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, Policy, Taxes, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 06/11/2023

June 12, 2023June 13, 2023

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This week: Taking a bit of a break. :) But last week? Last week was huuuuuuge. Last week: Transportation Committee, Environment Committee, City Council meeting features $26MM bond sales, Housing Action Plan, New Rules of Procedure, Marina Security/Cameras. Aviation Town Hall Meeting. ...

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

Weekly Update: 06/04/2023

June 4, 2023June 5, 2023

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This week: City Council meeting features $26MM bond sales, Housing Action Plan, Redondo Speed Cameras, New Rules of Procedure Last week: Memorial Day at Des Moines Memorial Drive. City Council meeting features $26MM bond sales, Housing Action Plan, Redondo Speed Cameras, New Rules of Procedure...

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2023 Campaigning, Economic Development, Marina, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 05/28/2023

May 28, 2023May 31, 2023

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This week: Memorial Day at Des Moines Memorial Drive. City Council meeting features $26MM bond sales, Housing Action Plan, Redondo Speed Cameras, New Rules of Procedure Last week: Economic Development Committee Last week: Work on tree cover, Reach Out Des Moines, South King County Housing & Homelessness Partnership May 11 Meeting Review

Beach Park Estuary de-armoring.
Downtown storefront vandalism reimbursement program.

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2023 Campaigning, Airport, Environment, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 05/21/2023

May 21, 2023May 24, 2023

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Campaign 2023 Announcement This week: Economic Development Committee: Bond sales, Housing Action Plan, Height Limits. This should be interesting! Last week: Work on tree cover, Reach Out Des Moines, South King County Housing & Homelessness Partnership May 11 Meeting Review

Beach Park Estuary de-armoring.
Downtown storefront vandalism reimbursement program.

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Airport, Marina, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 05/14/2023

May 14, 2023May 15, 2023

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Environment Committee - cleanup behind engineering building May 11 Meeting Review

SR3 presentation.
Beach Park Estuary de-armoring.
Legislative update on Redondo, Drug Possession law.
Downtown storefront vandalism reimbursement program.
Barnes Creek Trail bike paths and mitigation explainer.
Re-instating our sound requirements in building code.

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Airport, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 05/07/2023

May 7, 2023May 11, 2023

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Upcoming May 11 Meeting. You should definitely read the packet and watch the meeting. And a review of last week's very important meeting:

Ferry Pilot v2. Fun for the family. And for $900 grand it oughta be!
Drug Ordinance postponed. Hopefully the State comes through.
Housing Action Plan Presentation. The good, the bad, and the people we didn't hear from.

Plus a new program to help with business vandalism and an update on some important state legislation on airport pollution monitoring....

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Airport, Marina, Neighborhoods, Policy, Public Safety, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 04/30/2023

April 30, 2023May 7, 2023 JC Harris

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Upcoming May 4 Meeting will cover three important issues:

Ferry Pilot v2
Drug Ordinance
Housing Action Plan Presentation

You should definitely read the packet and watch the meeting....

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Airport, Economic Development, Engagement, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 04/16/2023

April 17, 2023April 20, 2023 JC Harris

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April 13 Meeting had something for everyone, including

Drones, not Fireworks
Zoning along 216th and Central Des Moines
The Citizens Advisory Committee
The Marina Steps
Bonds for Marina stuff
Redondo Fishing Pier
Your taxes?

You should definitely read the packet, watch the meeting. The follow-up questions I've received make it clear that people are not understanding what is going on....

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Airport, Economic Development, Engagement, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 04/09/2023

April 9, 2023April 10, 2023 JC Harris

4 Comments

The April 13 Meeting will have something for everyone, including

Fireworks
Zoning along 216th and Central Des Moines
The Citizens Advisory Committee
The Marina Steps
Redondo Fishing Pier
Your taxes?

You should definitely read the packet, write the City Council and show up!...

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Airport, Economic Development, Engagement, Policy, Transparency, Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: 04/02/2023

April 2, 2023April 6, 2023 JC Harris

3 Comments

This week: Public Safety Committee Meeting, City Council Goals Study Session. A response to the Mayor's recent editorial in the City Currents...

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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.