The Regular meeting scheduled for 2021-02-23 at Remote

Transcript

The Regular meeting scheduled for 2021-02-23 at Remote

HELLO THIS IS COMMISSION PRESIDENT CONVENING THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2021
THE TIME IS 12 O'CLOCK
WE'RE MEETING REMOTELY TODAY VIA TEAMS TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S SAFE START STAY HEALTHY ORDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCLAMATION 2028
PRESENT WITH ME TODAY ARE COMMISSIONERS BOWMAN, CALKINS, CHO AND STEINBRUECK
I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL CALL THE ROLL OF ALL COMMISSIONERS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ONLINE
CLERK HART
THANK YOU
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN
PRESENT
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER
COMMISSIONER CHO
PRESENT
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
HERE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONERS STEINBREUCK
HERE
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
PRESENT
WE DO HAVE A FULL COMMISSION TODAY
THANK YOU
TODAY'S MEETING IS STRUCTURED FOR OUR VIRTUAL FORMAT
WE'VE MADE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF
COMMISSIONERS, LATER WE'LL BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING BY TEAMS AND WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK
ALL VOTES TODAY WILL BE TAKEN BY THE ROLL CALL METHOD SINCE ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY
THAT MEANS FOR EACH VOTE THE CLERK WILL CALL EACH COMMISSIONERS NAME
COMMISSIONERS ON TEAMS WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE UNMUTED AND THEN ANSWER YAY OR NAY
BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS ONLINE ARE NOT FULLY IN CONTROL OF THEIR SOUND WE'LL BE TAKING ALL VOTES TODAY IN THIS MANNER INCLUDING OUR CONSENT AGENDA
TO BE EQUITABLE WE WILL BE ASKING ALL COMMISSIONERS TO SPEAK IN TURN AND WAIT TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE SPEAKING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
WE ARE MEETING ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS AND WATERS OF THE COASTAL SALISH PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE SHARE A COMMITMENT TO STEWARD THESE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
THIS MEETING IS BEING DIGITALLY RECORDED AND MAY BE VIEWED OR HEARD AT ANY TIME ON THE POR'S WEBSITE AND MAY BE REBROADCAST BY KING COUNTY TELEVISION
PLEASE STAND OR JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
GOOD AFTERNOON
TODAY IS A VERY SHORT AGENDA AND THE STUDY SESSION WILL CONVENE AGAIN AT 1:30
I WILL LIKE TO START BY MAKING A BRIEF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PAINFUL REALITY THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION OF OUR NATION'S FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR AS VICE PRESIDENT THERE WAS THE NEED FOR THE NAACP TO REPRESENT CONGRESSMAN BERNIE THOMPSON OF MISSISSIPPI TO INVOKE THE 1871 CLAN ACT TO ADDRESS THE MOB STORMING OF THE CAPITOL TO INTIMIDATE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES ON JANUARY SIXTH
I WANT TO PRAISE THIS ACTION IN SUPPORT OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE
SO THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
COMMISSIONERS PLEASE UNMUTED YOURSELF
I'M GOING TO ASK EACH COMMISSIONER IN TURN IF THEY HAVE ANY MOTIONS TO REARRANGE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY AND IF THEY DO I WILL ASK FOR A SECOND
PLEASE RESPOND WHEN THE CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME
IF YOU HAVE NO CHANGES JUST SAY NONE
CLERK HART PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ANY CHANGES IN THE AGENDA
THANK YOU BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN FOR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
NO CHANGES THANK YOU
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
NONE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CHO
NOT FOR ME EITHER THANK YOU
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER STEINBREUCK
NO CHANGES
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
NO CHANGES
THANK YOU
HAVING NO SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY WE'LL MOVE TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN LET'S GO BACK FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
I AM SORRY
OF COURSE
NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN APPROVED AGENDA NOW THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR NOBODY TO CHANGE IT
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
THANK YOU
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN
NO CHANGE
APPROVED
EXCUSE ME
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CHO
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER STEINBREUCK
YES
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
SO NOW THE AGENDA IS APPROVED
HAVING NO SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY WE'LL MOVE TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK, PLEASE
GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONS
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY REMARKS BY AGAIN EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO A SMALL ARMY OF PORT EMPLOYEES THAT KEPT OUR FACILITIES OPEN AND OPERATIONAL DURING LAST WEEK'S WINTER STORM EVENT
WITH TODAY'S SUNNY SKIES IT'S ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ONLY A WEEK AGO
SEA RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 12 AND SUNDAY EARLY AFTERNOON AND THE INCIDENT COMMAND AT THE SNOW CONTROL CENTER WAS HUMMING THE WHOLE TIME
WE USED APPROXIMATELY 87,000 GALLONS OF LIQUID THE ICE ON THE AIRFIELD
APPROXIMATELY 9,000 GALLONS OF DICER ON THE ROADWAYS AND ROUGHLY 60 CUBIC YARDS OF ROADSIDE SAND
OVER 15,000,000 GALLONS OF WASTEWATER WAS COLLECTED IN OUR SYSTEMS FROM THE SNOW MELT
OVER IN MARITIME MARINE MAINTENANCE CREWS WERE ON HAND ALL WEEKEND REMOVING SNOW AT THE PORT OF SEATTLE PROPERTIES AND RESPONDING TO YARD FLOODING AND PONDING AFTER THE SNOW STARTED MELTING
WE CAN ALL BE VERY PROUD OF OUR EMPLOYEES' COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO SERVING THE PUBLIC AND THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEES TO KEEPING THEM SAFE DESPITE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN THE HARD WORK
IN OTHER NEWS THE PORT OF SEATTLE HOSTED ITS FOURTH ANNUAL INNOVATION AWARDS RECOGNITION EVENT EARLIER THIS MONTH
ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED IN JANUARY, THE AWARDS WERE POSTPONED DUE TO POWER OUTAGES FROM THE EARLIER WEATHER EVENTS
THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT ARE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PORT CULTURE
2020 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR THAT PUSHED US TO INNOVATE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE
FROM TOUCHLESS TECHNOLOGIES TO VIRTUAL IDEA BOARDS TO DIGITAL MARINA MAPS WE HAVE COME UP WITH SOME REMARKABLY GOOD IDEAS TO MANAGE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND ADVANCE OPERATIONS ACROSS THE PORT
THE WINNER OF THE 2020 INNOVATION AWARD WENT TO THE TEAM BEHIND THE RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS PROCUREMENT IN LINE WITH THE PORT LONG RANGE PLAN AND CENTURY AGENDA
THE 2020 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS PROCURED A NEW SOURCE OF RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS THAT REDUCES OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
ABOUT 70% OF SEATTLE TACOMA'S AIRPORTS CARBON EMISSIONS ARE FROM FACILITIES THAT OWNS AND OPERATES THAT ARE DUE TO THE NATURAL GAS USE IN THE CENTRAL BOILERS WHICH HEATS THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TERMINAL
TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROJECT A WHOLE NEW SET OF SKILLS AND ABILITIES WERE REQUIRED FROM PROCUREMENT METHODS TO PROJECT PROFORM ANALYSIS TO THE LEGAL NUANCES OF CONTRACTING FOR RNG TO ENSURE THE TRANSFER OF GREEN ATTRIBUTES INCLUDING CARBON REDUCTIONS
AFTER YEARS OF LEARNING FROM FAILED APPROACHES THE FINAL CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN APRIL 2020
THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR PROCURING RNG HAS ALLOWED US TO MEET OUR 15% REDUCTION GOAL FOR 2020 AND OUR 50% REDUCTION GOAL FOR 2030 A FULL 10 YEARS EARLY
CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM MEMBERS STEPHANIE MINE, LESLIE STANTON ELIZABETH LEVETT, ARLIN PURCELL, RYAN STAMPER, KEITH WARNER, FARMS LEWIS, PAUL REED, MIKE TASKER, AND BERGEN ANDERSON FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT
SPEAKING OF INNOVATION AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT LAST FRIDAY I PARTICIPATED IN AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE CERTIFICATION OF 12 LIEN SPECIALISTS AND THE RE CERTIFICATION OF EIGHT LIEN SPECIALISTS
THESE EMPLOYEES ACROSS SEVERAL DIVISIONS LEARNED ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING TOOLS AND PRACTICES AND TEAM COACHING AND FACILITATION OF PROBLEM SOLVING TO COMPLETE A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
TYPICALLY THESE PROJECTS ARE IMPROVING INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OR INCREASING SAFETY
THESE PROJECTS ALSO INCREASE JOB SATISFACTION BY REDUCING THE FRUSTRATION OF INEFFICIENT PROCESSES
THE PROJECTS COMPLETED BY THIS GROUP INCLUDE INCREASING THE ON TIME DELIVERY OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS AT OUR CENTRAL PROCUREMENT OFFICE, TRANSITIONING A PROCESS REQUIRING IN OFFICE WORK TO A REMOTE ELECTRONIC PROCESS, IMPLEMENTING NEW PROCESSES IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE WHICH ELIMINATED 148 DOLLARS OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND REDUCED PROCESS STEPS BY 41%
THE SUCCESSES OF THE LIEN SPECIALIST AND OTHERS ENGAGED IN ON LIEN WORK IS PROVING THAT WE CAN HAVE A WORKPLACE OF EFFICIENT PROCESSES, INCLUSIVE DECISION MAKING, AND A WORKPLACE THAT SUPPORTS INNOVATION, AND PRACTICES RESPECT FOR PEOPLE, I WANT TO THANK LIEN SPECIALISTS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ALSO THEIR SUPERVISORS FOR SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT WORK
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR LIEN PROGRAM MANAGERS PENNY SAM, MANDELA THOMAS, JARED HATCHER FOR THEIR ROLE IN TRAINING COACHING THE SPECIALIST AND THEIR TEAMS TURNING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PANDEMIC THE UNITED STATES HAS REACHED A GRIM MILESTONE REPORTED IN THE NEWS AND THAT THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WITH 500,000 AMERICANS HAVING LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE VIRUS WITHIN A YEAR
MORE AMERICANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES FROM COVID 19 IN A SINGLE YEAR THAN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, AND THE VIETNAM WAR COMBINED
THE US LIFE EXPECTANCY RATE DECREASED BY A YEAR DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS
COVID 19 WAS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH THIS PAST YEAR FOLLOWED BY HEART DISEASE AND CANCER
HOWEVER THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS EXPERIENCING DECLINES IN TRENDING FOR ALL KEY METRICS INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS TESTING POSITIVE, RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND RISK OF DEATH DUE TO COVID 19
KING COUNTY IS ALSO DEMONSTRATING THE SAME DOWNWARD TREND IN ALL KEY METRICS
PUBLIC HEALTH IS CONSCIOUSLY TRACKING THE NEW VIRAL VARIANTS CIRCULATING THE COMMUNITY
WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION WE CANNOT LOSE OUR FOCUS
IF MITIGATION IS RELAXED, THE NEW VARIANTS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT PROGRESSING TO DATE
REGARDING THE VACCINE, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON HAS GIVEN OVER 1,2,000,000 VACCINES TO WASHINGTON RESIDENTS WHERE THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE 45,000 VACCINES PER DAY
CURRENTLY THE STATE IS AVERAGING OVER 25,000 PER DAY
DELIVERY SUPPLY CHAIN AS WELL AS EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE CAUSED DELAYS AND CLOSURES TO THE VACCINATION CLINICS
TO DATE KING COUNTY HAS ADMINISTERED THE MOST VACCINES OF ANY COUNTY WITH OVER 440,000 VACCINES
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE IMPORTANT METRICS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS
WITH GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE THE TRENDS AND ALL KEY METRICS FROM COVID 19 I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM HEADED BY THERESA COMMONS FOR PROVIDING US THESE REPORTS WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO KEEP US ALL SAFE
IN ADDITION TO MONITORING THE PANDEMIC THE TEAM HAS STAYED BUSY WITH THE TRADITIONAL PORTFOLIO OF WORKING TO INCREASE SAFETY AND REDUCE WORKPLACE INJURIES AND OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT FOR YEAR 2020 THERE'S BEEN A 40% DECREASE OF REPORTED INJURIES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND A DECREASE OF OSHA REPORTABLE INJURIES COMPARED TO 2019
HEALTH AND SAFETY RESOURCES WERE LARGELY DEDICATED OUR COVID 19 RESPONSE
IT'S MY HOPE THAT ONCE WE REACH COMMUNITY WIDE CONTAINMENT OF THE VIRUS WE CAN RENEW OUR FOCUS ON CRITICAL PORT SAFETY PROJECTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES
THANKS AGAIN TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM FOR THE GREAT WORK AND CONTINUED EFFORT ON THE FRONT
IN OTHER NEWS WE RECENTLY LEARNED THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING ALLOCATED IN THE SECOND PANDEMIC FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE IS 37.4 MILLION FOR SEA AND 5.4 MILLION TO SUPPORT AIRPORT CONCESSIONNAIRES
THIS FUNDING WILL MEET CRITICAL NEEDS DURING A SLOWER THAN ANTICIPATED RECOVERY AND ASSIST WITH ONGOING FISCAL UNCERTAINTY IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD
REGARDING ADDITIONAL RELIEF IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S 1,9,000,000,000,000 STIMULUS PACKAGE BY THE END OF THE WEEK WITH THE SENATE SOON TO FOLLOW
WE'LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THINGS DEVELOP
MOVING TO THE DAY'S COMMISSION MEETING TODAY'S AGENDA IS LIGHTER THAN USUAL AND THIS IS AN ANOMALY MY THREE YEARS HERE AT THE PORT
WE'RE USING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR A TIMELY STUDY SESSION ON THE PORT'S ROLE IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY
FOR TODAY'S REGULAR MEETING AGENDA I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM EIGHT B ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AN AUTHORIZATION TO CONSTRUCT WIFI IMPROVEMENTS ON PASSENGER LOADING BRIDGE INSTALLATIONS
ONCE COMPLETE THE OVERALL WIFI IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WILL PROVIDE UP TO 200% INCREASE IN WIFI COVERAGE IN A NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS ON CONCOURSE LEVELS AND UP TO A TENFOLD INCREASE IN BANDWIDTH
COMMISSIONERS THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS
HOWEVER BEFORE MOVING TO THE REST OF OUR AGENDA TODAY PER THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST I'D LIKE TO HAND THE FLOOR OVER TO ERIC FITCH, STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER FOR A QUICK UPDATE ON STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
ERIC? THANK YOU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS
I AM ERIC FITCH I DO THE PORT STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WHICH MEANS I'M OUR LEAD IN OLYMPIA AND AS YOU KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST EVER VIRTUAL SESSION
IN FACT WE JUST PASSED THE SECOND SIGNIFICANT CUT OFF DEADLINE YESTERDAY WAS THE DEADLINE BY WHICH BILLS HAD TO MOVE THROUGH THEIR FISCAL COMMITTEES IN ORDER TO STAY VIABLE FOR PASSAGE THIS SESSION
SO IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU, A GOOD DAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE, I'M GLAD TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY'RE FAIRING
I WILL REFERENCE A FEW TIMES OUR ADOPTED 2021 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THAT ON NOVEMBER 17 TH 2020 IN PUBLIC SESSION BUT FIRST I KNOW THERE'S INTEREST AND EVEN STUDY SESSION THAT STEVE REFERENCE LATER TODAY ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY INITIATIVES SO I WANT TO BEGIN WITH JUST A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE IN THAT REGARD
THE BIGGEST NEWS SO FAR THIS SESSION IS PROBABLY THE BILL THAT GOVERNOR INSLEE SIGNED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THAT MAKES POSSIBLE THE DISTRIBUTION OF 2.2 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS
THOSE FUNDS PRIMARILY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL CARES ACT
THE LEGISLATION ALLOCATES THAT MONEY ACROSS A RANGE RECOVERY INITIATIVES MANY OF WHICH I THINK YOU'LL SEE REFLECT THE PRIORITIES THAT WERE ARTICULATED BY THE SENATE'S SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT CAME TOGETHER THIS SUMMER TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITIES FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY SO A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF WHERE THAT FUNDING FROM THAT 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS PACKAGE WILL GO: 714,000,000 TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR K-12 ASSISTANCE, 618,000,000 TO THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING 438,000,000 FOR CONTACT TRACING AND TESTING AND 68,000,000 FOR VACCINES; 365,000,000 FOR A VARIETY OF HOUSING RELATED ITEMS INCLUDING SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE; AND THEN A 240,000,000 FOR BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WILL BE MANAGING THE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS OF UP TO 75,000 TO SMALL BUSINESSES
AND I'M GLAD TO SAY I KNOW OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION HAS BEEN TRACKING DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAMS SO FAR THE SO CALLED WORKING WASHINGTON GRANTS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS MONEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE SAME CHANNELS SO I'M SURE THAT OUR FOLKS WILL BE PREPARED TO TRACK THAT FUNDING AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR OUR TENANTS
THE BILL SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR INCLUDES AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE MEANING IT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY
THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUGGESTED IT COULD BE SENT OUT AND HAVE PROGRAMS SET UP WITHIN TWO TO 3 WEEKS
TURNING NOW WITH THE EYE TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESS
AS I MENTIONED THE PORT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING TOURISM RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY OUR PARTNERS AT THE WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE
I KNOW DAVID BLANFORD SPEAKING WITH YOU LATER SO YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS FROM HIM I EXPECT BUT WTA IS REQUESTING 12,000,000 TO JUMPSTART THE TOURISM ECONOMY WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW IS PRIMARILY COMPRISED OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND HAS BEEN VERY HARD HIT
THE PORT SENT A LETTER TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE BUDGET WRITERS IN LATE JANUARY URGING THEIR INCLUSION OF 12,000,000 IN THE FINAL OPERATING BUDGET AND NOTING THAT WE'RE NOT JUST ASKING THE STATE FOR MONEY WE'VE ALREADY PUT FORTH OUR OWN FUNDING IN THE SHAPE OF THAT 1.5 MILLION THE COMMISSION APPROVED TO HELP KEEP THE TOURISM SECTOR ALIVE IN THE NEAR TERM
SO YOU CAN EXPECT ME TO SET UP MEETINGS BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET WRITING COMMITTEES SOMETIME IN MARCH TO DISCUSS THIS TOURISM AND ASK MORE SPECIFICALLY AND LIKE I SAID I EXPECT DAVID WILL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER TODAY
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IMPACTS SMALL BUSINESSES AND ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS BROADBAND ACCESS
THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS AS A RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY BUT NOW IT'S REALLY COME TO THE PORT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY AND SO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES RELYING ON BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY
THERE IS A BILL MOVING FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD GIVE PORT DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICTS RETAIL BROADBAND AUTHORITY
THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE NO PORT DISTRICTS ARE PLANNING TO EXERCISE RETAIL AUTHORITY BECOMING A BROADBAND RETAILER BUT THERE ARE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR BROADBAND BUILD OUT THAT YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS IF YOU HAVE RETAIL AUTHORITY
SO THE BILLS NEGOTIATIONS INCLUDE PORT DISTRICTS AFFIRMING THAT THEY DON'T INTEND TO ACT AS RETAILERS BUT THAT THEY NEED THE AUTHORITY TO ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDS
IT'S A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE PORT ASSOCIATION WITH WHOM WE WERE WORK CLOSELY AND THEY ASKED US TO SUPPORT IT SO WE DID
I SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY INDICATING NOT THAT WE WERE PLANNING ON GETTING INVOLVED BUT THAT WE SUPPORTED OTHER PORTS THAT WANTED TO ACCESS FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY IN UNDERSERVED AREAS
SO THAT HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD
IT'S THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE AND COULD BE SCHEDULED FOR A FLOOR VOTE IN COMING DAYS
CONTINUE ON THE THEME OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY ONE OF THE PRIORITIES YOU ALL IDENTIFIED IN THE 2021 AGENDA WAS THE ADOPTION OF THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION REVENUE PACKAGE
SO FAR THREE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
CHAIR IN THE HOUSE WENT FIRST AND BROUGHT FORWARD 27,000,000,000 DOLLARS 16 YEAR PROPOSAL THEN CHAIR HOBBS IN THE SENATE WITH A 16 TO 18,000,000,000 DOLLARS 16 YEAR PROPOSAL AND THEN RANKING MEMBER KING WHO HAD A 10,000,000,000 DOLLAR PROPOSAL OVER JUST ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
BOTH THE HOBBS AND KING PROPOSALS INCLUDE 25,000,000 DOLLARS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WHICH IS AN EXPLICIT PRIORITY OF OURS SUPPORTING OUR CITY PARTNERS AND SECURING FUNDING
CHAIRMAN PHI'S PACKAGE NAMED ONLY ONE SPECIFIC PROJECT IN SORT OF HIS INITIAL INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS WHICH WAS THE I-5 BRIDGE OVER THE COLUMBIA RIVER BUT WE UNDERSTAND HE'S RELYING ON MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TO BRING FORWARD OTHER PROJECTS TO BUILD OUT THE PROJECT LIST SO WE'RE COORDINATING WITH CITY OF SEATTLE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE GOT CHAMPIONS IDENTIFIED AND THAT THOSE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE UNDERSTAND THE STATEWIDE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
AND OF COURSE WE'RE MONITORING OTHER PORT PRIORITIES INCLUDING THE PUGET SOUND GATEWAY PROGRAM AND ROBUST FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HARD HIT BY THE PANDEMIC
SO JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS BEFORE TURNING TO YOUR QUESTIONS
AS YOU ALL KNOW AND AS WE DISCUSSED IN ADOPTING OUR AGENDA ANY DISCUSSION OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY LEADS TO A DISCUSSION OF CARBON POLICY
THIS IS THE CLEAR PRIORITY IDENTIFIED IN OUR 2021 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND ADVOCATING FOR FOR A WHILE
SO JUST A FEW UPDATES IN THAT REGARD
THE PORT'S LONGTIME PRIORITY WHICH IS THE ENACTMENT OF A LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE
IT'S BEEN PASSED SO FAR BY THREE HOUSE COMMITTEES STARTED AT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE WHERE COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT
THEY WENT TO THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WHERE COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF METRUCK SENT A LETTER TO MEMBERS INDICATING OUR SUPPORT AND OUR BELIEF THAT THIS HAS MAJOR ECONOMIC UPSIDE AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WHERE COMMISSIONER CALKINS PROVIDED TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT
THE BILL IS NOW IN HOUSE RULES
IT COULD BE SCHEDULED FOR A FLOOR VOTE AT ANY TIME
SO DENNIS MCCLAREN, OUR CONSULTANT AND I ARE MEETING WITH MEMBERS AND THE BILL SPONSOR TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN GOOD SHAPE AS IT HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR
MARCH NINTH IS THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUT OFF WHICH MEANS THAT'S THE DAY THAT BILLS HAVE TO PASS OUT OF THE CHAMBER IN WHICH THEY WERE INTRODUCED
BOTH CHAMBERS ARE PLANNING PRETTY MUCH ALL FLOOR VOTES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE LCFS WILL GET ITS HOUSE FLOOR VOTE AND WILL GET OFF THE FLOOR BY THE MARCH 9TH DEADLINE
THIS LEADS TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE PRICE ON CARBON
THAT CONVERSATION IS VERY MUCH ONGOING
SENATOR CARLISLE AND GOVERNOR INSLEE'S PROPOSAL TO ENACT A CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM IS I WOULD SAY SO FAR THE PROPOSAL THAT'S GENERATING THE MOST CONVERSATION IN OLYMPIA
THE BIG NEWS LAST WEEK WAS THE RELEASE OF SENATOR CARLYLE'S SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT WHICH MADE A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
FIRST IT DEVOTED SOME OF THE FUNDING GENERATED BY THE CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM TO SENATOR HOBBS' FORWARD WASHINGTON TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE AND IT ALSO INCORPORATED SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROVISIONS WHICH HAD BEEN ONE OF THE FRANKLY ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF THE BILL IN ITS INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT THE SPONSOR IS CLEARLY TRYING TO REFLECT WHAT HE HEARD FROM PEOPLE PROVIDING TESTIMONY AT THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING
THERE WAS A WORK SESSION ON THAT BILL LAST FRIDAY WHERE STAFF PRESENTED MEMBERS AND THOSE WATCHING ON TBW INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW VERSION AND THE BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THURSDAY
THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO ENACT OF CARBON POLLUTION TAX WHICH IS SORT OF THE COUNTERPOINT TO THE INSLEE CARLYLE CAP AND TRADE PROPOSAL
THERE ARE NOW HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF THE CARBON POLLUTION TAX AND BOND PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
NEITHER HAVE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS YET BUT DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT REVENUE GENERATED BY THOSE PROPOSALS THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OF THE SO CALLED CUTOFFS I REFERENCED EARLIER SO REALLY THEY COULD HAVE HEARINGS AS LATE AS THE LAST WEEK OF SESSION FOR EXAMPLE AND STILL BE ENACTED BECAUSE THEY'RE SO SUBSTANTIAL AND SO SIGNIFICANT FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE
SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET I JUST WANT TO MENTION TWO MORE THINGS BEFORE I CONCLUDE
WITH COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN'S LEADERSHIP AND JOSHUA BURGER FOR MARITIME BLUE I'M HELPING MARSHALL THE QUIET SOUND PLANNING TEAM BEHIND A STATE BUDGET REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE KICK OFF OF THE QUIET SOUND PROGRAM OF VOLUNTARY VESSEL SLOWING PROGRAM THAT COMES OUT OF GOVERNOR INSLEE SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA TASK FORCE WORK IN 2018
SO WE'VE HAD A POSITIVE RECEPTION SO FAR
WE'VE HAD OFFICIAL BUDGET REQUEST ENTERED ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT I'LL BE GETTING COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN AND JOSHUA INTO SOME MEETINGS WITH BUDGET WRITERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY STAYS IN THE BUDGET
AND ALSO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE YEARS BUT I WOULD SAY HAS NEVER BEEN THIS GOOD
THE MODEL TOXIC CONTROL ACT ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS HAD ITS FUNDING STOLEN FOR OTHER USES AND IT'S BEEN SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BY AMENDMENTS OVER THE YEARS
THIS YEAR GOVERNOR INSLEE'S PROPOSAL TO THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDED FOUR DIFFERENT PORT OF SEATTLE CLEANUPS AND PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR EACH OF THOSE
SO WE'VE GOT A TWO PAGER THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THAT FUNDING COULD STICK BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD SIGN FOR TURNING PREVIOUSLY CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES BACK TO PRODUCTIVE USE, JOBS ON THE WATERFRONT, AND A HEALTHIER PUGET SOUND
SO IT'S A GOOD STORY AND ONE WE PLAN TO SHARE WITH COMMITTEE
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO STOP AND TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
WELL THANK YOU ERIC
I REALLY APPRECIATE-- YOU'RE A HIGHLY VALUED MANAGER OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND MOST ARTICULATE THAT AS WELL
I ASK OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND CLERK HART WILL CALL THE ROLE
I WILL DO THAT
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN
THANK YOU NO QUESTIONS
JUST AGAIN COMPLIMENTS TO ERIC
I ALSO AM DOING THE VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND I CAN SAY HOW CHALLENGING IT IS BUT NO MORE SO IF YOU ARE THE PORT LOBBYIST COVERING A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE HEARINGS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME
SO ERIC I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY COMPUTER SCREENS YOU HAVE BUT YOU MUST HAVE SEVERAL
IN TERMS OF THANK YOU FOR COVERING ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN A TOP PORT OF SEATTLE PRIORITY THE BROADBAND ISSUE
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THE PORT OF SEATTLE SUPPORT FOR THAT TO THE OTHER PORTS
I THINK WE'VE ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC ACCESS TO BROADBAND IS ABSOLUTELY AN EQUITY ISSUE AND IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT MOVING FORWARD
BUT THAT'S IT THANKS A LOT
THANK YOU YEAH I'LL SAY I KNOW YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT
DON'T TRY LISTENING TO TWO MEETINGS OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT EARS
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BOWMAN MOVING TO COMMISSIONER CALKINS
HEY THANKS ERIC FOR THE UPDATE
AS YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CARBON PRICING QUESTIONS OBVIOUSLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR HIGHEST LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY THE LCFS AND I NOTICED THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING FORWARD A BUDGET AND THEN ALSO PUTTING FORWARD A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE AND WONDERING HOW THAT'S SHIFTING THE CONVERSATION
IN PARTICULAR I'M HEARING FROM THE BUDGET WRITERS THAT THERE'S NO NEED FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED ON THERE IS A 10,000,000,000 DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE
IF NO NEW REVENUE IS NEEDED HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PAY THAT 10,000,000,000 DOLLARS? GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC RIGHT NOW
SENATOR KING WHO I SHOULD SAY A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF PORT OPERATIONS HAS BEEN VERY UNDERSTANDING OF FREIGHT MOBILITY ISSUES
HE'S ARTICULATED A TRANSPORTATION VISION THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY GENERATE- IT DOESN'T REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL NEW REVENUE FROM A CARBON FEE
IT WOULD BE FUNDED BY THREE CENT GAS TAX AND A TRANSFER OF MONEY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX WHICH CURRENTLY GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND OVER SLOWLY OVER THE YEARS THAT WOULD BECOME A TRANSPORTATION FUND INPUT SO THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS FOR A FEW YEARS THAT NOW HAS BEEN SUGGESTING THAT AS A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SO THE MAIN BUDGET INPUT INTO THE KING PROPOSAL IS FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX
BUT HOW DO THEY THEN ACCOUNT FOR THAT? I THINK IT WAS LIKE 8.6 BILLION DOLLARS IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE- WHAT PROGRAMS GET CUT? YOU KNOW THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION
I THINK I'VE BEEN SORT OF LOOKING AT IT FROM A TRANSPORTATION PERSPECTIVE AND I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU ON
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF FUNDS TO JUST TRANSFER OUT WITHOUT EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IF NOT
THAT AND YOUR WEEKLY UPDATES HAVE BEEN GREAT IN SORT OF KEEPING US IN THE LOOP AS TO WHAT'S MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT'S NOT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
YOU GOT IT
AND I'LL JUST ADD TO YOUR BROADER QUESTION THAT HAVING THREE DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION PROPOSALS ONE OF WHICH RELIES ON THE CARBON FEE, HOBBS HAS CARBON FEE OR CAP AND TRADE AND THEN KING HAS THIS MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX I THINK MAYBE THE OPTIMIST SOMEHOW STILL ALIVE IN ME BUT HAVING THREE PROPOSALS REALLY IT GIVES ME MORE CONFIDENCE THAT WE COULD GET TO ONE BY THE END OF SESSION
IT'S ALWAYS A HARD THING TO DO IN ONE SESSION BUT HAVING SO MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS OUT THERE BEING PUBLICLY DEBATED GIVES MEMBERS A LOT TO GO ON AS THEY'RE TRYING TO COBBLE TOGETHER A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES- TO THAT END I THINK THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WE NEED A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE BUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND SO I THINK THAT MOVES THE PROCESS MUCH FURTHER FORWARD
ABSOLUTELY AND IT'S A CREDIT TO NOT NECESSARILY EVEN MY WORK BUT THE SEAPORT ALLIANCE AND YOU ALL WHO'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CITY OF SEATTLE AND WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE OVER THE YEARS
TO HAVE THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE GET 25,000,00 IN TWO OF THE THREE PROPOSALS THAT ARE OUT THERE SO FAR IS SORT OF AN INDICATION OF ALL THAT WORK OVER THE SUMMER PAYING OFF SO FAR
THANKS ERIC
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CALKINS
COMMISSIONER CHO
YEAH I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ERIC AND ECHO THE SENTIMENT THAT STEPHANIE HAS WITH REGARDS TO HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DEAL WITH SESSION REMOTELY
ONE QUESTION I HAD CONTINUING ON THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
HOW CLOSE ARE THE THREE BUDGETS TO BEING RECONCILED ESSENTIALLY AND CAN WE EXPECT THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET TO GET PASSED THIS SESSION OR ARE THE THREE PROPOSALS TOO FAR APART IN YOUR VIEW? THEY'RE RELATIVELY FAR APART
I THINK THE ONE THING THE PHI'S PROPOSAL THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE PROPOSAL AND THE SENATE PROPOSAL IS THAT THE HOUSE PROPOSAL DOESN'T BOND ANY OF THE REVENUE IT'S ALL KIND OF PAY AS YOU GO MEANING IT WOULD ONLY REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY WHICH MAKES IT EASIER WHEN YOU WHEN YOU ISSUE BONDS YOU NEED SUBSTANTIALLY MORE VOTES SO THAT'S ONE MARK IN ITS FAVOR
ON THE SENATE SIDE I WOULD SAY THE MARK AND SENATOR HOBBS FAVOR IS THAT SENATOR CARYLE INVEST BILL THE LATEST VERSION OF IT DEVOTES REVENUE TO HOBBS TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE OR APPEARS TO WHICH I WOULD SAY SORT OF JOCK PUSHES THAT AHEAD OF OR MAYBE JUST MAKES IT SLIGHTLY MORE MATURED
BUT THE BIG THING WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IS FOR BOTH PROPOSALS TO COME FORWARD AS ACTUAL LEGISLATION
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE KIND OF BALANCE SHEETS
I THINK WE'LL LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THEIR VIABILITY WHEN WE SEE THE LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THE 2015 CONNECTING WASHINGTON PACKAGE WAS LIKE 50 PEOPLE IN A ROOM WITH THE TRANSPORTATION CHAIRS
NOBODY'S LEAVING UNTIL WE GET THIS WORKED OUT
THAT'S ONE OF THE VIRTUAL SESSIONS CHALLENGES THAT MIGHT JUST MEAN WE GET CLOSE THIS YEAR BUT DON'T GET IT
I DO THINK THOUGH TO COMMISSIONER CALKINS COMMENTS, THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT ACROSS OLYMPIA THAT WE NEED A TRANSPORTATION REVENUE PACKAGE AS A VITAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A REAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION IN A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE MORE SO THAN IN PRIOR YEARS
SO THOSE THINGS GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT WE COULD GET THERE BUT IT MAY BE THE VIRTUAL FORMAT THAT'S THE FINAL UNDOING
GREAT THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
THAT'S ALL THANKS
THANK YOU
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CHO
COMMISSIONER STEINBRUECK
YES JUST A SECOND
ONE MINUTE LET ME UNMUTE THERE
THERE WE GO
YES THANKS
GREAT REPORT OUT AND TERRIFIC WORK ERIC AND TEAM
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THOSE EFFORTS
I WANTED TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE KITCHEN WORKERS AMENDMENT LEGISLATION
YOU MAY HAVE TOUCHED ON THAT BUT I MISSED IT IF YOU DID
WHERE THAT IS AND WHAT THE PROSPECTS ARE
YEAH I'M REMISS I DIDN'T MENTION THAT
YEAH COMMISSIONER THANK YOU
SO SENATOR KAISER LAST YEAR AS YOU ALL RECALL MOVED LEGISLATION THAT GAVE THE PORT DISTRICT THE PORT THE AUTHORITY TO SET MINIMUM LABOR STANDARDS FOR A SPECIFIC GROUP OF WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT SPECIFICALLY IN REFERENCE TO THE AIRLINE CATERING WORKERS
BECAUSE OF OUR DROP IN ENPLANEMENTS AND SEVERAL OTHER DYNAMICS IT'S NOT AN AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE
SHE IS RUNNING AN AMENDMENT THIS YEAR TO CLARIFY HOW AIRPORT OPERATORS SHOULD CALCULATE THEIR PASSENGER COUNTS ESSENTIALLY FOR THE ELIGIBILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AUTHORITY
THE BILL MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH THE SENATE AND IT SITS AT THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
SENATOR KAISER'S ON THE RULES COMMITTEE AND IT'S HER BILL SO WE EXPECT SHE'LL TRY TO GET THAT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE MARCH 9TH CUT OFF AND IT RECEIVED ACTUALLY TWO REPUBLICAN VOTES COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE WHICH WAS I THINK LAST SESSION WAS SORT OF MORE OF A PARTY LINE ISSUE AND THIS SESSION ENJOYS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND THE REASON I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE VIRTUAL FORMAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO MOVE BILLS THAT AREN'T SUBJECT OF A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT
SO HAVING SENATOR KAISER'S AMENDMENT TO THE AIRLINE CATERING BILL I WOULD SAY IS POSITIVE AS FAR AS ITS PROSPECTS FOR ADVANCEMENT
WELL EXCELLENT
KEEP US POSTED ON THAT
THANK YOU
YOU'RE WELCOME
THANK YOU
I WILL ABSOLUTELY KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT ONE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
THANK YOU
JOINING IN THE CHORUS
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ABILITY TO ANSWER EVEN THESE QUESTIONS WITH SUCH GREAT DETAIL
SO ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES OF HAVING THE VIRTUAL EVERYTHING IS I HAD A VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR OF ENERGY HAPPY HOUR LAST NIGHT TALKING TO A LOT OF THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LEADERS ABOUT LEGISLATION LIKE THIS SO I THINK IT'S WE'RE ALL DOING OUR BEST IT'S JUST A LITTLE EASIER IF YOU CAN HAVE A BEER IN YOUR HAND I GUESS
BUT ACTUALLY THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS REALLY THIS TRIUMPHANT OF PACKAGE THAT WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER
FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION, CAP AND INVESTOR SOME OTHER TYPE OF REVENUE ALONG WITH OUR LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD BUT ULTIMATELY HOW CAN WE GET THE PROVISIONS OF THE HEAL ACT INTO THIS MIX SO THAT- OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE EJ COMMUNITY CAN BE EMBRACED SUFFICIENTLY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I GUESS I SAY GOOD IT'S A HARD QUESTION
IT'S PROBABLY THE BIG UNKNOWN DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW
I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE HEAL ACT HAS BEEN MODIFIED QUITE A BIT SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE PROGRESSING EVEN MORE TO A POINT WHERE THE STATE AGENCIES COULD EMBRACE THE HEAL ACT
THEY WEREN'T OPPOSED TO IT BUT THEY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD FUND CHANGES TO THEIR OPERATIONS FOR EXAMPLE
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER AND THEN SENATOR CARLYLE'S NEW CAP AND INVEST BILL DOES INCORPORATE A LOT OF NOT THE IDENTICAL PROVISIONS FROM THE HEAL ACT BUT VERY SIMILAR, CONDUCTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS FOR EXAMPLE OF NEW PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE CLIMATE SORRY THE CAP AND TRADE BILL
SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTED TO STILL MOVING ALL THESE THINGS FORWARD
THERE'S BEEN AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THOSE IN SUPPORTING A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE FOR EXAMPLE CHAIRMAN PHI IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE INTRODUCING THE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
THOSE FOLKS WORKING ON THE LCFS TALK ABOUT IMPACT OF BURNING CLEAN FUELS TO REDUCE POLLUTION IN OVER BURNED COMMUNITIES AND THEN OF COURSE THE HEAL ACT MOVED THROUGH SENATE WAYS AND MEANS AND STAYED ALIVE FOR POTENTIAL ENACTMENT
SO THE FACT THAT ALL THE PROPOSALS ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD NOW SIX AND A HALF WEEKS INTO SESSION SUGGEST THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOMEWHERE
BUT AGAIN NOT TO JUST USE THE VIRTUAL SESSIONS A COP OUT BUT PUTTING TOGETHER A HUGE PACKAGE LIKE THAT REQUIRES SOME PRETTY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WHICH ARE EITHER WITH A BEER OR IN A SORT OF A ROOM FACE TO FACE EASIER TO PUT TOGETHER SO WE'LL SEE IF WE MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS BUT DON'T QUITE GET THERE
I THINK FOR US THE LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY
WE LIKE THE PRICE ON CARBON CONVERSATION BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR A LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE IN PUBLIC POLLING THEN WE WANT TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD EVEN IF THE OTHER PROPOSALS CAN'T GET THERE
SO I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE AND REPRESENT AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE MAKING SURE LCFS CAN KEEP MOVING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN DEBATING IT AND WE THINK IT'S READY TO GO
OUR TIME HAS COME
THANK YOU SO MUCH ERIC
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU EXECUTIVE METRUCK FOR YOUR PREVIOUS UPDATE
CAN I ASK MR PRICHARD IF WE HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS? THANK YOU COMMISSION PRESIDENT AND COMMISSION
WE HAVE A FEW COMMITTEE REPORTS
THE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MET
COMMISSIONERS BOWMAN AND STEINBRUECK CONVENED THAT COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 11TH AND REVIEWED THE WORK PLAN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND RECEIVED UPDATES ON LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD PROGRESS IN OLYMPIA AND A BRIEFING ON SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS WITH AN EYE TOWARDS DEVELOPING A STUDY SESSION THAT WE'D HOPE TO BE IN EARLY MARCH BUT WITH OUR CROWDED SCHEDULE AND A FEW CHANGES WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK TO EARLY APRIL
WE'RE CURRENTLY SECURING THAT DATE
COMMISSIONERS CALKINS AND CHO CONVENED THE AVIATION COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 10TH
THEY ALSO REVIEWED THE WORK PLAN FOR THE YEAR, RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE ZONE 6 7 PLAN THAT INCLUDED A BRIEFING BY THE LEGAL TEAM ON THE CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS
OUR UPCOMING WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL LANDS COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET ON MARCH 4TH
THE EQUITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETS ON MARCH 18TH
WE ALSO HAVE TWO AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETINGS COMING UP SOON WITH THE TOURISM COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 4TH AND THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 16TH .THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMITTEE UPDATES
THANKS
THANK YOU MR PRICHARD
IF THERE ARE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR AARON REGARDING THESE COMMITTEES CLERK HART PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN
COMMISSIONER BOWMAN FOR QUESTIONS FOR COMMITTEE REPORTS? SORRY ABOUT THAT I WAS MUTED
NO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THANK YOU
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
NONE FOR ME EITHER
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CHO
NONE FOR ME THANK YOU
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER STEINBRUECK
NO QUESTIONS
THANK YOU AARON
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AND THAT'LL BE ALL FOR ME AS WELL
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AARON
THE COMMISSION WILL NOW ACCEPT GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS RELATED TO THE PORT
WRITTEN COMMENTS PROVIDED TO THE CLERK WILL BE INCLUDED IN TODAY'S MEETING RECORD AS WELL
THE CLERK HAS A LIST OF THOSE PREPARED TO SPEAK WHICH I BELIEVE IS ONLY ONE AT THIS POINT
AS THE CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME WE WILL OPEN THE LINE AND COMMENTERS WILL HAVE TO UNMUTE THEMSELVES THEN PLEASE REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD
IF YOU ARE ON THE TEAM MEETING AND ARE ALSO STREAMING THE MEETING PLEASE MUTE THE VIDEO TO AVOID FEEDBACK
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE MAY BE A SHORT TIME LAG ON THE VIDEO STREAM
COMMENT TIME WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER PERSON
WITH ONE PERSON SPEAKING WE COULD BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE THERE
CLERK HART PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER
THANK YOU AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LAURA GIBBONS
THANK YOU
THIS IS LAURA GIBBONS FROM SEATTLE 360 AND I MAY NEED AN EXTRA MINUTE HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK JUST VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT I HEARD FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ABOUT CAP AND TRADE
I URGE YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN TO RESULT IN LESS GREENHOUSE GASES OVERALL
AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE USE OF OFFSET WHICH IS PART OF A CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM
THEY'VE BEEN CALLED A MODERN SALE OF INDULGENCE AND THEY RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE WHERE WE EXPORT OUR CARBON PROBLEMS PRIMARILY TO THE GLOBAL SOUTH AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH THIS DISRUPTS THEIR ECONOMY AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR SOCIAL STRUCTURE IT'S BEEN CALLED CARBON COLONIZATION
SO I'LL SEND YOU FURTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT THIS ANOTHER TIME SO THAT YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT
I ALSO WANTED TO TALK TODAY AND THIS YOU HAVE A WRITTEN VERSION OF
I LOOKED OVER YOUR STUDY MATERIALS FOR YOUR STUDY SESSION ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND I'M DISTURBED
ANY PLAN TO RECOVER QUOTE THE PREVIOUS LEVELS OF AVIATION IS SHORT SIGHTED SINCE IT IGNORES THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF CLIMATE DEVASTATION RESULTING FROM AVIATION AND IS COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE WITH YOUR 2030 TARGET OF 50% REDUCTIONS IN SCOPE THREE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM 2007 LEVELS
I'M ALSO VERY BOTHERED BY YOUR CLAIM TO HAVE AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK FOR THIS RECOVERY
IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT EQUITY YOU WOULD NOT PLAN FOR QUOTE RECOVERY IN AVIATION SINCE THERE'S NO EQUITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO FLIES AND WHO PAYS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY
THE TOP OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION FLIES AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 50% OF ALL THE EMISSIONS FROM AVIATION AND MEANWHILE THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SEATAC AIRPORT EFFECTS STUDY SHOWS THAT SEATAC IMPACTED COMMUNITIES COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE KING COUNTY HAVE LOWER HOUSEHOLD INCOMES, LOWER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, POOR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, HIGHER RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT, ET CETERA AND I'VE INCLUDED REFERENCES FOR EVERY FACT I'VE MENTIONED HERE IN THE WRITTEN VERSION SO YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT IF YOU LIKE TO
THESE COMMUNITIES SUFFER THE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM ULTRAFINE PARTICLES AND NOISE INCLUDING POTENTIAL NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN, ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR, NERVOUS, AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS AND HIGHER RATE OF PRETERM BIRTH
WE PROVIDED YOU WITH THESE CITATIONS MANY TIMES
I'VE INCLUDED THEM HERE AGAIN
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE SOUTH SEATTLE EMERALD SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO BUILD BACK BETTER AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA BUT IT'S A REDUCTION IN AVIATION THAT WOULD BE A KEY COMPONENT TO A GREEN AND EQUITABLE FUTURE
THAT'S HOW WE BUILD BACK BETTER
THANK YOU
THANK YOU SO MUCH
I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF CLERK HART COULD SUMMARIZE ANY SYNOPSIS OF WRITTEN COMMENTS PLEASE
GOOD AFTERNOON
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR METRUCK
WE HAVE RECEIVED FOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR SUBMISSION AT TODAY'S MEETING
CHARLOTTE DODD WRITES COMMENTING THAT THE PORT NEEDS TO PURSUE AVIATION DE GROWTH AS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE ITS OWN EMISSION REDUCTION GOALS NOTING THAT THERE IS NO EQUITABLE PATH TO AVIATION RECOVERY OTHER THAN IMMEDIATE AND DRASTIC DE GROWTH
NATASHA BARBER COMMENTS THAT MATERIALS IN TODAY'S LATER STUDY SESSION COVERS SOME ASPECTS OF EQUITY BUT SHE FEELS THEY IGNORE EQUITY ASPECTS IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY
SHE STATES THAT THE PORT MUST ACCOUNT FOR THE EFFECTS AIRPORTS HAVE ON NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING PARTICULARS AND NOISE
SARAH SHIVLEY WRITES COMMENTING THAT AIRPORT IMPACTED COMMUNITIES WHO DO NOT DRIVE DEMAND FOR AVIATION BEAR THE BURDEN OF AVIATION POLLUTION WHICH CAUSES WIDE RANGING ADVERSE HEALTH AND LEARNING IMPACTS
SHE ALSO NOTES THAT AVIATION ACTIVITY IS DRIVING OUR REGIONS CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS
AND CONCLUDING WITH BERNADINE LUND WHO WRITES TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR INSTALLING THE TEMPORARY NOISE MONITOR AT NAUTILUS GRADE SCHOOL
SHE PROVIDES HER COMPARISON DATA OF THIS NOISE MONITOR AND THE MONITOR LOCATED AT SACAJAWEA JUNIOR HIGH
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED TODAY
THANK YOU CLERK HART AND HEARING NO FURTHER PUBLIC TESTIMONY WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA
ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE AND WILL BE ADOPTED BY ONE MOTION
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BUT WE ARE NOT PULLING ANY ITEMS I BELIEVE
THERE ARE NO ITEMS PROPOSED
AT THIS TIME THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA COVERING ITEMS EIGHT A THROUGH EIGHT E
SO MOVED
SECOND
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
COMMISSIONERS PLEASE SAY YES OR NO WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED
BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CHO
AYE
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER STEINBREUCK
YES
THANK YOU
AND COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
AYE
THANK YOU
WE HAVE FIVE YESSES AND ZERO NOES fOR THIS ITEM SO IT PASSES
NOW MOVING ON WHERE ON THE AGENDA THERE ARE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEMS AND SO NEW BUSINESS OR PRESENTATIONS AND STAFF TO REPORT TODAY
THERE'LL BE NONE
AND I DO NOT SEE WE HAVE ANY PRESENTATIONS OR STAFF REPORTS AS WELL
WE'RE SAVING OURSELVES FOR THE STUDY SESSION HERE
NOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON REFERRAL TO THE COMMITTEE AND CLOSING COMMENTS COMMISSIONERS THAT WOULD BE TIME FOR YOU TO BRING THAT FORWARD
AND WE'LL START THE ROLE WITH COMMISSIONER BOWMAN FOR A REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE OR ANY CLOSING COMMENTS ON THIS REGULAR MEETING
NONE THANK YOU
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER CALKINS
JUST TO SAY WE SHOULD CONTACT GUINNESS BOOK WORLD RECORDS ABOUT HOW QUICKLY WE GOT THROUGH THE ENTIRE AGENDA TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS CERTAINLY IT'S GOT TO BE LESS THAN 50% OF THE LENGTH OF THE SECOND SHORTEST MEETING I'VE EVER HAD AS A COMMISSIONER
THIS IS TRUE
COMMISSIONERS CHO
NOTHING FOR ME
I ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF RYAN
I CHALK IT UP TO THE GREAT WORK OF OUR CLERK
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CHO
COMMISSIONER STEINBREUCK
NO COMMENTS THANKS
THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER FELLEMAN
I'LL HAVE YOU NOTE THAT IT'S THE COMMISSION PRESIDENT WHO SETS THE AGENDA AND THE COMPLIMENTS ARE DUE HERE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND WE ARE SAVING OURSELVES LIKE I SAID FOR THE STUDY SESSION WHERE WE'LL MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU SUGGEST IS SUCH A WONDERFUL THING
SO HEARING NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND HAVING NO FURTHER BUSINESS IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE REGULAR MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 12:47 PM
WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AT THIS TIME BEFORE CONVENING IN OUR SEPARATE MEETING SPECIAL MEETING TO HOLD A STUDY SESSION AT 1:30 REGARDING ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND I REALLY HOPE FOLKS CAN STICK AROUND BECAUSE WE'LL BE HEARING FROM BRIAN MCALLEN, PRESIDENT CEO OF GREATER SEATTLE PARTNERS, RYAN DONAHUE OF THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, MARIE CAROSA OF THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND DAVID BLANFORD WASHINGTON TOURISM ALLIANCE
PARTICIPANTS ON THE CALL MAY USE THE SAME MEETING LINK USED FOR THIS MEETING TO ACCESS THAT STUDY SESSION
VIEWING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW OUR MEETING.

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