Item Number:      7d_motion 
Meeting Date:   April 28, 2020 

1                                                   MOTION 2020-10: 
2                                 A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 
3 
4                           To add economic development to the permissible uses for
5                           the South King County Fund, in support of local recovery
6                           from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
7 
8                                                         PROPOSED 
9                                                      APRIL 28, 2020 
10 
11                                                 INTRODUCTION 
12 
13    In response to the extraordinary circumstances posed by the COVID-19 public health crisis, the
14    Port Commission has set a number of goals and tactics for relief and recovery efforts  from how
15    to sustain and support the Port, its operations and its employees to how to engage in regional
16    partnerships that create jobs, increase equity, retain small businesses, improve the environment
17    and restore quality of life. One aspect of that recovery effort is expanding the permissible uses
18    of the South King County Fund (the Fund) to allow for investments in economic recovery and
19    development. 
20 
21                                              TEXT OF THE MOTION 
22 
23    The Port Commission hereby adds "Economic Development" to support recovery for the region
24    from the COVID-19 pandemic to the permissible uses for the South King County Fund. 
25 
26                                     STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION 
27 
28    On November 27, 2018, the Port Commission adopted Motion 2018-14, which provides "funding,
29    not to exceed $10 million, designated for a South King County Support Program, which will be
30    budgeted at $750,000 in 2019, to be used to provide resources and support for Sea-Tac
31    International Airport area communities . . . uses may include support for addressing airport noise
32    and for other projects that support environmental health and enhance sustainability." 
33 
34    In June 2019, the Commission approved the following principles for implementation of the South
35    King County Fund:
36 
37                (1) The Fund will be used to fund projects in the South King County area; 
38                (2) The Fund will prioritize community input to inform Port decision making; 
39                (3) The Fund will support Port equity policies and practices, including giving
40                    underrepresented communities access to opportunities and using equity
41                    policies to evaluate potential initiatives and establish desired outcomes; 
42                (4) The Fund will provide added benefit to current Port programs to address
43                    airport noise, increased environmental health, and sustainability; 
44                (5) The Fund will prioritize projects that are ready to proceed; 

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45                (6) The Fund will build on established programs and commitments to fulfill
46                    current obligations; 
47                (7) The Fund will promote innovation; and 
48                (8) The Fund will encourage matching funds where possible. 
49 
50    COVID-19 has had multiple economic impacts, including workers having to stay home,
51    interruptions to supply chains, disruptions to small businesses and hourly workers, and export-
52    dependent businesses struggling to deliver products to key international markets. 
53 
54    The legislature has authorized port districts to engage in economic development activities. RCW
55    53.08.245 provides that it is "in the public purpose for all port districts to engage in economic
56    development programs." The Port's economic development purposes, toadvance economic
57    development, advance trade and commerce, to promote industrial growth and to stimulate
58    economic development, also include economic development activities such as occupational job
59    training  and  placement,  job  advancement  and  job  retention,  preapprenticeship  training,
60    occupational education programs, or apprenticehsip and employment strategies for youth. The
61    Port's economic development and recovery efforts will be tied to activities that benefit the Port,
62    its tenants, or Port-related industries.
63 
64    In the July 1, 2014, "Motion of the Port of Seattle Commission Increasing Workforce
65    Development and Career Opportunities Activities," the Port of Seatle Commission stated that
66    workforce development is critical to achieving the Port's primary mission to serve as an 
67    economic development agency generating quality, family-wage jobs and economic growth for
68    the region and increasing operational efficiency and economic mobility. 
69 
70    The Port of Seattle Commission defined workforce development in the July 1 motion: "workforce
71    development is defined as education, training, job matching, and related services that both help
72    connect local workers to careers, and that help ensure area companies have access to the skilled
73    workforce they need to thrive and grow." 
74 
75    The Port of Seattle and other public entities in the Seattle region have also defined economic
76    development broadly to address equity and environmental justice concerns. For example, the
77    PSRC's regional economic strategy distinguishes between "traditionaleconomic development
78    priorities such as transportation, education, international trade and the region's business
79    climate" and "newer emphasis areas," which "include a specific rural strategy, initiatives to grow
80    jobs throughout the region, advancing social equity . . . ." The Port's current workforce 
81    development policy, passed in the 2014 motion, embraces this broad application of economic
82    development. The Port's Economic Development Partnership program, and Toursim grant
83    program, are also economic development investments that support tourism promotion, small
84    business assistance, business recruitment, trade development and workforce development. 
85 
86    The Commission confirms and declares that port-related workforce development provides a
87    substantial public benefit consistent with the Commission's economic development goals, and is
88    consistent with ongoing worker training initiatives in place in the port district. 

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89 
90    One of the current purposes of the Fund is to advance equity. The Port recognizes that
91    communities of color and  other  historically  marginalized communities tend to be more
92    vulnerable throughout all phases of a large scale public crisis or disaster, from preparedness to
93    immediate response to longer-term recovery. In its response to the pandemic, the Port has an
94    opportunity and responsibility to ensure equitable engagement for the most vulnerable. 
95 
96    The Fund principles approved in June 2019, along with the new element of economic recovery,
97    will continue to guide the distribution of money from the Fund as the Executive implements the
98    COVID-19 recovery plan. Funding will be continue to be available for the environmental projects
99    previously planned under the authority of this fund. 















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