A common story I hear is that “Our downtown was always terrible! All the construction cranes since 2016? That means we’re (finally) moving forward!” But OTOH, here are a couple of budget numbers from 2008–right before the bottom dropped out. Note the Sales Tax revenue: Remember: that represents the money that people spend here. It’s … Continue reading “Numbers and goals”
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Happy Easter
Categories NeighborhoodsI want to wish all of you who are People Of The Book a very Happy Easter and Passover. Easter in Ireland… This image is of a typical holiday procession from where I grew up. It could be Easter, or Patrick’s Day or whatever holiday. Not too many egg hunts and rabbits with this lot. … Continue reading “Happy Easter”
Weekly Update: 04/10/2022
Categories Environment, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates1 Comment on Weekly Update: 04/10/2022Public Service Announcements This Week Monday: Meeting with Poulsbo Mayor Erickson. I hope to learn more about their promotional efforts, their Marina and their excellent reporting and web site. Considering their small size they do a fantastic job. For example, they track sales tax by geography, something I would very much like to do here. (See … Continue reading “Weekly Update: 04/10/2022”
Weekly Update: 04/03/2022
Categories Environment, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly UpdatesLeave a comment on Weekly Update: 04/03/2022Public Service Announcements This Week Tuesday: Police Advisory Committee. I hope to hear more about the implementation of our new towing ordinance. Thursday: City Council Study Session (Agenda) This is our ‘Strategy’ meeting. If you recall, the Mayor instructed each of us to submit our top five priorities by March 18th. My top five… Here … Continue reading “Weekly Update: 04/03/2022”
Weekly Update: 03/27/2022
Categories Policy, Weekly Updates8 Comments on Weekly Update: 03/27/2022Public Service Announcements This Week Tuesday: I’ll be talking with former Arts Commission member and Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Eduardo Mendonça. He’s the kind of act I hope we can bring to Des Moines as new venues open up. Thursday: King County Flood Control District. This is our first meeting of the year. It seems like one of … Continue reading “Weekly Update: 03/27/2022”
Animal Control: Officer Magnuson 2.0
Categories Neighborhoods, Public SafetyThere is an upcoming discussion about outsourcing Animal Control Officer (ACO) services to Burien CARES. For people new to Des Moines, this may seem like not such a big deal. Frankly, the service has not been great the past couple of years for a couple of reasons I won’t go into here. Suffice it to … Continue reading “Animal Control: Officer Magnuson 2.0”
Weekly Update: 03/20/2022
Categories Policy, Weekly Updates1 Comment on Weekly Update: 03/20/2022Public Service Announcements This Week Monday: Destination Des Moines. This year’s calendar should be final tomorrow. Several new members and lots of new energy! Tuesday: Port of Seattle Commission Meeting (Agenda). Highlights: SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) 2021 Annual Report Wednesday: Highline Forum (Agenda) Last Week Monday: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The EPA … Continue reading “Weekly Update: 03/20/2022”
Committees 2022
Categories TransparencyBelow is the list of CM Committee assignments for 2022. The Process In Des Moines, the Mayor is chosen by the Council at the first meeting of the year after the November General Election. Customarily, CMs send their preferences to the new Mayor and he decides committee assignments shortly thereafter. Here is my letter. CMs … Continue reading “Committees 2022”
Strategy Meeting Proposals
Categories Engagement, Policy, TransparencySubmitted to Councilmembers as “information only” March 18, 2022 Colleagues, At the 7 April, 2022 Strategy meeting I will present the following items: Pg 1. Councilmember Research Process Pg 2. Committee/Meeting Modernisations Pg. 4. Digital Presence #1. Councilmember Research Process: This is modeled on the SeaTac City Council Request Form (CRF.) The process is very … Continue reading “Strategy Meeting Proposals”
Des Moines, Washington City Council 1996-2022
Categories HistoryModern Des Moines begins in 1996, with the last annexation: Redondo/Woodmont.