Weekly Updates

Every week I provide an update on what I’m doing, public service announcements, ways to get involved, info on the City and what the City is planning!

Economic Development, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 09/11/2022

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This Week Sunday: I attended the mini-hydroplane races at Angle Lake Park. In addition to trying a little bit to get some local businesses involved, the “Des Moines” angle is that I’m doing my semi-annual “no car for a few weeks” routine to see how transit is doing. It’s never been easy here, and… I

Economic Development, Marina, Policy, Taxes, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Budget Retreat 2022: Where I offer to sell my soul for the sake of financial transparency…

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Councilmember Harris: I think I could almost die happy if we could get a for realz balance sheet, or a p/l or something, to that effect, at least a couple of times a year. City Manager Matthias: If you’re able to commit to that promise, I’m more than able to commit to [doing that]. Except for

Economic Development, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 09/05/2022

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Last week there was a small kerfuffle on my Facebook page over the City’s new Visitors Map. Some of you will want to read it for the same reason people slow down to look at traffic accidents. Others may want to read it because in my opinion it represents a subtle, but very real sickness

Economic Development, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 08/28/2022

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This Week All week I’m gonna be trying to get the word out about this. If you’d care to join me in knocking on some doors in Pacific Ridge? Please let me know. 🙂 I gotta be honest. Other than that? Not much going on. (Well, that I’m gonna tell you about. 😀 ) Giving

Economic Development, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 08/21/2022

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This Week Thursday: 4:00PM Economic Development Committee Meeting (Agenda) (Video). Staff will provide an update on the Fast Ferry Service Pilot Project. Thursday: 5:00PM Municipal Facilities Committee Meeting (Agenda)(Video) The new Park will be getting the following Story Pole: Thursday: 6:00PM City Council Meeting (Agenda) (Video) Some highlights: The City Manager will give an update on

Airport, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 08/07/2022

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This Week Apparently it’s an airporty kind of week. Monday: UW Ultrafine Particulates Meeting. Here is an interesting graphic showing how many flights passed over our schools in one typical year: Flights Near Schools. Tuesday: I met with Farmers Market manager Susie Novak. And… business is good. 🙂 Tuesday: Port Of Seattle Commission Meeting (Agenda)

Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 07/31/2022

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This Week Tuesday: 5:00PM National Night Out! Midway Park! Thursday: 5:00PM Public Safety Committee Meeting (Agenda) (Video) Thursday: 6:00PM City Council Meeting (Agenda) Some highlights: The City Manager will give an update on the Ferry Pilot which is scheduled to start August 10th. We are being asked to waive Destination Des Moines rental fees for

Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 07/24/2022

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This Week As I write below, I’m passing out flyers for National Night Out this week and II’ve got a bag of flyers in four languages. If you have some time? Please contact me and walk a few blocks together. 🙂 Tuesday: 12:00PM Port of Seattle Commission Meeting (Agenda), Sea-Tac Airport, Mezzanine). Key items will

Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 07/17/2022

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Lowered speed limit on Pac Hwy. Non-financial financial update. Port developing DMCBP Phase IV–why it’s such a sellout for Des Moines. Mayor appoints Ad Hoc Rules Committee, even the choice of members says something: Mahoney, Buxton and Steinmetz. New Masonic Home EIS starts July 27.

Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 07/03/2022

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This Week Thursday: King County Flood District (Agenda) Thursday: Public Safety Committee Meeting (Agenda) Body Camera Update Summer Events Update Thursday: City Council Meeting (Agenda) The administration is recommending that we lower the speed limit on Pac Highway to 40MPH all along Des Moines. We will discuss how to update our Council Rules of Procedure,

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

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.

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 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.