Registration is now open for the 2024 Environmental Seminar! Please click hereto view event information and go to our FAQ page for hotel information.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and to ask about sponsorship opportunities!
Registration is now open for the 2024 Small Ports Seminar! Click here to view event information and check out our FAQ page for hotel information.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities!
Agenda information and event registration will be posted on our website on October 7th.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship opportunities.
More details to come later this year regarding a reception and the Port Day agenda.
Port Day on the Hill: Thursday, January 30th, 2025
Location: Legislative Building, the Columbia Room
Time: 7:00 am
Coffee & Pastries
Briefing & Legislative Speakers
Lunch, Speakers, & Wrap-up
The 2025 Spring Meeting information will be posted 8 weeks prior to the event.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
The 2025 Finance & Administration Seminar information will be posted 8 weeks prior to the event.
Please email Mandy Lill or Tasha Cilurso with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Event registration and agenda information will be posted 8 weeks prior to the event.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Event registration and agenda information can be found here on our website.
Check out the FAQ page for hotel reservation information
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Event registration and agenda information can be found here on our website.
Check out the FAQ page for hotel reservation information
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Event registration and agenda information can be found here on our website.
Check out the FAQ page for hotel reservation information
Please email Mandy Lill or Tasha Cilurso with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
(agenda subject to change as we may add speakers)
Ports & Maritime Reception: Thursday February 1st, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Heritage Distilling Co. - 4200 Capitol Blvd SE Suite 104, Tumwater
Port Day on the Hill: Friday February 2nd
Location: Legislative Building, the Columbia Room
Time: 7:00 am
Coffee & Pastries
Briefing & Legislative Speakers
Lunch, Speakers, & Wrap-up
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Please email Mandy Lill with any questions and for sponsorship inquiries.
Please join us for our first Tuesday Roundtable of 2022 honoring Compass Award winner Representative Steve Tharinger. The WPPA Compass Award is given to legislators each year that have shown special support of port districts. The award actually consists of a compass – which is a symbol of heading in the right direction.
Representative Tharinger helped shepherd infrastructure funding to ports for individual projects, state programs ports can utilize and much needed broadband money. In addition, he stepped in and helped WPPA get the MTCA remedial action grant bill across the finish line in the House this past session. Finally, he sponsored a bill that would have extended the .09 funds for 20 more years, an important program for ports in rural counties. He provides thoughtful advice when asked and always makes himself available to his local port districts.
Use the link below to register for the Zoom meeting, after which you will be given the Zoom link and the option to add the event to your calendar. We hope to see you there.
Welcome to 2022 Ports-Maritime Day, a day of focused advocacy for ports and the maritime industry in Olympia during Legislative Session. We bring together ports with key legislators and staff to discuss our legislative priorities and to learn more about the important issues of the Session.
This year, we will be offering an online Ports - Maritime Day Day via Zoom.
There is no charge to attend Ports- Maritime Day, and we hope you are able to come and support the advocacy efforts of your Government Affairs team here at the WPPA and the Washington Maritime Federation.
Tentative schedule for Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Draft Agenda (all virtual):
7:30-9:00 am Transportation and Supply Chain
7:30 Representative Boehnke, lead on the Supply Chain Caucus (confirmed)
8:00 Senator Saldaña, Vice Chair of Senate Transportation (confirmed)
8:30 Debbie Driver, Gov Inslee’s Senior Transportation Policy Advisor, Erik Hansen, Office of Financial Management (confirmed)
9:30-10:30 am Legislative Leadership, Part I
9:45 Representative Wilcox, House Minority Leader (confirmed)
10:00 Senator Braun, Senate Minority Leader(confirmed)
11:00-12:00 pm Environment & Ecology
Joel Creswell, Climate Policy Section Manager, Department of Ecology
Carrie Sessions, Legislative Coordinator, Air Quality Program, Department of Ecology
Becky Kelley, Senior Energy Policy Advisory, Office of Governor Jay Inslee
2:00-2:30 pm Legislative Leadership, Part II
2:00 Speaker Jinkins (confirmed)
2:15 Representative Paul, prime sponsor of derelict vessels bill (confirmed)
Legislative Session is just around the corner, and WPPA is gearing up to represent port interests in the legislature. We’ve invited Dave Catterson, JTC Coordinator along with JTC Staff to discuss four important transportation-themed studies that your port should be aware of:
Broadband Access to State Right of Way
Assessment of State Support for Short Line Rail Infrastructure
Truck Parking Action Plan
Hood River Bridge Bi-State Authority
Washington’s Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) is a bicameral committee that completes transportation-related research, conducts studies and makes recommendations for legislative action. We will discuss recommendations and the potential for legislative action this upcoming session addressing issues identified by the research teams.
Freight and goods movement is vital to the success of most of the port districts across Washington State. WPPA is proud to host WSDOT to our Tuesday Roundtable to provide a comprehensive overview of the update to the State’s Freight Plan on Tuesday December 14th from 11:00AM to 12:30PM. The following topics will be discussed in detail:
· Overview of state freight plan and freight investment plan
· Engagement opportunities for ports
· MPO/RTPO coordination
· Timeline for plan update
This Roundtable is open to WPPA member ports only. To register, click the button below:
Welcome to the 2021 Annual Meeting- we are so excited to be hosting our ports community at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue this year. Please read carefully through the agenda and the FAQ, after which you’ll find the registration button. You will be billed after the event; please mark down your payment preference on the registration form. Partial registrations are not available.
This year’s registration costs are: $490/WPPA member $525/non-member $50/WPPA member guest
Interested in sponsoring our event? Contact Director of Communications and Development Jessica Wilson.
1:00 – 5:00 pm Continuing Legal Education (CLE) (agenda)
Continuing legal education (CLE) for those in the law professions, hosted by our legal committee chair Lisa Lowe, together with several other presenters. Cost for the CLE is $250 for members and $275 for non-members.
12:00 – 1:00 pm Commissioner Luncheon (for commissioners who attend the training only)
1:00 – 5:00 pm Commissioner training (part 1)
New commissioner training is open to all newly elected commissioners, as well as existing commissioners who would like to refresh their education. Details of this training are still under development, but will feature presentations from Jim Darling of Leeward Strategies, Charla Skaggs and Abbi Russell of Maul Foster & Alongi, WPPA Counsel Frank Chmelik, Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act training, as well as political campaign rules training. The training includes lunch and costs $175.
2:30 – 5:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting
Evening On your own to enjoy the city of Bellevue
7:00 am Registration desk opens
* NO BREAKFAST OFFERED THIS DAY *
7:30 – 11:45 am Committee Meetings
7:30 – 8:30 am Committee Chair breakfast (for Committee Chairs ONLY) [Evergreen I, Lobby Level]
8:15 - 10:15 am Trade & Transportation (agenda) [Evergreen E, Lobby Level]
8:30 – 11:30 am Legal (agenda) [Evergreen A, Lobby Level]
8:45 – 10:30 am Marina (agenda) [Evergreen F, Lobby Level]
8:45 – 10:30 am Environmental Policy (agenda) [Evergreen BC, Lobby Level]
10:30– 11:45 am Aviation (agenda) [Evergreen BC, Lobby Level]
10:30 – 11:30 am Tax Increment Finance training with Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell & Stradling, Yocca & Carlson (Economic Development Committee) [Evergreen E, Lobby Level]
11:30 – 12 pm Establishing a TIF district with Randy Hayden, Port of Pasco (Economic Development Committee) [Evergreen E, Lobby Level]
9:00 - 11:45 am Commissioner training (part 2, conclusion)
The second half of new commissioner training will focus on the regulatory aspects of holding office, including training on the Public Records Act from Emily Venemon of the Secretary of State’s Office, and Open Public Meetings Act training from Flannary Collins of the Municipal Research and Services Center.
12:00 – 12:30 pm Luncheon – Official Start of Annual Meeting
President Kathy Pittis presiding [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
12:30 - 1:45 pm Keynote: A Real Estate Economist’s view on the future of housing with Matthew Gardner of Windermere Real Estate [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
1:45 - 2:00pm Break
2:00 – 2:45 pm Port Perspectives on Workforce Housing: A Discussion on Legal Authority and Responding to Community Needs [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
2:45 - 3:00 pm Break
3:00 - 3:45 pm Looking at the Practical Implications of the New Equity Legislation for Your Port [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
4:00 – 5:30 pm Associate Member Reception [Evergreen, Lobby Level]
Evening On your own to enjoy the city of Bellevue
6:15 am Fitness Walk (optional) [Meet in Lobby]
8:00 – 9:00 am Ports Executive Breakfast [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
9:00 – 10:00 am WPPA 2022 Legislative Report [Evergreen D-I, Lobby Level]
10:30 – 11:30 am What I wish I knew: Former executive directors of ports talk about lessons learned [Evergreen D-I, Lobby Level]
12:00 – 1:30 pm Luncheon
Keynote: Overcoming disruptions in the global supply chain with President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, John McLaurin [Regency Ballroom, Level 2]
2:00 pm Port Reports [Evergreen D-I, Lobby Level]
Port of Vancouver USA
Port of Longview
Port of Mattawa
3:30 pm Roundtable Discussions [Grand EGF, 2nd Floor]
Looking under the hood: Your annual port checkup with WPPA Counsel Frank Chmelik
Recent Cyber Attacks and How to Avoid Them
Environmental justice strategic planning: how to incorporate new laws in Washington into your port’s environmental work
Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission: An Update
How ports’ lease holders have made money with carbon pricing
Comprehensive scheme of harbor improvements and public engagement
Marketing and community relations success with Cat Soper of the Port of Everett
How to set rates for your marina
6:00 pm President's Reception Honoring President Kathy Pittis [Grand I J K & North Foyer, 2nd Floor]
8:00 am Awards Breakfast [Regency Ballroom, 2nd Floor]
Award Presentations
Port of the Year
Outstanding Service to The Industry
Lifetime Member
9:00 am Board of Trustees Meeting [Regency Ballroom, 2nd Floor]
Committee Reports
Treasurer’s Report
President's Report
Executive Director's Report
2022 WPPA Budget
Nomination and Election of Officers
Adjourn
Annual Meeting FAQ:
*As of October 25, 2021, Washington’s Public Health Order requires proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours for all event guests. You will need to provide a copy of your vaccination record or a negative COVID test prior to entry to the Annual Meeting.
You are welcome to show proof of vaccination or negative test at the Annual Meeting Registration desk when you check in, but to assist with registration check in, it is asked that you upload your vaccination status prior to attending this event. For more information about the hotel’s requirements, click here.
Send your vaccination proof to Missy Goodell at [email protected] or upload your vaccination proof here: https://wppa.regfox.com/2021annualmeeting.
Hotel Information: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency for this event. Our special group rate is $179/night single/double occupancy; $204/night triple occupancy, plus applicable taxes and fees.
The cut-off date for room reservations is Monday, November 1, 2021. Please make your room reservations ASAP in order to take advantage of the special group rate; our block may sell out prior to the reservation cut-off date.
The hotel recommends using a web-based reservations system to make room reservations. Reservations may be made, modified or cancelled with this URL: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/BELLE/G-PP21. Alternatively, reservations may be made through the hotel’s Reservation Department by calling (877) 803-7534 and mentioning the 2021 Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) Annual Meeting. A credit card is needed to secure your reservation. To avoid cancellation fees, guests may cancel their reservation by 4:00 pm PST 48 hours prior to their arrival. Guaranteed reservations not cancelled within the 48 hours prior to arrival will be billed to the guest.
Upon arrival, all guests will be asked to verify their departure date. The guest may change their departure date if necessary anytime up until 12:00pm the day before their expected departure. If a guest checks out of the hotel prior to the their expected departure date without advising the front desk in advance as noted, a fee of one night’s room and tax will be assessed to the guest.
Check-In is 4:00pm; Check-Out is 12:00pm.
Parking: Ace Parking, a contractor, provides parking within the Bellevue Place complex. The hotel provides 3 hours of complimentary Self-Parking to all guests. Tickets can be validated at various locations in the hotel or at the Front Desk. Current rates for overnight guests are $28.00 for self-parking and $38.00 for valet parking plus tax. This charge covers a 24-hour period and includes in and out privileges. Parking rates are subject to change without notice.
Can I bring a guest and what portion of the event can they attend?
Yes you can bring a guest! Guests are invited and encouraged to attend the evening receptions and there is a $50 fee. The Ports Executive Breakfast on Thursday morning is for port commissioners, port employees and life members only.
Do I need to register my guest?
Yes, please register your guest. There is a place on the on-line registration form to register them. This helps to ensure that food and set-up preparations are correct.
If you have dietary restrictions, please note this in the appropriate area on the on-line registration form so accommodations can be made.
Do we receive Legal or Educational Credits for this seminar? Credits will be applied for.
Is there a Registration Deadline? The WPPA Annual Meeting registration deadline is November 23, 2021.
What if I have to cancel? A $75 administration fee will be charged for cancellations received after November 23 and for registrants who fail to show.
Can I register for just part of the event? We cannot accept partial registrations for the Annual Meeting. You are welcome to attend the sessions you can; we will be making Annual Meeting presentations available to all those who registered after the event.
Questions? Contact Missy Goodell at (360) 943-0760 or [email protected].
Welcome to the 2021 Finance Seminar- we are so excited to be hosting our finance community at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue this year. Please read carefully through the agenda, after which you’ll find the registration button. You will be billed after the event. Partial registrations are not available; you are welcome to join the rest of the Annual Meeting for the same cost.
This year’s registration costs are: $490/WPPA member $525/non-member $50/WPPA member guest
Interested in sponsoring our event? Sponsorships are a flat $500 this year. Contact Business Manager Tasha Cilurso at [email protected] if you’d like to sponsor the event.
7:00: Registration Desk Opens
7:30 – 8:15: Plated Breakfast (separate room than education) Maple Room (3rd Floor)
8:15 – 8:30: Transition to education room
8:30: Welcome and Announcements: Scott Goodrich WPPA Finance and Administration Committee Chair/Director of Finance and Accounting, Port of Vancouver Auditorium (3rd Floor)
8:30 – 10:15: SAO Updates and Upcoming GASB Standards: Deena Garza and Olivia Crouch, Office of Washington State Auditor Auditorium (3rd Floor)
10:15 – 10:30: Break and transition to different room for TIF training
10:30 – 11:30: Tax Increment Financing: Bob Stowe, Stowe Development & Strategies and Alice Ostdiek, Strading, Yocca & Carlson Evergreen E (Lobby Level)
11:30 – 12:00: Establishing a TIF district: Randy Hayden, Port of Pasco Evergreen E (Lobby Level)
12:00 – 1:30: Luncheon with Annual Meeting attendees / Kick off to WPPA Annual Meeting with Keynote Presentation by Matthew Gardner, Windermere Real Estate: A Real Estate Economist’s View on the Future of Housing Regency Ballroom (2nd Floor)
1:45 - 2:00pm Break
2:00 – 2:45 pm (Optional) Port Perspectives on Workforce Housing: A Discussion on Legal Authority and Responding to Community Needs Regency Ballroom (2nd Floor)
2:45 - 3:00 pm Break
3:00 - 3:45 pm (Optional) Looking at the Practical Implications of the New Equity Legislation for Your Port Regency Ballroom (2nd Floor)
4:00 – 5:30: (Optional): Annual Associate Member Reception Evergreen ABCD (Lobby Level)
5:30 – 7:00: Seminar Dinner Buffet / Reception Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor)
7:30 – 8:15 am: Plated Breakfast Maple Room (3rd Floor)
8:15 – 8:30: Transition to education room
8:30 – 9:15: Insurance Market Update: Anne Shackleford, and Deborah Bovee, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. Auditorium (3rd Floor)
9:15 – 9:45: Community Sourced Funding: Alan Crain and Richard Martinez, Kitsap Bank Auditorium (3rd Floor)
9:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:30: Leading Change & Operational Stability During a Sustained Pandemic: Rudy Caluza, Port of Seattle, and Scott Goodrich, Port of Vancouver Auditorium (3rd Floor)
11:30 – 11:45: Seminar wrap up, evaluation forms, drawings
12:00 – 4:30: Optional: Annual Meeting Education: Port Reports and Roundtables
6:00: Optional: Annual Meeting Reception
Port districts across Washington are diverse in nearly every respect, except for their shared mission to provide economic development for the communities they serve. It’s with this shared mission in mind that we are honored to host Senator Mark Mullet and Representative Cindy Ryu, Chairs of the respective Senate and House Economic Development Committees, to our Tuesday Roundtable, November 9th at 11:00am.
We’ve invited Senator Mullet and Representative Ryu to talk more about their economic development agendas for the upcoming Legislative Session, plus what their predictions are more broadly for the 2022 Session. The past two Sessions have been historic for several reasons, including the first-ever remote Session—what lessons from the previous Sessions do the Legislators think will carry forward?
Please bring your questions for Senator Mullet and Representative Ryu and register now for this important and timely conversation.
Here is our working agenda for the Small Ports Seminar. This agenda is subject to change up to the event. We are currently working on finalizing speakers and session titles, so please check back frequently.
SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR OPTIONAL SESSION (Fee: $50 for Optional training and Lunch)
9:00-11:45am Optional training session featuring Enduris and Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt: Personnel law and insurance- how COVID-19 has altered workforce, personnel and insurance issues
This session is designed to bring together staff from small ports who may not have the resources to seek advice regarding the dramatically changing landscape of personnel law and insurance during COVID-19. Learn from legal and insurance experts who will be providing training participants with a full understanding of things as they are now, and what to do to ensure your port is well covered.
12:00 - 12:45pm Lunch (included with optional training session only)
1:00-1:10pm Opening remarks
1:10-2:00pm The Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council an your Port’s Project Portfolio with Port of Woodland Executive Director Jennifer Wray-Keene & Mark Barkley, Assistant Director, Local Government Division, Washington Department of Commerce
2:00-2:15pm Break & transition to Alpine room
2:15-3:05pm MRSC and SAO: Tools for Ports with Tracy Burrows, Executive Director, MRSC and Sherrie Ard, Center for Government Innovation, Office of the Washington State Auditor
3:10-4:00pm- Guerilla Websites with Jessica Wilson, Director of Communications for the Washington Public Ports Assocation
4:30-5:30pm Meet our Associate Members
5:30-7:00pm Associate Member Reception / Social
7:00-8:30am Breakfast
8:30-9:20am ABCs of Debt with Mike Folkers, Finance Director of the Port of Grays Harbor
9:30-10:20am Achieving Equilibrium: Commissioners and Management with Frank Chmelik, Peter Ruffatto, of Chmelik, Sitkin & Davis, Jay Hester of the Port of Sunnyside, and Pete Hanke of the Port of Port Townsend
10:30-11:30am Ask the Experts: a fun & interactive exercise with all of our speakers
11:30am Prizes & adjourn
The cost for registration for the regular Small Ports Seminar is $50/each for WPPA members/port staff; $100/each for Associate Members and $150/each for non-members.
The cost for registration for the OPTIONAL Training Session is an additional $50/each for WPPA members/port staff; $100/each for Associate Members and $150/each for non-members.
The above agenda is subject to change- please check back for updates as we near the event.
Small Ports Seminar FAQ:
Hotel Information: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Enzian Inn and Linderhof Inn (next door) for this event. A variety of room types are available ranging from $126.59/night to $261.59/night plus a Resort Fee and tax; single and double occupancy rates differ.
The cut-off date for room reservations is Monday, September 20, 2021. Please make your room reservations ASAP in order to take advantage of the special group rate; our block may sell out prior to the reservation cut-off date.
Reservations can be made by calling (800) 223-8511 or www.enzianinn.com, reference the Washington Public Ports Association Small Ports Seminar group (Group Code 10563). A credit card is needed to secure your reservation.
Check-In is 4:00pm; Check-Out is 11:00 am.
Cancellations must be made 14 days prior to your arrival date to avoid being charged for one night’s stay plus tax. A “no-show” is charged to the individual for their first night’s room and tax.
Early departures are subject to a $50 charge if check-out date is not noted 24 hours prior to actual departure.
Can I bring a guest and what portion of the event can they attend?
Yes you can bring a guest! Guests are invited and encouraged to attend the Thursday evening reception and there is no additional fee.
Do I need to register my guest?
Yes, please register your guest. There is a place on the on-line registration form to register them. This helps us ensure that food and set-up preparations are correct.
If you have dietary restrictions, please note this in the appropriate area on the on-line registration form so accommodations can be made.
Do we receive Legal or Educational Credits for this seminar? Attendees can obtain a “Certificate of Attendance” document at the seminar to self-report attendance.
Is there a Registration Deadline? The WPPA Small Ports Seminar registration deadline is October 15, 2021.
What if I have to cancel? A $75 administration fee will be charged for cancellations received after October 15 and for registrants who fail to show.
Questions? Contact Missy Goodell at (360) 943-0760 or [email protected].
