Our Final Des Moines City Council Online Candidate Forum Position #5: Melissa Musser

This is the final installment in our online Des Moines City Council Candidates Forum series, today featuring the two only candidate vying for Position #5: Melissa Musser.

As before, we have made no alterations to her text, so the words used are purely hers, including any typos or other errors.

1. What is the primary objective you hope to accomplish for Des Moines if you are elected to the council? What qualifies you to lead this effort?

MELISSA MUSSER: My primary objective as a new City Council person for the City of Des Moines is to improve the stymied growth of our community that has occurred during the past few years. By that I mean, it’s the same “stuff”… different day. The lack of effective communication and meaningful partnerships between the City and her neighbors, Des Moines and the Port and between the council members themselves prevents any positive change from happening in Des Moines. By reading the Waterland Blog during the last two weeks alone, it has become abundantly clear the residents are asking, “What has the council actually accomplished?” Before the council can revise zoning and permitting parameters to encourage residential and commercial growth, before downtown can be revitalized or budget woes be solved, the council members have to put aside their own personal agendas and do what is best for this city.

My qualifications include years spent as a trainer both in my professional career and then as a Service Specialist with Washington State PTA. My current career as a manager of Community Associations and my common sense approach to problem solving provide me with the skill set needed to come to the table, listen with an open mind and weigh the pros and cons of an issue. I decided to run for city council because I wanted to represent the working families with kids. I bring a viewpoint to the council that it has been lacking for some time.

2. Des Moines tax revenue is down sharply, as reflected in the budget-cutting process for 2010. What will you do to increase revenue for the city without negatively impacting city residents and businesses?

MM: When you look up Des Moines on Wikipedia, it states, “The city has been the subject to land buyouts because of noise from aircraft landing or taking off from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport three kilometers to the north of Des Moines.”

With the stigma of land buy-outs and aircraft noise the Council has an even bigger challenge of attracting new business to our city while lifting up the businesses that are still toughing it out. Don’t make it so hard for those developers who want to improve our city and actually have the money to do so. The Waterland Blog ran a story clear back in June about the All Star Sports Bar in the building previously occupied by the Chinese restaurant. It was their goal to have their doors open in time for football. It’s nearly November- and they have yet to serve a single customer. It is revenue lost to not only the business owners but the city.

The time for finger pointing and excuses is over. Let’s recognize and support the business owners who are elevating our city, and hold those who don’t accountable. The council needs to decide what its vision for this city is once and for all, support and listen to our Planning Commission volunteers, give the Planning, Building, and Public Works department clear and concise direction and build a revenue base for this community that is built on new business, growth and retail sales.

3. Business activity downtown remains sluggish. What will you do to position the city to encourage increased business activity and development downtown?

MM: Development Downtown… that’s the hot topic of the campaign isn’t it? The problem with the current Council and Downtown development is that the Council hasn’t even decided how to define Downtown. I recently attended a Saturday study session that the community was invited to attend and give comment. Attendance at this meeting was low, besides me, others present consisted of Matt Pina, Mel Ponder, and two business owners. At this meeting it was said, “We have seven council people and seven different visions of downtown.” It hadn’t even been decided WHERE downtown was.  Midrise, residential, open spaces, Burien Town Square, Kent Station, no change, big change, sleepy bedroom town, waterfront oasis; these are all “visions” that have been shared with me during this campaign. One reason why new business doesn’t want to come to Des Moines is the fact that the city can’t decide what the future looks like.

What I will do to position the City towards positive growth is to push the 2010 council to come to consensus on downtown development. Money has been spent, time has been wasted; it’s time for the city to make a cohesive plan for the next, five, ten, twenty years then put in place the infrastructure needed to make its vision a reality. Will it be easy?  No. But meaningful growth cannot take place in this city until the decision makers can agree. Hold the current businesses accountable and make it easier to maintain appealing, safe and inviting properties. What new business wants to move in next to a dilapidated property?

The FAA and the Port grant money to Highline Public Schools projects that require sound mitigation. What type of support can we push for from the Port to encourage growth from developers and business owners? Again, I’m stuck on that Wikipedia blurb.

4. Should Des Moines promote itself as a tourist destination? If yes, what should the city do (e.g., encourage development of bed-and-breakfasts, Puget Sound tour boat cruises from the Marina, summer salmon bakes)? If no, why not?

MM: This self-styled “quaint Maritime Village” is a favorite destination for people all over the world. This is a city that has preserved its history but also has many events that make this a vibrant community with incredible scenery, galleries, upscale shops, restaurants, beautiful gardens and many recreational activities.”  Ah… if only this description was for Des Moines. Sadly, it’s for Gig Harbor. I was struck by Gig Harbor because on bright sunny days, my husband and his friends get in a boat in Des Moines and leave to go to Gig Harbor where they can pull up to a dock, enjoy lunch at the Tides Tavern, sit and visit with friends and plan their next trip to Gig Harbor. Winthrop has their Western theme.  Leavenworth is a Bavarian Village whose Oktoberfest and Christmas tree lighting infuse the community with tourist dollars each year. The Yakima Valley embraced its agriculture and topography and has encouraged a thriving wine business and tourist industry.

Yes, in my opinion Des Moines should promote itself as a tourist destination. With its parks, history, proximity to the waterfront and beautiful views, we are a tourist destination suffering from the same blight as our business plan- we don’t have one.  Once again, our city suffers from a lack of a common vision. The council needs to empower a community-based committee of volunteers to develop a tourism based business plan and not spend thousands of dollars on a “think-tank” like other municipalities have done. One time “events” like Waterland are wonderfully well received, but they barely break even. We need these types of events to draw people into a thriving, attractive, clean and safe waterfront town, then keep them coming back because we offer something more. We’re missing our something more.

5. Do you support development of Waterview Crossing and Des Moines Creek Business Park? If yes, what will you do to position the city to help these projects move forward? If no, why not?

MM: I support the development of the Pacific Ridge and the “buy-out” area of Des Moines. The Waterview Crossing development looks good on paper. Beautiful marketing material can be found at the developer’s web site; 1600 residential units, live/work space, office space and an aesthetically appealing plan. Again, on paper- it should all work. Close to the airport, easy freeway access and conveniently located near Highline Community College and transit. But it doesn’t work, in my opinion. Apartments designed with the goal of one day turning them into condominiums, minimal parking, hotel space mixed with senior housing and over 300 one bedroom or smaller live spaces planned (ear marked as “short term rentals”) has this professional multi-family community manager questioning if the developer really “gets” Des Moines. From what I have gleaned, the city really wants this project to work. They want it to revitalize the area and clean up crime. Some current council members have made questionable decisions, held closed door meetings and may have had their judgment clouded in an effort to have a shiny new “Library, Social Space and Business Center”. I support Multi-Family Tax incentives if they are given to builders who are committed to the city; not developers with projects that will end up sitting empty. We have enough apartments in Des Moines, especially “short term rentals”. It’s a topic I’m passionate about and not one I can sum up in the 300 words or less I’m given for each question.

The Des Moines Creek Business Park area needs development. It’s empty space that invites crime and devalues the area. It comes back to finding a way to work productively with the Port. They own the land, we own the roads. I support retail “big box” stores, but I would not support a Wal-Mart.

Remember, the deadline to mail your ballots in is Tuesday, Nov. 3rd.

If you’d like to review all our Online Candidate Forums, here are the links:

• Position #7: Dave Kaplan vs Susan White
• Position #3: Melissa Ponder vs Carmen Scott
• Position #1: Anne Farmer vs Matt Pina