COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.   10b 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting   October 24, 2023 

DATE :     September 25, 2023 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sarah Ogier, Director-Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
Jon Sloan, Sr. Manager-Maritime Environment & Sustainability 
Danielle Butsick, Environmental Program Manager 
Julie Yun, Capital Project Manager 
SUBJECT:  8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North Memorandum of Agreement with City of Seattle 
& Project Funding Authorization (C801270) 
Amount of this request:                 $317,128 
Total estimated project cost:          $2,600,000 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to (1) sign a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) with the City of Seattle enabling the Port to provide funding up to $500,000 
and approximately $50,000 in-kind support for site characterization, design, and permitting of
the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North Project; and (2) authorize funding in the amount of
$317,128 to support City-led site characterization, design and permitting tasks. Note that
$232,872 was previously authorized for this project. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Gateway Park North Project site is along the right bank of the Duwamish River adjacent to
the Georgetown neighborhood. The site includes a City of Seattle street-end and has for decades 
provided informal water access for the community. The uplands of the site are adjacent to and
surrounded by industrial land. However, the Georgetown community has envisioned this site as
its only river access park, to include restored shoreline habitat, attractive and accessible
landscaping, and corridor improvements. Today’s action builds on years of Port engagement with
community members and cooperation with the City of Seattle. City and Port staff have discussed
options for making these improvements and believe the best approach is for the City to lead
project management and for the Port to contribute funds and in-kind support. 
This Memorandum of Agreement commits the Port of Seattle to contribute up to $500,000 plus
approximately $50,000 in in-kind support including staff time to the City of Seattle’s 8th Avenue
S/Gateway Park North public access project for site characterization, design, and permitting 

Template revised January 10, 2019.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b                                 Page 2 of 6 
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023 
tasks. The project site is on the Duwamish River in Georgetown and consists of a City of Seattle
Parks Department parcel, City of Seattle Department of Transportation right-of-way, and a 
portion of the former Commercial Waterway District #1 property. This site has been envisioned
as a park by the Georgetown community for over 40 years.  The Port’s support of this City of
Seattle park project delivers on a commitment the Port made in the Duwamish Valley Community
Benefits Commitment (2019) and also contributes to Century Agenda objectives related to equity,
diversity and inclusion, as well as habitat restoration in the Green-Duwamish Watershed. 
JUSTIFICATION 
This Memorandum of Agreement supports the following Century Agenda goals and objectives: 
1) Goal 4: Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America; 
Objective 12: Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the
Green-Duwamish 
2) Goal 5: Become a model for equity, diversity, and inclusion; 
Objective 14: Ensure that all internal and external programs, structures, and
practices provide equitable opportunities for all 
This Memorandum of Agreement delivers on a commitment that was included in the Duwamish
Valley Community Benefits Commitment, which identifies the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North 
project as an action area to improve public parks and green space under the Healthy Environment
and Communities goal. Support for the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North project is also a priority
for the Port Community Action Team (PCAT), along with selection of a Port liaison to the project,
accomplished via the in-kind support commitment in the MOA. 
Diversity in Contracting 
Not applicable. 
DETAILS 
The project site is on the Duwamish River in Georgetown and consists of a Seattle Parks
Department parcel, Seattle Department of Transportation right-of-way, and a small portion of
former Commercial Waterway District #1 property. This site has been envisioned as a public
access site by the Georgetown community for decades. The Port’s support of this project delivers
on the item pertaining to the 8th Avenue S site in the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits
Commitment and may contribute to the Century Agenda objective to restore, create, and
enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the Green-Duwamish Watershed. 
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Port of Seattle and the City of Seattle and
will define roles and responsibilities for completing site characterization, design, and permitting
tasks for the Georgetown community-driven 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park North public access
project. The MOA commits the Port of Seattle to contribute up to $500,000 for these tasks.
Additionally, in-kind contributions include use of the Port’s Duwamish River Community Hub for
project team and public outreach meetings; staff technical expertise for permitting and habitat

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b                                 Page 3 of 6 
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023 
restoration design; and provision of habitat materials such as large wood, native plants, topsoil,
and mulch. The City of Seattle has already initiated site characterization, design, and permitting 
for the project, and will be responsible for managing and funding consultant contracts and all 
permit fees. Note that this MOA is specific to the initial phase of work and does not include
funding for project construction. Staff anticipates that the City is likely to request additional port
contribution for construction support in the amount of approximately $2 million plus further inkind
support of up to $50,000; if so a second MOA will be prepared at that time and brought to
Commission for approval. A rough estimate of the total project cost including construction is
approximately $15 million to $20 million (funded primarily by the City of Seattle). 
Scope of Work 
The MOA articulates roles and responsibilities for Phase 1 of the 8th Avenue South/Gateway Park
North project, including  contracting, site characterization, design, permitting, interagency
coordination, and public outreach tasks associated with the planned public access, shoreline
restoration, and corridor improvements. 
The Funding Authorization request, if approved, will provide Public Expense funds to the City of
Seattle to undertake design and permitting tasks associated with the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park
North public access project, per the terms of the MOA. The funding authorization request in the
amount of $317,128, combined with previously authorized amount of $232,872, will account for
both the $500,000 contribution to the City of Seattle per the MOA as well as $50,000 in Port inkind
support. 
This is the first of two potential MOA’s; this MOA pertains primarily to the design, and permitting 
phase, while a second MOA (or amendment) is anticipated to provide construction support which
is currently estimated at approximately $2 million of the total project cost. The decision regarding
whether and how much support to provide for construction will be part of a future Commission
authorization request. This agreement terminates in 2028 if not amended. 
Schedule 
Design of the Project, by the City, is expected to start in Q4 2023 with a goal of completion of site
characterization, design and permitting tasks by Q4 2025. Permitting is likely to take a substantial
amount of time for this project due to complex site ownership and in-water work components. 
Future likely construction dates are shown for reference only and are not part of this phase of
work. 
Activity 
Commission authorization for MOA and        Q4 2023 
funding 
Design start by City                                Q4 2023 
Commission authorization for MOA and         Q3 2026 
construction funding 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b                                 Page 4 of 6 
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023 
Construction start by City                         Q3 2026 
In-use date                                       Q4 2028 
Cost Breakdown *                This           Previous                   Total Project 
Request       Authorizations 
Design                       $317,128             $232,872                          $550,000 
Construction                       $0                   $0                     $2,050,000* 
Total                                 $0                    $0                         $2,600,000 
*Estimated Port of Seattle costs only. City of Seattle’s total project cost is approximately $15-$20m. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
The following alternatives were evaluated pertaining to the 8th Avenue S/Gateway Park N project: 
Alternative 1 – Proceed with design, permitting and construction of the bankline habitat
restoration work independently of and parallel to the City’s public access project. 
Cost Implications: $2,700,000 
Pros: 
(1)   Port maintains control over the contracting, design, and construction of the bankline
habitat restoration project. 
(2)   Depending on timing, Port may have an opportunity to use habitat restoration on the
site as mitigation for construction projects with endangered species or wetland impacts. 
Cons: 
(1)   Highest cost alternative; significant costs relative to project scope and benefits. 
(2)   Significant uncertainties due to permitting, property ownership, and parallel design
process for upland public access project. 
(3)   Inefficiencies in design and construction due to separate upland and in-water projects.
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2 – Do nothing. 
Cost Implications: None 
Pros: 
(1)   Lowest cost alternative; no Port expenditure required. 
(2)   Resources may be allocated to other bankline habitat restoration projects. 
Cons: 
(1)   Would not fulfill the 8th Ave S/Gateway Park N commitment to the Duwamish Valley
community stipulated in the Duwamish  Valley Community Benefits Commitment,
Resolution 3767 (2019). 
This is not the recommended alternative. 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b                                 Page 5 of 6 
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023 
Alternative 3 – Authorize Executive Director to sign Memorandum of Agreement with City of
Seattle to provide up to $500,000 funding and approximately $50,000 in in-kind support for Citysponsored
8th Avenue S/Gateway Park N project. Authorize additional expense funds to support
the permitting and design phase of the project. 
Cost Implications: 
Current Request: $317,128
Future Total: $2,050,000 (pending future request for contribution from City of Seattle and
separate Commission authorization) 
Pros: 
1)  Supports Century Agenda objectives related to equity, diversity and inclusion as well as 
habitat restoration in the Green-Duwamish Watershed. 
2)  Supports  a  commitment  in  the  Duwamish  Valley  Community  Benefits  Agreement 
(Resolution 3767) to improve habitat and public access on the 8th Avenue South/Gateway
Park North site. 
3)  Improves efficiency and cost-effective use of public funds compared to stand-alone
bankline habitat restoration project alternative constructed in parallel with City project. 
4)  Leverage’s Port’s habitat restoration and permitting expertise to be used in City public
access project for community benefit. 
5)  Reduces permitting risk and costs relative to stand-alone bankline habitat restoration
project alternative due to combined permitting efforts. 
Cons: 
1)  Port supporting rather than leading the project reduces opportunity for design input; Port
does not direct consultant work. 
2)  Project may not advance to construction if design and permitting phase uncovers fatal
flaw. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The following summarizes the cost implications of the recommended alternative, including
previous authorizations and the current request. It  also reflects future funding authorization
requests. 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary              Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                          $0               $0               $0 
AUTHORIZATION 
Previous authorizations                                    0        $232,872       $232,872 
Current request for authorization                          0        $317,128        $317,128 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10b                                 Page 6 of 6 
Meeting Date: October 24, 2023 
Total authorizations, including this request                  0        $550,000        $550,000 
Remaining amount to be authorized (Est.)                $0     ~$2,050,000     ~$2,050,000 
The current authorization request is for the permitting and design phase only. Further funding
authorizations will be needed in the future to support construction of the habitat and public
access site. 

Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Approved 2023 Budget includes $150,000 for this project and the draft 2024 Budget includes
an additional $250,000 for this project. The project was included in the 2023 Capital Plan under
C801270 Gateway Park North with a total project cost of $2,700,000 (Public Expense). 
This project will be funded by the Tax Levy. 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
N/A 
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership) 
If the design and permitting phase is successful and the Port and City choose to proceed with the
project, a request for an approximately $2 million additional contribution from the Port is
anticipated, along with approximately $50,000 in in-kind support, including staff time. Any future
project constructed as a result of the present design and permitting effort would be owned and
maintained by the City of Seattle.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Draft Memorandum of Agreement 
(2)   Presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
N/A 





Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).