Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Des Moines City Council held a regular meeting on August 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations from King County Metro and the King County Library System, introductions of the new Community Engagement Officer and the 2026 work plan, the annual Crime in Washington report, approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing and vote on the Carters Dock LLC Development Agreement, extended debate on alternatives for S. 223rd Street improvements, and approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Des Moines Area Food Bank.
During the separate public hearing on the Carters Dock Development Agreement, four residents (Lee Tomlin, Karen Schartman, Diane Tucker, Lynn Formeter) spoke in opposition, citing concerns about parking, traffic, density, environmental impact, and the need for more detailed plans.
King County Metro Update (15 min) Nathaniel Waugh (Government Relations Administrator) and Jeremy Fichter (Transportation Planner) presented data showing about 1,200 daily boardings in Des Moines, with the Rapid Ride A Line as the top route. They outlined the South Link Connections service change effective August 29, 2026, which will boost service hours by 28% compared to fall 2025, add earlier/later trips, and improve frequencies on several routes. Highlights include the new Route 164 (15-minute service, 7 days/week) and Route 166 serving the Burien–Des Moines corridor. The team also described outreach efforts.
Update from King County Library System (10 min) Felicia Wilson (Regional Manager) and Erik Matthews (Library Services Manager) reported that KCLS circulated over 23 million items system-wide last year. The Des Moines and Woodmont branches conducted nearly 500 programs with over 5,000 attendees. Key upcoming programs include a peer navigator program (funded by a King County Library Foundation grant) starting August 17, and a welcoming center for immigrants and refugees (beginning September 1) that will offer services in Dari, Pashto, and Arabic.
Community Engagement Officer Introduction and 2026 Work Plan (15 min) Police Chief Ted Boe introduced new Community Engagement Officer Junior Aumavae, who presented his 2026 work plan. Aumavae described his background working for the NFL Players Association, the mayor of Anchorage, and the DEA. He conducted over 20 listening tours in his first 30 days and distributed 1,300 safety educational materials, engaging nearly 2,000 individuals. His priorities include expanding youth and family engagement, increasing neighborhood outreach, strengthening event presence, and tracking engagement outcomes.
Crime in Washington Report (30 min) Chief Boe presented the annual statewide crime report, noting an overall 18.7% reduction in crime in Des Moines. He explained the transition to the NIBERS crime reporting system and noted that Washington ranks last in the nation for police staffing. The Des Moines Police Department has four commissioned vacancies but expects that number to drop to two by September 1. Chief Boe highlighted that auto theft is driving statewide declines, and local speed and red-light cameras have reduced violations. The department will seek reaccreditation and is adding a proactive detective and a traffic officer when staffing allows. Additional funding from House Bill 2015 ($450,000 in new revenue and a $362,000 grant) will support the co-responder program, animal control, public defense, and equipment upgrades.
Carters Dock LLC Development Agreement – Public Hearing (30 min) Community Development Director Rebecca Deming and applicant Carol Crane presented a proposal for a mixed-use project at 28210/28212 Redondo Way: 14 market-rate townhomes and 1,600 square feet of commercial/retail space on 0.675 acres. The development agreement would allow a consolidated permitting process before a hearing examiner, with a single $60,000 fee, and parking provisions using on-street spaces. Council heard public opposition and then debated the agreement. After discussion, the council voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution 26-096 approving the development agreement.
223rd Street Alternatives Revisit (25 min) Public Works Director Mike Slevin presented three alternatives for improvements to S. 223rd Street, which is intended to connect downtown to the marina. The options were:
Extensive council debate centered on whether to accept the grant, prioritize other critical infrastructure (Cliff Avenue, Redondo Seawall), and the appropriate scope of improvements. After a series of motions and amendments, none of the three options received majority support:
Food Bank Relocation MOU (5 min) City Attorney Tim George presented a Memorandum of Understanding with the Des Moines Area Food Bank to allow the food bank to use a city-owned parcel (south of the post office, under one acre) for preliminary planning and assessment for a potential long-term lease. The MOU grants access for an initial six months with a possible 12-month extension. The council approved the MOU unanimously (7-0).
At this time I would like to call the August thirteenth, twenty twenty six Des Moines City Council meeting to order. Councilmember Pierre Blas will lead us in the pledge. Please stand if you are able. Okay. We have a council member who will be joining us remotely as soon as he can. So um we will note that he is in the process of getting signed in. But other than that, um, we have our other six council members here in person. Is there any correspondence not previously received by the council? No, mayor. Thank you. When I call your name, please come up to the podium. Uh you'll have three minutes to speak. Please state your name and your city of residence. Now, if they want to speak about the public hearing, they should do that when we open the public hearing. Is that correct? Okay. So if you are here to speak just on that issue, feel free to skip this part and then make sure you enter your comments during the public hearing. So I have first, is it Melanie Barlow. As we residents walk about, we often see cars driving around and around hoping to secure a parking lot. Parking spot. We do appreciate this points to the number of families and visitors enjoying the Redondo boardwalk for all the right reasons the pier, the beach, boating, mass center, dog walking, and for all of the other wonderful reasons people come down. However, on most pleasant nights and evenings, some visitors feel forced to park illegally in spaces clearly marked no parking. And some even illegally park in our neighborhood condo parking lots, which are marked via laters, will be towed. Again, we should all be happy to welcome the number of these visitors, but how can the city partner and planning for Redondo's growing parking needs? Redondo hosted roughly 2,000 visitors for The Shark in the Park recently. Volunteer parking attendants directed cars to diagonal parking up the Redondo Way South Hill. Could the city permanently paint diagonal parking lines on Redondo Way South Hill to provide additional parking? That's just something I just thought of off the top of my head, but I believe if we put our uh thinking caps together and look at the spaces that are down there, how can we redesignate that parking and get the most out of the space that is there? So we're asking whatever what other creative ideas can the council plan and present and implement for Redondo. Thank you. Thank you. Judy Grandy. Hi, my name is Judy Grandy and I'm a Des Moines resident. When you are in a park or on a sidewalk or some other public space, and someone you don't know wants to take your picture or video you, do you want them to ask permission before doing so? I think it is safe to answer that most people and most people's answer to this question would be yes. I want them to ask permission. And if your answer to them is no, you don't want them to take your picture or video, that they honor your response and don't take a picture. I was thinking about this when people say, I'm not committing a crime, so I don't mind flock cameras recording my car. My first thought is did you give them permission to record you? The answer is no.