Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Des Moines City Council held its regular meeting on September 24, 2026, addressing a variety of legislative, financial, and community issues. The council approved major infrastructure contracts for the 24th Avenue South Improvement Project and the Marina Tenant Restrooms, adopted the 2027 Legislative Agenda, and remanded the Development Agreement Ordinance back to the Planning Commission for further review.
City Manager Katherine Caffrey and consultant Dan Ernesty presented results from the Business Climate Survey and Roundtables. Of 220 surveys sent to downtown and marina district businesses and property owners, 44 responses were received (a 20% return rate). Key challenges identified included poor collaboration between business owners and property owners ("they hold businesses hostages for their price"), neglected properties, high business costs, and poor connections between the downtown core and the waterfront. Despite the challenges, 81% of respondents belong to the Chamber of Commerce, and there is significant optimism regarding downtown revitalization, particularly regarding the Des Moines Theatre investment and city leadership.
Community Development Director Rebecca Deming outlined new sections added to the ordinance, including specific performance rights (Section 9) and city discretion over assignment and expiration (Sections 10 and 11). Following public testimony and council discussion raising concerns that the new language had not been reviewed by the Planning Commission, Councilmember Desmondy moved to remand the ordinance to the Planning Commission for further refinement. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
Legislative Advocate Anthony Hemtad presented the council's priorities. Council discussed refining messaging for specific capital projects. For the Redondo Waterfront project, members preferred an emphasis on environmental and infrastructure safety (failing bulkhead threatening a wastewater pump station) over tourism. For Cliff Avenue, a focus on separating pedestrians from emergency vehicles was added. Council authorized staff to finalize wording, including broadening language on non-moving violations to cover parked vehicles with expired registration. The agenda was adopted (7-0).
Public Works Director Michael Slevin presented Option 2, which focuses exclusively on filling missing sidewalk segments and ADA compliance between 5th and 7th Avenues without landscaping, decorative lighting, or parking removal, at an estimated cost of $500,000. Councilmember Steinitz moved to proceed with the option, which passed 6-1.
Anthony Hemtad presented an overview of the 8-year, 12-year, and 20-year MFTE programs, explaining the tax shift mechanism where the exempted value is spread across other taxpayers (estimated at $24 per year on a $591,000 median home for a 100-unit building). The city had an MFTE program from 2009 to 2019 that was never used. Council discussed program parameters. A motion to have staff bring back more detailed information before referring the topic to the Planning Commission passed 4-3.
Assistant City Attorney Matt Hutchins presented Draft Ordinance 26-104. The measure would increase the local sales tax by 0.01% (1 cent per $100, from 10.40% to 10.41%) to raise an estimated $41,000 annually for youth programs such as after school activities and Camp Chaos. The council voted 7-0 to advance the ordinance to a second reading.
At this time, I would like to call the September 24th, 2026 Des Moines City Council meeting to order. Councilmember Harris will lead us in the pledge. Please stand if you are able. Please let the record show that all council members are present. Tonight we have one proclamation, the Centennial of the Seashore Club proclamation. Is there a motion? All right. Moved and seconded. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. Aye. That passes unanimously. Thank you. I do have the proclamation here. And I'll go ahead and read it today. Here we go. Whereas our community, known as the Seashore Club, is located on the Puget Sound in the zenith neighborhood of Des Moines. It is founded by courageous Danish immigrants who, through vision, hard work and perseverance created a lasting legacy. Whereas the history of the community traces back to 1872, when the first landowner John Collins, Seattle's fifth mayor from 1873 to 1874, purchased about six hundred six oh, I'm sorry, a hundred and sixty acres. Over time, a large parcel was divided and platted into smaller lots by Des Moines pioneer Thomas Massey. Later, Gustav Rathmussen and friends purchased an old run-down home and orchard on lot seven in nineteen twenty-five-nineteen twenty-six. Whereas the Seashore Club was founded by Danish immigrants renowned for taking care of their own. At this time, there are no Danish owners residing at the Seashore Club, but we take great pride in our past and the community has become an even a brighter future. Whereas to celebrate and can commemorate the centennial, the names of all current residents will be added to a new plaque near the original one. And a time counts capsule will be buried on the premise during the centennial celebration on September twelfth, twenty twenty six, and will be opened again in fifty years. Whereas it's our honor to be celebrating both our great nation's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary and the sea sort Seashore Club centennial in twenty twenty-six. Now therefore, I, Yoshiko Grace Matsui, the mayor of Des Moines Washington, do hereby proclaim September twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six to be the centennial of the Seasor Seashore Club. Signed this day. Thank you very much. And it was a lovely ceremony on the twelfth as well, and thank you for making us a part of it. All right. Thank you very much. Clerk, is there any correspondence from the public that not was not previously received by the council? No other correspondents, mayor. Great, thank you. Now it's time for comments from the public. We ask that you keep your comments respectful. When I call your name, please come to the podium and you will have three minutes to speak. Uh please state your name and the city of residence. First, I have Mark Everton. Thank you very much. I hope I have a better voice, thank you. Thank you. Brent Batten or Bratton. Thank you.