACTUALLY, PER USUAL
  • ERIC, YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE EXCELLENT AND THOROUGH
  • AND SO I THINK YOU HIT ALL THE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT
  • SO I'M GOING TO YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES AND LET THEM ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND CONCISE, TOO
  • I SHOULD SAY, ERIC, GREAT JOB
  • ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, THAT WAS MY ADDITION
  • CONCISE QUICK
  • THOSE ARE THE CLARITY OF ERIC'S PRESENTATIONS
  • THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS THERE IS THIS EMERGING ISSUE THAT I TALKED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF ABOUT
  • AND THEN WHEN I WAS DOWN MEETING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO THAT ARE NASCENT WORK WITH CARBON SEQUESTRATION INVOLVING PLANTING OF MARINE VEGETATION AS PART OF OUR HABITAT RESTORATION WORK, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE HABITAT BENEFITS, IS THE ABILITY FOR IT TO, WELL, THERE'S MULTIPLE BENEFITS
  • UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF CREDIT IN THE COURSE OF DOING THAT WORK FOR THE HABITAT
  • WE CAN TRADE THESE CREDITS
  • SO THIS IS LIKE AN ARMY CORPS AND NOAH AVIATION QUESTION
  • AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE FOLKS IN SAN DIEGO IS POTENTIALLY PRESENTING A WEST COAST STRATEGY TO SEE ABOUT BUMPING UP THE VALUES SO THAT THERE'S AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE TO DO THIS, ENHANCE THE HABITAT RESTORATION
  • I DON'T KNOW
  • YOU WENT SO QUICKLY THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF, WHETHER IT'S IN THERE OR NOT, IT IS NOT
  • BUT THAT'S A GREAT ADDITION, COMMISSIONER
  • SO I'LL PROBABLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT
  • AND PROBABLY ALSO RYAN MCFARLAND WITH THE SEAPORT ALLIANCE HAS SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT
  • I KNOW HE'S BEEN THE POINT ON A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES
  • YEAH, I'M INSERT SANDY AND COMPANY WOULD BE GREAT TO PUT SOME FLESH ON THE BONE AS WELL
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELMOND
  • COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • THANK YOU
  • PRESIDENT CALKINS ERIC
  • I'M GOING TO ASK FOR GRACE BECAUSE I SWEAR AT THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL BE BETTER AT FOLLOWING ALONG ELECTRONICALLY WITH YOUR POWERPOINT, SO I CAN JUST DO SEARCH TERMS, BUT I MIGHT ASK YOU TO BE REDUNDANT
  • SO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PATIENCE
  • CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME WHETHER THERE WERE ANY INVESTMENTS IN NOISE MITIGATION INCLUDED IN SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING? AND CAN YOU ALSO JUST TALK ABOUT THE HEALTHY PARTS INITIATIVE AND ANY SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR? GREAT
  • ABSOLUTELY
  • FANTASTIC
  • AND, AUBREE, IF YOU WANT TO PULL UP THE SLIDE DECK, IT'S THE SLIDE ON THE SECOND AVIATION PRIORITY SLIDE RELATED TO AVIATION NOISE AND EMISSIONS
  • SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THERE, COMMISSIONER
  • AND MAYBE LET ME JUST START WITH A REALLY QUICK HIGH LEVEL, WHICH IS WE GET MONEY FROM THE FAA ON A REGULAR BASIS TO INVEST IN NOISE MITIGATION
  • WE APPLY FOR GRANTS THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
  • WE HAVE TO MATCH THOSE GRANTS
  • IT'S AN 80 20 MATCH
  • SO FAA PROVIDES 80% OF THE MONEY
  • WE PROVIDE 20% OF THE MONEY
  • SO BACK A BUNCH OF SLIDES THERE, AUDREY
  • WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, AUDREY
  • SO WE ALREADY GET THAT MONEY
  • WE DON'T NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO GET THAT MONEY
  • AND IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL FAA TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SUCCESSFULLY APPLY FOR FUNDS AND RETAIN FUNDS, NOT ONLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY, AS YOU KNOW, BUT NOW EXPANDING INTO CONDOS AND OTHER KINDS OF BUILDINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO NOISE INSULATION FOR
  • BUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS REALLY ABOUT
  • SO IT'S JUST THREE SLIDES BACK OR FOUR SLIDES BACK
  • SO I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN PARTICULAR
  • RIGHT
  • SO HOW MIGHT WE BE ABLE TO USE THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS TO INVEST IN NOT ONLY THE AIRPORT ITSELF, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY? AND THE GREAT ANSWER I HAVE FOR YOU IS WE'LL SEE IT REALLY IS GOING TO DEPEND A LOT ON EXACTLY HOW THE FAA DESIGNS THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE ACTUALLY WANT TO ENGAGE PROACTIVELY WITH THE FAA TO HELP DESIGN THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THESE DOLLARS? CAN WE JUST USE THEM FOR ON AIRPORT? ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN USE THEM FOR OFF AIRPORT THINGS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF NOISE AND EMISSIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  • SO WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW FINGERS CROSSED, WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT
  • AND IT IS CERTAINLY A PRIORITY THAT EVEN IF WE DON'T GET, QUOTE, UNQUOTE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT MONEY, THERE ARE OTHER POTS OF FUNDS ALREADY EXISTING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OTHER POTS OF FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT
  • AND SO YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE PROVISIONS AROUND THE HEALTHY PORTS INITIATIVE
  • SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN PROPOSED INITIALLY
  • IT WAS A $6 BILLION PROPOSAL WHEN HE FIRST PROPOSED IT
  • IT PASSED THE HOUSE AT THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS
  • SO IT'S THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS
  • ALL WE KNOW ABOUT IT IS ONE LINE IN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SAYS MONEY TO INVEST IN ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF PORTS, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
  • WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT WILL BE GREAT TO KNOW THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WHERE IF THE MONEY PASSES, THE AGENCY ITSELF WILL DO THE RULEMAKING TO DECIDE WHAT THAT IS BEST
  • AS WE CAN TELL, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH COMMISSIONERS REDUCTIONS
  • SO THAT THE POINT SOURCE FROM THE PORT NEVER GETS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES
  • AND OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW BETTER THAN I, THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE PORT HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED
  • OFTEN, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE THE ONES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THOSE EMISSIONS THE WORST
  • AND SO WHETHER THAT'S ELECTRIFICATION, MARITIME, DECARBONIZATION, ETCETERA
  • THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT'S INTENDED WITH THAT THREE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS
  • BUT WE'LL NEVER KNOW UNLESS WE GET THAT MONEY PASSED
  • AND SO WE'LL ADVOCATE VERY STRONGLY FOR THAT MONEY TO BE PASSED AND TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR PORTION OF IT AND MAKE INVESTMENTS
  • I WILL SAY REALLY BRIEFLY THAT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THERE IS $250,000,000 SPECIFICALLY ALREADY FOCUSED ON REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM TRUCKS AT PORTS
  • AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY FOCUSED ON AS WELL
  • HOPEFULLY, THAT ANSWERED SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS THERE
  • CAN I JUST SUGGEST THAT YOU PUT A LITTLE STAR NEXT TO THAT ON YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND EXPRESS MY FULL HEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTHY PARTS INITIATIVE
  • THANK YOU
  • ABSOLUTELY
  • AND WE REALLY DO TRY AND PRIORITIZE THOSE ISSUES AROUND AVIATION, NOISE AND EMISSIONS
  • THEY ARE SOME OF OUR VERY TOP PRIORITIES
  • AND SOME OF THE THINGS I WORK THE MOST ON AS PART OF OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED YEAH, I SECOND EVERYTHING COMMISSIONER HALF AGO WAS SAID AROUND THAT
  • SO TWO STARS ON THAT
  • ERIC ERIC, FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND ALSO JUST SAY OUT LOUD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US WITH THE ONBOARDING PROCESS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
  • I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDING MY SORT OF QUESTION AND KIND OF MORE
  • SO A COMMENT IS AROUND THE DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL
  • I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS WHO HAVE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF ALSO CONSIDERING WORKERS, AIRPORT WORKERS IN THAT PROCESS AROUND THOSE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
  • SO INCORPORATING THAT SOMEHOW INTO THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT
  • AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE OFFLINE ABOUT THAT AS WELL
  • GREAT
  • ABSOLUTELY
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS IN DC ON THAT TOPIC AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND BOOKDA ON LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
  • WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT HAD SORT OF DEDICATED CAPACITY IN HOUSE OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE TO REALLY PROACTIVELY SEARCH OUT SOME OF THOSE GRANT DOLLARS
  • AND IT'S BEEN, OH, WE HAVE OUR SORT OF TRADITIONAL FOLKS IN AVIATION ACCOUNTING THAT FILL OUT THE AIP GRANTS
  • AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE WILL BE A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR T FIVE OR T 46 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
  • IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE, MORE ORGANIZED AND MORE FOCUSED THAN EVER, BECAUSE THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE
  • AND IF WE DON'T GET EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE DOLLAR THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GET FOR OURSELVES OR FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SHAME ON US
  • AND SO WE'RE ORGANIZED AT THE STAFF LEVEL
  • WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT
  • WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY THINKING STRATEGICALLY AND NOT ONLY STRATEGICALLY, BUT AS CREATIVELY AS POSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF DOLLARS COULD APPLY TO THE PORT IN WAYS THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT BEFORE
  • THANK YOU, ERIC
  • OKAY
  • I'M GOING TO RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS SOLOMON
  • THANK YOU
  • JUST REAL QUICKLY
  • THE SEAPORT ALLIANCE ACTUALLY HIRED AN ADDITIONAL PERSON JUST TO DO GRANT WRITING BECAUSE OF THAT VERY REASON
  • SO I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED ANOTHER STAFF PERSON
  • BUT STEVE, TO THE DEGREE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING ERIC'S CALL, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE MOMENT TO SEIZE AND WHATEVER SUPPORT HE NEEDS, WE'RE ALL FOR IT
  • RIGHT? BUT THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS I MET FAIL TO MENTION
  • AND YOU WHIZZED THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION AGAIN
  • I SAW THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A KILLER WHALE, BUT I KNOW IN THE NDAA THIS LAST YEAR THAT WAS THE COAST GUARD REAUTHORIZATION WAS FOLDED INTO THE NBA LAST YEAR, AND IT WASN'T IN THIS YEAR'S ROUND
  • SO I BELIEVE IN THIS YEAR'S COAST GUARD REAUTHORIZATION WILL ONCE AGAIN HAVE PROVISIONS RELEVANT TO KILLER WHALES RELEVANT TO UNDERWATER NOISE
  • AND SO I JUST FLAGGED THAT AS A VEHICLE BY WHICH WHATEVER OTHER THINGS THAT MAY BE LOOKING AT, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT COAST GUARD RE OFF ONCE AGAIN
  • DID WE LOSE YOU, ERIC? LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT BE BACK
  • YEAH
  • SORRY
  • I JUST FROZE FOR A SECOND THERE
  • CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU FOR SURE
  • SO I SAID COAST GUARD REAUTHORIZATION, THEN YOU FROZE UP
  • YES
  • RIGHT
  • EXACTLY
  • WELL, I SAW A LOOK FROM STEVE BECAUSE I THINK HE WRITES THAT BILL OR USED TO WRITE THAT BILL
  • ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER
  • WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS IN OUR 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RELATED TO PUGET SOUND CLEANING UP PUGET SOUND UNDERWATER NOISE, ETCETERA
  • AND AS YOU WELL KNOW BETTER THAN I NOT ONLY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH CONGRESS AND THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING ABOUT THOSE TOPICS AT THE IMO AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES
  • THAT'S WHERE WE CAN REALLY MAKE SOME GREAT PROGRESS
  • WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE SOME CAPACITY ON MY TEAM WITH SOME EXPERTISE
  • MELISSA PARKS, WHO SOME OF YOU HAVE MET SOME REAL EXPERTISE AT THE IMO LEVEL AND ON UNDERWATER NOISE ISSUES IN PARTICULAR
  • SO WE'LL BE RELYING ON HER AND GOING BACK TO YOUR EARLIER COMMENT
  • I DO THINK THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR THE GRANT WRITING AND GRANT SEEKING THAT WE NEED, BUT I WILL CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY LET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK KNOW AND LET ALL OF YOU KNOW IF WE NEED TO BRING ON SOME EMERGENCY HIRES, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS IN ASAP
  • THANK YOU, ERIC
  • MY ONLY COMMENT IS RELATED TO ON OUR SLIDE FIVE, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO BRING IT UP AUBREE, BUT THERE'S A LINE THAT SAYS COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS
  • AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE PASSION PROJECT OF MINE OFFSHORE WIND REALLY NESTLES
  • AND SO I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED IT CALLED OUT
  • BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE LATITUDE OVER THIS COMING YEAR TO REALLY ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF
  • TO THIS END
  • IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IT'S A NASCENT INDUSTRY
  • AND WHEN AN INDUSTRY HAS TO SORT OF BE CUT FROM WHOLE CLOTH, THAT'S OFTEN WHERE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
  • YOU'VE GOT THESE INCUMBENT INDUSTRIES OR COMPETITORS THAT HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF INCUMBENCY AND SOMETHING LIKE OFFSHORE WIND COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM, FOR INSTANCE, STREAMLINING PERMITTING PROCESSES, ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WITH THE RESOURCES THAT REQUIRES, AND THEN, OF COURSE, ALSO ENSURING THAT THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ARE COORDINATED IN A WAY THAT ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO, PARTICULARLY THINGS LIKE ELECTRIC UTILITIES, WHO ARE THE EVENTUAL CUSTOMERS OF ANY ELECTRICITY THAT IS PRODUCED BY OFFSHORE WIND
  • AND I THINK WASHINGTON STATE HAS, IN PARTICULAR, A REAL INTEREST IN OFFSHORE WIND, BOTH BECAUSE OF OUR ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM IT
  • AND ALSO I'M GOING TO LEAVE ALL THESE
  • SOMEBODY CAME IN HOT
  • LET ME GO AHEAD AND TRY TO FIND THAT WE GOT IT
  • AND ALSO BECAUSE WASHINGTON STATE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO POTENTIALLY BE A PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN OR THE VALUE CHAIN, AS WE LIKE TO SAY, FOR OFFSHORE WIND, ACTUALLY PRODUCING SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S USED AND THE PRODUCTION OF THAT ENERGY
  • AND I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO COME UP WITH AN INDUSTRY THAT WOULD BE MORE OF AN EXAMPLE OF THAT GREEN BLUE ALLIANCE THAN OFFSHORE WIND, WHERE IT REQUIRES TONS AND TONS OF REPRESENTATIVE SKILLED TRADES PEOPLE AND ALSO REPRESENTS AN ABSOLUTE REPLACEMENT OF FOSSIL FUEL WITH GREEN ENERGY IN A WAY THAT HAS RELATIVELY FEW NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
  • SO WITH THAT LITTLE SPEECH ON OFFSHORE, WHEN I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE ARE LEANING INTO EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE ON OUR OWN BEHALF TO BE A PART OF THAT NASCENT INDUSTRY
  • I KNOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN A KEY COMPONENT OF IT
  • AND SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, I AM GOING TO ASK THAT WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION
  • ONE FINAL THANK YOU TO ERIC
  • I DID SEE ERIC ACTUALLY HAD A LINE ITEM THAT SAID OFFSHORE WIND
  • I TRIED TO GO THROUGH AND FIND IT AND I MUST YOU ARE NOT GOING UNREPRESENTED
  • I JUST WOULD LIKE TO CAUTION THAT IT IS NOT WITHOUT IMPACT AND THAT THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN RAISING CONCERNS
  • I CUT MY TEETH ON AUSTRALIAN GAS ISSUES
  • THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPONENTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY
  • IT IS CLEARLY A HUGE PATH FORWARD
  • I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STREAMLINING PERMITTING AND THINGS LIKE THIS, THIS NASCENT INDUSTRY IS ALSO FIRST BEGINNING TO FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE
  • SO I'M ALL FOR BEING PART OF THAT SUPPLY CHAIN AND THINGS LIKE THAT
  • BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN COMPLETELY AS RAH RAH, UNLESS THAT'S REALLY THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION AT LARGE
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
  • STEVE, I SEE YOU'RE FERRY HAND RAISED
  • YESES, COMMISSIONERS
  • I DIDN'T WANT TO ADD TO THAT COMMENT OF COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN'S COMMENT, BUT I'LL JUST NOTE THAT, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO ERIC
  • YOU WERE GOING TO THANK ERIC, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ERIC DOES A OUTSTANDING JOB OF KEEPING THOSE ALL INFORMED DEVELOPMENTS BOTH STRATEGICALLY AND TACTICAL AS THEY COME UP IN THOSE THINGS
  • AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM PUBLICLY FOR ALL THAT WORK
  • INDEED
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIC
  • ALRIGHT
  • WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM
  • I'M GOING TO ASK CLERK HART TO READ THE NEXT ITEM INTO THE RECORD
  • AND THEN AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE DIRECTOR METRUCK INTRODUCE THE ITEM
  • THANK YOU
  • THIS IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN C EQUITY MOTION AND EQUITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ASSESSMENT FINAL REPORT COMMISSIONERS, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2020, THE COMMISSIONERS PASSED AN EQUITY MOTION DIRECTING THE PORT TO EXAMINE OPERATIONS AND POLICIES FOR SOURCES OF RACIAL BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION, TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND POLICIES LIMITING INEQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION
  • SINCE THAT TIME, OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION, LED BY SENIOR DIRECTOR OF BUZZER, ALONG WITH THE HELP OF CHANGE TEAM MEMBERS AND MANAGERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PORT, HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK, ENGAGING IN TRAININGS, ANALYSIS, GOAL SETTING, LISTENING SESSIONS, TOWN HALLS AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH RESULTED IN THIS ASSESSMENT
  • YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY
  • WELL, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY
  • WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND LOTS OF WORK AHEAD OF US
  • I'M PROUD OF OUR EFFORTS SO FAR TOWARDS OUR CENTURY GENDER GOAL BECOMING A MODEL OF EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION
  • THIS PRESENTATION WILL HIGHLIGHT KEY ISSUES, MORE THAN SIX ISSUES FOUND THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS UNDER SIX
  • IN THOSE SIX KEY FOCUS AREAS, THERE ARE SIX THE WORKPLACE, CULTURE, OPERATIONS AND PROCESSES, EMPLOYMENT, EQUITY, CAPACITY BUILDING, ENGAGING WENDY'S AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENGAGING IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
  • I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO REMAIN ENGAGED IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK
  • THIS IS NOT EASY WORK
  • I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSIONER CHO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN PASSING THE EQUITY MOTION
  • WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS WORK
  • THE PRESENTERS TODAY, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PRESENTERS, AND THEY ARE BOOKED AGAINST OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR, EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION
  • JAY DORIAN, ALSO FROM THE EDI STAFF
  • KATIE GERARD, OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND ALSO SPEAKING WILL BE JERMAINE MURRAY, DIRECTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, AND CARRIE PRAVIT'S, EAST KING COUNTY COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONS MANAGER
  • SO THIS I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO BOOKDA, PLEASE
  • THANK YOU
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
  • I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF METRUCK
  • I'M BOUQUET, DE FACTO SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
  • A BIG WELCOME TO COMMISSIONERS HASEGAWA AND MOHAMED
  • I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY
  • WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF THE PORT PORTWIDE EQUITY ASSESSMENT
  • YOU'VE JUST BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, BUT JUST AGAIN, REAL QUICKLY
  • KATIE GERARD, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, JERMAINE MURRAY, DIRECTOR OF CORE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, WHO'S ALSO A CHANGE TEAM LEADER, CARRIE PRAVITZ IN EAST KING COUNTY COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM, AND THE CHANGE TEAM MEMBER, AND JAY DORAN, WHO IS IN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND THE ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM MANAGER
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • TODAY, WE WILL OFFER SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF OUR PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING THE ASSESSMENT
  • WE'LL SPEND THE BULK OF THE PRESENTATION SHARING THE KEY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT EMERGE FROM THE ASSESSMENT IN THE LAST YEAR, AND WE'LL SHARE OUR PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND A DISCUSSION BETWEEN US AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • AND NEXT SLIDE
  • ALL RIGHT
  • SO THE ELEMENTS OF THE MOTION, THE SPECIFIC COMMISSION DIRECTIVE THAT GIVES EMPHASIS TO WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS MOTION 20 2019
  • THIS MOTION WAS LED BY COMMISSIONER CHO AND PASSED WITH THE ENTIRE COMMISSION SUPPORT IN OCTOBER OF 2020
  • THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE KEY PROVISIONS TO THAT MOTION THAT DIRECTED THE OFFICE OF EQUITY TO BOTH CONTINUE ADVANCING EQUITY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, MOVING IMMEDIATELY AND QUICKLY WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING A BASELINE FOR WHERE WE ARE THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION
  • AS YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM THIS SLIDE, ITEMS ON THIS LIST, NUMBER ONE IS THE ASSESSMENT TWO THROUGH FIVE OR THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT BEGAN RIGHT AWAY
  • OUR OBJECTIVE FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS TO ONLY FOCUS ON NUMBER ONE
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THIS CHART ILLUSTRATES THE SEQUENCING AND TIMING OF THE WORK OF THE EQUITY MOTION, WHICH, AS YOU SEE, BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2020
  • AS BACKGROUND FOR NEW COMMISSIONERS
  • THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE OF 2019, AND WE PRODUCED AN ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLAN EVERY YEAR
  • BUT THE INTENT OF THE ASSESSMENT WAS TO HELP US BUILD A LONGER TERM ROADMAP ITEMS ON THIS LIST
  • I'M SORRY, THERE'S AN ERROR HERE THAT THERE'S ONLY FIVE THAT ARE NUMBERED
  • THE WIND BEE ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE NUMBER SIX
  • THEY'RE ALL ELEMENTS OF THE EQUITY MOTION, BUT THERE WERE TWO THAT WERE ADDED ON IN THE LAST YEAR
  • THE WOMEN OF COLOR ASSESSMENT AND THE REPRESENTATIVE WORKERS TASK FORCE
  • VERY BRIEFLY AND WITHOUT GOING INTO A LOT OF BACKGROUND
  • THE WOMEN OF COLOR ASSESSMENT, WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH A GROUP OF WOMEN OF COLOR EMPLOYEES, IS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PARTICULAR BARRIERS AND ISSUES FACING WOMEN OF COLOR EMPLOYEES AT THE PORT, AND THESE FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF METRUCK IN LATE FEBRUARY
  • THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS ASSESSMENT WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED IN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY'S WORK PLAN
  • ALSO, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A TASK FORCE HELPING TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR OFFERING MORE LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TRAININGS TO REPRESENTED WORKERS
  • WE'VE RELEASED AN RFP
  • ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY
  • YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF UPDATES ABOUT ONE THROUGH FIVE TODAY, BUT ON THE WIND BEE ASSESSMENT, THE RFP WAS RELEASED FOR DOING THIS ASSESSMENT JUST RECENTLY, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT ASSESSMENT TO YOU IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 2022
  • NOW, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE JAY DORAN TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE EDI ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSION
  • AND THANK YOU, BOOKDA
  • I'M GOING TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO WALK YOU THROUGH HOW WE DID THIS WORK
  • CAN YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE, PLEASE? I THINK WE'RE MISSING A SLIDE ABOUT OUR GOALS
  • HANG ON A SECOND
  • YEAH, HANG ON
  • IT'S SLIDE SIX, I BELIEVE
  • YES, I DON'T KNOW
  • I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS
  • THAT'S OKAY
  • DO YOU WANT ME TO GO FORWARD? YEAH, WE CAN START WITH THE THERE IS A SHORT SLIDE THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MATERIALS THAT TALKS ABOUT THE THREE GOALS THAT WE HAD FOR THIS ASSESSMENT AND FROM MEMORY, THEY WERE STRAIGHTFORWARD FROM THE BEGINNING
  • FIRST, LIKE ANY GOOD ASSESSMENT, WANTED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE STOOD AS AN ORGANIZATION
  • SO WHAT OUR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND BARRIERS WERE WITH REGARDS TO ADVANCING EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AS A PORT
  • THE SECOND GOAL WAS TO EXCUSE ME
  • I'M BLINKING ON THE SECOND GOAL WAS NOT SEEING THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF ME
  • I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS TO TRACK PROGRESS
  • IS THAT RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER COFFINS
  • THE SECOND GOAL WAS TO ESTABLISH THAT BASELINE SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE IMPROVING AND READING PROGRESS YEAR OVER YEAR
  • AND FINALLY, THAT THIRD GOAL IN RELATION TO THE FIRST ONE WAS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND TACTICS FOR ADDRESSING THE INEQUITIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED FROM THE ASSESSMENT SO THAT WE COULD TAKE STEPS STARTING IN 2022
  • TO REALLY ADVANCE EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE
  • THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT IN THE CHAT BOOTH
  • SO AS FAR AS OUR METHODOLOGY, WE STARTED WITH IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES
  • OVER THE COURSE OF MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS, THE OFFICE OF EDI AND THE CHANGE TEAM ORGANIZED A SERIES OF EFFORTS TO RECEIVE INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM PORT EMPLOYEES RELATED TO THE PORT CULTURE, POLICIES AND PRACTICES
  • IN THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH WE COLLECTED THIS DATA
  • MOST NOTABLY, WE CONDUCTED AN EQUITY SURVEY, WHICH NEARLY 61% OF OUR WORKFORCE COMPLETED AND PROVIDED US WITH DATA RELATED TO WORKPLACE CULTURE, OPERATIONS AND PROCESSES, HIRING, PROMOTIONS, AND EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTING IN WENDY'S AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  • SO FROM THIS, WE DID A GAP ANALYSIS BASED ON THE ISSUES THAT WE IDENTIFIED
  • WE THEN CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT AND ONGOING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, AND WE DEVELOPED A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT THOSE ONGOING EFFORTS BUT TO THEN FILL IN THE GAPS
  • AND THEN FINALLY WE REFINED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
  • WE WENT BACK TO STAFF AND IN A SERIES OF 18 LISTENING SESSIONS, WE REPORTED BACK TO STAFF WHAT WE HAVE FOUND SO FAR IN OUR ASSESSMENT AND OUR PROPOSALS FOR IMPLEMENTING CHANGES
  • WE RECEIVE INPUT TO FURTHER IMPROVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
  • WE ALSO WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS AND DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ORGANIZATIONALLY CROSS CUTTING FUNCTION TO REFINE AND IMPROVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO ALL THIS WORK HAS LED US HERE
  • WE'VE IDENTIFIED SIX FOCUS AREAS WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE, WORKPLACE CULTURE OPERATIONS AND PROCESSES, EMPLOYMENT EQUITY, CAPACITY BUILDING, WENDY'S AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  • THESE ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED AGAIN BASED ON THE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE DID AND THE ISSUE IDENTIFICATION FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THINGS LIKE EQUITY SURVEY, CAUCUSING SERIES, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND MANY OTHER WAYS THAT WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT HOW THEY EXPERIENCE INEQUITIES AT THE ORGANIZATION
  • SO WITHIN THESE SIX FOCUS AREAS, EMPLOYEES HELPED US TO IDENTIFY 15 INEQUITIES OR PATTERNS OF DISPARITIES, AND BASED ON THOSE 15 INEQUITIES, WE WORKED WITH EMPLOYEES TO PUT FORWARD A SET OF 53 ROBUST RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE A COMBINATION OF BOTH SHORTTERM AND LONG TERM TERM IMPACTS
  • FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, SPOTLIGHTING A RECOMMENDATION FOR ONE KEY ISSUE FROM EACH OF THE SIX FOCUS AREAS
  • BUT BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THAT, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND THEIR CORRESPONDING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AIMED AT CREATING A PORT THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND IS INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE WHILE ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND BARRIERS OF GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE MARGINALIZED IN PARTICULAR, BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR, AND REPRESENTATIVE OFFSHIFT WORKERS
  • SO PLEASE KEEP THAT CONTEXT IN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION, AND I'LL HAND IT BACK TO BOOKDA
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • THANK YOU, JAY
  • BEAUTIFUL
  • AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • ALL RIGHT
  • SO OUR INTENT THROUGHOUT THIS WORK, NOT JUST FOR THE ASSESSMENT, BUT IN ADVANCING EQUITY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, IS TO CREATE AND HOLD SAFE SPACES FOR THE VOICES OF ALL EMPLOYEES TO BE HEARD, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT OFTEN NOT BEEN HEARD IN OUR EFFORTS
  • MANY DID SPEAK
  • AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM JAY, 1300 EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY PROVIDED COMMENTS IN THE SURVEY AND OFTEN VERY BRAVELY AND CANDIDLY ABOUT SENSITIVE CONCERNS AND DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES
  • THE OFFICE OF EQUITY FEELS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING FORTH THESE VOICES AND TO DO SO IN AN OBJECTIVE WAY TO SURFACE THE MOST PREVALENT CONCERNS AND TO STAY TRUE TO THAT IN IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE QUOTE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND OPEN HEART AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION TO REALLY TRY AND LISTEN TO THE WAYS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND PRACTICES
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO YOU'VE HEARD FROM STEVE METRUCK AND NOW FROM JAY ABOUT THE SIX FOCUS AREAS ON THE LEFT AND THE 15 KEY ISSUES
  • AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THAT ALL OF THE FOCUS AREAS AND THE KEY ISSUES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY
  • WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT AND OUR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE AN OVERALL ANALYSIS
  • IN SHORT, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS
  • BUT THE CHANGES WE'RE RECOMMENDING AND THE ACTIONS WE NEED TO TAKE AS AN ORGANIZATION IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT CHECKING BOXES
  • WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR CULTURE, HOW WE RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER, HOW WE RELATE TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE
  • WE NEED TO BE ANALYZING OUR WORK'S IMPACT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS
  • AND WE NEED TO BE BRAVE AND BOLD BECAUSE CHANGE, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS NOT EASY
  • WE'VE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF EQUITIES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION
  • AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE ARE PATTERNS OF INEQUITIES BOTH INTERNAL TO OUR CULTURE AND POLICIES AND EXTERNAL TO HOW WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES OVERALL, I WOULD SAY THAT WE FOUND THAT EMPLOYEES OF COLOR EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVE OUTCOMES COMPARED TO WHITE EMPLOYEES
  • WE SEE THIS IN REGARD TO HIRING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN REGARDS TO DECISION MAKING AND WITH REGARDS TO DISCRIMINATION, TREATMENT AND OVERALL CULTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND SUPERVISORS AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ESSENTIALS TO THE SUCCESS TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE AND ANTIRACIST ORGANIZATION
  • WE FOUND MANY EXAMPLES OF SUPERVISORS BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AS WELL AS SOME EXAMPLES OF BEING DISRUPTIVE AND DISCRIMINATORY AND CREATING A CULTURE OF FEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO REPORTING BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION
  • AND WE HAVE OBSERVED BARRIERS OR BEEN REPORTED BARRIERS THAT PREVENT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BOARD
  • BUT THE EBI ASSESSMENT ALSO FOUND THAT WE HAVE MANY STRENGTHS AND TO HELP US MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN MANY WAYS
  • I THINK THE PORT OF SEATTLE IS A LEADER AMONG ITS PEER MUNICIPALITIES LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY IN BOTH HOW COMMITTED WE ARE TO THE PORT, AS WELL AS HOW MUCH RESOURCES AND EFFORT WE HAVE WE'RE PUTTING TOWARDS TRUE CHANGE
  • WE HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE AND GROWING BODY OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ENGAGING IN EQUITY TRAININGS, INCORPORATING EQUITY INTO THEIR WORK AND PUSHING THEIR TEAMS TO IMPROVE
  • AND WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE WE ARE REBUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, COLLECTIVELY, MAKING DECISIONS AND DIRECTING FUNDING TO AREAS OF NEED
  • AND WE HAVE SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP THAT IS COMMUNICATING FROM THE TOP ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE
  • AND SO WHILE WE HAVE A LONG AND HARD ROAD AHEAD, WE ARE VERY MUCH ON THE PATH
  • SO IN THE PROCESS, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN EACH, WE'RE GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON JUST ONE KEY ISSUE PER BUCKET, AND THE ISSUES THAT WE FOCUS ON ARE EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE MENTIONED A LOT BY OUR EMPLOYEES OR HAVE COME UP A LOT IN CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HELD SINCE THE ASSESSMENT
  • ALL RIGHT
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • OKAY
  • WORKPLACE CULTURE IS PERHAPS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL FOCUS AREA NOT ONLY IN THE CULTURE OF AN ORGANIZATION, OFTEN HARD TO QUANTIFY AND MEASURE, BUT IT'S PERVASIVE AFFECTING ALL ASPECTS OF AN ORGANIZATION'S PRACTICES, POLICIES, AND IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
  • NEXT SLIDE, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE GERARD FROM HERE
  • THANK YOU
  • GOOD AFTERNOON
  • COMMISSIONERS IS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KATIE GIRARD, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
  • REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND PART OF THIS PRESENTATION TODAY
  • SO ONE WAY WE CAN MEASURE THE CULTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCE AND PERCEIVE THE PORT IS THROUGH SURVEYS, AND THEIR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK ON THE SCREEN ARE TWO COMMENTS FROM THE EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EQUITY SURVEY
  • THESE COMMENTS WERE IN REGARD TO EMPLOYEES FEELING UNSAFE, REPORTING INSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION
  • THERE WERE 108 COMMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TOPIC, AND 100 OF THEM UNFORTUNATELY, EXPRESSED FEAR AND CONCERN OF RETALIATION
  • JUST LIKE THESE TWO COMMENTS ON THE SCREEN
  • WHILE WE CANNOT NECESSARILY RESPOND TO AND IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS MADE AND FEEDBACK LIKE THIS, IT DOES GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW EMPLOYEES FEEL AND THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO, IN WORKPLACE CULTURE, THERE ARE FOUR KEY ISSUES AND 17 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS AREA
  • THE ISSUES ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND INCLUDE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE PORT VISION AND COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, THE LACK OF OPEN DIALOGUE ON EQUITY AND RACISM, THE LACK OF BIPOC REPRESENTATION AND VOICE AND DECISION MAKING, AND FINALLY, THE LACK OF SURETY AND FEAR OF RETALIATION AND REPORTING CONCERNS
  • AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • WITH REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE, ONLY 50% OF EMPLOYEES WHO COMPLETED THE EQUITY SURETY SAID THAT THEY AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT THEY ARE SATISFIED AND THAT ANY CONFLICTS AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE RELATED TO DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION WOULD BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY
  • ADDITIONALLY, BYPASS EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN EMPLOYEES, WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO REPORT DISCRIMINATION THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS
  • OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE A FOCUS ON TRAINING SUPERVISORS ACROSS THE BOARD IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR COMFORT IN DEALING WITH THESE VERY CHALLENGING ISSUES, CLEARLY DEFINING WHAT AVIATION IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T, AND FINALLY, PROVIDING GOOD, CLEAR DIRECTION ON THE CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF OUR HR 18 POLICY, WHICH COVERS CORRECTIVE AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION, AS WELL AS OUR CODE OF CONDUCT POLICIES
  • CLEARLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND A LOT OF SKILL BUILDING TO BE DONE, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE OEDI TEAM AND MANY OTHERS TO MAKE THIS AN ORGANIZATION THAT RESPONDS TO THESE CONCERNS AND TAKES TANGIBLE ACTION TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR EMPLOYEES
  • NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO BOOT UP
  • THANK YOU, KATIE
  • ALL RIGHT
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • WE'RE MOVING ON TO OPERATIONS AND PROCESSES FOR EQUITY
  • BROADLY, THIS REFERS TO HOW THE PORT OF COURT INTEGRATES EQUITY INTO SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM WORK
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO THESE ARE THE THREE KEY ISSUES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN PROCESSES, AND I'M TURNING IT OVER TO NOT YET
  • AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, SUPERVISORS IN THIS REPORT HAVE COME UP A LOT IN MULTIPLE PLACES, ACTUALLY, OF THE KEY ISSUES SUPERVISORS WE DEFINE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS STUDY AS ANY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS ONE OR MORE DIRECT REPORT, THEY PLAY A CRITICAL AND VERY ROLE IN ADVANCING EQUITY AND ANTI RACISM IN THE ORGANIZATION
  • MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES RESPONDED IN A SURVEY THAT THEIR SUPERVISORS DETERMINE WHETHER DEPARTMENT'S WORK IS INFORMED BY EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS OR NOT
  • SOME DESCRIBE CHALLENGES OF DEPARTMENT LEADERS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN EQUITY EFFORTS, WHILE OTHERS THAT THEY FEEL UNABLE TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT RACISM OR DISCRIMINATION, ESPECIALLY IF THE SUPERVISOR IS THE SOURCE OF THE CONCERN REPRESENTED
  • WORKERS ALSO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT SUPPORT FROM THEIR SUPERVISORS, ESPECIALLY THE LACK OF OPEN DIALOGUE ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES, PARTICIPATION IN EQUITY PROGRAMMING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  • BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS, ALSO CALLED FOR MORE TRAINING FOR MID LEVEL SUPERVISORS AND EXPRESSED THE NEED TO STOP PROTECTING SUPERVISORS WHO DISPLAY RACIST BEHAVIOR
  • AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
  • NUMBER 25 AND 26 HAVE COME UP A LOT, AND THIS IS WHERE YOUR ROLE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRIC AND ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE SO CRITICAL ARE CONSISTENT
  • LEADING WITH EQUITY CONSISTENTLY MESSAGING ABOUT LEADING WITH EQUITY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION
  • NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JERMAINE MORRIE TO GO INTO SOME MORE OF THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE
  • JERMAINE
  • ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, AND WELCOME TO THE PORT GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN
  • LET'S TALK ABOUT GAPS AND CRITICAL ROLE OF SUPERVISOR
  • IN 2021, THE PORT OF SEATTLE MADE IT MANDATORY FOR ALL SUPERVISORS TO ATTEND A RACIAL EQUITY EIGHT HOUR COURSE
  • 384 SUPERVISORS PORT WIDE COMPLETED 8 HOURS OF RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING
  • THE TRAINING WAS BROKEN UP OVER THREE SESSIONS, AND SUPERVISORS GAINED SKILLS AND STRATEGIES ON HOW TO ADDRESS RACIAL BIAS, FORTERRA CULTURE OF LEARNING, AND LEAD DIVERSE TEAMS AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, OFTENTIMES REFERRED TO AS PCS
  • THANKS TO NANCY CATANO CHANGE TEAM MEMBER, WE INCLUDED OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO INCLUDE THEM THEREAFTER
  • IN 2022, THE PORT WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE FOUNDATIONAL EIGHT HOUR COURSE FOR ALL NEW SUPERVISORS ENTERING THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • ADDITIONALLY, OEDI WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT TO 10 HOURS OF REQUIRED ADVANCED RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING FOR ALL SUPERVISORS
  • PCS WILL ADHERE TO THE SAME REQUIREMENT
  • BUT AS THE LEADER, I'M HOPING TO INCREASE OUR LEARNING AND WORK CLOSELY WITH OEDI FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A JOINT RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING WITH ALL STAFF
  • THE TRAINING IS VALUABLE AND A MUST
  • IT DEMONSTRATES TEAMWORK
  • MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO BE VULNERABLE AND GET COMFORTABLE AS A TEAM AND TELL PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL
  • MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ENCOURAGED EMPLOYEES TO START REPORTING POTENTIAL ISSUES, AND I REALLY WANT THAT IN PCS, WE CREATED A BEHAVIOR GOAL BASED ON CODE OF CONDUCT 14 THAT REQUIRES SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS WHO KNOW OF OR RECEIVE REPORTS OR COMPLAINTS OF OFFENDING BEHAVIOR TO PROMPTLY REPORT IT WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION
  • AND ONCE THE BEHAVIOR IS REPORTED, AN INVESTIGATION AND AN INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED, ALL PCS MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION
  • NEXT, LET'S TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF EDI PERFORMANCE GOALS
  • OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT ALL SUPERVISORS HAVE A MEASURABLE EQUITY COMPONENT TO THEIR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, AND HR HAS ALREADY MADE PROGRESS ON THIS GOAL, AND IT'S BEGINNING THIS YEAR, ALL SUPERVISORS WILL HAVE AN EDI PERFORMANCE GOAL
  • THIS IS BUILDING ON PAST SUCCESS
  • WITH SUPPORT FROM JANICE ZON AND THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT GROUP, WE DEVELOPED A PERFORMANCE BEHAVIORAL GOAL AND ADDED IT INTO OUR REPRESENTATIVE WORK
  • OUR REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEES WORK RULE EXCUSE ME AS AN EXPECTATION SO THAT WE CAN START HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE
  • THE GOAL HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED SINCE SUMMER OF 2020
  • THE BEHAVIORAL GOAL IS TO RECOGNIZE PRACTICE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND IT ENCOURAGES EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANY RACIAL INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION, AND IT ENCOURAGES EMPLOYEES TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS OBSTACLES TO PARTICIPATION IN RECOGNITION
  • ALONG WITH THE BEHAVIORAL GOAL, PCS HAS MANDATORY OEDI ESSENTIAL FUNCTION GOALS FOR ALL ITS EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDES STARTING A MEETING WITH AN EQUITY MOMENT, PARTICIPATE IN ODI OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PORT WHEN HIRING NEW FTS OR BACKFILLING POSITIONS, WORK WITH TALENT ACQUISITION FOR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ATTRACT DIVERSE CANDIDATE POOLS AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE HIRING PANEL WITH ESSENTIAL FUNCTION GOALS
  • LIKE THIS, WE CAN HELP FILL GAPS IN A CRITICAL ROLE OF SUPERVISOR AND NON SUPERVISORY ROLES, AND WE CAN HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT EDI, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KATIE
  • NEXT SLIDE
  • THANK YOU, JERMAINE
  • THE NEXT AREA OF FOCUS IS EMPLOYMENT
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO THERE ARE THREE KEY ISSUES AND TEN RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS SECTION
  • THE THREE ISSUES ARE THE PERCEPTIONS AROUND INEQUITIES AND RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND QUALIFICATIONS, INEQUITIES IN COMPENSATION AND THE BARRIERS TO ADVANCEMENT FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES
  • I'LL BE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT KEY ISSUE NUMBER TEN AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT FOLLOW
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • IN THE EQUITY SURVEY, EMPLOYEES GAVE INPUT ON SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO JOB ADVANCEMENT
  • COMMENTS FROM THE EQUITY SURVEY WERE ALMOST ALL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN
  • AGAIN, THE MOST FREQUENT ISSUE CITED WAS FAVORITISM OF WHITE MALES AND PROMOTION DECISIONS, INCLUDING KIND OF THIS LONGSTANDING, GOOD OLD BOYS NETWORK THAT CREATE BARRIERS FOR EMPLOYEES OF COLOR OUTSIDE OF THOSE NETWORKS
  • ANOTHER ISSUE NOTED WAS THE PERCEPTION THAT EXTERNAL HIRING IS OFTEN PRIORITIZED OVER OUR INTERNAL PROMOTIONS
  • MANY EMPLOYEES NOTED THAT A LACK OF TIME IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER FOR THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS
  • HERE WITHIN THE PORT OF SEATTLE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND ENSURE SUPERVISORS PUT THIS INTO THEIR STAFF PERFORMANCE GOALS
  • THE HR TEAM IS WELL ON THE WAY TO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PROCESSES, AS WELL AS WORKING ON CLEANING UP OUR HIRING DATA TO BETTER REPORT ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN RETIRING HIRING
  • I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE PORT
  • WE'VE HAD SOME DATA CHALLENGES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TELLING THE STORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PORT
  • SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE DEVELOPING A REPORT TO REFLECT THE INTERNAL VERSUS EXTERNAL HIRES
  • AND JUST IN 2021, WE HAD 248 COMPETITIVE HIRING PROCESSES AND OF THOSE, 91 WERE INTERNAL HIRE, SO DOING PRETTY GOOD
  • WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE EXTERNAL AND WE WANT TO HAVE THAT GOOD BALANCE, BUT CERTAINLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS IMPORTANT
  • WE ALSO HAVE A WELL ESTABLISHED MENTORING PROGRAM AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THESE PROGRAMS AS THAT'S ANOTHER WAY FOR PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND GET FEEDBACK FROM OTHER PROFESSIONALS HERE AT THE PORT
  • AGAIN, THE WORK CONTINUES AND WE ARE AGAIN PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH OEDI AND OUR EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS AND OUR DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY COUNCIL
  • I THINK THESE GROUPS COLLECTIVELY WILL CERTAINLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON OUR PROCESSES GOING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE PERCEPTIONS OF HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT HERE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • ALL RIGHT, BACK TO YOU, JERMAINE
  • ALL RIGHT
  • THANKS, KATIE
  • NICK
  • EQUITY CAPACITY BUILDING WE MEAN OUR ABILITY TO TRAIN AND DEVELOP POOR EMPLOYEE SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY WITHIN THEIR TEAM AND WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION BROADLY
  • NEXT SLIDE THE EQUITY SURVEY FOUND THAT 74.5% OF RESPONDENTS AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT PARTICIPATION IN OEDI PROGRAMS TO NORMALIZE RACIAL EQUITY IS ENCOURAGED
  • BUT THERE WAS ALSO SEVERAL ISSUES IDENTIFIED SUCH AS LAST OF TIME, RESOURCES AND RESISTANCE FROM BOTH SUPERVISORS AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS
  • NEXT SLIDE THERE'S ONLY ONE KEY ISSUE IN THE FOCUS AREA SO WE CAN SKIP THIS SLIDE AND TAKE A DEEPER DIVE AT THE NEXT SLIDE
  • LET'S TALK ABOUT BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, RESOURCES, AND RESISTANCE
  • IN MY OPINION, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES IN ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDES RELATED TO WORKPLACE CULTURE AND EMPLOYEE COMMENTED IN THE EQUITY SURVEY, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT REPORTED BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION, I'M 100% CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT
  • OUR VALUES ARE A JOKE
  • THEY ARE NOT EVEN WORTH THE PAPER THEY'RE WRITTEN ON
  • THIS IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO WORK FOR
  • I HAVE TO TELL YOU AS A LEADER, THIS IS HEARTBREAKING AND NOBODY SHOULD FEEL THAT WAY
  • HONESTLY
  • AT TIMES I'VE HAD SIMILAR FEELINGS
  • I WANT TO ELIMINATE FEELINGS OF DISTRUST, INFLUENCE AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN PCS AND THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • WE STARTED BY MODIFYING OUR VISION MISSION WITH CORE VALUES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH THE PORT OFFICE OF EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION AND LATER CHANGED OUR LOGO TO ILLUSTRATE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND WATERFRONT TEAM TO SHOW THAT WE ARE ONE TEAM
  • IN ADDITION TO THE SUPERVISOR RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING, FRONTLINE WORKERS AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE 3 HOURS OF RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING
  • 431 PORT WIDE STAFF COMPLETED THE TRAINING
  • ONE DISPARITY IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT EDI ACTIVITIES, TRAININGS, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SIMPLY ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE WORKERS AND SHIFT WORKERS FOR SEVERAL REASONS
  • IN PCS, WE ARE ALWAYS SEEKING WAYS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS NOT JUST TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND PERFORMING WORK, BUT ALSO SEEKING WAYS TO REMOVE INEQUITIES AND UNFAIRNESS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE EMPATHETIC AND MORE FAIR WITH HOW WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL
  • PCS AS A WHOLE IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES WITH AN EQUITY LENS TO PROMOTE CHANGE AND FIND WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE FAIRER WITHIN I FULLY SUPPORT THE CHANGE TEAM MEMBERS
  • CHANGE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T NEED TO BE RESTRICTED TO GETTING WORK DONE
  • IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT HOW THE WORK IS GETTING DONE AND BY WHOM TO ELIMINATE INEQUITIES CHANGE IS WHAT WE NEED AND ANYONE WHO RESISTS CHANGE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION
  • IN 2021, PCS ALL NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES OBTAINED MANDATORY CPI TRAINING
  • SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS COMPLETED LINK LEADERSHIP IN 2022
  • WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND INITIATIVES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MORE FAIR AND TO BE MORE EFFICIENT TO REMOVE ANY BARRIERS
  • WE WILL START BY INCLUDING THE REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEES
  • MANY YEARS AGO I WAS A REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEE AND I RECALL MANY OF THE UNFAIR CHALLENGES IN UPHILL BATTLES, ESPECIALLY AS A BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN
  • I DON'T EVER WANT TO FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM OR FORGET HOW I GOT WHERE I AM TODAY IN POOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
  • JANAE FISCHER ESTABLISHED AN INTERNAL BOOK CLUB AND IS CONTINUING TO SEEK TIME SLOTS TO ALLOW FOR REPRESENTATION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE
  • IN 2021, WE GOT PORTED IPHONES AND INCREASED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DESKTOP WORKSTATIONS FOR OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES
  • IN 2022, PCS ALLOCATED 5% OF CREW TIME TO NON PROJECT ACTIVITIES
  • THIS CREATED AN AVENUE FOR REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT OR EQUITY TRAININGS AS WORK ALLOWS
  • WHILE WE DEVELOP A POLICY, WHEN YOU HEAR NAMES LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN, YOU ONLY HEAR ABOUT THE SHOTS HE MADE
  • JACKIE ROBINSON YOU ONLY HEAR ABOUT THE HOME RUNS
  • THOMAS EDISON, YOU ONLY HEAR ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL LIGHT BULB CREATION
  • WHAT YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT IS THE MISS SHOTS, THE STRIKEOUTS OR THE FAILED EXPERIENCES
  • THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT HOW YOU TREAT SOMEONE UNFAVORABLY OR BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER
  • BUT AGAIN, AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY UNSPOKEN MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
  • SO IN 2022, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EXPLORE THE NEED TO CREATE DEDICATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN EDI EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY THE REPRESENTATIVE FOLKS AND SHIFT WORKERS
  • THEIR VOICE MATTERS, TOO
  • WITH LEADERSHIP ENFORCEMENT
  • TOGETHER, WE CAN REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, RESOURCES AND RESISTANCE, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO FERRY
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH
  • DOMAIN
  • GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK I'M KERI PRAVITZ
  • SHE'S HER PRONOUNS, AND I SERVED AS THE EAST KING COUNTY COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER IN THE EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
  • SO FAR, THE KEY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE COVERED HAVE BEEN FOCUSED INTERNALLY
  • NOW I'M GOING TO COVER A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT ARE EXTERNALLY FOCUSED, HOW WE SHOW UP AND WORK WITH AND ENGAGE WITH OUR EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITIES
  • I'LL START WITH ENGAGING WITH WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
  • NEXT SLIDE PLEASE
  • BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AFFIRM THE PORT'S EFFORTS IN CONTRACTING WITH SMALL AND WOMEN IN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, BUT MANY HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERNS AND IDENTIFIED AREAS OF IMPROVEMENTS
  • THERE WERE TWO KEY ISSUES HERE AND FOUR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
  • THE EQUITY SURVEY YIELDED 95 COMMENTS OVERALL ABOUT CONTRACTING, TWO THIRDS OF WHICH DESCRIBED AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT, INCLUDING REDUCING FERRIES AND CREATING MORE STREAMLINED PROCESSES FOR CONTRACTORS, ADDRESSING THE LACK OF WIND BEE AVAILABILITY FOR CERTAIN SERVICES, AND EXPANDING OUTREACH TO A BROADER UNIVERSE OF VENDORS
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • AS WE LOOK AT THE KEY ISSUES OF BARRIERS, THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT OF THOSE BARRIERS FROM WENDY'S AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE PORT
  • WE RELEASED AN RFP IN NOVEMBER FOR A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT THIS ASSESSMENT
  • THE CONSULTANT IS REQUIRED TO REPORT BACK A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN Q FOUR OF 2022
  • THIS PROCESS WILL ENGAGE WENDY'S, WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE PORT AND INCORPORATE THEIR FEEDBACK INTO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS
  • THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION IN THIS AREA IS THAT THE DIVERSITY AND CONTRACTING GROUP WILL STRENGTHEN INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAINING ABOUT CONTRACTING AND OUTREACH TO WENDY'S
  • YOU HEARD FROM BOTH LAWRENCE COLEMAN AND ME AND RICE EARLIER TODAY ON THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EFFORTS EARLIER IN THIS AREA
  • EARLIER IN TODAY'S MEETING
  • NEXT SLIDE PLEASE
  • ENGAGING IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AREA HAVE TO DO WITH HOW WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE
  • NEXT SLIDE PLEASE COURT EMPLOYEES HAVE MIXED ASSESSMENTS ON THE INCLUSION AND ROLE OF EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PORT WORK AND DECISION MAKING, PARTICULARLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND BIPOC LED ORGANIZATIONS
  • THIS WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP EARLIER TODAY IN QUESTIONS BY COMMISSIONERS DURING THE TOURISM REPORT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE GRANTS PROCESSES
  • AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS COMMENT, THERE IS HISTORICAL CONTEXT THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED
  • NEXT SLIDE PLEASE
  • THERE ARE TWO KEY ISSUES IN THIS AREA AND FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
  • THE TWO KEY ISSUES ARE LACK OF EMPOWERED AND MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH SUPPORT AND CHALLENGING PROCESSES FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRACT WITH THE PORT
  • NEXT SLIDE PLEASE
  • AS WE LOOK AT THE KEY ISSUE OF THE LACK OF EMPOWERMENT AND MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH SUPPORT, I JUST WANT TO STOP AND SAY MANY PEOPLE THINK THIS WORK FALLS PRIMARILY WITHIN THE EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AND EVEN WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM
  • HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TEAMS AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PORT ARE CONSTANTLY ENGAGING WITH EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITIES IN THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS
  • THUS, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT IN ALL AREAS WE ARE AUTHENTICALLY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE
  • ONE POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PORT HAS INCREASED MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DUWAMISH VALLEY COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMISSION RESOLUTION 37 67 THAT ESTABLISHED THE PORT COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM, THE PCAT, AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS COMMITMENT
  • THE PORT IS CENTERING THE VOICES OF OUR NEAR PORT STAKEHOLDERS THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY OUR MARITIME INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS
  • WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A SHARED DECISION MAKING MODEL FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN PLACE
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS IN THIS AREA ARE THE COMMUNITY EQUITY BOARD
  • IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS FOR US TO ENGAGE AND INVOLVE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • OUR PLAN IS TO ADVERTISE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022 FOR THIS BOARD
  • OEDI AND IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH BEST PRACTICES AND ARE GETTING RECOGNITION LOCALLY FOR DOING SO, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THROUGHOUT OUR PORT OPERATIONS
  • EXTERNAL RELATIONS TEAM WILL WORK INTERNALLY TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE INTENTIONAL, AUTHENTIC, AND MEANINGFUL WAYS AND HOW WE ENGAGE WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDIENCES AND SET UP WAYS THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THOSE FACING OUTWARD CAN DO SO AS WELL
  • AND THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS AREA IS FOR THE PORT TO BROADEN OUR WORK AND LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS PROVIDE FUNDING FOR STIPENDS FOR COMMUNITY ADVISORS AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, I'M NOW GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO JAY TO GO OVER TO THE NEXT STEPS
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THANKS, FERRY
  • YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • I KNOW WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US
  • AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS
  • ODI IS GOING TO BE TAKING THESE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AND TURNING THEM INTO AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH CORRESPONDING MILESTONES IN WAYS THAT WE'RE MEASURING SUCCESS
  • WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE A LOT OF THIS WORK INTO OUR 2022 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED
  • WE SHOULD HAVE THAT PLAN FINALIZED BY THE END OF JANUARY
  • SOME OF THIS WORK IS GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME NOT ONLY TO IMPLEMENT, BUT TO ALSO PLAN OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE WORK
  • SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING EFFORT
  • BUT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE WILL BE MANAGING AND COORDINATING ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND CHANGE TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LEADING THIS WORK
  • AND WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COME BACK TO YOU LATER IN THIS YEAR TO REPORT ON THIS PROGRESS AND TALK ABOUT DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC EQUITY GOALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT AND START MEASURING IN FUTURE YEARS
  • AND I WILL TURN IT TO BOOKDA TO CLOSE THIS OUT
  • ALL RIGHT
  • THANK YOU, AUBREE, YOU CAN STOP SHARING SLIDES
  • I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON ALL THESE SLIDES
  • THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO OUR PRESENTATION
  • I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DAY WHEN WE HAVE OUR FIRST MAJORITY BY CLOCK COMMISSION IN THE HISTORY OF THE PORTFOLIO AND TO SAY HOW HONORED I AM TO NOT ONLY PRESENT THIS BODY OF WORK TO THE COMMISSION, BUT ALSO TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN THE COMING YEARS TO IMPLEMENT EQUITY INTO THE ORGANIZATION, AS YOU CLEARLY HAVE BOTH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO THE EXPERTISE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE BOLD AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AN ANTI RACIST ORGANIZATION
  • THANK YOU
  • AND WE'RE READY FOR YOUR QUESTIONS
  • THANK YOU, BUDDY
  • I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY THE JAY AND KATIE AND JERMAINE AND FERRY FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION OF A REALLY HARD TOPIC
  • IT'S NEVER FUN TO SORT OF TAKE OUR MEDICINE, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION AND SUCCESS ARE EXPERIENCING, AND NOT ALL OF IT IS POSITIVE
  • AND I THINK THE SIGN OF A HEALTHY ORGANIZATION IS A WILLINGNESS TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND TO TRULY ADDRESS THEM
  • SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO GO AROUND AND GIVE EACH COMMISSIONER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND ASK QUESTIONS
  • WE'RE GOING TO START AGAIN WITH COMMISSIONERS CHUCK
  • YEAH
  • FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DON'T THINK IT'S A COINCIDENCE, BOOKDA, THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY AS WE WELCOME OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS AND OUR FIRST BY POPULARITY
  • I THINK IT'S IN MANY WAYS A TESTAMENT TO A LOT OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY HERE AT THE PORT
  • WE COVERED A LOT DURING THIS PRESENTATION, SO I'M GOING TO SPARE EVERYONE THE LENGTHY LINE OF QUESTIONING
  • I HOPE MY NEW COLLEAGUES GET A DEEPER BRIEFING AND OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT ON THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE THAT WE PASSED BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR OR GUESS LAST YEAR NOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
  • BUT I DID WANT TO QUICKLY MAKE A COMMENT FOR CONTEXT
  • AND MAYBE FOR MY NEW COLLEAGUES, AWARENESS IS THAT FOLKS MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION WAS VERY INWARD LOOKING
  • IT WAS ABOUT HOW THE PORT AS AN ORGANIZATION CAN BE MORE EQUITABLE WITHIN ITSELF
  • I THINK THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THAT
  • THE FIRST IS, I BELIEVE, FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EXTERNALLY TO ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE TOUCH
  • IT FIRST NEEDS TO BE EQUITABLE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE INTERNALLY, AND THAT WILL, I THINK, NATURALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF IN EVERYTHING WE DO OUTWARDLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS
  • IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T CLAIM TO PROMOTE EQUITY IF WE ARE NOT AN EQUITABLE ORGANIZATION OURSELVES FIRST AND OFTENTIMES I THINK BUDDHA AND I REFER TO DOING EVERYTHING THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY
  • RIGHT? WE SAY, LET'S DO EVERYTHING THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY
  • AND I THINK THAT ANALOGY IS SO PRUDENT BECAUSE AS SOMEONE WHO WEARS GLASSES IN REAL LIFE, YOU NEED TO GET USED TO WEARING THOSE GLASSES ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST PUTTING THOSE GLASSES ON WHENEVER YOU NEED IT
  • AND SO AS AN ORGANIZATION, I THINK WE ARE WORKING AND FLEXING OUR MUSCLES AND WORKING TO GET USED TO WEARING THAT LENS OF EQUITY
  • AND SO WHILE THIS PRESENTATION MAY HAVE KIND OF BEEN A LITTLE LIGHT ON SOME OF THE EXTERNAL WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS AN ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE EQUITY, I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WAS TOUCHED UPON IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS A VERY BIG FIRST STEP
  • AND I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY IMPACT THAT WILL FLOURISH AS A RESULT OF OUR LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR
  • THE SECOND REASON WHY WE'RE FOCUSING SO MUCH INTERNALLY IS BECAUSE I THINK AS COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THAT ULTIMATELY WE ARE TEMPORARY HIRES
  • I'M A TEMP HIRE, RYAN'S, A TEMP HIRE
  • WE'RE ALL TEMP HIRE AS COMMISSIONERS
  • FOR THE MOST PART, CAREER PORT EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO OUTLAST US HERE AT THIS ORGANIZATION, I HOPE
  • AND THAT'S WHY IN ORDER FOR US TO PROMOTE EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND INSTITUTIONALIZE IT, IT NEEDS TO BE A BOTTOM UP APPROACH THAT INVOLVES POOR EMPLOYEES
  • THAT WAY, WHEN NONE OF US ARE HERE ANYMORE, THAT LENS OF EQUITY OUTLASTS US
  • SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I REALLY WANT TO THANK BOOKDA AND OUR TEAM FOR ENGAGING WITH OUR OWN PEOPLE
  • I FEEL LIKE OFTENTIMES WHEN AN EDI INITIATIVE OR ORDER IS GIVEN FROM A TOP DOWN PERSPECTIVE, THESE ORGANIZATIONS BRING IN EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS AND THEY TELL THE ORGANIZATION WHAT TO DO WITHOUT MUCH ENGAGEMENT WITH ACTUAL EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
  • SO BOOKDA AND TEAM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU APPROACH THIS
  • I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAD WITH EMPLOYEES AND, ERGS
  • I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE ALL THE PROGRESS WE MADE, ALL THE SUGGESTIONS, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PUTTING A LIGHT ONTO THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BRUSHED UNDER THE RUG FOR MANY YEARS
  • AND I'M ESPECIALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FURTHER PROGRESS WE'LL MAKE GOING FORWARD
  • SO THANK YOU, JAY BOOKDA AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, GERMAINE, REALLY APPRECIATE IT
  • IT CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED HOW CRUCIAL THIS WORK IS, HOW GROUNDBREAKING IT IS
  • AND QUITE HONESTLY, I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER BODIES OF GOVERNMENTS IN OUR PREJUDICED REGION, I CAN SAY CONFIDENTLY THAT WE ARE LEADING THE CHARGE IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BETTER, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNALLY
  • SO THANK YOU
  • AND I WILL YOU IN MY TIME
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS CHO, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ANY TIME LEFT TO YIELD, BUT ANYWAY, I'M JUST WANTING TO FOLLOW UP, ACTUALLY, FROM THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION REALLY ON THE EXTERNAL SIDE OF THINGS
  • BUT I DO WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT THE WONDERFUL NATURE OF THIS TIMING OF THIS PRESENTATION FOR OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS WAS NOT BY ACCIDENT IN THAT WE HELD THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE
  • AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THAT WORKED OUT AS WELL AS IT DID
  • AND JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS WHEN COURTNEY, GREG WAR AND I WE CO CHAIRED THE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE BACK IN 2016 THAT WE HAD A GROUP OF EXTERNAL FOLKS WITH DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES WHO RECOMMENDED THE AVIATION OF A POSITION LIKE BOOKS
  • AND SO THIS REALLY CAME OUT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INITIATION, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S BLOSSOMED INTO SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN THAT
  • BUT THE QUESTION I HAD WAS SORT OF FOLLOWING UP ON THE QUESTION I HAD FOR ME WAS IN TERMS OF THE WINDY CONTRACTING WORK, THE WAY I'M READING THE RECOMMENDATIONS HERE THAT THE BARRIERS TO ENTER A SMALL BUSINESS WAS SOMEWHAT IN THE WAY IN WHICH THE CONTRACTING OR THE SOLICITATIONS WERE THE LANGUAGE THAT IS USED AND JUST OVERCOMING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES JUST TO DEAL WITH THE RESPONDING TO THESE ARDUOUS APPLICATIONS
  • OFTEN I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT IN TERMS OF STRATEGICALLY, WE, OF COURSE, WANT TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES
  • BUT DO YOU SEE A DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO REACH OUT TO A BROADER PERIMETER IF, INDEED, I DON'T WANT THIS SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF A BUY POCKET COMMUNITY
  • THEREFORE, WE CAN'T HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE
  • THE CITY IS NOT VERY DIVERSE AT LARGE COMPARED TO OTHER BIG CITIES
  • THEREFORE, WE SHOULDN'T JUST HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF WINDY PARTICIPANTS
  • RIGHT
  • SO I'M JUST WONDERING, WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT WAYS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVELY SOLICITING FOLKS THAT MAYBE IF THESE BIG CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE, MAYBE THERE WOULD BE MORE WINDY BUSINESSES THAT WOULD SET UP SHOP OR ACTIVE SUBS FOR THESE CONTRACTS THAT WE GENERATE? I'M JUST WONDERING, AS ANOTHER WAY TO OVERCOME THE REPRESENTATION
  • DO WE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? IS IT OKAY TO SPEAK, PLEASE? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION
  • I KNOW THAT STILL
  • OH, I SEE ME AND I JUST TURNED ON HIS CAMERA AND PROBABLY WANTS TO ANSWER THAT
  • AS I HEARD YOUR QUESTION, YOU'RE ASKING, CAN WE BE MORE BOLD? CAN WE INCREASE OUR NUMBERS? CAN WE EXCEED OUR GOALS AND THE METRICS? AND I THINK OUR ASSESSMENTS WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL IN BRINGING THE PERSPECTIVES OF SMALL AND WINDY BUSINESSES TO US ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BARRIERS AND ALSO ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN INCREASE
  • BUT I WANT TO TURN THIS OVER TO MIAN TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS
  • NO, THANKS
  • BOOKED
  • HELLO, EVERYBODY
  • ONCE AGAIN
  • SO REAL QUICK, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THIS IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL STUDY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF COMMISSION MEETINGS AGO, AND AS PART OF ONE OF THE SCOPE ITEMS IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE AREAS OF HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE UPON OUR CONTRACTING FROM A WMBE PERSPECTIVE AND EVEN LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE AREA
  • AND THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT THE PORT OF WHAT OUR CONSULTANT WILL BE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE
  • YEAH
  • THANK YOU
  • I WAS JUST TRYING TO EXPAND THE QUESTION TO HOW MUCH IT'S INTEGRATED INTO THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE BARRIERS TO LOCAL WMBE PARTICIPATION, BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO MORE DISTANT WMBE PARTICIPATION
  • SO IT'S JUST I THINK IT'S CONCENTRIC CIRCLES OF CHALLENGES
  • SURE
  • NO, ABSOLUTELY
  • AND JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT I WANT TO BRING UP WE DO ADVERTISE IN SOME OF THE NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING HERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS ALL THE WAY TO THE AJAC
  • I KEEP FORGETTING WHAT AJAC STANDS FOR
  • SO THERE ARE SOME LARGER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUTS OUT SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS TO ACTUALLY GET A BETTER BREADTH AND DEPTH OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED ABOUT WORKING UP HERE IN THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN REGION
  • EXCELLENT
  • I WOULD JUST THINK THERE'S A CONCESSIONNAIRES FOR THEM THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN ONE FOR OUR NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES, JUST TO SEE WHATEVER HURDLES THAT WE COULD HELP THEM OVERCOME
  • BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A NETWORK TO DRAW FROM
  • WE MAKE IT FOR THEM THE BETTER
  • RIGHT
  • I ALWAYS SAY THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
  • SO I NEVER SAY WE HAVE ALL EVERYTHING
  • BUT I DO SAY THAT IF THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT WE'RE MISSING, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW AND SEND THEM MY WAY
  • THANK YOU, MAN
  • MOVING ON TO COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA
  • THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CALKINS
  • AND I WANT TO JUST REALLY COMMEND THE EQUITY OFFICE TEAM FOR THIS TREMENDOUS BODY OF WORK
  • IT'S TRULY SUCH A HUGE FEAT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY THOUGHTFULLY CRAFT, EXECUTE, AND NOW PRESENT TO US SINCE YOUR ORIGINAL ESTABLISHMENT NOT SO LONG AGO
  • I WILL ALSO SHARE THAT IN MY CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON STATE'S COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS
  • I REPRESENTED THE COMMISSION UPON THE STATE'S EQUITY OFFICE TASK FORCE, AND YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE EXAMPLE OF WHAT TRULY MEANINGFULLY STANDING UP THIS SORT OF OFFICE AND DOING THIS SORT OF WORK COULD LOOK LIKE
  • SO I WANT TO THANK YOU
  • IN ADDITION, FOR THIS IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN PROMOTING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE PORT OF SEATTLE
  • I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION FOR JERMAINE, AND I AM WONDERING WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF HARASSMENT, MISCONDUCT OR DISCRIMINATION WHO CONDUCTS THOSE INVESTIGATIONS
  • SO RIGHT NOW, IF AN EMPLOYEE WERE TO REPORT SOMETHING TO A SUPERVISOR THAT GOES TO WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY CONDUCT THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND GET BACK TO US WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US TO TAKE THE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON
  • AND I WONDER IF KATIE WOULD LIKE TO PERHAPS ADD TO THAT
  • KATIE
  • YEAH
  • GERMAINE IS EXACTLY CORRECT
  • YEAH
  • THE WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY TEAM IS PART OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND THERE'S A TEAM, A MIGHTY TEAM OF TWO
  • THEY DO ALSO PARTNER WITH THE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS PORTION OF HUMAN RESOURCES
  • SO DEPENDING ON IF IT'S A PERFORMANCE ISSUE OR A CODE OF CONTACT ISSUE, CODE OF CONDUCT SPECIFICALLY GOES TO OUR WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITY KIND OF
  • EVERYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT GOES TO HR
  • SO WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE ISSUES AND DETERMINE FINDINGS AND RECOMMEND STEPS TO TAKE AS A RESULT OF THOSE FINDINGS
  • STEVE, I SAW YOUR HAND, BUT YOU RETRACTED IT
  • DID IT GET SAID
  • I THINK BOTH JERMAINE AND KATIE DID A GOOD JOB OF DESCRIBING THAT
  • AND, COMMISSIONER, WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH YOU AS WELL, BUT THEY DESCRIBED IT PERFECTLY OF WHAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE ALL THAT INFORMATION
  • ALL THOSE REPORTS THAT COME TO US COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU'RE MUTED
  • I'M ALSO WONDERING ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU DISAGGREGATE ETHNIC DATA, SO NOT JUST WITHIN RACIAL CATEGORIES, BUT ALSO, DO YOU JUST AGGREGATE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND DISPARITIES AND EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE BY ETHNICITY AS WE KNOW THAT LUMPING FOLKS TOGETHER IN ONE BIG GROUP
  • IT CAN OFTEN PUT A VENEER OVER THE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR EXPERIENCES
  • AND MY OTHER RELATED QUESTION IS AND YOU MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS, BUT DO YOU CAPTURE IT? MIGHT NOT EVEN BE LEGAL TO DO THIS, BUT DO YOU CAPTURE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT, SECOND GENERATION REFUGEE OR BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS HAVE EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITIES? BIG QUESTION
  • AND THE THIRD COMPONENT IS ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ADAPTING A BARRIER IN ADVANCING THROUGH THE RANKS
  • YEAH
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
  • CERTAINLY WE FOLLOW THE CENSUS CATEGORIES IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES'ABILITY TO VOLUNTARILY REPORT THEIR RACE AND ETHNICITY
  • IT IS VOLUNTARY LIKE WE CANNOT COMPEL EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO US
  • AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR WE HAVE A GREAT WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHICS DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN SEND YOU THE LINK TO
  • THAT REALLY BREAKS IT DOWN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE AT, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 16% OF OUR EMPLOYEE BASE BUT DOES NOT IDENTIFY THEIR RACE OR ETHNICITY
  • WE'VE REALLY TRIED IT'S IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT
  • I THINK IT WAS AT 18% WHEN I GOT HERE, WE'VE DONE SOME EXTRA COMMUNICATION TO GET PEOPLE TO REALLY OWN THAT INFORMATION, TO HELP US TELL THE STORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AT THE PORT
  • BUT AGAIN, IT'S A VOLUNTARY TASK FOR EMPLOYEES TO COMPLETE
  • ONCE THEY'RE HIRED, WE DON'T GO DOWN INTO IMMIGRATION STATUS OR WHAT GENERATION OF AN IMMIGRANT
  • WE DON'T COLLECT THAT INFORMATION
  • CURRENTLY, THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD EXPAND ON
  • I HAVE PUT IN PLACE AN HR DATA PERSON SPECIFICALLY TO HELP US REALLY DEFINE OUR DATA ONE BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD DATA AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CONSISTENTLY ADDED INTO OUR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPORTING THAT OUT AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION
  • SO WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT STRIDES IN JUST GETTING SOME MORE DATA AVAILABLE TO STAFF, BUT CERTAINLY THOSE SECOND TWO ITEMS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED, WE DO NOT CURRENTLY COLLECT THAT INFORMATION
  • WHAT ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY? YEAH, THAT AS WELL
  • THAT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT IS CAPTURED IN OUR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TODAY
  • SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT
  • WE HAVE DONE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN TERMS OF PUTTING OUT INFORMATION IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND PARTNERING WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND THAT REACH
  • BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT A DATA POINT THAT WE CAPTURE ON OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES
  • IF I CAN ADD THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY IS NOW TAKING OVER THE FILING OF THE ANNUAL TITLE SIX REPORT
  • WE'VE ONLY DONE IT ONE TIME FOR THIS LAST YEAR, AND IN THAT PROCESS, I LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE I THINK WE CAN MAKE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IS LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION
  • AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY PLAN ON TACKLING IN THE COMING YEAR
  • SO THAT'S ONE THAT IS JUST THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THIS OFFICE
  • THANK YOU BOOKDA
  • ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS TOSHA YOU'RE? STILL? OKAY, GREAT
  • ALL RIGHT
  • WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED FIRST
  • I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PRESENTERS
  • THE WHOLE OEDI TEAM DIRECTOR BOOKED UP FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
  • THIS IS REALLY TOUGH WORK
  • AND ALSO THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER CHO AND EXECUTIVE STEVE METRUCK FOR ALSO TAKING THIS ON
  • THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ADDRESSED IN ONE GIVING DAY OR ONE MEETING
  • IT'S HEAVY WORK
  • IT IS CHANGING CULTURES ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IT'S WORK THAT WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMMIT TO AND INVEST IN AND PUTTING DOLLARS BEHIND IT
  • AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE
  • I REALLY DO THINK THE PORT CAN LEAD US IN THAT WAY IN MAKING THOSE CHANGES
  • BEING AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN OUR REGION, WE CAN HELP MOVE THIS ORGANIZATION IN A WAY THAT WE ARE LEADING IN THIS SPECIFIC AREA, AND WE HAVE TO DO IT ALSO FROM THE TOP RIGHT, ENSURING THAT EVEN OUR OWN COMMISSION OFFICE, WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
  • HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE DO WE HAVE WORKING IN OUR OWN COMMISSIONERS OFFICE? AND REFLECTING ON THAT AND REPRESENTATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT HAVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLACK OR LOOK LIKE ME IN A ROOM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TOKENIZING PEOPLE
  • BUT WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE ALONG BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES MATTER AND THAT HELPS US IN THE MARKETPLACE
  • THIS WORK IS BEYOND JUST LOOKING AT ONE PARTICULAR AREA IN THIS ORGANIZATION
  • IT HAS TO BE EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE INVESTMENTS TO DO THAT
  • I ALSO THINK ABOUT TITLE SIX, RIGHT
  • WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS FROM ALSO AN ACCESSIBILITY LENS
  • AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION, I DID STEP AWAY FOR A SECOND TO USE THE RESTROOM, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANY PARTS ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DISABILITY AND WORKING AT THE PORT AND WHAT THEIR LENS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE
  • AND THAT IS A QUESTION THAT I HAVE
  • IF THAT IS AN AREA THAT YOU GUYS WILL LOOK INTO OR HAVE LOOKED INTO
  • SO THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION
  • AND THEN LASTLY, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED
  • I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AS NEXT STEPS FROM THE PORT COMMISSIONERS IN WAYS THAT YOU THINK WE CAN ENGAGE AROUND THIS
  • AND THAT MIGHT BE TOO BIG OF A QUESTION TO ANSWER IN JUST THIS ONE MEETING
  • BUT I GUESS THAT'S JUST TO SAY THAT I'M VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THIS AREA
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
  • AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONERS HASEGAWA ALSO ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND ADA, AND THE PORT COURT DOES HAVE SOMEONE AT THE PORT WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADA FOR THE BUILDING
  • BUT AS I MENTIONED, BECAUSE WE'VE JUST TAKEN ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TITLE SIX REPORTING, IT IS ON MY LIST OF THINGS FOR US TO CONNECT THE TWO AND TO FIGURE OUT IN WHAT WAYS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND FURTHER BOTH AREAS OF WORK TOGETHER, SO THAT'S ONE THE SECOND IS
  • FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO THRILLING TO HEAR THIS QUESTION OF WHAT CAN THE COMMISSIONERS DO TO ADVANCE THIS WORK
  • SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT
  • I THINK, BECAUSE YOUR ROLES THAT THE LEADERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION ARE TO BE EVERYWHERE AND ON SO MANY THINGS
  • MY RESPONSE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD REALLY WELCOME YOUR PARTNERSHIP TO INFUSE EQUITY EVERYWHERE, THAT YOU SEE A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY AND TO REALLY RAISE THE VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS OF THIS FORK EVERYWHERE THAT YOU GO
  • BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF JAY, GERMAINE, KATIE AND CARRIE HAVE ANY OTHER RESPONSES TO THAT
  • SURE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD CERTAINLY, AS IT RELATES TO ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN WORKFORCE, WE DO HAVE A STRONG ADA COMPONENT AS PART OF OUR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS TEAM IN HUMAN RESOURCES
  • AND SO ANYTIME AN EMPLOYEE NEEDS AN ACCOMMODATION, THAT IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THEIR DISABILITY STATUS
  • SO WE DO HAVE A STRONG ADA PROGRAM WITHIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO CARE FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES
  • IN REGARDS TO JUST YOUR QUESTION OF WHAT CAN YOU DO? I THINK THE SUPPORT IS WHAT'S CRITICAL IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU IDENTIFY THINGS AND REALLY JUST HELP SUPPORT THE CULTURE CHANGE
  • CULTURE CHANGE TAKES A LONG TIME
  • WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS CONTINUALLY NEW PEOPLE ARE BEING ADDED ALL THE TIME
  • RIGHT
  • WE EXPECT A LOT OF HIRES IN 2022
  • AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED ON OUR PRACTICES AND POLICIES
  • AND SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S GOOD SUPPORT AND CREATING THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE AS YOU ALL SAID, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, THIS IS TOUGH WORK AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THIS TOUGH WORK
  • AND SO YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL THOSE AREAS IS VERY MUCH WELCOME, MR PRESIDENT, IF I CAN JUMP INTO THERE, TOO
  • FERRY, I'M SORRY, DID I STEP ON YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO ADD SOMETHING? PLEASE GO AHEAD
  • OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION AROUND HOW COMMISSIONERS CAN HELP AS WE LOOK TO GET YOU OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
  • OUR WORK AROUND EQUITY IS OFTEN VERY MUCH HIGHLIGHTED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS
  • SO MAKING SURE YOU'RE WELL VERSED IN THAT, BUT ALSO THAT WE ARE OFFERING TO OTHER CITIES AND PLACES THE EXAMPLES OF THE WORK WE DO, WE DO HAVE SOME BEST PRACTICES HERE
  • WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT AND WE NEED TO GO OUT AND SHARE THAT AND TELL THAT STORY
  • SO LAST YEAR, WE ABLE TO HAVE COMMISSIONER CHOW ON A FEW DIFFERENT OEDI PANELS, BOOTY SPOKE IN DIFFERENT PLACES
  • SO LOOKING FOR MORE OF THAT AND MORE ENGAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE BECAUSE YOU HEARD A LOT OF IT TODAY
  • THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
  • THIS IS HARD WORK
  • WE'RE NOT IN IT ALONE, AND WE CAN HELP OTHERS GO AHEAD, KERRY, THAT WAS GREAT
  • AND I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME UP THAT BOTH WE SPONSOR EVENTS FOR YOU TO SPEAK AT THOSE EVENTS AND THEN OTHER EVENTS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN WELL, REPRESENTING US
  • BUT I THINK ALSO I WANT TO ADD IS THAT WE'LL BE COMING
  • THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING
  • AND LOOKING AT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO MENTION HERE IS OUR ONGOING WORK AS WELL, WHICH IS UNDER HR UNDER KATIE GEORGE LEADERSHIP
  • WE'RE LOOKING AT COMPENSATION
  • SO AS WE DO WITH THESE ANALYSIS, A LOT OF THEM WILL BE PROGRAMS OR AUTHORIZATIONS THAT WILL BRING TO YOU WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT EQUITY LENS
  • AS WE LOOK AT THIS, WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS FORWARD
  • AND I THINK YOUR SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS
  • AND IT'S ALSO BUILDING THE CAPACITY AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THAT
  • WE'VE GOTTEN THAT SUPPORT THROUGH OUR BUDGETS TO BUILD OUR CAPACITY WITHIN OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
  • AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF WAYS THROUGH YOUR BIG LEVERS, YOUR BIG LEVERS OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN APPROVE AND INITIATIVES THAT YOU CAN DO
  • IT'S BOTH THE OFFICIAL LEVEL LEVERS AND THEN ALSO THE PARTICIPATION IN THOSE PROCESSES AS WELL
  • THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY
  • ALL RIGHT
  • COMMISSIONER MOHAMED, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL
  • AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS WORK MORE AND DEFINITELY I'M COMMITTED TO IT
  • OKAY
  • I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO START WITH JUST A QUICK COMMENT
  • I THINK UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE ROLE OF AN ALLY IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS IN MY POSITION
  • AND I DON'T MEAN AS COMMISSIONERS, I MEAN, AS A CISGENDERED WHITE MALE, WHETHER IN A SUPERVISORY ROLE OR ROLE LIKE THIS OR SIMPLY AS BEING A GOOD COWORKER
  • AND I'LL ADMIT TO READING A REPORT LIKE THIS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST FEELINGS THAT I FEEL IS DEFENSIVENESS
  • AND I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE FEELING
  • BUT I WANT TO HELP OTHER ALLIES TO UNDERSTAND
  • I THINK SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH TO ENSURE THAT WE ADVANCE THIS WORK
  • AND I THINK THE FIRST ONE IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PARADIGM OR GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER CHOSE METAPHOR OF THE LENS THROUGH WHICH WE SEE THE WORLD REALLY IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO EVEN PERCEIVE WHAT OTHERS EXPERIENCE
  • IT'S SORT OF LIKE THAT NOTION OF WHEN AFTER A CAR CRASH, THE DETECTIVE IS ASKING ALL TEN WITNESSES WHAT THEY SAW AND GETS TEN TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORIES
  • THE DIFFERENCES IN THE STORIES, NOT BECAUSE SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENED, THAT REALITY WASN'T DIFFERENT
  • IT'S THAT EACH PERSON SAW IT FROM THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE AND THROUGH THEIR OWN HISTORY OF EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED THE WAY THEY PERCEIVED IT
  • AND SO AS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIRTUALLY EVERY FORM OF PRIVILEGE FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE, SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A VERY PARTICULAR FILTER THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THOSE EXPERIENCES
  • AND I THINK A METRIC THAT I'VE OFTEN REFLECTED ON AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT IS STARK IS MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL VERSUS MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WOMEN OF COLOR, NOT JUST HERE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE, BUT ON CITY COUNCILS AND COUNTY COUNCILS AS STATE REPS
  • I HAVE NEVER IN FOUR YEARS RECEIVED HATE MAIL OR A THREAT OR AN EMAIL QUESTIONING THE LEGITIMACY OF MY LEADERSHIP AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL EVER ONCE
  • AND YET I KNOW IN CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS WHO SERVE AN ELECTED OFFICE THAT THEY GET THEM ALL THE TIME
  • AND SO THAT IS JUST SIMPLY ONE STARK METRUCK OF THE DIFFERENCE IN EXPERIENCE AND HOW THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WOULD LOOK LIKE
  • AND SO I WANT I AND FELLOW ALLIES TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A CERTAIN BLINDNESS THAT WE NEED TO GET BEYOND IN HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR COLLEAGUES
  • AND THEN I THINK THE SECOND REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ZERO SUM, THAT WHEN WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS, THEY DON'T DETRACT FROM YOU OR OTHERS
  • IN FACT, THEY'RE PIER EXPANDING PROGRAMS IT MEANS THAT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THE NEW PRODUCTIVITY OF TAPPING INTO TALENT AND SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT WE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE TAPPED INTO
  • AND SO FEAR NOT KNOW THAT THIS WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY UNLOCK UNFETTER THOSE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY FACED OBSTACLES TO THEIR ADVANCEMENT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IN WAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE
  • SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO TURN TO JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS
  • THE FIRST IS I KNOW THAT FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION, ONE OF THE CONCRETE STEPS, AND IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION IS THE COMMUNITY EQUITY BOARD, AND I WOULD JUST LOVE TO KNOW FROM BOOKDA, WHEN ARE WE HOPING FOR THE FIRST CONVENING OF THAT GROUP, OR WHEN WE REALLY UNDERTAKE THE WORK OF POPULATING IT AND THEN MEETING
  • THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY EQUITY BOARD IS A CRITICAL WAY THAT I SEE THAT WE CAN ENGAGE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND LEADERS IN GETTING FEEDBACK IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ASSESSMENT
  • BUT EXTERNALLY FROM COMMUNITIES
  • WE'VE SPENT MUCH OF THE LAST YEAR REALLY GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE INTERNALLY WITH THE ELT COMMISSION, THE EQUITY COMMITTEE, AND WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS TO GET EVERYONE'S INPUT
  • AND I WONDER IF STEVE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THIS, BUT I THINK OUR COMMITMENT IS IN MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND HAVING AN EQUITY BOARD, HOPEFULLY IN PLACE WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS
  • SO HOPEFULLY BY THE SUMMER OF 22
  • STEVE, DO YOU WANT TO ADD? YEAH, THANKS, BOOKDA
  • AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN THIS REGARD
  • SPECIFICALLY, THANKS TO PRESIDENT CALKINS, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING A LOT OF DATA
  • LET ME JUST SAY THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THIS SHOULD BE WITH THE FORM AND HOW IT SHOULD BE
  • SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THOSE THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND WE EXPECT PROBABLY HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMMISSIONERS BEFOREHAND AS WE'RE SOLIDIFYING THIS AND THE NEXT FOLLOWING
  • THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER HERE TO GET THE FEEDBACK IN THIS ITERATIVE PROCESS
  • AND I KNOW WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, THAT WE'D LIKE TO GET THEIR INPUT ON THIS, TOO, BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF INTEREST, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE FORM IT SHOULD TAKE, AND WE'RE JUST WORKING THROUGH THOSE LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES AND THEN TRYING TO REALLY FINALIZE A PROPOSAL FOR THIS, INCLUDING WHERE THE MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE DRAWN FROM AND HOW IT IS REPRESENTED
  • SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS
  • GREAT
  • THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION
  • AT THIS POINT
  • I THINK JUST A GOOD REMINDER IS THAT WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT IS DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH BOOT AND HER TEAM, THE EQUITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY FORWARD THE MORE DAY TO DAY WORK ON THESE EFFORTS
  • AND OF COURSE, IT WILL REGULARLY COME UP AS A PART OF OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS FOR ACTION ITEMS IN THE FUTURE
  • IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE, WHICH IS FINE
  • I HOPE WE CAN COMPLETE OUR MEETING BEFORE SUNSET, WHICH IS AT 432 TODAY
  • SO WE GOT ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR US TO COMPLETE THE LAST BRIEFING AND ALSO LEAVE TIME FOR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END
  • BUT WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ASK CLERK HART TO READ THE NEXT ITEM INTO THE RECORD
  • THANK YOU
  • THAT IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN D THE 2021 PORT OF SEATTLE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM MISSIONARIES THE PURPOSE OF THIS BRIEFING IS TO PRESENT THE KEY RESULTS ON THE PORT'S 2021 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM TO MEET THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SUPPORT CREATES THIS ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND PROTECTED VETERANS
  • THE KEY RESULTS SHOW THAT IN SOME AREAS WE ARE DOING WELL AND IN OTHER AREAS, WE'RE DOING WELL
  • WE MEET OR EXCEED THE GOALS
  • HOWEVER, IN OTHER AREAS, WE DO NOT MEET THOSE GOALS AND HAVE MORE WORK TO DO
  • THE RESULTS WILL HELP INFORM OUR EQUITY EFFORTS AND ACTUALLY WILL ADD TO OUR EFFORTS THAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD
  • AND THE PRESENTERS THIS AFTERNOON ARE CINDY ALVAREZ, SENIOR MANAGER, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS FROM HR AND SANDERS MAIL, SENIOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS CONSULTANT, HUMAN RESOURCES
  • SO WITH THAT, CYNTHIA, I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU
  • THANK YOU
  • GOOD AFTERNOON
  • I'M CYNTHIA ALVAREZ, SENIOR MANAGER OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
  • I'M HERE WITH SANDERS MAYO, SENIOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS CONSULTANT, AND WE'RE HERE TO BRIEF YOU AND TO CLOSE OUT THE PORT'S 2021 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • AS A FEDERAL CONTRACTOR, THE PORT IS REQUIRED TO CREATE THREE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLANS, ONE FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES, ONE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND ONE FOR VETERAN PROTECTED VETERANS
  • DURING THIS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BRIEFING, SANDERS AND I WILL REFERENCE THE PORT'S BIPOC EMPLOYEES AS MINORITIES
  • I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE UPFRONT THAT THIS IS OUTDATED LANGUAGE AND TO EXPLAIN THAT WE DO SO TO REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
  • THE PURPOSE OF THE THREE PLANS IS TO SHOW THE PORT'S GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO RECRUIT, HIRE, AND RETAIN QUALIFIED WOMEN, MINORITIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND VEHICLE PROTECTED VETERANS, AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT THE REPRESENTATION WITHIN THESE GROUPS MEET OSCP'S REQUIREMENTS
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • WE START WITH OUR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES OFCCP'S ASPIRATIONAL GOAL OF 7% REPRESENTATION WITHIN EACH OF THE PORT'S 17 EEO JOB GROUPS, A LITTLE OVER SIX AND A HALF OF THE PORT WORKFORCE SELF IDENTIFY AS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH IS JUST OVER ONE AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR
  • WE'VE ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF EEO JOB GROUPS, WHICH ALIGN WITH THE 7% ASPIRATIONAL GOAL FROM SEVEN IN 2020 TO ELEVEN IN 2021
  • FOR OUR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN FOR VEVA PROTECTED VETERANS, OSCP SETS A 5.7% BENCHMARK FOR REPRESENTATION WITHIN EACH OF OUR EEO JOB GROUPS
  • NINE AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE PORTS WORKFORCE SELF IDENTIFY AS VEHICLE PROTECTED VETERANS, A QUARTER PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR
  • WE ALSO INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUR EEO JOB GROUPS, WHICH MEET THE 5.7% THRESHOLD FROM 13 EEO JOB GROUPS IN 2020 TO 15 IN 2021
  • OUR 2021 EEO COMPENSATION ANALYSIS FOUND SALARY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMPLOYEES WITH THE SAME JOB TITLE OF MORE THAN 7.5%
  • THESE DIFFERENCES IMPACT EMPLOYEES REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER
  • FURTHER ANALYSIS WILL BE COMPLETED AS PART OF HR'S COMPENSATION STUDY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FINDINGS
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • HERE ARE OUR KEY RESULTS FROM OUR 2021 AFFIRMATIVE AVIATION PLAN FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES
  • WE HAVE NO UNDERREPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN ANY OF OUR 17 EEO JOB GROUPS
  • HOWEVER, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2013, THE PORT HAD AN UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN ONE OF OUR 17 EEO JOB GROUPS, THE PROFESSIONALS TWO EEO JOB GROUP
  • THIS JOB GROUP INCLUDES POSITIONS WITHIN SALARY GRADES 25 TO 28 THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED OR THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE USUALLY ACQUIRED THROUGH COLLEGE TRAINING OR THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE, WHICH PROVIDES COMPARABLE KNOWLEDGE
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • SO WE HAVE AN UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN THE PROFESSIONALS TO EEO JOB GROUP BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WITHIN IT ARE LESS THAN WOULD BE REASONABLY EXPECTED GIVEN THEIR AVAILABILITY
  • BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
  • TWO FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS UNDERUTILIZATION ARE THE EXTERNAL AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN FOR THE PORT TO HIRE AND THE INTERNAL AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN WITHIN THE PORT TO PROMOTE OR TRANSFER INTO THE CEO JOB GROUP, WHICH ARE BOTH SUBSTANTIAL
  • WE MUST ALSO FACTOR IN THAT IN 2020 PROMOTIONS RATHER THAN HIRES MADE UP 56% OF THE MOVEMENT INTO THE PROFESSIONALS TO EEO JOB GROUP, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FROM 45% THE PREVIOUS YEAR
  • THIS IS A POSITIVE AFFIRMATION OF THE PORT'S COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION
  • ANOTHER FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNDERUTILIZATION IS THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN WITHIN THE EEO JOB GROUPS THAT FEED INTO THE PROFESSIONALS TO EEO JOB GROUP AND THOSE INCLUDE PROFESSIONALS, THREE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, ONE AND NON COMMISSIONERS PROTECTIVE SERVICES
  • THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN WITHIN THE PORT READY TO PROMOTE OR TRANSFER INTO THE PROFESSIONALS TO EEO JOB GROUP ALSO AFFIRMS THE PORT'S COMMITMENT TO HIRE, DEVELOP AND PROMOTE WOMEN AT THE PORT AND AT THE SAME TIME IT RAISES THE BAR FOR US TO MEET
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF WOMEN IN THE PROFESSIONALS TWO EEO JOB GROUP IS THAT THE PORT HAS A PLACEMENT GOAL TO INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN
  • OUR PLACEMENT GOAL SERVES AS A TARGET
  • IT IS NOT A QUOTA OR A SET ASIDE TO SUPPORT US MEETING THIS TARGET, HR'S TALENT ACQUISITION AND EMERGING TALENT TEAMS HAVE ENSURED THAT THERE IS TARGETED OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN FOR JOBS WITHIN THE CEO JOB GROUP
  • ONE WAY THEY'VE DONE THAT IS TO SUBSCRIBE TO DIRECT EMPLOYERS WHO SHARES PORT JOB POSTINGS WITH THIRD PARTY WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WEBSITES
  • TALENT ACQUISITION ALSO SHARES JOB POSTINGS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH ALL PORT EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS, INCLUDING WIN, OUR WOMEN'S INITIATIVE NETWORK, ERG AND ASAP, WHICH IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AT THE PORT ERG
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • HERE WE HAVE A TABLE SHOWING AVAILABILITY AND REPRESENTATION FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES WITHIN EACH OF OUR 17 EO JOB GROUPS
  • WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED EEO JOB GROUPS WHERE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IS LESS THAN THE AVAILABILITY BY FIVE OR MORE FOR MINORITIES
  • THERE ARE NO EEO JOB GROUPS WHERE THE DIFFERENCES WERE MORE THAN FIVE FOR WOMEN
  • AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED FOUR EEO JOB GROUPS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS TO COMMISSIONERS, POLICE SERVICE MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICIANS, WHERE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND AVAILABILITY IS MORE THAN FIVE
  • IN 2021, WE SAW INCREASED REPRESENTATION FOR WOMEN IN THE ADMIN SUPPORT, ONE EEO JOB ROUTE, SERVICE MAINTENANCE COMMISSION, POLICE COMMAND AND NONCOMMISSION PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMAND FOR MINORITIES
  • IN 2021, THE PORT SAW INCREASED REPRESENTATION IN ADMIN SUPPORT TWO SKILLED PRESS, TWO SERVICE MAINTENANCE COMMISSION, POLICE AND NON COMMISSIONERS PROTECTIVE SERVICES
  • AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SANDERS TO REVIEW PORT EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS
  • HELLO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THANK YOU
  • SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS
  • THIS IS A SECTION THAT WAS ADDED AT THE REQUEST OF PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS, AND SO WE'VE ADDED THIS UNDERSTANDABLY AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARD THAT WE ADHERE TO FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE
  • THIS IS JUST MERELY TO SHOW HOW THE PORT IS DOING COMPARISON DEMOGRAPHICALLY TO THE COUNTIES IN THE AREAS THAT WE SERVE
  • IF YOU WANT TO GO TO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • THIS GRAPH HERE GIVES A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW MINORITY PERCENTAGE WISE FALL IN THE DIFFERENT PAY GRADES HERE AT THE PORT
  • AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE RIGHT NOW, MINORITIES MAKE UP ABOUT 34% OF THE PORT'S GENERAL WORKFORCE
  • AND IN THIS SITUATION, AS WE LOOK AT THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES AND WE LOOK AT THE GRADES, WE SEE THAT IN THE LOWER GRADES, WE TEND TO HAVE AN OVERREPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN GRADES FIVE THROUGH 910 THROUGH 1415 THROUGH 19
  • AND THEN WE KIND OF BALANCE OUT A LITTLE BIT
  • WE GET CLOSER TO BALANCE THROUGH 20 TO 24
  • BUT THEN, AS WE LOOK AT THE LAST TWO GRADES, GRADES 35 TO 39 IN GRADE 40 TO 44, WE SEE THERE THAT WE HAVE AN UNDERREPRESENTATION THERE IN THOSE GRADES
  • AGAIN, THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS BEING REVIEWED UNDER THE PORT A PORTS COMPENSATION STUDY
  • AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE THIS AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT WILL BE ADDRESSED SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
  • HERE, THIS SLIDE REFERS TO GENDER AND DIFFERENT PAY GRADES AS WELL
  • AND WOMEN MAKE UP OR FEMALES MAKE UP 33% OF THE PORT PORTS POPULAR GENERAL WORKFORCE
  • AND HERE, AS WE CAN SEE AGAIN, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER REPRESENTATION IN SOME OF THE LOWER AREAS, EXCEPT FOR IN GRADES 15 TO 19 TO 20 TO 24, WHERE WE SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OVER REPRESENTATION WHEN WE GET TO GRADES 35 TO 39
  • AGAIN, WE'RE CLOSER TO MORE OF THAT PARITY OF THE PERCENTAGE
  • AND THEN WHEN WE GET THE GRADES 40 TO 44, WE SEE A SLIGHT UNDER REPRESENTATION THERE
  • NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • AND HERE ARE THE PORT DEMOGRAPHICS VERSUS THE COUNTIES
  • IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS COUNTY REPRESENTATION AND NOT THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES THAT SERVE THE COUNTIES
  • SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COUNTY REPRESENTATION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THAT RANGING FROM IF IT'S BORN TO THE ELDERLY AS WELL
  • SO ALL GENERAL POPULATION WITHIN THAT
  • AND WHEN WE SEE THAT AGAIN, THE PORT'S FEMALE POPULATION IS 33% AND IT'S MALE POPULATION 67% IN COMPARISON TO THE KING COUNTY POPULATION, WHICH IS 49.7 TO 50.3, PEERS, 50.1 AND 49.9 AND 49.8 IN COMPARISON TO 50.2
  • SO AGAIN, UNDER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STANDARDS, WE'RE NOT EXPECTED TO MIRROR THE COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE
  • AND THESE ARE JUST THE TWO LARGEST COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE BASED ON OUR RECRUITING AREA
  • WE ACTUALLY ALSO INCLUDE KIDS SOUTH AS WELL AS THURSDAY COUNTY
  • WHEN WE LOOK AT ETHNICITY OR MINORITY VERSUS WHITE POPULATION, WE SEE THAT AGAIN, MINORITIES MAKE UP 34% OF THE PORT POPULATION IN COMPARISON TO 66%
  • AND THEN WE SEE AGAIN, THAT KIND OF BALANCE THERE IN KING COUNTY, 33.8% TO 66.2% IN PIER 25%, 74.3
  • AND THEN THE HOME IS 23% TO 77%
  • AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WELL, THIS IS REVIEW
  • THIS IS MORE ABOUT CONTACT TO SHOW COMPARISON
  • THIS IS NOT AN AREA THAT WE ACTUALLY TAKE IN THE HEART IN ADDRESSING UNDER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
  • SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
  • OKAY
  • TURN IT BACK OVER TO CYNTHIA
  • THANK YOU, SANDERS
  • SO MOVING FORWARD IN 2022, WE WILL CONTINUE THE TARGETED OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN IN JOBS WITHIN THE PROFESSIONALS TO EEO JOB GROUP, AS WELL AS TO CONTINUE THE TARGETED RECRUITMENT, OF COURSE, OF WOMEN, MINORITIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND VETERAN PROTECTED VETERANS
  • WE WILL DEVELOP AND ROLL OUT NEW EEO AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE TRAINING, AND WE WILL UTILIZE THE 2021 EEO COMPENSATION ANALYSIS FINDINGS TO INFORM HR'S COMPENSATION STUDY THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
  • IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MOVING FORWARD THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM IS CONNECTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE IMPORTANT WORK UNDERWAY IN HR AND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
  • HR WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OEDI TO CREATE ACTION PLANS FROM THE OEDI SURVEY RESULTS AND THOSE COMING OUT OF THE BOWMAN OF COLOR ASSESSMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL OPPRESSION WITHIN THE PORT AND INFUSING EQUITY IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR POLICIES AND BUSINESS PRACTICES, SUPPORTS THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, WHICH IS TO ATTRACT, HIRE, DEVELOP AND RETAIN A WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AT ALL LEVELS OF THE PORT
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, CYNTHIA
  • THANK YOU, SANDERS
  • YOU BET AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TURN BACK TO COMMISSIONERS FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO
  • I DON'T HAVE EXTENSIVE QUESTIONS
  • CYNTHIA SANDERS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY HOW THIS INTEGRATES AND VERY NICELY WITH OUR EQUITY MOTION AND A LOT OF WHAT IS BEING DONE BY THE EI TEAM
  • SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK HERE DOING SOME OF THE FEDERAL BANDITS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
  • AND I KNOW IT'S A STICKY WICKET SOMETIMES GIVEN OUR OWN STATES RULES AND LAWS AROUND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
  • SO I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU GUYS NAVIGATE THAT
  • AND SIMILAR TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPRESSED
  • IF THERE'S ANYTHING HIGH AS COMMISSION OR WE AS COMMISSION CAN DO TO HELP YOUR EFFORTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND ENLIST US IN YOUR EFFORTS
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FILM
  • WELL, THANK YOU, CINDY AND SANDERS, I'M JUST GLAD YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK OF THE DATA SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING EMPIRICAL TO FOLLOW AND SCORE SO WE KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING
  • I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT DILIGENCE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SAYING NO MORE FOR YOU AT THIS POINT, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING ON TOUCH
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA YOU LOOK COLD? NO QUESTIONS
  • ALRIGHT
  • I'LL ASK HIM TO TURN THE HEAT UP
  • COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED
  • YEAH, THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION
  • SYDNEY AND SANDERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION
  • AND IT WENT SO WELL WITH THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION
  • AND YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT AROUND THIS AREA
  • SO NO QUESTIONS, BOOKDA
  • THANK YOU
  • AND I WILL JUST CONCLUDE BY SAYING, I THINK DOVETAIL IS WHAT COMMISSIONERS CHO WAS SAYING WHEN THERE IS A REGULATORY OR LEGAL HURDLE
  • LET'S REMEMBER THAT LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE NOT SIMPLY THEY DON'T TELL US WHAT'S RIGHT, THEY TELL US WHAT THE LAW SAYS, THAT'S IT
  • SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, IF SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT ABOUT THE LAW OR THE REGULATIONS AROUND THIS ISSUE, LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR A CHANGE IN THE LAW TO MAKE IT ALIGN WITH WHAT'S RIGHT
  • AND THAT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE THE CASE IN WASHINGTON STATE RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR LAWS TO REFLECT WHAT OUR VALUES ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE, TO WHAT SAM IS REFERRING, THAT WE NEED TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IN A POSITIVE WAY THE IMPACTS OF SYSTEMIC BIAS AND RACISM IN OUR SYSTEMS AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SOMEWHAT ENCUMBERED
  • SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT
  • AND IF THAT'S TRUE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN HELPING TO UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE THAT
  • SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN, I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR BRIEFING AGENDA FOR TODAY AS WELL
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT OR ANY OF THE ISSUES WE'VE DISCUSSED? YEAH
  • IN FACT, THANKS
  • PRESIDENT CAUCUS, JUST TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS IN CLOSING OF THIS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO ITEMS TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, ALL OF OUR WORK
  • IT'S IMPORTANT
  • AND I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE THE MATRIX THAT SHOWS THIS IS INTERWOVEN IN ALL THAT WE DO
  • THAT JUST MY COMMITMENT, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS TO PUT IT GOES THROUGH ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, AND THAT'S ALL THAT WE DO
  • IT'S EQUITY IS INTERWOVEN INTO ALL THAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD AND THE GROUNDWORK THAT YOU JUST PRESENTED TODAY, EITHER THE ASSESSMENT AND ALSO THE INITIATIVES WERE ON CARRYING BEFORE THAT ASSESSMENT
  • AND NOW ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT COMES IN TO US IS ALL WORK BEFORE US
  • BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC, WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU THAT WE CAN GET THIS WORK AND MOVING FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA
  • AND I THINK FOR US, TOO, IT'S NEVER A FINISH LINE ON THIS, RIGHT
  • WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE AND TRAINING, WE'RE ALWAYS TURNING OVER OUR WORKFORCE IS NOT STATIC
  • AND THIS IS A CONTINUING EFFORT
  • WE BUILD THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEN WE HAVE NEW SUPERVISORS COMING IN
  • PEOPLE ARE CHANGING, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A TURNOVER
  • SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S NEVER LIKE IN 2021 WE DID THAT TRAINING
  • WE CLERK HART BOX, THIS IS A CONTINUING WORK THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP FOCUSED IN FRONT OF US MOVING FORWARD
  • AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY, TO END WITH AN IMPORTANT, NOT JUST BECAUSE EQUITY IS THE IMPORTANT THING TO DO
  • DIVERSITY MAKES US BETTER BUSINESS, JUST BETTER DECISIONS AND EVERYTHING
  • SO IT'S FROM BOTH EVERY SIDE THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT
  • IT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO SUCCEED AS AN ORGANIZATION, BOTH ACROSS ALL OF OUR ROLES AND MISSIONS
  • SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
  • AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
  • AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE IN FUTURE WE THOUGHT WE HAD A SHORT AGENDA, BUT WE KNOW IT WAS AN IMPORTANT AGENDA
  • THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT
  • NO, THANK YOU
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
  • ALL RIGHT
  • SO WE ARE COMING TO THE POINT IN THE MEETING AT THE VERY END WHEN WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS TO GET OUT THE DOOR, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED AND FOR COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR THIS PERIOD IN THE MEETING
  • AND I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ONE THAT OFTEN SORT OF GETS SHORT SHRIFT
  • THIS IS THE TIME DURING THE MEETING WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE COMMENTS THAT WE'RE NOT ANY PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, AND ALSO FOR US TO FIRST PUBLICIZE MAKE PUBLIC AN IDEA OR AN INITIATIVE OR AN AREA IN WHICH WE DEEM IT IMPORTANT AS AN INDIVIDUAL FOR THE COMMISSION AND POTENTIALLY FOR THE PORT AS AN INSTITUTION TO EXPLORE
  • AND SO THIS WOULD BE THE MOMENT FOR US TO SHARE IDEAS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE VALUABLE TO REFER TO COMMITTEE, SINCE WE HAVE A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS US WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMISSION STAFF TO EXPLORE IDEAS BEFORE THEY ARE FULLY FLEDGED AND TURNED OVER TO PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO PURSUE AND THAT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE FULL COMMITTEE FOR THINGS LIKE FUNDING AND STAFFING
  • SO THAT'S PART OF IT
  • THERE WILL BE TIMES DURING THE YEAR WHEN WE'RE ON A TOPIC THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH
  • IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
  • AND THERE MAY BE AN IDEA THAT'S ORTHOGONAL TO THAT
  • THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GERMANE TO THAT TOPIC, I MAY ASK YOU TO HOLD THAT COMMENT OR THAT THOUGHT AND SHARE DURING THIS PERIOD
  • THAT WOULD BE THE MOMENT THEN TO SAY, HEY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION EARLIER, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEAT IF THE PORT SUPPORTED A MISSION TO MARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS A HYPOTHETICAL
  • SO THIS WOULD BE THE MOMENT DURING OUR MEETINGS TO DO THAT
  • AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO GO AROUND ONE MORE TIME TO CALL ROLL FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE OR MOTION
  • AND WE DO USE A MOTION FORMAT
  • SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, YOU CAN MOVE FOR SOMETHING TO BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
  • THERE WOULD THEN REQUIRE A SECOND AND A VOTE TO DO THAT SO THAT IT WOULD GET THE AUTHORIZATION COMMITTEE TO DO THAT
  • SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER CHO FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR REFERRALS TO COMMITTEE
  • NOTHING FOR ME
  • I JUST WANTED TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES AGAIN
  • THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO
  • COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, NO REFERRALS AT THIS TIME
  • THANK YOU
  • ALL RIGHT
  • COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA, PRESIDENT CALKINS, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE IDEAS, BUT I THINK AT THIS TIME AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPCOMING CONVERSATION ABOUT COMMITTEES, I HAVE NO REFERRALS TO FORMALLY SUGGEST AT THIS TIME
  • THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU
  • COMMISSIONERS
  • HAS IT ALL, COMMISSIONERS MOHAMED? NO, THANK YOU
  • AGAIN
  • THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL
  • AND PRESIDENT CALKINS, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BACK TO YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FOR THE GO TO THE ORDER
  • NO, THANK YOU
  • THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
  • AND THANKS FOR A GREAT FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR
  • AND I WILL JUST ADD TO WHAT COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN AND WHAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK SAID AT THE OUTSET OF THE MEETING, WHICH IS A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE AIRPORT STAFF, ALL OF THE WORKERS AT THE PORT, FOR OUR AIRLINE PARTNERS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED WHO MANAGED THROUGH AN EXTRAORDINARY SNOW EVENT, GRACIOUSLY AND DEALING WITH FOLKS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING REALLY TOUGH MOMENTS, HOPING TO GET HOME OR GET OUT ON THEIR VACATION OR SEE A LOVED ONE
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU DID IN THAT WE GET TO WORK IN AN EXTRAORDINARY INDUSTRY IN AVIATION AND MOMENTS LIKE THAT SHOW JUST HOW TRULY EXTRAORDINARY IT IS THAT THEY CAN CARRY ON IN SPITE OF THAT
  • SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH WITH THAT
  • I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TODAY AT 4:27, A FULL FIVE MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET
  • THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
  • THANK YOU, EVERYONE
  • GOOD MEETING YOU.

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