City Manager Weekly Report
April 4, 2025
City Council Meeting Recap
The following Council/Committee Meetings were held on April 3, 2025
Finance Committee:
• Government Finance Officers Association Award
• General Fund Financial Forecast & Land Use Revenue Analysis – FCS Group
• Investment Policy
• American Rescue Plan Act Update
For more information, or to review packet information, click here
City Council Committee Meeting of the Whole:
• Neighborhood Traffic Calming Procedures
City staff presented a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program aimed at improving safety and speed reduction in residential areas. As part of this effort, a dedicated online submission form will be available on the City’s website in April, allowing residents to request traffic calming measures in their neighborhoods. Additionally, a pilot speed hump program is in development and is expected to be completed by Fall 2025.
• Contracting Alarm Management
• Accessory Dwelling Units
City staff proposed amendments to the City’s municipal code to comply with House Bill 1337. HB 1337 aims to expand housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units (ADU). An ADU is a dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single-family housing unit, duplex, triplex, townhome, or other housing unit. These units provide essential facilities for independent living, featuring kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and sometimes separate entrances from the primary unit.
State law requires all local governments in Washington State planning under the Growth Management Act to update their ADU regulations to comply with HB 1337 by June 30, 2025. The proposed amendments address impact fees, owner occupancy, number and configuration of ADUs, size, design standards, location, conversions, separate sale, and parking.
City Council Study Session:
• City Logo Discussion
• City Council Protocol Manual Review
• Comprehensive Plan Update
For more information, or to review packet information, click here
For a listing of all future Committee and Council meeting items, click here
**I’ll be on vacation next week with my family for Spring Break, so no City Manager Report…but I will be back for the report on April 18!
Des Moines Animal Control FAQ
The City is aware of concerns in the community about reductions to animal control services. We want to provide information on this issue.
During the last budget cycle, the City had to find over $4 million in cost savings and new revenue to balance the 2025-26 budget. To preserve funding for the highest priority functions, the City had to make difficult cuts, including:
● Staff layoffs in Administration and Parks & Recreation
● Freezing police positions
● Closing the Redondo police substation
● Reducing Senior Services and Parks & Recreation programming
● Reducing human services
● Cutting administrative costs
● Eliminating downtown beautification
● Reducing contracted animal control services
We recognize all these reductions, including animal control services, have impacts on our residents. We are doing our best to meet essential needs while we look for opportunities to restore funding in the future.
FAQ
In the past, Des Moines had a dedicated animal control officer. Why was that eliminated?
A dedicated animal control officer requires about $200,000 annually for salary, benefits, fleet and equipment to provide 40 hours of service per week (not 24/7 coverage.) Due to budget constraints, the City can no longer afford to fund this position. Several years ago the City moved animal control services to a contract with Burien CARES. The City now has a reduced contract for animal services, which covers legally required services.
What animal control services does Des Moines provide?
The City provides limited animal control services through a contract with Burien CARES. This contract ensures a response to dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs and investigation of dog bites.
The Des Moines Police Department has a microchip reader to help you identify the owner of a stray animal. However, the City no longer has staff to respond to lost or found pets or other animal control issues.
Why can't the police respond to reports of stray animals?
Unfortunately, our police department does not have the capacity to retrieve lost or stray animals and take them to shelters. The department is short-staffed due to budget constraints and has vacant positions. While we acknowledge that responding to stray animals is an important service, our police must prioritize responses to issues of public safety.
How should residents handle lost or found pets?
We encourage community members to post information about lost or found pets on one or more of the following:
● PawBoost.com
● NextDoor
● Neighbors by Ring
● Lost & Found Pets of South King County (Facebook group)
● Lost Dogs of King County (Facebook group)
● Lost Dogs of King County (Website)
If an animal is injured, contact a 24-hour veterinary hospital for assistance.
If an animal has bitten someone, call 9-1-1. Please do not call 9-1-1 to report a stray animal.
What opportunities does the City have for restoring animal control services?
Some funding for animal control services is generated through pet licensing, which has not been well promoted or enforced in the past. The City is exploring a contract with a firm to administer pet licensing. All proceeds would go to restore animal control services.
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Meal Service at the Activity Center
Join us at the Activity Center to enjoy a warm, nutritious meal in the company of friends! Hot lunches are available Monday-Friday, with meals served from 12:00-12:30p.m. A suggested donation of $4.50 per meal is greatly appreciated and helps support serving meals Monday-Friday.
Check out this month’s menu here!
Interested in Becoming a Councilmember? Start Here!
With candidate filing week quickly approaching, King County wants to make sure that you have the information you need to add your name to the ballot! In the next few weeks, King County will host two virtual workshops via Zoom that will cover important dates and deadlines, how to submit your local voters’ pamphlet statement, and more.
Register now at the links below –
• Tuesday, April 1 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register for the April 1 session
• Monday, April 7 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register for the April 7 session. This session will include topics specific to anyone interested in running for office in Seattle and include speakers from the City of Seattle and Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission.
The Public Disclosure Commission will join each workshop to provide basic campaign finance information. The City of Seattle and Seattle Ethics and Elections will join the Monday, April 7 workshop to cover Seattle-specific campaign and finance requirements and the City’s Democracy Voucher program.
Candidate filing week is from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9. You are encouraged to file online.
In-person assistance will be available at King County Elections Headquarters in Renton. Find more resources for candidates, including their Candidate Manual, on the Running for Office page of King County’s website.
If you have questions or need assistance, call the King County Elections Election Services team at 206-296-1565 or email [email protected].
Staff Kudos
“Aileen Evans (resident and Senior Services Advisory Board member) called giving Kudos to Public Works Admin Assistant. She said every time she calls Jodi is always so sweet, professional and when she gets her voicemail she always calls back.”
Submit Your Staff Kudos!
Thank you, as always, to our wonderful and hardworking staff. This Staff Kudos section will serve as a way to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our City of Des Moines employees, volunteers, Council Members, and more.
Would you like to share staff kudos with me? Please email me at [email protected]
EGGstravaganza!
Come out to the Activity Center for a leisurely and fun-filled egg hunt! There will be crafts, contests, prizes and photo opportunities with the Bunny. The event will take place on Saturday, April 19th from 9:00-10:30a.m. Tickets are $5 per child in advance/$10 day of event. Register today- here!
Katherine’s Fun Stuff
This one is a perfect make ahead…and it does take some time, so I recommend this for a weekend day…and then you have dinner for several days ahead! Even my meat-loving, anti-vegetable husband loves this one!
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna (by Ina Garten…one of my favorites of hers!)
• 1½ pounds eggplant, unpeeled, sliced lengthwise ¼ inch thick
• ¾ pound zucchini, unpeeled, sliced lengthwise ¼ inch thick
• ⅔ cup good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 10 ounces lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces fresh whole-milk ricotta
• 8 ounces creamy garlic and herb goat cheese, at room temperature
• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 4½ cups marinara sauce
• 1 pound lightly salted fresh mozzarella, very thinly sliced (fresh ball of mozzarella—not shredded or the block cheese)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Arrange the eggplant and zucchini in single layers on 3 sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Brush them generously with the olive oil on both sides, using all of the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano (I crush it in my hands), 1 tablespoon salt, and 1½ teaspoons pepper. Roast for 25 minutes, sprinkle the garlic evenly on the vegetables, and roast for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through. Remove from the oven and lower the temperature to 350 degrees.
Meanwhile, fill a very large bowl with the hottest tap water and add enough boiling water to bring the temperature to 140 degrees. One at a time, place the noodles in the water and soak them for 15 -minutes, swirling occasionally so they don’t stick together. Drain and slide the noodles around again.
Combine the ricotta, goat cheese, eggs, basil, ½ cup of the Parmesan, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¾ teaspoon pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed.
Spread 1 cup of the marinara in a 9 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish. Arrange a third of the vegetables on top, then a layer of the noodles (cut to fit), a third of the mozzarella, and a third of the ricotta mixture in large dollops between the mozzarella. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara. Spread the last 1½ cups of marinara on top and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of Parmesan. Place the dish on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until the lasagna is browned and bubbly. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and serve hot.
Upcoming Events
For more detailed information on the events listed, as well as additional events, please visit the City's calendar on the website by clicking here.
APRIL
April 5 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
April 5 Yin Yoga, Aromatherapy & Gentle Acupressure
April 5 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
April 8 Trivia Night @ Quarterdeck
April 10 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
April 12 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
April 15 Bingo Night @ Quarterdeck
April 19 Eggstravaganza @ the Des Moines Activity Center
April 19 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
April 22 Trivia Night @ Quarterdeck
April 23 Community Shredding Event @ the Des Moines Activity Center
April 24 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
April 26 Annual Salmon Release @ Des Moines Creek
April 26 SR3 Community Open House
April 26 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
MAY
May 1 City Council Study Session @ Des Moines City Hall
May 3 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
May 3 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
May 8 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
May 10 Art & Wine Walk, DDM
May 10 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
May 11 Live Music @ the Quarterdeck
May 13 Trivia Nights @ Quarterdeck
May 17 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
May 20 Bingo Night @ Quarterdeck
May 22 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
May 24 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
May 27 Trivia Nights @ Quarterdeck
May 31 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
May 31 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
JUNE
June 5 City Council Study Session @ Des Moines City Hall
June 7 Discovery Day @ MaST Center
June 7 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
June 7 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
June 10-12 Stormfest
June 10 Trivia Night @ Quarterdeck
June 12 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
June 14 Discovery Day @ MaST Center
June 14 2025 Sneaker Ball @ Des Moines Yacht Club
June 14 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
June 14 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
June 17 Bingo Night @ Quarterdeck
June 21 Discovery Day @ MaST Center
June 21 MIBBB Fest 2025 @ Quarterdeck
June 21 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
June 21 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
June 21 Waterland Pride Celebration @ Backstage Alley
June 22 Men in Black Birthday Bash @ Quarterdeck
June 24 Trivia Night @ Quarterdeck
June 26 City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
June 28 Discovery Day @ MaST Center
June 28 Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
June 28 Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
Have an upcoming event you want to share? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get it on our calendar!
Click here for the City Manager Report in PDF Format