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4                        Port of Seattle Commission 

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6                 Century Agenda Policy Directive 

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8                                                   Proposed 
9                                               June 9, 2020 
10                                    Document last updated May 12, 2020 
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12    SECTION 1.  Purpose. 
13 
14    The purpose of this policy directive is to establish the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda goals to 
15    guide the strategic planning, budget, and resource allocation throughout the Port of Seattle. It 
16    also provides guidance to the Executive Director, the Executive Leadership Team, and Port
17    employees on the formulation, execution and modification of the Century Agenda. 
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19    SECTION 2.  Definitions. 
20 
21    When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given
22    below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise: 
23 
24    "Century Agenda" means the 2012 comprehensive, strategic initiative to guide Port priorities for
25    the next quarter century. The Century Agenda aligns the Port's strategies and objectives to 21st
26    century challenges and innovative solutions. In 2010, the Commission launched an extensive
27    public engagement effort and formed a Century Agenda Committee to guide the Port's long-
28    range vision. More than 1,000 people attended over 60 events and engagements to help develop
29    the Vision, Strategies and Objectives. 
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31    "Goal"means the enduring and aspirational aims for the Port of Seattle. Goals are set by the
32    Commission and used as the basis for all Division and Centers of Excellence (COEs) strategic
33    business planning and resource allocation. 
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35    "KPI"means Key Performance Indicator and are performance based, data driven tools and
36    metrics intended to monitor and demonstrate progress towards goals and objectives. KPIs are
37    set by Divisions and COEs and reviewed by the Executive Director and the Commission. 
38 
39    "Objective" means set of strategies to be implemented by Divisions and COEs to achieve "goals."
40    Set by the Executive Director and reviewed by the Commission. Implemented through Division
41    and COEs business planning. 
42 
43    "Target" means qualitative or quantitative goal that, if attained, defines the success in reaching
44    or making significant progress towards a "goal" or "objective." Set by the Divisions and COEs and
45    reviewed by the Commission. 
46 
47    SECTION 3.  Scope and Applicability. 
48 
49    This policy directive applies to all Divisions and COEs within the Port of Seattle. The goals set by
50    the Commission will be the basis for strategic planning, budget and resource  allocation 
51    throughout the Port of Seattle. All business planning and resource allocation efforts will be clearly
52    aligned to the goals set by the Century Agenda, the objectives established to execute on them
53    and the KPIs developed to ensure accountability and progress. 
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56    SECTION 4.  Responsibilities. 
57 
58    This section establishes responsibilities for the formulation, execution and modification of the
59    Century Agenda. 
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61        A.  The Commission shall set the Century Agenda goals and require Commission action. Goals
62            represent the highest priorities of the Port of Seattle and are reflected in all business
63            plans, strategic plans and resource allocation. These goals are intended to be enduring. 
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65            Objectives, as formulated by the Executive Director, will be presented to the Commission
66            for review and input on adherence to Century Agenda Goals. 
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68            KPIs and Targets shall be reviewed by the Commission annually during the budget
69            process. 
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71        B.  The Executive Director shall engage in the following activities in pursuit of this policy
72            directive, either directly or by appropriate delegation of authority: 
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74           i.    Develop and update objectives every five (5) years, or as needed, to inform strategic
75                planning, annual business plans and resource allocation. 
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77           ii.    Develop KPIs that measure progress towards goals and objectives in a quantifiable
78                manner. Annual and longer-term KPI targets will be set by the Executive Director and
79                reviewed by the Commission. 
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81          iii.    Deliver updates on metrics tracked through KPIs to the commission on an annual basis
82                as part of the budget approval process.
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84          iv.    Demonstrate clear alignment between Division and COEs strategic business plans,
85                budget and resources allocations and Century Agenda goals and objectives. 
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87        C.  All Divisions and COEs, through the Executive Leadership Team, shall use the goals set by
88            Commission as the basis for annual and strategic business planning. Each Division and
89            COE will align its planning and resource allocation to Century Agenda goals and objectives. 
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91            The Executive Leadership team will work with the Executive Director to develop or update
92            the objectives every five (5) years or as necessary. 
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94            The Executive Leadership Team will work with their respective Divisions and COEs to
95            develop KPIs and targets to measure progress towards Century Agenda goals and
96            objectives as appropriate. 
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98    SECTION 5.  Policy. 
99 
100    The Commission establishes the following Century Agenda goals. Each goal will guide the 
101    development of objectives and KPIs. 
102 
103        A.  Goal 1: Position the Puget Sound Region as a Premier International Logistics Hub  
104            Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure it meets and supports the international
105            trade needs of the region and keeps the Northwest Seaport Alliance competitive in the
106            global marketplace while it prioritizes environmental sustainability and the needs of the
107            local economy. 
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109        B.  Goal 2: Advance this Region as a Leading Tourism Destination and Business Gateway  
110            Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that the Seattle Tacoma International
111            Airport (SEA) stays competitive, sustainable, efficient and customer-focused. As an
112            anchor institution, the Port will strive to meet the region's air transportation needs and
113            maintain the facilities and infrastructure to make that possible. 
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115        C.  Goal  3:  Responsibly  Invest  in  the  Economic  Growth  of  the  Region  and  all  its
116            Communities  Through this goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that we are creating
117            opportunities for all of our communities. Supporting, sustaining and advancing port-
118            related industries and industrial lands is essential to the region's continued growth and
119            prosperity. The Port will consider the cultural, economic, and community impacts of that
120            growth as responsible stewards of the public trust. 
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122        D.  Goal 4: Be the Greenest, and Most Energy Efficient Port in North America  Through this
123            goal the Port of Seattle will ensure that as an institution, in all our programs, initiatives,
124            efforts  and  projects,  that  we  are  dedicated  to  sustainability  and  environmental
125            protection. The Port is dedicated to leaving our environment better than we found it. A
126            basic tenet of the Port's work includes meeting the needs of the region, our partners, and
127            our customers while reducing the Port's carbon footprint, increasing the use of renewable
128            energy sources, restoring and preserving the habitats we occupy. 
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130        E.  Goal 5: Become a Model for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  Through this goal the Port
131            of Seattle will ensure that equity is at the core of all our work and the principles the Port
132            embodies. The Port will continue to focus on community investment and engagement in
133            regional workforce development, use of and partnership with women and minority
134            owned businesses, and small businesses. Internal and external programs, structures, and
135            practices will be viewed and reviewed through an equity lens. 
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140        F.  Goal 6: Be a Highly Effective Public Agency  Through this goal the Port of Seattle will
141            ensure that its function as a public agency is marked by accountability, transparency,
142            safety, innovation, and responsible financial stewardship. The Port of Seattle will strive
143            to be a good community partner and use our influence to ensure that all the communities
144            we serve are healthy and safe. 
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146    Objectives, developed to align with these goals, will be presented to the Commission for review
147    and input. When new objectives need to be developed, the Commission will have additional
148    opportunity for review and to provide input. 
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150    SECTION 6.  Program Evaluation. 
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152        A.  Reporting Process 
153              i.    During the annual budget planning process, the Executive Director shall report to
154                   the Commission on progress towards achieving Century Agenda goals and
155                   objectives,  through  KPIs.  KPIs  will  be  evaluated  against  Targets  and  the
156                   Commission will review progress and provide input as needed or desired. 
157              ii.    Each Division and COE will report to the Executive Director on their progress
158                   towards the Century Agenda goals through these KPIs. 
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160        B.  Review Process 
161              i.    Goals  Review of goals will be reserved for major, necessary, and long-term shifts
162                   in the priorities of the Port of Seattle or the regional landscape. 
163                   a.  Changes to Century Agenda goals will require Commission Committee review
164                       and Commission action. 
165              ii.    Objectives  The Executive Director shall deliver objectives to the Commission 
166                   which correlate directly to the goals and demonstrate vertical alignment between
167                   the goals, business plans, KPIs, projects, resource allocation and budget. 
168                   a.  Objectives will be formulated and reviewed by the Executive Director and the
169                       Executive  Leadership  Team  every  five  (5)  years.  During  this  time,  the
170                       Commission will review and provide input on objectives for their adherence to
171                       the goals. 
172                   b.  Changes or modifications to the objectives can be made periodically as KPIs
173                       indicate or port priorities shift over time. The Executive Director will formulate
174                       the objectives and review the proposed changes with the Commission to
175                       ensure that any changes reflect the intent of goals provided in this policy. 
176             iii.    KPIs  The Executive Director shall deliver KPIs to the Commission which show
177                   vertical alignment between goals, objectives, business plans, projects resource
178                   allocation and budget. 
179                   a.  The Executive Leadership Team will work with their respective Divisions and
180                       COEs to develop KPIs and Targets to measure progress towards Century
181                       Agenda goals and objectives as appropriate. Each KPI will endure for three (3)
182                       to five (5) years at a minimum so that progress and trends can be monitored
183                       and reported. 

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184                   b.  Changes or modification to the KPIs and Targets can be made periodically as
185                       port priorities shift over time. The Divisions and COEs will update the KPIs and
186                       review the proposed changes with the Executive Leadership Team and
187                       Executive Director. The Executive Director will inform the Commission when
188                       changes to KPIs are made that may have a significant impact on achieving
189                       objectives and goals. 
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