Item Number:     7b_draft_reso 
Meeting Date:     June 23, 2020 

1                                                 RESOLUTION NO. 3776 
2 
3              A  RESOLUTION   of  the  Port  of  Seattle  Commission  establishing  a  Workforce 
4                                        Development Policy Directive to guide the increase in the number
5                                        of  skilled  employees  within  the  industries  necessary  for  Port
6                                        development. 
7 
8              WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is committed to creating economic opportunity for all,
9     steward our environment responsibly, partner with surrounding communities, promote social
10    responsibility, conduct ourselves transparently, and hold ourselves accountable; 
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12            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission believes that workforce development is
13    critical to achieving the Port's primary mission to serve as an economic development agency
14    generating jobs and economic growth for the region and increasing operational efficiency and
15    economic mobility; 
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17            WHEREAS, the Port has been directly engaged in workforce development efforts and
18    initiatives for over 25 years; 
19 
20            WHEREAS, the Port created Port Jobs, a workforce intermediary to bring together
21    business, labor, education, and public stakeholders to expand opportunities to build a thriving,
22    competitive Port economy, 
23 
24            WHEREAS, the Port has funded ANEW's Apprenticeship Opportunities Project, which
25    helps under-employed and unemployed jobseekers to find livable wage jobs or apprenticeships
26    and offers limited financial assistance to qualified individuals, and 
27 
28            WHEREAS, the Port supports the Youth Maritime Collaborative, which works to create
29    career pathways for youth pursuing careers in the maritime industry through experiential
30    learning and high school internships; 
31 
32            WHEREAS, the Port supports Career Connected Learning best practices as guided by the 
33    State of Washington; 
34 
35            WHEREAS, on July 1, 2014, the Port Commission passed a Motion "Increasing Workforce
36    Development and Career Opportunities Activities" that required the creation of a strategic plan
37    and implementation of polices to improve upon and expand workforce efforts in port-related 
38    industries; 
39 
40            WHEREAS, on July 22, 2014, the Port Commission adopted Resolution No. 3694 to
41    ensure  necessary  hiring  standards,  training  opportunities  and  minimum  compensation
42    requirements to maintain a well-trained workforce at Sea-Tac Airport as part of a Quality Jobs
43    Initiative; 
44

45            WHEREAS, on November 28, 2017, the Port Commission established the Priority Hire
46    Policy Directive to increase the diversity of the workforce on Port construction projects which
47    accounts for some the largest infrastructure investments in the region; 
48 
49            WHEREAS,  on  March  26,  2019,  the  Port  Commission  established  the  first  ever
50    Workforce Development Special Committee, which was charted to review the Century Agenda
51    strategy associated with Workforce Development and to review and make recommendations
52    for updating the workforce development policy and the three-year strategic plan; 
53 
54            WHEREAS, in 2019, the Port of Seattle became the first port authority in the nation to
55    create a stand-alone department responsible for equity, diversity. 
56            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle recognizes that equity, diversity and inclusion is the
57    foundation of effective workforce development. 
58            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle is committed ensuring equity, actions outlined in this 
59    policy directive shall strive to address the concerns of community members disproportionately
60    impacted as a result of institutional racism and generational poverty. 
61 
62            WHEREAS, the Port Commission finds it is a benefit to the Port, related industry
63    partners and near-Port communities to  center diversity, equity, and inclusion to broaden 
64    opportunities, for populations facing barriers to employment for persons to learn and develop
65    the skills necessary to obtain quality jobs; 
66 
67            WHEREAS, the Port Commission has long demonstrated its commitment to advancing
68    regional  workforce  development  opportunities,  but  has  not  been  presented  with  the
69    opportunity to formally consider adoption of a workforce development policy directive to guide
70    the efforts of the Port of Seattle until today. 
71 
72            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port Commission of the Port of Seattle as
73    follows: 
74 
75            Section 1. The Workforce Development Policy Directive as shown in the attached
76    Exhibit A is hereby established in accordance with the following   goals    and    accountability
77    measures: 
78 
79        A.  Goal 1: Increase Equitable Access to Economic Prosperity. Increase equitable workforce
80            access for the trades in port-related economic activities, with an emphasis on expanding
81            opportunities  to  disproportionately  impacted  near-port  communities  which  most
82            disproportionately  impacted.  Port  staff  will  develop  program  priorities,  actions,
83            benchmarks, and metrics for success.
84

85        B. Goal 2: Leverage Port's Impact and Innovation. Identify and prioritize opportunities for
86            leadership  and  influence  to  promote  a  sector-based  approach  to  workforce
87            development centered on equity, diversity and inclusion. 
88 
89        C.  Accountability Measures. The Port will assure its programs are accountable by annually
90            assessing the number of students that receive skills and job training; the number of
91            workers trained, recruited, placed in jobs, and retained; the types of jobs and range of
92            compensation; the number and types of businesses that are served; and any other
93            tangible benefits realized by the port, the workers, businesses, and the public. 
94 
95            Section 2. The Policy Directive contained in Exhibit A and attached to this Resolution
96    shall be labeled and cataloged as appropriate, together with other Commission Policy
97    Directives, and shall be made readily available for use by Port staff and members of the public
98    as a governance document of the Port of Seattle. 
99 
100            ADOPTED by the Port Commission of the Port of Seattle, at a duly noticed meeting held
101    this 14th day of July, 2020, and duly authenticated in open session by the signatures of the
102    Commissioners voting in favor thereof and the seal of the Commission. 
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113                                                   Port Commissioners