Two years ago… Anthony Martinelli and I were both elected in 2019. We both defeated incumbents (which was almost unheard of over the past three decades) and shared many broad policy positions. But there was a real difference in philosophy. In one sentence: I was interested in the long game; he seemed focused on helping … Continue reading “Councilmember Martinelli: Timeline”
Transparency
Right of inspection
Categories TransparencyFormer Mayor Pina frequently compared our city to a corporation. Not being nearly as cranky as people say, I never had the heart to mention that one legal title for our city is the Municipal Corporation Of Des Moines, Washington. There’s a point to this (very) gentle dig. It isn’t a metaphor, it’s a fact. We … Continue reading “Right of inspection”
MRSC Inquiry: City Manager Performance Review (Part 2 of 2)
Categories Transparency1 Comment on MRSC Inquiry: City Manager Performance Review (Part 2 of 2)Inquiry: May a city manager review individual councilmembers? Response: On the question of whether the city manager may provide feedback to councilmembers in an executive session, I agree with my colleague Oskar Rey’s April 2021 inquiry response to you. RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) authorizes executive sessions for the council to “to review the performance of a public … Continue reading “MRSC Inquiry: City Manager Performance Review (Part 2 of 2)”
MRSC Inquiry on Serial meetings
Categories Transparency1 Comment on MRSC Inquiry on Serial meetingsInquiry: When councilmembers confer in advance about matters to come before the council when is it a serial meeting in violation of the OPMA? Response: In my opinion, it would be a serial meeting in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) if a quorum of city council members confer with each other, including … Continue reading “MRSC Inquiry on Serial meetings”
MRSC Inquiry: City Manager Performance Review (Part 1 of 2)
Categories TransparencyInquiry: May a city council review of the city manager’s performance happen in an executive session? Response: It looks like the annual evaluation of a city manager may take place during an executive session under the authority of RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). However, if a city is considering termination of a city manager’s appointment, then a resolution, … Continue reading “MRSC Inquiry: City Manager Performance Review (Part 1 of 2)”
The web site is an essential city service
Categories Engagement, TransparencyThis is the Des Moines City Web Site… as captured by our friend the Wayback Machine… on November 30, 2021 And this is the site as it exists on 12/05/2021 Notice anything missing? The Search. I guess someone decided that since it doesn’t work, hey… who needs it right? 😃 It’s just a problem… Everyone … Continue reading “The web site is an essential city service”
Some see things that never were…
Categories Economic Development, Policy, TransparencyI’ll say. 😀 At our last City Council Meeting, our City Manager opened the discussion of selecting the developer for Parcel A by recounting that, early in his career he had been given a fellowship by the Robert F Kennedy for work with low income families in Oakland, California. I had no idea what that … Continue reading “Some see things that never were…”
Parcel A
Categories Economic Development, Engagement, Marina, Transparency9 Comments on Parcel AAt our November 18, 2021 meeting, we chose a developer to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the City to develop Parcel A of the Marina Floor as described in the RFQ from our 18 November 2021 Meeting. Essentially, it was a job interview. Drama? After the meeting I got some feedback telling me … Continue reading “Parcel A”
Proposed Budget Amendments 2021
Categories Economic Development, Transparency2 Comments on Proposed Budget Amendments 2021Submitted to Councilmembers as “information only” November 13, 2021 Fellow Councilmembers, At Thursday’s meeting I will present the following six budget amendment items, most of whichh I have already discussed with Beth Anne and Dan Brewer on November 4. They total $41,204. $5,000 of which is a one-time expense and the remaining $36,204 to be … Continue reading “Proposed Budget Amendments 2021”
Reject all three
Categories Engagement, Marina, Transparency1 Comment on Reject all threeThe central premise of the Marina Redevelopment (land side) has always been that 223rd Ave should be brought down to the Marina Floor in some way. The current plan is to have a set of windy Steps that switch back and forth in front of the South Shores Condo. OK, that part -could- be great. … Continue reading “Reject all three”