TagRyan Calkins(7)

This document is an agenda and presentation package for the Port of Seattle Audit Committee meeting held on March 19, 2026, covering internal audit updates, charter reviews, and performance audits of areas such as Fishermen's Terminal accounts receivable, the Public Art Program, and a tenant reimbursement agreement. The meeting, chaired by Commissioner Fred Felleman, included approval of the 2026 Audit Plan and an overview of the Internal Audit department's organizational structure under Director Glenn Fernandes. Note: this document does not contain content related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

Ahead of the November 2025 election, candidates for the Port of Seattle Commission and the 33rd District House of Representatives responded to questions from Defenders of Highline Forest about environmental and health impacts on communities living near SeaTac Airport. Port Commission candidates Ryan Calkins and Toshio Hasegawa outlined plans to accelerate noise insulation programs, pursue sustainable aviation fuel goals, and work toward permanently preserving North SeaTac Park as community greenspace. State House candidate Edwin Obras proposed comprehensive legislation called the Airport-Adjacent Community Health & Mitigation Act, which would mandate noise and air quality fixes, establish emissions deadlines for ground operations, and create independent oversight to protect airport-adjacent residents.

The Port of Seattle Commission Audit Committee met on July 15, 2025 to review a range of audit reports, including the 2024 financial statement audit conducted by Moss Adams, performance audits of community initiatives and the Maritime Innovation Center, an IT audit on third-party risk management, and several concession compliance audits for SSP America restaurant locations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The agenda also included approval of minutes from previous meetings and an update to the 2025 Audit Plan. These materials are primarily focused on financial oversight and internal controls at the Port of Seattle, and do not address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

A September 2020 presentation by Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins outlines the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Port's operations, including a 75% drop in airport passengers, a 17% decline in seaport cargo activity, and a complete 100% halt in cruise traffic compared to July 2019. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was projected to handle only around 20 million passengers in 2020, down sharply from a record 51.8 million in 2019. The presentation also provides historical context by comparing the 2020 downturn to previous industry shocks such as the 9/11 attacks and the Great Recession, both of which the airport ultimately recovered from.

The Federal Way City Council held a special meeting on July 17, 2018, featuring a study session on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), with presentations from Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins and directors of Capital Project Delivery and Aviation Environment and Sustainability. The session allowed council members to ask questions and hear updates on airport expansion and sustainability efforts relevant to the Federal Way area. The meeting also included a citizen comment period and an executive session regarding potential litigation.

Resolution No. 3744, adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission on January 30, 2018, amends the commission's bylaws by removing the requirement that the Commission Vice President serve as chair of the Audit Committee. It also updates the bylaws to clarify that the audit committee directly oversees the internal audit director's performance and that the audit committee chair contributes to the chief financial officer's performance review of that director.