Articles about: Policy - JC Harris For Des Moines, Washington

Prepare to comment for the Masonic Home Demolition EIS Public Meeting

Neighborhoods, TransparencyEIS, Landmark On The Sound, Masonic Home, SEPA1 Comment

At 6:00PM on August 15, 2022 there will be a Zoom meeting, to take public comment on the SEPA process for the demolition permit of the Masonic Home. The consultant (ESA) will be there, as well as the City SEPA official, Denise Lathrop. You need to sign up in advance and read up here: https://desmoineswa.gov/zenitheis. … Continue reading “Prepare to comment for the Masonic Home Demolition EIS Public Meeting”

The Deputy Mayor and I exchange comments on social media re. Des Moines Creek West

July 30, 2022November 19, 2023

Airport, Economic Development, History

Introduction At the July 12 Port of Seattle Commission Meeting, Mayor Mahoney and Deputy Mayor Buxton spoke in favour of the Port taking the 14.4 acre slice of WSDOT land west of the current Des Moines Creek Business Park off 216th. You can watch their testimony and get my take on it here. That afternoon, … Continue reading “The Deputy Mayor and I exchange comments on social media re. Des Moines Creek West”

All or nothing thinking…

Airport, Economic Development, Environment

Almost everything useful I’ve ever learned came from marriage counseling. 😃 I’m always fascinated how opinions about “the airport” so often fall into what therapists call “all or nothing thinking“. People will say things like The airport was here first! You did hear the airplanes flying overhead when you were looking at houses, right? Don’t like … Continue reading “All or nothing thinking…”

The Hard Things Are Not Easy

Airport, Marina, Transparency1 Comment

Who can argue with that, right? 😀 Those were among the final words from Mayor Mahoney at our 7 July Meeting. He was responding to my final comments about the Council’s 6-1 decision to update our Rules Of Procedure in November based on a verbal proposal from Deputy Mayor Buxton. That 1process seemed about the … Continue reading “The Hard Things Are Not Easy”

Port of Seattle assigns Panattoni to develop to Des Moines Creek Business Park West

Airport, Environment, History, Transparencytrees4 Comments

I almost titled this post “This is what a sellout looks like” But I restrained myself. 🙂 At the 12 July Port of Seattle Commission Meeting, the Port voted to proceed with the Item 10b (Des Moines Creek West Ground Lease.) (Presentation.) This is the scrubby forest land west of the FAA building on 216th … Continue reading “Port of Seattle assigns Panattoni to develop to Des Moines Creek Business Park West”

*Improving the ferry pilot program

Engagement, Marina

My post on the Ferry Pilot Program (with the subtle title This Is Insane) has been one of the best moments in my short career as your low-rent elected. I’ve had the absolute (and rare) pleasure of having at least *ten people tell me last week, At first I was all for it. Then I … Continue reading “*Improving the ferry pilot program”

New rule: Follow the rules we already have

July 3, 2022December 7, 2023

Engagement, Transparency1 Comment

At our last meeting, Deputy Mayor Buxton asked to schedule an update to our Rules of Procedure. And presto, it is on the 7 July Agenda. There have been a couple of dozen updates to our Council’s Rules of Procedure. The last was in November 2019 the meeting immediately after my election. Was I happy … Continue reading “New rule: Follow the rules we already have”

This is insane

Transparency, Transportation15 Comments

The following is a reality check on the Ferry Pilot program the Council approved at our 23 June Meeting. Now, there is a long-winded introduction and I know some people don’t read the long-winded introductions. But it addresses the numerous complaints about the ‘arguing’ at our 9 June meeting so I hope you’ll read. If … Continue reading “This is insane”

Lights, Camera, Action!

Transparency2 Comments

Super-fans of our City Council may notice me laughing as I look down at the start of many meetings. My phone “blows up” with texts from residents complaining about the meeting video, audio, etc. As if I can do something about it. 😃 I have complained and complained and complained. *But… I have not seen … Continue reading “Lights, Camera, Action!”

Pet Licensing (PRR 16116)

Public Safety, Transparency

Roughly speaking, how much annual revenue does the City receive from pet licenses? I asked that question from the dais months before I filed Public Records Request #16116 with the City. It was information I thought would be useful in deciding whether or not to move Animal Control Services to Burien C.A.R.E.S. When I originally … Continue reading “Pet Licensing (PRR 16116)”

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.