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July 18, 2016
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At their Thursday meeting commissioners are expected to discuss an update to the Port of Tacoma strategic plan and CEO John Wolfe’s performance in his fifth year on the job.
The formation of The Northwest Seaport Alliance—the marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle—creates an opportunity for the Port to revisit its mission and portfolio of non-cargo business. In a study session following the action agenda, commissioners will review the proposed process to update the plan and gather input from stakeholders.
The action agenda includes requests for remediation work on the Hylebos Waterway and long-term monitoring at the former Kaiser Aluminum site, bond issuance and refunding and an extension of a labor contract, as well as a review of commission international travel and Wolfe’s performance and compensation.
Commission meetings begin at noon in Room 104 of the Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road. Meetings are streamed live on the Port's website.
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Jack Nevin ruled invalid two proposed initiatives that sought public votes on potential developments, siding with the Port of Tacoma, Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.
The measures sought a public vote on potential developments that would use 1 million gallons of water or more per day from Tacoma Water. These initiatives, similar to ones declared invalid in other parts of the state and country, are aimed at requiring public votes on manufacturing, industrial and technology water users that create economic opportunities and family-wage jobs for our community.
The Washington State Supreme Court unanimously declared an almost-identical Spokane initiative invalid in February. Nevin noted that case guided his ruling that the Tacoma measures were flawed.
Read more.
Nearly 1,200 people joined us Sunday for a ship-side view of port operations on our annual guided boat tours.
The boat tours provided views of the working waterfront and some of the 29,000 jobs connected to port activities. The narrated tours featured fun facts about port history, development, tenants and customers.
The tours are offered during Tacoma Maritime Fest, a two-day event celebrating Tacoma’s waterfront with a variety of free, family-friendly activities.
Not to be outdone by the popular Craigslist.com and Angie's List, the Port Biologist created her own list—Jenn's List—of unwanted treasures found around the Tideflats.
The list demonstrates that despite the Port’s best efforts to clean up the industrial area, some people still use this area as a dumping ground for unwanted items.
As a community, we must do our part to minimize the impact of illegally dumped trash. Find resources about how to properly dispose of refuse and report illegal dumping activity in the latest diary entry.
Staff from the Port’s environmental, engineering and information technology teams talked with middle school girls about careers in math, science, engineering and technology at Tech Trek’s Professional Women’s Night last week.
Tech Trek is a one-week camp that encourages eighth-grade girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). At the Professional Women’s Night, students meet role models in a variety of STEM-related fields and learn about their career journey.
The camp is sponsored by the American Association of University Women.
Norm Gollub joined the Foss Waterway Development Authority as executive director June 23.
The former economic development coordinator for Sarasota, Florida, Gollub’s background includes business retention and attraction, land use planning, facilitating real estate development and working on environmental impact statements and mitigation plans.
“The Board and selection committee were very impressed with the combination of Norm's attributes, skills and experience. He wore three different hats in his previous position in Sarasota, and we feel that his experience in economic development, public-private partnerships and marketing will allow him to continue the success of the redevelopment of the Foss,” said Jay Jetter, FWDA board president.
The Charles N. Curtis vessel celebrated its 70th year serving the youth of the South Sound during Tacoma Maritime Fest.
The historic wooden boat is the primary vessel used by the Tacoma Sea Scouts. The program uses marine-related activities to teach youth ages 14 to 21 leadership and values.
The 78-foot vessel was built in 1931 as a patrol boat for the U.S. Coast Guard. It initially operated on the East Coast before being reassigned to Tacoma in 1937. The Mount Rainier Council (today the Pacific Harbors Council BSA) purchased the vessel in 1946 and named it for the council’s executive director.
The vessel and Tacoma Sea Scouts are located at the Youth Marine Foundation on the Foss Waterway.
Port employees recently donated 73 slow cookers to the United Way of Pierce County’s Crock-Pot Project.
In Pierce County, one in six people are unsure of where their next meal is going to come from. The Crock-Pot Project is a partnership with the Power Pack Partnership to provide needy families the ability to prepare hot, home cooked, nutritious meals by giving them slow cookers and soup kits.
The Port’s crock-pot drive was organized by our Corporate Social Responsibility Program. The United Way estimates the crock-pots donated by employees will feed about 330 people in our community.
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