P.O. Box 1209
Seattle, Washington 98111
www.portseattle.org
206.787.3000

APPROVED MINUTES
COMMISSION SPECIAL JOINT MEETING JUNE 5, 2015
The Port of Seattle Commission met in a special joint meeting with the Port of Tacoma
Commission Friday, June 5, 2015, in Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, Auburn, Washington.
Port of Seattle Commissioners Albro, Bowman, Bryant, and Creighton were present. Port of Seattle
Commissioner Gregoire participated by telephone. Port of Tacoma Commissioners Bacon,
Johnson, Marzano, Meyer, and Petrich were also present.

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Port of Seattle Commission Co-President
Stephanie Bowman, who led the Flag Salute.

WELCOME AND OPENING COMMENTS
Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus welcomed the two port commissions and congratulated them for
putting aside differences to create a strong alliance that promises to do more for the region's
economy than the two ports could do separately. She applauded their dedication and noted that
Port of Seattle Commissioner Gregoire was present by phone despite preparing to give birth later
in the day.

Commissioner Johnson thanked the Mayor and noted that Auburn's location, midway between the
ports of Seattle and Tacoma, made it an especially appropriate venue for a vote to form a Seaport
Alliance.

Commissioner Bowman commented on the value for the maritime industry of the two commissions'
actions today. She predicted a positive future for Washington state exports and family-wage jobs.

Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe thanked the commissioners for their efforts and acknowledged
the challenges met in the process of designing the Seaport Alliance. He thanked staff for their
efforts throughout the due diligence process. He commented on furthering the work begun by the
collaboration made possible by the Federal Maritime Commission's Discussion Agreement to
address market changes. Mr. Wolfe noted outreach to customers in partnership with labor and
previewed upcoming steps in alliance development.

Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick commented on the dramatic growth and economic impact promised
by collaboration between the two ports in an alliance.




Digital recordings of the meeting proceedings and meeting materials are available online  www.portseattle.org.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

Without objection, the commissions advanced to consideration of 
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was received from the following individual(s):
Fred Felleman, Northwest Consultant, Friends of the Earth, regarding collaboration
between the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and openness of the public process of forming
the alliance. He commented on the need to better articulate the alliance's goals with
respect to environmental stewardship.
Arthur West, regarding management of public records disclosure within the alliance,
previous agreements between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Olympia, and
difficulties in obtaining records and associated litigation.
Goodspaceguy, King County resident, in opposition to the alliance, which he described
as a partial merger, on the premise that intense competition strengthens Pierce and King
Counties and that an alliance will create a larger, more costly, bureaucracy.
Mark Hennon, candidate for Port of Seattle Commission, Position 5, regarding his
opposition to agreeing to an alliance until all the details are worked out. He commented
on the rate of failure of 50/50 partnerships and the late release of the alliance documents
for public consideration. Mr. Hennon advocated for a 10-year term for the alliance rather
than 20 years.
Ralph Ibarra, President, Diverse America Network, in support of formation of the Northwest
Seaport Alliance and the two ports' constructive response to changing market conditions.
NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE DISCUSSION AGREEMENT
Kurt Beckett, Deputy CEO, Port of Seattle, presented the basic premise of the alliance. He reported that
each port will maintain its current separate governance. Mr. Beckett explained that each port will be a
managing member of the alliance, acting through its port commission. He said votes would be taken
separately by each managing member, and a majority of three by each Commission would be required
for passage of a motion. Mr. Beckett noted that bylaws of the managing members are being prepared
and will be available publicly. He summarized the process following successful votes today, including
comment and review periods by the Federal Maritime Commission. A final public vote creating the
alliance and the hiring of an alliance CEO, expected to be John Wolfe, are expected in July or August.
PORT OF TACOMA VOTE
Motion of the Port of Tacoma to grant authorization to submit the Discussion Agreement in
full for The Northwest Seaport Alliance to the Federal Maritime Commission for approval,
along with the associated supporting information packet to include:
A.       Transmittal/Cover Letter to FMC
B.       Discussion Agreement (Summarizing Alliance Charter)
C.       Public Development Authority (PDA) Charter
D.       Delegation of Authority to Master Policy
E.       Interlocal Agreement Creating The Northwest Seaport Alliance
F.       Port of Tacoma Map
G.       Port of Seattle Map
H.       Port of Tacoma Resolution Creating the PDA
I.       Port of Seattle Resolution Creating the PDA
J.       Transition Plan
K.       Strategic Business Plan
was moved and seconded.
PORT COMMISSION JOINT MEETING MINUTES                                                  Page 3 of 5
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

PORT OF TACOMA AMENDMENT
Port of Tacoma Commissioner Meyer offered an amendment to the motion, which was seconded,
to include Amendment Number 1 to the PDA Charter, dated May 28, 2015, adding Section 2.8,
stating that the managing members will complete a performance review no later than the sixth-year
anniversary of the PDA's effective date pursuant to this Section 2.8.

Commissioner Meyer explained the intent of the amendment to provide for a public review of the
functioning of the alliance before 20 years have passed to compare the alliance to expectations.

Commissioners commented on redundancy of multiple review panels and the fact that the
managing members will not wait 20 years to assess alliance performance, but will review it on an
ongoing basis. Annual performance review of the CEO was noted. Regular stakeholder input and
public accessibility was also discussed. The ability to amend aspects of the alliance at any time by
votes of the managing members was pointed out.

The motion to amend failed to pass. The vote was:
Yeas: Meyer (1)
Nays: Bacon, Johnson, Marzano, Petrich (4)


The question recurred on the main motion, which carried by the following vote:
Yeas: Bacon, Johnson, Marzano, Meyer, Petrich (5)


PORT OF SEATTLE VOTE
Motion of the Port of Seattle to grant authorization to submit the Discussion Agreement in
full for The Northwest Seaport Alliance to the Federal Maritime Commission for approval,
along with the associated supporting information packet to include:
A.       Transmittal/Cover Letter to FMC
B.       Discussion Agreement (Summarizing Alliance Charter)
C.       Public Development Authority (PDA) Charter
D.       Delegation of Authority to Master Policy
E.       Interlocal Agreement Creating The Northwest Seaport Alliance
F.       Port of Tacoma Map
G.       Port of Seattle Map
H.       Port of Tacoma Resolution Creating the PDA
I.       Port of Seattle Resolution Creating the PDA
J.       Transition Plan
K.       Strategic Business Plan

carried by the following vote:
Yeas: Albro, Bowman, Bryant, Creighton, Gregoire (5)
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FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

Public comment was considered previously, and the commissions advanced to consideration of 

COMMISSIONER COMMENT
Commissioner Bryant commented on the work done by the two commissions to do what is best for
the region as a whole and the positive act of the two ports to reinvent themselves to address the
state's challenges and preserve middle-class jobs in Washington.

Commissioner Petrich remarked on the work it took to reach this point of collaboration and the
history of competition between the two ports to overcome to do what is best for the region.

Commissioner Albro commented on the Washington economy's trade dependency and the need to
compete against the right group, rather than competition between Pierce and King Counties. He
stated his desire to make a personal commitment to serve the state and region first, the alliance
second, and the Port of Seattle third.

Commissioner Marzano thanked those whose work has gotten the alliance this far and expressed
his excitement about the jobs the alliance will create. He reflected on the longstanding doubt that
an alliance between the two ports would happen, and said he looks forward to working with his
fellow colleagues.

Commissioner Creighton acknowledged the long history of the process of collaboration between
the two ports and noted the earlier work of Tim Farrell and Tay Yoshitani. He commented on the
operational framework being conducive to success and said there was still much work to do. He
pointed out that together, the ports of Tacoma and Seattle are the third largest gateway in the
United States and that the structure of the gateway will require constant re-evaluation to respond to
changing market conditions.

Commissioner Bacon spoke of her focus on the two ports remaining separate, but working together
as one. She commented on the need to put parochial biases aside in order to do the best for the
region's maritime sector. She acknowledged the changes in the maritime industry and the need to
respond to move goods cheaper, better, and faster. Commissioner Bacon encouraged public
participation and comment to help improve the Seaport Alliance as it develops.

Commissioner Meyer thanked his colleagues, despite the failure of his amendment and said he
agrees with Commissioner Albro that commissioners on both sides learned to trust one another.
He commented on how the alliance process has made him a better commissioner, with a broader
understanding than in the past. Commissioner Meyer stated he is driven by investment risk and
market uncertainty and the need to optimize the Puget Sound gateway to manage those risks. He
commented on competition from the East Coast, the need for family-wage jobs, and the value of
competition.

Commissioner Johnson commented on the interdependency of the ports within the region. He
identified the region's competition as other West Coast ports and cargo shipping through the
Panama Canal. He commented on effective investment of capital as an alliance. Commissioner
Johnson stressed that the state needs to invest in a transportation package and the federal
government needs to come up with a freight mobility program as part of the solution.

Commissioner Gregoire commented on the significance of giving birth later today and the
metaphorical birthing of the Seaport Alliance. She spoke of her experience in Washington, D.C.,
PORT COMMISSION JOINT MEETING MINUTES                                                    Page 5 of 5
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015

watching competition between the two ports damage the region and the state. She pointed out
there is still time for the public to communicate to the commissions about priorities and noted eight
public meetings since January while working through the issues of how to work collaboratively in
the future.

Commissioner Bowman recalled that she has served on the Port of Seattle Commission for two
years and one month. She said it felt more like 20 years. She repeated her favorite saying, that
most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work. She stated
the alliance is an opportunity, but the only way to take advantage of it is to roll up our sleeves and
get to work.

ADJOURNMENT

There was no further business, and the meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

Stephanie Bowman
Secretary

Minutes approved: January 12, 2016.