External Articles

Articles from around the area, including re-prints from various newspapers (provided under Fair-Use provision.) These are information only, which means that many, Many, MANY of these do not represent my point of view. (Seriously, they don’t.) I just want you to know what’s out there being discussed by electeds that concern Des Moines.

Story by Liz Moomey, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) • Dec 7, 2022 Dec. 7—The lender that gave $66 million to Point Ruston developers for its project is once again accusing them of failing to pay back its loan and disclose financial actions, according to a complaint filed in late November. Last year, an arbitrator

New York Times: The Left Is Eating Itself

February 4, 2023

External Articles

The Left Is Eating Itself How purity politics leave progressive power on the table. Thursday, January 26th, 2023 This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and emailtranscripts@nytimes.comwith any questions. From New York

Ruston asks EPA to step in concerning Point Ruston’s ‘drastic departure’ from plans

February 4, 2023

External ArticlesEPA, Kristine Koch, Point Ruston, Ruston

Jul. 8 2022 — The relationship with the Point Ruston developer and the City of Ruston has reached a boiling point, and the city wants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to step in. Story by Liz Moomey, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Ruston asks EPA to step in concerning Point Ruston’s ‘drastic departure’ from plans The

What Kind of City do We Want to Be? Tacoma and the Arguments Cities Make

February 4, 2023

External Articles

By Rubén Casas August 23, 2019 My summer reading list this year included a debut novel by Seth Fried titled The Municipalists, which CityLab described as “the urban planning Sci-Fi novel you’ve been waiting for.” There are many things to say about this novel, but rather than offer a pseudo-review (other than to say that I recommend it),

Tacoma author creates an illustrated travelers atlas for PNW islands

February 3, 2023February 12, 2023

External ArticlesPacific Northwest Magazine, Puget Sound, Salish Sea, Seattle Times

Feb. 3, 2023 at 7:00 am 1 of 2 | The Malaspina Galleries have been impressing visitors for centuries — they were recorded in land survey logs by Spanish explorers in 1792. (Chandler O’Leary) By Chandler O’Leary Editor’s note: The following is an edited excerpt from “On Island Time: A Traveler’s Atlas,” a new book

Patti Payne: Seattle Boat Show rides rising tide of interest

January 25, 2023February 27, 2023

External Articles, MarinaBoating, Puget Sound Business Journal

The Sabre Salon Express from Bellingham Yachts has a price-tag of $3.2 million, the most expensive boat that will be on display at the 2023 Seattle Boat Show. BELLINGHAM YACHTS By Patti Payne – Columnist, Puget Sound Business Journal Jan 25, 2023 That jaunty “Big Seattle Boat Show” jingle that gets stuck in our heads is back in

Charting a new path toward housing affordability in Washington state

January 15, 2023February 4, 2023

External Articles, NeighborhoodsSeattle Times

Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:46 am Updated Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:49 am New apartments under construction are set to open this summer, near the Space Needle, on Dec. 18. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times) By Brad Smith and Phyllis Campbell It’s no secret that Washington state is embroiled in a housing affordability

Sea lions, seals might be hampering WA salmon recovery. What can be done?

January 15, 2023February 4, 2023

Environment, External ArticlesSeattle Times

dy their true effect on the fish. (Ramon Dompor / The Seattle Times) By Isabella Breda Seattle Times staff reporter SAN JUAN CHANNEL — The earthy, fishy smell wafted aboard Joseph Gaydos’ research vessel first. Then came the guttural growls. Dozens of massive tan Steller’s sea lions were resting on the rocky islet. Gaydos, science director

Dismal student scores make clear ‘normal’ doesn’t cut it

November 3, 2022February 4, 2023

External Articles, Public SafetySeattle Times

Agreed. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/dismal-student-scores-make-clear-normal-doesnt-cut-it/ M. Ryder / Op-Art By The Seattle Times editorial board Grim as they were, the recent release of student assessments known as “the nation’s report card” should have surprised no one. Education researchers say the effects of learning disruption during the pandemic are worse than what kids in New Orleans faced after Hurricane

Learn why Point Ruston lacks trees planted in the ground

August 15, 2022December 19, 2023

External ArticlesNews-Tribune, trees

There’s a reason there aren’t trees growing at Point Ruston. It’s for your health By Liz Moomey Updated August 17, 2022 11:44 AM Learn why Point Ruston lacks trees planted in the ground. Due to the contaminated soils at Point Ruston, any trees planted there must be in above ground planters. By Clare Grant Point

Ongoing Stuff

Get vaccinated! Yeah I know you’d like to forget about it, but there are new variants and the infection rate is climbing. Fortunately, there is an effective booster, which is recommended for people 65 and older and those who are immuno-compromised. It is available now, effective, free and you can get your appointment today here and here , including walk-Ins at SAFEWAY, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, SeaMar and Healthpoint.

Sign up for the King County Code Red Alert program. When you sign up for Code Red you’ll be notified immediately when there is a possible health threat. After the recent ‘Boil Water Notice’ I received just a few grouses that ‘it did not work’. I’m 99% certain that the problem is that you have to actually sign up for an account. Do It! There is this ‘guest’ option which is stupid and should not even be an option. Everyone who had an account in their system was notified. If you’re like me and signed up ten years ago (after the last notification), go to the site immediately and verify your account. Ten years is a long time for any computer system.
Check out the 223rd Green Street Project web site and take the 223rd Green Street Survey before December 11th!
Check out the Des Moines Marina Steps web site and take the Marina Steps Survey.
If you’re interested in any of our Kids or Senior activities, you can sign up here.
Learn more about our Comprehensive Plan and take the Housing Action Plan Survey.
Take the City Communication and Engagement Survey
Give blood! Schedule an appointment today. There is a CODE RED emergency shortage.
Masonic Home! There is a petition for those who are interested in historic preservation of the property. If you have questions, don’t contact me. Contact Barbara McMichael and Lloyd Lytle Jr
Community Service Officer Tonya Seaberry wants to hear from neighborhood groups interested in establishing block watch programs: Tseaberry@desmoineswa.gov or 206-878-3301.
City Of Des Moines Minor Home Repair Program: Low to moderate income households can get grants to do all sorts of necessary repairs. Email Tina Hickey (206) 870-6535.
Every home should have a Carbon Monoxide Detector–especially during the colder months! Full stop. If you need one but money is tight, South King County Fire And Rescue will get you one. Just call their Community Affairs Office at 253-946-7347.
And last, but not least: If your home has Port Package (sound insulation system) that is having issues, please go to SeatacNoise.Info

How to attend meetings and provide Public Comment

City Council Meetings are scheduled for Thursdays at 6:00PM at City Hall 21630 11th Avenue S., Suite #C Des Moines WA 98198. They can also be viewed live on Comcast Channel 21/321 or on the City’s YouTube channel. Committee Meetings are either at 4:00PM or 5:00PM, also on Thursdays.

You do not have to sign in to attend a meeting!
The sign-in sheet is only for people wishing to make a Public Comment.

There are three ways to provide Public Comment:

In person: Show up a few minutes before the meeting and sign the sheet. Public Comment is usually conducted at the beginning of the meeting.
By e-mail: All e-mails sent to citycouncil@desmoineswa.gov are considered public comment. They are instantly available to all members of the City Council and the City Clerk who includes them into the record of public comments at the next meeting.
By US Mail: Attn: City Clerk Office, 21630 11th Avenue S., Des Moines WA 98198 no later than 4:00 p.m. day of the meeting. Please provide us with your first and last name and the city in which you live.

All letters or e-mails requesting a specific action are referred by the City Clerk to the appropriate City department.

If you would like a follow up from me, personally please indicate that or call me (206) 878-0578.

The Clerk does not read e-mails to the Council in full; only the subject line. However, we do see them as soon as you send them. Your comments are added to the Agenda Packet available on the City web site following each meeting.

How to view public comments, correspondence and meeting materials

The City publishes a meeting agenda on the Friday (six days) before city council meetings. On the day after the meeting (Friday) the City updates that same file with all the slide presentations, the correspondence, and a list of the people who signed up to give public comment at the meeting. Currently, there is no button on the web site that says Show me the meeting comments for xx/xx/xxxx. You just have to know that this is the procedure. Below is a recipe to get you there.

Go to www.desmoineswa.gov
Once there, hover over Your Government and then click Council Meeting Center. (Or, you can skip Step #1 and just click on Council Meeting Center.)
Select the meeting date you’re interested in from the Schedule Of Meetings calendar.
Click on Regular Meeting for the meeting date you want. In this case, December 1, 2022.
Click the Agenda Packet link under “Print Verson”.
You can also select a meeting using the list near the top. You can also use the left and right arrows to select older meetings.
Once the agenda packet loads, there are two links we’re interested in:
- Correspondence to view all e-mails received by the City Council since the last meeting.
- Comments From The Public to view a list of the people who spoke in-person at the meeting.