The Regular Meeting meeting scheduled for 2022-12-13 at Pier 69

Transcript

The Regular Meeting meeting scheduled for 2022-12-13 at Pier 69

VIDEO
THIS IS COMMISSION PRESIDENT RYAN CALKINS CONVENING THE REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 13, 2022
THE TIME IS 10:33 A.M.
WE'RE MEETING IN PERSON TODAY AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS AND VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS PRESENT WITH ME TODAY ARE COMMISSIONER CHO, FELLEMAN AND MOHAMED, WHO ARE CURRENTLY GATHERED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM AWAITING THE OPENING OF THE PUBLIC MEETING
COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA IS ABSENT AND EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING
WE'LL NOW RECESS INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS TWO ITEMS REGARDING LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION OR LEGAL RISK PER RCW
42.31.10.1.I AND ONE ITEM RELATED TO LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION OR LEGAL RISK FOR RCW
42.31.10.1 PERFORMANCE OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RCW 42.31.10.1.G FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND WE'LL RECONVENE INTO PUBLIC SESSION AT NOON
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THANK YOU
WE ARE IN RECESS
GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS COMMISSION PRESIDENT RYAN CALKINS RECONVENING THE REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 13, 2022
THE TIME IS 12:07 P.M.
WE'RE MEETING IN PERSON TODAY AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, COMMISSION CHAMBERS AND VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF ALL COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE? THANK YOU
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO, PRESENT
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
PRESENT
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED
PRESENT
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA IS ABSENT AND EXCUSED FROM THIS MEETING TODAY
AND COMMISSIONER CALKINS, I'M HERE AS WELL
THANK YOU
YOU DO HAVE A QUORUM
DUE TO THE CONTINUED VIRTUAL COMPONENT OF PARTICIPATION FOR OUR MEETINGS, WE HAVE STAFF, EXTERNAL PRESENTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE PARTICIPATING ON THEIR PERSONAL DEVICES OR FROM THEIR TELEPHONES
TODAY WE'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS VIRTUAL FORMAT
LATER, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE PORT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING BY TEAMS, AS WELL AS FROM THOSE IN PERSON WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
FOR ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN MICROSOFT TEAMS, PLEASE MUTE YOUR SPEAKERS WHEN NOT ACTIVELY SPEAKING OR PRESENTING
PLEASE KEEP YOUR CAMERAS OFF UNLESS YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY, OR YOU ARE A MEMBER OF STAFF IN A PRESENTATION AND ARE ACTIVELY ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION MAY TURN ON THEIR CAMERAS WHEN THEIR NAME IS CALLED TO SPEAK
FOR ANYONE AT THE DAIS HERE TODAY, PLEASE TURN OFF THE SPEAKERS ON ANY COMPUTERS AND SILENCE YOUR DEVICES
WHEN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK, YOU WILL PRESS THE BUTTON FOR YOUR MICROPHONE TO BE AUDIBLE AND WILL PRESS IT AGAIN TO SILENCE IT WHEN NOT ACTIVELY SPEAKING
ALL VOTES TODAY WILL BE TAKEN BY THE ROLL CALL METHOD, SO IT IS CLEAR FOR ANYONE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY HOW VOTES ARE CAST
COMMISSIONERS WILL SAY AYE OR NAY WHEN THEIR NAME IS CALLED
I ASK THAT ALL COMMISSIONERS WAIT TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE SPEAKING
WE ARE MEETING 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'S WEBSITE AND MAY BE REBROADCAST BY KING COUNTY TELEVISION
PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
[PLEDGE RECITED] THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
I UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED TO PULL ITEM EIGHT N FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY
IS THAT CORRECT? ALSO, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE'LL REORDER ITEM ELEVEN A ON THE AGENDA TO BE HEARD IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT AND PRIOR TO THE CONSENT AGENDA
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? OKAY
THIS IS TO ACCOMMODATE THE EARLIER DISCUSSION OF THE ITEM FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE FOR IT
WE'LL PROCEED WITH THAT ORDER OF BUSINESS
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, OR ANY OTHER MOTIONS TO REARRANGE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, THE QUESTION IS NOW ON APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED? SO MOVED
SECOND
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE
AND SECONDED
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS AMENDED
COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY TO BEGIN OUR MEETING
CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD? AND THEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK WILL INTRODUCE THE ITEM? THANK YOU
THIS IS AGENDA ITEM FOUR A, PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF KOREAN AMERICAN DAY, JANUARY 13, 2023
COMMISSIONERS, GOOD AFTERNOON
NEXT MONTH, WE CELEBRATE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY, AND WE ARE USING OUR LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR TO CONSIDER A PROCLAMATION HONORING THAT MILESTONE
WE ARE PLEASED THAT SEVERAL OF OUR KOREAN AMERICAN PORT EMPLOYEES ARE JOINING US TODAY TO READ THE RESOLUTION AND TO HONOR THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT KOREAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THIS COUNTRY
WE'LL BEGIN WITH TANYA PARK
WE'LL BEGIN THE PROCLAMATION READING
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CALKINS
AND COMMISSIONER
MY NAME IS TANYA PARK
I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS
AND I'M THE SYSTEMS CHANGE PROGRAM MANAGER WITH OUR PORT'S OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
ALTHOUGH KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS OFFICIALLY ON JANUARY 13, 2023, I'M GLAD TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL TODAY
TODAY'S FIRST EVER PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS AN APPRECIATED ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEEP IMPACT KOREAN AMERICANS BRING TO OUR EVERYDAY SPACES IN LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, POLICY, BUSINESS, AND TO MANY ASPECTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
LIKE MANY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS KNOWN FOR THEIR RESILIENCE AND DEDICATED WORK ETHIC
KOREAN AMERICAN DAY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT KOREAN AMERICAN IDENTITIES, IMPACT CONTRIBUTIONS, AND AFFIRM THAT WE ALSO BELONG TO THIS COUNTRY
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW NOTABLE KOREAN AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
PAUL SHIN WAS THE FIRST KOREAN AMERICAN TO SERVE IN THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE IN 1992
CURRENTLY, MARYLAND STRICKLAND REPRESENTS WASHINGTON'S 10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED MUKILTEO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JASON MOON AND MATAWAK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SUN HONG REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSE SKILLS AND INTERESTS OF KOREAN AMERICANS
SOME OTHER NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE SAMMY LEE, WHO WAS THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN TO WIN A US OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN 1948 AND HALF PIPE GOLD MEDALIST CHLOE CHO OR CHLOE KIM, ABC NEWS ANCHOR JI ZHU CHANG AND ESPN ANCHOR MICHAEL KIM; US
ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE US
ARMY NORTH
RICHARD C
KIM, 19TH CHIEF, MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE AND FIRST FEMALE SENIOR ENLISTED SERVICE MEMBER OF ANY US
MILITARY BRANCH JOANNE S
BASS
OF COURSE, THERE ARE ENTERTAINERS LIKE KEN JONG, JOHN CHO, SANDRA O AND WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT KOREAN AMERICAN KPOP, ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS ALONGSIDE ALL THERE IS TO CELEBRATE AMONG KOREAN AMERICANS
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE KOREAN AMERICANS ARE IMPACTED BY ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENTS, HATRED AND VIOLENCE
AS A COUNTRY, WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE AND THESE DO NOT NEGATE OUR PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY
BUT RATHER, THEY REMIND US THAT WE ALSO NEED TO AMPLIFY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST ANTI-BLACKNESS, RACISM AND VARIOUS OTHER FORMS OF OPPRESSION
AUTHOR HEATHER MCGEE REMINDS US THAT WE ARE GREATER THAN AND GREATER FOR THE SUM OF US
KOREAN AMERICANS PROUDLY EXIST
WE CONTRIBUTE, WE BELONG, AND WE ARE AMERICAN
WITH THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, COMMISSIONER CHO FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE, A REPRESENTATIVE AND VOICE IN BRINGING FORWARD THIS PROCLAMATION
AND WITH THAT, THE PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS: THE PROCLAMATION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION WHEREAS KOREAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION MATTERS
AND WHEREAS ON JANUARY 13, 1903 102 COURAGEOUS KOREAN IMMIGRANTS ARRIVED IN HAWAII AS LABORERS FOR THE SUGAR PLANTATION INITIATING THE FIRST LARGE WAVE OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION TO AMERICA
AND WHEREAS THE SECOND WAVE OF KOREAN IMMIGRANTS CONSISTED OF KOREAN WIVES OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS KNOWN AS WAR BRIDES, WAR ORPHANS, STUDENTS, BUSINESSMEN AND INTELLECTUALS CAME FROM 1950 TO 1964
AND WHEREAS, THE THIRD WAVE OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION OCCURRED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE 1965 IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION ACT REVOKING THE NATIONAL QUOTA SYSTEM AND MAKING FAMILY REUNIFICATION POSSIBLE
AND WHEREAS KOREAN AMERICANS, LIKE OTHER GROUPS OF IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME TO THE UNITED STATES BEFORE THEM, HAVE SETTLED AND THRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH STRONG FAMILY TIES, COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND HARD WORK
AND WHEREAS KOREAN AMERICANS OF ALL GENERATIONS AND RECENT IMMIGRANTS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONTINUE TO MAKE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION, OUR REGION AND OUR PORT
AND WHEREAS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KOREAN AMERICANS MAY BE OBSERVED IN ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN LIFE, FROM POLITICS TO INDUSTRY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO VOLUNTEERISM, THE ARTS AND EDUCATION
AND WHEREAS KOREAN AMERICANS HAVE BUILT AND STRENGTHENED THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, FOSTERING PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA AND PROMOTING TRADE ALLIANCES, AND WHEREAS KOREAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MILITARY, STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES UNITED STATES AND SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE ARMED FORCES DURING WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, THE VIETNAM WAR, THE CONFLICT IN KOREA
AND SUBSEQUENT MILITARY CONFLICTS ACROSS THE GLOBE
AND WHEREAS THE CENTENNIAL YEAR OF 2003 MARKED AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION AND WHEREAS ON JANUARY 13, 2003, PRESIDENT GEORGE W
BUSH ISSUED THE CENTENNIAL OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES PROCLAMATION WHICH COMMEMORATED THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND RECOGNIZED THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KOREAN AMERICANS TO OUR NATION'S RICH CULTURAL DIVERSITY, ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND PROUD HERITAGE
AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED HOUSE RESOLUTION 487 TO COMMEMORATE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IN THE 109TH CONGRESS AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES SENATE PASSED SENATE RESOLUTION 283 TO COMMEMORATE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IN THE 109TH CONGRESS AND WHEREAS WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED SENATE BILL 5166 IN THE 60TH LEGISLATURE DURING THE 2007 REGULAR SESSION AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR CHRISTINE GREGOIRE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATING, DESIGNATING JANUARY 13 OF EACH YEAR AS KOREAN AMERICAN DAY AND WHEREAS WASHINGTON STATE HAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF KOREAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FIFTH LARGEST ASIAN AMERICAN SUBGROUP IN THE UNITED STATES
AND UNITED STATES IS HOME TO THE LARGEST KOREAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD
AND WHEREAS, WASHINGTON STATE IS THE MOST TRADE DEPENDENT AND TRADE VULNERABLE STATE
ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE, 40% OF STATE JOBS ARE CONNECTED TO TRADE
AND WHEREAS THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IS AN IMPORTANT NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE TRADING PARTNER, RANKING FOURTH BY TOTAL VESSEL VALUE AND THIRD BY TOTAL TEUS AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2023 MARKS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN 1953, WHICH COMMITS THE TWO COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID IF EITHER FACES EXTERNAL ARMED ATTACK
AND WHEREAS THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY WE CAN CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR KOREAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY AND WORK IN CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND A CULTURE OF BELONGING
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION HEREBY HONORS AND RECOGNIZES KOREAN AMERICAN DAY, CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KOREAN AMERICAN PORT EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY, AND AFFIRMS THE PORT'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION OF KOREAN AMERICANS PROCLAIMED BY THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION THIS 13TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2022
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERICA AND PETER AND DANA, FOR THE READING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
ANY FURTHER REMARKS? NO? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO BEGIN BY TURNING IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER CHO, THE SPONSOR OF THE PROCLAMATION
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK OUR PORT STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN PUTTING THIS PROCLAMATION TOGETHER AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT IT GOT ON THE CALENDAR
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO SEE US WELL REPRESENTED HERE AT THE PORT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE REPRESENTATION AS THE NUMBER OF KOREAN AMERICANS AT THE PORT GROW
BUT ON A HIGHER LEVEL, I'M JUST REALLY GLAD THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THIS DAY
AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M KOREAN AND I'M BIASED, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT A LOT, BUT BECAUSE I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE DAYS LIKE THESE IN GENERAL, NOT JUST FOR KOREANS, BUT FOR ALL DIASPORA COMMUNITIES, WHETHER YOU ARE IMMIGRANTS FROM KOREA OR CHINA OR WHEREVER IN THE WORLD
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AS A PORT IS CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, TO CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY IN OUR WORKFORCE, AS WELL AS CELEBRATING THE GLOBAL REACH THAT WE HAVE AS A PORT
AS THE PROCLAMATION STIPULATES
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW ME, KNOW THAT MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH KOREA, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THEY IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY THROUGH THE PORT OF SEATTLE IN THE LATE EIGHTIES
SORRY, I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL BECAUSE MY FATHER PASSED AWAY SIX MONTHS AGO
I'M INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO BE HERE
NOTHING DICTATED FOR ME TO BE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, NOTHING DICTATED FOR MY PARENTS TO IMMIGRATE HERE
NOTHING DICTATED THAT I SHOULD BE IN THIS SEAT, SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY
BUT I AM, AND I DON'T TAKE ANY OF THAT FOR GRANTED
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE MY COMMUNITY BEING HERE TODAY
THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE WHEN MY FATHER PASSED, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE HERE TODAY
AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE KOREAN AND KOREAN AMERICAN, TO BE THE SON OF IMMIGRANTS
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING IN JANUARY
THANK YOU
[APPLAUSE] COMMISSIONER MOHAMED? COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN? I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD WE ARE TO HAVE COMMISSIONER CHO HERE ON THE COMMISSIONER, AND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE LEARNING MORE FROM THESE RESOLUTIONS TO APPRECIATE ELEVATING THE ATTENTION TO ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE IMPORTANT STORIES TO TELL
I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORD DIASPORA WAS ACTUALLY FIRST COINED FROM THE FLEEING OF THE JEWS, FROM THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
NOT A GREAT HISTORY FOR THAT WORD, BUT COMING ON HANUKKAH, I COULDN'T MISS IT
BUT ANYWAY, HONESTLY, SAM'S OUR MAN, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING AYE
AND I'LL PASS IT FROM THERE
COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO COMMISSIONER CHO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO ALL OF OUR KOREAN AMERICAN STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK IN BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD TODAY
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THE FIRST PROCLAMATION OF CELEBRATING KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
WE SHOULD DO THAT EVERY YEAR
WE APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OUR KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ADDS TO OUR REGION
OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMISSION WORK THAT I DO
I'M ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS, AND SO I HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES ARE SERVED WELL, AND THAT WE STAND ALONGSIDE YOU ALL WHEN IT'S TIMES OF CELEBRATION, BUT ALSO TIMES OF HARDSHIP
AND SO, AS COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DENOUNCING ANTI-ASIAN HATE
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DENOUNCING ALL TYPES AND ALL FORMS OF HATE
AND SO I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMISSION IS TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL AND TO STAND WITH YOU ALL, TOO, IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE
AND COMMISSIONER CHO IS HARD TO FOLLOW YOU RIGHT AFTER, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M A CRIER
I'M A CRY RIGHT WITH YOU
SORRY, BUT I SERVE ON EVERY COMMITTEE WITH COMMISSIONER CHO AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL
I'VE BEEN LEARNING FROM YOU THIS WHOLE YEAR
TODAY KIND OF MARKS MY ANNIVERSARY, MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON THE COMMISSION
AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU
YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO'S EXTREMELY PASSIONATE AND INCREDIBLY SMART
AND JUST RECENTLY, COMMISSIONER CHO AND I BOTH WENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND ANNOUNCED COP 27
AND ONE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER CHO LED ON WAS ANNOUNCING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSAN PORT AUTHORITY
AND BEING ABLE TO SEE HIM DO THAT, I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE HOW PROUD YOUR PARENTS AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ARE OF YOU
AND I WAS SIGNIFICANTLY PROUD
AND I KNOW SO MANY OF US ON THE PORT STAFF, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONERS, HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING
AND SO JUST KNOW WE ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK
AND I'LL JUST WRAP UP ALL TAKE US FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MUNDANE AND JUST TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT KOREA IS FOR THE PORT OF SEATTLE
AS A BUSINESS PARTNER, AS A TRADE PARTNER, KOREA IS A GLOBAL SUPERPOWER WHEN IT COMES TO PORTS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS THE CENTER OF SO MUCH SHIPBUILDING, BUT ALSO BECAUSE TWO OF THE MAJOR CARRIERS THAT PLY ALL THE WORLD'S WATERS ARE KOREAN CARRIERS
AND ON THE AIRPORT SIDE OF THINGS, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL AIRLINE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
AND THEY ARE RENOWNED WORLDWIDE AS A TOP TIER AIRLINE
AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM AS PARTNERS AS WELL
WE SINCERELY HOPE IN THE COMING YEARS, AS THE GLOBAL ECONOMY HAS SHIFTED TO THE PACIFIC IN TERMS OF ITS CENTER OF OPERATIONS, THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KOREA ONLY CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND THE AMOUNT OF TRADE THAT WE DO BOTH WAYS
AND SO, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN USE THIS TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF THOSE FOLKS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WANT TO DO MORE BUSINESS WITH FOLKS IN SOUTH KOREA
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHO, FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION
AT THIS TIME, HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FOR THIS ITEM
IS THERE A MOTION IN A SECOND? MR PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO MOVE THE AGENDA ITEM
SECOND
THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE VOTE? COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE SAY AYE OR NAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED
AYE
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER CALKINS
AYE
THANK YOU, FOUR AYES AND ZERO NAYS FOR THIS ITEM
AND WITH THAT, THE MOTION PASSES
[APPLAUSE] NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
THANK YOU
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
AGAIN, THAT'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW TO KICK OFF THE MEETING
SO AND APPRECIATE AGAIN THE STAFF, TANYA, PETER AND ERICA FOR THE READING OF THAT AND TANYA FOR THAT GREAT INTRODUCTION TOO
SO THANK YOU ALL
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT WE ARE ALREADY AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING OF 2022
AS WE WRAP UP OUR BUSINESS FOR THE YEAR, I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO REFLECT FOR THE PUBLIC ON OUR FEW OF THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR DESPITE MANY CHALLENGES
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TIME WE'LL ACTUALLY BE LOOKING AT THE YEAR AND REVIEW GOING FORWARD, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO NOTE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR
WE'VE OPENED THE INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS FACILITY AT SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND WELCOMED MAJOR NEW INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE ROUTES TO HELSINKI, FINLAND, PAPITA, TAHITI, NUE AND MONTREAL, CANADA AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY
AS WE KNOW, DOMESTIC FLIGHTS HAVE RETURNED IN FORCE AND I THINK OUR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE RETURNING AS WELL
AND THAT'S GREAT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW
THROUGH THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE, WE'VE OPENED TERMINAL FIVE, PHASE ONE OF THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL CARGO TERMINALS ON THE WEST COAST AND ONE OF THE FEW ONES TO OPEN UP DURING THE PANDEMIC
WE COMPLETED THE DUWAMISH RIVER, PEOPLES PARK AND SHORELINE HABITAT MAJOR RESTORATION PROJECT AND COMMUNITY AMENITY
WE HOSTED A RECORD BREAKING CRUISE SEASON WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY LAUNCHING A GREEN CRUISE CORRIDOR
FIRST MOVER COMMITMENT TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DECARBONIZING OUR WASHINGTON, ALASKA, BRITISH COLUMBIA CRUISE ITINERARY
IN ADDITION, THROUGH THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE, WE'VE LAUNCHED A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR GREEN SHIPPING CORRIDOR WITH BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA
WE'VE HELPED MAKE A STATEWIDE DISCUSSION AROUND SUPPORTING HELPED BEGIN A STATEWIDE DISCUSSION AROUND SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR TOURISM AND WE'VE INCREASED COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, ALL OF WHICH DEPENDED UPON OUR COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND OUR INCREDIBLE PORT WORKFORCE AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR AND THESE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE TOGETHER
IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CALKINS AS HE COMPLETES HIS TERM AS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION
COMMISSIONER CALKINS HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE AND VISIONARY LEADER AND HE'S BEEN A STEADY HAND THAT'S MOVED US FORWARD THROUGH A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY THIS YEAR
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2023, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE WORK TO DELIVER ON OUR MISSIONS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE LARGEST FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN IN THE PORT'S HISTORY
SPEAKING OF OUR CAPITAL PLAN, TRAVELERS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DURING THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD WILL BE DELIGHTED TO SEE TWO NEW OFFERINGS AT OUR CENTRAL TERMINAL, WHICH DEBUTED LAST WEEK AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE OPENING OF SALTIES AT SEA AND BREW TOP SOCIAL COME WITH GRAND VIEWS OF THE AIRFIELD THROUGH A 60 FOOT HIGH, 350 FOOT LONG WINDOW WALL, WHICH PROBABLY WAS BLOCKED OFF BEFORE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS
WE CONTINUE TO ELEVATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AT SEA WITH MORE THAN 70 NEW OPENINGS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND MANY MORE IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
THANK YOU TO AVIATION MANAGING DIRECTOR LANCE LITTLE AND ALL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO HELPED US ACHIEVE THIS FANTASTIC MILESTONE
FINALLY, I WANT TO SHARE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH SITUATION
WE'VE HEARD THE TERM TRIPLEDEMIC IN THE NEWS MEDIA LATELY, WHICH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS USED TO DESCRIBE THE CONFLUENCE OF HIGH, HIGHLY VIRAL ACTIVITY OF INFLUENZA, RESPIRATORY- VIRUS, THE R I JUST REFERRED TO AS RSV
YEAH
AND OF COURSE, COVID-19
AND OF COURSE COVID-19, WHICH IS STILL WITH US
LAST WEEK, TWELVE REGIONAL HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT PUGET SOUND JOINED CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS AND HEALTH CARE LEADERS FROM AROUND THE REGION TO IMPLORE CITIZENS TO DON A MASK WHEN AROUND OTHERS AND IN INDOOR SPACES TO CURTAIL THE SPREAD TO- THIS AS- A RESPONSE TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED SURGE OF VIRAL ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE FACING
BESIDES DONNING A MASK, EACH OF US NEED TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT OTHER IMPORTANT STRATEGIES TO CURB VIRAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING STAYING UP TO DATE ON YOUR VACCINATIONS
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO, PLEASE GET YOUR COVID-19 BOOSTER AND YOUR FLU SHOT AS PROTECTION
STAYING HOME FROM WORK AND SCHOOL IF YOU DEVELOP SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS AND TEST FOR COVID-19 AND HAVE A PLAN FOR RAPID TREATMENT FOR COVID-19 AND INFLUENZA, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SEVERE INFECTION, AND DISCUSS THIS PLAN WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND YOUR FAMILY
BY USING THESE MULTILAYERED INTERVENTIONS, WE CAN LIMIT THE SPREAD OF VIRUSES, STAY HEALTHY, AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON
MOVING TO TODAY'S COMMISSION MEETING AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS ITEM EIGHT E, ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS AN AUTHORIZATION THAT PROVIDES CAPACITY TO REDUCE OR ADD SEATING TO OUR TO OUR BAGGAGE CLAIM AND TICKETING AREAS THAT WILL INCLUDE POWER OUTLETS
THIS CAPACITY IS PART OF OUR ONGOING CONTINUING EFFORT TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND UPGRADE SEA, AND WE KNOW THOSE POWER OUTLETS ARE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR THESE DAYS AND THIS IS A GREAT INVESTMENT
ITEM EIGHT I, ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS A TRANSPORTATION CONSULTING CONTRACT THAT WILL SUPPORT STAFF WORK ON KEY COMMISSIONER PRIORITIES, INCLUDING WATERFRONT SIGNAGE AND BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS
OTHER KEY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE SCOPE OF THAT WORK
AND LASTLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM ELEVEN A ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS A BRIEFING FROM STAFF ON OUR ON DEMAND TAXI FLAT RATE PROGRAM BRIEFING
I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM DURING THE INTRODUCTION
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE PROPOSAL HERE TODAY IS BASED ON SIGNIFICANT ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNED FROM OUR LAST FEW YEARS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROGRAM
SO, COMMISSIONERS, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
WE'RE NOW AT COMMITTEE REPORTS
ERICA CHUNG, COMMISSION STRATEGIC ADVISOR, WILL PROVIDE THE REPORT
GO AHEAD, ERICA
GREAT
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CALKINS, THE COMMISSIONERS
I HAVE ONE COMMITTEE REPORT FOR YOU TODAY
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WAS CONVENED ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, BY COMMISSIONER CHO AND MOHAMED
PUBLIC MEMBER SARAH HOMESTROM WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE
THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED A REPORT FROM MOSS ADAMS REGARDING THE 2022 AUDIT ENTRANCE WHERE THE SCOPE OF SERVICE WERE DISCUSSED AND INCLUDED THE ANNUAL AUDIT AND REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022
THE AUDIT AND REPORT ON COMPLIANCE RELATED TO MAJOR FEDERAL AWARDS PROGRAM, THE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS AND RELATED INTERNAL CONTROLS, THE AUDIT AND REPORT ON THE SCHEDULE OF PASSENGER FACILITIES CHARGE PROGRAM RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES AND RELATED INTERNAL CONTROLS, AND THE AUDIT AND REPORT ON THE SCHEDULE OF NET REVENUES AVAILABLE FOR REVENUE BOND DEBT SERVICE
THE AUDIT IS SET TO BE COMPLETED AND RESULTS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IN MAY 2023
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ALSO RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE INTERNAL OUTREACH PROJECT TO HELP SMALL ENTITIES DOING BUSINESS WITH THE PORT WITH LIMITED RESOURCES TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THEIR STAFF ON INTERNAL CONTROLS
THE COMMITTEE FURTHER RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON COMPLETION OF THE 2022 AUDIT PLAN, APPROVED THE PROPOSED 2023 AUDIT PLAN COVERING LIMITED CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, PERFORMANCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUDITS WITH CONTINGENCY AUDITS, IDENTIFIED TIME PERMITTING AND RECEIVED THE OPEN ISSUE STATUS REPORT
THE MEETING CONTINUED WITH THE COMMITTEE RECEIVING DETAILED AUDIT REPORTS REGARDING THE INTERNAL ARRIVALS FACILITY, SOUTH SATELLITE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE PROJECT, SOUTH KING COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND AND FEDERAL GRANT ADMINISTRATION FOR THE AVIATION DIVISION
A NON PUBLIC SESSION WAS HELD TO DISCUSS SECURITY SENSITIVE MATTERS RELATED TO THE T TWO AIRPORT GARAGE, PARKING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AND AUDIT LOG MANAGEMENT FOR ICT
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, ERICA
ARE THERE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS FOR ERICA? OKAY
WE ARE NOW AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF OUR AGENDA
THE PORT COMMISSION WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENT AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS
COMMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN ITS DELIBERATIONS
BEFORE WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANT TO REVIEW OUR RULES FOR IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT
EACH COMMENTER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SHOULD STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME
A TIMER WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN AND A BUZZER WILL SOUND AT THE END OF THE TWO MINUTE PERIOD FOR EACH SPEAKER
YOU MUST LIMIT REMARKS TO TOPICS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS
THESE RULES APPLY TO INTRODUCTORY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS AS WELL
ALL REMARKS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSIONER AS A BODY, NOT TO INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER
DISRUPTIONS OF COMMISSIONER PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE PROHIBITED
DISRUPTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING REFUSAL OF A SPEAKER TO LIMIT REMARKS TO TOPICS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS
THREATS AND ABUSE OF OR HARASSING BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND GESTURES
REFUSAL OF A SPEAKER TO COMPLY WITH THE ALLOTTED TIMES SET FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER'S PUBLIC COMMENT LEAVING THE PODIUM OR TESTIMONY TABLE TO PHYSICALLY APPROACH COMMISSIONERS OR STAFF DURING ONE'S PUBLIC COMMENT PROVIDED SPEAKERS MAY OFFER WRITTEN MATERIALS TO THE COMMISSION CLERK AND ANY BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS, DISTURBS OR OTHERWISE IMPEDES THE MEETING
WRITTEN MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE CLERK WILL BE INCLUDED IN TODAY'S MEETING RECORD
THE CLERK HAS A LIST OF THOSE PREPARED TO SPEAK
WE ARE TAKING COMMENTS FROM ANYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY, AS WELL AS FROM ANYONE WHO HAS JOINED US IN THE CHAMBERS WHEN THE CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME
IF YOU ARE JOINING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF, THEN REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS
IF YOU'RE ON THE TEAM'S MEETING AND ARE ALSO STREAMING THE MEETING ON THE WEBSITE, PLEASE MUTED THE WEBSITE STREAM TO AVOID FEEDBACK
IF YOU ARE SPEAKING FROM THE ROOM, PLEASE COME TO THE TESTIMONY TABLE, REPEAT YOUR NAME AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS FOR ALL SPEAKERS
IF ANY TOPIC IS NOT RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ITEMS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE PORT OR OTHERWISE LEAVE THE MICROPHONE AS A REMINDER
COMMENT TIME WILL BE TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER
CLERK HART, PLEASE CALL HER FOR SPEAKER
THANK YOU
WE WILL BEGIN IN ROOM WITH ALEX ZIMMERMAN
THANK YOU
SO THIS TABLE YES PLEASE, ALEX
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS
ABSOLUTELY
THANK YOU
NOW GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT SECOND SO I CAN PUT MY ASS IN GOOD SHARE
YEAH
MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN
I'M PRESIDENT OF STAND UP AMERICA
AND YOUR TOPIC PLEASE SIR? RELATED TO MY TOPIC IS ELEVEN ABOUT THIS TAXI DRIVERS
YEAH
THANK YOU
SO WHERE IS TIMER? OH GOOD
FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, AMERICA IS A FREE ENTERPRISE
SO HOW YOU CONTROL THESE POOR BABIES? BUT AS I SEE FOR MANY YEARS COME TO YOU, YOU BEGGING YOU, PLEASE GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY
MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS VERY SIMPLE
WHO DECIDE IN AMERICA ABOUT MARKET? WHO YOU? YOU WERE DANGEROUS AND NAZI OR COMMUNIST
YOU CANNOT CONTROL PRIVATE BUSINESS
IS AMERICA FREE ENTERPRISE FOR 250 YEARS? FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, YEAH
ONLY UNION END MARKET CAN DECIDE HOW MUCH THEY POSSIBLY PAY
MY QUESTION TO YOU VERY SIMPLE, ARE YOU DECIDE HOW MUCH COST AIRLINE TICKET? NO
YES SIR
DIAMOND QFC AND SOUP
BUT IT COST ONE DOLLARS COST RIGHT NOW $5
ARE YOU CHANGE THIS? IS THIS YOUR BUSINESS? THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED
I'M SO SORRY FOR THIS BABY
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS
MEANS? WHO COME TO YOU IN TALKING ABOUT THIS? ONLY UNION AND MARKET POSSIBLY DECIDE PRICE THE SAME BUSINESS AS THEY POSSIBLY BE CONTROLLED
NOT YOU
YOU'RE MORE DANGEROUS THAN NAZI OR COMMUNIST
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS? BECAUSE BUSINESS WHAT IS YOU DOING RIGHT NOW VERY STUPID
IS THIS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW? ZHAI MY DAUGHTER
DAMN NAZI FASCIST PSYCHOPATH
THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN THE PORT BUSINESS
OKAY, IT'S YOUR FIRST WARNING
NO PROBLEM
BUT YOU CANNOT CONTROL PRIVATE BUSINESS
IT IS PRIVATE BUSINESS
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS UNIQUE DOING THIS I'M SIX CDS PEOPLE EVERY YEAR
THIS EXACTLY GIVES THEM FREE MARKET LIKE POSTER BE BY DEFINITION, YOU CANNOT CONTROL PRIVATE BUSINESS
THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESSES
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT? NEVER
NATURAL COMMUNITIES CONTROL SMALL BUSINESSES
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED
I KNOW THIS
STAND UP AMERICA
WE NEED CLEANSES TORY CHAMBER FROM THIS BANJITA
THIS A CRITINA
WHAT IS CONTROL US
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THANK YOU, MR ZIMMERMAN
CLARKE, NEXT SPEAKER
YES
THANK YOU, MR COMMISSION PRESIDENT
LET ME RESET MY TIMER HERE
I DID SHARE WHAT SOUND, BUT FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T HEAR IT, SO BEAR WITH ME
YES
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE KING
CATHERINE, IF YOU COULD REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
OKAY, THANK YOU
MY NAME IS CATHERINE KANG, AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
I'M 100% KOREAN
AND I'M 100% AMERICAN
AGAIN
HELLO
MY NAME IS CATHERINE KANG, AND I'M A SENIOR AT UNIVERSITY PREP IN SEATTLE
BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE, I AM THRILLED TO BE A PART OF MAKING HISTORY IN THE PORT OF SEATTLE TODAY AND SINCERELY OFFER GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOR THE PORT OF SEATTLE'S PROCLAMATION OF KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
EVEN THOUGH KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS A NATIONAL DAY, I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL OCCASION WITH THE MAINSTREAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IN ENGLISH
WHILE I DO SPEAK KOREAN, SPANISH AND FRENCH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OF OUR KOREAN AMERICANS AS WELL AS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF KOREAN AMERICANS
NOW, AS A FUTURE LEADER IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, POLITICS AND LAW, I PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE AND DO MY PART TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, FORTERRA PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND PROMOTE TRADE ALLIANCES AS A CRUCIAL TRAINING PARTNER OF WASHINGTON STATE
THE PORT OF SEATTLE'S RECOGNITION OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST COURAGEOUS KOREAN AMERICANS ON JANUARY 1319 THREE IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR MY FAMILY
MY GREAT GREAT UNCLE WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS WHO GOT ON THE BOAT TO HAWAII TO WORK ON THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS
IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS, MY GRANDFATHER CAME TO SEATTLE FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR TO SHARE KOREAN LACQUER, FURNITURE AND BRASSWARE
MY FATHER ARRIVED WITH AYE
MOTHER THROUGH THE SEATAC AIRPORT IN 1975 TO JOIN AYE
FATHER THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF KOREAN AMERICANS CAN BE SEEN IN ECONOMIC STRENGTH, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND IN ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN LIFE, INCLUDING POLITICS, INDUSTRY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM ARTS, EDUCATION, AND IN VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
HOWEVER, OUR KOREAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND OUR NARRATIVES ARE RARELY INCLUDED IN THE TEXTBOOKS, AND ONLY RECENTLY HAVE WE BEGAN TO LEARN ABOUT OUR HISTORY, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
TODAY, I AM GRATEFUL TO WITNESS OUR ELECTED PORT COMMISSIONERS AS ROLE MODELS FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME TO RECOGNIZE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING KOREAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MS KING
MICHELLE HART
NEXT SPEAKER
YES, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUNKIE MIN, PLEASE
AND JUNKIE, IF YOU COULD REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF POOR BUSINESS, PLEASE
THANK YOU
MY NAME IS JIN GIMIN AND MY TOPIC IS ABOUT KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
HELLO
MY NAME IS GIN
GIN
THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SAGANG UNIVERSITY AND SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO SEATTLE FROM SEOUL TO EARN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION
AFTER GRADUATION, I WANT TO WORK FOR A GLOBAL MARKETING COMPANY TO PROMOTE TRADE
AS A KOREAN AMERICAN, I BELIEVE I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES
KOREA IS ONE OF THE MAIN SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO THE US
COMING IN THIRD BEHIND INDIA AND CHINA
AS A GLOBAL CITIZEN, WE TRAVEL FOR WORK AND SCHOOL
DURING MY SURF STAY, I'VE ALREADY TRAVELED THROUGH THE SEATAC AIRPORT MULTIPLE TIMES
I AM MORE GRATEFUL FOR THESE EXPERIENCES BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
WHILE THESE CONCEPTS WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN TEXTBOOKS, MY PERSONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES MADE ME REALIZE HOW CRITICAL GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP AND EXCHANGES ARE IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRADE AND BUSINESS
I HOPE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE EDUCATION IN KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES
THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND WORK IN CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING AND A MORE EQUITABLE AND SOCIALLY JUST CITY
I FEEL WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY ON THIS SPECIAL DAY WHEN YOU VISIT KOREA
I'M POSITIVE YOU WILL ALSO FEEL WELCOMED
KAMZAMIDA
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MR MEN
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW DIRKY
MATTHEW, IF YOU COULD PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF POOR BUSINESS, PLEASE
THANK YOU
MY NAME IS MATTHEW DURKY AND CREED AMERICAN DAY
WOW
SO FIRST OF ALL, HOW DO I BEAT THAT? THAT'S AMAZING SPEECHES FROM OUR YOUNG GENERATION
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT KOREAN BY BERTH, AMERICAN BY CULTURE, KOREAN ADOPTEE BY SITUATION
I'M ALSO A US ARMY VETERAN TO SHIELD IN THE STORM ERA
MY FATHER WAS A KOREAN WAR VETERAN HIMSELF AND QUEEN AMERICAN DAY IS VERY SPECIAL FOR D BECAUSE IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND MY EXPERIENCE
WHAT I'M LEARNING ABOUT KOREAN AMERICANS AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN AMERICA AND KOREA
IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT I'M LEARNING SOMETHING ABOUT MY CULTURE THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN
WE USE THE TERM DIASPORA, AND KOREAN ADOPTEES DEFINITELY HAVE THAT DIASPORA FEELING WITHIN THEM, TOO
THE OTHER THING TOO, IS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS CREED AMERICAN TODAY? HOW DOES THAT REFLECT UPON US AND THE DIVERSITY OF IT? I DON'T THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY AS A MELTING POT FOR AMERICA
I THINK MORE AS A SALAD BOWL
WE ARE UNIQUE IN EACH OF OUR FLAVORS, BUT WE BRING THAT BEAUTY OF COMBINED TOGETHER
SO THERE'S A LOT THERE THAT I JUST WANT TO WE CAN BREAK THIS DOWN INTO A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT DIVERSITY, BUT KOREAN AMERICAN DAY IS ABOUT FOR ME LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND, TO GROW AND DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP AS AN EDUCATOR AND ALSO AS A PERSON WHO'S STILL LEARNING ABOUT WHO I AM AS A CREED AMERICAN
SO IT WASN'T A LONG SPEECH, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS TIME AND OPPORTUNITY
SO THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MR DURKIN
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL
NEXT SPEAKER
YES, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, BEGINNING WITH IRIS ANTMAN
IRIS, IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE AND ON THE PHONE, STAR SIX TO UNMUTE, PLEASE
AND IF YOU COULD REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS
YES, MY NAME IS IRIS ANTMAN, AND MY TOPIC IS THE HARMS OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY
THANK YOU, IRIS
GOOD AFTERNOON, FORD COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
MY NAME IS IRIS AND I'M WITH SEATTLE CRUISE CONTROL
AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE INCREASING HARMS OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY AS OUR CLIMATE CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
WITH GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS RISING, THE GOAL OF INCREASING CRUISE TOURISM DENIES THAT REALITY
THE PLAN TO SOLICIT EXPANDED CRUISE BUSINESS FROM ASIAN AND AFRICAN MARKETS MAY SOUND SEXY, BUT USING RESOURCES IN THIS WAY IS A WASTE OF RESOURCES
THE PORT OPERATES WITH ECONOMIC EXPANSION AS ITS PRIMARY GOAL
ON A SMALL PLANET WITH FINITE RESOURCES WHICH ARE BEING DEPLETED AND DESTROYED BEFORE OUR AYES, THIS GOAL IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE
THE PORT PRIDES ITSELF ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, BUT THE MEASURES IT HAS TAKEN HAVE NOT DECREASED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS NOR HAD A SUBSTANTIVE EFFECT ON THE HARMFUL PRACTICES OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY
A GREEN CRUISE CORRIDOR IS AN IDEA FOR THE FUTURE, WITH PLANS FOR VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION AND GOAL SET FOR 2050
BY THEN, SEATTLE'S WATERFRONT COULD BE UNDERWATER
A GREEN CRUISE CORRIDOR IS 50 YEARS TOO LATE
THE PORT NEEDS TO LIMIT, DECREASE, AND END CRUISING, A NONESSENTIAL ACTIVITY FOR THOSE WITH MEANS AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE GLOBE
TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO DEVELOPING TRULY GREEN ENTERPRISES HERE AT THE PORT, ONES THAT HELP DEVELOP 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITIES LIKE BUILDING WIND TURBINES
IT'S TIME FOR ALL OF US TO WAKE UP AND ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS ON OUR DOORSTEPS
PLEASE
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MS ANTMAN
I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT
JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE WITH YOU, PLEASE PUT IT ON SILENT
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES DURING FOLKS TESTIMONY
IT'D BE NICE IF WE COULD HONOR THAT
THANK YOU, CLERK HART
NEXT SPEAKER
YES, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE RAYMOND CALL FOR JULIE KING
JULIE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF POOR BUSINESS, PLEASE
GOOD AFTERNOON, JULIE
KING KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION, COMMISSIONER
IN AMERICA, WE OFTEN CELEBRATE A SPECIAL EVENT WITH CAKES, AND TODAY WE WANT TO SHARE KOREAN AMERICAN CAKE, RICE CAKE WITH THE STAFF AND THE COMMISSIONERS
SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE A BOX
AND BECAUSE WE'RE STILL BEING CAREFUL, EVERYTHING IS INDIVIDUALIZED
SO ENJOY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CELEBRATION
THANK YOU SO MUCH
I WANT TO RECESS RIGHT NOW, ANITA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PLOW AHEAD
KEEP GOING
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AFTER THE MEETING CONCLUDES
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLERK HART
NEXT SPEAKER
YES, AND GOING BACK TO THE VIRTUAL LINE WITH DAVID GOEBEL
DAVID, IF YOU COULD REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF POOR BUSINESS, PLEASE
HI
MY NAME IS DAVID GOEBEL
I'M FROM VASHON
FIRST, GUYS, AND THIS COMMENT WOULD PERHAPS BE BETTER SUITED IN THIS ETHICS BOARD MEETING, BUT PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT TAKEN AT THAT MEETING
I'M SPEAKING TODAY AGAIN ON THE CHANGE IN AUGUST TO THE ZOOM MODE USED DURING THE PORT'S BIMONTHLY START MEETING, THE SEATAC ADVISORY ROUNDTABLE, WHICH IS THE PORT'S PRIMARY NEXUS FOR DISCUSSION OF THE AIRPORT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
THE CHANGE MUST GO FROM A NORMAL ZOOM FORMAT TO SOMETHING CALLED WEBINAR PANELIST MODE
IN THIS MODE, IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE OFFICIAL START MEMBERS ARE PRESENT
THE PRESENCE OF THE PUBLIC, OR LACK THEREOF, IS COMPLETELY INVISIBLE
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE APRIL START MEETING, WHEN REPRESENTATIVE JAI PAUL WAS A GUEST PRESENTER, SHE SPECIFICALLY COMMENTED ON THE DOZENS OF ASHTON RESIDENTS PRESENT
AND SHE SAID, I KNOW ALSO THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS FROM FASHION ISLAND WITH US TODAY
SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR JOINING THIS TABLE
IF SHE WERE TO PRESENT TODAY, SHE WOULD HAVE AT A START MEETING TODAY, SHE WOULD HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE WERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT
I WANT TO CONTRAST THIS MAJOR STEP BACKWARDS THE START MEETING MEETING TOOK TO HOW THIS PART OF COMMISSIONER COMMISSION MEETING IS BEING RUN
YOU DO A REALLY GOOD JOB
YOU MAKE THE VERY REASONABLE REQUEST TO TURN OFF OUR CAMERAS WHEN NOT SPEAKING
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE
IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS, NOT INVISIBLE, IF THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING THE MEETING VIRTUALLY, EVEN IF NONE OF THEM MADE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND IF THIS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME
I HAVE THE OPTION TO ATTEND IN PERSON FOR THE REAL THING
THERE IS NO IN PERSON OPTION WITH START
THIS IS ALL THE MORE CYNICAL AS START EXCLUDES FROM MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITIES THAT AREN'T DIRECTLY BORDERING THE AIRPORT, NO MATTER HOW IMPACTED THEY ARE BY THE AIRPORT
THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO REFUSE TO HAVE AN IN PERSON OPTION ARE ALL PRACTICALLY WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT
START WAS CREATED AND IS FUNDED AND LEGALLY ORGANIZED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE, NOT THE FAA
THE BUS STOPS WITH YOU GUYS, AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING REFLECTS POORLY ON YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL MUCH BETTER THAN THAT
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MR GOGO
NEXT SPEAKER CLERK
YES, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
ALSO JOINING VIRTUALLY IS BRIAN THOMPSON
BRIAN, IF YOU COULD REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
MY NAME IS BRIAN THOMPSON
I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE METRO AREA, SPEAKING TODAY IN REGARDS TO POLICY HR 34 AND EXECUTIVE POLICY 29
THANK YOU, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE WELL BEING OF PORT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS, AND TO REMOVE A BARRIER TO WMBE AND DBE INVOLVEMENT IN THE PORT CONTRACTS
I ASK THAT YOU INITIATE NEW BUSINESS IN THIS MEETING TO END THE POLICIES WHICH REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINATION, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE POLICY 29 AND POLICY HR 34
EXECUTIVE POLICY 29 IS A BARRIER TO WMPE AND DBE FIRMS AND CREATES DISPARITY AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY
THIS IS BECAUSE LARGER FIRMS MAY HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFF WHO SATISFY THE TERMS OF EXECUTIVE POLICY 29
THIS CONTRADICTS PORT OBJECTIVE 13 WHICH WE'LL HEAR ABOUT IN AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN B TODAY
LAST WEEK WE SAW THE HOUSE PASSED THE $858,000,000,000 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, WHICH INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PENTAGON TO END ITS COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SMITH OF OUR 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IN WHICH SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS LOCATED, STATED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO END THE VACCINE REQUIREMENT
THE CDC WEBSITE NOW STATES BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS WILL OCCUR EVEN WHEN VACCINATION RATES ARE HIGH AND PEOPLE WHO GET VACCINE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION CAN SPREAD COVID-19 TO OTHER PEOPLE
THEREFORE, EVEN 100% VACCINATION STATUS IN A POPULATION WILL NOT PREVENT SPREAD OF THE VIRUS
ACCORDINGLY, POLICY HR 34 AND EXECUTIVE POLICY 29, IMPOSING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES WITH THE INTENT TO PROTECT PORT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE RESCINDED TO SUPPORT THE WELL BEING OF PORT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS
CONSIDERING, ONE, THE DISPARITY THE MANDATE PRESENTS WMBE AND DBE INVOLVEMENT IN PORT CONTRACTS CONTRARY TO PORT GOALS
TWO RECENT ACTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STRIKE DOWN VACCINE MANDATES, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE SMITH SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ENDING THE DOD VACCINE MANDATE AND THREE, IN LIGHT OF CDC DATA WHICH CONTRADICTS PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF MAINTAINING THE MANDATES
THE COMMISSION SHOULD INITIATE NEW BUSINESS IN THIS MEETING TO RESCIND POLICY HR 34 AND EXECUTIVE POLICY 29 RETROACTIVE TO EXISTING CONTRACTS
THANK YOU, MR THOMPSON KIRKHART
NEXT SPEAKER? YES, THANK YOU
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSHUA WALTER
JOSHUA, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME TO THE TESTIMONY TABLE AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR CONDUCT RELATED TO THE TOPIC OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
MY NAME IS JOSHUA WELTER
I'M SPEAKING ON AIRPORT TAXI
PRESIDENT CALKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION HAVE BEEN STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF TAXI DRIVERS, THE HARDWORKING IMMIGRANT TAXI UNION MEMBERS YOU SEE HERE TODAY
THREE YEARS AGO, MANY OF YOU VOTED TO SUPPORT DRIVERS HAVING A VOICE THROUGH THEIR UNION
OTHERS CAME TO THIS COMMISSION AFTER THAT VOTE WITH A MANDATE TO ENSURE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION ON THIS BODY
THE COMMISSION VOTE THREE YEARS AGO FOLLOWED A PERIOD OF UNREST FOR AIRPORT TAXI PROTESTS AND WORK STOPPAGES
29 UNION ACTIVISTS THAT WERE TERMINATED FROM THEIR JOBS
DRIVERS REGULARLY PACKING MEETINGS LIKE THIS
AND THE COMMISSION THEN STOOD WITH DRIVERS, ELIMINATING EXCESSIVE COSTS THAT DRIVERS HAD FOR CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT FEES
AND AS I SAID, VOTING FOR DRIVER VOICE DRIVERS WERE OPTIMISTIC THREE YEARS AGO ABOUT BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER OF COLLABORATION WITH THE PORT
UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE THAT TIME, THE DRIVER VOICE AT WORK HAS LARGELY BEEN MET WITH DISMISSAL AND EVEN, I'M SORRY TO SAY, DISDAIN FROM PORT STAFF
ELECTED DRIVER LEADERS MEET MONTHLY WITH STAFF, BUT NO MATTER HOW CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WE TRY TO BE TO ADDRESS DRIVER ISSUES, MOST OF THOSE MEETINGS END WITH PORT STAFF SIMPLY SAYING NO
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, STAFF REJECTED DRIVER SUGGESTIONS BY SAYING THAT THE DRIVER VOICE PROGRAM WASN'T ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE PILOT, BUT ABOUT WHAT CAME AFTER
AND THREE YEARS LATER, NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT COMES AFTER, STAFF NOW HAVE NEW EXCUSES FOR WHY IT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO ACT ON DRIVER PRIORITIES
SO LAST MONTH, WE WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT STAFF BELIEVES THAT IT HAS THE ABILITY A BLANK CHECK AUTHORITY TO MAKE FUTURE CONTROVERSIAL CHANGES WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE COMMISSION
SO WE'RE IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN TODAY, LIKE WE WERE THREE YEARS AGO, TO CALL FOR COMMISSION ACTION
ONE, TO ENSURE ONGOING PUBLIC OVERSIGHT BY THIS BODY WITH VOTES ON ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE TAXI PROGRAM, AND TWO, TO ENSURE THAT WE STRENGTHEN DRIVER VOICE WITH PROCEDURES FOR ORDERLY DISPUTE RESOLUTION, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED SINCE 2019
THANK YOU SO MUCH
THANK YOU, MR WALTER
CLERK NEXT SPEAKER? YES
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAGGABEE JAMAL
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
AND THEN IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC, PLEASE
MY NAME IS JAIME JAMAL
I'M A TAXI DRIVER, AND I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU
GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
SO WE DON'T WANT THE PORT EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A BLANK CHECK JUST TO MAKE ANY DECISION ABOUT TAXI, LIKE INCREASING THE FEES AND ALL THAT WITHOUT COMMISSIONER APPROVAL
SO WHATEVER THE PORT EMPLOYEE ARE DECIDING OR PLANNING TO DO, LIKE VIRTUAL QUEUE, THEY TOLD US THEY EVEN DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS AND THEY WANT TO BRING IT TO US OR TO TEST ON US
SO BEFORE THEY DO THAT, THEY NEED TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU GUYS SAY GO AHEAD, OR SAY NO TO IT BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES
WE TALK TO THEM MANY TIMES
AND ANOTHER THING, A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE THAT, THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND MOST OF THE PORT HAVE SMARTPHONES OR OUR MILITARY WHEN THEY COME BACK FROM KOREA OR JAPAN, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET
SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE Q SYSTEM AND ALL THAT, THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK FOR THEM
SO ARE WE GOING TO ABANDON OUR SOLDIERS AT THE MOMENT THEY NEED A RIDE FROM THE PORT OR WHAT? SO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO, THEY NEED TO COME THROUGH THE PORT AND THE PORT SAYS GO AHEAD
ANOTHER THING IS THERE'S NO EASY WAY OUT FOR THIS
SO EVERY TIME WE NEED TO COME BACK OVER HERE AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR LIFE EASIER, FOR TAKING THE EXCESS FEES FROM THE OTHER COMPANIES OR THE DISPATCH COMPANIES, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THANK YOU, MR JAMAL
CLERK HART, NEXT SPEAKER
YES
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMSON HILL LEG GEORGE'S
I'M SO SORRY, SAMSON, IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE TESTIMONY TABLE AND CORRECT MY BAD PRONUNCIATION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT
AND IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
OKAY, THANK YOU
MY NAME IS SAMSON SAMSON HIGHLY GEORGES
I'M A TAXI DRIVER OVER 17 YEARS AS A 400 DRIVER
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE PORT COMMISSIONER, PORT STAFF AND MY FELLOW DRIVERS
THANK YOU FOR RENEWING ON DEMAND TAXI PILOT PROGRAM AND WE GOT THE ABILITY TO WORK AT THE AIRPORT TO SERVE THE GRACIATL COMMUNITY
WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE PORT ON THE FUTURE CHANGE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING YOUR ATTENTION ANY FUTURE CHANGE OR DECISION TO BE UNDER YOUR OVERSIGHT, PLEASE DON'T GIVE A FREE BLANK CHECK ON OUR FUTURE
WE ARE ON DEMAND
WE DON'T LIKE TO TAKE AWAY OUR SPOTLIGHT
THANK YOU
I WILL APPRECIATE HAVING THANK YOU, MR HAILEY GEORGES
CLERK HART, NEXT SPEAKER
YES
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WORKU BALAGNEB
WORKU, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
MY NAME IS WORKU BALINA
I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR IRE THE LAST TWO YEARS
HE'S AND MORE
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS CHANCE TO SPEAK TODAY
ALSO, I'M A MEMBER OF TEAMSTER ONE ONE SEVEN
TODAY I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TWO THINGS
MY TWO MINUTES, I'LL DO MY BEST TO FINISH ON TIME
SO THE FIRST THING I LIKE TO REMEMBER YOU BACK IN THREE YEARS AGO, THE 29 PEOPLE, THEIR JOB WAS ON THE LINE TO TERMINATE
BUT WE FIGHT WITH THE TEAMSTER AND SAVE OUR JOB
SO ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW SINCE THIS PILOT PROGRAM STARTS WITH THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, I AM ONE OF THEM TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE PORT STAFF, HOW WE OPERATE THE JOB AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE WHICH IS COMING UP NEW PROGRAM
WE RECOMMEND A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THEY REJECTED A LOT OF THINGS
FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECOMMEND MINIMUM FARE FOR SHORT FARE WHICH IS THE PORT NOT LOSING NOTHING, JUST WE ARE ASKING SIMPLE THINGS BUT THE PORT WANT TO TAKE IT
SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A POWER TO PASS MINIMUM FARE BUT NOW WE HAVE TO GO TO THE KING COUNTY TO PASS THE MINIMUM SHORT FARE
ALSO I'D LIKE TO THE PUBLIC KNOW, EVEN YOU DEAR COMMISSIONERS NEED TO KNOW WHEN THE COVID HITS, WE ARE FORGOTTEN BY THE SYSTEM
SO THE TEAM MR 1117 HAS TO GO WASHINGTON TO HELP US TO SURVIVE THAT COVID TIME
SO WE APPRECIATE FOR THAT
TEAM MR ONE ONE SEVEN
SO AT THE LAST I LIKE TO SAY YOU YOUR COMMISSIONER, WE VOTE FOR YOU TO VOTE ANYTHING OUTCOME FOR OUR FUTURE JOB
SO PLEASE DON'T PASS THROUGH THAT POWER TO THE PORT STAFF
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
THANK YOU MR BELINA
COMMISSIONER CLERK HART, NEXT SPEAKER
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HASSAN WASAMI HANNAH HASSAN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE PORT PLEASE
SURE, THANK YOU
MY NAME IS HASSAN WARSAMI AND ALSO I'M THE CAR DRIVER CALKINS THE PORT
AGAIN
MY NAME IS HASAN WARSAMI
OKAY, THANK YOU
MY NAME IS HASAN WARSAMI AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING TAXI MORE THAN 23 YEARS
IN LAST TEN YEARS I WAS WALKING THE AIRBORNE
SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE ABOUT WHY DRIVERS ARE CALLING ON YOU TO STRENGTHEN OUR UNION RIGHTS
IN THE SUMMERTIME, IN THE CARIBBEAN SEASON, IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING AND SOMETIMES IT WAS THE AIRBORNE WAS BUSY AND SOMETIMES YOU SEE THE ONE WITH LAYING UP FOUR OR FIVE TAXI LOADING THE SAME TIMES AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES
SO THREE PEOPLE COME TO ME IN MY CAR, THEY HAVE A LOT OF LUGGAGE AND GO IN THE CARUCHIK
THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS THE WILTER VAN
BUT WHEN THEY CAME, THEY REQUESTED TO GO THE CAR BEHIND ME AND THEY SAID OKAY, BUT THAT CAR, THE COORDINATOR, HE SEND IT TO RIGHT AWAY AYE
SIGNAL TO SEND ANOTHER PLACE
BUT I INFORMED THEM THEY STILL HAVE ANOTHER VAN AVAILABLE
COORDINATOR, HE WAS WALKING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FAR FROM ME, SO HE WAS ASSUMING I WAS REFUSING THE FARE BECAUSE MAYBE IT WAS SHORT THREE
AND THEN I JUST COME TO AYE
AND I TOLD AYE
THEY NEED A VAN AND HE WAS GOOD MAD
AND HE JUST TOLD ME TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT EMPTY
THE CUSTOMER I WAS REQUESTING THE VAN, THEY KNOWS I DIDN'T REFUSE IT, THEY GET MAD WHY THIS GUY, HE'S DOING THIS ONE? AND I TOLD THEM, DON'T WORRY, I HAVE A PLACE TO GO
THEY CALLED THE VAN, BUT ALSO I ASKED THEM IF I CAN TAKE A STATEMENT FROM THEM AND THEY GIVE A STATEMENT
IDEALS ABUSE
SORRY ABOUT THAT
THANK YOU, MR MARSAMI
CLERK HART, NEXT SPEAKER? YES, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE JARRO GARO
GARO
GARO
THANK YOU, KATIE
IF YOU CAN REPEAT YOUR NAME PROPERLY FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE PORT, PLEASE
SURE, HAPPY TO
KATIE NARROWS
I'M THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TREASURER FOR MLK LABOR
WE'RE THE UMBRELLA GROUP FOR UNIONS HERE IN KING COUNTY, HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FOUR HIRE DRIVER WORKFORCE THAT'S BEHIND ME
FEDERAL LABOR LAW EXCLUDES THIS WORKFORCE FROM THE SAME LABOR PROTECTIONS THAT MOST WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY ENJOY
AND BACK IN 2019, THE PORT OF SEATTLE WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF GIVING THIS WORKFORCE THE SAME RIGHTS THAT MANY AMERICAN WORKERS ALREADY ENJOY
AND THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD THING
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE HEARD THAT SO MUCH OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE BACK IN 2019 HAS BEEN STALLED IN THE MOST RECENT NEGOTIATIONS, AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
SINCE THE PORT MADE HISTORIC MOVES AND GIVING WORKERS DRIVERS A VOICE, THE THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE STATE OF WASHINGTON HAS JUMPED AHEAD
WE WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE FAIR SHARE CAMPAIGN AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO GIVE FOUR HIRE DRIVERS RIGHTS, AND IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE STATE OF WASHINGTON THEN ADOPTED A SIMILAR MODEL OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR THESE DRIVERS
SO I'M REALLY JUST HERE TO LIFT UP THEIR CONCERNS AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE LABOR MOVEMENT HAS INVESTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN ALLOWING THESE HARDWORKING, MOSTLY MEN, MOSTLY IMMIGRANT MEN, THE ABILITY TO MAKE A LIVING AND TO ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS THAT MANY, MANY WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY ALREADY ENJOY
IT'S A HISTORICAL WRONG
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT
BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO BETTER
SO THANK YOU AND WE'LL BE WATCHING AND HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME POSITIVE PROGRESS ON THIS FOR HIGHER POLICY
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, MS GARRO
CLERK HART
SPEAKER
YES
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICK MCKEE
NO, HE'S HERE
AYES
THANK YOU, THOUGH
AND PATRICK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
HI, MY NAME IS PATRICK MCKEE AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT CRUISE AGAIN
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
PLEASED TO LEARN THE PORT OF SEATTLE WAS REPRESENTED AT COP 27 LAST MONTH
SURPRISED, THOUGH, TO SEE A TWEET FROM EGYPT THAT THE PORT ALREADY HAS A GREEN CRUISE CORRIDOR IN THE NORTH PACIFIC FEELS A LITTLE PREMATURE
NOT ONLY DOES NO SUCH THING EXIST, THERE'S NOT EVEN AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR PURPORTED CRUISE LINE PARTNERS ON WHAT SUCH A THING IS INTENDED TO BE, ONLY THAT IT'S A CAN
WE'RE KICKING WAY DOWN THE ROAD TO 2051ST OF ALL THE PORT'S WEBSITE NOTWITHSTANDING
CRUISE LINES ARE NOT OUR PARTNERS
THEY'RE BASICALLY TENANTS, RIGHT? WE'RE ENGAGED WITH THEM IN A SERIES OF BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS, ALL NON ESSENTIAL, MEANINGFUL ONLY FOR THE 5000 JOBS AND $900 MILLION WE'RE TOLD THEY GENERATE
BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED PARTNERS WHO PAY WORKERS AS LITTLE AS $2 AN HOUR, WHO DUMP BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF SEWAGE IN THE NEIGHBORING WATERS, WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD AS CLIMATE HEATING, POLLUTERS AND CORPORATE CRIMINALS
CRUISE COMPANIES HAVE SHOWN THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH
IDEALLY, THIS IS WHERE YOU ALL STEP IN
BECAUSE THE PORT'S ACTUAL PARTNERS ARE THE CITIZENS OF KING COUNTY AND WASHINGTON
OUR FAMILIES LIVE AND WORK HERE
WE ELECT COMMISSIONERS BASED ON OUR ESTIMATION OF THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COMMON INTERESTS
SO I WANT TO URGE THE PORT TO START REPRESENTING THESE ACTUAL PARTNERS
WHAT CAN WE DO IN 2023, RIGHT NOW, TO BEGIN CURBING THE DEADLY IMPACTS OF THIS NONESSENTIAL INDUSTRY WHILE PRESERVING THOSE 5000 JOBS? WE COULD STOP DIGGING THE HOLE DEEPER
FOR A START, ADDRESS THE SO CALLED INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR CREWS BY CAPPING SEATTLE SAILINGS AT 2019 LEVELS
IMPOSE CRUISE SHIP SPEED LIMITS TO INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCY, DEMAND AN EXPANSION OF SEWAGE NO DISCHARGE ZONES, RESTORE ONBOARD MONITORS, INITIATE A CLEAREYED PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF THE REAL EFFECTS AND INEQUITIES OF CRUISE AT HOME AND IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
AND THEN WE CAN GET TO WORK ENVISIONING ALTERNATIVES TO CRUISE AND DEVELOPING POLICIES TO ENCOURAGE THOSE COMMISSIONERS
THERE'S A LOT TO DO
YOU KNOW THE STAKES AND THE URGENCY OF ACTION
YOUR PARTNERS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU
THANK YOU
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
LET'S GET STARTED IN 2023
THANK YOU, MR MCKEE
CLERK NEXT SPEAKER? YES, OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP TODAY IS JORDAN VAN VOST
WELCOME, JORDAN
IF YOU CAN RESTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOUR TOPIC RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF PORT BUSINESS, PLEASE
MY NAME IS JORDAN VAN VOS
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT CRUISE, BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE PORT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN PROCLAMATION
ALSO, OUR GROUP STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL UNIONS
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE STAND UP FOR HATRED BECAUSE WITHOUT HAVING A BASIS OF GOODWILL AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, WE CAN'T GET ANY WORK DONE
AND OUR GROUP IS REALLY ABOUT REDUCING SUFFERING IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THINKING OF FUTURE GENERATIONS
AS A MEMBER OF SEATTLE CRUISE CONTROL, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENT CRUISE INDUSTRY'S HARMFUL IMPACTS TO THE AIR, WATER, MARINE ENVIRONMENTS, THE WORKER EXPLOITATION, AND THE ACCELERATING CLIMATE EMERGENCY
AND WE URGE YOU TO BEGIN PHASING OUT THESE PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUSTAINABLE
THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM CREWS AREN'T WORTH THE MANY HARMS THAT THEY CREATE
CRUISING IS A NONESSENTIAL HUMAN ACTIVITY
THE GREEN CORRIDOR IS NOT A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND IT DOES NOT AMELIORATE THE MULTIPLE OTHER HARMS OF CREWS
COP 27 MAKES CLEAR THAT THE PARIS TARGET OF 1.5 DEGREES MAY NO LONGER BE ACHIEVABLE, BUT STILL
WE MUST ACT EVERY FRACTION OF A DEGREE THAT WE LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING MEANS A HUGE REDUCTION IN GLOBAL SUFFERING
MOST VOTERS IN KING COUNTY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE THE PORT COMMISSION THAT MUCH, DESPITE THE COMMISSION'S GREAT POWER OVER POLICY, LAST MONTH, 70% OF KING COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENT ONE, SHIFTING SEVERAL COUNTY ELECTIONS TO EVEN
YEARS WHEN VOTER TURNOUT ALMOST DOUBLES ON ODD ELECTIONS YEARS WHEN PORT ELECTIONS ARE HELD, VOTER TURNOUT AVERAGES AROUND 47%
SO IF YOU WANT TO UPHOLD THE PUBLIC GOOD, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET MORE VOTERS INVOLVED
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE@SEATTLECRUISECONTROL.ORG AND ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES WE'VE RAISED
THANK YOU SO MUCH
THANK YOU, MR VAN VOST
AND A QUICK NOTE TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO PRESENT TODAY
WHETHER YOU SPOKE OR WERE HERE JUST TO BE PRESENT WITH US
PUBLIC COMMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART ABOUT HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS AS A COMMISSION
AND SO YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR COMMENTS HERE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED
IN THE INTEREST, AS WE MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA SETTING, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ONE OF OUR STAFF REPORTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE FOLKS ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AT THIS TIME
CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD? THIS IS ITEM ELEVEN, AND THEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK WILL INTRODUCE THE ITEM
MR COMMISSION PRESIDENT, CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY FOR ME, DID YOU CALL FOR ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FROM THE MEMBERS? I'M SORRY, I DID NOT
I APOLOGIZE
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OR ANYONE ONLINE? OKAY, THANK YOU, CLERK HART FOR REMINDING ME ON THAT
WE WILL MOVE AHEAD TO PRESENTATIONS NOW
WE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD CLERK HART
YES, THANK YOU
AND BEFORE I DO THAT, I'LL JUST NOTE THAT WE DID RECEIVE THREE WRITTEN COMMENTS TODAY
FOR SUMMARY, EVERYBODY ACTUALLY SUBMITTED SUPPLEMENTAL WRITTEN TESTIMONY
ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WERE PRESENT TODAY AND THEIR WRITTEN TESTIMONY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND WILL BE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD HERE TODAY
THANK YOU, CLERK HART
YOU'RE WELCOME
AND THIS IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN A, THE ON DEMAND TAXI FLAT RATE PROGRAM BRIEFING
THERE WE GO
COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONERS
GROUND TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THE KEY SERVICES THAT AIRPORT TRAVELERS REQUIRE
THE PORT STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO UNDERTAKE A PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED WITH SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM DRIVERS AND OPERATORS AT SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
THIS PILOT PROGRAM BALANCES PASSENGER NEED WITH ENSURING SUSTAINABLE LIVING WAGE JOBS FOR DRIVERS
AS THE CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM AND STAFF IS HERE TODAY TO BRIEF COMMISSIONERS ON THE PROPOSED PATH FORWARD
I WANT TO NOTE THE PLAN YOU'LL HEAR TODAY CARRIES FORWARD MANY OF THE ELEMENTS DRAWN FROM THE THREE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM THAT REFLECTS EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO THE DRIVERS AND ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION FIRST ESTABLISHED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM
LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS
AND SO I'M GOING TO KICK IT OFF WITH LANCE LITTLE, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR AVIATION DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
AND THEN ALSO WITH US IS JEFF WOLF
SENIOR MANAGER, AVIATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND CHARLOTTE SKAGGS, CONTRACTOR WITH EXTERNAL RELATIONS
SO WITH THAT, LANCE, I SEE YOU THERE
THANK YOU, STEVE
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
COMMISSIONERS HAVING EFFICIENT GROUND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR VISION TO ACHIEVE THAT COVETED FIVE STAR DESIGNATION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
FOR OUR AIRPORT GROUND TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE A KEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AMENITY
IT IS ALSO A CRITICAL FACTOR IN MANAGING TRAFFIC ON OUR DRIVES AND IN OUR LONG TERM STRATEGY TO DECARBONIZE AIRPORT OPERATION
THEY'RE ALSO A PART OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MISSION
SO THESE OPTIONS HAVE CHANGED MUCH BY TECHNOLOGY AND PASSENGER HABITS IN THE LAST DECADE AND THEN EVEN MORE SO RECENTLY BY THE PANDEMIC
BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION AND THE IMPACTS ON ALL OF OUR PARTIES, WE INVEST A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY IN TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT
COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR FEEDBACK IN ASSISTING US IN TRYING TO GET THIS RIGHT
NOW LET ME TOUCH ON A FEW POINTS IN THE NEW PROGRAM AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE
SO CANDIDLY, THERE IS NO SIMPLE SOLUTION OR CLEAR PREFERENCE FOR ONE TYPE OF PROGRAM
IT TAKES COLLABORATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT ALL PARTIES WILL AGREE ON A SINGLE DIRECTION OR A SINGLE SOLUTION
WE'LL WORK WITH YOU, YOUR PREDECESSORS, THE DRIVERS, OPERATORS AND MANY OF US TO DEVELOP BOTH THE PILOT PROGRAM AND THE DIRECTION OF THIS NEW PROGRAM
NOT EVERY ISSUE IS RESOLVED, EVEN AS WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO BALANCE THE NEEDS AND THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON THE ON DEMAND SERVICE AT SEA
THE TEAM WILL GO INTO THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES
BUT I FIRST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE HARD WORK OF THE TEAM, INCLUDING OUR CONSULTANTS AND OF COURSE THE DRIVERS AND OPERATORS, SOME OF WHO ARE HERE TODAY, WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM AND PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO US OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE PILOT
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION, WHICH WAS A NEW ROLE CREATED FOR THE PILOT AND WHICH WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEW PROGRAM
THE NEW PROGRAM, AS STEVE SAID, IT CLOSELY FOLLOWS ELEMENTS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, CREDIT TO THE STAFF AND CONSULTANT, AND TEAM WORK, GREAT WORK TO DEVELOP THESE ELEMENTS, WHICH ARE DEVELOPED THROUGH EXTENSIVE OUTREACH WITH DRIVERS AND OPERATORS
AS I NOTED, THIS IS A DYNAMIC INDUSTRY AND THE THREE YEAR PROGRAM WILL GIVE US FLEXIBILITY AS THE MARKET CHANGES OR REGULATION CHANGES
AND WHILE THE PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN IMPROVE THE UNDERMAN SYSTEM FOR BOTH TRAVELERS AND OPERATORS, INCLUDING LOWERING COSTS OVER TIME
WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TURN OVER TO JEFF WOLF WHO WILL WALK US THROUGH THE BRIEFING
JEFF? GREAT
THANK YOU, LANCE
I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS AND ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL
GOOD AFTERNOON
COMMISSION PRESIDENT CALKINS
COMMISSIONERS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
MY NAME IS JEFF WOLF, SENIOR MANAGER OF AVIATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN OUR COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT TEAM AT THE AIRPORT
MY TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS WE HAVE IN PLACE, INCLUDING THE ON DEMAND TAXI SYSTEM
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR AIRPORT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHO OVERSEES THE ACTUAL ON THE GROUND OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE BRIEFING YOU ON THE ON DEMAND SYSTEM
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK NOTE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS BRIEFING, I'M GOING TO REFER TO IT AS EITHER TAXI OR ON DEMAND, JUST FOR SIMPLICITY OF EXPLAINING THE SYSTEM
AND BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK THE DRIVERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THE OPERATORS
THE INPUT AND PARTICIPATION THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL
ALSO WANT TO THANK JOSHUA WELTER WITH TEAMSTERS 117, THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION, FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AS WELL
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE SITTING NEXT TO ME, CHARLOTTE SKAGGS, ALONG WITH HER COLLEAGUE, WHO I ALSO BELIEVE IS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE, TAYLOR HODGES
THANK YOU, TAYLOR
THEY WERE BOTH PART OF THE MALL FOSTER AND ALONGI TEAM, WHICH I THINK CHARLOTTE HAS MOVED ON TO A NEW POSITION NOW, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD
SO JUST WANT TO THANK CHARLOTTE AND TAYLOR
BUT ALSO WE'RE GOING TO HAND IT OVER AND HEAR FROM CHARLOTTE WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT IN THE PRESENTATION
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, CHARLOTTE
WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP INTO THE BRIEFING
SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
OKAY, SO HERE IS AN AGENDA FOR TODAY'S BRIEFING
WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TALK THROUGH A QUICK HISTORY OF THE ON DEMAND SERVICES AT THE PORT, INCLUDING SOME RATHER IMPORTANT CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS THAT LANCE ALLUDED TO
WE'LL THEN GET INTO THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY IN TODAY
AND PART OF THAT PILOT PROGRAM INCLUDES THE STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH
SO WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT EFFORT AND THEN WE'LL LEAD INTO THE POST PILOT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION AND THEN FINISH UP TODAY'S BRIEFING WITH NEXT STEPS
SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO, STARTING WITH A BRIEF HISTORY, THIS MATRIX SHOWS YOU THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE DATING BACK TO 1989 FOR ON DEMAND SERVICES AT THE AIRPORT
WHY 1989? WHY IS THAT DATE ON THERE? SO, UP UNTIL THAT POINT, WE HAD WHAT MIGHT BE CLASSIFIED AS AN OPEN TAXI SYSTEM AT THE AIRPORT
IN ESSENCE, ANY OPERATOR THAT WAS LICENSED, PROPERLY LICENSED WITHIN KING COUNTY, COULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PORT
AS THE AIRPORT WAS GROWING, WE NEEDED SOME MORE OVERSIGHT, SOME ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION OF THE SYSTEM
SO WE APPROACHED THE OWNERS AND ASKED THEM TO AFFILIATE AND ASSOCIATE, AND THEY FORMED SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL TAXI ASSOCIATION, OR STITA FOR SHORT
WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH STITA IN 1989 THAT LASTED FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES THROUGH 2009
WHY THAT DATE
SO YOU MAY RECALL, IN THE 2008 2009 TIME FRAME, THERE WAS A STATE AUDIT THAT OCCURRED
THE STATE AUDITOR IDENTIFIED VARIOUS AGREEMENTS ACROSS THE PORT OF SEATTLE, INCLUDING THE ON DEMAND CONTRACT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PUT OUT FOR A COMPETITIVE BID
SO WE DID THAT
WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID IN 2009 THROUGH THAT PROCESS, SELECTED PUGET SOUND DISPATCH, OR YELLOW CAB, WHICH IS THE SECOND COMPANY LISTED THERE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU CAN SEE VARIOUS STATS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF VEHICLE COUNT OR THE FLEET SIZE, AS WELL AS TRIPS PER YEAR
AND ONE INTERESTING NOTE HERE IS WITH THE YELLOW CAB CONTRACT, WE DID REACH OUR PEAK IN TERMS OF ON- PICKUP TRIPS IN 2015 OF JUST SHY OF A MILLION TRIPS PER YEAR, WITH MAJOR CHANGES THAT NOW OCCURRED
WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT
WITH THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE A STEADY DECLINE IN THOSE TRIPS
THOSE ARE ON DEMAND TRIPS
SO WE THEN PUT THE CONTRACT OUT FOR BID
AGAIN, IN THE 2010 TIME FRAME, SELECTED EAST SIDE FOR HIRE
THAT CONTRACT BEGAN, EXCUSE ME, IN THE 2015 TIME FRAME, WE SELECTED EAST SIDE FOR HIRE IN 2016
AGAIN, YOU SEE SOME STATS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CONTRACT
BUT ALSO OF NOTE, YOU CAN SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT THE DECLINE OF JUST ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION TRIPS IN 2017
AND THEN FINALLY, AT LEAST LISTED ON THIS WITH THE HISTORY, IS THE TRANSITION TO THE PILOT PROGRAM
AND WE'LL GO INTO SOME DETAIL OF WHAT THE PILOT PROGRAM INCLUDED OR INCLUDES TODAY, AND THE REASONS WHY WE TRANSITIONED INTO THE PILOT
SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO WE MENTIONED SOME CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY
SO WHAT THIS SLIDE DOES IS TRIES TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE AND THEN WHAT ACTIONS WE, THE PORT OF SEATTLE, TOOK IN RESPONSE
THE FIRST ONE WE'RE ALL PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH, IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE A SMARTPHONE, AT LEAST YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAME WITH SMARTPHONES, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RIDESHARE APPLICATIONS
SO THIS IS THE LIKES OF UBER, LYFT, WINGS, AND OTHER COMPANIES
THIS PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT, I'LL CALL IT DISRUPTOR TO THE ON DEMAND INDUSTRY
THE CUSTOMERS THAT TRADITIONALLY HAD BEEN WHAT WE CALL ON DEMAND, OR JUST WALK OUT TO GET A TAXI, NOW HAD ANOTHER OPTION, AND HAVE ANOTHER OPTION IN TERMS OF PROCURING THE RIDE VIA THEIR SMARTPHONE
SO THIS PROVED TO BE QUITE A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF THE DECLINE IN TRIPS, AS WE SAW IN THE TRIP COUNTS IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AS WELL AS THE PROLIFERATION OF TNCS, AS ARE CALLED TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES
THE SECOND ITEM THAT'S LISTED HERE IS I'VE GOT KING COUNTY AND CITY OF SEATTLE REGULATIONS
WE ACTUALLY LIVE IN A UNIQUE PORTION OF THE COUNTRY FOR MANY REASONS, BUT ONE BEING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FORMAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TAXI CAB AND A FLAT RATE FOR HIRE, WHICH ARE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY IN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY CODES
A TAXICAB IS A SINGLE COLOR VEHICLE WITH A METER THAT'S IN THE VEHICLE THAT DETERMINES THE PASSENGER'S FARE
A FLAT RATE FOR HIRE IS TWO OR MORE COLORS AND DOES NOT HAVE A METER IN THE VEHICLE
THE FARE IS SET AS A PREDEFINED RATE WITH THE CUSTOMER
THEN THEY ACCEPT THAT RATE UPON GETTING IN THE VEHICLE
SO WHY DO WE HAVE THIS UP HERE? WELL, IT'S PROVEN TO BE A CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES, MOST NOTABLY ON THE FARES
SO IN FACT, THERE CAN BE CUSTOMERS THAT MAY GO TO A SIMILAR DESTINATION THAT ARE CHARGED DIFFERENT AMOUNTS IF YOU TAKE A TAXI CAB OR YOU TAKE A FLAT RATE FOR HIRE
SO THIS CERTAINLY HAS POSED CHALLENGES, JUST INDUSTRY-WIDE, BUT ALSO FOR THE AIRPORT, FOR US IN DEVELOPING A PROGRAM THAT ACCOMMODATES BOTH
SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE IN TERMS OF IN RESPONSE TO THIS? AS I NOTED, THERE HAS BEEN A TREND AWAY FROM A SINGLE CONCESSION AGREEMENT TO NEW STYLE OF AGREEMENT THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN MORE DETAIL
BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME STEPS THAT WE TOOK IN BETWEEN
SO AT THE END OF OUR EAST SIDE FOR HIRE AND 2018, THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY APPROVED RELIEF EFFORTS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE DECLINE IN THE BUSINESS
SO THE FIRST WAS IN 2017, AND THE COMMISSION APPROVED IT THEN
SO AT THE TIME, WHAT WE CALL THE PER TRIP FEE, OR THE FEE THAT THE DRIVER NAYS TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE WAS SET TO ACTUALLY INCREASE FROM SEVEN DOLLARS TO SEVEN DOLLARS FIFTY CENTS
BUT THE COMMISSION APPROVED A REDUCTION IN THAT TO $6
THE COMMISSIONER ALSO APPROVED A RELAXING OF VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
SO THERE WAS A REQUEST BY DRIVERS TO ALLOW FOR PRIUS V VEHICLES, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY JUST BELOW OUR 45 MILES PER GALLON STANDARD THAT WE HAVE
SO THAT WAS APPROVED AS WELL
AND THEN 2018 WAS A SECOND ROUND OF RELIEF BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE OCCURRING IN THE INDUSTRY
AND THIS WAS THE PORT TAKING ON THE ADOPTION OR ADOPTING THE OR TAKING ON WHAT WE CALL CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT DUTIES
AND THESE ARE REALLY THE BONES OF THE OPERATION
IT'S THE INDIVIDUALS THAT OVERSEE THE OPERATION ON THE CURB AND AT OUR STAGING LOT
SO IN 2018, THE COMMISSIONER APPROVED THAT WE WOULD TAKE ON OVERSIGHT OF THE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS PAY FOR THE COST OF THAT AGREEMENT
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO THAT LEADS US INTO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN TERMS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE OCCURRING AND THEN THE RELIEF THAT WAS GRANTED, WE COLLECTIVELY REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE IN A NEW DIRECTION
SO ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE A SLIDE
THAT WAS PART OF AN EFFORT THAT WAS UNDERWAY AT THE TIME, CONTINUES TO BE UNDERWAY AT THE AIRPORT
IT'S CALLED THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION ACCESS PLAN OR GTAP
AND WHY DO I HAVE THIS UP HERE? THE REASON THIS IS UP HERE IS BECAUSE ON THE LEFT OF THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE COMMISSION APPROVED RESOLUTION 37 59 OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
SO THOSE ARE REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND ROADWAY CONGESTION, SUPPORTING CUSTOMER CHOICE, SUPPORTING EQUITY ISSUES, AS WELL AS GENERATION OF REVENUE FOR A SUSTAINABLE AIRPORT
SO WITH ADOPTION OF THAT RESOLUTION, THAT THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT LED US INTO EVALUATING A PILOT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE FOUNDATION FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING NEXT
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU SEE THEN THE MOTION THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COMMISSIONER IN 2019 THAT ESTABLISHED THE PILOT PROGRAM
AND WE'LL QUICKLY WALK THROUGH THE BULLET POINTS TO MAKE SURE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE COMPONENTS ARE
SO AGAIN, ONE OF THE MAJOR SHIFTS AT THE TIME WAS A TRANSITION AWAY FROM A SINGLE CONCESSION AGREEMENT TO NOW DIRECT OPERATING AGREEMENTS WITH OWNER-OPERATORS
SO TRANSITION FROM ONE AGREEMENT TO NOW APPROXIMATELY 409 AGREEMENTS THAT ARE IN PLACE
AND WITH THAT WAS ALSO DIRECT PAYMENT OF THE PICKUP FEE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE
SO INSTEAD OF A PAYMENT TO A DISPATCH COMPANY AND THEN THEM REMITTING THAT TO THE PORT, NOW IT'S A DIRECT PAYMENT UPON PASSENGER PICKUP
ONE OF THE DEFINING FEATURES OF THE PILOT IS OPEN DISPATCH COMPANY AFFILIATION
SO IN PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, DRIVERS HAD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH THAT COMPANY THAT WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH, WHETHER THAT WAS STITA, YELLOW OR EAST SIDE FOR HIRE
BUT WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM, THEY CAN FREELY AFFILIATE, WHICH THEY DO
IF YOU GO AND OBSERVE THE OPERATION NOW ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE OR 160TH LOT, YOU'LL SEE AN ARRAY OF COMPANIES REPRESENTED
AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, WE TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT AND PAYMENT FOR CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AS PART OF THE PILOT
AND THEN ANOTHER DEFINING FEATURE OF THE PROGRAM WAS THE RECOGNITION OF A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION
SO WHAT WE SAID WAS IF THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE 60% PLUS SUPPORT FROM THE DRIVER COMMUNITY, WE WOULD FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THEM THROUGH AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR FEEDBACK MECHANISMS TEAMSTERS 117 WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, SHOW THAT SUPPORT
SO WE ENTERED INTO AN MOU WITH THEM THAT AGAIN ESTABLISHED A MONTHLY MEETING CADENCE THAT WE HAVE AS WELL AS OTHER FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES
AND THEN FINALLY, AS PART OF THE PILOT IS A QUARTERLY STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH PROCESS WHICH WE HAVE HELD EVERY QUARTER AS PART OF THE PILOT, ACTUALLY BEFORE THE PILOT PROGRAM
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CHARLOTTE NOW, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH MORE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THAT OUTREACH EFFORT
SO CHARLOTTE'S, ALL YOURS
THANKS, JEFF
AND PRESIDENT CALKINS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
FOR THE RECORD, I'M CHARLOTTE SKAGGS, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE DRIVERS THAT ARE HERE AND MANY OTHERS SINCE LATE 2018
SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO, AS JEFF REFERENCED AND AS I JUST SAID, WE BEGAN MEETING WITH DRIVERS I DID IN LATE 2018, PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM
SO THOSE FIRST MEETINGS WERE REALLY DESIGNED TO HEAR FROM DRIVERS WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN A PILOT PROGRAM, KIND OF HASH OUT A LITTLE BIT HOW THINGS WOULD WORK, WHAT ARE THINGS LIKE ON THE GROUND, HOW MIGHT WE BE ABLE TO MEET THESE NEEDS? AFTER THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION, THEN WE TURN TO HOW'S IT WORKING, KIND OF WHAT ARE THE NUTS AND BOLTS? AND THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS TO THE WORK THAT I'VE BEEN DOING ON BEHALF OF THE PORT
THE FIRST IS WE MEET QUARTERLY WITH THE DRIVERS
WE PREFER TO DO THOSE IN PERSON DURING THE PANDEMIC
WE OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T ABLE TO, SO WE MET VIA ZOOM
MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN MEETING IN PERSON AT THE 160TH LOT, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE AGREES IS SORT OF THE BEST PLACE
IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE DRIVERS, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE MORE ONE TO ONE OUTREACH
I WANT TO NOTE ONE ERROR IN THIS SLIDE BEFORE YOU
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD 15 OUTREACH SESSIONS AND TEN IN PERSON
WE PREPARED THIS SLIDE PRIOR TO THIS SNOWSTORM THAT HAPPENED RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER
AND SO WE'LL BE HOLDING THOSE NEXT MEETINGS IN EARLY JANUARY
SO I JUST WANT TO BE SURE I CORRECT THOSE NUMBERS
SO ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS IS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE DRIVERS, ALL OF THE DRIVERS, BOTH THOSE REPRESENTED BY THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT
WE ALSO MEET MONTHLY, AS JEFF REFERENCED, WITH THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION, TO HEAR SPECIFICALLY IF THERE ARE OPERATIONAL CONCERNS, THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE THE PORT REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION ON
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS RANGING FROM FRUSTRATIONS WITH DRIVERS ABOUT THE CURBSIDE MANAGER ALL THE WAY TO HOW THE STAGING AREA IS GOING, NEEDING TO UNDERSTAND- WHEN THERE'S CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING IN THE GARAGE, WHAT THAT MEANS OPERATIONALLY, IT'S REALLY SPAN THE GAMUT
SO I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED AND CONTINUED TO ENJOY MEETING AND WORKING WITH THE DRIVERS
YOU'VE MET MANY OF THEM
YOU'VE HEARD THEM TODAY
THEY ARE AN ENGAGED AND INSIGHTFUL GROUP WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO
THEY'RE SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY BRING A PERSPECTIVE THAT CERTAINLY I WOULDN'T HAVE AS SOMEONE WHO ISN'T AN OPERATOR
AND I WILL SAY IT'S A LARGE GROUP, 409 PEOPLE, WHICH MEANS NOT EVERYBODY AGREES ON HOW TO HANDLE CERTAIN CONTENTIOUS ISSUES
THERE ARE ISSUES IN THE TAXI INDUSTRY, SUCH AS SHORT TRIPS, WHICH ARE SHARED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHEREVER TAXIS OPERATE, AT AN AIRPORT IN PARTICULAR
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S BEEN A FRUSTRATION
THAT'S A FRUSTRATION I KNOW I'VE HEARD ABOUT SINCE MY VERY FIRST MEETING IN 2018
AND IT GOES BACK FOREVER FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM DRIVERS
SO I WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHERE WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE CONSENSUS ON WHAT DRIVERS THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD
SOME SAID MINIMUM FARE, SOME SUPPORTED PASSING ALONG THE SURCHARGE TO THEIR PASSENGERS
BUT THROUGH IT ALL, WE'VE HAD REALLY HELPFUL CONVERSATIONS AND BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, I THINK, AND EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE, CONTINUE TO HEAR HOW BEST TO SERVE PASSENGERS AT SEATAC AIRPORT
YOU CAN SEE IN FRONT OF YOU SEVERAL OF SORT OF WHAT I WOULD CALL THE THEMES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM DRIVERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, CONCERN OVER SHORT TRIPS AND THE SURCHARGE THAT'S, AS I SAID, ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE ENDEMIC TO THE TAXI INDUSTRY
WE HAVE HEARD FROM DRIVERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING A MINIMUM THERE
WE ALSO HEARD CONSISTENTLY THAT OPERATORS REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFILIATE WITH THEIR OWN DISPATCH COMPANY
SO THAT IS A COMPONENT THAT WILL BE IN THE PROGRAM THAT JEFF IS GOING TO DESCRIBE TO YOU
DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING FLEET SIZE, ALLOW THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER THEIR AGREEMENT TO OTHERS
THAT'S ONE THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE CHALLENGING DURING THE PILOT PROGRAM
WE'RE HAPPY TO OFFER SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT
THEY ASKED THAT THE PORT CONTINUE TO OVERSEE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT
THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE THE TRIP FEE PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO THE PORT AND THE WHAT WE CALL THE PAY AS YOU GO SYSTEM
CONCERNS ABOUT THE FAIR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN METERED CABS AND FLAT RATE, AS JEFF DESCRIBED, REQUEST TO JUST CONTINUE THE WORK AND COORDINATION THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION, AND THEN CONCERNS RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A VIRTUAL QUEUE
SO I WANT TO JUST TAKE ONE MOMENT ON THE ISSUE OF VIRTUAL QUEUE
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH DRIVERS AND THERE WAS CLEAR CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT WOULD OPERATE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED OF THE DRIVERS IS, COULD WE SAY IN THE FUTURE AND I THINK WE'RE PLANNING FOR Q ONE OR Q TWO OF 2023 TO JUST REALLY HAVE A MORE FOCUSED DISCUSSION AROUND WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS, HOW MIGHT IT WORK? WE UNDERSTAND FROM KING COUNTY THAT THIS IS REALLY THE DIRECTION OF ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION AND SO UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS
AND AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC FAR MORE THAN I DO
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THEM
AND THAT'S BEEN OUR PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE A MORE DIRECT CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT
I THINK I'LL JUST END BY SAYING TAYLOR AND I, AGAIN HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THIS WORK WITH THE PORT AND GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY
AND JEFF, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO YOU
GREAT
THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE AND THANK YOU, TAYLOR
I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS
BEFORE MOVING ON FROM THIS SLIDE, COMMISSIONERS, I'D LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN ADDITION TO THE STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH, WE ALSO DID OR WE HIRED A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT THIS YEAR TO LOOK AT INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPLEMENT THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH THE OUTREACH
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE ONE MAJOR OBSERVATION OF MANY THAT CAME OUT, BUT ONE THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IS WITH THE ONGOING COMPETITIVE FORCES IN THE ON DEMAND INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY AS WE TALKED ABOUT EVEN HERE TODAY WITH TNCS AND OTHERS, THERE'S REALLY THIS TWO PRONGED ISSUE GOING ON
ONE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE PRODUCING TRIPS HAS BEEN DECLINING, AND WE SEE THAT THROUGH THE NUMBERS, EVEN AT THE AIRPORT
ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE COSTS OF OPERATING A TAXI HAVE GONE UP
SO YOU CAN THINK OF JUST THE VEHICLE COST ITSELF, INSURANCE, GAS, OTHER INFLATIONARY EFFECTS
YOU HAVE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES GOING DOWN, COSTS GOING UP
IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING IN THIS INDUSTRY
THE OBSERVATION FROM THE CONSULTANT IS THAT THERE IS A TREND NATIONWIDE AS WELL AS AT AIRPORTS, AND WE'VE SEEN IT AS WELL AS A MOVE AWAY FROM CONTRACTS THAT ARE REVENUE PRODUCING LIKE WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST WITH OUR SINGLE CONCESSION AGREEMENTS TO THOSE WHERE THE AIRPORT IS SUPPORTING THE OPERATION TO A HIGHER DEGREE
SO THAT WAS A VERY INTERESTING OBSERVATION THAT CAME OUT OF THAT REPORT
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT AS WELL
SO, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE
SO THAT MOVES US INTO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND AND TALK ABOUT A POST PILOT PROGRAM
WE HAVE ALREADY LISTED OUT SOME OF THESE ELEMENTS YOU'VE HEARD FROM LANCE AND OTHERS
THIS CHART IS BROKEN INTO THREE MAIN PROGRAM AREAS, THE FIRST BEING THE PERMITTING AND THE COMPOSITION OF FLEET
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A THREE YEAR DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CURRENT MEDALLION OWNERS THAT ARE IN THE FLEET
NOW, AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE FREE AFFILIATION WITH THE COMPANY AND DISPATCHER OF THEIR CHOICE
SO WHICHEVER COMPANY THEY CHOOSE TO AFFILIATE WITH, THEY CAN JUST LIKE IT IS TODAY, AND THEN WE HAVE A NO TRANSFERABILITY CLAUSE IN THE AGREEMENT
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS CREATE A SECONDARY MARKET FOR THESE AGREEMENTS ONCE WE ESTABLISH THEM
THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE WAY IT IS TODAY
MANY OF THESE ELEMENTS ARE CONTINUATION OF WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY
THERE'S A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT I'LL TOUCH ON, OR IDEAS OR THOUGHTS AND POTENTIAL CHANGES
THE SECOND PROGRAM AREA IS THE FEES AND THE COST TO OPERATE AND SLASH TECHNOLOGY
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT FOR YEAR ONE ON THE PICKUP FEE THAT'S IMPOSED, THAT WE CONTINUE WITH THE $6 FEE
BUT THEN WE REEVALUATE THAT FOR YEARS TWO AND THREE
THIS CONTINUES TO BE DIRECT PAYMENTS TO THE PORT OF SEATTLE FROM THE DRIVERS THROUGH THE PAY AS YOU GO APP THAT CHARLA MENTIONED
AND THEN ONE AREA THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER AS NEW AS CHARLA TOUCHED ON IS THE VIRTUAL QUEUE
AND REALLY THIS IS JUST AN EXPLORATION OF ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES WITH A VIRTUAL QUEUE TO HELP DRIVERS BOTH WITH REVENUE PRODUCING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS REDUCE COSTS
IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET A DRIVER THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT IN A PHYSICAL LOT, BUT INSTEAD CAN PUT THEIR SPOT IN LINE, YOU MIGHT SAY, IN A VIRTUAL QUEUE AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE PRODUCING OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE, WE THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA, SOMETHING TO EXPLORE
THERE ARE MANY AIRPORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED VIRTUAL QUEUE, INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO, PHILADELPHIA, MINNEAPOLIS, SAN DIEGO, SALT LAKE
SO IT IS A TREND IN THE INDUSTRY
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXPLORING THAT
AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRACT DIRECTLY CONTRACT WITH AND PAY FOR CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AS WELL
AND THEN THE FINAL PROGRAM AREA THAT WE LIST HERE IS THE DRIVER VOICE COMPONENT THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN A CONTINUATION, REALLY, OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN WITH OUR QUARTERLY OUTREACH MEETINGS AS WELL AS OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION
THE FINAL ONE IS ONE AREA THAT WE DO WANT TO EXPLORE AS WELL, WHICH IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM
SO WE WILL TURN TO OUR OWN INTERNAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR DRIVERS
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
OKAY, SO THAT TAKES US INTO NEXT STEPS
SO OBVIOUSLY TODAY WE'RE HERE WITH OUR BRIEFING
WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IS CONTINUE OUTREACH THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AND INTO EARLY Q ONE WITH EDUCATION, OF COURSE, WITH OUR OPERATOR COMMUNITY AS WE TRANSITION TO THE NEW PROGRAM
IN ADDITION, IF THERE'S PUBLIC OUTREACH THAT'S NEEDED, WE WILL DO THAT
AND THEN ANY OPERATIONAL AND CONTRACTUAL CHANGES WE WILL NEED TO IMPLEMENT NEW CONTRACTS WITH THE AGREEMENT
SO GET THAT IN PLACE AND THEN A TARGETED IMPLEMENTATION OF HOPEFULLY NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR
NEXT SLIDE
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE BRIEFING
BUT BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT TO AGAIN EXTEND MY THANKS, MY GRATITUDE TO VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION
THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE PORT OF SEATTLE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS
SO I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL, AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION FOR ALL OF YOUR INPUT AND FEEDBACK
AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR CONSULTANTS WITH MALL FOSTER, INTER VISTAS WAS OUR THIRD PARTY BEST PRACTICES CONSULTANT THAT WE USED
AND THEN OF COURSE OUR PARTNERS WITH KING COUNTY AND CITY OF SEATTLE WHO ARE INSTRUMENTAL WITH HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ON DEMAND SERVICES
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE BRIEFING FOR TODAY AND BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
THANK YOU
THANK YOU, JEFF
THANK YOU, LANCE
THANK YOU, CHARLA
THANK YOU, TAYLOR
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER FOR QUESTIONS
ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED, FIRST OF
ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND YOUR HARD WORK WORKING THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM AND THE RESEARCH THAT SHE'S DONE AND FOR BRIEFING US AS COMMISSIONERS
AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK ALL OF THE DRIVERS WHO ARE HERE FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TODAY
I WILL JUST START BY SHARING THAT BOTH COMMISSIONER CHO AND I SERVE ON THE AVIATION COMMITTEE AND I'VE BEEN ON THAT COMMITTEE SINCE THE START OF MY TERM AS A COMMISSIONER
AND WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE TAXI ISSUE REGULARLY, I THINK ALMOST AT EVERY AVIATION COMMITTEE MEETING
WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES, THAT NUMBER OF THE ISSUES THAT COME UP DURING THE PILOT PROGRAM AND THE CHANGES
ALSO, BOTH COMMISSIONER CHO AND I HAVE MADE IT A POINT TO WORK HARD TO BE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO BOTH TEAMSTERS AND THE DRIVERS
THERE ARE 400 PLUS DRIVERS
SO WE HAVEN'T MET WITH EVERYONE, OF COURSE, BUT WE'VE MET WITH SECTORS AND GROUPS, SMALL GROUPS, TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU ALL ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS
AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT
THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE
IT WAS COMPLEX BEFORE I GOT HERE, AND IT WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO BE THAT
AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, THERE'S CHANGES AND THERE'S CONTRACTS THAT ARE INVOLVED
AND SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH GOOD SOLUTIONS
AND THAT MEANS ELEVATING THE DRIVER VOICES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DIRECTLY HEARING FROM YOU ALL
THAT HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US
I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE TODAY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES ARE AND TO DO IT PUBLICLY
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS CALLING FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE BROUGHT IN PUBLIC MEETING AND NOT JUST THROUGH THE AVIATION COMMITTEE, BUT THAT THE LARGER COMMUNITY ALSO HEARS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL TAKE ON DIFFERENT ISSUES
BUT REALLY THE THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO HONE IN ON IS THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS, HOW COMPLAINTS COME ABOUT AND WAYS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE THAT
AND SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS REGARDING ABM
I HEARD EVEN TODAY AND BEFORE
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS IS WITH THE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE DRIVER COMMUNITY
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO KNOW IS DO WE HAVE DATA OR SOME NUMBERS ON THE AMOUNT OF VIOLATION CITATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM DRIVERS? SO WE CHECKED WITH OUR OPERATIONS STAFF EARLIER THIS MORNING, AND I SEE PETER LINDSAY HAS JOINED US AS WELL
SO I'LL JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO PETER
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THROUGHOUT 2022, WE'VE HAD ELEVEN TOTAL CITATIONS THAT WE'VE ISSUED
HALF OF THOSE, OR JUST OVER HALF, HAVE BEEN WARNINGS
SO SIX OF THOSE HAVE JUST BEEN WARNINGS, THE REST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CITATIONS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS
SO THAT'S FOUR OR FIVE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH DISPUTE RESOLUTION
BUT MAYBE I'LL TURN IT OVER TO PETER AND HIS TEAM AS THEY OVERSEE THE ACTUAL OPERATION AND PROBABLY HAS MORE INSIGHT INTO THAT
PETER? THANK YOU, JEFF
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, PETER, GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CALKINS AND THE COMMISSIONERS
PETER LINDSAY, I'M THE SENIOR MANAGER FOR LANDSIDE OPERATIONS AT SEA
AS IT APPLIES TO TAXI AND FLAT RATE OPERATIONS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON DISPUTES
AND THERE'S KIND OF TWO AREAS WHERE WE FIND DISPUTES
ONE WITH THE ABM CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT, WHICH COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED IS REFERRING TO, AND THEN CITATIONS FROM THE GT CONTROLLER TEAM RELATING TO PERMIT VIOLATIONS THAT'S HANDLED DIRECTLY BY LANDSIDE OPERATIONS
AND THAT'S THE ELEVEN CITATIONS THAT JEFF HAD JUST QUOTED WAS RELATED TO THOSE LANDSIDE GT VIOLATIONS, AS IT APPLIES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO THE ABM CONTRACT THIRD PARTY PROVIDER FOR OUR CURBSIDE SERVICES
THESE ARE THE DISPUTES THAT OFTEN ARE KIND OF SWIFT DECISIONS RELATED TO THE CURBSIDE OPERATION
WE EXPECT THEM TO MANAGE AND OPERATE IN ORDER TO CURB SIDE AND ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE
AND THIS IS THE ORDERLY ADMINISTRATION OF THE QUEUE
AND AT TIMES THAT RESULTS IN CONFLICTS BETWEEN DRIVERS WITH DRIVERS AND CURBSIDE STAFF
AND THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE ANTICIPATE ABM CONTINUING TO MANAGe
SO DIRECTLY
WE DON'T HAVE EXACT STATISTICS TODAY, COMMISSIONER, ON HOW MANY DISPUTES MAY COME, BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE BEHAVIORAL OR THE SWIFT DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AT THE CURBSIDE TO HELP MOVE THE OPERATION ALONG
THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE DISPUTES, I THINK, THAT ARE IN QUESTION RELAY TO ABM
THANK YOU
AND THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE
MY OTHER QUESTION IS, DOES ABM HAVE A DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS OR HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH CONFLICT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THEIR CONTRACT OR SOMETHING? YEAH, JEFF, CAN JEFF IN HERE AS WELL? BUT THERE IS AN ANTICIPATION FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TRAINING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THERE IS A FAILURE
WE DO TALK TO THE BO ABOUT THE INCIDENTS AT THE CURBSIDE AND WHERE WE'RE LACKING SERVICE FROM ONE OF OUR THE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT STAFF AND THE DISPUTE
SO WE DO DISCUSS THAT IN THE MONTHLY MEETING
IF THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A FAILURE, WE DO TAKE THAT UP WITH OUR CONTRACTOR ABM STRAIGHT AWAY
AND AT TIMES THAT THEY'RE ADJUDICATING SOMETIMES BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS
BUT I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE, THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL DRIVING WORKFORCE, AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO
SO THERE ARE LIMITED
THESE INCIDENTS TOO TEND TO BE LIMITED AT THE CURBSIDE
WHILE I HEAR THAT, I THINK TRAINING AROUND CUSTOMER SERVICE IS ALWAYS REQUIRED AND EVEN THE BEST PERSON REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TRAININGS
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME OF THAT EMBEDDED IN THE CONTRACT
I WANTED TO KNOW, ABM'S CONTRACT, WHEN IS THAT EXPIRING? I KNOW THAT WE RENEWED IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND WE CAN TERMINATE THAT
BUT I WANTED TO KNOW, ARE WE INTENDING TO GO THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS FOR THAT CONTRACT? YES, I'M GOING TO LOOK- THANK YOU, JEFF
SORRY, PETER, SO I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION
SO YOU'RE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER JUST RECENTLY EXTEND THE ABM AGREEMENT
THEIR CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT STAGGERED
THE PILOT PROGRAM ITSELF BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1 OF EVERY YEAR
SO WE DID MOVE THE PILOT PROGRAM INTO A HOLDOVER
THE ABM CONTRACT STARTS ON NOVEMBER 1
SO WE DID EXTEND THE ABM AGREEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR OF THE END OF 22 INTO 23
SO THROUGH OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE ONE MORE OPTION YEAR AVAILABLE TO US AT THAT POINT
SO WE COULD EXTEND IT ANOTHER YEAR GOING FROM 2023 INTO 2024
BUT YOU ARE ALSO CORRECT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH THE CONTRACT TO TERMINAL AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON
SO IT REALLY PROVIDES US THE FLEXIBILITY IF WE NEED TO GO THAT DIRECTION
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT MADE A DETERMINATION
PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM IN THE NEXT YEAR WILL HELP EDUCATE US AND UNDERSTAND WHICH DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO
DO WE NEED TO ISSUE AN RFP OR NOT? SO THERE'S OPTIONS THERE
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE TERMINATE, BUT I THINK GOING THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS WOULD HELP US AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THOSE CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE OR IF WE'RE RENEWING TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THAT
THE OTHER THING IS WE OVERSEE THE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT TECHNICALLY
RIGHT
AND SO I KNOW THAT WE'VE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM TEAMSTERS 1117 AROUND DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE MODELS THAT THEY'VE SUGGESTED
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE QUARTERLY MONTHLY MEETING IS NOT WORKING FOR ALL OF THE DRIVERS AND SOME OF THEIR ISSUES ARE NOT BEING ELEVATED PROPERLY
DO YOU GUYS SEE US? AND MAYBE THIS COMES FROM MY COLLEAGUES, BUT AS PART OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, ARE THERE MODELS OUT THERE EVEN WITHIN OUR REGION, MAYBE CITY OF SEATTLE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY, DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES THAT REALLY DIG INTO THE ACTUAL ISSUES THAT THEY ARE ELEVATING? THERE CERTAINLY COULD BE
YOU'RE RIGHT
THERE'S A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT WE HEAR BOTH JUST ON A DAILY BASIS FROM THE DRIVER COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, QUARTERLY STAKEHOLDER AS CHARLOTTE ALLUDED TO
WE GET QUITE A FEW JUST WITH THE NUMBERS IN THE PROGRAM, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS IN PLACE NOW THAT APPLIES ACROSS OUR GROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
IT'S NOT JUST FOR ONE PROVIDER
SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS MAINTAINING THAT CONSISTENCY OF HOW WE RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN WHAT MIGHT BE COME UP THROUGH, LET'S SAY, OUR TAXI PROGRAM VERSUS OUR TNC VERSUS OUR LIMO OR SHUTTLE PROGRAM
SO ONE OF THE AREAS IS THE CONSISTENCY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE INDUSTRY IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE NEED FOR EXPLORATION OF PROCESSES AS THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO CHANGE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE MAY INCLUDE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
SO AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S OPEN CONTINUE FOR DISCUSSION
I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE VALUABLE PARTS OF THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THIS FIRSTHAND
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE MOVED INTO THE PILOT PROGRAM, SO THAT WE COULD HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE DRIVERS THEMSELVES
SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL THROUGH THIS PROCESS
ABSOLUTELY
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN GREAT PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND THERE IS ROOM FOR US TO IMPROVE
AND SO THAT'S THE AREAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON
AND I'LL JUST SAY IN CLOSING, THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING THIS UP AS THROUGH A COMMISSION ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SPECIFICALLY SHARE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM
FOR THE MOST PART, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHANGES AS PART OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VIRTUAL QUEUE BEING INTRODUCED AS AN IDEA TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AROUND IT
BUT I DEFINITELY WANT US TO FIGURE OUT A GOOD DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR THE DRIVERS AND THAT WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO THERE
SO IF THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS, THEN THANK YOU FOR THE TIME
COMMISSIONER CHO
YEAH, THANK YOU
LET ME JUST START BY SAYING, I RECALL WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE PORT AND I MET WITH COMMISSIONER COURTNEY GREGOIRE, THE FIRST COMMENT SHE MADE TO ME OUT OF ANYTHING WAS THAT, SAM, YOU HAVE NO IDEA
I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TAXI POLICY TO GET A PHD
SO HER COMMENTS ARE NOT LOST UPON ME BECAUSE SHE WAS ALLUDING TO HOW COMPLICATED THIS ISSUE IT REALLY IS AND HOW MANY MOVING PIECES THERE ARE, HOW MANY JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES THERE ARE
AND SO I THINK WE ARE GETTING THE FULL BREADTH OF THAT RIGHT NOW
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE DRIVERS FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY
YOU ALL COULD BE DRIVING, MAKING MONEY RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'RE SITTING HERE STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF
SO I COMMEND YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
I HOPE YOU FIND IT'S WORTH YOUR WHILE
TO MY EARLIER POINT ABOUT HOW COMPLICATED THIS IS
THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS FAST CHANGING, THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME
AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF ISSUES, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT SOME OF WHICH WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE IF WE HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY OVER, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE EXPOSING THE PORT TO UNDUE RISK
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DRIVERS FOR ALL THEIR FEEDBACK AND ALL THEIR ENGAGEMENT
I REALIZE THAT WHAT'S BEFORE US ISN'T PERFECT
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER GET TO PERFECT, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AND I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ENGAGED WITH BOTH THE DRIVER COMMUNITY AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
WE TOOK A TOUR OF THE LOT
WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OPERATOR, THE CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT OPERATORS, AS WELL AS DRIVERS TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE WE CAN FIND A PLACE THAT IS CONSIDERED A SWEET SPOT FOR EVERYBODY
AND IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS
SO I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT THIS AGREEMENT HERE IS PERFECT
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE DRIVERS
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD GO AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT IT'S A BLANK CHECK, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE AROUND FEES AND US POTENTIALLY RAISING THEM EXORBITANTLY OVER THE YEARS
AND SO I HEAR YOU, AND WE HEAR YOU, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THAT
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS A CONCERN OF MINE THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S THE SHORT TRIP ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND FULLY WHY THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR YOU ALL
AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE COMPLICATED ISSUES BECAUSE THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT KING COUNTY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IT, WHETHER WE HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH IT
I THOUGHT WE HAD A COMPROMISE ON IT WITH THE SURCHARGE, AND THEN WE HEARD THAT WE DIDN'T WANT THAT, SO WE PULLED THAT BACK
BUT I THINK THAT IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE LISTENING
AND WHEN WE'RE TOLD THAT THE DRIVERS DON'T WANT SOMETHING, WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND WE DON'T JUST RAM THINGS THROUGH LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST
I DID WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, THOUGH, WITH REGARDS TO THE CITATIONS FOR CLARIFICATION ON CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT, DOES ABM ISSUE THE CITATIONS TO THE DRIVERS? WHEN YOU SAY COMMISSIONER CHO
EXCUSE ME
SORRY
COMMISSIONER CHO
FOR CITATIONS THAT ARE FORMALLY OFFERED, THOSE ARE ISSUED BY GROUND TRANSPORTATION CONTROLLERS
THOSE THE PORT SEATTLE STAFF
OKAY, SO THEY'RE SEPARATE FROM ABM
CORRECT
AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO CLARIFY FOR ME WHEN YOU SAID THAT WHO SETTLES THOSE CITATIONS IF THEY'RE DISPUTED? YEAH
SO THERE IS A PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH INITIAL CITATION, AND THERE'S SOME DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE CITATION, WHETHER IT WAS AN AVI CARD, IF IT WAS LACK OF A LICENSE, ET CETERA
AND THAT GOES TO AN APPEALS HEARING, IF SO REQUESTED BY THE DRIVER
AND THEN AT THAT APPEALS HEARING, THERE'S AN ABILITY TO HAVE WHOMEVER YOU LIKE TO REPRESENT YOU AT THAT MEETING
AND DOCUMENTATION IS- SUPPLEMENTAL OF DOCUMENTATION TO BE PROVIDED, AND THEN THE FINAL DECISION IS MADE FOLLOWING THAT EVIDENCE AND PROCESS
SO THE ENTITY THAT DOES THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IS A THIRD PARTY? NO, WE HANDLE THAT
IT'S STILL AN INTERNAL PROCESS
SO PORT STAFF, GT CONTROLLER STAFF STILL HANDLE THAT ASPECT OF THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITH THE CITATION
OKAY
WITH REGARDS TO DISPUTE RESOLUTION, I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SEATTLE HAS THE DRC, WHICH I MAY HAVE HAD A HAND IN ESTABLISHING IN MY PRIOR EMPLOYMENT, AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALSO RECENTLY PASSED A FRAMEWORK THAT INCLUDES DISPUTE SETTLEMENTS
I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PARALLELS OR LESSONS LEARNED THAT WE CAN ADOPT HERE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
I'M SURE OUR FRIENDS OVER AT THE DRIVERS UNION ALSO HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL
BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME PLACES WE CAN POINT OUR FINGERS TO FOR SOME GUIDANCE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A LONG PROCESS, AND THANK YOU FOR RECOUNTING THE HISTORY SO ALL MY COLLEAGUES CAN BE UP ON THIS WONDERFUL PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THIS EVOLUTION THAT WE'VE ALL GOT TO LIVE TOGETHER
AND I CLEARLY SEE THAT THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE ALONG THE WAY, AND I APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT ALL OF YOU HAVE PUT IN TO ACHIEVE THAT BECAUSE IT'S SUBSTANTIAL, IT'S NOT EASY, AND IT'S EVOLVING, SO IT'S MOVING PARTS, BUT I DO SEE DEFINITE PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY, SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF NOVEL ABOUT THE SORT OF THE PILOT PROJECT, BESIDES THE DIRECT CONTRACT AND ALL THAT WAS THIS INCLUSION OF DRIVER'S VOICE
BUT THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE CONFUSION, INCLUDING FOR ME WAS IN TERMS OF WHEN THAT VOICE WAS TO BE HEARD, I THOUGHT THE INITIAL PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO REALLY DEAL WITH MORE OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONAL STUFF, HOW TO CONTEND WITH CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE AND THEN BE ABLE TO MAKE NCU CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES
WHEREAS, AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN TOLD, WE'LL COLLECT THIS INFORMATION AND THEN PUT IT INTO THE NEXT PILOT PROJECT
AND SO I KNOW GETTING OFF THE GATE, OUT OF THE GATES, THIS WAS A DISCONNECT, AND I THINK IT WAS RAISED ONCE AGAIN
AS FAR AS ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT GOES, GOING OVER A WHOLE YEAR BEFORE YOU ADAPT IS HARDER
I THINK, ALTHOUGH IT'S WELL INFORMED, I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOST INFORMED THAT WE NEED TO BE IS ABOUT THE SHORT TRIPS AND WE CONTINUE TO PUNT THIS ONE
NOT THAT IF IT WAS EASY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT THE FACT IS THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVEN'T FOUND OUT A SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S YOU OR SOMEBODY ELSE
I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY CREATIVE IDEA OF HAVING YOU HAVE YOUR SHORT TRIP DAY AND YOU HAVE YOUR LONG TRIP DAY
AND SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUEUES, AND YOU COULD REDUCE THE FEE FOR THE GUYS THAT ARE ON THE SHORT TRIP, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A HIGHER ROUND, MORE FREQUENT SHORT TRIPS
I HAVEN'T ASKED YOU GUYS ABOUT IT, BUT IT HAS SOME CLEVERNESS TO IT
AND ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF ABSENCE HERE ON SHORT TERM DAYS, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF SKINNING THIS CAT
NOW, I HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY BEING TOLD, WELL, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS GOING ON IN KING COUNTY
AND SO I FINALLY STARTED CALLING UP KING COUNTY, NOT KNOWING THAT YOU GUYS WERE ON IT
BUT I'M NOT ON THE AVIATION COMMITTEE, SO I HAVEN'T BEEN AS ATTUNED AS I'VE BEEN IN THE PAST, PERHAPS
BUT AS I UNDERSTAND, KING COUNTY IS ACTUALLY, NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH, FINALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING WHICH IS EXTRAORDINARY GIVEN THE YEARS THAT HAS TAKEN
BUT I BELIEVE PRIMARILY WE'RE DEALING WITH, I THINK, DOING AWAY WITH FLAT RATE CABS AND DOING DUAL LICENSES FOR EVERYBODY
AND SO THERE'S THAT UNIFORMITY, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WOULD AFFECT, YOU KNOW, OUR OPERATIONS, BUT THAT CLEARLY IS YET ANOTHER EVOLUTION IN THE STATUS OF WHAT IS A CAB
BUT I DID NOT GET A SENSE WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO ADDRESS THE SHORT TRIP FEE, AND I ASKED THEM DIRECTLY
BUT OUR SHORT TRIP IS PERHAPS STILL DIFFERENT
BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY
THE QUESTION IS, IS IT FOR US TO EXERCISE? AND, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT I WANT TO HEAR MORE DIRECTLY FROM KING COUNTY, BUT WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT THEIR INTENTION IS WITH REGARDS TO SHORT TRIPS
AND IF THEY'RE STILL PONDERING IT, I'M INCLINED TO SAY, WELL, WE'LL PUT IT IN UNTIL THEY DO, AND I TRY TO GOOSE THEM INTO TAKING ACTION FINALLY
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO ADDRESS IT AT ALL
SO THERE'S- IN SOME WAY WE HAVE TO LEVEL THE SCORE
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO OUR TRAVELING PUBLIC, WHICH IS ONLY INCREASING IN POPULATION, BUT IT IS A DISPARITY BETWEEN OPERATORS
I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME LEVELING OF THE SQUARE IF WE'RE ALL METER CABS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE- I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS GOING FORWARD WITHOUT THIS FORMALLY ADDRESSED, WITHOUT JUST SAYING WE CAN'T GET TO A DECISION
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT ADDRESSES THIS
BUT IN TERMS OF THIS OVERALL ISSUE THAT I THINK WE HAVE- EVERY HISTORY THAT YOU PROVIDED HERE WAS PRECEDED BY COMMISSIONER ACTION, COMMISSION RESOLUTION
COMMISSIONER, THIS FROM 2016, RIGHT? SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THE DRIVERS WOULD THINK OTHERWISE, THAT IT WILL AGAIN BE A COMMISSION ACTION BY THE TIME WE ALL HAVE SEEN ALL THIS DUST SETTLE
FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, DRIVERS WERE LED TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S BEEN ALWAYS DONE
SO I ASSUME THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFUSION ABOUT THAT
IS THERE ANY MISUNDERSTANDING HERE? I WOULD DEFER TO AARON OR OTHERS ON THE COMMISSION ACTION
IT'S JUST THE PATH THAT WE'VE GONE DOWN IN TERMS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED IN TERMS OF THIS NEW PROGRAM
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DISPUTE, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS OPEN FOR WHATEVER IS NEEDED
WE CAN DO
SO I CAN JUMP IN AND JUST SAY COMMISSIONER THAT THERE'S INTEREST IN PREPARING AN ORDER ON THIS TOPIC, AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD- NO, BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, GIVEN THAT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHY DRIVERS WOULD HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT IN THE PORT'S AUTHORITY TO DO IT, BUT IT'S A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE THAT THIS IS WHY YOU GET ELECTED TO BE POPULAR AND WHERE THE BUCK HAS TO STOP
SO ANYWAY, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THAT SHOULD EVEN BE A CONFUSION
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TOGETHER, AND I JUST THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE ARGUING ABOUT WHO DECIDES WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DECIDING ON
SO LET'S JUST PUT THAT ONE TO BED
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS
OKAY
AND I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER MOHAMED- COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD JUST COMMENT IN GENERAL ON THINGS
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE OPERATE ON OUR AUTHORITY
THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN RELATIONSHIP TO THAT
BUT THERE'S MANY CASES WHERE WE JUST EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER CASES THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO TAKE ACTION ON IT BOTH WAYS
NOT JUST YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC ISSUE HERE
I'M JUST SAYING- COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, HOLD ON 1 SECOND
COMMISSIONER MOHAMED HAS THE FLOOR
HE WAS ADDRESSING ME, THOUGH
BE THAT AS IT MAY, I WILL YIELD MY TIME IN JUST A MINUTE
ALL I JUST WANTED TO SAY AND CLARIFY IS WE AFTER TALKING, COMMISSIONER CHO AND I BOTH SERVE ON THE AVIATION COMMITTEE- STAFF CAME AND BRIEFED US AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD GO BACK AND TALK TO THE DRIVER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAM
THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WAS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS STAYING AS IS
BOTH COMMISSIONER CHO AND I BELIEVED THAT WOULD MAKE THE DRIVERS HAPPY AND THAT WE WEREN'T ADDING NEW CHANGES INTO THE PILOT PROGRAM AND THAT STAFF WOULD TAKE THAT INFORMATION TO THE DRIVERS
BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO TAKE COMMISSION ACTION
WE WERE ALWAYS PREPARED TO TAKE COMMISSION ACTION
WE WERE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE DRIVER'S RESPONSE WAS GOING TO BE, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY IT TURNED INTO BEING A PART OF A LARGER ACTION
AND NOW, JUST LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, WE ARE READY TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION
WE ARE READY TO INTRODUCE A COMMISSION ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO MISCOMMUNICATION, THAT THERE IS FULL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON OUR END, AND THAT THIS IS IN WRITING TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY ON THE SAME PAGE
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT? IS IT ADDITIVE TO THE CONVERSATION? ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
EXECUTIVE METRUCK
IN NO WAY DID I SUGGEST THAT THE AUTHORITY WASN'T YOURS
IT'S COMPLETELY WITHIN THE DELEGATION
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN ISSUES ARE OF SUCH NATURE
THIS IS WHERE COMMISSION POLICY DIRECTION IS NECESSARY
OKAY, FOR MY OWN COMMENTS, I'VE REALLY BEEN STRUGGLING WITH I GOT THE PRESENTATION, I READ THROUGH IT
I'VE HEARD EVERYONE TALK HERE
AND IT FEELS TO ME LIKE NOBODY HAS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS ON THE HISTORY SLIDE, WHICH MAYBE WE COULD PULL THAT UP AGAIN
WE'RE LOOKING AT NUMBERS DURING THIS PILOT PROGRAM IN WHICH THE SAME NUMBER OF VEHICLES IS SERVING ONE THIRD OF THE PREVIOUS PERIOD AND FULLY ONE QUARTER OF THE PERIOD BEFORE
AND OUR NUMBERS IN TERMS OF TOTAL PASSENGERS HAVE BOUNCED BACK
SO WHY ARE WE AT A QUARTER OF WHAT WE WERE? AND JEFF SPOKE A LITTLE BIT TO WHY THAT NUMBER DROPPED, BUT IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND AND COULD WORK TO FIX THIS THE FIXES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE, FORGIVE THE EXPRESSION, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT REARRANGING THE DECK PIERS ON THE TITANIC
WANT TO GET OPERATIONS RIGHT, BUT 400 VEHICLES SERVING A QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE IS NEVER GOING TO PROVIDE THE KINDS OF WAGES THAT WE WANT FOR THAT POOL
WE GOT TO GET THAT NUMBER BACK UP TO A MILLION
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT OR AT LEAST GET THE TREND GOING POSITIVE? AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PICKED A TAXI HOME FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, IT IS NOT A QUALITY OF SERVICE THING
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
YOU ARE MEETING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT YOU GET FROM TNCS
WHERE I SEE THE LOST OPPORTUNITY IS IN ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HAVING A LOVED ONE DRIVE THEM TO THE AIRPORT AND PICK THEM UP
AND WE KNOW THAT IN IN GROUND TRANSPORTATION NUMBERS, IT WASN'T JUST THE TAXIS WHO LOST PASSENGERS DURING THAT PERIOD
IT WAS SOUND TRANSIT
IT WAS EVEN THE TNCS
AND SO THAT IS THE POOL OF PEOPLE WE NEED TO GET INTO TAXIS
NOW
IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF YOU
IT'S VERY GOOD FOR US BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE MAKE ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE CARS, THOSE PRIVATE VEHICLES THAT COMES ACROSS ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES, NOT A SINGLE DOLLAR
ALL THEY DO IS WEAR DOWN THAT ASPHALT
WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT, AND WE DON'T GET TO CHARGE THEM A DIME FOR IT
SO WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS ADDRESSING WHAT I SEE AS THE 800 POUND GORILLA, HOW DO WE GET THAT NUMBER THAT TRIPS PER YEAR GOING NORTH AGAIN? AND MY QUESTION IS, AND I THINK IT'S RHETORICAL- HOW DO WE CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF THE PASSENGER SO THAT THEY THINK MY FIRST CHOICE IS TO GET INTO A RIDE SHARE VEHICLE, GET INTO A TAXI, GET INTO SOUND TRANSIT, FIND SOME OTHER WAY HOME THAN HAVING A LOVED ONE PICK THEM UP AND DROP THEM OFF AT THE PORT? AND I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL THE REASONS I'VE MENTIONED
AND I'LL TELL YOU THE ISSUE AROUND SHORT TRIPS, THE ISSUES AROUND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
I REMEMBER SITTING IN A MEETING WITH DRIVERS, AND THE DRIVER SAID TO ME, THE SHORT TRIP PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT I'M GETTING FEWER AND FEWER TRIPS
AND SO NOW USED TO BE, ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE A SHORT TRIP HERE AND THERE BECAUSE I'M GETTING PLENTY OF OTHER DRIVES TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT
BUT IF THE SHORT TRIP IS THE ONLY TRIP YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN A DAY, THAT KILLS YOU
SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET MORE FOLKS TAKING TAXIS, PERIOD
I COULD SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON THIS, BUT ONE REAL CONCERN TO ME IS I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I GOT ADVERTISED TO BY A TAXI ASSOCIATION TAXI DRIVERS, WHEREAS I'M GETTING BOMBARDED BY ADVERTISING FROM TNC DRIVERS FROM SOUND TRANSIT
AND HONESTLY, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK FOLKS, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF PANDEMIC RELATED FEAR ABOUT GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT IN ANY SORT OF MASS TRANSIT OR SHARED TRANSIT OPTION
SO WE GOT TO OVERCOME THAT INERTIA
WHEN I OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS, I WAS A PART OF A TRADE ASSOCIATION, AND A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY THAT I SENT TO THAT TRADE ASSOCIATION WAS COLLECTIVE MARKETING
IT WAS SAYING, YOU HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN THIS PRODUCT CATEGORY, WHICH THE TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTED, VERSUS THIS ONE, VERSUS THIS ONE
WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY OUR THING INSTEAD OF THE OTHER THING
AND I WONDER, HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR VOLUNTARY AVIATION TO DO THAT, TO COORDINATE THAT KIND OF WORK? ARE YOU PUTTING ARE YOU ALL SAYING, HEY, LET'S GET TOGETHER, THROW ON A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, AND START DOING SOME ADVERTISING SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET IN A CAB, IT'S SAFE, IT'S PLEASANT, IT'S CHEAPER
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, YOU HAVE REAL ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU GET TO MARKET TO
SO, AGAIN, I'M I AM FULLY IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESS, BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, AND THAT IS, HOW DO WE DRIVE THOSE NUMBERS UP? AND I WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE THE PORT IS A PARTNER IN THAT AS WELL
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON THIS MATTER? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MOHAMED
JEFF, I JUST HAD ONE LAST QUESTION AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
I REMEMBER THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE, THAT WE WOULD PUT SOME SORT OF PROGRAMMING OR DO SOME OUTREACH TO THE TAXI COMMUNITY AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HELPING THEM SEEK OUT MORE NEWER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL, THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT
CAN YOU SPEAK ON ANY OF THAT? WELL, I BELIEVE WHAT I KNOW OF THAT IS THAT THERE WAS MONEY APPROVED IN THE 2023 BUDGET
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT IS, THOUGH WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP AND GET THAT AMOUNT
BUT THE WHOLE EFFORT WILL BE AN OUTREACH TO OUR WORKFORCE TEAM WITH BOOKDA AND LUIS NAVARRO AND OTHERS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT WOULD WORK
SO I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS ON THAT
THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE WANT TO EXPLORE FOR NEXT YEAR
I WISH I COULD PROVIDE YOU MORE
CERTAINLY A FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE
THAT'S GREAT
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PUT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT'S COMING
GREAT
THANK YOU
SURE
ALL RIGHT
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, WE WILL HEAR THE REMAINING PRESENTATION AND STAFF REPORTS LATER ON IN THE MEETING IN THE USUAL ORDER OF THE AGENDA
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO 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 AS A REMINDER, AGENDA ITEM EIGHT N, HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN UP AFTER ADOPTION OF THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING TODAY
THANK YOU
AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA COVERING ITEMS EIGHT, ABCDEFGHIJKL AND O
SO MOVED
SECOND
IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED
COMMISSIONER, PLEASE SAY AYE OR NAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AYE
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER CALKINS
AYE
THANK YOU
FOUR AYES, ZERO NAYS FOR THIS ITEM
AND WITH THAT, THE MOTION PASSES
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE DIRECTLY TO ITEM EIGHT N
CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
IT'S GOING TO BE QUIET IN HERE
THIS IS AGENDA ITEM EIGHT AN AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED, WITH MINOR CHANGES, TO BE APPROVED BY LEGAL COUNSEL TO ALLOW THE PORT TO COLLABORATE WITH KING COUNTY ON ADVANCING A REGIONAL GREEN JOBS AGENDA IS SUPPORTED BY ONE 12 MONTH FUSE CORE, EXECUTIVE FELLOW, WITH AN OPTIONAL TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT
WE HAVE- NO HE'S STILL HERE
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS REQUESTING COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DIRECTOR TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH KING COUNTY
THE MOA WILL ALLOW THE PORT TO COLLABORATE WITH KING COUNTY TO HIRE A FUSE CORPS EXECUTIVE FELLOW FOR ONE YEAR
THE FUSE CORPS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS PRESSING CHALLENGES BY PLACING EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WITH CITY AND COUNTY AGENCIES
UNDER THIS COST SHARING AGREEMENT, THE FUSE CORPS FELLOW WILL DESIGN AND LAUNCH A COLLECTIVE ACTION PLATFORM FOR REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE GREEN JOBS
AND SO I'M LOOKING HERE, I GUESS TIFFANY- SPEAKING TO THIS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WILL BE TIFFANY SEVILLYA FROM OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER AND DATA ANALYST
AND I DON'T KNOW OH, THERE YOU ARE, TIFFANY
HI
I'M GOING TO HAVE COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN SPEAK TO THIS INITIALLY, BUT COULD YOU MOVE THE ITEM FIRST? I'D LIKE TO MOVE ITEM EIGHT N
SECOND
ALL RIGHT
IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR
JUST POINTING OUT LUIS NAVARRO FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ON VIRTUALLY AS WELL
THANKS, TIFFANY
AND LUIS, I'M REALLY JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THE CONVERSATION WHERE HE LEFT OFF ON LAST TIME AND SEEING HOW WHEN WE FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY FUSE WOULDN'T DO THE JOB GREAT
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE A GREAT ORGANIZATION
THE IDEA- NOTHING TO ARGUE ABOUT
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS PRETTY SHORT, I THINK
SO NOT A LOT OF ARM TWISTING THERE
WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, JUST THIS WHOLE EXERCISE MADE ME GO BACK TO LOOK AT RESOLUTION 3776, WHICH WAS OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY
AND AS I RECALL BACK IN THE DAY, THAT THE WHOLE REAL REASON FOR A BIG PART OF THE REASON FOR DOING THIS WAS REALLY TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT GREEN JOBS WERE NOW THE FOURTH CATEGORY FOR PORT RELATED INDUSTRIES
RIGHT
WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION, MARITIME, AVIATION, GREEN
THAT WAS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT AND SO DID THE REST OF THE COMMISSION
BUT WHEN ACTUALLY READING THE RESOLUTION, IT DOESN'T REALLY STAND OUT
I MEAN, WE HAVE A DEFINITION OF GREEN JOBS AND GREEN CAREER AND WE HAVE THE WORD INCLUSIVE GREEN ECONOMY
BUT WHEN YOU GO AND REALLY READ INTO THE DOCUMENT, I THINK IT'S LIKE REFERRED TO LIKE ONCE
SO THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER GOOD THINGS IN THE RESOLUTION AND CERTAINLY NOT YOUR FAULT WE WROTE IT
RIGHT
I'M THINKING IN TERMS OF HOW ARE WE ABLE TO REALLY- WE DO HAVE THIS ONE SENTENCE WHICH I'VE REFERRED TO BEFORE, THAT SUCH GREEN JOBS MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO RENEWABLE AND SOLAR ENERGY, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, HABITAT RESTORATION, CARBON BANKING, ECOTOURISM, SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, REMEDIATION ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AS ALLOWED BY LAW
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD WHAT YOU CAN FIT IN WITH A COMMA
BUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE OTHER COMMISSION MEETING THAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING AT MORE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL JOBS THAT ARE BUILDING BLOCKS TOWARDS SOME OF THESE OTHER JOBS, WHILE I UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT I REALLY THOUGHT THE NATURE OF THIS MOTION RESOLUTION
AND WHAT BRINGS MY CONCERN IN TERMS OF WHEN PARTNERING WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO CLEARLY HAVE GREEN AGENDAS AS WELL, IS THAT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF A JOINT POLICY AGREEMENT, THAT I DON'T WANT US TO BE AT CROSS PURPOSES
NOW WE'RE GIVING FUSE THE JOB TO TRY TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, MARRY THE FORCES AND SO IT'S GOING TO LEAVE THEM WITH A CHUNK OF DISCRETION, I GUESS
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KEEP ON REFLECTING ON BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S HAVING THIS WORKFORCE CHALLENGE AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT ALL THE TRADES, RIGHT? AND SO I'M SAYING, WELL, WHY AREN'T FOLKS MORE ENGAGED THAN KIDS? AND I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, RATHER THAN SAYING WE NEED PLUMBERS, RIGHT
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE NEED HEAT EXCHANGERS, YOU KNOW, WE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT- KIDS- WANT TO BE DOING RIGHT BY THE ENVIRONMENT
I THINK THIS IS AN OVERRIDING DESIRE
THEY SEE THEIR FUTURE
SO I ALMOST THINK FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, IT'S BETTER TO SELL NOT THE UNDERLYING TRADE, BUT THE OUTCOME
AND IN FACT, I THINK ELEVATING, THESE ARE THE JOBS
OH, IN ORDER TO GET THAT JOB, YOU NEED TO DO THE OTHER
SAYING BECOME A PIPE FITTER IS NOT COMPELLING AS MUCH AS DOING THE THING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE DOING
I THINK WE DID THE COMMISSION DID A DISSERVICE BY NOT, I THINK, ELEVATING THIS COMPONENT AND I DON'T THINK MAYBE WE ARTICULATED IT STRONGLY ENOUGH
AND I THINK IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S NOT THE SAME THING, BUT I THINK THE EMPHASIS NEEDS TO BE STRONGER
SO WHEN WE GO TO FUSE AND ASK THEM TO LOOK AT OUR DIFFERENT APPROACHES, WE DON'T HAVE A GREEN NEW DEAL AND THE KING COUNTY, I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING TO ME WE HAVE CITY, COUNTY AND PORT, BUT THE AGREEMENT IS JUST WITH THE COUNTY
SO IN TERMS OF WHOSE POLICIES ARE OFFICIALLY BEING MERGED, I GUESS THAT'S REALLY MY QUESTION, AND I SHOULD LET YOU TALK AT LEAST ONCE HERE
THE ABILITY TO BRING THOSE THREE ENTITY'S POLICIES TOGETHER IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE WE REALLY ASKING PEOPLE TO BECOME PART OF? THAT'S A QUESTION
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I APPRECIATE TOO COMMISSIONERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL THAT DOES REQUIRE COLLABORATION FROM DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN GREEN JOBS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE REGION
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PORT IS A LEADER IN THIS WORK
AND WHILE THIS AGREEMENT IS WITH KING COUNTY, THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS ACTUALLY ALSO A STAKEHOLDER, SINCE THEY WOULDN'T BE PART OF EXACTLY THE FINANCIAL EXCHANGE OF MONEY
THEY'RE NOT MENTIONED IN THE MEMO, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PART OF THIS
AND AS THE FUSE CORE EXECUTIVE FELLOW SCOPE OF WORK WOULD INCLUDE A STAKEHOLDER LISTENING TOUR, THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHOSE AGENDAS WOULD BE PART OF THE WORK
AND THE REAL GOAL HERE, RIGHT, IS TO HAVE A FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION, BECAUSE AS WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, SILOS REALLY PREVENT US FROM DELIVERING EXCELLENT AND EQUITABLE WORK
AND SO THAT'S WHY STARTING WITH THIS FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION IS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY FOR THE PORT TO BE A LEADER AND TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY
AND I'VE BEEN TOTALLY SINGING THAT MANTRA SINCE BEING HERE
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER
AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO HOPE THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE SORT OF SENDING MIXED MESSAGES TO FUSE
THAT WAS REALLY MY CONCERN
ARE WE SELLING THE BASIC TRADES OR ARE WE SELLING THE GREEN JOBS THAT REQUIRE THE BASIC TRADES? BUT TO YOUR POINT, WE'LL GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WILL HELP BRING US ALL TOGETHER
CORRECT? AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON
I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT
THANK YOU
ALL RIGHT, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR TIFFANY? OKAY
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO A VOTE
CLERK HART, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE SAY AYE OR NAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED
YES
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AYE
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER CALKINS
AYE
THANK YOU
FOUR AYES, ZERO NAYS FOR THIS ITEMS RIGHT
WITH THAT, THE MOTION PASSES
OKAY, NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS
CLERK
YOU'RE GOING TO READ THE FIRST ITEM OF THE RECORD AND THEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK WILL INTRODUCE IT
YES, THIS IS AGENDA ITEM TEN
A INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 3811
A RESOLUTION INCREASING THE RATE OF PER DIEM ALLOWANCE TO PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSIONERS AS PROVIDED FOR BY WASHINGTON STATE STATUTE RCW 5312.060, PARAGRAPH THREE
COMMISSIONERS
I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO DAVID GAYWORTH, STRATEGIC ADVISOR FROM THE COMMISSION OFFICE
BUT FIRST, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
COMMISSIONERS ENSURING A FAIR AND REASONABLE COMPENSATION FOR COMMISSIONERS IS KEY TO ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE CANDIDATES TO GOVERN THE PORT
THIS ACTION WILL INCREASE COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONERS SETTING PER DIEM RATES AT PAR WITH MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT
SO
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
DAVID
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS AFTERNOON ON THE COMMISSIONER'S PER DIEM
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO, FIRST OF ALL, A LITTLE CONTEXT IN HISTORY
THE CURRENT COMMISSION PER DIEM, WELL, ACTUALLY GO BACK A STEP
IN 2013, THE COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT TIED THE COMMISSIONER'S SALARIES TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON LEGISLATORS
AT THAT TIME, THE COMMISSIONER THE RESOLUTION DID NOT ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER'S PER DIEM
SO TODAY THE PER DIEM IS $128 PER DAY, UP TO 120 DAYS PER YEAR, FOR A MAXIMUM OF $15,360
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SINCE 2013, THE WORKLOAD OF COMMISSIONERS HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY
THE MOST OBVIOUS IS THE ADDITION OF THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE, BUT ALSO ADDITION OF COMMISSION COMMITTEES AND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STAKEHOLDERS AND MORE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, WHICH MEANS THAT TODAY, MOST COMMISSIONER EXPIRE THEIR PER DIEM BY AUGUST, WHICH RESULTS IN ROUGHLY FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS A YEAR WHEN COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT RECEIVING THE PER DIEM
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 22 PER DIEM FOR STATE LEGISLATORS THIS YEAR, THE RATE WAS DETERMINED BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE RATE IS $185 PER DAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE SET AT 89% OF THE FEDERAL PER DIEM RATE
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE LEGISLATORS TO RECEIVE THE COMPENSATION ARE THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OR THAT THEY HAD A MAJORITY OF THE DAY WORKING ON LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO THIS PROPOSAL, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD INCREASE THE PER DIEM FOR COMMISSIONERS TO $185 PER DAY, WHICH IS COMMENSURATE WITH THAT OF STATE LEGISLATORS, AND WOULD GIVE THE RATE UP TO 205 DAYS PER YEAR FOR A MAXIMUM ANNUAL PER DIEM OF $37,925
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
SO, THIS CHART GIVES YOU A COMPARISON OF THE CURRENT PER DIEM AND THE PROS PER DIEM
SO AGAIN, A RATE
THE CURRENT IS $128 PER DAY, $120 OR SORRY, 120 DAYS PER YEAR, $15,360 MAXIMUM, AND THE PROPOSED WOULD BE $185 PER DAY, 205 DAYS PER YEAR, FOR A MAXIMUM OF $37,925
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
AND THEN, IN SUMMARY, I THINK SOME OF THE BENEFITS AND THE CAVEATS OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE HELPFUL TO BE COGNIZANT OF
THE WASHINGTON CITIZENS COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAS A HANDFUL OF OBJECTIVES THAT IT CARRIES WHEN IT SETS THE SALARIES FOR STATE LEGISLATORS, IN PARTICULAR, TO THE DESIRE TO ATTRACT CITIZENS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK SHOULD BE PAID ACCORDING TO THEIR DUTIES
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT INCREASING THE PER DIEM MEETS A GOAL THAT A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONER HAVE STATED, WHICH IS TO ENABLE AND INSPIRE MORE CITIZENS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A SECONDARY INCOME OR ARE NOT NECESSARILY WEALTHY
AND THEN A COUPLE OF CAVEATS WITH THIS RESOLUTION, AS WITH THE SALARY, THE COMMISSIONERS MAY CHOOSE TO NOT RECEIVE THE PER DIEM BY EITHER SENDING A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OR BY SIMPLY JUST NOT SUBMITTING A REQUISITION
AND THEN FINALLY, THIS NEW PER DIEM WOULD ONLY APPLY TO NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS OR REELECTED COMMISSIONER
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOUR COMMENTS
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER CHO? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE AND WORK THAT THEY DID ON THIS MEASURE
I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE THIS ORDER ON BEHALF OF US AS A COMMISSION, BUT ALSO FUTURE COMMISSIONERS
I THINK THIS IS MUCH OF AN ISSUE OF EQUITY AS IT IS ANYTHING ELSE
THE REALITY IS THAT POSITIONS LIKE THESE ARE OFTEN RESERVED FOR AND OR OCCUPIED BY THOSE WHO ARE TREMENDOUSLY PRIVILEGED, USUALLY FINANCIALLY
AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, I DON'T KNOW, EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD A LITTLE BIT BY PROVIDING THIS MODEST RAISE IN OUR PER DIEM, IT IS, I THINK, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE LIKE TO MAKE DECISIONS HERE BASED ON DATA
AND AS YOU PRESENTED, THE DATA IS VERY CLEAR, AND THAT IS THAT WE WORK SO HARD THAT WE RUN OUT OF PER DIEM BY AUGUST AND FOR THE LAST QUARTER AT LEAST OF THE YEAR, EVERY YEAR, WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE PER DIEM OR PROVIDED THE PER DIEM THAT WE ARE CLEARLY WORKING FOR
I THINK THAT THIS APPROACH OF RAISING THE PER DIEM AS OPPOSED TO OUR SALARY OR OUR BASE SALARY, I THINK IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE YOU'RE BASICALLY GETTING PAID FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO
THERE IS NO MORAL HAZARD HERE WHERE YOU GET OUR SALARY RAISE AND YOU CAN KIND OF SLACK OFF AND YOU STILL GET THE SALARY RIGHT
THE REALITY IS THAT YOU ARE GETTING COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK YOU ARE PUTTING IN
AND I HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ARE PUTTING IN THE WORK, AND THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THAT
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY ABOUT THE PORT COMMISSION BECOMING A FULL TIME POSITION OR NOT
I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT HAS HUGE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PORT, BOTH WITHIN THE COMMISSION OFFICE AND WITH EXECUTIVE STAFF
AND SO THAT REQUIRES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MORE DUE DILIGENCE AND STUDY THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE TIME FOR, THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR
AND SO I THINK THIS MEASURE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS A GREAT INTERMEDIARY STEP THAT KIND OF TAKES CARE OF A LOT OF THE BIGGER ISSUES THAT WE SEE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COMPENSATION
SO I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE THIS IN FULL SUPPORT AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ALSO TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
WELL, THANK YOU
AND THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO THAT
AND YOU'RE A VERY ARTICULATE PRESENTATION, SO I APPRECIATE- WE DON'T SEE YOU THAT MUCH UP HERE
SO IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUE JUST SAID, THE IDEA THAT THE PORT COMMISSION LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF WORK VERSUS WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES OF EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE IS, I THINK, ONE OF THE SIMPLER WAYS OF LOOKING AT THAT
SO IT WAS SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY WHEN TOM ALBROUGH SAID IT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT IT SEEMED TO MAKE SENSE
AND IT HAD ITS, YOU KNOW, RATE OF YOU KNOW, IT HAD THE THE RATE OF PER DIEM WAS ACTUALLY SET LIKE 89 OR PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL PER DIEM
WE DIDN'T SET THAT AT THE TIME
IT WAS JUST ON THE SALARY SIDE
SO IT WASN'T CONNECTED TO THE FEDERAL START TO THE POLICY
AND THE REASON FOR THAT, I DON'T KNOW
I CAME IN, I THINK, THE YEAR AFTER THAT WAS SET
ALTHOUGH I GOT TO SAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE RUN HAD HE NOT DONE THAT
PREVIOUSLY WHEN I HAD A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL WORLD, I WAS APPLYING TO BE THE TAKE COURTNEY OR STEPHANIE'S POSITIONS THAT THEY GOT, BUT I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT AT THIS TIME
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE TOM ALBERT'S EFFORT THERE BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT IN MY BALLPARK, LIVING ON A BOAT AT SHILSHOLE
SO THE IDEA THOUGH, ALSO, THAT TO LOOKING AT COMPARABLE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT EVEN ON THE PERS SYSTEM
SO IT'S REALLY QUITE EXTRAORDINARY
YOU CAN PUT IN A LONG TIME AND THIS IS NOT EVEN ACCOUNTED FOR
AND IT REALLY JUST KIND OF AMAZES ME WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHOEVER WROTE THE RCW, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING COMMISSIONERS WERE? WHAT WE DO KNOW IS, OVER THE COURSE OF A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, WE NOW HAVE A STAFFED OFFICE WHERE BEFORE, WHEN I GOT HERE, WAS NOT THE CASE
RIGHT? AND SO WE ARE TAKING ON MORE OF A POLICY ROLE AND NOT JUST AS A CHECK SIGNER, BUT THE IDEA THOUGH, THAT ANY YEAR ROUND PUBLIC OFFICIAL WOULD BE ORIGINALLY GIVEN BASICALLY JUST A PER DIEM AND THAT'S IT
I THINK THAT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY
I THINK IT'S TO COMMISSIONER CHO'S POINT
PAY TO PLAY
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK FULL TIME IF YOU DON'T IF YOU KEEP YOUR OTHER JOB, ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S NOT REQUIRED OF YOU
SO I REALLY DO THINK THIS THREADS THE NEEDLE
I THINK IT'S STILL PRETTY TOUGH FOR SOMEBODY TO LIVE IN SEATTLE AREA FROM JUST THIS COMPENSATION ITSELF, AND ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A RETIREMENT PLAN
BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
COMMISSIONER MOHAMMED I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE BENEFITS FROM THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOT ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS, ONLY FUTURE COMMISSIONERS AND THOSE WHO GET REELECTED
BUT I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION
IT IS ABOUT EQUITY
IT IS ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND IN THESE POSITIONS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
IT IS VERY CHALLENGING
I DO SHARE THE SENTIMENTS OF MY MY COLLEAGUES SOMETIMES I JOKINGLY SAY IF I KNEW HOW HARD IT WAS, WOULD I HAVE RUN? AND I UNDERSTAND WHY
I'M THE FIRST FOR MANY REASONS
BUT I DO LOVE THIS JOB AND I LOVE THE WORK THAT HAPPENS AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC TO SEEK OUT THESE POSITIONS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THESE ROLES
AND I WOULDN'T WANT PAY IN SALARY TO BE A REASON WHY SOMEBODY DOESN'T DO IT
SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO COMMISSIONER CHO AND FELLEMAN, WHO HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TAKING AN INITIAL IDEA AND REALLY HEARING THE INPUT OF STAFF, THE PUBLIC, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS
AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT, COMING UP WITH, AS COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN SAID, THREADING THE NEEDLE HERE ON WHAT COULD BE SOMEWHAT CONTENTIOUS, BUT I THINK IS A REALLY WELL CRAFTED POLICY THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUES AROUND EQUITY
THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED AND ALSO DOESN'T CREATE THE MORAL HAZARD THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED IN JUST A STRAIGHT COMPENSATION CHANGE, BUT INSTEAD REFLECTS IF YOU'RE PUTTING IN DAYS WORTH OF WORK THAT LATE IN THE YEAR, THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR YOU TO DO THAT RATHER THAN GO AND DO PAID WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE
SO WITH THAT, AS A REMINDER, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WILL COME UP AGAIN FOR A VOTE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT VOTE, THE SECOND VOTE ON JANUARY 24, 2023
SO NOT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT THE FOLLOWING MEETING
BUT WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE A MOTION IN A SECOND? SO MOVED
SECOND
ALL RIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
CLERK HART, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER, SAY AYE OR NAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER CHO AYE
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
MOHAMMED
AYE
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALKINS AYE THANK YOU, FOUR AYES, ZERO NAYS FOR THIS ITEM
ALL RIGHT, THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE RESOLUTION NUMBER 3811 PASSES
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE BACK TO ITEM ELEVEN FOR PRESENTATIONS
I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION AND I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO CLERK HART TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD AND THEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK TO INTRODUCE IT
THANK YOU
THIS IS AGENDA ITEM ELEVEN B THE 2023 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLICY PRIORITIES BRIEFING
COMMISSIONERS
UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE PORT HAS AMBITIOUS POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PRIORITIES FOCUSED ON PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, ADVANCING TRADE, TRAVEL AND COMMERCE, AND OPERATING IN AN EQUITABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER
ENGAGING WITH OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS HELPS MAKES THOSE GOALS POSSIBLE
THE FOLLOWING BRIEFING WILL OUTLINE SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO HELP FULFILL OUR MISSIONS
THE PRESENTERS ARE WE HAVE SOME IN PERSON AND SOME REMOTE
SABRINA BOUYU
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER FROM EXTERNAL RELATIONS
NATE CAMINOS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, EXTERNAL RELATIONS
AND DAVE KAPLAN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
SO WITH THAT, SABRINA, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU
GREAT
THANK YOU
WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK, FOR HAVING US
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE
IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE COME IN FRONT OF YOU DURING OUR PUBLIC COMMISSION MEETINGS, BUT VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE
AS MENTIONED, I'M SABRINA, I'M THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER
I'VE BEEN HERE NOW WITH THE PORT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND IT'S BEEN TRULY A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
I HAVE DAVE KAPLAN WITH ME, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER WITH A FOCUS ON SOUTH SOUND CITIES, AND WE HAVE OUR BELOVED GR DIRECTOR NATE CAMINOS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY
WE KNOW WE'RE THE LAST PRESENTATION ON YOUR AGENDA, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS AS BRIEF AS WE CAN GIVEN THAT WE'VE ALREADY COME TO YOU FOR TWO, TWO, ONE
THAT'S FOR THE YEAR
PARDON? SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT THAT'S FOR THE YEAR
YOU WERE SAYING THE LAST PRESENTATION? YES
[LAUGHTER] WE PROVIDED YOU WITH A BRIEFING TWO MONTHS AGO IN PREPARATION FOR 2023
WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF OUR FORMER EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER, CARRIE PRAVITZ
WE KNOW THAT SHE HAS LEFT THE PORT, BUT SHE'S ALSO BEEN A MAJOR PLAYER IN PUTTING TOGETHER THESE PRIORITIES
I ALSO WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A MEMO IN YOUR BRIEFING DOCUMENTS THAT PROVIDES A BROADER OUTLINE OF WHAT OUR PRIORITIES LOOK LIKE FOR 2023
BUT ALL THAT TO BE SAID, THIS IS OUR 6TH YEAR IN WHICH THE COMMISSIONER WILL ADOPT POLICY PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES TO OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY, AND JUST WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE ADOPTED BY OUR COLLEAGUES ERIC SHINFIELD AND ERIC FITCH
THESE LOCAL PRIORITIES PROVIDE STAFF WITH GUIDANCE TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE PORT'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN THE YEAR AHEAD
NOW, YOU MAY KNOW THAT THIS APPROACH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IN YEARS PRIOR
UNLIKE THE PAST YEARS, THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TOP PRIORITIES
INSTEAD, WE DETERMINED TO HIGHLIGHT AND STREAMLINE MARQUEE ITEMS FOR 2023 THAT WE CAN THEN USE WHEN WE MEET WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS
PRIORITIES REFLECTED IN THIS PRESENTATION OUTLINE YOUR YOUR PRIORITIES AS COMMISSIONERS FROM YOUR PLANNING AND BUDGET RETREATS AND ALSO WITH EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM INPUT
SO THESE PRIORITIES ARE MEANT TO ALIGN WITH THE SIX GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PORT'S FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT, THE CENTURY AGENDA
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
IN CONTRAST WITH PREVIOUS YEARS, WE WILL BRIEFLY SHARE SOME OF OUR NOTABLE POLICY ADVANCEMENTS IN 2022 AND THEN DAVE AND I WILL BOTH WALK YOU THROUGH THE SIX CENTURY AGENDA GOALS AND HOW THEY ALIGN WITH OUR PRIORITIES
DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, WE WON'T SPEAK TO ALL OF THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE BRIEFING MEMO AS MENTIONED, BUT WE'RE OF COURSE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND FURTHER ELABORATE AND FOR YOUR AWARENESS AFTER TODAY'S COMMISSIONER MEETING, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND THEN FINAL ADOPTION WILL BE JANUARY 10
OKAY, NEXT SLIDE AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DAVE
LIKE OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WORKS ABOUT LEVERAGING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO MOVE OUR POLICY PRIORITIES FORWARD AND TO HELP IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS PRIORITIES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR OWN
WHILE THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF POLICY PRIORITIES THAT WERE ADVANCED IN FULL OR INCREMENTALLY IN 2022, WE WANTED TO PARTICULARLY TAKE NOTE OF AN AGREEMENT ON REPAIR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES, PROMOTING LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY BUSINESS CONNECTOR INITIATIVE AND IN COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHICH HAS BEEN A MULTIYEAR EFFORT, AND SHARED CONVERSATIONS WITH SOUTH KING CITIES REGARDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER POLICIES WE'VE HELPED ADVANCE DURING THE YEAR WHICH HELP KEEP THE PORT MARITIME ECONOMIC, DEVELOPMENT AND AVIATION OPERATIONS AND PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
THANK YOU, DAVE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR AWARENESS
DAVE AND I ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND KIND OF COVER THESE TOP PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES TO OUR CENTURY AGENDA AND SOME OF THE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE OUTLINED THROUGH BUDGET PROCESS AND GOAL SETTING
THE FIRST CENTURY AGENDA IS GOAL ONE POSITION THE PUGET SOUND AS A PREMIER INTERNATIONAL AND LOGISTICS HUB
KEY PIECES OF THIS ARE RECOGNIZING OUR WORK TO ADVANCE T FIVE, PHASE TWO, AND OF COURSE, THE FUTURE USE OF TERMINAL 46 CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE
WE KNOW THE ALLIANCE IS LEADING THIS WORK, BUT OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH OUR ALLIANCE PARTNERS ON EXECUTING WHAT COULD BE THE FUTURE OF TERMINAL 46
AND OF COURSE, ANOTHER MAJOR ITEM IS THE PROTECTIONS OF NO NET LOSS OF INDUSTRIAL LANDS AND ALSO POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE EXPANSION PORT OWNERSHIP ALONG THE WATERFRONT
I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN PLUGGED INTO THIS AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR OUTGOING STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COLLEAGUE, ERIC FITCH AS HE MOVES ON
HE'S BEEN INTEGRAL INTO THIS WORK, BUT A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO THIS, AND THE WORK WILL GO ON FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT THAT IS A MAJOR TENET OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR 2023 AND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
FACILITATING BUSINESS AND PROMOTING TOURISM HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN KEY POLICY PRIORITIES FOR THE PORT, AND NOTHING'S BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO FACILITATING THAT POLICY GOAL THAN IMPROVING SEA AIRPORT
THIS INCLUDES PURSUING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH AS THROUGH THE RECENT COMMISSION APPROVAL OF APPROXIMATELY 5 BILLION INVESTMENT IN PORT'S CAPITAL PROGRAM TO UPGRADE SEA, AND IN MEETING FUTURE REGIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS THROUGH THE SUSTAINABLE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN NEAR TERM PROJECTS
PART OF THAT ADVOCACY IS ENSURING THAT THE LOCAL AIRPORT COMMUNITIES ARE AWARE OF THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND COMMENT ON THE RELEASE OF THE SAMP NTP ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, NOW SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE IN LATE 2024
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
AS NOTED IN THE PRIOR CENTURY AGENDA GOAL, TOURISM PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART OF GROWTH GROWING THE REGIONAL AND STATE ECONOMY
TOURISM PROMOTION, INCLUDING PROMOTION OF RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR RECREATION, REMAINS A PORT PRIORITY
CRUISE REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TOURISM PROMOTION
THE PRIORITY FOCUS FOR CRUISE IS THROUGH PORT LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY OF A GREEN COORIDOR AND IN MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP SUPPLY GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE CRUISE INDUSTRY
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND FACILITIES ARE KEYS TO ENSURING THAT EVERYONE WILL REAP THE BENEFITS FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH
WHETHER IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE SUCH AS THE WORK OF THE DUWAMISH VALLEY COMMUNITY EQUITY PROGRAM, AN ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, OR INVESTMENT IN PORT FACILITIES FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS SUCH AS HYDROGEN AND SUPPORT FOR OFFSHORE WIND
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE CALLED OUT AS PRIORITIES FOR 2023
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO SABRINA
GREAT
CENTURY AGENDA NUMBER FOUR THE GREENEST AND MOST EFFICIENT ENERGY EFFICIENT PORT IN NORTH AMERICA
THIS SLIDE JUST RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BIG PRIORITIES AROUND DECARBONIZATION ON BOTH OUR MARITIME AND AVIATION ACTIVITIES, IN PARTICULAR PIER 66 ELECTRIFICATION
IT'S A VERY MEANINGFUL PORT PROJECT THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT TIME WORKING ON
IT ALSO MEANS UNDERSTANDING AND INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR SHIPPING AND OF COURSE, OUR CLEAN TRUCK PROGRAM AND HEALTHY WATER RATE PROGRAMS SUCH AS KELP AND THE SEAWEED COLLABORATIVE
ON THE AVIATION SIDE, THAT MEANS THINKING ABOUT ELECTRIFICATION OF VEHICLES ON THE GROUND, BUT ALSO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS, WHICH I KNOW COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN HAS BEEN A LEADER OF
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF OUR GOAL FOUR AROUND ENVIRONMENTALISM, AND THE TWO THINGS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT OUR WORK CONTINUES AROUND PRIORITIZING AND BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR MARITIME PARKS, INCLUDING THE DUWAMISH VALLEY AND ALL OF THE PARKS UNDER OUR PURVIEW
AND IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT WE CLEARLY PRIORITIZE OBLIGATIONS FOR CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION
OF ALL OF OUR SITES, INCLUDING THE EAST WATERWAY, WHICH WILL BE HUGE THIS YEAR, AND PERFORMANCE METRICS TO MEET EQUITY GOALS FOR THE DUWAMISH VALLEY AREA
AND WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PORT'S BEEN TAKING STEPS TO BECOME A MORE EQUITABLE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE AGENCY AND HAS BEGUN TO TAKE STEPS TO BECOME A MODEL
FOR 2023 THE PORT PRIORITIES PRIORITIZES INCLUSION BY BETTER COMMUNICATING CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES TO WOMEN MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FIRMS BY ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN THE MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, EXPLORING UNIQUE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH KING COUNTY, AND THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THROUGH THE DUWAMISH VALLEY COMMUNITY EQUITY PROGRAM AND THROUGH AN INTERJURISDICTIONAL MEETING WITH THE BEACON HILL, GEORGETOWN AND SOUTH PARK COMMUNITIES
ALSO A PRIORITY IS OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TRIBES, THE ADDITION OF A PORT GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF, POSITION SPECIFIC FOR TRIBAL RELATIONS, INCLUSION OF TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT, INTERNSHIP AND INITIATION OF TRIBAL MOUS, WHICH ARE PROGRESSING, ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'LL BE ADDRESSING THIS PRIORITY
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND BACK TO SABRINA
THANK YOU
DAVE AND I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT OUR WORK AROUND DEVELOPING THESE TRIBAL MOUS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT THE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED FOR US TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL TRIBAL RELATIONS FTE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE
THIS WORK IS SUBSTANTIVE AND IT'S NEEDED TO OCCUR FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES CONTINUE ON OUR CENTURY AGENDA GOAL FIVE, WHICH HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT A BIG FOCUS IS EXPANDING GREEN JOBS, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT CREATES CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING OPTIONS FOR OUR BIPOC NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MARITIME, AVIATION, CONSTRUCTION AND GREEN JOBS
AND WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE
AND THIS IS A MAINTAIN FOR OUR CENTURY AGENDA GOALS JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT OUR GOALS ARE ALWAYS TO BE A LEADER IN EDI, WHETHER THAT'S INTERNALLY AT THE PORT OR WITH OUR WORK WITH OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES AND EMPLOYERS, AND THAT CERTAINLY WILL BE A DRIVING GOAL FOR US IN 2023
THEY CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
BEING A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC AGENCY MEANS PRIORITIZING THE IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, AND THAT CAN TAKE THE FORM OF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO COLLABORATE ON REPLACEMENT OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AS IT TRANSITIONS AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS
ADVOCATING FOR A SHIFT AWAY FROM TOXIC SUBSTANCES SUCH AS PFAS TO IDENTIFYING A PATH FOR PROTECTION OF THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF NORTH SEATAC PARK
THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER SUCH EXAMPLES WHERE ALIGNMENT OF PORT VALUES AND THOSE OF OUR PARTNERING AGENCIES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, OR ENHANCE THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR LAND
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
BEING A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC AGENCY MEANS DOING SO WITH AN EYE OR FOCUS ON EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
IT MEANS PRIORITIZING EQUAL PROTECTION AND EQUAL ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND ENSURING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
IT MEANS PRIORITIZING THE SOUND INSULATION PROGRAM TO LIVE UP TO OUR OBLIGATION TO MEET THE 2026 COMPLETION GOAL THAT WAS SET BY COMMISSIONER
AND IT MEANS EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS WITH AIRPORT COMMUNITIES FOR PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE COMMUTER IMPROVEMENTS
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE
AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER, THE BRIEFING MEMO CONTAINS THE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
THANK YOU, DAVE AND SABRINA, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONERS FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN, THANKS SO MUCH AND APPRECIATE THE MULTIPLE SHOTS AT THIS
AND WE'LL TAKE ONE MORE
I THINK ALMOST ALL THE THINGS ARE THERE
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETIMES WHERE THE BULLETS ARE PLACED
ALTHOUGH, SABRINA, YOU DID BRING UP SOMETHING I THOUGHT WE BOTH SHARE A GREAT VALUE IN
BUT I DON'T THINK THE ONLY ONE THAT I DON'T THINK WAS MENTIONED WAS THE TRIBAL MOU AND LIAISON
SO THOSE ARE SORT OF LIKE TWO NEW THINGS FOR NEXT YEAR
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WANT TO UNLESS I MISSED IT
I KNOW THERE'S TRIBAL INTERNSHIP, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE ANYWAY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WAS THE ONE TRIBAL THING I SAW
SO I DON'T KNOW
THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES FOR NEXT YEAR THAT I WOULDN'T NOT WANT TO ELEVATE
BUT I GUESS MY CONFUSION IS WITH CRUISE, AS IS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE
BUT THE IDEA THAT WHETHER OUR INITIATIVES WITH CRUISE, WHETHER IT BE THE GREEN CORRIDOR OR THE SHORE POWER OR THE NO DISCHARGE ISSUES, SHOULD THAT BE AN UNDER BEING THE GREENEST PORT? OR WHEN I SEE RESPONSIBLY INVEST IN ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE REGION FOR ALL ITS COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE SPEARHEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GREEN CORRIDOR
I QUESTION IS THAT REALLY THE RIGHT PLACE TO PUT IT? AND THEN SIMILARLY, THERE WAS THE ONE OTHER PLACE WHERE IT WAS PUT STRUCK ME AS PECULIAR
I WOULD ASSUME EXECUTIVE METRUCK
YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THIS AS THE MEANINGFUL SPOT FOR THESE THINGS
BUT THERE WAS ONE OTHER PLACE FOR CRUISE
LET ME JUST QUICKLY SEE IF I CAN PUT MY FINGER ON IT
OH, YEAH
FOR REGIONAL POLICIES, GREENEST MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT PORT, WE INCLUDE SHORE POWER TO PIER 66 AND SHIPPING DECARBONIZATION
SO THE GREEN IS IN THERE
THE GREEN COORIDOR, THOUGH, IS NOT CONSIDERED A GREEN INITIATIVE
SO AGAIN, WE DON'T SAY CRUISE WHEN WE SAY 66
AGAIN, BOTH THOSE THINGS ARE ALL GOOD
I JUST WAS WONDERING WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO PUT THEM
RIGHT WHERE THEY'RE PLACED IN THE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY CAN GO IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEAH, I MEAN BUT LOCATIONS HAVE GREEN COORIDOR NOT BE UNDER GREEN TO ME, BUT I CAN SEE ANYWAY, CRUISES IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE COULD PERHAPS FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GROUP IT
BUT ANYWAY, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT
THANK YOU
YEAH, COMMISSIONER, AND THIS IS FOR MY RECORD TO NATE CAMINO'S, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HERE AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
YOUR EARLIER COMMENT OR QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THE TRIBAL MOAS AND HOW WERE THEY REFLECTED HERE AND JUST REFLECTED IN TERMS OF THE MEMO, IT'S OBJECTIVE 14
THE FIRST THREE BULLETS ARE ADDRESSED THERE AND IN ADDITION TO OBJECTIVE FIVE IN THE MEMO AS WELL
AND SO AS SABRINA AND DAVE HAD GIVEN YOU THIS PRESENTATION, WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO COVER THE WHOLE SIX PAGES OF THE MEMO ITSELF
AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE HIGH LEVEL HIGHLIGHTS
AND SO IF WE CAN DISCUSS MORE IF THERE'S INTEREST ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN FTE FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, TOO
BUT HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT WITH YOU MORE OFFLINE AFTER TODAY
GREAT
THANKS, COMMISSIONER
ALL RIGHT
I CHECKED IN WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS AS WELL
I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S A GREAT MEMO AND PRESENTATION
I REALLY LIKE HOW YOU'VE ORGANIZED IT UNDER THE CENTURY AGENDA GOALS
SO THAT REALLY HELPS TO I KNOW THAT OFTEN TIMES THERE ARE PLACES WHERE ITEMS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MULTIPLE, BUT I THINK THAT IS A REALLY NICE RUBRIC FOR UNDERSTANDING THINGS
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, WITH NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT
I THINK WE ARE NOW AT THE TIME WHERE WE HAVE CONCLUDED OUR BUSINESS MEETING, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO DO BEFORE WE CLOSE THE MEETING
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK, WHO'S GOING TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY WHO WE'RE LOSING HERE IN JUST A SECOND
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO STEVE FOR THAT
THANKS, COMMISSIONER
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN THE DAY, IT'S THE END OF THE DAY, BUT I THINK THAT LIKE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES I'D LIKE TO BRING UP ERIC FITCH
ERIC, PLEASE COME UP AND JOIN US UP HERE
I SHAVE EVERY DAY
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
LET ME JUST SAY, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES
I THINK THINGS ARE ALWAYS IN TRANSITION HERE AT THE PORT, AND WE'D LIKE TO MARK SOME SPECIAL MILESTONES WITH THAT
THANKS FOR OUR INDULGENCE HERE TO BRING UP EVERYBODY KNOWS ERIC FITCH
THIS IS THE LAST SUCH MEETING FOR THE COMMISSION MEETING FOR HIM
HE'S OUR SENIOR MANAGER FOR STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND HE'LL BE LEAVING US FOR A FEW WEEKS, AS WE KNOW TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON PUBLIC PORTS ASSOCIATION
SO WPPA IN DOING THAT, HE'LL LEAVE IT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I'M JUST GOING TO REFLECT ON MY SHORT TIME HERE
ERIC IS A NATIVE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND A BIG FAN OF EVERYTHING HERE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
HE'S EYEING ME REALLY BADLY HERE
SO I DON'T KNOW
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY NEFARIOUS ABOUT THIS
ERIC
IN THIS HE BEGAN HIS CAREER- I'LL TRY TO ENJOY IT
[LAUGHTER] BEGAN HIS CAREER IN WASHINGTON, DC
AND WORKED FOR CONGRESSWOMAN BONAMICHI OUT OF OREGON, AND THEN WORKED FOR CONGRESSMAN AND THEN OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR, JAY INSLEE, AND ALSO WORKED FOR SENATOR CANTWELL AS WELL
AND THEN HE JOINED THE PORT ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO
AND DURING THAT TIME HE'S BUILT A PROFILE IN OLYMPIA
HE'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB
I MEAN, OVER MY TIME HERE
JUST KNOWING THAT ERIC HIS EXPERTISE IN LOOKING AT EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE PORT AND UNDERSTANDING ALL OF IT AND REALLY SIMPLIFYING IT INTO ELEVATOR SPEECH LENGTH AND SO GETTING THE COGENT POINTS ACROSS AND SUPPORTING ME WHEN I WAS AN OLYMPIAN
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL FEEL SUPPORTED WELL FROM HIS EFFORTS DOWN THERE
AND I THINK HE'S REALLY ADVANCED ALL THE LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR US GOING FORWARD
I MEAN, JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HE'S CARRIED OUR WATER IN DOWN IN OLYMPIA
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, FOR US, FOCUSING THROUGH WPPA INDUSTRIAL LANDS AND EVEN THROUGH COVID, AND ALL THE ISSUES RELATED TO COVID KEEPING THOSE COMMUNICATIONS GOING WITH OLYMPIA AND KEEPING ALL THAT WORK GOING, IT WAS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TO THE PORT
AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HAVE REALLY BEEN VERY LARGE AND IT'S DEEPLY APPRECIATED
SO I JUST THOUGHT THAT I'D GIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY COMMISSIONERS SO WE CAN BRING UP ALL ERIC'S BAD POINTS HERE, I THINK
THANK YOU
EXECUTIVE, ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? ABSOLUTELY
COMMISSIONER CHO
YEAH
SO THIS IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME
OBVIOUSLY, ERIC, YOU AND I GO BACK TO THE OLYMPIA WHEN I WAS A STAFFER IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO, HOW YOU APPROACH IT, HOW MUCH RESPECT YOU HAVE IN OLYMPIA AND HOW MUCH OF A BIG WIN THIS IS FOR WPPA AND QUITE FRANKLY, FOR US AS A PORT AND AS A MEMBER OF WPPA
I SAY IT'S BITTERSWEET BECAUSE ON ONE END, I KNOW THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU PERSONALLY, BUT ALSO PROFESSIONALLY
BEING IN AN EXECUTIVE ROLE, IN A MANAGER ROLE, WILL BE A TREMENDOUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
BUT IT'S A LITTLE BITTER BECAUSE WE KNOW THE CALIBER OF A STAFFER THAT WE'RE LOSING HERE AT THE PORT
AND SO I SAY THIS TO EVERYONE WHO LEAVES THE PORT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS WHEN I SAY THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME BACK HERE
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A HOME HERE
I THINK YOU KNOW THAT
PIERCE IS SHAKING HIS HEAD, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU HERE
YOU'RE NOT GOING FAR
YOU'RE GOING TO BE AROUND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR NEW CAPACITY
I'M REALLY GLAD THE PORT IS FINDING ITSELF WITH A NEW ALLY AT WPPA
DON'T TELL YOUR BOARD THAT, BUT REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU
CONGRATULATIONS
I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ROAST YOU
SO WPPA RESCINDS THEIR OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, BUT I FIGURED I WOULD
I KEEP WAITING FOR LIKE A SLIDE SHOW SABOTAGE
YOU WISH I HAD SOME PHOTOS, MR FELLEMAN
SPEAKING OF THAT, I JUST WANTED TO CONCUR WITH EXECUTIVE METRUCK'S POINT ABOUT YOU BEING SIMPLE
THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD WAY, I THOUGHT A REALLY CONCISE WAY TO DESCRIBE YOUR CAPABILITIES, ACTUALLY
IT'S REALLY YOUR SELF EFFACING QUALITIES, GIVING YOUR TALENTS, THAT'S ONE OF WHICH IS REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE AND MAKES IT EASY TO HANG WITH YOU AND ENJOYED GOING TO EUROPE WITH YOU
BUT THE IDEA THAT WHEN YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO AUTHORITIES, YOU SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY BUT HUMBLY, AND I THINK THAT'S SUPER WELL RECEIVED AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR, YOU CAN EVEN TAKE A LEFT HANDED JOKE THAT I DID AND APPRECIATE VERY MUCH
I DO LIKE TO JOKE WITH YOU IN THE PAST ABOUT HOW WPPA COULD BE MUCH MORE OF AN ORGANIZATION THAN IT IS
AND I THINK IT'S PHENOMENAL THAT AFTER ALL OF OUR COMPLAINING THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND THAT YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT AS ITS PRESIDENT
SO I REALLY SEE THE PORT HAVING A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TAKE AN ETCHER SKETCH MOMENT WITH THE WPPA AND REALLY HAVE IT LIVE UP TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO
AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO NOT TRY TO BE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
AND THE MAJOR WEAKNESS I FOUND FOR THE WPPA IS THAT IT'S TRYING TO SERVE ALL THE PORTS IN IN EVERYONE'S LITTLE FIEFDOM
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE UNIFYING THINGS THAT WE ALL CAN STAND TOGETHER AND WPPA WILL BE THAT MUCH STRONGER WHEN WE CAN ALL LEAN IN TOGETHER RATHER THAN BEING DISTRACTED
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIG PRIORITIES AND I SEE YOU AS BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE REINS IN SUCH A FANTASTIC WAY
NOW WE HAVE TO HIDE
I DID GO TO THE EXECUTIVE, I SAW YOU THERE
YEAH
AND SO WHEN I WENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND THE ACTING EXECUTIVE CAME IN THERE AND SAID, WELL, WE HAVEN'T HIRED THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PERSON
AND I GO, WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE NOBODY'S APPLIED
THEY GO, NO, WE HAD 23 APPLIED, BUT WE DIDN'T FIND ANY OF THEM SUITABLE
DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE INTERVIEW PANEL FOR THAT? NO, I JUST SAID OBVIOUSLY YOU USED A LOWER STANDARD FOR THE EXECUTIVE POSITION
[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, LET'S COME ON, GUYS
WE LOVE YOU, ERIC, AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND YOU SOON ENOUGH
SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU
I APPRECIATE THAT
COMMISSIONER MOHAMED, WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON FRED TO ROAST SOMEONE ON RECORD
YEAH
ERIC, IT'S BEEN .GREAT WORKING WITH YOU
IT'S BEEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR WISDOM, YOUR HONESTY AND JUST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
YOU KNOW SO MUCH
AND SO I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT LOSS TO THE PORT, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN OTHER WAYS AND JUST EXCITED FOR YOUR FUTURE AND THINK OF US ALWAYS IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME BY COMMISSIONER CHO
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S TWO TO ONE
[LAUGHTER]THANK YOU
THANK YOU
HERE'S GOING TO BE OUT COUNTED AND I GOT TO SAY, IN FRONT OF 250 COMMISSIONERS AND PORT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES IN THE PORT COMMUNITY HOW EXCITED I AM TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU AT THE WPPA MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE YOU WERE APPOINTED AND I WAS ELECTED AS PRESIDENT FOR THE COMING YEAR
AND SO I WILL SAY, HAVING WORKED WITH YOU NOW FOR FIVE YEARS, IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I SORT OF HAVE MY LANE AND THEN I WALK INTO A ROOM AND HERE'S A GUY WHO'S TALLER AND BETTER LOOKING AND FUNNIER AND SMARTER AND REDDER HAIR, JUST TAKING UP MY LANE
BUT IN ALL HONESTY, I THINK OF YOU AS A DEAR FRIEND AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH YOU
AND NOTWITHSTANDING A YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, I'M EXCITED THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE YOUR BOSS ANYMORE AND I GET INSTEAD TO BE TRULY UP HERE
AND I THINK A BIG PART OF IT IS BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR VALUES AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO STATEWIDE FOR PORTS WILL BE HUGELY BOTH INFLUENTIAL AND POSITIVELY BENEFICIAL
AND WE ARE, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY A THOUSAND TIMES, WE'RE ENTERING INTO SUCH AN INFLECTION POINT IN OUR ECONOMY, IN OUR SOCIETY, AND PORTS ARE GOING TO BE A KEY PART OF THAT TRANSFORMATION
SO WE NEED REALLY EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP LIKE YOU BRING
SO GOOD LUCK WITH THE WPPA
WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU A GREAT DEAL
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
DO I GET TO RESPOND? YES
ABSOLUTELY NOT
HONESTLY, I WAS NOT REALLY EXPECTING THIS UNTIL PIERCE SENT ME A TEXT LAST NIGHT SAYING, YOU WILL BE AT PIER 69 TOMORROW, TOMORROW AFTERNOON
I'M REALLY GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU ALL
I WOULD ROAST YOU ALL, BUT NOW YOU'RE FIVE OF MY 235 ELECTED BOSSES ACROSS THE STATE, SO YOU'RE ALL GREAT
I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
[LAUGHTER] I THINK FRED'S, COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN'S WORDS ARE RINGING IN MY EARS BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN MY FRIENDS AND SOME FAMILY, I'M OFTEN CRITICIZED OF TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY
AND I THINK THAT I HAD JUST PROMISED TO MY WIFE I WOULD STOP DOING THAT
AND THEN I'M TAKING THIS JOB NOW WHERE I'M GOING TO TRY ACTUALLY TO DO THAT PROFESSIONALLY, BUT WITHOUT GETTING WEEPY OR MISTY, REALLY
I GREW UP HERE
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS AND I MOVED BACK FROM DC AS SORT OF A GENERALIST GLOSS OUT COMING OUT OF CONGRESS
AND THIS WAS WHERE I GREW UP AND WHERE MY CAREER KIND OF TOOK OFF
SO I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH
FRED AND I RAN INTO EACH OTHER ON A DOCK IN SAN JUAN ISLANDS THREE MONTHS BEFORE I STARTED HERE
THREE MONTHS BEFORE HE STARTED TO HERE
AND NEITHER OF US KNEW THAT THIS COLLISION COURSE WAS COMING
AND THEN SAM AND I MET IN OLYMPIA AND I DON'T THINK I EXPECTED US TO HAVE THIS RELATIONSHIP
I REMEMBER WHEN COMMISSIONER CALKINS WAS RUNNING AND I THOUGHT, OH, GOD, HIS IDEAS ARE JUST SO BIG, AND THEN HE STILL HAS THEM AND THEY WORK
I THINK ALL OF US RUN THE RISK OF THINKING THAT COMMISSIONER CALKINS HAS AN IDEA HE CAN'T SUCCESSFULLY PULL OFF
SO THAT WOULD BE MY CAUTIONARY TALE TO ANYBODY COMING AFTER ME
AND THEN WHEN COMMISSIONER MOHAMED AND COMMISSIONER HASEGAWA GOT ELECTED, EVERYONE'S LIKE, OH, YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL
YOU GOT THESE YOUNG PROGRESSIVES FROM SOUTH KING COUNTY
AND I THINK WE ALL THOUGHT: GREAT ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S BEEN REALLY AND I REMEMBER GOING AND DROPPING OFF THE HAT AND THE PIN WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ELECTED AND JUST LOVING THE ENERGY YOU BROUGHT
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO KEEPING YOU ALL SUPER INVESTED
STEVE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE BOSS AND ALSO THE ONLY PERSON WHO TRIED TO TALK ME INTO STAYING, FOR THE RECORD
BUT YOU AND I HAVE LEARNED- SORRY, PIERCE
IT'S TRUE, THOUGH
BUT NO, I'VE LEARNED A TON FROM YOU AND I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE
AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PORT THAT EVERYBODY WHO WORKS HERE HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER
I MEAN, I CAN'T BELLEVUE, I'M LEAVING AFTER SEVEN YEARS
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS SOMETHING I DON'T
AND THEN NATE CAME IN AND GOT TO BE MY BOSS AGAIN AFTER HAVING BEEN KIND OF MY BOSS IN THE CANTWELL'S OFFICE
AND YOU WOULDN'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY AS A BOSS TWICE UNLESS IT WAS NATE, WHO'S ABOUT AS SUPPORTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE AS THEY COME
AND THEN, OF COURSE, PIERCE CAME HERE AND WE ALL THOUGHT, WHO IS THIS GUY AND WHY DOES HE TALK LIKE THAT? AND HE'S A CALM GUY AND HE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO RUN GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND JUST THE WAY THAT HE'S RUN OUR DEPARTMENT, I THINK EVERYBODY I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS WHEN WE SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN HIM THAT AUTHORITY AND THAT INDEPENDENCE TO RUN THAT DEPARTMENT
SO, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS JOB IS THAT I STILL WORK FOR YOU
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SAY A FEW WORDS
AND THANKS TO ME FOR NOT TOTALLY BREAKING DOWN
THANKS, GUYS
[APPLAUSE] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR YOU HAVE ONE MORE ITEM, AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
YOU TALK ABOUT LONG SERVICE TO THE PORT
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP SERGEANT ADDISON
WE WON'T MAKE THIS AS- i JUST WANT TO RECON- TAKE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS
THIS IS JUST BECAUSE MY SHORT TIME HERE AND JUST WHENEVER SOMETHING WAS DEVELOPING, I THINK IT ALWAYS GAVE ME A SENSE OF ASSURANCE, SERGEANT, WHEN I KNEW THAT YOU WERE THERE
AND WE'VE HAD SOME THINGS THAT ARE ROUTINE AND THEN SOME THINGS NOT ROUTINE
AND I JUST DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT
AND I KNOW YOU'RE SUPER DOUBLE EMBARRASSED TO BE UP HERE
AND I KNOW IF YOU KNEW THAT THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE PORT, THE HEAD OF THE MARINE UNIT AND THE DIVE UNIT DURING THAT TIME, PROBABLY I THINK YOU'RE THE MOST SENIOR PERSON RIGHT NOW IN THE POLICE FORCE
THAT I AM
YES
EXPERIENCED
EXPERIENCED
THAT SOUNDS BETTER
YEAH
WITH THAT
BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IN SUPPORT OF US AT THE COMMISSION MEETING HERE AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND JUST LEADING WITH YOUR PROFESSIONALISM
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT FOR THAT
REALLY FAST
AND YOU CAN BLAME CHIEF VIA FOR ALLOWING ME TO EMBARRASS YOU
ALL RIGHT
ONE ONE LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING
REMINDER
WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING ON DECEMBER 20
THAT ONE'S BEEN CANCELED
COMMISSIONERS
DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS TO REFER TO COMMITTEE OR ANY OTHER CLOSING COMMENTS? NO
JUST A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR
WE HAD ONE OTHER PERSON LEAVING THAT IT WAS WORTH NOTING
IT'S AMBRIN FOR RUNNING OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AND HER NUMEROUS OTHER JOYOUS, TALENTS, AND ENTHUSIASM THAT SHE BROUGHT TO THIS ORGANIZATION WAS EXTRAORDINARY
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN HERE, BUT ALL I KNOW IS SHE'S BEEN WORKING HARD EVER SINCE SHE'S BEEN HERE
AND SO I REALLY DO I LOVE THE FACT HOW MUCH SHE LOVED WHAT SHE DID, AND IT WAS CONTAGIOUS
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THE BENEFIT OF BEING UNDER HER TUTELAGE FELT IT, AND I THINK THEY RESPONDED IN KIND AND BIG PAIR OF SHOES TO FILL THERE
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE FOLKS WHO WANT TO STEP INTO THAT ROLE
I THINK IT'S A HUGE AMBASSADORSHIP TO THE ORGANIZATION TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TO BRING THEM INTO OUR SHOW US SHOW THEM OUR UNDER, THE UNDER THE CLOAK BEHIND THE SCREEN
AND WE'RE PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO SHOW THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THAT OUTREACH TO THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY WAS PARTICULARLY APPRECIATIVE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLKS CONTINUING ON
I HAVE TWO OTHER REAL QUICK THINGS
ONE IS THE NDAA IS ABOUT TO PASS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, AND IT'S LITTERED WITH THINGS THAT THE PORT REALLY HAS GOT PRIORITIES OF, FROM SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS TO SHORE POWER, TO UNDERWATER NOISE QUIETING TO INNOVATION FOR SHIP DESIGNS
WE'RE VERY LUCKY
ADAM SMITH HAS BEEN A CHAMPION AT THAT END
AND WE HAVE SENATOR CANTWELL AND REPRESENTATIVE LARSON TO THANK FOR THAT
WE EXPECT THAT ANY DAY NOW
AND THEN FINALLY, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE PRESENT, BUT WE HAVE THE AND JUST WANTED TO GET THE DATE STRAIGHT
FROM DECEMBER 18 TO THE 26TH WILL BE HANUKKAH
AND THIS HANUKKAH IS NOT THE HANUKKAH ITSELF, BUT IT IS A PARTICULARLY TROUBLING TIME TO BE JEWISH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF ANTISEMITISM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON
WE HAVE HAD JUST RECENTLY, MR CAIN AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF COLLEAGUES URGED THE PRESIDENT TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM AND STRENGTHEN THE RESPONSE
THERE'S LIKE A REMARKABLE RATION
AND THE ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE, THEY TRACK THIS SORT OF STUFF
AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING
JUST IN WASHINGTON ALONE, THERE WERE 34 INCIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR
BUT I WILL END ON THIS, THAT THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS THAT WE CONSIDERED ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS
AND ONE WAS A MAN WAS HARASSED BY A JEWISH NEIGHBOR WITH ANTISEMITIC SERVICE AND PERFORMED THE NAZI SALUTE
AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED AN INCIDENT
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE A JEWISH INDIVIDUAL WAS HARASSED BY TWO PASSENGERS AND DIRECTED
AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING TO SUFFER THAT INDIGNITY HERE EVERY TIME MR ZINNERMAN SPEAKS
AND SO, ACCORDING TO THE ANTISEMITIC INCIDENT TRACKER BY THE ADL, THAT'S ONE OF NOTE
SO
THANKS, COMMISSIONER
MOHAMED, GO AHEAD
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY QUICKLY, TODAY'S THE LAST PORT COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH KIND OF MARKS MY COMPLETION OF MY FIRST YEAR ON THE COMMISSIONER
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK BOTH PRESIDENT CALKINS AND VICE PRESIDENT CHO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR WELCOMING ME ON THIS COMMISSIONER AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE FOLKS WHO WORK AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE
IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME YEAR, AND SO JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE FOR BOTH OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE HARD WORK AND TIME COMMITMENTS THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO THIS COMMISSION AND YOUR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
I WAS SIMILARLY GOING TO THANK COMMISSIONER CALKINS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
I THINK YOU'VE RUN THIS YEAR WITH TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS POISE AND SHOWED GREAT LEADERSHIP, AND I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT
I THINK IT'S LOST UPON A LOT OF PEOPLE HOW MUCH MORE TIME IT TAKES TO BE PRESIDENT
I MAY BE LEARNING THAT LESSON VERY SOON HERE
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR
IT'S BEEN A SMOOTH YEAR, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE'RE ALL BETTER FOR IT
THANKS, CHRIS
YEAH, I FEEL LIKE THE COMMISSION IS LIKE A BASKETBALL TEAM
IT REALLY REQUIRES ALL OF US TO BE DOING OUR PART TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT IT
AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR THIS YEAR FOR THAT
I HAVE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE AS WE WRAP UP THIS MEETING AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN
SO THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO MAKES MY LIFE AS A COMMISSIONER SO MUCH EASIER, HAS ENSURED THAT I AM SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT I'M PURSUING, THAT ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY DO BETTER
AND I WANT TO CALL THAT PERSON OUT FOR ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY YEAR
AND THAT'S LEANNE SHIRADO
[APPLAUSE] SHE'S TRULY A DEAR FRIEND TO ME, AND SHE HAS A HEART FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
IF YOU KNOW HER PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
SHE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY MOTHER TO HER SONS
SHE IS AN EXAMPLE OF AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE PORT OF SEATTLE
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SHE GOT A PROMOTION THIS YEAR, SO I DON'T GET TO HAVE HER AS MY ADVISOR NEXT YEAR
SHE'S REALLY BEEN SERVING DOUBLE DUTY THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR AS OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE COMMISSION OFFICE
AND SO I'M GOING TO MISS HER AS MY RIGHT HAND PERSON GOING FORWARD
BUT I REALLY YOU DESERVE ALL SORTS OF KUDOS AND THANKS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL ACCEPT THESE
[APPLAUSE] CAN WE SECOND THAT? THAT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND
YEAH, FOR SURE
ALL RIGHT
IT IS NOW 3:19 HEARING
NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND HAVING NO FURTHER BUSINESS
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED FOR THE YEAR.

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