By The Seattle Times editorial board An education system failing to produce expected outcomes. Transportation projects wildly over budget. Concerns about community safety metastasizing into outright fear. The next governor of Washington will face all these challenges and many more in an atmosphere of increased political polarization and coarsening civic discourse. Of the 28 gubernatorial

Downtown traffic congestion

July 1, 2024July 7, 2024

1 Comment

by Richard Kennedy President Des Moines Historical Society As someone who lived in Des Moines from 1955 through 1999, I thought I might give a brief history of downtown traffic congestion. Before the Big Catch Plaza, there was a road parallel to the north side of Albertson’s (now Dollar Tree). As such there were two

Ordinance No. 1346 – property tax lid lift 2004 for public safety, transportation, community services

This initiative failed

Point Ruston’s legal battles grow as condo groups seek neutral party to govern site

February 16, 2024February 20, 2024

Story by Debbie Cockrell, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) • 4d Feb. 16—Point Ruston’s lawsuits and financial woes now include legal action from condominium associations representing residents at the site. On Jan. 25, five condominium associations representing building residents at Point Ruston filed a petition in Pierce County Superior Court against the Point Ruston Owners Association. The

City Council Photo Gallery

Last Updated:March 13th, 2024

A (so-far) incomplete set of individual and group photos of past and present city councilmembers from 1996-2023

Tire Reef Example

Tires bundled together to create ‘artificial reef’

History

Living Road of Remembrance Utility Wraps Memorial Day 2023

May 29, 2023January 30, 2024 JC Harris

An excerpt from STNI: The Chicken or the Egg

JC Harris

2 Comments

As many of you know, my day job is working with SeaTacNoise.Info. We have an upcoming documentary on the community history of Sea-Tac Airport. I'll be publishing a series of 'excerpts' and here is Part I: The Chicken or the Egg--1949-1990, which basically answers the questions: Who was here first? And: How did we let an airport so close to so many people get so big?...

... [Continue Reading] ...

Van Gasken House

The following is from an article at the Des Moines Historical Society. The building was demolished by the City in 2022 and replaced by Sound View Park. Van Gasken House 402 S. 222nd St. This house overlooking Puget Sound was built in 1889 for Capt. William D. Fleming and his wife Jane. Jane, a widow

Public Service Announcements

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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

Meetings take place at City Hall 21630 11th Avenue S., Suite #C Des Moines WA 98198. They can also be viewed live:

Via Zoom (click here)
On Comcast Channel 21/321
On the City’s YouTube channel.

Meetings generally occur on the first, third and fourth Thursday of every month at 6:00PM. There is also Committee Of The Whole on the first Thursday of the month beginning at 5:00pm. Check the City Calendar for special meetings and agenda

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 four 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.
Zoom: To sign up, call (206) 870-6552 or email cityclerk@desmoineswa.gov the City Clerk by noon Wednesday — the day before the meeting.
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.
US Mail: Attn: City Clerk Office, 21630 11th Avenue S., Des Moines WA 98198. Please provide us with your first and last name and the city in which you live.

All public comments are added to the Agenda Packet available on the City web site following each meeting.

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.

History

Des Moines Memorial Drive Corridor Management Plan July 2004 Final

The Seattle Times recommends: Bob Ferguson for governor

Downtown traffic congestion

Ordinance No. 1346 – property tax lid lift 2004 for public safety, transportation, community services

Point Ruston’s legal battles grow as condo groups seek neutral party to govern site

City Council Photo Gallery

Tire Reef Example

Living Road of Remembrance Utility Wraps Memorial Day 2023

An excerpt from STNI: The Chicken or the Egg

Van Gasken House