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10b_reso
January 24, 2023

PORT OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION NO. 3811
A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle Commission setting the daily per diem
allowance Port of Seattle commissioners can earn to be equal
to that of Washington state legislators, and increasing each
commissioner’s maximum number of days of per diem
reimbursement per calendar year from 120 days to 205 days.
WHEREAS, the voters of King County authorized and approved the formation of a port
district co-extensive with King County to be known as the Port of Seattle in a special election on
September 5, 1911; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is governed by five commissioners elected to four-year
terms of office by the voters of King County and whose mission is to promote economic
opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job
creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is unique amongst most ports in the nation in the diversity
of operations it manages that includes an airport, seaport, grain terminal, three cruise ship berths,
four recreational marinas, Fishermen’s Terminal, industrial lands, and parks, and is engaged in
an expanding variety of economic development activities such as workforce development,
tourism, as well as a joint cargo terminal operating agreement with the Port of Tacoma known as
the Northwest Seaport Alliance; and
WHEREAS, in a representative democracy, it is essential for elected officials to reflect
the full diversity of their constituency and that those citizens who choose elected office can
maintain the economic means to participate while in office; and
WHEREAS, as a matter of good governance and sound public policy, the Port of Seattle
Commission wishes to set a livable wage for Seattle Port Commissioners to encourage residents
of King County from diverse backgrounds to seek election to the Seattle Port Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission is the legally constituted governing body of
the Port whose primary duties are to establish policies that guide the Port’s future, hire the
Executive Director to implement those policies, execute its fiduciary responsibilities in the
oversight of the expenditure of public funds, and to annually determine the amount of tax levy
will be assessed on properties in King County; and

Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem

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WHEREAS, Port of Seattle Commissioners are responsible to the voters in protecting
the public’s interests and resources, which is different than a corporate board accountable to
shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda, established in 2012, envisions
extensive outreach across King County by Seattle Port Commissioners to other regional
government officials, industry and union stakeholders, educational institutions, and community
organizations; and
WHEREAS, the role of Port of Seattle Commissioners has expanded considerably since
the adoption of the Century Agenda and the passage of Resolution No. 3678 in 2013, which set
the salary of Port of Seattle Commissioners to that of legislators in the State of Washington, but
did not address the per diem rate and allowance for commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the creation of the Northwest Seaport Alliance in 2015, the nation’s first
joint port development authority, established a unique marine cargo operating partnership with
the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma in which the five Commissioners from each Port hire and oversee
an independent executive thereby creating significantly expanded oversight duties of investments
and operations in both the Seattle and Tacoma harbors; and
WHEREAS, additional Commission responsibilities include providing oversight and
assuring the implementation of significant new policy directives passed by the Commission to
include much greater emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion, workforce development and
more stringent environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals; and
WHEREAS, there is a significant need for oversight of unprecedented levels of
construction and operational changes occurring at the airport and seaport, as well as development
of surrounding Port properties which increases pressure for commercial development on
industrial lands; and
WHEREAS, the current per diem for a Seattle Port Commissioner of $128 per day with
an annual maximum of $15,360 per calendar year, which equates to 120 days per calendar year,
is not commensurate with the substantial year-round commitment of time and effort required to
fulfill the duties of the office which is exacerbated by significant rising cost of living in King
County; and
WHEREAS, Port Commissioners are currently not eligible for the Public Employee
Retirement System nor the per diem set by the Washington State legislature; and
WHEREAS, as of July 1, 2022, port commissioner salaries annually, not including per
diem or other allowable reimbursements, is $56,881 as determined by the Washington Citizen’s
Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials for members of the State legislature on which
Resolution 3678 based Port Commissioner salaries; and
WHEREAS, Washington’s legislators’ per diem is currently $185 per day and it is tied
to 89% of the federal per diem rate; and
Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem

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WHEREAS, Article II of the Washington State Constitution provides that legislators
receive compensation “…for each day's attendance during the session” and RCW 44.04.120
provides that members may receive an allowance, "in lieu of per diem or any other payment, for
a day or major portion thereof in which he or she is engaged in legislative business…;" and
WHEREAS, unlike Washington state legislators, the official work of Port of Seattle
Commissioners extends throughout the calendar year and beyond the legislative session.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Commission of the Port of Seattle as
follows:
SECTION 1. Port of Seattle Commissioners’ per diem shall be equal to that of
Washington state legislators and shall be increased or decreased consistent with changes made to
the legislators’ rate. A commissioner may not receive more than 205 days of per diem in a
calendar year.
SECTION 2. This change in per diem rate and the increase in the maximum number of per
diem days that can be reimbursed for each commissioner in a calendar year shall apply to all newlyelected Port of Seattle commissioners and not enter into effect for any currently-serving
commissioner until that commissioner is re-elected to another term of office.
SECTION 3. As provided by RCW 53.12.265, a Port of Seattle Commissioner may waive
all or any portion of the compensation payable under RCW 53.12.260 by filing a written waiver
with the Secretary of the Port of Seattle Commission. In accordance with commission bylaws, such
waiver shall become a public record held by the Port of Seattle Commission Clerk.
ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed public meeting thereof,
held this ______ day of _______________________________ 2022, and duly authenticated in
open session by the signatures of the commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the
commission.

Port of Seattle Commission

Resolution No. 3811, Commission Per Diem

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