P.O. Box 1209
Seattle, Washington 98111
www.portseattle.org
206.787.3000

APPROVED MINUTES
COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
January 23, 2024
The Port of Seattle Commission met in a regular meeting Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The meeting
was held at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center located at: 17801
International Blvd, Seattle WA, Mezzanine Level, Seattle, Washington, and virtually on Microsoft
Teams. Commissioners Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed were present. Commissioner
Hasegawa was absent and excused from attendance.
1.

CALL to ORDER

The meeting was convened at 12:01 p.m. by Commission President Mohamed who led the flag salute.
2.

EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to RCW 42.30.110

No executive session was held.
3.

APPROVAL of the AGENDA

The agenda was approved as presented without objection.
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
4.

SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

No Special Orders of the Day were presented.
5.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Metruck previewed items on the day’s agenda and made general and meetingrelated announcements.
6.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

There were no committee reports presented.

Digital recordings of the meeting proceedings and meeting materials are available online – www.portseattle.org.

PORT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

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7. PUBLIC COMMENT
• The following person spoke in support of Agenda Item 10a, Resolution No. 3817, amending the
Commission’s Bylaws and Rules of Procedure: Joe Kunzler.
• The following person spoke in support of Agenda Item 11a, tourism development and the Port’s
tourism program: David Blandford, State of Washington Tourism.
• The following person spoke regarding airport impacts on neighboring communities:
John Worthington.
• The following person spoke regarding collective bargaining agreements for Sea Tac workers:
Jesse Welton.
• The following person spoke regarding SB 5955 and sound insulation in near-airport communities
for failed insulation packages: JC Harris, seatacnoise.info.
• The following person spoke regarding traffic flow at the airport and offered to meet with traffic
design engineers to share his ideas for improvements: Craig Warner.
• In lieu of spoken comment, Jordan Van Voast submitted written comments requesting the Port
to cap and reduce cruise sailings and passenger levels to at or below 2019 levels, and to
continue reduction each year until there are no more ocean or air pollutants, or climate-changing
greenhouse gas emissions.
[Clerk’s Note: All written comments are combined and attached here as Exhibit A.]
8.

CONSENT AGENDA

[Clerk’s Note: Items on the Consent Agenda are not individually discussed. Commissioners may
remove items for separate discussion and vote when approving the agenda.]
8a.

Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 9, 2024.

8b.

Adoption of Resolution No. 3818: A Resolution of the Port of Seattle Commission
Adopting the Charter of the Governance Standing Committee.

Request document(s) included an agenda memorandum, draft resolution, charter, and presentation.
8c.

Commission Approval of the Port’s 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda and Direction for
the Executive Director to Authorize Staff to Engage in Advocacy Efforts to Support
Implementation of These Policy Priorities.

Request document(s) included an agenda memorandum, agenda, and presentation.
The motion for approval of consent agenda items 8a, 8b, and 8c carried by the following vote:
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)

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

PORT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

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10. NEW BUSINESS
10a. Adoption of Resolution No. 3817: A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 3778 and Prior
Corresponding Enacting and Amending Resolutions Through Incorporation, Pertaining
to the Commission’s Bylaws and Rules of Procedure.
Requested document(s) included an agenda memorandum, draft resolution, Exhibit A, and
presentation.
Presenter(s):
Aaron Pritchard, Chief of Staff, Commission Office
Michelle Hart, Commission Clerk, Commission Office
Pete Ramels, Port of Seattle General Counsel
Jessica Nadelman, Senior Port Counsel
Clerk Hart read Item 10a into the record.
Executive Director Metruck introduced the item and presenters.
The presentation addressed the package of amendments requested by Commissioners, to be
discussed and considered for adoption at this meeting.
The main motion, to adopt Resolution No. 3817, was made by Commissioner Felleman.
The motion, to amend Resolution No. 3817, Exhibit A, Article VI, Section (10)(c), last sentence
of the provision, to add the phrase “unless otherwise revised” and to strike the phrase
“unless extended,” was made by Commissioner Felleman, to read as follows:
(c) The time allotted for public spoken comment shall be limited to a total of
45 minutes, unless extended at the commission’s discretion. Each speaker
shall be limited to two minutes unless otherwise revised [UNLESS EXTENDED]
by the presiding officer.
The primary amendment carried.
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
The motion, to amend Resolution No. 3818, Article III, Section (5)(d), Duties of the President,
Oversight of the office of the commission” to repeal paragraph (d) in its entirety, removing
oversight of the Commission Office from the duties of the President and reenacting it under
Article II, Commissioners, paragraph (11), “Oversight of the office of the commission and the
commission chief of staff,” was made by Commissioner Mohamed, to read as follows:

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

PORT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

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(11)
Oversight of the office of the commission and the commission chief
of staff. The Commission, as a body, coordinated by the commission
president, shall provide oversight and review of the performance of the
commission chief of staff according to the Commission office standard
operating procedures. The commission chief of staff shall be responsible for
the organization and management of the office of the commission, according
to the Commission office standard operating procedures. The commission
chief of staff shall consult with the commission regarding the performance
evaluation, hiring, and firing of staff of the office of the commission.
The primary amendment carried.
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
The motion, to amend Resolution No. 3818, Article IV, Section (8)(a), Executive sessions, to
insert a sentence at the end of the paragraph to read as follows: “Periodic review of executive
sessions shall occur by outside counsel for Open Public Meetings Act compliance,” was
made by Commissioner Mohamed, to read as follows:
(a)
Executive sessions shall be closed to the public pursuant to the
limitations imposed by state law, including but not limited to the Open Public
Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW. No final actions shall be taken during an
executive session. Executive sessions may be held only during a regular or
special meeting of the port commission and may be held at any time following
convening of the public meeting in accordance with the procedures required
by statute and described in these bylaws. Periodic review of executive
sessions shall occur by outside counsel for Open Public Meetings Act
compliance.
The primary amendment carried.
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
The main motion, as amended, to adopt Resolution No. 3817, carried by the following vote:
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
10b. Order No. 2024-03: An Order of the Port of Seattle Commission to Update the Port’s
Diversity in Contracting Goals for 2024.
Request document(s) included an order and presentation.
Presenter(s):
Tyler Emsky, Commission Strategic Advisor, Commission Office
Mian Rice, Director, Diversity in Contracting
Clerk Hart read Item 10b into the record.
Minutes of October 27, 2020, submitted for review on November 5, 2020, and proposed for approval on November 10, 2020.

PORT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

Page 5 of 6

Tyler Emsky, Commission Strategic Advisor, was joined by Mian Rice, Director of Diversity in
Contracting, to introduce and overview the order setting 2024 Diversity in Contracting WMBE
spending goals.
The order was read into the record.
The motion, made by Commissioner Calkins, to adopt Order No. 2024-03, carried by the
following vote:
In favor: Calkins, Cho, Felleman, and Mohamed (4)
Opposed: (0)
11. PRESENTATIONS AND STAFF REPORTS
11a. Tourism Development Briefing.
Presentation document(s) included agenda memorandum and presentation.
Presenter(s):
Dave McFadden, Managing Director, Economic Development Division
Nick Leonti, Director of Tourism Development
Clerk Hart read Item 11a into the record.
Executive Director Metruck introduced the item and presenters.
The presentation addressed tourism statistics and trends; international tourism marketing; marketing
highlights; media generated; responsible travel; tourism grant programs; and 2024 tourism grant
refinements.
Discussion ensued regarding:
• the status of tourism with Asian markets and slow return to prior leisure market trends; and
• sustainable tourism and providing certification acknowledgements for international travelers’
information.
Members of the Commission thanked staff for their report.
11b. 2024 Local, Regional and Community Engagement Policy Priorities Briefing.
Presentation document(s) included agenda memorandum and presentation.
Presenter(s):
Sabrina Bolieu, Regional Government Relations Manager, External Relations
Dave Kaplan, Local Government Relations Manager, External Relations
Samantha St. John, East King County Community Government Relations Manager, External
Relations
Clerk Hart read Item 11b into the record.
Minutes of October 27, 2020, submitted for review on November 5, 2020, and proposed for approval on November 10, 2020.

PORT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

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Executive Director Metruck introduced the item and presenters.
The presentation addressed:
• 2023 priorities advancements;
• 2024 priorities alignment in furtherance of Port Century Agenda goals; and
• incorporating Commission feedback into the final agenda for Commission approval at the
February 13, 2024, meeting.
Discussion ensued regarding the status of Port actions with respect to the sound mitigation program;
scope of the program; voluntary participation in the program; accelerating sound insulation efforts;
prioritizing those closest to the airport and addressing need for those who have not yet participate in
the program; beginning assessment of failed packages in 2024; and development of a survey
process to use in failed package assessments.
Discussion continued regarding:
• tribal internship
• truck parking; and
• renewing the economic impact report previously used by the Port in 2024.
Members of the Commission thanked staff for their report.
12.

QUESTIONS on REFERRAL to COMMITTEE and CLOSING COMMENTS

None.
13.

ADJOURNMENT

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 2:04 p.m.
Prepared:

Attest:

Michelle M. Hart, Commission Clerk

Ryan Calkins, Commission Secretary

Minutes approved: February 13, 2024

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