Des Moines City Council Regular Meeting – October 29, 2026

The Des Moines City Council held its regular meeting on October 29, 2026. The agenda included routine consent approvals; three public hearings on the 2027 property tax levy, 2026 budget amendments, and the 2027–2028 biennial budget; first readings on tax and budget ordinances; an update to the square-footage B&O tax; a holiday tree purchase; and adoption of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Councilmember Simons arrived late, so the consent agenda passed 6-0 before he joined. The meeting ended with a 40-minute executive session on property acquisition and potential litigation; no action was taken.

Consent Calendar

• Approved vouchers through Oct. 14, 2026 and payroll transfers through Oct. 20, 2026 totaling $4,835,359.38: EFT payments $2,294,335.84; wires $1,201,865.65; checks $287,939.73; payroll checks $871.16; payroll advice $526,946.62 and $523,400.38. Passed 6-0.
• Approved minutes from the Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 2026 regular meetings.
• Approved the Service Electric agreement for $157,550.00, including a 15% contingency, for power cabling and charging equipment for future electric vessels at Marina guest moorage.
• Approved the Green Earthworks Construction NW contract for $97,659.84 plus a $15,000 project contingency for demolition, utility improvements, and site preparation at the Marina tenant restrooms; increased the ROMTEC contract total to $1,063,107.84 for restroom installation, sales tax, and bonding.
• Accepted the King County Youth and Amateur Sports Grant for the Midway Park Open Space Design Project.
• Approved Parametrix 2026-2027 On-Call General Civil Engineering Task Assignment 2026-06 for the 6th and 287th Stormwater Project, $126,100.00.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barbara McMichael, Des Moines resident, thanked Mayor Grace Matsui for joining other area mayors in a Seattle Times letter raising concerns about Port Commission attention to SeaTac Airport expansion. She invited port commissioners to experience aircraft noise from her terrace under the second runway; one commissioner accepted. She urged native tree replacement at 216th and consultation with Defenders of Highline Forest, and promoted the group's Nov. 4 speaker-series event at the Des Moines Library on birds.
• Judy Grandy, Des Moines resident, opposed Flock safety cameras, arguing they do more harm than good and threaten Fourth Amendment privacy. She said Des Moines Police conducted only about 2% of searches while 98% came from outside entities, cited UW reporting on Border Patrol access, and asked the council to turn off, cover, or remove the cameras and end the Flock contract. She also raised concern that a warehouse could proceed through zoning without a known end use, referencing ICE detention-center concerns and a recently disclosed lease.
• Bill Linscott, Des Moines resident, asked during the biennial budget hearing whether marina leasehold tax revenue is allocated back to the marina and other collection areas. Staff later answered that the marina pays leasehold tax to the state, a portion returns to the city's general fund, and it stays in the general fund rather than being reallocated back.
• No public speakers signed up for the 2027 property tax levy or 2026 budget amendment hearings.

Public Hearings: 2027 Property Tax Levy, 2026 Budget Amendments, and 2027–2028 Biennial Budget

• 2027 Property Tax Levy (Ordinances 26-106 and 26-107): Finance Director Jeff Friend said the recommended levy is a little over $6.1 million; the city receives 6.89% of a property tax bill and ranks sixth among taxing authorities, with the top five taking just under 75%. Assessed valuation decreased 2.1%; the proposed 2027 rate was estimated at a little over 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, matching the 2024 rate of 90.8 cents. The 1% cap component was $58,364. Friend noted the city's rate was $1.30 in 2018 and bottomed at 86.5 cents in 2023. A Wesley nonprofit property-tax dispute remained unresolved; about $133,000 was cited for last year, unpaid, and any ruling in the city's favor would accrue to past and current budgets. Both ordinances advanced to second reading 7-0.
• 2026 Budget Amendments (Ordinance 26-108): Friend reported proposed general-fund revenue amendments of almost $900,000 and expenditure amendments of $1.05 million, netting about a $163,000 cash decrease while ending cash remained above beginning cash. Public defender costs rose from $55,000 budgeted to about $280,000; an additional grant-funded patrol officer cost $140,000; red-light camera revenue fell $400,000; sales and B&O taxes were up; and indirect-cost allocations were corrected. Outside the general fund, the marina faced an $885,000 mortgage-revenue decrease from the dock replacement, a $400,000 equipment-fund transfer for travel-lift maintenance, and $38,444 less owed to the general fund; surface water removed $733,000 in state grants from the budget, saved $11,269 in indirect costs, and increased a capital transfer to $192,000. Advanced to second reading 7-0.
• 2027–2028 Biennial Budget (Ordinance 26-105): Friend said council priorities set Aug. 6 were public safety staffing, making Des Moines easier to develop, long-term marina direction, and stronger fund-balance reserves, with honorable mentions for communications staffing and technology. Health-care costs were budgeted around 11.4% after a 10-16% range. Public safety was about 60% of expenditures, and salaries/benefits about 68%. The budget adds two police officers (July 2027 and July 2028), drone replacement, canine patrol, a police staffing study, a permit services manager, a communications manager, a parks/recreation director, a parks maintenance employee, a 2027 parks master plan, a Tyler Munis cloud migration in 2027, and streetlight/tree-canopy work. It raises contingency from $50,000 in 2026 to $100,000 in each of 2027 and 2028 and aims to add $125,000 to reserves each year. Revenue assumptions included 1% property tax growth, 2% sales-tax growth, stable B&O tax, $300,000 gambling tax, declining red-light revenue, and falling one-time taxes. General-fund revenue was projected to increase about $169,000; fines/penalties were down $589,000, or 40%, due to red-light cameras. Property tax was budgeted at $5.65 million for 2027 and $5.75 million for 2028, below the $6.1 million levy request because of county reductions, Wesley uncertainty, and conservatism. Sales tax was projected at about $4.8 million this year, with lower amounts budgeted for 2027-2028; utility taxes were $5.1 million this year and about $5.4 million in each budget year. General-fund cash was projected to begin at almost $3.1 million and end the biennium at $3.45 million. Marina ending cash was projected at $9.9 million in 2027 and $7.4 million in 2028, reflecting the $3 million South Seawall design/project management and marina master-plan investments; surface water was projected to end near $7.92 million while using about $2 million over the biennium for capital. Advanced to second reading on Nov. 12, 2026, 7-0.

New Business

• Square Footage Tax Update (Ordinance 26-109): Assistant City Attorney Matt Hutchins explained the 2024-enacted square-footage tax, effective Jan. 1, 2025, as an alternative to the gross-receipts B&O tax for warehouse/storage space; the rate began at 13.5 cents per square foot per quarter, about 4.5 cents per month, with 3% annual adjustments and a 4,000-square-foot threshold. Revenue lagged due to compliance issues, the Bartels/Right Aid vacancy, businesses paying higher gross-receipts tax, and non-warehouse businesses generating little gross receipts. The proposal expands the tax to non-warehouse business space inside buildings, keeps the threshold and calculation rules, and exempts landlords, with the tenant paying instead, and hotels. Staff estimated $100,000-$150,000 in additional annual revenue. The main motion advanced 7-0 to the next regular meeting. Councilmember Harris's motion to cap increases at CPI with annual review failed for lack of a second; Councilmember Bloss's CPI-indexing amendment also failed for lack of a second. Staff said it could return with a comparison of 3% versus CPI over recent years.
• Holiday Tree Purchase: Assistant City Manager AJ Johnson-Newton described the Dec. 4 Winter Wonderland event at the marina, 5-8 p.m., following last year's tree lighting that drew about 1,000 people. Staff described a 40-foot tree with a 5-foot topper, just under 50 feet, with lights and ornaments, a five-year warranty, and an expected 10-year useful life; the agenda and adopted motion specified a 44-foot Majestic Mountain Pine package. Alternatives were reusing the prior mushroom tree at about $25,000 in labor and materials, renting for about $32,000 per year, or purchasing with an annualized cost around $25,000 over five years. The revised quote was $126,503.37. Staff proposed funding from the marina fund, waterfront zone fund, and lodging tax, with at least $40,000 in lodging tax described as pending or advanced through LTAC. The purchase was authorized not to exceed $135,000, including sales tax and shipping, on a 4-3 vote. Deputy Mayor Oxiger's amendment to instead use the marina steps contingency fund failed 2-5; several members argued that using bond-backed contingency funds would mean paying interest for 30 years on a 10-year asset.
• Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (Resolution 26-041): City Engineer Tommy Owen and Chris Como of Transpo presented the 76-page final plan. The city adopted Vision Zero in May and had completed a Local Road Safety Plan; a recent $1.5 million HSIP grant will fund a Sixth Avenue South streetscape project. Crash analysis covered 2022-2025; high-injury networks concentrated in north-central Des Moines. The plan uses the Safe System Approach and Washington's added safer-land-use focus. Priority locations included South 16th Street, Des Moines Memorial Drive, Marine View Drive, 16th Avenue South, and downtown active transportation improvements. The policy audit found the city generally in good shape, but the 2012 Complete Streets policy needs refreshing and safety data must be updated every two years to remain HSIP-eligible. Future grants included SS4A, uncertain pending federal reauthorization, TIB, HSIP, Safe Routes to School, and PSRC-administered federal funds. Adopted 7-0.

Regional & Council Reports

• Councilmember Harris reported on the West Emergency Management Advisory Committee, where FEMA funding uncertainty was discussed, and the Regional Transit Committee at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, which reviewed FIFA World Cup transit performance; the area had the third-highest ridership across platforms, and agencies discussed making big-event service routine.
• Councilmember Bloss, on the King County Board of Health, urged flu vaccination, noting an early and potentially severe season, earlier than in the past 30 years, with the current vaccine well matched.
• Councilmember Nutting reminded residents of the downtown trick-or-treat path and Halloween safety.
• Councilmember Bloss described a tour of Cedar Grove Compost and Cedar Hills landfill in Maple Valley; the landfill has roughly 10 years or less of capacity, and King County is seeking input on future trash options, including rail to Oregon or waste-to-energy. He also thanked staff for landscaping and the Des Moines Theater for events, including a 21+ Halloween party Saturday, doors at 7 p.m. and live music at 8 p.m.
• Councilmember Harris discussed the airport Part 150 process, saying the first half was complete and engagement now matters for sound insulation, air quality, and water quality funding; he said a $1.4 million annual community fund would cost the average King County taxpayer about 75 cents.
• Deputy Mayor Oxiger promoted the Legacy Foundation's Back to the Brunch on Sunday at Anthony's Homeport, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $75 tickets, benefiting kids, seniors, and the arts.
• Mayor Matsui thanked staff for budget preparation, noted the new ballot drop box outside City Hall, and announced the Veterans Day program at the park near the marina plaza starting at 11:11 a.m., with refreshments around 10:30 a.m.; daylight saving time ends that weekend.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 6-0 while Councilmember Simons was still arriving.
• 2027 property tax levy ordinances 26-106 and 26-107 advanced to second reading 7-0.
• 2026 budget amendments Ordinance 26-108 advanced to second reading 7-0.
• 2027–2028 biennial budget Ordinance 26-105 advanced to second reading on Nov. 12, 2026, 7-0.
• Square footage tax Ordinance 26-109 advanced to the next regular meeting 7-0; CPI-related amendments failed for lack of a second; staff is to return with a rate comparison.
• Holiday tree purchase authorized up to $135,000 on a 4-3 vote; the amendment to use marina steps contingency funds failed 2-5.
• Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Resolution 26-041 adopted 7-0.
• Executive session held on property acquisition and potential litigation; no action taken. Next meeting: Nov. 5, 2026 Committee of the Whole and joint study session with the Planning Commission.