P.O. Box 1209 
Seattle, Washington 98111 
www.portseattle.org 
206.787.3000 
APPROVED MINUTES 
COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2021 
The Port of Seattle Commission met in a special meeting Tuesday, February 23, 2021. The meeting
was held remotely in accordance with the Governor's 'Safe Start' order and Proclamation 20-28. 
Commissioners Bowman, Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Steinbrueck were present. 
1.    CALL TO ORDER 
Pursuant to RCW 42.30 and Article IV, Section 8, of the commission bylaws, the meeting convened
at 1:30 p.m. to conduct a study session on economic recovery. 
2.    INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
Executive Director Steve Metruck opened the study session discussion and reviewed the
presentation outline and discussion for the day. 
Executive Director Metruck provided a presentation regarding: 
the economic activity of the Port, in partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance; 
the impact of Covid-19 on all lines of Port business; 
Port connections to equitable economic recovery, including operating trade/travel gateways,
capital program investments, and economic development partnerships; and 
the equity framework for recovery  integrating values of equity and inclusion, prioritizing the
most vulnerable, migrating economic loss, ensuring language and cultural competence, and
supporting community-based organizations. 
Mr. David McFadden, Director of Economic Development, introduced the panel of speakers for the
session. 
Mr. Brian McGowan, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, and Mr. Ryan Donahue, of the Brookings
Institute, provided a presentation addressing: 
long-term economic recovery; 
o  regional economic dynamics 
o  changes in the economy 
o  job losses 
o  workforce challenges 
o  marketing, messaging, and branding 
o  previous state of the economy pre-pandemic 
a vision for equitable recovery; 
Digital recordings of the meeting proceedings and meeting materials are available online  www.portseattle.org.


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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 
o  rebuilding better together, generating higher-quality jobs and wealth creation
opportunities locally that advance racial inclusion 
o  principles for action  setting goals to increase prosperity and racial equity, adopting
a holistic strategy framework to pursue those goals, and building new institutional
coalitions to drive the change 
key goals; 
o  for all stakeholders from across the region to be able to see themselves in the final
plan and for all strategies for long-term economic recovery to be regional in scope 
o  aiming to develop a framework that will guide development of more detailed
strategies and actions 
o  committing to identifying and addressing barriers to economic prosperity in our
region and throughout our communities 
o  building a plan to include aspirational, innovative and transformational strategies
that are unique opportunities for our region 
o   identifying strategies that are broad and regional in scope but still concrete, focused
and actionable 
o  bringing together private, public sector and non-profit organizations with a particular
emphasis on ensuring private sector leaders play a lead role in informing and
implementing the work 
task force leadership to move the work forward; 
recovery work groups; 
task force timeline; 
an overview of the process; 
inclusive recovery to drive growth, raise wages, catalyze innovation, and generate more
high-growth startups; 
addressing pre-existing conditions; 
the role of the regional taskforce  to define the problem and opportunities clearly, to create
metrics that can be used to carefully measure progress, to identify initiatives that need to be
scaled or created to hit metrics, and implementation and support of initiative; 
proposed horizon goals; 
proposed initiative metrics; 
signature projects; and 
the timeline of the taskforce. 

Ms. Marie Kurose of the Seattle King County Workforce Development Council  provided a
presentation addressing: 
a regional workforce plan; 
'North Stars' guiding the Council  equitable economic recovery and job quality; 
how jobs in King County "stack up;" 
Covid-19 impacts on businesses and workers, exacerbating preexisting racial and economic
disparities and creating vulnerability and variations in economic impacts; 
top impacted industries; 
disproportionate impacts on diverse, low income communities; 
the recovery outlook, which will vary by sector; 
Minutes of November 17, 2020, submitted for review on December 3, 2020, and proposed for approval on December 8, 2020. 
Minutes of October 27, 2020, submitted for review on November 5, 2020, and proposed for approval on November 10, 2020.


PORT COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES                       Page 3 of 4 
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 
automation/digitalization and green technologies across sectors; 
automation vulnerability by industry; 
opportunity sectors; 
strategies for workforce development, advocacy, and systems change; 
Recovery Corps; 
Advancing sector partnerships and strategies; and 
Equitable recovery and reconciliation alliance. 
Mr. David Blandford of the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) provided a presentation: 
the state of tourism; 
consumer travel sentiment; 
WTA recovery priorities; 
travel trade development; 
recent travel trade shows/promotions; 
travel trade  2021 initiatives; 
industry destination development; 
destination management and travel advocacy; 
regeneration of North America air markets; 
the 'Show WA Love' Campaign; 
'Explore Washington's Backyard;' and 
the travel publicity program. 
Members of the Commission and presenters discussed: 
creating an on-ramp to a living wage; 
the virtual environment reducing geographic barriers to jobs; 
the best way for the Port to partner; 
tracking of metrics; 
areas of investment with the most impact from the Port; 
hiring under-privileged youth; 
workforce development advocacy and system change; 
equity gaps for women and people of color with respect to daycare, early childhood
education, benefits, and retirement and pensions  we need to think about how we model; 
ways that we can distinguish ourselves from other states with respect to tourism; 
highlighting the 'why' of tourism, focusing on small businesses; 
expectations for the '"new normal" with respect to leisure travel; 
targeting promotion of travel; 
operating as travel advisors in this pandemic interim with respect to messaging about
tourism and travel; and 
where tourism dollars are being spent  in recreational or in business. 
Executive Director Metruck concluded the study session by discussing Port recovery initiatives and
planning for 2022, noting that the Port provides connections to equitable economic recovery.
Proposed timelines for recovery initiatives were discussed. 

Minutes of November 17, 2020, submitted for review on December 3, 2020, and proposed for approval on December 8, 2020. 
Minutes of October 27, 2020, submitted for review on November 5, 2020, and proposed for approval on November 10, 2020.

PORT COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES                       Page 4 of 4 
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 
Members of the Commission expressed gratitude to the presenters and staff for their time in
coordinating the study session and for their community and regional efforts regarding economic
recovery. 
3.    ADJOURNMENT 
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m. 

Prepared:                                      Attest: 

Michelle M. Hart, Commission Clerk              Sam H. Cho, Commission Secretary 
Minutes approved: March 9, 2021. 












Minutes of November 17, 2020, submitted for review on December 3, 2020, and proposed for approval on December 8, 2020. 
Minutes of October 27, 2020, submitted for review on November 5, 2020, and proposed for approval on November 10, 2020.