Mayor's Minute

June 15, 2025

Our minds are swimming with memories that can hurt or heal. For a great week, choose wisely!

Top Stories

The Farmer’s Market is open!

The City Council just recognized the Market with a celebratory 20-year proclamation, thanking them for being an essential part of making Des Moines an irresistible destination!

Accessory Dwelling Units Made Easier
Last year, the State of Washington passed new laws to make housing more affordable and more available. A few of those involved making it easier to put ADUs in on your property. The City of Des Moines is incorporating those laws and the Council had a detailed presentation and discussion last night. See the segment here:

ADU
Q & A

Who is running for office this year?
Who is running for office in the City this year? Check out our candidates below (in alphabetical order):

Gene Achziger
Pierre Blosse
David Denino
Robyn Desimone
Lloyd Lytle
Harry Steinmetz

Where can I get current information about (animal control, getting people services, council meetings, parks programs, events in the city, etc)?
You can receive updates from the City right into your email inbox on any number of subjects – you choose! The City Manager puts out a weekly report full of information and a detailed calendar, and other City departments send out info as well. Just subscribe here!

Meetings & Events

It’s so exciting to be here at the beginning of a new vision for our students! This ground-breaking for the new Pacific Middle School was inspiring and sent a great message for our future!

It was such a pleasure to gather with the residents of Wesley Homes and give them an update about our City and where we are headed.

The Farmer’s Market opened to a record day for fun, food, and festivities!

The new, paved segment of the Des Moines Creek Trail is now open! You can walk, run, or ride through a forest and wetlands, with waterfalls and wildlife, all the way into Sea Tac (7.1 miles, one-way). You might want to keep your eye out for a Hobbit or an Ewok along the way! 😉

Sunday was a fantastic day to take a “Working Waterfront Tour” of Seattle! The Puget Sound Regional Council hosted a national conference this week which included a showcase of our transportation and economy. Our port can host the largest ships in the world when needed; ships that can carry up to 12,000 40-foot containers. Amazing.

This week offered a great educational opportunity to hear from Washington Hospitality Association CEO, Anthony Anton. Three interesting takeaways: 1) The hospitality industry is in crisis, and Washington is 60% lower than the rest of the Country, 2) Young people are using restaurants for efficiency more than celebration (as generations past), 3) The greatest struggle and the key to change is the cot of labor.

Lovely items. Even lovelier people! The annual Des Moines Legacy Foundation Bayside (Sneaker) Ball was a grand success with music and fun for all! The Legacy foundation does amazing things for this community. If you would like to volunteer or donate check out their website here!

Coming Up

Items in my calendar that may be of interest to you:

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.

CITY EVENTS
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
June 20

City Staff Neighborhood Pop Up
June 24
Wooton Park

Citizens Advisory Board
June 25
Des Moines City Hall

City Council Meeting
June 26
City Hall

Camp KHAOS
June 30-August 29
Field House

Fourth of July Drone Show
July 4
Des Moines Marina

City Staff Neighborhood Pop Up
July 7
Cecil Powell Park

City Council Regular Meeting
July 10
City Hall

Summer Concert Series - Watkins Glen
July 16
Beach Park

Summer Concert Series - Laborer and Universal Roots
July 23
Beach Park

City Council Regular Meeting
July 24
City Hall

Summer Concert Series - Joey Jewell and Chris Anderson
July 30
Beach Park

Citizens Advisory Board
July 30
Des Moines City Hall

National Night Out
August 5
TBD

Summer Concert Series - Queen Mother
August 6
Beach Park

City Council Regular Meeting
August 7
City Hall

Summer Concert Series - Nite Wave
August 13
Beach Park

City Staff Neighborhood Pop Up
August 18
Midway Park

Summer Concert Series - Pilot Seat
August 20
Beach Park

Senior BBQ
August 21
Beach Park

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Tea & Silent Reading
June 18
Marina Mercantile

Paintnight
June 18
Tuscany

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
June 20

Yoga
June 21
Soundview Park

Des Moines Farmer’s Market
June 21
Des Moines Marina

Discovery Day
June 21
MaST Center

MIBBB (Men In Black Birthday Bash) 2025
June 21
Quarterdeck

Des Moines Historical Society Open 1-4
June 21

Des Moines Creek Park Run
June 21
Beach Park

Waterland Pride Celebration
June 21
Backstage Alley

Trivia Night
June 24
Quarterdeck

The Insider's Guide to Now & Then
June 24
Oddfellows Hall

Thank you!!
Thank you for taking time to read! As always, please feel free to reach out to me via phone or email – I would be happy to visit with you! [email protected] – 206-251-2719️

If you prefer to read the Mayor's Minutes in a PDF format, see below!