Some bits of business…
Future Agendas
As I said last week, I’ll be posting the Future Agendas report for a while, as it’s 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. But until we develop a genuine calendar (like other cities already have), this can be useful.
City Government 101
Much of my gassing on about local government is not the result of some deep dive into the Vatican Archives. I live near City Hall and saw a lot of meetings. What irks me sometimes about the whole ‘communication’ discussion is that we’re often 2paying for the same real estate twice.
In 2016, the Council devoted a series of meetings to ‘City Government 101’, where main departments did 30 minutes on the big aspects of our city. The ones on finance and the marina are particularly useful.
The screen shot is one of my faves of all time because it (correctly) demonstrates the Council role in oversight–which the last City Manager claimed did not exist. More than that, it points out that auditing is not management. The State is not telling the City whether we’re doing the right things; only if we’re following the rules. As any investor can tell you, a corporation can be totally legit and still lose all yer money. 😀 It is the City Council’s job to scrutinise the way we spend money and to make sure we thrive into the future. Stop blaming the City Manager. Stop looking for a saviour. Don’t like the government? Elect better people. That’s how this game works. Us seven are the management. (I know, right? 😀 )
The Public Safety Improvement Act Of 2024
As of today, I will not be talking about ‘levy lid lift’. It’s the Public Safety Improvement Act Of 2024. That is honestly what it is. And that is how we should talk about it. I will be the first to admit that the City has done almost everything possible to not sell it properly. To be fair, the Finance Director and. But the benefits are what matters.
I am doing my darnedest to work with my colleagues and the City to obtain better ‘explainers’. But for now, I think one problem is that I don’t think most of you understand our policing system.
The number one thing residents ask about, nothing comes close, is Public Safety. And when asked for specifics? Almost everyone says “more police officers.” Not “more technology”; More police on your street. Here it is. More broadly, it retains or adds thirteen members of the police and court.
On each shift we have only four patrol officers in the field. So just one benefit of this proposal is the equivalent of an entire shift of new patrol officers!
For the majority of residents this will cost $300 a year and in return you’ll get more genuine (and permanent) improvements to public safety than we’ve had in a generation.
City Manager Stuff
City Manager’s Report April 5, 2024
South End Transit
If you live in the south end please look at the South Link Connections Mobility Project which will “…address changing mobility needs and improve travel options for communities in South King County.” Blah, blah, blah. 😀 Basically, we need better east-west connectivity in the south end of town. If you live near 216th, you can take the 635 Shuttle from the Marina to the main Bus lines and the Light Rail. There is nothing equivalent for the rest of Des Moines–Kent Des Moines, 240th or 272nd. And there oughta be–especially with the upcoming Highline Light Rail Station.
- Take a survey about your transit needs – survey deadline is May 10th.
- Plan to attend one of three upcoming Virtual Community Engagement Sessions on:
- Apply to join the Mobility Board (a paid leadership opportunity) by May 10th and advise Metro on community engagement efforts and the best ways to update our transit network.
This Week
Thursday April 11, 2024 5:00pm Environment Committee (Agenda) Reminder: If you have a public comment on any environment-related issues, and there is time, you are welcome to make it here.
If you take it seriously, yer gonna slog through thousands of pages of stuff that likely only stirs the heart of a civil engineer or biologist. Which is to say, it’s important, but it’s not exactly entertaining. You don’t get to deal with popular things like buildings or ‘saving tax dollars!’ or ‘arresting bad guys!’. But the most useful environmentalist looks more like a land use attorney than someone who chains themself to trees.
Thursday April 11, 2024 6:00pm City Council Regular Meeting (Agenda)
Highlights:
- Legislative Update. A recap from our lobbyist and what to expect next year.
- Automated traffic safety camera program update. The State legislature passed a rewrite of the law. There will be a presentation from the Interim City Manager and a revised ordinance to comply with the new RCW.
- City manager recruitment – we will be asked to choose a salary range to put on the job application for City Manager.
- Property tax levy lid lift (2nd reading.) And in a fairly unusual move, there will be a third reading after this, to continue making improvements on the ordinance. I have asked for what I consider to be meaningful tweaks:
- Allocating $20,000 for a public outreach campaign. We must explain this properly (see above)
- I am not thrilled about using the fund for anything except salaries and vehicles–the essentials of policing and court. Currently the ordinance suggests using this for improvements to things like the police building. Worthy goal, but I’d rather not establish that precedent–for even one year.
- In fact, I would prefer language that makes certain the funds received from this tax will be kept separate from everything else–and not movable.
- I’ve asked for the language to be tightened up.
- Comprehensive Marina Master Plan Update. I am deeply concerned and will likely vote no for several reasons.
- First, because it focuses on boating, which is great, but is not integrated into the rest of the Marina. For example, it makes no mention of the current Steps project or the 223rd Green Streets project. If it’s a ‘master plan’ it must include the entirety of the Marina floor, from Beach Park to 227th.
- Second because it makes some major changes to the task list, but w ithout offering a budget or a timeline. And a budget without a timeline is just a wish list.
- And last (for now) we basically blew our wad on borrowing with the Marina Steps. If I had a magic wand, I would pull back on that, and reconsider this Master Plan, which now provisions for Dry Stack and the required negative lift boat launch. Again: without financing, I’m struggling.
In short, we need a real Marina Master Plan. One that tracks with the o/g plan (ie. 2007) and considers the entire space. I do not understand the rush to do this. The City should be bringing forward the necessary permits to fix the docks and nothing else for now. Instead, the City should be planning on another community meeting to discuss these changes–including how to pay for them. Because it’s so large, I broke out the plan from the rest of the agenda: 2024 Des Moines Marina Master Plan
Last Week
Thursday 4:00pm: Finance Committee (Agenda)
I asked for the Animal Control report, which caused some tension, which I hope we can resolve.
I also asked for an update on our debt service–since the clock is now running on last year’s $25M Bond Sale. I can’t discuss everything in every Weekly Update, but for now, what I want is more of a ‘dashboard’ approach to this kind of data. Rather than me (or the City) briefing the public every so often, I just want a frickin’ WEB PAGE, where anyone can easily look up various stats (from relatively small things like Animal Control to large things like Bond Payments) any time they like.
Thursday 5:00pm: Public Safety/Emergency Management Committee (Agenda) Dangerous Dog Code Update; Crime Statistics Overview.
Thursday 6:00pm: City Council Study Session, 6:00 p.m. (Study Session Agenda) Recap below…
Saturday: 10am: Release the Salmon! 30,000 Coho fry were successfully released into Puget Sound. I have to admit, this was the most anti-climatic release I’ve yet witnessed. In the past, they swoosh away in a silver rush. This time? That’s why everyone is staring in the piccie. It’s like, “Where’d they go?” 😀 It was cold, rainy, the water is dark. But whether we could see it or not, they’re on their way. Farewell, our fishy friends! See ya in a couple of years!
April 4 City Council Study Session Recap
Public Comment
Unlike other meetings, Study Sessions have a rule which requires public comment to be limited to the specific items to be ‘studied’. There was no public comment.
There’s also no City Manager report or Consent agenda, or the usual 1door-prize giveaways.
Property Tax Presentation by King County Tax Assessor John Wilson
This was very important regardless of whether or not you support the upcoming Lid Lift. We have one of the highest percentages of senior home owners in King County, but not nearly enough of you are applying for exemptions like this which you are entitled to!
King County Property Tax Assessor John Wilson Presentation
Senior Exemption Portal (kingcounty.gov)
Items to be studied
It was Assistant City Manager Newton’s turn to give multiple presentations
Communications Study direction
City Council Communications Assessment Final Report. This is the meeting where we supposedly decided to do something with the various suggestions from our last Study Session and the year-long consultant study.
I made a suggestion that we consider looking at what ideas could/should be accomplished ‘pre-CEO’. I meant that we should figure out what meaningful items from the list the staff can accomplish before the new City Manager comes in, and leave the rest to that new leader. That seemed to have support and Tim George said he would report back with that list.
In the mean time, I keep showing people some of the software possibilities out there–web sites, apps, calendars, etc. Because I think those offer the most bang for buck in the short term. But of course, I would say that. 😀
City Manager recruitment direction
For me this was an odd discussion. First off, if you watched the Citizens Advisory Committee, you heard the recruiter say that the number of applicants might be relatively low. So we were cautioned not to be too picky. This felt a bit like being strongly advised to 3ask Santa for a ‘sensibly priced sweater’ or ye might get nothin’ else, young fella.
I wanted the job application to favour candidates who are comfortable with public speaking, because I’d like the next CM to be ‘the voice of the government’ more than any of us–including the Mayor. It’s nothing personal. I just think any elected will filter their speech through their POV.
- I also said that it would be awesome if applicants were familiar with Enterprise Funds (like the Marina) and airport lingo. (I mentioned ‘Part 150’ which is the FAA noise studies that lead to Port Packages.) If we got someone with those experiences it would be miraculous. Assistant City Manager rightly pointed out that any qualified applicant would be familiar with enterprise funds. Agreed. We have a Storm Water Utility that is also an enterprise fund. However, our Marina is pretty unique.
- Currently we have a residency requirement for the CM. I never thought that should be a requirement. When I think back on the five CMs I’ve known, some lived here, some did not. And I’m not sure it mattered all that much. And not to put too fine a point on it, but current Interim City Manager Tim George does not reside in DM.
- I also made a related comment which caused some giggles: namely considering non-financial compensation. I didn’t mean car, or phone. Again, it might be a one-in-a-million thing, but if we found an applicant whose eyes lit up at the thought of a slip at the marina and low-cost fuel? IMO, that might be interpreted as a sign from God. Not. Kidding. In fact, I think that might indicate a stronger commitment to ‘Des Moines’ than establishing residency.
City Manager Ad Hoc Committee?
The Council was asked to decide whether or not to form an Ad Hoc Committee for the purpose of speeding the recruitment process. Councilmember Grace-Matsui seemed to have the strongest feelings against. I did not give my (cough) ‘observations’ but if I had, I woulda said that I have yet to see any ad hoc committee do something good for this city. Maybe they work great in other cities. What I did say out loud was that the process will either go faster if all of us can, on this once in a life time (DV) occasion to show up for some extra meetings to move things along. Cm Nutting has a tough schedule now, but I was not judging anyone. Pressuring? Yes. Judging? No. 😀
1Just wanted to see if you were paying attention. 🙂
2Apocryphal quote from George Patton, who had a famous disdain for having to repeat any task he felt should be ‘one and done’–including falling back after taking territory.
3Sorry. A wee bit o’ me childhood seems to have leaked into this Weekly Update. 😀