Item No.   9a
Date:       October 27, 2020
Draft 2021 State Legislative Agenda
Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
October 27, 2020
Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations, Port of Seattle
Trent House, Contract Lobbyist, Port of Seattle



1

Overview
Olympia preview  what to expect from 2021 Session
Budget shortfall
Virtual session
Election outcomes
Agenda development process
Evaluate progress made last session
Incorporate ongoing work and core priorities
This year: critical to acknowledge the focus on COVID-19 recovery and social injustice
Next steps
Incorporate additional Commission feedback between now and 11/17
Seek Commission adoption of final agenda in 11/17

Questions on process?
2

Priority Agenda Items: Focus on Statewide Recovery and on Equity
Promoting broad-based, inclusive, and equitable statewide economic recovery: Consistent with the Port's mission and statutory authorities, we will seek partnership
with Washington State Legislature and Executive Agencies on broad-based economic recovery in Washington and pursue recovery in a manner that is equitable,
inclusive, and acknowledges the disparate impacts to historically underserved communities. Examples include:
Transportation Revenue Package: Building infrastructure and investing in moving people and freight
supports economic activity and puts people back to work. Key transportation priorities:
West Seattle Bridge partnership
Puget Sound Gateway Program
Support for hard-hit transit agencies
Progressive climate action: Enactment of progressive climate policies spurs investment in new
technologies and generates demand for a newly skilled workforce while reducing emissions and
improving environmental justice outcomes. Key climate policy priorities include:
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Carbon price, through either a carbon fee or a cap-and-trade policy
Response and relief: Essential activities that kept the economy running early in the pandemic included maritime and freight operations, air cargo and more. The
Port urges the state continue to consider the impact the pandemic has had on essential businesses and their workers as we move toward reopening, including:
Tax structure changes that support essential industries
Investments in the workers, including the future workforce, employed in essential industries

Support broad-based, equitable, statewide recovery
3

Priority Agenda Items  Continued
Equity and community focus: The onset of the pandemic was accompanied by a nationwide
push to address historic inequities and systemic racism. The Port supports state leadership in
addressing social injustice, and specifically supports action in the following areas:
Police reform and accountability: The Port supports the state advancing legislation to
improve civilian oversight of police decertification processes; to mandate anti-racist and
de-escalation training; to prohibit restraints that rely on neck pressure; and others
measures consistent with the Port's own work
Public contracting and grantmaking: The Port's newly formed Office of Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion is eager to work with our community to increase the share of grants and
contracts that go to underserved populations. Legislative changes may be required to
assist us and other local governments in meeting our goals, and we will partner with the
State Legislature to pursue such changes.
Additional priorities: Beyond the above-listed priorities that respond to urgent society-wide issues, the Port will also pursue the following
legislation consistent with our priorities as a public agency:
Reduced local macth for community improvements: The Port supports reducing the local match that non-profit entities must provide in
order to receive small dollar grants for public improvement projects. This statutory change will help the Port distribute grant funding at a
time when many local governments may be forced to reduce grantmaking.

Prioritizing Equity and Promoting Community Partnerships
4

Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business
Quality Jobs: Support proposals that are consistent with the Port's focus on bringing quality, sustainable
jobs to the region, including through proposals that:
State-level support for worker training programs in port-related industries
Career-connected and work-based learning efforts at the state
Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs
Responsible enforcement of labor standards and culture of respect and inclusion
Wage and benefit fairness for workers at port facilities
State partnership on tourism promotion
Support rural economic development

Quality, Sustainable Jobs  Workplace Equity  SWMBE Support
5

Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business 
Continued
Small Business: Reduce barriers and provide equity in the workplace; promote inclusion of small businesses,
including disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business enterprises (SMWBEs):
Continued support for repeal of Initiative 200
Contracting flexibility for public owners
SMWBEs compete for small works projects
Small business capacity building and SMWBEs compete in the government marketplace



Quality, Sustainable Jobs  Workplace Equity  SWMBE Support
6

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation Revenue Package
The Port of Seattle supports enactment of a long-term transportation revenue package to support trade and
Washington's international gateway, stimulate job growth, and support economic recovery. Transportation investment
must be undertaken in a way that does not disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities.
Transportation package revenue raisers:                   Transportation package investments:
Price on carbon                                                   West Seattle Bridge.
Road usage charge                                               Continue support for critical freight routes
Gas tax increase                                                  Invest in transit
Port-specific grant program
Reduce conflict between passengers and freight


Adoption of a 2021 Transportation Revenue Package is Critical
7

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitiveness
Continued funding of state transportation projects that are critical to Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance
operations
Speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin to destination through seaport and airport facilities
Improve the trade competitiveness of Washington state and our gateway.
Allow for creative approaches to infrastructure development including potential new revenue mechanisms
Affirm the authority of the Port Commission to control access to port facilities by all transportation modes



Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely
8

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitivness 
Continued
Potential increase in passenger vessel routes; other mobility options that ease access to port facilities.
Promote resilience in the transportation network, including on issues of climate resilience.
Coordinated approach to regional transportation planning, including aviation planning




Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely
9

Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitivness 
Continued
Land Use Priorities: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington state ports, including:
Proposals reflecting the "Guiding Principles" adopted by NWSA Managing Members in 2016
Proposals that reflect the Port's commitment to environmental sustainability
Proposals that recognize the role industrial lands play in port competitiveness
Proposals that seek to strengthen the Container Ports Element of the Growth Management Act
Recommendations related to the Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee
Legislative changes that impact the efficient functioning of statewide essential public facilities

Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely
10

Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment
Support environmental cleanup programs and state-level policies that promote the adoption and
implementation of clean energy sources, including:
Low-carbon fuels for transportation, low or zero emission transit options, and otherwise support the
continued reduction in the cost of low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state
Puget Sound health overall, including underwater noise partnership
Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funding and partnerships
Funding for the state's Recreation and Conservation Office,
partnerships and funding on environmental cleanup
Disbursement of funds from the national Volkswagen settlement
Clean energy technology, building energy efficiency, statewide goals
for clean power

Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion
11

Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment  Continued
State partnership with the Port on sustainable aviation fuels
Climate change resilience
Reduce carbon and air pollution emissions for passengers and employees traveling
to and from Port facilities
Policies advanced as part of the Washington Maritime BLUE: 2050 initiative



Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion
12

Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more
Tax: Support tax policies at the state level that support the economic health of port-related businesses and activities, including:
Supports those communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructure necessary to support the Port of
Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and its partners
Policies that reduce the cost of manufacturing activities that support port-related businesses
Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of
representatives between the two homeports in their governing of
the Northwest Seaport Alliance
Cybersecurity: Vulnerability of public governments that
manage critical infrastructure.
Broadband: Bridge the digital divide

Port Facilities Support Thousands of Jobs at Businesses across WA
13

Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more - continued
Technology: Monitor biometric technology proposals.
Human trafficking: Continued partnership with state and local governments to combat human trafficking
Lost and Found: Confirm that port districts have authority to
partner with nonprofits on the disposition of unclaimed
property



Biometric, Human Trafficking, Lost and Found
14

Next Steps
Today  Commission briefing in public session
Now through November 17, 2020  Incorporate feedback received
November 17, 2020  Seek Commission adoption in public session
November and December 2020 Distribute agenda to key legislators; continue staff and
elected level meetings with legislators
January 11, 2021  First day of 2021 state legislative session

Questions?
15