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.

By Gene Balk / FYI Guy Seattle Times columnist For many years, Seattle has been well known for its high rate of volunteerism. Sadly, a lot fewer of us are doing it these days. Understandably, rates of volunteerism fell as we went into lockdown during the pandemic, as many volunteer-run operations were brought to a halt. But

Seattle Times Editorial Andrew Lewis 911

February 4, 2023

External Articles

Seattle Times

Albuquerque built non-police 911 response fast — why can’t Seattle? Dec. 15, 2022 at 2:22 pm Updated Dec. 16, 2022 at 2:50 pm The Albuquerque Community Safety department sends behavioral health responders who go out in the community and respond to calls dealing with unsheltered individuals who may need assistance. (Courtesy of Roberto E.

Loren McBride Cohen: ‘This is more than a job — it’s a family’

February 4, 2023

External Articles

Enlarge Loren Cohen of McBride Construction stands at the Point Ruston development on the Commencement Bay waterfront in Tacoma. By Shawna De La Rosa – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Aug 13, 2021 Loren McBride Cohen’s career in construction didn’t get off to the best start. At age 16, he filled a generator with diesel instead of gasoline

Federal Way plans to bulldoze parkland near heart of growing downtown

February 4, 2023

External Articles

Cynthia Maccotan-Ricks

Jan. 22, 2023 at 6:00 am Updated Jan. 22, 2023 at 12:47 pm 2 of 3 | Community members (from left) Marie Sciacqua, Cynthia Ricks-Maccotan and Suzanne Vargo oppose razing Steel Lake Park Annex. It has ballfields, shaded walking paths, a play structure and Federal Way’s only skatepark. (Daniel Kim / The Seattle Times) By

Point Ruston lender accuses developers of failing to pay back a $66 million loan

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023

External Articles

Jack B. Krona Jr., McBride Cohen

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 Articles

EPA, 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 Articles

Pacific 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

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.

External Articles

Oxford Study: Economic Impacts of the US Hotel Industry 2019

Seattle volunteerism tumbled during the pandemic. It hasn’t bounced back

Seattle Times Editorial Andrew Lewis 911

Loren McBride Cohen: ‘This is more than a job — it’s a family’

Federal Way plans to bulldoze parkland near heart of growing downtown

Point Ruston lender accuses developers of failing to pay back a $66 million loan

New York Times: The Left Is Eating Itself

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

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

Tacoma author creates an illustrated travelers atlas for PNW islands