JC Harris For Des Moines, Washington
City Council, Position #2
Articles concerning the Des Moines Marina, including ongoing plans for economic development ideas like a Passenger Ferry. You can start by reading the Marina Timeline which tracks key events from 2008 on.
An essay about why dock repairs, are really about Equity--doing what is right for the entire City for a change. The way we are approaching Marina Redevelopment is not only fiscally irresponsible it is unfair to the full community--particularly the younger and more diverse parts of the city....
The Sabre Salon Express from Bellingham Yachts has a price-tag of $3.2 million, the most expensive boat that will be on display at the 2023 Seattle Boat Show. BELLINGHAM YACHTS By Patti Payne – Columnist, Puget Sound Business Journal Jan 25, 2023 That jaunty “Big Seattle Boat Show” jingle that gets stuck in our heads is back in
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These are the questions I put together in advance of our Marina Study Session. Many are from residents and many are extremely well-reasoned. The vast majority concern 'the hotel' and 100% are opposed to siting it in the north parking lot. I conclude by demonstrating the long standing connections with the Port of Seattle and Des Moines Creek Business Park. The insane 'master plan' was always that the DMCBP, a 'ferry', and anything else that might further airport and cruise traffic would bring some economic renaissance to DM....
This is the State bill which funded the $309,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to study an Urban Creek (bioswale) along 223rd Street as part of the Skylab Marina Redevelopment drawings. (Search for “Des Moines”) This is how ‘the sausage’ is made. Cities request monies for various pet projects in the form of grants
The idea of a passenger ferry keeps coming back every few years. Here's a meeting from 2012 which should have driven a stake through its heart. I think the reason it keeps rising from the grave is that most people don't know about these previous attempts. They don't know all the reasons both the County and the State keep trying to tell us, "bad idea." But leadership always thinks "this time will be different!" and says "the situation has changed!" Decide for yourself how much has really changed....
I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that there is a lot of interest in the whole 'bioswale' and 'urban creek' discussion from the September 27, 2022 Marina Town Hall. Because nothing gets me excited quite like having a few drinks and talking about drainage. :) The problem is that every scientist you speak to tends to respond "Hell yeah!" They may even talk in terms of 'Environmental Justice' and 'under-served communities' which might create the impression that any concerns about 'costs' are reactionary and anti-environment. Au contraire......
One of my attempts from the January 12, 2023 CIty Council Meeting to get the Council to adopt a more transparent process and get more people engaged in the public process wrt the Marina. We could simply adopt my Marina Town Hall Proposal from 2021 and get 90% of the way there....
The Council used to do these Saturday morning planning retreats off-site, which means that there is only audio or no recording at all. This is Part 2 of a very significant planning meeting concerning the Marina. In the words of then Harbormaster Joe Dusenberry, “What do we want the Marina to be?” The topics are all mainly about the Marina, but about the 1:05:00 mark, when the Mayor is wrapping it up, City Manager Piaskecki raises a final discussion about ‘Communications’, including: improving the City’s web sites, ongoing complaints regarding Comcast, the need to improve Internet options, and for the City to improve public outreach....
