Most Recent Articles...

Rezone on 216th? Too Much Noise

Last year, the Council voted for a six month (which turned into a 12 month) emergency moratorium on permitting in an area along 216th. We were not told why. But apparently the City has already prepared a Draft Ordinance with suggested zoning changes. As part of the legal process, the City is required to send … Continue reading “Rezone on 216th? Too Much Noise”

Weekly Update: 08/20/2023

August 19, 2023August 19, 2023

Engagement, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates6 Comments

This Week Study Session on Water District 54.
Last Week: Citizens Advisory Meeting. World record meeting with no agenda. New Police Chief is given second, ceremonial swearing in.
An essay on better community engagement.

Weekly Update: 08/13/2023

August 13, 2023August 19, 2023

2023 Campaigning, Environment, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates3 Comments

Information on SR509 summer update.
This Week: Citizens Advisory Meeting. Council Study Session on Water District 54.
Last Week: Port meeting discusses end of second airport idea. Cambodian Cultural Festival. Friends of Saltwater State Park.
An essay on water quality, grids and improving the emergency alert system.

Weekly Update: 08/06/2023

August 6, 2023August 7, 2023

2023 Campaigning, Airport, Economic Development, Environment, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly UpdatesLeave a comment

Lasts Week: Council Meeting. St Anne’s Hospital, 24th Ave Street, Compost Procurement.

I note the passing of Des Moines Area Food Bank founder Carol Davis.

Podium-reform.

Some speechifyin’ about Public Safety, Redondo and National Night Out.

Weekly Update: 07/30/2023

July 30, 2023August 7, 2023

Airport, Economic Development, Policy, Weekly UpdatesGrocery Store5 Comments

More Primary info!

This Week: Council Meeting. St Anne’s Hospital, 24th Ave Street, Compost Procurement. A different kind of traffic (improving retail in Des Moines.)

King County Metro Route 635 2018 – 2023

Transportation4 Comments

Route 635 is a shuttle bus that transits from Angle Lake Station down to 216th and Wesley. It was created as a funding match partnership with the City in 2018. This year, KC has taken over 100% funding, which is great. From Metro’s point of view this is the ‘multi-modal transportation’ that a passenger ferry … Continue reading “King County Metro Route 635 2018 – 2023”

Weekly Update: 07/23/2023

July 23, 2023July 23, 2023

Airport, Environment, Policy, Taxes, Weekly UpdatesLeave a comment

More Primary info!

This week: Port Commission votes on ‘accelerated sound insulation’.

Last week: All the thing I didn’t do here so we could work on our movie.

Some thoughts on fireworks enforcement in particular and problem solving in general.

Weekly Update: 07/16/2023 (Primary Ballot Quickee Edition)

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023

Weekly UpdatesLeave a comment

PSA Update.

Last Week: 07/13 Meeting; Comp Plan intro. Growth Management.

Weekly Update: 07/09/2023

July 10, 2023July 10, 2023

Airport, Environment, Policy, Taxes, Weekly Updates1 Comment

News: The sailin’ life fer me. PSA Update.

This Week: 07/13 Meeting; Comp Plan intro. Growth Management.

Last Week: Post-drone thoughts on the environment. FAA Noise Review. King County Health.

The 2023 Drone Show. And a proposal for a different experiment in 2024.

July 5, 2023July 6, 2023

Neighborhoods, Public SafetyFireworks8 Comments

The drone show was an experiment–and an expensive one at that. I do not believe it provided nearly the entertainment value of fireworks and cannot do so without spending several times the money. So in 2024 I propose a different experiment using those same drone funds: Firm enforcement of illegal fireworks.

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. And, And, AND, you can also get free rapid tests here and at KCLS Libraries!

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 you have a Port Package 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.