by Ralph Nichols

An international spotlight will focus on Des Moines during the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010 in China, which Mayor Bob Sheckler will attend Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

“I just got confirmation that I will be allowed, as requested, to make a speech on behalf of the city promoting local development,” Sheckler told The Waterland Blog in an Aug. 19 interview.

“This excites me and challenges me. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime, if ever. These are people who represent Fortune 500 companies,” Sheckler said.

“Des Moines, with a population of 30,000, has the opportunity to be promoted before all these international investors and developers in China.”

He added that “a lot of my ability to even go there is due to the city council’s support and help in paying for my trip.” The Des Moines Rotary Club also donated $500 to help with his airfare.

Referring to his successful China trip last November – which he paid for himself and which landed a multi-million-dollar hotel for Des Moines on Pacific Highway S. – Sheckler noted, “If it wasn’t for that trip I wouldn’t have been invited [to this summit].

“This trip is based on relationships I built with government officials and investors I made then. Otherwise this invitation wouldn’t have come my way.”

That invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will feature business talks on investment, cooperation and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state, provincial and local governments, CEOs, representatives of industry and related international organizations, and top economists will attend.

“There won’t be a lot of time for one-on-one discussions, which makes my talk all the more significant,” Sheckler said.

Topping his list as he promotes the city will be the planned 89-acre Des Moines Creek Business Park just west of Pacific Highway north of S. 216th St. Des Moines will regulate land use planning and zoning since the business park is within its city limits.

The property is owned by the Port of Seattle, which supports Sheckler’s upcoming efforts in China to attract businesses to this planned development.

He will also highlight opportunities for commercial and residential development in the downtown Marina District, especially along Marine View Drive and 7th Ave. S.

“And there remain a lot of places for development along Pacific Highway in addition to the planned Waterview Crossing project and the 300-room hotel with a four- or five-star true Chinese restaurant.”

Sheckler recalled that the hotel originally was going to be built in Tacoma until he developed an international business relationship with its Chinese investor.

Earlier, he said the city’s efforts to attract international developers and investors have “to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give. They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them,” Sheckler added. “And the marina is a huge attraction to them.”

by Ralph Nichols

Other Highline-area cities – Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila – have economic development directors or managers. So do other neighboring cities including Federal Way and Kent.

But until now, Des Moines has gone without one – despite a sagging local economy and a need for the city to position itself to attract new retail and other businesses when recovery begins.

That changed when the Des Moines City Council, on a 4-2 vote, created the position of “temporary full-time economic development manager.”

City Manager Tony Piasecki advised the council that, if they approved the proposal, he would appoint Marion Yoshino as the city’s first economic development manager. Yoshina had worked as a volunteer in that capacity since early this year.

She will be paid $70,512 – at $40 an hour – through next April 30, the equivalent of an annual salary near the lower end of the range for similar positions in some other suburban cities in the Puget Sound area.

“Some businesses have survived the recession well,” Piasecki told council members. “They’re the ones we want to bring here. We need to have our act together … to welcome them to our city … to go out and find them.”

Since coming to the city as a volunteer, Yoshino “has shown a tremendous amount of growth,” he continued. “She relates well to those businesses we want to attract.”

Mayor Bob Sheckler and council members Matt Pina, Dan Sherman and Carmen Scott voted to create the position. After voicing concern about city priorities after sharp budget cuts were made in the 2010 budget, Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan and Councilwoman Melissa Musser voted no.

“I agree there’s a need, but reluctantly I can’t support it,” said Kaplan, noting that utility tax revenue has dropped for the first time this year.
He questioned the city’s ability to pay for the new position for a third of next year and, noting there are other areas in which the city could apply $70,000, said “I just can’t, in good conscience, commit additional resources.”

Musser called the position “a luxury I wish we could have. But it doesn’t feel right. I can’t put it up there on my list of priorities.”

Pina, also wrestling with committing the funds for a new position, observed “that what makes this different is that it can be a revenue-generating opportunity … if we lose momentum here, it will be pretty hard to get it back. It will cost us more in the long run not to do this than to do it.”

Although absent, at a previous meeting Thomasson had stated his opposition to the move, calling it the “camel’s nose under the tent” and urging that the funds – from business and occupancy (B&O) tax revenues that are higher than anticipated – be used to help rehire a police officer.

Sheckler said, however, that “neighboring cities are getting ahead of us … we’re giving them an advantage. When the recession ends, I want us to get off to a running start.”

Acknowledging the difficult decisions Kaplan and Musser had to make, he added that what they said about the economy and city priorities are “very important … things we should keep in mind, too.

by Ralph Nichols

The Des Moines City approved on Aug. 5 the final agreement with Water District 54 for the Downtown Water System Improvement Project, which is expected to begin early next spring.

Council members adopted the agreement on a 6-0 vote after water district commissioners informed them it has been pre-approved for its share of construction costs – estimated at about $550,000.

The district will also provide funding for the project – estimated at a cost of $1.8 million – from its capital reserves.

Although the exact dollar amount needed by the water district won’t be known until bids are open, commissioners said their lender has said they can get at least that amount. The project may go out for bids by or before early fall.

A $486,000 federal earmark grant – secured by Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines – will pay for the city share of the project’s cost.

In addition, the city will waive all permit fees incurred by the water district, not impose right-of-way fees, absorb all administrative costs associated with permitting and administration of the federal grant, and act as lead agency for obtaining state approval for the project.

Construction to install a new 12-inch water main under Marine View Drive between S. 219th and S. 227th streets is expected to begin in March or April as soon as weather permits, with work completed in about three months.

The 12-inch main will be located along the edge of Marine View Drive to avoid obstacles beneath the street. It will include 12-inch cross connections to east-west lines at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

In addition, the district will install 12-inch water mains on S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 226th streets, connecting the Marine View Drive line west to 7th Ave. S.

Commissioners told council members that, with their pre-approved loan amount, the district now has adequate funds to pay for installation of water mains along cross-streets as part of this project as well – something they anticipated earlier would have to be put off to another year.

The fact the district is a utility will help it obtain the necessary financing since loans for capital projects by utilities are virtually guaranteed through their rates, thereby enabling them to get good terms from lenders.

“That’s all very good news,” Mayor Bob Sheckler said following the council meeting. “Previously [the commissioners] were concerned they would be able only to do Marine View Drive, and the other later.

“Now they can do it all in one fell swoop, which will result in the disruption of downtown businesses only once.”

One of the ironies of the recession-plagued economy, Sheckler noted, is that it puts the city in a good position to receive favorable bids.

“This is a major step forward in the development of the Marina District,” he added. “It now allows us to look more closely at types of construction and building heights that could bring new development that would attract both additional retail and residents downtown.”

by Ralph Nichols

Des Moines council members approved on July 15 the use of $1,400 in city funds to help pay Mayor Bob Sheckler’s airfare to China for the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010.

But not before Councilman Dan Sherman repeatedly tried to block the contribution by the council.

Sheckler received a personal invitation in June from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

All his expenses for attending summit from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 – except travel – will be paid by the Chinese government.

Full airfare is expected to cost as much as $3,500, Sheckler informed the council before the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan and council members Melissa Musser, Matt Pina and Carmen Scott joined Sheckler in approving the expense.

The $1,400 is the balance remaining in this year’s general fund budget for authorized travel expenses by City Council members.

Before casting his no vote, Sherman displayed apparent ignorance of Chinese culture and customs by suggesting the city send someone other than the mayor, perhaps Economic Development Manager Marion Yoshida, to the summit.

Sheckler noted, however, that this invitation was extended to him personally following a successful trip he made to China last November, where he made contacts with government leaders and business investors.

For the city to send someone in his place, he said, could be viewed as an insult by the Chinese hosts. “Sending a substitute would set that person up for failure.” Sheckler added later that “failure is what Dan Sherman wants.”

Sherman also questioned without offering specifics the legality of ties the mayor is developing between Des Moines and Chinese officials and investors – a suggestion that appeared to leave other council members perplexed.

Voicing support for the city’s contribution, Councilwoman Carmen Scott noted that Sheckler “went [to China] last year, not at the city’s expense, and the city is already reaping rewards from that trip. So I think we should pay for a small portion of his trip this time.”

Sherman, however, countered that plans for a hotel financed by a Chinese investor, which will be located on Pacific Highway South, were already moving forward by the time Sheckler was in China.

Sheckler agreed the hotel already was being planned at the time of this trip – for Tacoma – and that contacts he made with the developer while there resulted in the project going to Des Moines instead.

The 300-plus-room hotel, now in the design and permitting stage, will include a four- or five-star authentic Chinese restaurant (not Chinese-American) and, possibly, retail space.

Earlier, he called the invitation “quite an honor … I look forward to the exchanges I will have with my hosts, and reporting back to our city when I return.”

He said Chinese investors “are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.”

And they like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them.”

By Ralph Nichols

Mayor Bob Sheckler will return to China late this summer – invitation in hand – for the 1st World Emerging Industries Summit 2010.

Sheckler, who said his invitation is “quite an honor,” hopes to interest investors there “in any type of development that would complement the city, either on the highway or downtown.

“This has to be a two-way street. We can’t just take and not give,” he added. “They are looking for good opportunities for investments in Des Moines that will give them a good return for their dollar. Their interest is in profitable investments.

“I look forward to the exchanges I will have with my hosts, and to reporting back to our city when I return.”

Sheckler said Chinese investors like the Des Moines area because they can’t get its views of Puget Sound anywhere else “without paying premium dollars for them. And the marina is a huge attraction to them.

“We’re squared away to bring in investments on Pacific Highway and to downtown now that the water issue is taken care of – and to Des Moines Creek Business Park,” he continued.

Sheckler was invited as the result of personal contacts he made with government leaders and business investors during his China trip last year.

He went there in November to build foundations for a sister-city relationship with Changle and an exchange program between Chinese community college students and Highline Community College.

But Sheckler came home with a lot more – an agreement for a multi-million-dollar hotel in Des Moines in addition to those relationships.

In addition to the hotel, with more than 300 rooms, this development – at the old state vehicle emissions testing site along Pacific Highway S. north of Kent-Des Moines Road – will feature a four- or five-star Chinese restaurant and, possibly, retail space.

“It will be a true Chinese restaurant,” Sheckler noted. “Not a Chinese-American restaurant.”

The project is currently in the planning and design stage. Groundbreaking for construction is expected sometime next spring, perhaps sooner.

Matt Chan of Normandy Park, who is planning the multi-phase Waterview Crossing development on Pacific Ridge, accompanied Sheckler on his China trip last year and introduced him to business investors there.

Sponsored by the Chinese government, the Aug. 31-Sept. 3 summit – “New Industrial Revolution & Green Economy” – will include business talks on investment and cooperation, information and technology exchanges, and promotion of international economic cooperation in emerging industries.

International political leaders, ministers and elected representatives of federal, state and provincial, and local governments, leaders of Fortune 500 companies and other industry-leading companies, representatives from industry and related international organizations, and top economists have been invited.

The invitation came from Wang Rulin, governor, Jilin Province of China, Dominique de Villepin, global chairman of the Asia-Pacific CEO Association Worldwide, and Zheng Xiongwei, global executive chairman of the association.

“As Des Moines continues to reach across the Pacific to Chinese investors who are interested in the potential for them in Des Moines,” Sheckler declared, “I feel confident that the majority of city council members will embrace these opportunities for future economic development.”

To the Editor:

I would like to know if you could shed some light on how the two publicly-owned street trees at the corner of Marine View Drive and South 223rd Street managed to be topped. I cannot imagine that this action was performed with the approval of the City and am certain that it was not approved by any licensed arborist.

The residents of Des Moines funded the planting of these trees years ago during the renovation of Marine View Drive. I have watched as these trees have matured and have greatly improved the downtown streetscape. The fact that someone took it upon themselves to effectively kill these trees is nothing less than theft from the residents.

Thank you for any information you can provide on how this might have happened and what actions, if any, are being taken to hold accountable those who did this.

- Mark Proulx
Des Moines, WA

We forwarded this email and photos to Des Moines City Manager Tony Piasecki on Tuesday (June 29), and here’s his response:

Scott,

Late last summer/early fall, the property owner asked for permission to prune these two trees when he was constructing the All-Star Sports Bar building (he owns that building as well as the barbers shop/Lighthouse Lounge building).  We approved his request but his landscaper went way beyond what we thought we had approved, particularly on the tree in front of the All-Star.  The property owner agreed to replace this tree and was going to do it himself.  He hasn’t yet done so, (obviously) so we followed up with him today.  He said he’s now ok with the City replacing the tree and billing him for the materials and labor.  In regards to the tree in front of the barber shop, we had originally said he didn’t have to replace that one because it had not been pruned as extensively as the other tree, thinking that it would look ok once it leafed out.  Now that the leaves are here, it doesn’t look as good as we wanted it to so we will be asking him to pay for replacement of that tree as well.  Hope this answers your questions.

Tony

by Ralph Nichols

A long-simmering disagreement between the city and Water District 54 over upgrades to the water system in downtown Des Moines was expected to boil over at the June 3 council meeting.

There was even a possibility that the city would begin the process of assumption – the takeover of the water district – if council members didn’t get the answers they wanted.

Instead, the meeting began with Water District 54 Commissioner John Rayback informing them that “the commissioners think the district can now put a line down Marine View Drive.”

Following their May 20 council meeting, several lawmakers expressed frustration over what they considered to be a pull-back by the commission from what they thought had been a preliminary agreement reached at a joint meeting in April for installation of a new 12-inch water main along Marine View Drive.

To do this, Rayback said, the water district “will need the city’s assistance and will need concessions from the city.”

City assistance would include a $486,000 federal earmark secured by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, which is dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines, Rayback told council members.

“And the city needs to waive all permit fees” associated with the project “if you’re really serious,” he said.

This project “will still be very expensive … we need to keep costs down.” But, Rayback added, “We think it can be done.”

The water district will draw from its capital reserves to provide additional funding for the job.

“From the district’s point of view, putting pipe in the ground is money well spent,” Rayback said.

“I couldn’t agree more,” remarked City Manager Tony Piasecki.

The district “very probably will have to go into debt a little bit,” Rayback noted. “We’re willing to look at it.”

When asked for details about their plan, water district engineer Warren Perkins told the council, “We will come back to the city with a proposal.”

“What I’m hearing from the district is actually encouraging,” replied Mayor Bob Sheckler, who then pressed Perkins for a date certain.

“This has been a controversial subject for many years,” Sheckler said. “And a lot of criticism of the district is that it says it will do something and then nothing is done.”

Perkins offered “six weeks, maybe sooner.”

“Let’s say four weeks,” Sheckler countered.

Perkins agreed, and Water District 54 officials are now scheduled to submit their project proposal to council members on July 1.

If the plan for installing the new water main along Marine View Drive receives council approval at that time, “we can … get it designed and out to bid, and start work in the early spring [2011],” Sheckler said.

“Hopefully we can wrap this up on July 1. I’m very encouraged.”

City Manager Tony Piasecki added, “I’m very, very encouraged.”

The 12-inch water main on Marine View Drive, which may be installed beneath a sidewalk because of obstacles beneath the street, will include 12-inch cross connections to east-west lines at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

Those lines could be capped and connected later to the main along Marine View Drive, depending on the cost of the primary project.

Water District 54 Commission President Alli Larkin said following the meeting that what changed in the district’s approach to upgrading downtown water service was a decision to put “on hold all our cross connections and putting our money into the Marine View Drive Line.”

She said the district “then can go in later and do the cross connections,” which would include connecting with loops the end of water lines that now dead end along 7th and 8th avenues.

Perkins said some looping might be able to be done as part of this project.

South King Fire & Rescue has, in the past, said the downtown water system falls short of providing a required sustained flow of 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours for fire suppression, while still providing water service to the rest of the area at reduced pressure.

Water District 54 has disagreed with that analysis.

Loren Reinhold, the city’s assistant director of utilities and environmental engineering, told council members the project now proposed “will provide the necessary water supply downtown.”

by Ralph Nichols

A public hearing on an application for a planned unit development at Pacific Ridge took an unexpected twist and, later, an usual turn during the May 27 Des Moines City Council meeting.

Before the hearing began, Mayor Bob Sheckler recused himself to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest in the matter – an application for phase one development of Waterview Crossing, an urban community planned for the Pacific Ridge neighborhood.

He said “one council member,” who was not identified publicly, “feels there may be such an appearance” because of his trip to China last November with Matt Chan, the principal developer behind Waterview Crossing.

Although City Attorney Pat Bosmans “found no actual conflict,” Sheckler noted that a public hearing “must have the appearance of fairness” and, to avoid a possibility that the council’s eventual decision could be overturned on appeal, left the dias.

Prior to stepping aside, Sheckler added, for the record, “those things I’ve been accused of never happened. And [Chan] is one of the most honest persons I’ve ever met. This developer, unlike some who do a project, take the money and leave town, is a respectable part of the community.”

He also observed this episode “shows the difference between the private and public sectors. “All my life I’ve been in the lending business for developers. [In the private sector] I would have been praised for all the efforts I’ve made to bring development about, rather than some of the criticism I recently received.”

With Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan on vacation, the five remaining council members then selected Scott Thomasson to preside over the public hearing, which was halted before lawmakers began asking questions of city staff, the developers, and citizens who testified.

The brakes were applied by Thomasson in response to an earlier announcement by Bosmans, before a presentation of the project began, that she had been contacted by a council member who raised timely allegations regarding another council member’s impartiality in this hearing process.

A decision on the eligibility of the council member under challenge to participate is expected before June 10, when this public hearing will continue.

The identity of that council member was not made public, but there is speculation it is Dan Sherman – a vocal critic of the planned Waterview Crossing development who was not in a closed-door executive session of the council shortly before the meeting began.

One of the criteria for council members to participate in a public hearing is that they have not “demonstrated bias for or against” the proposal before them.

“I have not violated any of the rules,” Sherman said in response to the question asked by Thomasson, required by state law, which was posed to all seated council members. They were not under oath at the time they answered.

After Jason Sullivan, the city’s lead planner on the redevelopment project submitted for approval by SSI Pacific Place, LLC., summarized the primary land-use applications for the planned unit development and a requested parking code modification, several citizens expressed their concerns to council members.

While no one in the standing-room-only audience said they opposed the planned development – some even said they liked the way Waterview Crossing looks – they asked, “what will happen to us?”

Their worries center on how long they will have to move before development begins at the project site – located between Pacific Highway S. and 29th Ave. S., and S. 218th St. and S. 220th St. – and what relocation financial assistance will be available.

“We’ve been doing the best we can,” said Martin Gaza, speaking for his neighbors as well as himself. “It’s hard to find another place where we can be happy like that.”

Most of those in the audience indicated they live in four mobile home parks at this location, and that these mobile homes are older and can’t be moved.

Kim Nakamura, a partner in the Waterview Crossing development, told the citizens and council members that, given the pace of the project, “the minimum time for relocation will be 12 months, maybe more.”

A third-party consultant will be retained to help them relocation, and the developers “are committed” to meeting all requirements of state law.

Chan said as developers, they are “trying to do our best to improve the community over a long period of time.” That includes doing whatever the state mandates for relocation assistance.

Recalling that he came to the United States “as a 17-year-old kid” with no money “and worked my way up,” Chan added, “I have empathy for what you’re going through. I hope new doors open for you and your families. I assure you that things will be done for you in a proper manner in due course….

“I hope for you and your children things will be better,” he said. “You don’t have to stay in the same place forever.”

City Manager Tony Piasecki noted that he has been talked with state Rep. Tina Orwall about relocation assistance and will call her to help with this process when the time comes.

Waterview Crossing is planned for development east of Pacific Highway S. between S. 216th St. and the Kent/Des Moines Highway as market conditions allow over an estimated 15-year period.

Alexander said the Pacific Ridge area, which has developed incrementally since the 1970s, has been identified by the city for redevelopment for the past 10 years. Plans call for higher-density urban development that takes advantage of views both east and west, with allowed building heights up to 200 feet and a greater reliance on mass transit and less on single-vehicle trips.

More information on this development is available at www.waterviewcrossing.com.

by Ralph Nichols

(First of two parts.)

Sabers are drawn for what could prove to be Water District 54’s last stand.

The first exchange – which is shaping up to be a rough and tumble clash, even if it doesn’t rival Pickett’s charge – is set for a June 3 study session of the Des Moines City Council.

Without a timely resolution to this standoff, the outcome could be assumption of the water district by the city. Should that happen, it is possible that Highline Water District could absorb that service.

At issue is what city officials consider to be a pull-back by the district commissioners from an earlier commitment to an interlocal agreement for major upgrades to the water system in downtown Des Moines.

For the better part of a decade, tensions between the city and the district have been simmering over the long-needed – and long delayed – improvements to the downtown water system.

New development that could help revitalize a moribund downtown business district can’t proceed without increased water capacity there.

And South King Fire & Rescue has repeatedly noted the current water system falls well short of providing a required 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours to the entire downtown area for fire suppression.

An Interlocal Agreement?
For their part, the commissioners believe the city wants to put the water district out of business by taking it over, and so is over-reacting to a letter they sent on May 4 to Loren Reinhold, Des Moines assistant public works director.

The water district letter outlines 10 points the commissioners want included as revisions in the interlocal agreement, which was drafted by city and district staff following a joint meeting last month between the city council and the commissioners.

“We hope that with this letter, you will be able to revise the interlocal agreement so that it is acceptable to both the City and the District, to move the project forward,” it informed Reinhold.

With what seemed to be unequivocal posturing, the letter concluded, “We look forward to receiving a revised interlocal agreement incorporating these comments and working with you to bring this project to a successful conclusion.”

It was signed by commission President Alli Larkin and commissioners John Rayback and David Gilkey.

Although the water district now wants to revise the draft agreement to get more favorable terms, it is the city that, at the April 14 meeting, agreed to shoulder most of the financial responsibility for the project, which is estimated to cost $1.8 million.

City contributions would come from a $486,000 federal earmark secured by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, that is dedicated to water system improvements in Des Moines, and from the sale of more than $1 million in bonds.

The water district would provide approximately $300,000 from its capital reserves to complete funding of the work, which would be done along Marine View Drive.

When fully constructed, the upgraded proposed water system would include a north-south link to both feeder mains on Marine View Drive, and new 12-inch side street main segments at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th streets.

A City Viewpoint
“At last we had a solution to the water problem in downtown Des Moines,” Mayor Bob Sheckler told The Waterland Blog this week, in reference to the May 4 letter. “Now we’re back to square one.”

While the city “has insisted that something be done” since 2007, he said, the district’s response has been that “growth pays for growth” – meaning the first developer would pay for the water system improvements, and then recover its investment from future development.

Yet in the letter, they’re essentially saying the same thing again, Sheckler added. “What developer would pay for that?”

He said the city has asked the water district commissioners for an explanation of why they backed away from the interlocal agreement, but “so far they haven’t offered one.”

Asked if the city will push ahead to improve the downtown water system, even if Water District 54 pulls out, Sheckler said “yes.” But the commissioners have been invited to the June 3 meeting, where the city’s “next move” will be discussed.

If the water district chooses not to participate in the interlocal agreement for this project, will a recommendation be made for its assumption by the city? “In all likelihood, that will occur,” Sheckler said.

And in that event, could a motion for assumption be made and voted on at the June 3 meeting? “In all likelihood, yes,” he said. Then, “in all probability, the next logical step would be to begin discussions with Highline Water District” about taking it over.

Sheckler emphasized repeatedly that what happens on June 3 will be “dependent on council actions” and not on his prior speculations.

Water District 54
What city officials are saying and preliminary posturing they appear to be making has, in turn, angered Water District 54 commissioners.

“We did not back away” from the interlocal agreement,” retorted Larkin. “We did not renege” on it. Either they don’t know how to read or they don’t understand what they’re reading,” she said of the city’s reaction to the May 4 letter.

Citing the way that letter ended – “We look forward … to bringing this project to a successful conclusion.” – Larkin asked, “Does that sound like we’re reneging? I don’t know why he says we have reneged.”

The commissioners have only made changes to the interlocal agreement to benefit the water district, she continued. They still plan to proceed with the downtown project.

“It is totally out of line for the mayor to do dishonest smears when we’re trying to work with them. It is amazing that the mayor would step out with dishonest smears about the Water District.”

Larkin charged that “Mayor Sheckler is trying to destroy the water district” at the same time the commissioners are “trying to do all we can for an interlocal agreement to do the best we can for the city, the water district and the residents of Water District 54.”

by Ralph Nichols

Will a major upgrade of the water delivery system in downtown Des Moines attract new commercial development there?

“We do know if we don’t build it, they will not come,” Mayor Bob Sheckler opined during a joint meeting of the city council and Water District 54 commissioners on April 14. And “once it occurs, development can contribute to the cost” of the project.

Yet, said Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan, even if no new commercial development did come about, “this [is] an investment in our city … the same as paving streets or fixing the auditorium. It’s an obligation … I think it has to be built.”

The potential impact on development was one of three key questions raised about a proposed project to make long-needed improvements in water capacity downtown – especially for fire suppression.

“Even if it would not bring another business to town, in terms of water flow and fire protection it is needed,” Kaplan said on that point. “And I do think it will bring in new business.”

The other two questions were how to pay for it, and whether the work along Marine View Drive should be done over one construction season or two. Funding for the estimated $1.8 million project would come from $486,000 in federal earmark funds, water district capital funds, and financing through the city.

At the end of the meeting, city and water district staff were asked to start drafting an interlocal agreement for the downtown water service project, which would be managed jointly by both jurisdictions.

“If we want to do all of it at once, that would mean borrowing would be involved,” observed Councilman Scott Thomassen. “If we were bold enough to borrow,” he asked, then how much money would be borrowed and where would it come from?

Thomassen suggested borrowing just enough to fund about half of the project this year, then borrowing the rest to complete the work later on, so the city could avoid putting its bare-bones budget at risk if anticipated revenue isn’t adequate to cover the annual debt service.

Adequate funding is already available to fund installation of a new 12-inch water main along Marine View Dr. from S. 219th St. to S. 223rd St., or from S. 223rd St. to S. 227th St., but not for the full eight-block stretch this year, Loren Reinhold with the city’s Planning, Building and Public Works Department told council members and the commissioners.

When fully constructed, the proposed water system would provide a north-south link to both feeder mains on Marine View Drive, and would include new 12-inch side street main segments at S. 220th, S. 222nd, S. 225th and S. 227th.

It would support the required 3,500 gallons per minute for three hours to the entire downtown area for fire suppression.

Sheckler disagreed with the idea of doing only part of the work this year. “We need to do this project one time and one time only, and not incrementally over a number of years,” he suggested.

Councilwoman Melissa Musser concurred. “I kind of like getting in and doing it all at one time and not disrupting downtown businesses anymore,” she said.

Water District 54 Commissioner John Rayback indicated that if money has to be borrowed, the city will have to do it. “We’re reluctant to go into debt and look to our customers to bail us out,” he said, noting the small district already is repaying four loans for capital projects.

That leaves borrowing about $750,000 in additional funds up to the city if the project is to be completed in one construction season and, noted City Manager Tony Piasecki, “finding the revenue to pay for debt service will be challenging.”

However, Piasecki offered several revenue options, including a capital service charge for new hookups, latecomer fees for developers and landowners not already in place, and one-time sales, business and real estate excise taxes associated with new construction.

Kaplan cautioned against committing one-time revenues to ongoing expenses.

The possibility was also raised of a downtown Utility Local Improvement District to help finance the project, which would be done through the water district.

While there isn’t enough time to get a ULID approved and in place to finance the water system upgrades this year, Thomassen said he can’t imagine the project beginning before 2011. There isn’t time to plan and design it, get bids, and then obtain funding in time to start work yet this construction season, he predicted.

by Ralph Nichols

Unlike several other communities around Puget Sound – including Burien – an updated Shoreline Master Program for Des Moines was adopted quietly on April 9.

Council members gave conditional approval to the document on a 4-1 vote. It will now be submitted to the Department of Ecology, which has been working with local lawmakers as they revised the plan over several years, for its review.

Mayor Bob Sheckler, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kaplan, Dan Sherman and Carmen Scott voted “Yes,” while Matt Pina voted “No.” Melissa Musser and Scott Thomassen were absent.

If Ecology makes no significant changes in the plan, the Des Moines council is expected to give it final approval before a June 30 deadline that is based on the state’s fiscal year.

A major point of controversy over proposed updates to local shoreline regulations in other cities is greater setbacks for homes and other structures from the high-water mark, which critics say will restrict the use of their property had lower property values.

But this was never a troublesome issue in Des Moines, where the shoreline plan revision process has been under way since around 2005. The updated plan imposes a setback of 115 feet, compared to the existing 30 feet.

Except for the Redondo area, most residential property is above, not on, the shoreline, which apparently contributed to the lack of local concern about development setbacks. Neither the Marina area downtown nor commercial waterfront development at Redondo were mentioned.

Existing non-conforming structures won’t be affected, according to Robert Ruth, the city’s Development Services Manager, nor will their normal maintenance and repair. The cost-threshold exemption for upkeep that won’t need prior approval will increase from $2,500 to almost $6,000.

The allowed building height at the Marina will increase from 30 to 35 feet to conform with the zoning there.

Ruth noted that only Des Moines’ Puget Sound shoreline falls under this plan, because its streams and wetlands are smaller than what the state Shoreline Master Program regulates.

Former City Councilman Ed Pina expressed concern, during a public hearing that preceded the council’s discussion and vote, about bulkheads in front of his shoreline property and that of his neighbors should they need to be replaced.

Noting that bulkheads prevent tidal erosion at the edge of his property, he said tidelands account for 71 percent of his property value.

Pina was the only member of the public to speak at the hearing.

Ruth said if a homeowners already have bulkheads, they “can continue to enjoy [their] use” as well as repair it over time. But that could be negated if storm damage or natural wear were not repaired within a reasonable time, he added.

And, said Barbara Nightengale from Ecology, while the department’s “intention” is not to remove bulkheads, it would want a “clear assessment” if one was to be rebuilt.

Current Councilman Pina responded, “I’m all for protecting the environment, but I’m looking at the rights of property owners here.”

Pina also wanted to know why the term “publicly owned shorelines” was removed from a provision to encourage public access to the city’s shoreline, “if you’re not leaving open the possibility of access to privately owned shorelines?”

Nightengale said this provision basically related to new subdivisions of waterfront properties. While the state should not get into the subdivision of property, Ecology “could put more stringent public access back in” the regulations if required in the future, she added.

Kaplan, in making the motion to give conditional approval to the plan and send it to Ecology for review, said “this is something the city’s been obligated to comply with” since 2004 or 2005 … we’ve all been very conscious of protecting private property rights.”

But, said Pina, “I’m still struggling … I look at this document understanding its intent, but I feel that pieces are missing.”

by Ralph Nichols

In the epilogue to a contentious period in Des Moines politics, city council members agreed on March 11 to pay former Councilman Gary Petersen $58,000 to settle his long-standing claim against the city.

The settlement compensates Petersen for legal fees incurred in his successful defense against a conflict-of-interest allegation involving his business – Pete’s Towing, the company’s contract with the city for towing services, and his concurrent position on the council.

After more than years of litigation, the Washington Supreme Court held in 2006 that Petersen had no conflict of interest in owning Pete’s Towing while serving on the city council.



“I am glad the courts have finally vindicated me,” he told me following the Supreme Court decision. This “completely [discredits] the attacks on my honor and integrity.”

But his legal expenses from that case remained an unresolved issue until last week, when six council members voted to approve the settlement. Councilman Dave Kaplan, who was defeated by Petersen in the 2001 city election, voted “no.”

Shortly before Petersen’s first council meeting in 2002, then-City Manager Bob Olander and then-City Attorney Gary McLean told him that, as a councilman, he would have a conflict of interest as owner of Pete’s Towing.

Pete’s Towing provides towing and impound services for the Des Moines Police Department and other city agencies, which it has done for almost 50 years.

Then, not long after Petersen took office, a group of local citizens publicly demanded that he relinquish the Pete’s Towing contract with the city, or divest himself of any interest in the company, or that he resign from the council.

When Petersen declined to do any of these things, the citizens’ group filed a lawsuit seeking his removal from the city council.

At trial, King County Superior Court Judge Laura Gene Middaugh ruled against Petersen, finding him in violation of state conflict-of-interest laws governing local officials.

But instead of taking any action against him, Middaugh declared that both state law and case law were vague as they related to Petersen’s case. She encouraged him to appeal her decision.

Earlier in 2006, the Court of Appeals unanimously reversed Middaugh’s ruling and dismissed the case against Petersen.

The Supreme Court subsequently issued a mandate stating that it agreed with the findings of the appellate court.

“Gary’s willingness to persevere on behalf of himself and other business owners throughout Washington has resulted in significant and important new case law,” Scott Missall, Petersen’s attorney, said in a statement to me after the Supreme Court action.

“The court’s decision upholds the intent of [state law] to encourage business owners to run for elected office. It’s been a hard-fought battle, but worth it because justice prevailed in this case.”

Commenting on the unanimous ruling, Petersen said at the time, “The court has once again recognized how hard I have worked to conduct myself honestly in everything that I have done for this city.

“The will of the voters who elected me has again been upheld. This decision underscores the fact that this lawsuit was nothing more than a political attempt to discredit my honor and integrity.”

by Ralph Nichols

There’s good news for Highline residents who celebrate America’s birthday every summer with the fireworks display at the Des Moines Marina – the show will go on again this year.

Despite earlier concerns about the immediate future of the 10th annual Fourth of July Fireworks Over Des Moines, the event got a green light to proceed from the city council on March 11.

Due to a bare-bones budget this year, the city has no funds to provide either financial support or in-kind services such as traffic control by police officiers, as it has done as a community service in previous years.

But Brooks Powell of Des Moines-based Powell Homes (a WLB Advertiser), the prime sponsor of Fireworks Over Des Moines, told council members that approximately $7,000 in city services required for the event will be paid by private donations from his company – and, he hopes, with other local businesses chipping in as well.

As in the past, the Rotary Club of Des Moines will coordinate the overall event, contract with a professional fireworks company, and work with Powell Homes, other local businesses and the Des Moines Legacy Foundation to pay the associated costs.

The council unanimously approved the resolution authorizing this year’s Fireworks Over Des Moines.

Prior to the action, Parks and Recreation Director Patrice Thorell reported that the Police Department “had offered some solutions for public safety” at the Marina, for traffic, and for boaters. She also said that South King Fire and Rescue again will be involved.

City services paid for with private funds will include coordinating logistics, traffic control and road closures with the Rotary Club and South King Fire and Rescue.

The $7,000 does not include the cost of Marina staff because they work longer hours in the summer and their shifts will be adjusted accordingly on July 4. There will be no additional cost to the Marina.

Access to viewing areas at the Marina will be limited to pedestrians only because of construction there and at Beach Park. Parking is expected to be available at several locations in downtown Des Moines.

The city will promote Fireworks Over Des Moines in its City Currents newsletter, the Parks and Recreation and Senior Services brochure, on the city’s website and on Channel 21.

Advance notice of this Fourth of July celebration will also be made on both The Waterland Blog as well as on sister site The B-Town Blog.

Because the city lacks the funds to support special community events – even through in-kind police and other services – no such activities will be staged in Des Moines this year unless all costs are paid through outside funding sources. Most of these funds likely will come from business, as Powell Homes is doing for the fireworks display.

Confronted by this restriction, the ad hoc Waterland Parade Committee opted earlier this year against having a parade this year and decided instead to play for a bigger, Seafair-sanctioned parade next year that will be supported by private donations.

(Fireworks Photos courtesy Carmen Scott)

by Ralph Nichols

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler recently presented to the City Council gifts that were given him during a trip to China late last fall.

But the mayor brought home a lot more than just gifts and a slide show of his travels in this ancient, now-booming country.

A multimillion-dollar development along Pacific Highway South backed by Chinese investors – agreed to during Sheckler’s highly productive trip – is now in the planning and permitting stage.

Ground breaking and the start of construction are expected to take place this summer if preliminary activity continues at its current pace.

The development, which will feature a hotel and restaurant and possibly retail space, will be located at the old state vehicle emissions testing site on the east side of Pac Highway not far north of Kent-Des Moines Road.

While in China, Sheckler also laid the foundation for an exchange program between Chinese community college students and students at Highline Community College.

And now there is the promise of even more. He reported at the Feb. 11 City Council meeting that representatives of business investors in China and Russia, with billions of dollars to invest, “are very interested in Des Moines.”

“The word’s out” about Des Moines – and the marina. “The word’s definitely out there,” Sheckler said. “They’re saying, ‘Where have you been?’ People are discovering that this (waterfront city) is a jewel. It’s very exciting.”

Sheckler began planning his China trip (Nov. 13-22) two years ago, not long after the prospect of developing a sister-city relationship with Changle, a coastal city in the Suzhou province of South China, was first discussed.

After corresponding with Changle Mayor Lin Wengang, Lin invited Sheckler to meet with him there. Sheckler was accompanied by Des Moines investor Matt Chan, who plans to build the Watercrossing development on the southeast side of the Pac Highway-South 216th St. intersection.

“I was there to visit him” and discuss a sister-city relationship, Sheckler noted. But he also went to China with plans to pursue an exchange-student arrangement and “to develop interest in investment in Des Moines.”

Even before he was “warmly received” by Lin and Deputy Mayor Lin Jian Xiu – to whom he presented gifts paid for by himself, as well as accepted their gifts – Sheckler had met with Zedong Ye, a property developer, and Mr. Zhang, an industrialist. Both had visited Des Moines and Tacoma last summer and liked the Waterland city.

Ye and Zhang had been told in advance that Sheckler and the Des Moines City Council are “very progressive in economic development” and wanted to meet with him.

In their culture, the initial meeting often determines whether a deal will be agreed to, and their cordial relationship at this dinner resulted in a green light for the Des Moines project. An advance team already in Des Moines was told to begin the pre-application process with the city, and the hotel project has been moving forward since then.

“I went over there to meet the mayor of Changle and to meet with others to get development going.” Mission accomplished.

Establishing a sister city relationship, according to custom, will take time, but the process has now begun. Discussions are in progress for an exchange student program in Des Moines. And ground breaking for the hotel is just a few months away.

That’s a pretty big long-term payoff for the city – which paid none of Sheckler’s expenses. He covered his round trip to Beijing and his hosts covered some of his expenses in China.

“But the key thing is the city didn’t have to pay for it. What I did on my own time and my own dime is my own business,” Shecker said, recalling that “certain naysayers” in the community criticized the cash-strapped city during the budget-setting process last fall for allegedly paying for his China trip.

He added, “The fact is, the city is the beneficiary, but the trip didn’t cost them a penny.”

by Ralph Nichols

If you live in Des Moines or a neighboring community, and if you love a parade, then you can look forward with eager anticipation to the “biggest and best parade ever” in this Waterland city.

Next year.

There will be no Waterland Grand Parade in Des Moines in 2010, City Councilwoman Carmen Scott informed her fellow council members at their Feb. 11 meeting.

Scott said while members of the ad-hoc Waterland Parade Committee were encouraged by the Waterland Blog’s online poll, in which 76 percent of those responding said “yes” or “maybe” to continuing the parade, they also agreed that “this year is not the year.”

The committee “discussed the practicalities of whether a parade could or should happen this summer,” she said. Factors influencing their decision not to proceed with a 2010 parade included “the city’s financial condition” and scheduled construction projects around town.

They decided instead to stage a parade that will be “better than ever” in 2011, she added.

Mayor Bob Sheckler concurred. “I pressed hard for a parade this year, but Carmen is right. This is not the best year. It’s probably wise not to do it this year. So we’ll spend a year and a half planning a parade for next year, not this year.”

A grand parade was a major attraction of the annual Waterland Festival in Des Moines, but the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, which produced this event, disbanded in the wake of the 2004 festival.

After a four-year absence, the Waterland Parade, again preceded by a children’s parade, returned last July as part of the festivities celebrating Des Moines’ 50th anniversary as a city.

Last fall, Sheckler said there would be a parade again this year, but left a final decision to the parade committee.

With the City Council making sharp cuts in Des Moines’ operating budget for a second consecutive year, “we are hard pressed for funds,” Scott noted.

Although City Manager Tony Piasecki told committee members there are ways a parade could be put on without costing the city additional money, Scott said the reality of budget cutbacks has left no staff members the time flexibility to handle the additional work that would be involved.

So over the next year, planning for the 2011 Waterland Parade will include looking for private money to sponsor it, she continued.

And planning will also involve businesses along the Marine View Drive parade route so they can attract more customers that day, rather than losing business to events at other locations.

The construction projects that also make a parade impractical this year – upgrades to several streets used for the parade and staging, and the ongoing Marina renovation – “are building for the future,” Scott told The Waterland Blog.

“It’s going to sparkle when we have the parade next year. The city is doing it right.”

(Parade Photos courtesy Carmen Scott)

Good things are happening in Des Moines!! Good people are doing them!!

I say this as a reminder that all news is not bad!! We have problems, certainly, but we also have plenty to feel good about. We have people that care about this town. This is a fantastic jumping off point for constructive dialogue about what type of town we want to live in, as so many issues hang in the air. Budget problems, economic development questions and even a parade, seem to stir strong feelings. This is great!! It demonstrates that people are thinking about this town. I applaud ANY strong opinion, even if I can’t stand that opinion. If it comes from a place of concern for Des Moines, I am grateful and I thank people for caring.

With that in mind, the recent war of words regarding a parade has inspired me to throw my own opinion into the hat. The parade “debate” speaks to where we place value. It represents what kind of town we want to live in. It is about more than money, as plenty of people would do it and have done it for free, maybe not the police, but certainly many others. A parade and other events are about reconstructing a livable city. Des Moines has become so lame, it truly borders on unlivable. Those words break my heart, as I am a child of this town and love it more than anyone I know. Des Moines needs fun stuff to do. This need is not a superficial, fickle, immediate-gratification-regardless-of-consequence type of desire. Events foster a sense of community and belonging to something that connects people. It connects residents to local businesses and neighbors to one another. More than anytime I can recall, in the forty years I have lived here, Des Moines needs to get connected. These connections matter. These connections are connected to quality of life. A town without these vital connections and a high quality of life is a town people don’t want to live in. The beautiful thing is that we can manifest and determine our quality of life by engaging with each other having some fun. This is great. It is a cause for hope that a genuine win/win is possible! As the folks lined the streets last summer, I was reminded of what Des Moines can be, a true community, a place where people can come together and enjoy this town and feel proud to be a part of it.

Value is here.

On a warm day in July, I watched my five-year old daughter walk the parade dressed up as an eggplant, following the Farmer’s Market entry. My wife was an apple and my ten-year old son carried a pitchfork, frankly unnerving me a little bit. The memory of this day is priceless. It is priceless to me and it is priceless to my kids and many other kids and parents and residents that set-up their chairs early to sit in the summer sun and watch our parade. This has value. It is real. It is tangible and it matters. I can think of nothing this town needs more than opportunities for people to get together and feel good about living here.
There are problems in this town. There is no money. This is understood and undeniable. What we do have is interested, passionate people with big hearts and creative minds willing to set to task making good things happen. This has value, as well. A town with a strong service base and folks that can and will support events that create a sense of community is a good investment. A town that people want to live in is a good investment for OPM. We need it.

Recognizing, promoting, encouraging and prioritizing this as a part of any economic development plan is vital to shaping Des Moines future. It is not all about the feely-goody. Fun and feeling good about Des Moines is good business!!

I am including a letter I e-mailed around a few months prior to last year’s Anniversary celebration. It created some buzz and stirred opinions and seems timely given the current debate. I named it, ironically, the “Waterland Manifesto”. The irony exists in taking fun very seriously and the value in making great memories for ourselves and our kids. We need to do more of that in our terrific little water town.

My Waterland Manifesto by Dave Markwell

"Am I the only one that misses the Waterland Festival?" - Dave Markwell

I’ve been very conflicted recently with my own feelings of allegiance to the Waterland festival and my involvement in and support of the current events scheduled for the citizens of Des Moines. I struggle with whether or not I might be an anomaly. Am I the only one that misses the Waterland Festival? Am I clinging to the past and not giving the future a fair shot? Am I really not as progressive as I think by continuing to pine for the Waterland week?

Growing up as a kid in Des Moines, I looked forward to two weeks out of the year, Christmas and Waterland. Waterland was the highlight and exclamation point on every summer that I can recall. From sitting on my dad’s shoulders watching the parade, to spending the night on my uncle’s boat on L dock all five Waterland nights, to the first time I rode my bike to Waterland with my buddies and no parents, to “accidentally” getting to second base on the Skydiver in the eighth grade, to the annual reunion of high school friends who invariably would show up on Friday night, to being both the first and last person in the beer garden on the same day (once), to setting up, tearing down, guarding the gate, picking up garbage, being a vendor, sponsor and parent of kids enjoying the same things I did, my memories and experiences are not just Waterland memories. They are my life’s memories. They are the best thing there is. I am not the only one that has these memories. Anyone growing up in Des Moines has their own vault of great Waterland days. It is a collective joy shared. From Wednesday fireworks, to Thursday kid’s day, to the funny boat race, arts and crafts, B & E Tri-tip, Lions Club corn on the cob, barbershop quartet to old time rock and roll and the Seafair pirate ship cannon blast during the parade, Waterland had something for everyone. The cool, salty breeze on a hot summer evening mixing with the whistles and screams of the games and rides made it perfect. It defined community event. It was of, by and for Des Moines located in the heart and soul of Des Moines, the marina. The Waterland Festival was not perfect, but it was ours. It was something that residents of Des Moines could be a part of and enjoy. People were there as families. Local businesses were set up and people met one another and friends were made, some lifelong.

It was a showcase of the best Des Moines had to offer. People came and saw and had fun. In a landslide, the good times far outweighed the bad.

Granted, the last few Waterlands were shaky. Organization, security and accountability were issues as were money and politics. However, I hold that the good experiences still triumphed over the negative by far. My question now is why can’t it be great again? Des Moines is at the cusp of a fantastic renaissance with new restaurants and businesses cropping up, as well as new families moving in. How could Waterland be bad? It is a huge event with opportunities for every business, community group or interested person to get involved. It provides the best venue around to highlight and truly showcase all that Des Moines has to offer. With the 50 year anniversary coming up, there is not a better event to celebrate the occasion. Waterland represents the good things in Des Moines history and could really help define and highlight its hopes for the future. I believe that the combination of the new, enthusiastic and engaged citizens with the tried and true veterans of Waterlands past could create magic. We know where the problems were. How can we fix them? Solutions exist.

Many creative, talented minds also exist in this town. It is time to revisit Waterland and explore the potential. It is real and it is great and totally consistent with what every person who lives here, works in, or serves this town wants. Knowing what the problems were allows a great chance for some changes to help mitigate the issues. Having a couple years break allows an opportunity to reshape the event in ways that will make it something everyone will be proud to get involved with. It can be done. More memories of kids sitting on their dad’s shoulders watching a parade in their hometown are just waiting to be made, hopefully by my kids.

Thanks for indulging my thoughts and I hope to see you at the next parade as the Pete’s Towing truck train marks the grand finale. It’s about the coolest thing there is.

–Dave Markwell

by Ralph Nichols

In a victory for private property rights, the SeaTac City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 26th to rescind their earlier condemnation of the “Park-N-Fly” business at 17400 International Boulevard.

The paid parking lot – easily recognizable by its landmark sign, a vertical blue and gold key, across the street from Sound Transit’s light rail station at Sea-Tac International Airport – is the focus of ongoing negotiations over development of a proposed city center there.

Council members voted last Sept. 22 to condemn the property in an eminent domain action. Had the condemnation proceeded, it was anticipated that the SeaTac would sell the land to a private developer who then would build a parking garage and a city center complex.

“We are very pleased that the city council reconsidered its earlier action and upheld the Constitution and respect for private property,” John Houlihan Jr., an attorney for James and Doris Cassan, owners of Park-N-Fly, said following the action. “The Cassans look forward to continuing their long-standing business.”

Doris Cassan added that they now “will continue to pursue with the city what will make a first-class project.” This will be a mixed use development including some combination of a hotel, retail, office space and possibly some multi-family housing in addition to parking.

Councilman Rick Forschler said prior to the vote the earlier condemnation of the Cassan’s property was “a misuse of eminent domain.” He noted that while the council said it wanted to take the property for a “public use,” that use actually would have been a sale of the land to a developer who would build a private parking garage there.

“The Cassans are committed to making this a first-class development,” said Councilman Tony Anderson in support of rescinding the condemnation. He also appealed to both parties to “continue their negotiations (for development of the site) in good faith.”

And Councilwoman Mia Gregerson said she would vote to rescind because “the city and property owners are working together for a development that works.”

Councilman Ralph Shape, who defended the condemnation action at the council’s Jan. 12 meeting, offered no comment before voting to repeal it.

Council members approved the condemnation ordinance last year because they “believed it was in the best interests of the city,” said Councilman Gene Fisher, who introduced the ordinance to rescind at the earlier meeting.

“Because of conversations going on (since the original action) between the city and property owners … working together for development that works,” condemnation of the Cassan property is not appropriate and he could not support it, Fisher declared.

However, he noted that ordinance repeals condemnation without prejudice, which would allow the city to invoke that action in the future “if parking needs increase and negotiations with the property owners stall.”

Earlier in the meeting, Scott Roberts, property rights director with the Freedom Foundation, told council members there is a need for eminent domain reform in Washington and urged the lawmakers to act with that in mind.

“You know the difference between right and wrong,” Roberts added, and rescinding condemnation of the Cassan property “certainly is right.”

Companion bills to limit the use of eminent domain in Washington, introduced at the request of Attorney General Rob McKenna, currently are before the Legislature.

Doris Cassan summarized their plans for the property and urged the council to allow Park-N-Fly to remain in private hands and be developed privately by them.

by Ralph Nichols

Des Moines councilman Bob Sheckler was elected to a fourth consecutive term as mayor at the city council’s first meeting of the new year on Thursday, Jan. 7.

Councilman Dave Kaplan, who was re-elected to the council in the November election, was chosen as the city’s mayor pro tem.

Sheckler, who was elected on a 5-2 vote of council members, was nominated by Kaplan.

Scott Thomasson then nominated Matt Pina, who declined to be considered “for a variety of reasons.”

Newcomers Pina and Melissa Musser were sworn in and seated on the council at the start of the meeting.

After Pina stepped aside, Councilman Dan Sherman nominated Thomasson.

Voting for Sheckler were Kaplan, Musser and Pina, along with Councilwoman Carmen Scott and Sheckler. Sherman and Thomasson voted for Thomasson.

Kaplan was nominated by Scott, and Thomasson then nominated Musser. Sheckler, Kaplan, Pina and Scott voted for Kaplan, while voting for Musser were Sherman, Thomasson and Musser.

In recent years, Sheckler and Kaplan frequently have been on one side of a number of contentious issues, with Sherman and Thomasson on the other.

Assistant City Manager Lorri Ericson introduced Marion Yoshino, the city’s new economic development manager, to the council.

Yoshino, a Normandy Park City Council member, small business owner and 14-year resident in the area, will serve in this capacity on a pro bono basis.

“We have all witnessed the unfortunate recent closures of many of our small businesses,” Yoshino said. “It’s hard to see what’s going on around us.”

But, she continued, Des Moines has “the most spectacular beauty,” and noted the similarity here with waterfront settings in Bellingham and Kirkland where local businesses are doing relatively well even in the down economy.

“Our small businesses deserve this now,” Yoshino said. “If we all pull together we’re going to have a fantastic place.”

As if setting a new tone at the beginning of a new year, community activist and volunteer Brenda Anders, in the only comment from the public at the meeting, expressed support for the new council in its work ahead and declared, “I love Des Moines, Washington. This is a great place to work, a great place to live, a great place to play.”

Dear Des Moines City Council Members,

As firefighters of South King Fire & Rescue, we have concerns about public safety and potential service delays for the Citizens of Des Moines. South King Fire & Rescue serves fire and emergency medical services for the cities of Des Moines, Federal Way and a small area of unincorporated King County. For decades, King County Fire District #26 (Des Moines Fire) and the Des Moines Police Department have enjoyed a close working relationship–something which is not common in a lot of jurisdictions. Three years ago, King County Fire District #26 merged with Federal Way Fire, creating South King Fire & Rescue. After the merger we have been able to continue this close working relationship. Our relationship creates a more cohesive, efficient and safe working environment out on the streets of Des Moines, ultimately making a safer community for our citizens.

A staffing reduction in the Police Department is a concern to us and should be a concern to the City Council and Citizens of Des Moines. Our #1 priority is the citizens we serve and time is of essence when mitigating emergencies. The level of service provided and the safety of our community hangs in the balance. Firefighters are severely handicapped if we are not safe while doing our job and if we enter an unsafe scene. Potentially, we could become part of the problem and not be able to help our citizens. By cutting Police staffing, a ripple effect could delay our services. There are a number of situations (i.e. – violent crimes, assaults, domestic violence, overdoses and suicides to name a few) where the Fire Department doesn’t enter the scene until Police go in first and verify it is safe for the Fire Department to enter. By reducing staffing in the Police Department, our response times to such scenes could be significantly delayed, thus delaying the Fire Department’s ability to enter a scene and mitigate an emergency in a timely matter.

Reducing Police staffing could have a significant impact on the health and safety of the Citizens of Des Moines. We encourage you to reconsider your decision to reduce Police staffing. We need, at the very minimum, to keep current staffing levels to maintain a safe Community which the Citizens of Des Moines deserve!

Respectfully,
Scott Ervin
Vice President
South King County Professional Firefighters
IAFF Local #2024

by Ralph Nichols

The Des Moines City Council approved with one dissenting vote at its Dec. 10 meeting a $15,660,337 general fund budget for 2010.

Based on total projected revenue of only $15,891,600, the new city budget reflects the harsh impact of a drop in revenue of almost $3 million in less than two years.

The major program cut made by the council to balance the operating budget is a reduction of $879,221 in the 2010 police budget. This will necessitate layoffs of five sworn officers and civilian employees – reducing to 49 the number of department employees.

After weeks of deliberating the 2010 budget, council members adopted the new spending plan without discussion or comment. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Sherman cast the lone no vote.

The 2009 city budget reflected sharp cuts in every department except the police department, which sustained only marginal reductions.

But a continuing decline in revenue – and with the police department accounting for about 50 percent of city operating expenses – Des Moines lawmakers faced limited options for balancing next year’s budget.

When word circulated in October that one budget-balancing alternative was to cut the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, a public outcry from the community forced that possibility off the table.

This left the police department as the lone city agency vulnerable to major cuts. While there was some disagreement among local residents, opposition to cutting the police budget did not rise to the same level as that generated by possible closure of parks and recreation programs, or by the earlier threatened closure of Mt. Rainier Pool.

Most community opposition to cutting the police department budget was made in e-mails and blog posts. Not a single city resident appeared at the Dec. 10 meeting or at a public hearing on Dec. 3 to address the council directly in support of maintaining police funding at 2009 levels.

In other action, city lawmakers approved unanimously an agreement between Des Moines and King County for construction and implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System Initiative to support the RapidRide A-Line Project.

The project will install a fiber optic communication cable in an existing underground conduit along Pacific Highway South for traffic operations monitoring and traffic signal timing at key locations to streamline the flow of vehicles along this state highway.

And after a lengthy discussion, they delayed until January possible action on an increase in and modified structure of the city’s transportation impact fees.

by Ralph Nichols

Buffeted by sharply declining city revenue, the Des Moines Council is scheduled to adopt a 2010 general and street funds budget tonight (Thursday, Dec. 10) that will cut five positions from the police department.

The $15,660,337 budget – based on total projected revenue of only $15,891,600 – reflects a reduction in revenue of almost $3 million in less than two years.

As currently structured, the new city budget will reduce to 49 the number of sworn officers and civilian employees in the police department.

“We’re struggling to maintain a basic level of city services across the board, and it’s unfortunate that we are in a position where we have to cut police services,” said Mayor Bob Sheckler.

“This is a clear call to the Des Moines community to do everything we can to rejuvenate the downtown business district to increase commercial activity and increase local revenue for the benefit of all.

“I am determined to work on the revenue side of the budget so in the future we will not have to face this kind of tough decision again,” Sheckler added.

Police Chief Roger Baker said, “I stand by the city council’s and city manager’s decision. The police department will do the best we can with what he have, and we thank the community for their support.”

While Des Moines Council members sustained on Dec. 3 their prior reduction of $879,221 in the 2010 police budget, they did reinstate a sergeant position that previously was eliminated.

This action followed a request by Baker that the current level of administrative positions be maintained, and that he be given flexibility to find the savings of $30,000 elsewhere in the department.

Baker told city lawmakers the higher level of internal oversight and accountability afforded by the additional sergeant is essential for professional management of the department to avoid problems that existed before he became chief in 2003.

The Des Moines Police Guild countered with a statement issued on Dec. 5 that charged the mayor and city manager with retaliation by forcing cuts on the department rather than accepting an offer to take reduced compensation for one year to help balance the city budget.

City Manager Tony Piasecki responded to that claim earlier this week, saying the police guild didn’t tell the public “the rest of the story” in its statement.

The guild wanted increased benefits from the city beyond 2010 if it agreed to concessions next year, Piasekci noted.

Council members did avoid another budget controversy on Dec. 3 when they agreed not to cut the city’s code enforcement officer.

The 2009 city budget reflected sharp cuts in every department except the police department, which sustained only marginal reductions.

With revenue continuing to decline and the police department accounting for about 50 percent of city operating expenses, Des Moines lawmakers had limited options available for balancing next year’s budget.

Then, when word got around in October that one alternative was to cut the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, a public outcry from the community forced that possibility off the table.

This left the police department vulnerable to major cuts – yet public opposition has not risen to the level it did over possible closure of parks and recreation programs, or to the earlier threatened closure of Mt. Rainier Pool.

While there has been an undercurrent of support for maintaining the current level of police department staffing, not a single city resident spoke out during a hearing on the 2010 budget at the council’s Dec. 3 meeting.

The police guild said in the Dec. 5 statement that it “agreed to a one time surrender of a funded annual benefit, saving the City in excess of $70,000.”

But “in an unprecedented event,” the city officials again “met with the Guild in an effort to re‐open concessions negotiations on the existing contract … [for] an annual reoccurring cut in wages, amounting to approximately $62,000.”

The guild said it “countered again with a one time surrender” and agreed to respond to the city’s request – but instead the city retaliated by cutting almost $900,000 from the police department budget.

What the guild didn’t say, according to Piasecki, is that it wanted a lot more from the city in exchange for a “one-time surrender of a funded annual benefit.”

Piasecki recalled that during a negotiating session on Nov. 19, which included Sheckler and police guild representatives, the guild indicated it would be willing to accept either a reduction in the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase or a change to their health plan to save costs, or both.

“But in exchange for those concessions, they wanted one or more concessions from the city that would increase vacation time, increase the allowed cash-out of sick leave at the time of leaving city employment by adding a second category of sick leave cash-out, or increase other time off by increasing the number of hours off in lieu of paid compensation.”

He said the guild also wanted an increase from a minimum of 2 percent to a minimum of 3 percent in the COLA formula beyond next year, as well as other provisions that “would weaken the city’s management rights in scheduling employee shifts and in deciding whether any police services would be contracted out.”

Piasecki noted that “given how much we have cut [from other departments] in the past two years, there was very little cutting we could do without gutting departments or gutting programs” – crippling city government in the process – or completely eliminating Parks and Recreation, which public opinion is strongly opposed to.

“Do we make more cuts in the Finance Department?” he asked. If that were done, the city would be unable to track revenue and expenditures with accuracy, eventually creating problems with the State Auditor’s office.

Cutting the assistant city manager “would leave me without anyone to perform human resource duties,” Piasecki continued. “By cutting the city attorney, we would lose the checks and balances we need, and we would be unable to respond to lawsuits and prosecute crimes.”

And cutting planners would impact the city’s ability to maintain its comprehensive plan and review the shoreline master plan. “If we cut from those programs, we can’t comply with state law,” he said.

“The city council is working to maintain balance in the city. That’s why they’ve made the decisions and choices they have. But the budget is not adopted yet, even given all the work that’s been done to date, and it will not be until it gets at least four yes votes.”

City Councilman Dave Kaplan said “with a $2 million gap between expenses and revenue” when the budget process began, “it was clear we were going to have to take some pretty drastic actions … then we got 125 people at city hall saying don’t cut Parks and Recreation….

“We promised not to cut the parks department and we were not going to ask for any additional tax … none of us wants to cut cops, but we were left with no other option.”

Last year, Baker said, the police department absorbed budget cuts without cutting personnel by not replacing equipment. But the continuing revenue shortfall and budget-balancing decisions by the city council have made employee layoffs unavoidable next year.

Baker offered the city council four levels of proposed budget cuts:

1. Freeze and unfund two “vacant” positions (those officers currently are assigned elsewhere with their salaries paid by other agencies) and freeze two vacant and unfunded civilian community service officer positions.
2. Freeze and unfund one police officer position, lay off and unfund one civilian records specialist, and cancel the city’s contract with the emergency management coordinator that also serves SeaTac, Burien, and Normandy Park.
3. Lay off two officers and freeze and unfund those positions.
4. Lay off three more officers and freeze and unfund those positions as well.

“The council wants all four” budget-reduction options, Baker said. Combined, they will reduce the number of police department employees – officers and civilians – from 60, a number he agreed to last year, down to 49.

This means patrol teams will be reduced from five officers to four. Each patrol team still will have a supervising sergeant.

“All four cuts are taking hours from the proactive crime task force,” Baker noted, because task force members will be required at times to cover for patrol on calls for service.

As a result, the crime task force won’t have as much time to deal proactively with prostitutes, gangs and slumlords, which has been effective in reducing crime along Pacific Highway South, he added. “If we cut back too far, the gangsters and slumlords will begin to return.”

Fewer officers on patrol will “impact our response time to calls for service, and will impact the time our officers in the field have to investigate calls,” Baker predicted. “I think we can anticipate lower response times and less investigation.”

Although the city council has faced a difficult task in maintaining essential functions of each department as it balanced the 2010 budget, he observed “the litmus test is this: when you call 9-1-1, who answers?”

Baker did voice support for before- and after-school programs through the Parks and Recreation Department because they keep young people engaged in positive activities that keep them away from influence that could lead to gang involvement.

Dear Blog Editor,

I would like to thank the voters of Des Moines for granting me another four years to represent our great city.

While Des Moines has struggled to overcome a number of adversities over the years, we are poised to build a bright future for all of our residents … one that reflects the values of our community, takes advantage of our ties to Puget Sound and our proximity to regional transportation facilities, and one that ensures a rational, sustainable level of city services for our residents.

I’ve been proud to serve as your City Councilmember for the past four years, and I’m looking forward with enthusiasm and energy to the next four years.

Thank you again!

Cordially,
Dave Kaplan
Des Moines City Councilmember

It was the battle of the incumbents in Des Moines with Councilman Dave Kaplan defeating Councilwoman Susan White in a landslide for City Council Position 7.

As of Thursday (Nov. 5th) afternoon’s release of the latest vote totals by King County Elections, Kaplan held a +19-point lead, with 59.42 percent (2,641 votes) to 40.02 percent (1,779 votes) over White.

“I’m proud and honored to have been granted another term to serve as your City Councilmember on the Des Moines City Council,” Kaplan told The Waterland Blog.

White was attending a conference out of town and could not be reached for comment.

In 2001, Kaplan was defeated after serving one term on the council – the same year that White was elected to the first of her two terms as councilwoman. Kaplan was elected again in 2005, but instead of seeking re-election to his Position 5 seat this year he opted to oppose White.

Matt Pina, with a current lead of 55.21 percent (2,448 votes) to 44.54 percent (1,975 votes) lead over political newcomer Anne Farmer, will succeed his father, Ed Pina, in City Council Position 1.

The senior Pina is retiring from the council. Earlier, Matt Pina also followed his father as a Highline School Board member.

“I’m happy where (the vote) is right now,” Pina said before Thursday’s vote total update. “It’s a good spot to be in.”

In the closest race this year, incumbent Councilwoman Carmen Scott held a 52.30 percent (2,270 votes) to 47.35 percent (2,055 votes) lead over Melissa Musser, another newcomer to Des Moines politics, for Position 5.

“Obviously, the votes are not all in yet, but I am already feeling very confident about the energy and commitment of our new council members and look forward to our developing a unified plan of cohesive solutions to downtown growth and vigor,” Scott said.

“Beyond that, I know we will all be focused on maintaining parks and recreation programs, finding new sources of revenue, containing expenses, encouraging development of the Port business park land, and redevelopment within Pacific Ridge,” she added.

“Thank you for your vote. I will serve you well.”

The third political newcomer this year, Melissa Musser, was unopposed in her bid for Council Position 5, which previously was held by Kaplan.

Mayor Bob Sheckler said of the election outcome, “I couldn’t be more pleased. When this economy turns around, Des Moines will be in a position to act quickly to further economic development. This is the council that will get us there.”

But the biggest news for many residents was not the results of City Council races but the outcome of Proposition 1, which will establish the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District that will keep the Mt. Rainier Pool open for public use.

Proposition 1 was sweeping to victory by a 62.86 percent to 37.14 percent margin. Had it not been approved, it is likely that the popular community swimming pool – used by beginning swimmers, swim teams and seniors – would have been closed due to lack of funding.

Elected as pool district commissioners were Gene Achziger, Eric Kasnick, Bernadette Barrett, Marty Martinson and Nancy Kuehnoel. All ran unopposed.

Dear Editor –

It is election time again and there is confusion in the craft. So many good people, all wanting to serve the community and in as many different ways, have stood up to the scrutiny of voters. From each candidate comes a word or two that they know voters really want to hear or read about. The voter’s pamphlet lays open on our table and it is eagerly analyzed but rarely fully understood. So when you evaluate each individual and come up empty or undecided, it is time to look at all of the issues confronting us today, this year, and onwards.

A few very important items glare up as you read, line by line, all of the propositions and positions taken by the candidates. It becomes a choice, not so much of which person to vote for, but what they stand for. Proceeding down the list of issues, we are made, painfully aware, that our little city of Des Moines is running on empty when it comes to finances and action must be forthcoming to bail us out. This immediately begs the question:

“How long did it take us to get to such a sad, sorry state, and how much is the recession actually responsible for this?”

Instead of looking backward to find causes and assign blame, we need to decide how to get back on our feet and return to the proud existence that was once enjoyed by our fellow citizens. We find that two major items before us are; the need to maintain a suitable police presence and preserving parks and recreation facilities, both nearly on equal footing. Now, realistically, you can deny the good judgment of our chief of police Roger Baker and start carrying a sidearm while looking over your shoulder or you can argue strongly for holding onto what we have. The first priority that a city has toward its citizens is a comprehensive blanket of security. All else becomes secondary, especially when you see graffiti on walls and fences declaring “territorial rights”.

I would like to share my thoughts about what I think would make Des Moines a better more attractive destination and tourist Mecca:

• At the first opportunity there would be a closure of Marine View Drive one or two weekends a year for street vendors, rerouting traffic through 7th Avenue but only during the events.
• A small seafood shop like Ivar’s would be encouraged to set up down on the northern end of the marina.
• There would be a large gazebo erected where the “Big Catch” plaza is now for occasional entertainers and kid things.
• Our city leaders would begin selling the sizzle of Des Moines instead of the steak. Why not partner with a little east coast village as a “sister city” such as Nantucket or Provincetown?
• In the process we could also encourage a casino to open nearer to the marina and add to our revenue base.
• In the summer it seems that a water taxi visiting and bringing tourists is an ideal goal.

Many of these things depend on a little more leeway on the part of our permit and building staff and the ability of the new council to present a much more friendly face to prospective residents and businesses. Oh and why not lease the Des Moines Cinema to the parks and recreation department such as the one in Auburn?

Our city of Des Moines has promise; you candidates and incumbents need to make some promises that you can keep.

- Pat Nardo

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