Des Moines City Council Regular Meeting - February 12, 2026

The Des Moines City Council held a regular meeting on February 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered the Black History Month proclamation, presentations from the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Citizens Advisory Board on the strategic plan, a detailed update on the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR/Flock) system, and action on new business including Planning Commission appointments and the creation of a Salary Commission.

Regional Committee Reports

• Emergency Management Advisory Committee: Councilmember Harris reported on the first meeting of the year, highlighting the importance of signing up for Alert King County and ongoing FIFA preparation.
• Sound Cities Public Issues Committee: Councilmember Steinmetz gave an update, noting a presentation from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chris DeLaRosa (Des Moines): Opposed the Flock cameras, citing recent abductions on Pacific Highway and a UW Center for Human Rights report showing data flows to federal agents despite local restrictions. Called for the cameras to be decommissioned.
• Judy Grande (Des Moines): Expressed concerns over privacy, Fourth Amendment rights, and a lack of auditing transparency regarding who accesses the data. Urged the council to decommission the cameras.
• Jim Lampariello (Des Moines): Argued against the ALPR system, warning of potential misuse by bad actors and a systemic lack of accountability for private data. Recommended the council prioritize resident privacy.
• Chuck Coleman (Des Moines): Expressed strong support for the Flock system as a valuable, proactive crime reduction tool and stated trust in the police department's responsible management.
• Iman Ekong (The Roadhouse): Promoted a free, all-ages music program at the Angle Lake Light Rail Station called "The Roadhouse" and asked the council to help raise community awareness.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda unanimously (7-0), which included payment vouchers totaling over $4.4 million and the approval of the January 22, 2026 meeting minutes.

Presentations

• Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce: President and CEO Samantha Lee, alongside board members, presented the Chamber's 2025 impact (supporting over 3,000 businesses) and identified Des Moines business priorities: transportation, tourism, public safety, and small business relief.
• Strategic Plan Update: Colleen Gants (CAB) and City Manager Caffrey reported on extensive community engagement, reaching approximately 3,000 people and exceeding survey goals. Top community strengths included the waterfront and community feel; main challenges included downtown revitalization and financial stability. City Manager Caffrey highlighted a retreat planned for February 26-27, 2026.
• Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR/Flock) Update: Police Chief Ted Boe presented a detailed defense of the 15-camera system. He reported a 58% reduction in stolen vehicles and addressed privacy concerns by stating facial recognition is not used, national data sharing has been turned off, and all data is encrypted and subject to strict audit controls (CJIS compliant). He recommended implementing a public transparency portal.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing: Density Bonus for Religious Properties Ordinance: The council held a public hearing on the first reading of a state-required ordinance to allow a density bonus for affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations. No public testimony was offered. The council voted 7-0 to pass it to a second reading on March 12, 2026.
• Planning Commission Appointments: Councilmembers voted to select seven applicants for the Planning Commission: Danielle Anderson, Tracy Buxton, Chuck Coleman, Michelle Curry, Barton DeLacy, Colleen Gants, and Nicole Gunkel. Formal appointment is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
• Establishment of a Salary Commission: Assistant City Manager AJ Johnson-Newton presented a framework for an independent salary commission. The council agreed on a framework of 5 members, 4-year terms (max 2), local residency, no compensation, and meetings tied to the biennial budget. Councilmember JC Harris voted against the motion, calling it a "colossal waste of time" and an unnecessary burden on staff. The motion to direct staff to draft an ordinance passed 6-1.
• New Agenda Items: Councilmember JC Harris successfully proposed a new agenda item to discuss downtown parking.

Councilmember Reports & Presiding Officer's Report

• Councilmembers gave brief reports on local events. Mayor Matsui provided an extensive report on regional meetings and reminded the council of the Strategic Planning Workshop on February 26-27, 2026.

Executive Session

• The council entered an executive session for 35 minutes to discuss pending litigation and real estate acquisition. No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Black History Month Proclamation approved (7-0).
• Density Bonus Ordinance passed to second reading (7-0).
• Planning Commission applicants selected.
• Salary Commission ordinance staff direction approved (6-1).
• Downtown Parking discussion added to a future agenda.
• Flock ALPR transparency portal to be implemented as directed by council consensus.