City Manager Weekly Report
March 14, 2025
City Council Meeting Recap
The following Council/Committee Meetings were held on March 13, 2025
Transportation Committee Meeting:
For more information, or to review packet information, click here
City Council Meeting:
- Yacht Club Commodore Presentation
- 6-Gill Shark Presentation
- Redondo Restroom Replacement Project – Construction Contingency Amendment
- Parkside Wetland Cleanup – Consultant Services Contract Award
- Airport Advisory Committee Purpose and Composition
- Consideration to Join K4C - King County Cities Climate Collaboration
- Des Moines Memorial Flag Triangle Project – Contract Award
- 24th Avenue S Improvements Project – Construction Contingency Amendment
For more information, or to review packet information, click here
For a listing of all future Committee and Council meeting items, click here
A few highlights from last night’s City Council meeting…
- The City Council received a presentation from Highline College’s MaST Center Aquarium about the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, scientifically known as Hexanchus griseus if you want to be fancy. This "near threatened" species is rarely observed because it typically inhabits deep waters. However, divers in the Redondo area have spotted an unusual number of them over the past few years. MaST, along with Councilmember and diver Matt Mahoney, has proposed that the City honor the Sixgill Shark by declaring Des Moines the "Sixgill Shark Capital of the World." We will provide more updates as we collaborate with MaST to celebrate this remarkable creature, especially during Shark Week in July.
- The City Council voted unanimously to join King County-Cities Collaboration (K4C) partnership. Founded in 2012, K4C is a partnership of local governments focused on climate action. K4C brings together King County communities of all sizes to share climate action resources, programs, and educational campaigns.
- The City Council awarded a construction contract for the construction of the Des Moines Memorial Flag Triangle Project. The Des Moines Memorial Flag Triangle Project is located within the intersection where Des Moines Memorial Drive, South 216th Street, and Marine View Drive South culminate. Project features include a new gateway sign, replaced flag pole, memorial plaque restoration, landscaping, and educational signage in partnership with the Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Society. Work at this Memorial should begin soon, and we hope to have the project complete by Memorial Day.
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33rd Legislative District Community Town Hall
You’re Invited to the 33rd LD Community Town Hall
Who: Senator Tina Orwall and Representatives Mia Gregerson & Edwin Obras, and residents of the district!
What: Community Town Hall
When: March 15th, 11 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Highline College – Building 7, 2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198
Why: To meet with your legislators, ask questions, and engage in discussions about important issues affecting the district.
It’s Celebration Time!
Join us for a special celebration as we honor Community Icon, Jack Kelsey and his mother, Norma, with a heartfelt bench dedication! We will also officially recognize the newly named Backstage Alley and Commemorative Waterland Way. This meaningful event will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the corner of S 223rd Street & 7th Avenue S. Light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Find out more about our “local legend” here.
How Do I Apply for a Job?
Looking for a fulfilling career with competitive pay and excellent benefits? The City of Des Moines is hiring for several positions, including:
Soccer Referee
Facility Attendant
Applying for a job with the City of Des Moines is simple!
- Browse current Job Openings
- Click on a job title to learn more
- Apply
- Need help? Call Human Resources at 206-878-4595 or email [email protected]
Your next opportunity starts here
Spring Community Academy
Registration is now open for the 2025 Spring Community Academy, bridging the gap between Law Enforcement and the Community. This will be a one-week academy starting Monday, March 24 - Friday, March 28. Each session will run from 6:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. Cost is FREE but space is limited, so register today!! Contact CSO, Tonya Seaberry at 206-870-7619 or [email protected] to register today!
For more information, visit our website: 2025 Spring Community Academy
Want to improve our City website?
I am thrilled to share that we are issuing a Request for Proposals to re-do our City website (www.desmoineswa.gov). It’s long overdue for a major redesign so that information is easier to find, more intuitive, and has the info and news you are looking for! Beginning early next week, we will have our Request for Proposals (RFP) for website services on our soon-to-be-improved website…we hope to get started with this project this spring, and we will definitely seek public input from YOU on how we can improve things on the site and what information you look for most often. Stay tuned!
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]
Katherine’s John’s Fun Stuff
This week my husband is taking over this section…he made a “One-Pot Weeknight Pasta Bolognese” that was a big hit in our house and made for great leftovers. He was bragging that it should be included in my report…so here it is. Courtesy of John Caffrey. (Note: Although this says “one-pot” I feel like when I did the dishes there were MANY pots to clean…so not sure if that was a chef mishap or if the recipe is misleading…)
Also, my husband says you CANNOT use a different pasta—it must be pappardelle (I think you could probably substitute a penne and it would be just fine…but he is a purist and always sticks to the recipe exactly)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 93% lean ground beef
- 2 Tb plus 1.5c water
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- Salt and pepper
- 6 oz pancetta, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- 1 Tb unsalted butter
- 1 Tb extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tb tomato paste
- 1 c dry red wine
- 4 c beef broth
- 1 oz parmesan cheese grated
- 1 lb. dried pappardelle (or penne or tagliatelle—but can’t be fresh pasta- needs to be dried)
Directions
- Toss beef with 2 Tb water, baking soda, and ¼ tsp pepper in bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Pulse pancetta in food processor until finely chopped, 15 to 20 pulses. Add onion, celery, carrot, and pulse until vegetables are finely chopped and mixture has paste like consistency, 12-15 pulses.
- Heat butter and oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pancetta-vegetable mixture and ¼ tsp pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Spread mixture in an even layer in bottom of pot and continue to cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until very dark browned bits form on the bottom of pot, 7-10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until paste is rust-colored, 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, add beef mixture and cook—using wooden spoon to break it into bite size pieces. 4-7 minutes. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits and bring to a simmer. Cook until wine has evaporated and sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, Parmesan, and remaining 1.5 c water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium high and bring sauce to a boil. Gently nestle pasta into sauce and return to a vigorous simmer. Cover and cook, stirring often until pasta is tender—10-12 minutes. Adjust sauce with additional hot water as needed. Serve…with extra parmesan cheese on top.
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.
MARCH
March 14 - Live Music – Joe Spallino @ Creole Soul
March 14 - Drag Queen Bingo @ Normandy Park Cove
March 14 - Ian Jones @ the Quarterdeck
March 15 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
March 15 - Scott Losse Comedy @ the Quarterdeck
March 15 - Vin to Yin with Live Sound Bath
March 15 - St. Patrick’s Cookie Class @ Marina Mercantile
March 15 - PINBRAWL at the Waterfront @ Waterland Arcade
March 15 - Estate Planning Best Practices @ Woodmont Library
March 15 - Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
March 18 - MINGO Nights @ Marina Mercantile
March 18 - Bingo Night @ Quarterdeck
March 19 - How to Resolve Deep Conflict @ Federal Way Library
March 19 - Paint Nite @ Tuscany Restaurant
March 21 - Attack the Block @ Waterland Arcade
March 22 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
March 22 - Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
March 25 - Trivia Night @ Quarterdeck
March 26 -Watercolor Pansies Paint & Sip @ Marina Mercantile
March 27 - Municipal Facilities Committee Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
March 27 - Economic Development Committee Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
March 27 - City Council Meeting @ Des Moines City Hall
March 28 - Live Music – Duo Bravo @ Creole Soul
March 29 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
March 29 - MomCo DMGC Bingo Fundraiser @ Des Moines Gospel Chapel
March 29 - Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
March 31 - Monday Mariner Madness @ Waterland Arcade
APRIL
April 3 - City Council Study Session @ Des Moines City Hall
April 5 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
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 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
April 12 - Des Moines Creek Park Run @ Des Moines Beach Park
April 15 - Bingo Night @ Quarterdeck
April 19 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
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 - Discovery Day @ MaST Center
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
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