Des Moines Police Department Block Watch Winter 2023

Discussion:

Some info on code enforcement, reporting, crime stats, upcoming Coffee With A Cop

Your garden’s magical ingredient: a worm bin

December 8, 2023December 13, 2023

External Articles, NeighborhoodsGardening, Seattle Times

By Erica Browne Grivas Special to At Home in the Northwest If your garden could ask, it would have only one thing on its holiday wish list: a worm bin. Experienced gardeners know that abundant harvests are fed by the health, makeup and diversity of their soil, and the fastest way to improve your soil

Sound Transit nears approval on flat $3 fare

December 8, 2023December 8, 2023

External Articles, TransportationDave Upthegrove, Seattle Times, Sound Transit, Traffic Lab

By Mike Lindblom Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues to explore the policies and politics that determine how we get around and how billions of dollars in public money are spent. It is funded with the help of community sponsor PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company. Seattle Times editors

Economic Development, Engagement, Transparency

Public Planning Commission

How to add value to your home by financing a garage or ADU

December 4, 2023December 13, 2023

External Articles, NeighborhoodsADU

By Erik J. Martin Bankrate.com Detached structures are a great way to add space and value to your home. Whether it’s a workshop, storage space, garage or accessory dwelling unit (ADU), the presence of a detached structure to your property could positively impact its worth. While the long-term benefits are great, detached structures are expensive

Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget

November 19, 2023November 24, 2023

Environment, External ArticlesSalmon Recovery, Seattle Times

By David Kroman and Mike Reicher Seattle Times staff reporters Times Watchdog stories dig deep to hold power accountable, right wrongs and create change. This work is made possible by The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund. Donate today to support watchdog journalism in our community. Come January, lawmakers will face a surprise that will strain Washington’s transportation

RCW 42.30.110 Executive sessions

November 8, 2023

External Articles, TransparencyRCW

(1) Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to prevent a governing body from holding an executive session during a regular or special meeting: (a)(i) To consider matters affecting national security; (ii) To consider, if in compliance with any required data security breach disclosure under RCW 19.255.010 and 42.56.590, and with legal counsel available, information regarding the

Highline Academics: Prepare to be Disappointed

November 1, 2023November 6, 2023

Children, External ArticlesEducation, Stuart Jenner

By Stuart Jenner. Are you curious about how your neighborhood school is performing in English and Math? Be prepared for disappointment: 14 of the 17 elementary schools in Highline are below or far below state averages. In this election season, common buzzwords include “alignment with the Strategic Plan”, “SEL is going to fix everything” or

Officials to SMN: Gangs, social media to blame for rising PNW teen crime

October 31, 2023November 6, 2023

External Articles, Public SafetyKIRO

BY BILL KACZARABA MyNorthwest Content Editor A pair of elite law enforcement officials say gangs, staff shortages, and social media are to blame for increasing teen crime rates in the area. King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion and Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla were on Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO Newsradio Tuesday. When addressing the increase in teen crime,

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.

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.

Policy

New Seattle law phases out emissions from large buildings by 2050

Des Moines Police Department Block Watch Winter 2023

Discussion:

Your garden’s magical ingredient: a worm bin

Sound Transit nears approval on flat $3 fare

Public Planning Commission

How to add value to your home by financing a garage or ADU

Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget

RCW 42.30.110 Executive sessions

Highline Academics: Prepare to be Disappointed

Officials to SMN: Gangs, social media to blame for rising PNW teen crime