COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7b 
BRIEFING ITEM                             Date of Meeting     September 24, 2019 
DATE:     September 6, 2019 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Andy Gregory, AV Environmental Engagement, External Relations 
Sally del Fierro, Director, Community Engagement, External Relations 
Christina Billingsley, Environmental Engagement, External Relations 
SUBJECT:  Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund Briefing 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund, authorized by the Port Commission in November
2016, recognizes that near-airport communities  experiencing more  impacts from Port
operations should also experience more benefits. The ACE Fund was designed to serve Burien,
Des Moines, and SeaTac communities impacted by the Port's Flight Corridor Safety Program.
Following a dedicated outreach program, the Port identified a two-pronged approach to meet
Commission and community priorities including: 1) Small scale, community-based projects that
should make immediate impact; and 2) broad, long-term investments that can ensure healthy
urban forests now and in the future. The $1 million fund was allocated accordingly: $550,000
for the Small Matching Grants Program and $450,000 to Forterra, an environmental non-profit
to expand their Green City Partnerships program into Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac. 
ACE PROGRAM IMPACTS 
Through the Small Matching Grants Program, $240,00 has been distributed to date to 20 
community groups for 28 unique projects. The projects have resulted in seven grants in Burien, 
eight in Des Moines, seven in SeaTac, and six that serve two or more cities. In the Spring 2019
round of funding, the Port received 10 applications for ACE grants, the highest number received
since the program began. Six projects were awarded, including four first-time recipients. 
Forterra's Green Cities Partnershipworks with 15 cities and one county across the region to
steward and restore urban forests. The program has a commitment to restoring 13,000 acres,
has planted 1.2 million trees and shrubs, and trained 284 volunteers as forest stewards.
Together, Green Cities serve more than 1.6 million residents. ACE funding has helped to bring
Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac into the network and Forterra is working with all three cities on
Urban Forest Enhancement Plans or Guides which include a Tree Canopy Cover Assessment, a
Forest Health Assessment, and findings from extensive community engagement activities
accomplished in 2018. The Plans also provide a path forward for equitably increasing canopy

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _7b__                              Page 2 of 3 
Meeting Date: September 24, 2019 
cover, preserving existing resources, and implementing best practices for stewardship and
restoration. 
Challenges 
While the Small Matching Grants program has had positive impact in the communities, it has
illuminated challenges for inclusive participation by diverse community stakeholders: 
1.  RCW 35.21.278 requires non-profits to provide a 3:1 match identifying three times the
value for each dollar contributed by the Port. This is a significant barrier for small nonprofits
and community-based organizations and favors organizations that have large 
budgets or staff capacity. 
2.  ACE Fund application processes and reporting requirements, though comparably more
flexible and user-friendly than other similar public agency grant application processes,
lacks a strong equity foundation that would come from a community-designed process. 
3.  The  ACE  Fund  does  not  fully  served  low  income,  or  historically  underserved
communities. Most organizations  that have applied for funds represent traditional
mainstream environmental organizations that emphasize conservation over livability
values. 
Next Steps 
Small Matching Grants Program 
Several opportunities exist moving forward with the ACE Fund. While the 3:1 match has made it
challenging to distribute the full $550,000 in small matching grants over the anticipated 3-year 
time period, it has allowed staff, city partners and community members the opportunity to
continue to refine the application and reporting process, increasing access by removing
barriers. Staff recommend the following steps to continue to improve the ACE Small Matching
Grants Program: 
1.  Government Relations will work with Washington state Legislature to amend RCW
35.21.278 to decrease the match requirement. This is on the Port Legislative Agenda for
2020; 
2.  Work with Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to conduct an equity evaluation and
modify  the  program  as  needed  to  increase  access  and  equity  for  historically
underserved communities in South King County; 
3.  Expand scope and marketing of the fund, within the confines of RCW 35.21.278, to be
more inclusive of different perspectives on "environment." Use the results of the equity
evaluation to "co-create" culturally-relevantmessaging that connects with community
sense of place. 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _7b__                              Page 3 of 3 
Meeting Date: September 24, 2019 
Green City Partnerships 
Forterra is currently moving into the implementation phase of the project. This kicks off with
"Green City Days" in each of the cities during September and October. They will be training
forest stewards and working with the cities to secure tools, trees and support for volunteers.
Additionally, they will be conducting tree distribution events in each city and supporting the
Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Alliance in the planting of historic Elm trees. 
Forterra's GIS Analyst has produced a map of every parcel along Des Moines Memorial Drive
identifying the feasibility of planting Elms, which will be used to work with city and private
landowners to restore the "Living Road of Remembrance." 
Staff has recommended continuing the Forterra contract through 2021 to create a path for the
sustainable transition of programmatic and volunteer management to each of the cities. This
will allow for nearly two years of on-the-ground implementation; training forest stewards,
acquiring tools, and hosting volunteer events. Port staff has heard concerns from the cities
about sustaining programmatic funding beyond the grant term and hope that this will allow all
parties more time to identify long-term solutions. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   Port of Seattle Community Programs Infographic 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
December 12, 2017  the Commission authorized execution of contracts with community
service organizations to implement the Airport Community Ecology Fund Small
Matching Grants Program for a total combined contract value of $550,000. 
June 13, 2017  the Commission exercised its authority under RCW 35.21.278 to authorize
execution of a sole-source contract with Forterra to implement the Green Cities
Partnership, including tree canopy assessment and strategic planning for local urban
forestry opportunities, community engagement, and project implementation (e.g.
habitat restoration work parties, environmental education events, and stakeholder
outreach in the target cities). 
November 22, 2016  The Commission approved the creation of the Airport Community
Ecology Fund to support projects and programs in Sea-Tac Airport-area communities to
improve ecological and environmental attributes in airport-area communities. A sum of
$1 million was allocated to the fund. 



Template revised September 22, 2016.