Ports

CSD Attorneys at Law’s Ports practice group assists port districts of all sizes to achieve successful outcomes for their communities by using our extensive experience in the unique laws governing ports. Our attorneys have over one hundred years of combined experience representing Washington port districts, serve as general counsel to the Washington Public Ports Association, and are frequent speakers at port law seminars and legal committee meetings.

Contact our Port attorneys for assistance with a wide variety of matters, including:

Governance by elected officials, their statutory authority, and the interface with appointed staff
Compliance with FAA regulations for commercial service airports
Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act compliance
Acquisition, sale, and leasing of property
Land use and comprehensive plan issues
Election law compliance
Labor and employment
Public works and purchasing
Environmental law, including navigating the regulatory process and applying Remedial Action Grants administered by the Department of Ecology
Litigation, including tort defense, eminent domain, insurance coverage, and environmental remedial cost recovery actions
Interlocal agreements

Port Attorneys

Holly M. StaffordPrincipal

Jon SitkinPrincipal

Richard A. Davis IIIPrincipal

Katherine D. DeetsPrincipal

Seth A. WoolsonPrincipal

Peter M. RuffattoPrincipal

Tim SchermetzlerPrincipal

Allison M. BeardAssociate

Sara B. FraseAssociate

Frank J. ChmelikPrincipal – Senior Status

February 2025 Knowing the Waters

Does your port own buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger? If so, between June 2026 and June 2028, your port will likely have to comply with Building Performance Standards (“BPS”) in the Clean Building Act, Chapter 19.27A RCW

January 2025 Knowing the Waters

Last month, at the Annual Meeting, WPPA honored an impressive list of new WPPA Life Members at Friday morning’s Awards Breakfast. Among the awardees was long-time WPPA General Counsel and author of Knowing the Waters – Frank Chmelik.

December 2024 – Annual Checklist

December is a month of making lists - holiday present lists, new year’s resolution lists, and the like. In keeping with the theme of making lists, this month’s column is an annual legal checklist of items that your ports should review annually.

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