Some bits of business…
Future Agendas is the closest thing the City currently has to a calendar of upcoming City Council topics. It’s not dynamic, ie. you have to click it every time you want to see a new version. And it’s not always accurate. But until we develop a genuine calendar, this can be very useful if there is a particular issue you don’t want to miss.
Update: We just deep-sixed our standing committees. But for what it’s worth, each committee’s planning calendar here. 🙂
Highline Schools
The board has appointed two new directors, one for our own District 5. Welcome, Des Moines resident Dr. Damarys Espinosa and District 5 Director Blaine Holien!
While I’m at it, this Federal Funding Data Display is worth a gander. Note that both HSD and FedWay obtain some of the highest levels of Federal (and State) funding in the State of WA. I mention that for two reasons:
- Any disruption to that funding stream (as keeps getting talked about in the news) would not be good for us.
- School quality rankings, however you define them, tend to run opposite to those funds. The schools that rely least external funding (ie. more on local taxes) tend to be higher quality. Many are in wealthier cities – but not all.
It’s something we paper over, but both HSD and FedWay are struggling. Said it before, say it again: you cannot have a healthy Des Moines without better education opportunities.
With all that cheer, I really want to do everything possible to help Dr. Espinoza (and both school districts) succeed. 🙂
It’s Spring. Time For Critter Guilt Trip!
I’m preaching to the choir here, but… it’s Spring. Critters are running around having baby critters. And that means a high number of unnecessarily smushed varmints. Not sure what to do about it, except to employ my Ninja-Like Jewish Grandmother Guilt Superpower.
“So, you were texting and driving. Again. You heard a small thump? Don’t worry so much. Probably it wasn’t a totally defenseless opossum. Trying to feed her children.”
Call To Action: Port Packages!
The Governor’s proposed budget cuts the $1 million in funding that was secured last for fixing failed port packages, which were meant to insulate homes from airport noise but have deteriorated over time. Please mail key these legislators and let them know how important this funding is for our communities.
Call To Action: Save State Funding for Port Package Updates! – Sea-Tac Noise.Info
City Manager Stuff
City Manager’s Report March 21, 2025
The City is now offering an e-mail sign up for City Manager Reports. Other than that, two highlights are Camp Khaos and a note that the Des Moines Activity Center is available to study, work, have lunch, and basically just chill Monday through Friday.
New Contest: Camp Khaos!
Speaking of which: there is an exceedingly fun-filled prize for a non-random answer to this burning question: Why is it spelled ‘Camp Khaos’?
This Week
Wednesday: Highline Forum in Federal Way
There will be a briefing on the SIRRPP (ie. Port Packages), as well as (perhaps) an update as to where the status of the SAMP Draft EA.
Thursday: Economic Development Committee – 27 Mar 2025 – Agenda
Highlights:
Sound Code
Des Moines currently has no active sound code after repealing its 2007 ordinance in 2012. The staff recommends creating a modern sound transmission code to address aircraft noise and align with evolving building standards. Key recommendations include:
- Hiring a sound engineering consultant to draft the code, advise on cost-effective solutions, and define noise zones.
- Developing both prescriptive and performance-based compliance options using pre-tested wall and window assemblies.
- Focusing on major remodels for existing buildings, especially where external walls or systems are altered.
- Incorporating lessons from Burien and SeaTac, such as multi-zone frameworks and modern ventilation standards.
- Anticipating future impacts from Sea-Tac’s expansion under the SAMP (Sustainable Airport Master Plan).
The goal is a balanced, cost-feasible code to protect residents from airport noise while not hindering development.
Short Term Rentals
A draft ordinance regulating short-term and “amenities” rentals (e.g., pools or sports courts). The ordinance includes Permit requirements, annual renewal, business license, and designation of a 24/7 local property representative. Neighbor notification and a posted Good Neighbor Agreement to promote accountability and reduce complaints. Occupancy limits based on number of bedrooms and a ban on overnight amenities rentals. Strict parking and garbage rules to reduce neighborhood disruption. Noise restrictions with escalation: after three verified complaints, owners must install noise monitoring systems.
I support this, however I will note that this does not apply to long-term rentals – historically, a much bigger problem. Since ending its mandatory landlord partnership with King County in 2011, Des Moines has had a history of problems with absentee landlords and these same standards should apply to all landlords.
Thursday: City Council Regular Meeting – 27 Mar 2025 – Agenda
Highlights:
Redondo Boat Launch
We’ll vote on an ordinance to create a new parking infraction for unattended vehicles left on the ramp, allowing officers to ticket and potentially tow them without locating the driver. The ordinance aims to protect recreational access and improve operational clarity.
SKHHP Funding Allocation South King County Housing/Homelessness Partnership pools resources from 12 cities to fund affordable housing across South King County. Des Moines has already contributed the funds; this resolution formalizes how they’ll be spent.
The key financial points:
- Des Moines has already contributed the $39,811 — this vote doesn’t approve new spending. It just permits SKHHP to spend it on specific regional projects.
- The only Des Moines project ever funded in 2023. And that was restoration, not new construction.
- Funds are pooled with other cities to support regional affordable housing — meaning Des Moines is subsidizing housing development elsewhere with no guarantee of future return. The SKHHP structure allows wealthier or better-organized cities to pull in more funds than they contribute, depending on project readiness and advocacy. While Des Moines retains the right to vote on how its funds are used, there is no prioritization mechanism ensuring proportional geographic return over time.
For me, this has gotten perilously close to virtue signaling. We pay a (relatively) modest amount every year into a regional fund, to look like we’re doing something rather than building housing here.
2025 Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Festival Proposal
Des Moines is being asked to partner with Destination Des Moines for the 2025 Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Festival, held at Des Moines Beach Park. The goal is to raise money to support their non-profits.
Some key points:
- A $10,000 discount of rental fees, plus in-kind support (police, parks?) Rotary also wants a three year agreement.
- In exchange we get to be corporate sponsors.
- Tourism value: organizers expect the event to draw 31500-1800 people, anecdotally boosting local business visibility.
- While Rotary emphasizes the event’s tourism benefits and charitable goals, the City forgoes rental income for this event during prime summer weekend use.
Frankly, girlfriend, this one is giving me the blues. And I don’t mean like Albert, Freddie or B.B. I’ve worked with many organisations that do sponsorship deals and they were all structured very differently. For one thing there was a lot more accountability, ie. a corporate sponsorship implies imparting obvious value – one that would not otherwise pertain.
Think of it like this: Alaska Air sponsors an event at the Marina. They plaster their logo on everything. Their VP of Marketing gives a little speech. But that logo means something because you’re not on their corporate campus. Get it? What is the value add of having a Des Moines logo on an event at the Des Moines Marina where the 2City is already 100% guaranteed to give a speech? 😀
Why three years? Where is the prior evidence to merit three years instead of a trial period of one. There is no requirement for tracking that event benefit going forward. And no accounting to compensate the waterfront zone for the loss of revenue. It’s not a ‘sponsorship’. We’re just giving the same off-the-books discount we’ve always done. Which is not like any corporate sponsorship I’ve seen.
Also, we just implemented a two year budget system; in part as a response to concerns over fiscal responsibility. There’s no accommodation for this in that budget. We deep-sixed our finance committee – which would have been the logical vehicle to start a policy revision like this. As a professional musician, I understand better than most that ‘the show must go on’ 😀 But what is the point of implementing a new budget system if we end up doing exactly the same things we did before?
Bottom Line: I would much prefer we offer a standard, competitive grant budget every year; no more ad hoc anything. And frankly, it might be better evaluated by an independent body (and by that I mean like the way we hire an independent hearings examiner to evaluate property decisions.) It’s really hard for any Council to look at decisions like these objectively. They’re just too personal.
As a City we can’t call doing exactly the same thing ‘new and improved’ if we hope to actually achieve the goals we’ve laid out for ourselves. As Little Milton liked to testify… sometimes you need to have the blues for a while in order to get to a better place. 🙂
Last Week
Tuesday: Burien Airport Committee. Coverage from our friends at Sea-Tac Noise.Info
Wednesday: Regional Transit Committee. Essentially, this group advises the County Council on bus services. 20250319-RTC-packet. The Council gets occasional letters on transit safety and I want to assure everyone that not a meeting goes by that ‘safety’ is not number one with a bullet. I ride the bus and take the Light Rail several times a week and I definitely do.
Some bills passing through Olympia
As I’ve written, this is lawmakin’ season in Olympia and there were/are a ton of bills that will affect us. The problem is that, although the hearings are transparent, the actual process is super-convoluted and sometimes the furthest thing from it.
Over-Simplication Alert: there are rules that allow certain bills considered ‘important’ to basically bypass the hearing process entirely and get worked out in truly backroom deals.
One rationale being that if an item has broad funding concerns it cannot easily be worked in a single committee.
Property Taxes will likely rise, whether you like it or not. But the main thing I’m beating around the bush on is: property taxes, which voters want capped and almost all cities desperately want increased are coming. So I’m punting to the Seattle Times which has a pretty good summary of the situation. Read it.
Senate Democrats release tax proposals as budget debate heats up | The Seattle Times
We will likely have more property taxes and more business taxes. Which should assuage whatever guilt you may have had in voting against Prop #1 last year. 🙂
The population of Washington State has been declining for many years now. I used to be one of those who joked, “Great! Move to Oklahoma!” or like that movie Mars Needs Women! 😀
I was being facetious. And entitled. I used to travel to OK, AR and KS a lot for work and noticed that Walmart spent a millions of dollars on community amenities to attract workers – the kinds of parks and community centers we could never afford here. Still, what I noticed was this: all things being equal, people seemed to prefer Puget Sound to the reclaimed 1swamps of Rogers, AR. 😀 Maybe that’s just me.
But this also has to do with taxes and it is a real problem for Des Moines. People are getting priced out of Seattle, which may be OK for ‘Seattle’ since they have the wealth to keep chugging. It’s also largely irrelevant to lucky geezers like me – retired and sitting on that absolutely bitchin’ 3% mortgage.
But if families don’t just require two incomes, but perhaps two six figure incomes to raise a family here, what does that mean for the ongoing value proposition of Des Moines? Said it before, say it again, 30 years ago, that was easy: low cost of ownership, decent schools, waterfront, easy access to the airport, downtown, and basically everywhere. Today, the incentives appeal to a much different demographic and we need to confront that. Because, just between you, me and the wall? Us AARP types are not exactly big spenders. 🙂
- HB1923 the Mosquito Fleet bill, ie. Passenger Ferries will likely pass. As it stands, I support it – as does basically everyone in the region. However, like the tax bills, it has also undergone a few ‘backroom’ changes outside the strictly public process. After removing the following provision in the House, the Senate re-added this: the possibility of dinky cities (like Des Moines) of creating their own ferry district. That is a completely sensible idea for some small island communities — and also as completely insane for Des Moines as our previous pilot program.
1Rogers, AR is Where Possible Lives. All joshing aside – in addition to ‘possible’ over 70,000 people also live there – and it’s growing fast. I think most people in Des Moines would absolutely kill to have their main street, low property taxes, and various services.
2Just tryin’ to lighten the mood. 🙂
3Semi-fake news. The packet actually says 1,200 – 1,500. I think the absolute max for such an event could be 1,800 so I’m being extra-generous. If ticket prices are in the $50 range that’s $90,000, which would be great. But that still not does answer the question the City should press on if it’s a true ‘sponsorship’. What would those 1,800 people do for the City? It’s not just semantics. If it’s a grant, that takes away any false pressure.