Most Recent Article [more articles below]

If you watch the Wesley Candidate Forum, you will hear a lot of back and forth on various issues. I'm asking you to watch a five minute discussion on the Marina Hotel proposal because I think it explains the City, the Council, and the work I'm doing on your behalf....

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2023 Campaigning, Marina, Policy, Taxes, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 10/22/2023

October 23, 2023October 28, 2023

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This Week: Wesley Candidate Night, City Council Meeting features Blueberry Lane, 216th/24th Rezone Last week: Ongoing meeting with Senator Murray's office, North Hill Community Club Candidate Night old school sparring, Wesley Interview, Police Ride-Along, an essay on Police Staffing...

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2023 Campaigning, Marina, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 10/15/2023

October 15, 2023November 27, 2023

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2023 Campaigning, Environment, History, Marina, Policy, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 10/08/2023

October 8, 2023October 9, 2023

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This week: Ongoing meeting with Senator Murray's office, North Hill Community Club Candidate Night, Wesley Interview, Police Ride-Along Last week: Coffee With A Cop, Stay-Grounded...

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2023 Campaigning, History, Policy, Transparency, Transportation, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 10/01/2023

October 1, 2023October 2, 2023

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This week: Coffee With A Cop Last week's CCM featured Capital Improvements Plan. Genesis Now. Lighthouse NW. A new Ferry idea. SCORE update. ...

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2023 Campaigning, History, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 09/24/2023

September 24, 2023September 26, 2023

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This week's CCM features Capital Improvements Plan. Two years of ARPA spending. Last Week: Meeting w new Police Chief Tim Gately. Traffic notes re 216th Bridge Rebuild. SCORE Jail incidents....

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Transparency

ARPA 2021 – 2025

Last Updated:March 12th, 2025

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A brief history of the American Rescue Plan Act in Des Moines, aka ARPA, aka 'Federal COVID grant to cities', aka 'Christmas in July', aka 'that JoeBidenMoney', was/is a 2021 bill which gave prox. $9,029,000 to the City of Des Moines....

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Children, External Articles

Education, Highline Schools, HSD, Stuart Jenner

Newly Released 2022-23 Highline Schools Performance Data Is Disappointing

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By Stuart Jenner It is commonly believed K12 students had significant learning losses as a result of Covid. How is the recovery going in Highline, other nearby districts, and in the state as a whole? The newest test data has discouraging news. Just released on the Washington State Report Card in the past week by the Office of...

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2023 Campaigning, Airport, Campaigning, Policy, Taxes, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 09/17/2023

September 17, 2023September 18, 2023

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This Week: Traffic Shut down on Kent Des Moines Road! Last Week Study Session on Water District 54. Some lessons we should learn on emergencies -and- budgeting...

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2023 Campaigning, Airport, Policy, Taxes, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 09/10/2023

September 11, 2023September 12, 2023

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This Week: Traffic Shut down on Kent Des Moines Road! Last Week Study Session on Water District 54. Some lessons we should learn on emergencies -and- budgeting...

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Public Service Announcements

Upcoming Events

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.

JC Harris For Des Moines, Washington

Most Recent Article [more articles below]

Wesley Candidate Forum: Four Pinocchios on Marina Hotel

Weekly Update: 10/22/2023

Weekly Update: 10/15/2023

Weekly Update: 10/08/2023

Weekly Update: 10/01/2023

Weekly Update: 09/24/2023

ARPA 2021 – 2025

Newly Released 2022-23 Highline Schools Performance Data Is Disappointing

Weekly Update: 09/17/2023

Weekly Update: 09/10/2023

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