10b. Attachment - 2022 Stormwater Utility Rates

www.portseattle.org | July 2021


Item No. 10b  attach 1
Meeting Date: September 14, 2021






PORT OF SEATTLE
MARINE STORMWATER UTILITY
STRATEGIC PLAN
2021-2025

CONTENTS
Acronyms & Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
First Five Years, 2014  2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Utility Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .18
Goals and Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

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ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
BMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . best management practice
CCTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . closed caption television video
CIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . capital improvement project
FT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fishermen's Terminal
GNET . . . . . . . . . . . . . GraniteNet
GSI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . green stormwater infrastructure
ISGP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industrial Stormwater General Permit
LMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Learning Management System
MIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maritime Industrial Center
MMPMG . . . . . . . . . . . Marine Maintenance Project Management Group
MM SWU . . . . . . . . . . . Marine Maintenance Stormwater Utility
MS4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
NWSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northwest Seaport Alliance
O&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . operation & maintenance
OEDI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . preventative maintenance
Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Port of Seattle
SIAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . Stormwater Infrastructure Asset Management System
SOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . standard operating procedure
SPMG . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seaport Project Management Group
SPU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seattle Public Utilities
Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marine Stormwater Utility

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Marine Stormwater Utility (Utility) of the Port of Seattle (Port) was created in 2014 to support meeting
or exceeding regulatory requirements for stormwater leaving Port facilities. The Utility operates under a cost
recovery model with all revenue used for the stormwater program associated with Port Maritime properties
managed by the Port and by the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA). The first five years of Utility work, 2014
to 2019, focused on building the program's financial backbone, creating policies to document and guide the
work, and assessing stormwater infrastructure to obtain baseline data and prioritize future work. During these
early years, the Port created a cost-effective, innovative, and award-winning utility. 
The year 2020 provided an opportunity to reflect on our brief history and plan for the Utility's future. This
strategic plan is the culmination of effort by staff, stakeholders and customers to define guiding principles and
prioritize our work for the next five years. This plan is intended to move us forward to better serve customers
and ensure a resilient Utility while supporting the Maritime industry. 
To support our guiding principles, defined in mission and vision statements, this strategic plan includes six
goals with 17 strategies, each with specific tasks. 
Mission                          Vision
Supporting a sustainable Maritime Industry with        Leading the way to a clean, healthy and sustainable
innovative stormwater management that benefits       Puget Sound.
local communities and marine life.
Goals:
The goals provide focus and efficiency for Utility work to benefit customers and the region while bringing
financial stability to future rate changes:.
1.   Maintain and improve stormwater infrastructure
2.   Reduce stormwater pollution leaving Port properties
3.   Pursue innovation and new technologies
4.   Strengthen communications with customers, stakeholders and the community
5.   Achieve or exceed compliance related to federal, state and local stormwater regulations and legal
agreements
6.   Improve processes within the current financial system
We intend to revisit this plan each year as the basis for annual business plans that track our progress, and to
review the plan every five years to update or change strategies in furtherance of Utility goals. 




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INTRODUCTION
The Port of Seattle (Port) is a special purpose government district founded in 1911 to promote economic
opportunities and quality of life in the Puget Sound region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job
creation in an equitable, accountable and environmentally responsible manner. The Port owns and operates
properties along the Duwamish waterway, Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound, with some portions managed by
the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA). The Port's vision is to add 100,000 jobs through economic growth, for
a total of 300,000 Port-related jobs in the region, while reducing its environmental footprint. 
The Marine Stormwater Utility (Utility) was initiated in 2014 under
a cost recovery model to support the Port in meeting stringent
and expanding Washington State and local stormwater regulations
while benefiting regional water quality. The Utility provides services
to customers to meet strict local, state and federal stormwater
regulations in support of the Maritime industry. Utility staff
completed a full assessment of the stormwater infrastructure system
in 2019 to obtain baseline data. This information is used to prioritize
infrastructure improvements to meet changing needs and add
resiliency in an aging system. The Utility installs green stormwater
infrastructure where feasible to reduce the impact of stormwater on
water quality while adding habitat and beautifying spaces. 
In developing this Strategic Plan, the Utility incorporated other Portwide
efforts and priorities associated with core values and equity. For   Tide gate inspection at Terminal 10
example, the Port created an Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion    outfall
(OEDI) in 2019 to deepen current Port equity efforts and further
catalyze organization-wide, systemic change. These efforts were formalized in the Century Agenda to "become
a Model for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion." The OEDI created a strategic plan to implement these changes,
and the Utility includes equity into our decision making and work practices. 
In 2020, Utility staff created this Strategic Plan with input from customers and stakeholders to focus future
efforts and support the Port as "the Greenest, and Most Energy Efficient Port in North America.   "

Core Values
In addition to the Port's values1, the Utility adds the following as core values for our specific work:
Collaboration       Work jointly and cooperate with stakeholders
Efficiency              Work effectively to save effort and money
Innovation         Create unique stormwater treatment, practices and controls
Integrity             Adhere to a code of conduct that supports high standards
Safety               Ensure staff work in ways that avoid harm, injury and loss

1        Port of Seattle Values www.portseattle.org/careers/who-we-are
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FIRST FIVE YEARS, 2014  2019
The idea of creating the Utility began in the late 2000s, was actively discussed by Port leadership in 2012 to
2014, and resulted in the official creation on November 25, 2014, by Commission Resolution No. 3696. Much
of the foundational work involved finances, legal issues, and coordinating with the City of Seattle (Seattle
Public Utilities, SPU) on the separation of what was to become two stormwater systems: one managed by the
Port's Utility, and the other by SPU. While the separation was not physical (i.e., the assets are still connected
and discharge to local waterbodies), significant time was spent identifying where one system meets the other,
resulting in connection points. There are over 120 connections between the two systems, and additional
points are added when identified through infrastructure assessments or other means. We meet with SPU
annually to review these connections, highlight changes to stormwater systems including necessary legal
agreements, and discuss permit issues associated with regional water quality. 
One of the first tasks in forming a Utility was creating a financial system to bill and collect revenue so that
budgets could be developed to perform the work of improving water quality from Port Maritime properties. 
Our rate categories mirror SPU's, but at a lower fee and are similar to categories across the industry. The Utility
endeavors to provide essential stormwater services to customers at a better value than when our system was a
small part of the much larger SPU system. This is possible because we now have dedicated funding for the Port
stormwater system's upkeep and operation and maintenance. 
A second task of the new Utility was to hire staff to run the program. While Port departments and systems
existed to support the stormwater program, subject matter experts in stormwater and utilities were hired
to lead the program. Existing field staff from the Port's Marine Maintenance department, who were already
performing stormwater regulatory and operation and maintenance inspections, became part of the new
Utility team. Utility office and field staff now total 17 (four office staff and 13 field staff). The Utility office staff
work closely with Utility field staff to determine and prioritize the Utility's work, which includes performing
baseline assessments of the stormwater pipes to better understand the extent and conditions of the system,
and building upon existing stormwater work to meet or exceed stormwater regulations. 




Stormwater Utility Team, February 2020
1 mile      I


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STORMWATER UTILITY 
BY THE NUMBERS
Shilshole Bay
S hilshole Bay Marina                    999.6 acres
Green
Lake     of drainage area
Ballard                                 71 miles/374,877 ft
Ballard Lock s
of stormwater pipe
2    1                         2,875 catch basins
Magnolia                  Fishermen's Te rminal
223 outfalls
197 tenan ts (Port & NWSA)
Terminal 91
Queen An ne          881 manh oles
Lake
Union 3,455 dra ins, filters, vaults, etc.
3       Terminal 86

Pier 69 - Port Headquarters          Downtow  n
4 Seattle
Pier 66
5
Port of Seattle                        International
District
Properties1.  Salmon Bay Marina
2.    Maritime Industrial Center                              Elliott Bay
Ter  minal 46
3.    Smith Cove Cruise Terminal
4.    World Trade Center                                      Terminal 18             S ODO
5.    Bell Harbor Marina
6.    Harbor Island Marina
Ter mi nal 30
Terminal 5
Puget Sound                      West Seattle
Termin al 103 6
Ter mi nal 108
Termin al 107
Geo rgetown
Beacon Hill
1 mile      I                    Term  inal 115
Duw
1.   Salmon Bay Marina                                                                                      R ainier Valley
2.   Maritime Industrial Center                                                 So uth  Park
3.   Smith Cove Cruise Terminal                                                       amish River    Duwamis  h River
4.   World Trade Center
5.   Bell Harbor Marina                                                                            People's Park
6.   Harbor Island Marina                                   - 7 -

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since the Utility's inception in 2014, the focus has been on improving water quality leaving
Port Maritime properties. From meeting regulatory requirements, to maintaining over
70 miles of stormwater pipe assets of various condition, to advancing green stormwater
infrastructure projects, the Utility has many accomplishments in its brief history. The Utility
is proud of its successes in such a short time including:
Strong and consistent regulatory compliance
Complete system condition assessments
Effective repair, maintenance and capital improvement program
Innovative water quality techniques and green stormwater infrastructure projects
Strong education, outreach and operational partnerships
Financial stewardship and stability












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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Regulatory - Achieve full compliance year after year
The Port holds a Phase I municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit for Maritime properties that
includes facilities managed by the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) and by tenants. Some tenants hold
other types of stormwater permits to cover specialized operations, such as Industrial Stormwater General
Permits (ISGPs), boat yard and individual stormwater permits, but are universally covered under the Port's
MS4 permit. The Port also holds an ISGP for the Marine Maintenance North Operations site, where vehicle
maintenance and equipment cleaning are conducted. The Utility supports work to meet requirements for the
MS4 permit, including updating stormwater pollution prevention plans, training staff, educating customers
and general public outreach, inspecting and maintaining the MS4 and annual reporting. Utility staff support
water quality monitoring for the Port's ISGP-permitted facility. The Washington State Department of Ecology
issues these stormwater permits and oversees and inspects sites covered under stormwater permits. The City
of Seattle stormwater codes also apply to Port properties within city limits; King County code applies to those
not within a city jurisdiction. With a bevy of regulations to follow, we work with customers and review internal
operations and projects to ensure regulatory compliance. 
The Port's illicit discharge detection and elimination system addresses illicit connections and discharges to
the MS4, and spill response and reporting is supported by Marine Maintenance Dispatch 24-hour response
line with assistance from Port environmental staff. Utility staff has equipment and expertise to respond to and
cleanup spills to the MS4 system.
System Assessment - Completed full condition assessment of
stormwater system
Upon inception, a top priority of the Utility was to understand the condition of our assets. To accomplish
this, equipment was purchased to conduct closed caption television video (CCTV) recording for all 70 plus
miles of stormwater pipes between 2016 and 2019. Every condition found, from a small crack, break or root
growing through the pipe wall to a full collapse of the pipe, was assigned a score. The pipe asset then received
an overall score based on all the conditions found across the length of the pipe. We completed this system
assessment at the end of 2019 and now have baseline condition data for all pipe assets, which provides the
basis for prioritizing future work to rehabilitate the stormwater system. Some assets have already met the
criteria for rehabilitation, attaining a specific subset of scores from the condition assessment, without any work
performed. Some assets will need to be cleaned only while other assets will also need a point repair, say to fix
a 10-foot break in a 100-foot long pipe, or entirely replaced to meet the criteria for rehabilitation. 





Camera used for pipe assessments                               CCTV truck cockpit
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Pipe Repair - Over 60 critical pipe repairs completed
As a result of assessments, over 60 pipe
segments were identified as requiring
immediate repair (score of 90 or above)
because they were unusable for conveying
stormwater or created safety risks from
potential holes forming above voids. Utility
staff excavated and repaired these assets
as soon as feasible under an urgent repair
program. In total, we completed these
urgent repairs between 2017 and 2020 to
ensure continual and safe Port operations.

Screenshot from assessment video showing full pipe collapse

Outfall Rehabilitation - Installed 21 tide gate valves to protect the system from
inundation
Because our stormwater conveyance
system directly discharges through outfalls
into regional waters, outfall rehabilitation
became another important focus of initial
work. Some outfalls lie below high tide,
and as tides rise, river, bay and sound
waters can enter the stormwater system. 
This causes two major concerns: the
system can flood parts of a facility, and
corrosion and biological growth increases
within the pipes. To limit tidal influence
on the stormwater system, the Utility
installed tide gate valves (or tide valves)      Pipe repair
on outfalls. A tide valve remains closed,
keeping receiving waters from entering the
system, and only opens when pressure builds from upstream flows. Through 2020, we installed 21 tide valves
throughout the stormwater system.



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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Green Stormwater Infrastructure  Delivering resiliency to stormwater
management
The Utility strives to go above and beyond stormwater
regulations by incorporating green stormwater
infrastructure and treatment systems in areas where
they are not required by regulation or codes. The
Port also participates in Salmon-Safe third-party
certification for Maritime parks and public access
areas and has been certified since 2008. Stormwater
and habitat projects are two important elements
in maintaining Salmon-Safe certification , a leading
Installing tide valve
movement to help Pacific salmon thrive.
Terminal 86 Bio-filtration Facility  The
Utility's first bio-filtration facility
A ponding problem on the Centennial Park bike and pedestrian trail near Terminal 86 provided the
opportunity to develop the Utility's first in-ground bio-filtration (rain garden) facility. Rather than simply regrading
and altering a stormwater pipe to reduce ponding at a busy junction in the trail, the Utility evaluated
and installed a small rain garden to remove potential pollutants. This added bio-filtration treatment to the
stormwater infrastructure, and since it is in a busy public area, provides a visible location for educational
signage about rain garden functions.







Bio-filtration facility along Centennial Park     Signage posted adjacent to Rain garden explaining
benefits to the environment


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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Terminal 102 Downspout Oyster Shell Treatment Barrels  Innovative solution to treat
stormwater pollution
Oyster shells, which bind heavy metals such as
zinc and copper, are used to treat stormwater
from roof runoff at Terminal 102 commercial
buildings. Zinc and copper are detrimental to
aquatic life, particularly endangered salmon. The
oyster shells are contained in barrels connected
to roof downspouts, and as stormwater flows
through, heavy metals and sediment are
captured. The oyster shells are changed out
each year since effectiveness decreases over
time. Typically, newly purchased shells are used,
but in September 2020, oyster shells that had
been in the barrels were 'refreshed,' employing a
media washing machine invented by Utility staff   Oyster Barrel and sign at T102
and built by Marine Maintenance. To evaluate
treatment effectiveness, water samples are
collected, and pollutant levels analyzed from water that enters and leaves the barrels. Data show a 30% to 50%
reduction in metal concentrations.
In addition to Terminal 102, oyster shells are used in stormwater treatment at Terminal 46, Marine Maintenance
North Operations and Terminal 5 Transit Shed. The media washing machine helps reduce the amount of new
oyster shells purchased and increases longevity of the shells in use.
Splash Boxx  Portable planter boxes for
commercial and industrial locations
In 2014, the Port installed two 'Splash Boxx' systems at
Terminal 91 to treat runoff from a building with a galvanized
roof. Galvanized metal may leach zinc. The Splash Boxx bioretention
system was initially studied as part of a King County
Conservation District funded 'Moving Green Infrastructure
Forward Project.' In 2019, the Port moved these boxes to treat
Flowers growing in the Splash Boxx
stormwater at two locations: a roof at Maritime Industrial
Center (MIC), and the Marine Maintenance Horton Street
south parking lot. This placement of the two systems allows
comparison of bio-retention media treatment from different
use areas. The soil media is a custom mix of sand, wood chips,
and biochar and planted with native, drought tolerant plants. 
The inflows and outflows are monitored to determine removal
effectiveness of zinc, copper, and turbidity. Initial Splash Boxx
results reflect 60 to 70% reductions in copper and 85 to 90%
reductions in zinc. Average reductions in turbidity for the
longer established system were 70%. 
Splash Boxx at MIC
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Awards
The Utility won two American Association of Port Authority
environmental awards in 2017 and 2019. In 2017, we won the
Comprehensive Environmental Management award for the
"Formation and Operation of the Marine Stormwater Utility,"
which summarized the efforts to create the Utility and the
first few years of work. In 2019, we won the Environmental
Enhancement category award of excellence for the "Innovative
Stormwater Operations and Treatment Techniques." This
application detailed three techniques developed by the Utility,
and by the Port before the Utility was created, including a dock
scrubber that recovers wash water with a vacuum, oyster shell     Dock scrubber
treatment barrels to treat roof runoff, and the media washing
machine that refreshes used oyster shells for reuse in stormwater
treatment systems. 
The media washing machine also won an internal port-wide innovation award for 2019 quarters one and two,
and the annual 2019 award and the people's choice award by Port employees.









Media washing Machine



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PRIORITIES
The primary focus of the Utility has been to improve water quality in support of the Port's
Century Agenda strategy to be the greenest, and most energy efficient port in North
America. Our vision and mission continue with and align with this aspirational goal. In
order to be the greenest Port, the Utility has prioritized five key areas: Infrastructure;
Sustainability; Climate Change; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Habitat.















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PRIORITIES

Infrastructure
One basic function of the Utility is to move stormwater runoff from facilities through conveyance systems
to receiving waters. A complex infrastructure of pipes and structures performs this essential function
throughout Port facilities. The first step was to understand the details of the system, including pipe locations,
characteristics and conditions, from our completed assessment program. The next step will be to rehabilitate
the aging system over time to continue this function but also add components such as green stormwater
infrastructure and innovative treatment to remove pollutants and continually improve regional water quality. 
As a core value, innovation is at the root of our work and helps to meet our vision of leading the way to a clean,
healthy and sustainable Puget Sound. 
To rehabilitate our stormwater system as guided by the Port's Century Agenda, we will need to repair
or replace many existing stormwater pipes through excavation or trenchless technologies, install new
stormwater systems, add treatment systems, install green stormwater infrastructure and continue innovating. 
This work will continue for years to come but prioritization using the data from the assessment program, as
well as continuing reassessments will be the key to proactively upgrade the infrastructure. 
Sustainability Framework
In 2019, the Port developed a sustainable project framework to evaluate all Port capital improvement projects. 
The framework includes lifecycle consideration for energy, habitat, waste, and stormwater. Capital projects
are screened and placed into three different categories that apply increasing levels of effort to maximize
sustainability and environmental benefit. Stormwater is one of eight categories in the framework and Utility
staff help evaluate projects and participate on project review teams to ensure compliance with regulations
and approve of changes to the stormwater system. 
Climate Change/Resilience Planning
Climate change and resilience are complex and emerging issues, and the Port has identified this as a high
priority for the future. The Port drafted a climate adaptation plan in 20152 to address rising sea levels and
intensifying storms and fulfill the Port's role as a steward of the environment and maritime industry. One key
result is that the stormwater system is not currently capable of handling sea level rise. The Utility will update
the plan to address specific elements for stormwater infrastructure adaptation and resilience considering
regional efforts by the City of Seattle, King County, and Washington state. Another element of the Port's
climate change planning is greenhouse gas reduction targets that align with the Paris Climate Agreement. 
These targets include an interim goal to cut emissions in half by 2030. The targets also entail a longrange
commitment to deeply "decarbonize" maritime activity and make Port operations carbon neutral or carbon
negative by 2050.
Evaluating how climate change will impact our stormwater infrastructure, water quality, and other Port
concerns and to plan accordingly is a long-term endeavor. Phasing in system resilience will require in-depth
analysis and access to data being compiled by other local, state, federal and international entities. We will
collaborate with other Ports and government organizations grappling with this to maximize efforts in
addressing the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and the maritime industry. We don't have
the answers on climate change or sea level rise, but we can ensure our system is built to adapt to changes to
continue to serve our customers and the maritime industry.

2        Port of Seattle. June 19, 2015. Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Port of Seattle Waterfront Properties.
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PRIORITIES

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Understanding how the Utility can address the needs of diverse and historically marginalized communities,
from underfunded neighborhoods in the Duwamish Valley to Indigenous peoples who have treaty rights
to lands and waters that the Port abuts, is a long-term endeavor. Water quality and pollution prevention
are important issues for the region, and Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color often suffer
disproportionally from pollution. The University of Washington Department of Environmental and
Occupational Health Sciences has created a map3 showing health disparities based on living and economic
conditions. Identifying opportunities to improve water quality for these communities will involve direct
community engagement, some of which is occurring through the Port's habitat, energy and community
enhancement projects.
The Port's OEDI is developing an equity tool to look at historically marginalized communities within the King
County region. This tool evaluates the entire region and provides a score for each census block group. This
score gives a numeric value to the disparities within the community. Utility staff will collaborate with the OEDI
team to ensure that equity continues to develop as an underlying principle of the work we do. 
Habitat Collaboration
While the Port has a dedicated habitat team working to restore degraded sites, address habitat and
remediation mitigation requirements, and create shared spaces to benefit people and the environment,
there are potential interconnections between habitat and stormwater efforts. The Utility and habitat teams
collaborate on ongoing and new opportunities that include Salmon-Safe recertification and potential for
stormwater-habitat interface and benefits at Port facilities.







t ulaltx Village Park and Shoreline Habitat before

after

3        https://deohs.washington.edu/washington-environmental-health-disparities-map-project
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PRIORITIES









Duwamish River People's Park and Shoreline Habitat Restoration











Replacing stormwater treatment media in vaults at Terminal 46

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UTILITY RATES
The Utility operates on a cost recovery model, and the revenues fund the entirety of the
stormwater regulatory and infrastructure program. Bills paid by customers are invested
in infrastructure and services to improve water quality, including daily operations,
regulatory maintenance, infrastructure assessment and repair, and capital projects
including green infrastructure. 















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UTILITY RATES

Rates are adjusted each year by reviewing the baseline budget against forecasted spending, typically five
years out, and anticipating revenue for the current year. Planning work for the coming year includes new
capital projects, increased levels of service to benefit customers, and cost reductions from streamlining
operations. A new rate is calculated for this total expenditure. The forecast budget is presented to the Utility's
Rate Advisory Committee, which includes Port and NWSA executives, who provide valuable insight and
represent Maritime business operations and tenant interests. The Committee provides recommendations for a
proposed Utility rate, which is then presented to the Port Commission for final approval before adopting new
rates for the coming year. 

The table below shows the projected rate path approved in 2020 for the next five years. The rates are subject
to Port of Seattle Commission approval annually. 

RATE PATH            2021       2022       2023       2024       2025     AVERAGE
SWU Rate Increase         3%        4.6%       4.6%       4.6%       4.6%      4.28%

Since the inception of the Utility, it is a priority to keep our rates lower than SPU to provide customers financial
savings while delivering additional services such as proactive infrastructure assessment and repair. The Utility
is now able to maintain and improve stormwater infrastructure, which benefits regional water quality, at a
lower rate than we previously paid SPU. The graph below shows a comparison of the drainage rates for the
"very heavy" rate category for the Port's Utility and SPU. 










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GOALS AND STRATEGIES
The Utility began work on a strategic plan in late 2019. The effort evolved over six
months with assistance from a consultant, Veda Environmental, and a core team that
planned and developed material for an internal workshop. The purpose of the workshop
was to engage stakeholders in creating the strategic vision, mission, and to identifying
priority goals to guide the work during the lifetime of this plan in support of the vision
and mission for the future.














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GOALS AND STRATEGIES

To gather information and lay groundwork for the workshop, two surveys were developed to gather input
from stakeholders: one for Port Utility and environmental staff, and another for external customers and Port
real estate staff. The overall response rate was 45% and this information provided key input for workshop
materials. The workshop was convened virtually in August 2020 and involved two three-hour sessions on
separate days. The workshop included 16 internal stakeholders from across the Port discussing all aspects of
the Utility, and ultimately provided the basis for this document. 
In developing the Utility goals, considerations included overall sustainability and tie-in with the Port's
Sustainability Framework and Climate Change planning and adaptation. Common themes included
innovation and importance of a skilled and knowledgeable team with thorough understanding of stormwater
infrastructure and regulations. During the workshops, Port staff contributed to defining six goals in four
categories: 1. Operations, Infrastructure & Innovation; 2. Relationships, Collaboration & Communication; 3. 
Regulatory; and 4. Financial. Seventeen strategies with associated tasks were identified to support each goal. 
The six goals with 17 strategies are listed below, with detailed tasks, measures and timeframes in the following
table. The timeframe refers to the year the associated task will be started with items listed as "annually" starting
in 2021. Outcome is included with the intention of revisiting this plan annually to update progress against the
measure in addition to directing and/or adding new tasks.
1. Operations, Infrastructure & Innovation
Asset management is a crucial Utility tool for improving water quality. Three goals and six strategies focus on
infrastructure maintenance, repair and installation while highlighting sustainability and innovation. Applying
a sustainability lens to our work and building resilient infrastructure can support the Utility and the Port in
adapting to climate change. 
1.    Maintain and improve stormwater infrastructure
Strategies:
1.   Bring all infrastructure to rehabilitated status
2.   Develop robust asset management program including continual assessment and reassessment of
infrastructure
3.   Build a resilient system and plan for future climate change adaptation
2.    Reduce stormwater pollution leaving Port properties
Strategies:
4.   Increase awareness of best management practices (BMPs) across all Maritime properties
5.   Expand use of BMPs across all Maritime properties
6.   Streamline process to more rapidly respond to spills
3.    Pursue innovation and new technologies
Strategies:
7.   Support piloting and advancing new technology and creative solutions



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GOALS AND STRATEGIES

2. Relationships, Collaboration & Communication
We cannot operate effectively without relationships with customers, community members, the broader Port
and NWSA staff and stakeholders. 
4.    Strengthen communications with customers, stakeholders and the community
Strategies:
8.   Improve outward facing communication
9.   Improve public and tenant access to information
10. Improve internal Port and NWSA communications
3. Regulatory
Meeting regulatory requirements is foundational to our work, and exceeding permit requirements supports
our mission. 
5.    Achieve or exceed compliance related to federal, state and local stormwater regulations 
and legal agreements
Strategies:
11. Ensure compliance with permit conditions
12. Streamline tracking and reporting processes for permit compliance
13. Expand Port staff awareness of regulations
14. Pursue activities that exceed permit compliance, serve customer needs and protect water quality
4. Financial
We strive to provide reliable and efficient services to our customers to meet regulations while
investing in infrastructure to ensure future compliance. One hundred percent of Utility revenue is
used to fund Utility programs. 
6.    Improve processes within the current financial system
Strategies:
15. Increase transparency in billing and spending
16. Improve accountable and fiscally responsible programs
17. Simplify Utility financial reporting structure






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GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Category 1. Operations, Infrastructure & Innovation
Goal 1. Maintain and improve stormwater infrastructure
Strategy #1: Bring all infrastructure to rehabilitated status
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Streamlined processes to
improve coordination with
Increase coordination with SPMG and
projects that involve storm-
MMPMG on projects relating to storm-                                     Annually             
water infrastructure changes
water
100% of proposed projects
reviewed
33% rehabilitated (GNET
Rehabilitate 75% of stormwater system
score of less than 30 and              2021         
by 2035, annual goal
cleaned with a month)
Complete T18 outfall project         2021
Complete infrastructure upgrade CIP
work                              Complete projects in other                    
Annually
CIPs
Complete contracting for Cure-In-Place
Executed contract                   2021        
Pipe work to support rehabilitation
Create priority list for infrastructure
work including capital program and      Priority list in use                    2021
expense repairs
Obtain the grout trailer for repair work    Available and ready to use            2021         
Create dashboard for real-time data
analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure     Dashboard in use                     2022
Asset Management System (SIAMS)
Create scoring matrix including equity,
diversity and inclusion considerations    Matrix in use                      2022-2023
to prioritize infrastructure work
Create specification for pipe abandon-
Complete specification           2023-2024     
ment
Implement abandoned pipe protocol
Conduct pipe lateral sealing          2025        
per specification
Strategy #2: Develop robust asset management program including continual assessment and reassessment
of infrastructure
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Create and implement policy to address  Create initial preventative
2021
pipe reassessments                     maintenance (PM) schedule
Complete SIAMS plan                  Full plan document              2021-2022
Reroute infrastructure and add clea-
Identify locations needing
nouts to improve accessibility to infra-                                            2023        
improved accessibility
structure
Complete assessment of complex, inac-
CCTV video of 100% of pipes         2025        
cessible areas

- 23 -

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Strategy #3: Build a resilient system and plan for future climate change adaptation
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Conduct study to evaluate impact of
Complete study                   2023       
climate change on system
Updated SIAMS plan with
Integrate climate resiliency findings into
climate change planning         2024-2025
SIAMS
impact
Collaborate with municipalities and      Initiate partnerships and par-
2025
stakeholders on regional actions         ticipate in annual meetings
Goal 2. Reduce stormwater pollution leaving Port properties
Strategy #4: Increase awareness of BMPs across all Maritime properties
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Assess gaps in current BMP training                                      Annually starting
Identify target audiences
process                                                                 in 2021
Determine priority list of facilities for      Create annual list of priority    Annually starting

BMP training rollout                      facilities                            in 2022
Conduct staff education workshops on                                Annually starting
Complete Staff Brownbag(s)                     
BMPs                                                      in 2022
Create scoring matrix for tenants with
equity, diversity and inclusion consider-  Create annual list of priority    Annually starting
ations and use to prioritize tenant BMP   tenants                             in 2022
training
Conduct tenant education workshops    Complete Tenant Work-       Annually starting

on BMPs                           shop(s)                        in 2023
Strategy #5: Expand use of BMPs across all Maritime properties
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Secondary containment,
Provide tenant access to storage BMPs    tents, covers, etc. available        2021-2022
for rent
Additional PMs to perform
Increase maintenance schedules                                            2023        
work
Identify facilities for additional BMP       List of facilities and appropri-
2024       
implementation                      ate BMP(s) for each
Strategy #6: Streamline process to more rapidly respond to spills
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Complete training for rele-
Train staff in spill reporting protocols                                             Annually       
vant staff
Develop plan for funding spill investiga-  Complete funding plan for
2021       
tions, cleanup and reporting             spill response and cleanup
Create uniform procedures for spill       Complete SOP for spill re-
2021
reporting across all Port properties       porting

- 24 -

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Goal 3. Pursue innovation and new technologies
Strategy #7: Support piloting and advancing new technology and creative solutions
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Collaborate on innovations with other    Share information with stake-
Annually
stakeholders, municipalities and ports    holders
Develop production line for oyster shell  Completed and working
2022             
use and reuse                          production line in use
Select and test (pilot program) technol-
1 - 2 technologies in place            2022                
ogies identified by Pure Blue
Identify areas for innovative/green
Identify 2-3 high priority
stormwater treatment opportunities on                                      2022        
opportunities
Port properties & facilities
Tie into WA Maritime Blue (innovation    Collaboration with new busi-
2023
center at FT) accelerator program        nesses
Install new GSI CIP project(s)              Complete installation                 2024         












Bell Harbor Marina at Pier 66

- 25 -

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Category 2. Relationships, Collaboration & Communication
Goal 4. Strengthen communications with customers, stakeholders and the community
Strategy #8: Improve outward facing communication
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Continue Salmon-Safe parks and public
Meet annual milestones           Annually      
access areas certification
Apply for environmental awards         Complete applications           Bi-annually     
Present at conferences to enhance
Completed presentation         Bi-annually    
visibility
Demonstrate the work / benefits of the
Annually starting
Utility to near-port neighbors/commu-   Exhibit at community events                      
in 2022
nity
Sponsor art project to paint Splash
Completed art project               2022
Boxxes
Quarterly starting
Social media posts
in 2022
Enhance visibility of the benefits of       New signage installed                 2024

SWU in local communities               Stormwater and water quality
integrated in Port commu-        2024
nications
Strategy #9: Improve public and tenant access to information
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Update webpage with SWU info         Updated website live             Annually
List of elements that may
Identify equity, diversity and inclusion
benefit BIPOC and underrep-        2022
benefits of stormwater program
resented populations
Outreach and education on stormwater                               Annually starting
1 - 2 events per year                                 
programs to Duwamish community                                    in 2023
Strategy #10: Improve internal Port and NWSA communications
Tasks                         Measure             Timeframe       Outcome
Attend other department meetings to    Attend 1 - 2 departments per
Annually            
describe SWU work                    year
Coordinate with NWSA stakeholders     Quarterly meetings               Annually            
Coordinate with MM SWU crews         Monthly meetings               Annually            
Coordinate with consultant team(s)      Monthly meetings                 Annually             
Expand/improve current tenant move    Create and implement check-
2021             
in-move out agreement system          list for tenant turnover
T25 habitat project coordi-
2021-2022
Habitat and stormwater collaboration    nation
Other habitat opportunities          2024

- 26 -

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Category 3. Regulatory
Goal 5. Achieve or exceed compliance related to federal, state and 
local stormwater regulations and legal agreements
Strategy #11: Ensure compliance with permit conditions
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
All requirements completed
Conduct all required inspections and
and documented in annual         Annually      
actions for MS4 permit
report
All requirements completed
Fulfill all requirements for Industrial perand
documented in annual         Annually      
mit
report
Strategy #12: Streamline tracking and reporting processes for permit compliance
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
Finalize and configure electronic field       Purchase and configuration of
2021       
data collection software                    software
Implement electronic field data collection
Field crews use new software          2022
software
Strategy #13: Expand Port staff awareness of regulations
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
New staff complete training
Develop onboarding plan for new staff                                         Annually           
within first 3 months
Develop online/LMS training for staff       Training launched in LMS               2021         
Track stormwater trainings for all required  Annual training taken by 100%
2021        
staff                                             of all required staff
Strategy #14: Pursue activities that exceed permit compliance, serve customer needs and protect water
quality
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
Define activities that exceed compliance   Checklist of elements that
2021        
with MS4 permit                         exceed permit compliance
Develop craft specific handbooks that go   Finalize handbooks to each
2021       
beyond O&M manual requirements       craft
Implement craft specific orientation to     Complete 30-min craft specific
2022        
new handbook                       overviews of handbook





- 27 -

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

Category 4. Financial
Goal 6. Improve processes within the current financial system
Strategy #15: Increase transparency in billing and spending
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
Quarterly summary report of SWU work                                  Annually starting
Quarterly summary completed                    
performed                                                            in 2022
Develop Utility Rate table for 2022 with
Complete table                      2021        
5-year forecast
Determine if credits can be given to ten-    Complete research; if feasible,
2021
ants for stormwater improvements        complete policy
Create dashboard for real-time data anal-
Dashboard in use                    2021
ysis of billing information
Annually starting
Monthly billing report out to BU            Monthly report completed                           
in 2022
Strategy #16: Improve accountable and fiscally responsible programs
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
Updated revenue system with
Create auditable revenue system          simplified connection to                2022        
Business Unit expense
Incorporate equity, diversity and inclusion
Meet Port goals                       2021
elements into contract decisions
Cash balance available in
Develop contingency for allocations                                              2022
stormwater fund 
Build 6-month O & M reserve per Port      Cash balance available in
2023       
policy                                     stormwater fund
Cash balance available in
Develop capital reserve                                                           2025        
stormwater fund
Strategy #17: Simplify Utility financial reporting structure
Tasks                          Measure              Timeframe     Outcome
Recommend changes to
Evaluate subclass structure                                                         2022
Finance
Reduce and/or combine sub-
Eliminate subclasses                                                              2023         
classes
Embedded rate model in bud-
Automate and simplify rate model                                              2023        
get system




- 28 -

PORT OF SEATTLE
COMMISSIONERS
Stephanie Bowman
Ryan Calkins
Sam Cho
Fred Felleman
Peter Steinbrueck


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stephen P. Metruck


Port of Seattle
P.O. Box 1209
Seattle, WA 98111
U.S.A.
(206) 787-3000
www.portseattle.org






- 29 -
July 2021

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