Most Recent Article [more articles below]

The vote at the July 9 2020 City Council Meeting to demolish the Van Gasken House was a mistake that will make Des Moines poorer-in every sense of the word....

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Engagement, Neighborhoods, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Fireworks, Karen Keiser, PSRC, Sea-Tac Airport, Senior Center, StART

Weekly Update: 07/12/2020

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Highline Good Neighbors, City Council Meeting, Fireworks, Van Gasken House, First Committee meetings, rejoining the Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable (StART)...

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Engagement, Neighborhoods, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

PSRC, Sea-Tac Airport, Senior Center, StART, Tina Orwall

Weekly Update: 07/06/2020

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Air Quality, Highline Good Neighbors, City Council Meeting, Van Gasken House, StART, Committee meetings, An essay on sidewalks and concrete and grants....

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Engagement, Neighborhoods, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Better City Council Meetings, Committees, Senior Center

Half-Weekly Update: 07/01/2020

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Air Quality, Highline Good Neighbors, Metro, Patio tables, City Council Meeting, A huge essay on Committees: how they work and why you should get involved!...

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Public Safety

Port Of Seattle Special Meeting On Policing and Racism (Public Comment)

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FROM: JC Harris PO Box 13094 Des Moines, WA 98198 (206) 878-0578TO: Commissioners Of The Port Of Seattle: Peter Steinbreuck, Fred Felleman, Stephanie Bowman, Ryan Calkins, Sam ChoJune 29, 2020 Commissioners, I am writing to you in this context as a private citizen. I applaud the Port’s efforts at self-reflection on matters of policing and...

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Airport, Policy, Weekly Updates

Senior Center

Weekly Update: 06/21/2020

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So many meetings: StART, AWC, SCA, PoS, PSRC. Committees starting. City Council Meeting. Fathers Day lecture--you need to join a group or committee, kid!...

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Airport, Economic Development, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Port Of Seattle, Redondo, Sea-Tac Airport, Senior Center, VSWAT

Weekly Update: 06/14/2020

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SAMP update. South King County Fund. VSWAT and police accountability. Small business grants. Reach Out Des Moines. Noise and speeding in Redondo....

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Airport, Economic Development, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Port Of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, Senior Center

Weekly Update: 06/07/2020

Port Of Seattle Century Agenda, Seattle Southside CoC business grants. Some thoughts on George Floyd and improving policing in Des Moines....

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Policy, Public Safety

Race

What can Des Moines learn from George Floyd?

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A simple proposal for quickly improving Des Moines policing in matters of race. Just change the system of communication between the City Council and staff....

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Airport, Economic Development, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Port Of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, Senior Center, UW DEOHS

Weekly Update: 06/01/2020

2 Comments

Port Of Seattle Century Agenda, Meeting Recap, CM Weekly Reports, My hero on social distancing! Patio tables and budgeting from the dais. SR-509 bad for DM!...

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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]

Tearing down the Van Gasken House makes Des Moines poorer

Weekly Update: 07/12/2020

Weekly Update: 07/06/2020

Half-Weekly Update: 07/01/2020

Port Of Seattle Special Meeting On Policing and Racism (Public Comment)

Weekly Update: 06/21/2020

Weekly Update: 06/14/2020

Weekly Update: 06/07/2020

What can Des Moines learn from George Floyd?

Weekly Update: 06/01/2020

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