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July 13, 2021
In this issue:
On the agenda for the July 15 Port of Tacoma Commission meeting is the adoption of a resolution recognizing July 2021 as the South Sound LGBTQ+ Pierce County LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
In regular business, the commission will consider a request to authorize an additional $735,000, for a total authorized amount of $1,385,000, for work associated with the Port of Tacoma Off-Dock Container Support Facility and an additional $414,000 for work associated with the roof project at 2302 Ross Way.
Commissioners will also consider issuing an RFP for a Data Center Disaster Recovery Warm Site and they will hear an update from the World Trade Center Tacoma. Read the full agenda.
The public meeting begins at noon and will be streamed live on the Port of Tacoma’s website. You can also dial in at 253-617-4257 and use the conference ID 833 440 553#.
Economic Vitality
Fifteen years ago this month, the 500-foot-tall Kaiser Aluminum smokestack was destroyed. The Port purchased the 93-acre property in 2003 with the express intent to demolish the facility, finish cleaning up the site and place it back into productive use.
Over the years, we removed thousands of tons of waste from the site, demolished buildings and cleaned up significant portions of the property. The property was contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which result from burning fuels, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), formerly used in transformers and electric engines.
The land is now home to the Taylor Way Auto Processing facility which features a site-wide stormwater treatment system that uses a filtration media specifically tuned to capture the pollutants generated by site activities (tires and brakes). This system has proven by laboratory analysis to be highly effective at capturing pollutants and protecting Commencement Bay.
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Environmental Leadership
In 2021, the Northwest Ports of Vancouver, BC, Seattle, Tacoma, and the combined container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), committed to an ambitious, comprehensive strategy to address the urgency of the climate change crisis and phase out seaport-related air emissions.
The public is invited to provide feedback on draft implementation plans for the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy by email through Sunday, August 15. A series of community webinars will also provide opportunity to learn more about the strategy, with the first one taking place on July 15. Read the full press release.
Organizational Success
Commissioners Kristin joined Port staff to raise the Pride Flag over the administration building today in honor of Tacoma Pride and Pride Month in Pierce County!
Visit http://tacomapride.org for Points of Pride and a calendar of events throughout July.
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Transportation Advocacy
The SR-167 project took a big step forward this week with the opening of the new Wapato Way East Bridge across Interstate 5 in Fife. This marks the end of phase 1A of the SR-167 Completion Project. When completed, SR-167 could fuel job growth to the tune of $10.1 billion. That’s the size of the new payroll expected to be generated by an expansion of the Port of Tacoma’s international cargo and other operations — an expansion that is contingent on good transportation connections to move the freight to and from the docks. Check out this WSDOT video to learn more about the project: https://bit.ly/2Tey6Gl
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Community Connections
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public meetings transitioned to a fully virtual format to comply with Washington State Public Health Department directives. Following the lifting of broad COVID-19 restrictions and capacity restrictions by Governor Inslee on June 30, the Port of Tacoma Commission will return to in-person meetings, starting with a study session on July 13, followed by a regular meeting on July 15. Read the full release.
Make sure to stop by our booth at upcoming Farmers Markets to learn more about the Port and our working waterfront. We’ll be giving away rubber ducks, wildflower seed packets and flying discs. Hope to see you there!
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July 16 - Orting Farmers Market
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July 22 - Tacoma’s Broadway Farmers Market
- Aug. 7 - Puyallup Farmers Market
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Bus tours: Join us July 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. for our first free bus tour of the year. Space is limited and reservations are required. COVID-19 precautions will be observed. Get more information at our website: https://bit.ly/3hJWSGq
Boat tours: Our annual free boat tours of the Port are scheduled for Saturday, August 28. We will be offering multiple narrated tours on a large sight-seeing vessel. More information will be available soon. Check our website for updates.
Virtual tour: If you’re not ready, or unable, to join us in person, you can always explore the Port with our Virtual Tour.
Come join a queer community of environmental stewards for Earth Gay Tacoma 2021! We will offer two 2-hour shifts, limited at 20 people per shift.
This year’s service project at the Gog Le Hi Te Wetlands will help restore a vital habitat for birds, salmon, and other wildlife in the Puyallup River and Commencement Bay. We will work in the riparian buffer to remove invasive species such as blackberry, scotch broom, and others. Join our efforts to restore and add a little PRIDE to the landscape! We will be performing tasks that involve bending, stooping and being in the open weather. Children under 16 please come with an adult.
Thank you to our friends at Forterra NW, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Environmental Council and the Rainbow Center for helping make this event happen.
Register to save your spot: https://bit.ly/TacEarthGay2021
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