(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Big changes for the Port of Seattle, and more on the way.

That’s what Seattle Port Commission co-president Courtney Gregoire detailed to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting on Thursday, under a tent at port-owned Jack Block Park (whose namesake, a former commissioner himself, was in attendance).

Gregoire (pictured above with the WS Chamber’s CEO Lynn Dennis and board chair Hamilton Gardiner) touched only briefly on the controversy that turned commission meetings into international news earlier this year.

First, she spoke of the port as an “economic-development agency” and listed some of the year’s toplines:

*CEO Ted Fick (who’s been on the job about a year) has “hired five new executives and is looking for two more.”

*A 15-year lease with Norwegian Cruise Line to homeport at Pier 66; NCL will invest $30 million in the terminal, she said, in a deal “estimated to generate more than $2 billion in economic activity.” Seattle is the West Coast’s leading cruise port in passenger volume, she said. Each stop generates $2.5 million – 192 stops this year alone.

*”2 months and 28 days ago, we launched the Northwest Seaport Alliance” with Tacoma – Gregoire added that the date will remain forever vivid in her memory because in the morning she voted on creation of the alliance, and in the afternoon she gave birth to daughter Alexa.

She mentioned the biggest ship ever to call at Seattle, this week’s CMA CGM Callisto (as reported here Tuesday):

And, she said, bigger ships are on the way. She mentioned the proposed Terminal 5 improvements aimed at handling those bigger ships, including “improving the dock and power supply,” adding that T-5’s underwater improvements are important too, including the Army Corps of Engineers’ deepening study. “We expect scoping for this project to get under way next spring.”

This is the one point at which she mentioned the controversy from earlier this year (which did not come up in the later Q/A period).

(May 2015 photo by Paul Weatherman: Shell’s Aiviq and Polar Pioneer at Terminal 5)
“We’ve had a lot of attention on Terminal 5,” Gregoire said, calling the Foss/Shell lease “a difficult decision.” While she personally opposed it, she said, “we had a signed contract” and she felt she had to support it from that standpoint. As if in defense of the resulting environmental-movement criticism of the port, she pointed to a new Port publication showing its environmental actions, and listed highlights:

*15 percent reduction in greenhouse gases and 80 percent in diesel emissions reduced by 2020

*Incentives for ship operators to burn lower-sulfur fuel

*Clean Truck program has replaced hundreds of trucks, and conversation in NW Seaport Alliance is now under way with Tacoma

*Sea-Tac was first airport to earn a sustainability-related accreditation certificate

*Habitat restoration

*Installing stormwater runoff treatment systems

*Duwamish River cleanup – the port is part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Working Group

The airport, also run by the Port of Seattle, is a major focus as well; Gregoire pointed out that Sea-Tac is the “fastest growing hub airport in the nation.” It synergizes with maritime activities, too, with 75 percent of the cruise-ship passengers that come here passing through Sea-Tac, where the passenger trips per year are expected to double in the years ahead, which is why they’re working on capital improvements and a master plan for the next 20 years. “We’ll accommodate growth in the most sustainable way.”

One big project for the airport’s future is Sea-Tac’s “international arrivals facility. … Each new international route represents $75 million a year.” The facility is “one of the oldest (of its kind) in North America,” she said. She also vowed a commitment to “quality jobs” at the airport, whose dining/retail program will be refurbished next year, she added, with an attempt to include small businesses as well as large ones.

Before concluding her speech and moving on to Q/A, Gregoire also mentioned the September 19th “West Seattle Working Waterfront Tour” (which the Port is advertising on WSB) and extended an invitation to the community.

(December 2014 photo of Terminal 5, by Long Bach Nguyen)
First question: “So when are we are going to see something out on these 50 acres of empty land?”, referring to T-5. Gregoire said “We’re actively recruiting (for future tenants) … pending some port decisions, you will see some traffic coming back after the Arctic drilling season this October, and you’ll see Foss Maritime (with some projects). … What I want to say to the community is, please don’t forget that it’s a working terminal and that is our future.” She said the federal part of the project – deepening – is working a little more slowly than they’d prefer, but they’re “pushing as hard as (they) can.”

Second question: “You said the cleanup of the Duwamish River is about 50 percent done? Is there any timeline for (the rest)?” Gregoire pointed to the Decision of Record for the EPA and said that there’s no timeline for the goals: “To be honest, it’s going to take some technology innovation to get to the goals they’ve set for us”- referring to the region, not just the Port’s role.

Third question: “How is the Duwamish Tribe involved with the cleanup?” Gregoire: “One of the innovative pieces about the Duwamish cleanup .. does it actually reflect the broader values of the community? … As we go to the implementation phase of the cleanup, they are an absolute partner, and I thank the work of the community for bringing them into, how do we make that next step happen.” She added that the tribe has “a seat at the table as we go forward.”

Fourth question asked for elaboration on the “technology innovation” Gregoire mentioned. “Part of it is to make sure we are doing the cleanup right, the sediment cleanup, make sure we’re not damaging the existing fish runs, (and that we are) getting better at handling runoff.”

Fifth question: “The crane we see (at T-5) now – are those slated to be replaced?” Gregoire replied, “Yes,” adding that larger cranes and a power supply to service them as well as dock strengthening and deepening the berth will all be required as part of that replacement. (We reported earlier this year that the port was unable to find a buyer for the old cranes and would be paying to have them removed.)

SIDE NOTE: As pointed out toward the start of the meeting, the “State of the Port” is becoming an annual tradition for the Chamber. If you want to compare, here’s our coverage of last October’s presentation by Gregoire’s co-president Stephanie Bowman.

Also at the meeting:

CHAMBER PREVIEWS: Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis announced that the Chamber’s October lunch meeting will feature a longtime “CEO coach” with business advice. The Chamber also is co-presenting an October 13th City Council candidates’ forum with the contenders from District 1 and Positions 8 and 9, at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS: Clay Eals from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society pitched the upcoming Champagne Gala Brunch. … There was a shoutout for Duwamish Revealed (whose artistic directors Sarah Kavage and Nicole Kistler were both in attendance – separate story to come, later Friday) … Sandy Adams pitched ArtsWest‘s next show “Green Day’s ‘American Idiot‘” and the two ways you can experience it … Amy Lee Derenthal from Food Lifeline talked about their September 9th groundbreaking for its new HQ, just south of South Park. … Chris Langeler from West Seattle Helpline promoted its November 13th fall dinner and auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy – live auction, silent auction, games, more … The South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) 13th Year Promise classes (including Chief Sealth and “we hope soon WSHS”) will be welcomed one week from today and all are invited to a reception to come celebrate, noon on Thursday, September 10th … WestSide Baby‘s cocktail-party fundraiser is set for September 25th at Emerald City Trapeze in SODO, and this Saturday, WS Baby is the Sounders’ nonprofit, with a diaper drive planned at the game … Fran Yeatts from the West Seattle Food Bank mentioned it will be a beneficiary at the Seattle Wine Awards’ upcoming event … Melodie VanHouten from HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) pitched Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle on September 25th … Lyle Evans from the Senior Center pitched its Sept. 11th “Night in Spain” and Sept. 18th West Seattle Big Band salute to Sinatra.

For more information about the West Seattle Chamber – WSB is one of its 200+ local-business members – go to wschamber.com.