Item Number:      8b_motion 
Meeting Date:   June 9, 2020 

1                                                   MOTION 2020-14: 
2                                 A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 
3 
4                           To   support   the   creation   of   the   Environment   and
5                           Sustainability Grants Program under the South King County
6                           Fund 
7                                                         PROPOSED 
8                                                       JUNE 9, 2020 
9 
10                                                 INTRODUCTION 
11    In November of 2016 the Port of Seattle Commission directed the creation of a $1,000,000
12    Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund to support projects and programs in Sea-Tac Airport-area
13    communities to improve ecological and environmental attributes in airport-area communities.
14    The motion named the cities of Sea-Tac, Des Moines, and Burien as the focus of the ACE Fund.
15 
16    The ACE Fund has been very successful in funding community projects on public property led by
17    small non-profits and local groups around the airport. The success of the program has led the
18    Executive Director to support the creation of Environment and Sustainability Grants Program
19    under the South King County Fund (SKCF) to immediately bolster the Port of Seattle's COVID-19
20    Recovery efforts. This motion supports that recommendation. 
21 
22    The Environment and Sustainability Grants Program will include the communities of Sea-Tac, Des
23    Moines, Burien, Federal Way, Tukwila and Normandy Park, while adhering to the geographic
24    designation under the SKCF principles. The current ACE Fund will continue to operate as it was
25    established until all of those funds are expended on projects within the cities of Sea-Tac, Des
26    Moines, and Burien. 
27 
28                                              TEXT OF THE MOTION 
29 
30    The Port Commission hereby supports Executive Director's recommendation to designate a
31    portion of the SKCF to advance the environmental strategies of the fund as the Environment and
32    Sustainability Grants Program. 
33 
34                                     STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION 
35 
36    RCW 35.21.278 is the RCW that explicitly outlines the Port's the power to engage in the "ACE
37    Fund" activities and remains our strongest option for providing environmental grants to
38    community groups. 
39 
40    The creation of the Environment and Sustainability Grants Program under the SKCF will adhere 
41    to the eight guiding principles of the SKCF, including focus on community input and equity. 
42 
43    ACE has provided tremendous community benefits to Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac. Despite
44    challenges such as the 3:1 match, stakeholders are overwhelmingly in support of continuing the

Motion 2020-14  Environmental Grant Program                                                   Page 1 of 2

45    ACE Fund and of creating a new program with expanded geographic boundaries. This program 
46    is one of the only environmental grant programs that specifically targets South King County. 
47 
48    The Port will continue to explore new and innovative options for environmental investments
49    using South King County Community Fund dollars, including expanding green jobs workforce
50    development initiatives. 
51 
52    ATTACHMENTS: 
53    Presentation Slides 
















Motion 2020-14  Environmental Grant Program                                                   Page 2 of 2