• Total operating revenues through September were $380 million, that’s $1.4 million above budget.

• Total operating expenses were $191.7 million, that’s $23 million or 10.7% under budget.

• Net Operating Income was $188.2 million, that’s $24.5 million or 14.9% above budget.

So, revenues are over budget, expenses are under budget and net income is nearly 15% over where we expected it would be in September.

Now, after four years on the commission, I’ve learned these numbers change between the third and the fourth quarters, but these figures through September demonstrate the port is in a solid position for this time of the year.

These statistics demonstrate the new, reformed focus on expenses and net operating income is producing tangible financial results. These reforms and results benefit everyone in King County. In particular, a strong port benefits the nearly 200,000 people across Washington state whose jobs are dependent on a thriving port in Seattle.

Here are a few more interesting stats:

• So far this year, SeaTac passenger traffic is 2.8% over budget and up 4.5% over 2010.

• Seaport operating revenues through September were $75.2 million, which is $1.7 million under budget. However, if some security grant issues are isolated from the budget, container and cruise business is higher than budget.

• Real Estate operating revenues were 3.9% above budget.

At a time when many governments are tapping reserves and dealing with credit downgrades, the Port of Seattle’s credit rating was upgraded. That is in part due to the new focus on generating net operating income and adding to reserves. Because of this financial discipline and performance, the port is in a position to refinance much of its debt at interest rates that are available because of its upgraded credit rating. That translates into savings for SeaTac passengers, airlines and King County taxpayers.

If you have friends who are interested in the port, please forward this report to them, and if you have any questions, please shoot me an email.

Thank you.

Jobs from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

The Port of Seattle received the honor based on environmental initiatives at both the SeaTac airport and the seaport. These programs include the creation of a centralized preconditioned air system for aircraft parked at gates at Sea-Tac International Airport, leading the effort for the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) project, the At Berth Clean (ABC) Fuels program for sea cargo vessels, and the Scrappage and Retrofits for Air in Puget Sound (ScRAPS) program removed polluting trucks from our port and roads.

I believe we should all be proud of the Port of Seattle’s environmental leadership. This very short video explains some of the reasons SeaTac is recognized as an environmental leader.

Green SeaTac from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

At the same meeting where this honor was received, the port commission met with leaders of King County’s environmental community and discussed how the port can continue demonstrating leadership in Puget Sound and Duwamish River restoration.

I believe figuring out how to generate family wage jobs while protecting our environment is the challenge of our time.  SeaTac airport, Port of Seattle, rising to this challenge.

Please take a minute to watch this quick video about how SeaTac demonstrates environmental leadership.

Green SeaTac from Bill Bryant on Vimeo.

Each cruise ship leaves $1.9 million dollars behind in our economy. Much of that
is spent in Seattle hotels and restaurants and taxicabs, but it is also spent on
linens and flowers, loads of spuds from the Tri-Cities and wine from Columbia
Valley. Check out this recent jobs update on the jobs impact of our cruise ship
business.

From tourism to transportation, the Port of Seattle supports 195,000
jobs across Washington.

I believe figuring out how to generate jobs while protecting our environment is the challenge of our time.

It appears groups from around King County have recognized this work. A broad based coalition of labor, business and environmental groups and community leaders have stepped forward to endorse me and support my re-election.

So far, my coalition includes:

Carpenters Local 1797

Washington Retail Association

Seattle/King County Building and Construction Trades Council

Sailors’ Union of the Pacific

Eastside Business Alliance

Washington and King County Conservation Voters

SeaTac Firefighters 1257

Longshore ILWU Local 19

Seattle King County Realtors

Marine Engineers Seattle Branch

Herald Ugles

Martha Kongsgaard

Denis Hayes

Brendan Donckers

Bill Ruckelshaus

Tom Byers

Kathe and Greg Fowler

Doug Walker

Marc Daudon

Maryanne Tagney-Jones

The Port of Seattle has the capacity to increase the cargo it moves by about a third, and the port commission recently adopted a preliminary target to do just that. But that kind of growth will require ocean shipping lines expanding their Seattle operations. Convincing those ocean shipping lines to expand in Seattle is why I joined Governor Gregoire on this four day, three city mission to France and Germany.

Last evening, the governor and I met the CEO of a major ocean shipping line for dinner. He leads a company that has some operations in Seattle, and that will probably expand its operations somewhere on the West Coast USA; she and I wanted to make sure that somewhere was Seattle.

We discussed logistics, various policies, Washington’s focus on trade and innovation, the SR99 reconfiguration, the tunnel and other transportation improvements around the port. We answered his questions, and explained why expanding his operations in Seattle meant a great deal to us. We committed to working with him and his company to help make that happen.

Today, the port CEO and I met the senior management team of another important ocean carrier. That meeting focused on the relative competitiveness of the Port of Seattle, and the need for the port to continue controlling costs and increasing efficiency. We talked about transportation and the need for rail and road improvements. The conversation touched on how the ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver, B.C. threaten to capture some of Seattle’s cargo (and jobs). We reassured them of the port’s commitment to increasing the volume of cargo we move, and to implementing the policies needed to make that happen.

Thursday, in Germany, before heading home, the governor, CEO and I will meet the leadership of yet another ocean carrier.

Having these personal meetings with senior leadership, coupled with continued transportation improvements and increased port efficiency are what’s needed to increase the amount of cargo Seattle moves and the number of jobs the port generates.

When the governor invited me to join her on a mission to the Paris Air Show, I welcomed it as it allows me the opportunity to market the Port in other areas.

 • I’ll meet with an international airline that doesn’t yet service the West Coast of the US, and that I’d like to see start flying into SeaTac. While airport industry estimates vary, it is projected that a new international route into an airport generates hundreds of millions of dollars for that local economy. That increased revenue means family wage jobs.

 •The Port of Seattle’s CEO and I also will meet with European ocean carriers that already call on Seattle and that we would like to continue calling on Seattle and maybe even expand their NW business. Our working waterfront is responsible for 70,000 family wage jobs. Helping ocean carriers expand their business through the Port of Seattle could translate into more waterfront jobs and more work for those already on the waterfront.

• I’ll lead meetings focused on increasing European tourism through SeaTac, our cruise terminal and throughout Washington state. The United Kingdom, France and Germany are among the top origins for international travelers moving through SeaTac. Tourism is critical to Washington state’s economy, generating over 140,000 jobs, many of those in King Co. small businesses.

•I’ll meet with a number of biofuel/energy R&D firms from all over the world. Two weeks ago at SeaTac, along with Boeing, WSU and Alaska Airlines, I announced the end of the first phase of a joint initiative to develop a new aviation biofuel. Spokane’s airport was also involved and is represented here as well. Developing a commercially viable biofuel, part of the initiative’s Phase 2, would be an incredible step toward reducing the carbon footprint of aviation and airports. It is important we not only generate jobs, but that we generate jobs that increase our environmental sustainability.

The week ahead will be a four-day, three city schedule focused on increasing tourism, airline and shipping related jobs in King County. Watch Facebook and Twitter for updates on how the meetings are going.

This professional corps regularly saves lives at our airport and aboard just landed planes, and in seconds can be on the airfield ready to respond to a landing emergency.

Last Friday, I joined SeaTac airport firefighter Matt S. at exercises near Hanford, where we crawled into small rooms and extinguished +1000° flames lapping over our heads; searched for survivors in areas so full of smoke we had to find the dummies by feel, not sight; and where I learned to push a fireball away from a flaming fuel tank.  For me, it was an exhilarating day.  For Matt and his colleagues at the SeaTac airport fire station, it’s what they do.  Their job is one of service for which all of us who use SeaTac airport should be grateful.

Matt & Bill on fire hose drill

Team E

                                               .

From quietly working against gang activity in our state, to seizing narcotics and weapons, to being the first responders for all reported crimes and incidents at SeaTac, the seaport and port marinas, the port police protect our safety.

The port’s police force has 123 commissioned police officers and non-commissioned support staff, 8 explosive detection K-9 officers (dogs), one police boat (8 boat operators), a 6-member dive team, a bike team, and other specialized units including the bomb disposal unit and the port’s gang unit. 

The POSPD received 58,741 “Calls for Service” in 2010 and made 1,013 arrests. 59 of those calls involved some kind of in-flight disturbance; over 700 involved a weapon or other unauthorized item discovered in the airport screening process.

Some people are surprised to learn the port’s police force has an anti- gang unit.  Rather than draw a lot attention to itself, the port’s gang unit quietly goes about its critical business of ensuring public safety. The unit has documented over 200 contacts with gang associates belonging to some of the most well-known gangs in the western U.S., and has arrested over 30 gang members on misdemeanor charges and 8 for felonies.

I never imagined as port commission president I would become involved in issues such as narcotics and gang activity, but overseeing the quiet professionalism of the Port of Seattle police force, and being able to swear in every new member of the force, has been a highlight of my public service. And so, I want to honor their service and thank them.