Minutes

Commissioners                                                                      Tay Yoshitani 
Chief Executive Officer 
Bill Bryant 
Chair and President 
John Creighton                                   P.O. Box 1209 
Patricia Davis                               Seattle, Washington 98111 
Lloyd Hara                                    www. portseattle.org 
Gael Tarleton                                     206.787.3000 

An audio of the meeting proceedings and meeting materials are available on the Port of
Seattle web site - 
http://www.portseattle.org/about/organization/commission/commission.shtml 

(The approximate point in the audio recording for the specific item is identified by
minutes and seconds; example: 01:30.) 
APPROVED MINUTES 
COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2009 
The Port of Seattle Commission met in a special meeting at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, October
20, 2009 in the Commission Chambers at Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA.
Commissioners Bryant, Creighton, Davis, Hara and Tarleton were present. 
1.       CALL TO ORDER 
The regular meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m. by Bill Bryant, Chair and President. 
2.       EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 
None. 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 
3.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES 
None. 
4.      SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 
None. 
5.      UNANIMOUS CONSENT CALENDAR 
None. 

October 20 SM Min





PORT COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009                                      P. 2 
6.   DIVISION, CORPORATE AND COMMISSION ACTION ITEMS 
None. 
7.   STAFF BRIEFINGS 
a.  (00:01:25) Briefing on Emergency Management Planning  Green River Flood
Planning 
Presentation documents: Commission agenda memorandum dated October 7, 2009 from
Ralph Graves, Managing Director, Capital Development Division; Kathleen Gleaves,
Emergency Preparedness Manager, Seaport; and Ron Harmon, Emergency Preparedness
Manager, Aviation. A computer slide presentation titled, "Green/Duwamish River
Potential Flood Event  Impacts to the Port of Seattle and Neighboring Businesses" was
also provided. 
Presenter: Mr. Graves 
Mr. Graves provided background information on conditions of the Howard Hanson Dam
and potential effects of flooding along the Green River which could occur this winter. He
noted that the Dam was built in 1962 for flood control in the Kent Valley. 
It was pointed out that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) discovered significant
damage and leakage within the earthen portion of the dam following last winter"s record
rainfall and that in order to ensure stability of a planned temporary fix, the Corps will not
allow the dam"s reservoir to hold as much water as it has in the past. At the time of this
briefing, the Corps estimates the probability of flooding to be as high as one in three.
Mr. Graves reviewed potential impacts to the Port if should flooding occur and he also
addressed possible needs for evacuation and sheltering. He also spoke about planning
and preparation being done by Port staff for a possible flooding event, stating that
working groups are being established to address any related issues. 
Mr. Graves commented briefly the possibility of a loss of power at the Airport which
could result in case of a flood noting that it had led staff to make a related emergency
declaration and stated that this was actually the substance of the next item on the
Commission agenda. 
b.  (00:18:00) Briefing on Emergency Declaration to Provide Back -up Electric
Power at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Airport) 
Presentation documents: Memorandum dated October 15, 2009 from Ralph Graves,
Managing Director, Capital Development Division and Ray Rawe, Director, Engineering
Services and copy of Declaration of Emergency dated October 16, 2009 and signed by
CEO Tay Yoshitani. 

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PORT COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009                                      P. 3 
Presenter: Mr. Graves 
It was noted that once the information was received regarding the damage to the Howard
Hanson Dam and potential resulting flooding, staff has been evaluating options for
providing 100% back-up power for the Airport. As the Airport receives electric power
from Puget Sound Energy substations in the Green River Valley, transmission of power
could be interrupted for long periods of time if there is flooding. This analysis led to a
decision by the CEO to sign an emergency declaration on October 16 to allow staff to
lease generators for back-up power generation at the Airport. 
Mr. Graves noted that the potential flooding situation being discussed was very different
than a situation such as 9-11 when all airports were closed. He stated that if there is a
flooding event, it will be critical for the Airport to remain open as it will be one of the
main routes of assistance, both in terms of people and supplies which would come into
the region.
Mr. Graves responded to Commissioner Tarleton"s questions about working groups in
various agencies that would communicate information to the public, stating that various
agencies (the Port, the County, the Corps) would each be responsible for communicating
specific levels of information. 
Mark Reis, Managing Director, Aviation Division, reiterated that the Airlines are in
strong support of this approach to the problem, and stated that the best approach is to
have back-up support available in advance on site in case it is needed.
8.   NEW BUSINESS 
None. 
9.   POLICY ROUNDTABLE  BUDGET WORKSHOP 
a.  (00:43:30) Discussion of Seaport and Real Estate Funding Plans 
Presentation documents: Commission agenda memorandum dated October 7, 2009 from
Dan Thomas, Chief Financial Officer and Elizabeth Morrison, Senior Manager,
Corporate Finance. Computer slide presentations on funding plans for Seaport and Real
Estate Divisions were also provided as well as presentations regarding the 2010 Capital
Budget for both the Seaport and Real Estate Divisions. 
Presenters: Mr. Thomas; Ms. Morrison; Boni Buringrud, Manager, Seaport Finance and
Budget; Joe McWilliams, Managing Director, Real Estate Division 
Mr. Thomas noted that today"s presentation incorporated information that the
Commission had requested earlier in terms of looking at how the tax levy is used. 


Oct 20 SM Min

PORT COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009                                      P. 4 
Ms. Morrison provided a brief review of the preliminary tax levy briefing which was
provided to the Commission on September 17. She stated that other topics to be
addressed would include: 
Preliminary levy scenario 
Updated scenario 
Preliminary Assessor Information 
Draft Levy Policy 
Seaport Self-Sufficiency 
Ms. Morrison noted that the levy scenario being presented includes the known uses of the
levy, but does not include any estimate of the Port"s contribution to a bored tunnel on
SR99, nor does it include some of the future environmental expenses that are not
completely known at this time. It was assumed that the levy would continue at the same
amount it has been for the last two years.
The changes mentioned since the September 17 presentation included the areas of
environmental expenses a well as updated information on the use of the tax levy for the
Real Estate Division for both operating and capital needs. 
Commissioner Bryant stressed that at this time, the discussion is about having a budget
that does not have the Seaport Division relying on the tax levy, and that if there is
discussion about reducing the tax levy, it is not discussion about cutting back on capital
programs for the Seaport. 
Discussion followed about the importance of preserving options for taxing capacity, not
necessarily exercising those options. It was stated that much of the public believes that
the Port taxes to the maximum amount allowed, and that people need to understand that is
not the case. 
The financial impact of the tax levy on home owners was reviewed for different rates and
it was noted that the amount of Port tax for homeowners depends on the dollar amount of
the Port"s levy. 
Ms. Morrison stated that based on Century Agenda guidelines, staff was drafting a levy
policy, currently a work in progress, which put levy uses into the two broad categories: of
Public Good and Business Support. She noted that discussions would continue into next
year before finalizing the policy. 
Ms. Morrison noted that the current analysis assumes that the Seaport Division will be
self sustaining with no additional tax levy needed for future projects in the next five years 
and that the Real Estate Division will receive interim levy support as the Port develops a
long-term financial strategy. 
It was noted that staff will return for first reading of the budget and will take direction
from the Commission and incorporate it into future documents and presentations with

Oct 20 SM Min

PORT COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009                                      P. 5 
respect to the levy assumptions. Staff will return with a Resolution that will specifically
increase the maximum levy as discussed earlier, and clarified that this will be a separate
resolution from the budget resolution that sets the levy amount.
Boni Buringrud addressed the 2010 Seaport Division Capital Budget and the impacts of
self-sufficient funding. She noted that under the parameters for the tax levy use
presented earlier, $150 million of 2010-2014 projects would need to be deferred.
Projects to be deferred were listed on the computer slide presentation and discussed by
the Commission and staff. Commissioner Bryant commented on the importance of the
fact that not only is Seaport moving toward self-sufficiency, but is doing so while still
assuming a lot of the environmental costs. 
Ms. Buringrud and Mr. McWilliams then presented information on the 2010 Real Estate
Division Capital Budget and the impacts of a $67 million flat levy amount for 2010-2014.
Upcoming Real Estate projects were reviewed and discussed by Commissioners and staff
and are listed individually in the slide presentation which was given.
Following discussion, CEO Yoshitani commented that staff would like to have some
guidance as to where they would like to see the levy amount end up in the budget for next
year.
Commissioner Davis stated that she would like to see the levy proceed with a flat
amount, and that if there is any money left over from that, that it be banked or kept as a
reserve for the future needs related to transportation and environmental issues.
Commissioner Tarleton stated that she would like to understand the consequences for the
subsequent years 2-5 on the Capital Plan of Finance should a $67 million dollar tax levy
be adopted. Mr. Thomas clarified that the same number of projects would be funded in
that scenario. 
Commissioner Bryant shared that he thought it would be prudent to have reserves for the
areas of transportation and environmental obligations. He said it would be good to look
at the staffing levels of both Seaport and Real Estate.
Commission Creighton noted that he was also inclined to stay with the flat dollar amount 
and then clarified that he was referring to an amount of $67 million. 
Commissioner Hara commented on the need to look at potential methods of saving to
operating expenses and also greater utilization of the Port"s assets.
In summary of discussion points, Commissioner Bryant mentioned the following: 
There was apparent support for 1% on the levy ceiling. He re-emphasized that
that amount would not be collected nor spent. 

Oct 20 SM Min


PORT COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009                                      P. 6 
Providing a scenario holding the level at $67 million and look for another $8
million in cuts to help absorb some of the costs that are currently in the capital
budget 
Have a level of $75 million and bank or reserve $8 million 
Hold the level at $67 million for 2010 and raise it to $79 million beginning in
2011 
Public comment regarding Item 9a was received from the following individuals: 
Paul Marvy, Citizens for Port Reform. Mr. Marvy stated that voters of King
County have supported tax increases when they relate to community values, such
as support for libraries, parks and jobs. He also stated his belief that the Port
would likely run into public skepticism if taxes were raised according to one of
the scenarios presented today. 
Fred Felleman, Friends of the Earth. Mr. Felleman stated his appreciation of the
decision to set the Seaport Division free from the tax levy. He stated his concerns
about the changes made since September which reflect an increase to the
environmental budget.
Mr. Felleman also commented on an issue not on the agenda, which was the
cruise ship discharge policy recently released by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO). A copy of the circular released by the IMO was provided by
Mr. Felleman, is by reference, made a part of these minutes; is marked Exhibit
"A" and is on file in Port offices. 
10. ADJOURNMENT 
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:01 p.m. 
(A digital recording of the meeting is available on the Port"s website) 

Bill Bryant 
President 






Oct 20 SM Min

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