Title
A MOTION to strengthen regional cooperation between King County and the Port of Seattle.
Body
WHEREAS, Washington state exports more per capita than any other state in the nation, including $64.6 billion in commodity exports, and
WHEREAS, manufacturing exports were responsible for 8.6 percent of Washington's total private-sector employment and 6.9 percent of civilian employment in 2009, and
WHEREAS, Washington ranked fourteenth in the nation in numbers of overseas visitors, and its tourism industry supported one hundred forty-three thousand eight hundred direct jobs, accounting for a total of $4.3 billion in wages in 2010, and
WHEREAS, Washington is ranked eleventh in the nation in its number of foreign students, and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound region is a major gateway for Washington products reaching markets around the world, and a hub for imports destined for markets throughout the United States, and
WHEREAS, King County and the Port of Seattle share the same jurisdictional boundaries and therefore serve the same constituency, and
WHEREAS, King County and the Port of Seattle share common goals within the Port of Seattle's century agenda for logistics, tourism and other economic development efforts to benefit all citizens in King County, and
WHEREAS, King County and the Port of Seattle are committed to strong air, rail and freight mobility connections;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. King County supports the goals of the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda, and the King County council will appoint a subcommittee of members to meet with Port of Seattle Commissioners to identify issues of common interest in the King County Strategic Plan and the Century Agenda, including social justice and equity principles as they relate to economic development and environmental sustainability,, and areas where the county and the port can work together to achieve their mutual goals;
B. King County will seek opportunities to form joint state and federal legislative agendas with the Port of Seattle;
C. King County will seek opportunities to partner on environmental initiatives and transportation planning; and
D. King County will seek opportunities to partner with the Port of Seattle on economic development and tourism including support of strong air, rail and freight industries.