CITY MANAGER REPORT

March 6, 2026

Charting Our Course: Retreat Recap


Last week, the City Council held a day and a half long Strategic Plan retreat focused on coming together around shared priorities for the next 3–5 years. This is the first comprehensive Strategic Plan in our City’s history, and it builds on the extensive community engagement we conducted this fall — including the community survey, focus groups, and Town Hall (a summary of that feedback was shared in the February 27 City Manager Report).


One theme was clear throughout our discussions: fiscal sustainability is foundational to all of our work. A healthy balance sheet is not separate from our priorities — it underpins them. The Council had an in-depth conversation about economic development, recognizing that growing and diversifying our tax base is central to maintaining strong core services, preserving reserves, and positioning the City for long-term stability. Thoughtful land use decisions — including how we guide redevelopment, shape zoning, and encourage appropriate private investment — are a critical component of that strategy. Financial stewardship, disciplined investment, and accountability will remain key filters as we move forward.


In addition to financial sustainability and economic vitality, the Council identified public safety, an engaged and thriving community, stewardship of our natural and built environment, and organizational excellence as major goal areas. In the coming months, we will refine measurable objectives within each of these categories and align them with our long-range financial forecast to ensure our ambitions are grounded in data and reality.



This work is about more than setting goals — it’s about charting a course that is responsible, forward-looking, and reflective of the community we serve today and in the future. Stay tuned as we present the plan to the Council and community this spring!

Spring Forward — and Check Your Batteries!


Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend! On Sunday, remember to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. While you're adjusting the clocks, it’s also a great reminder to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Day of Remembrance


At last night’s Council meeting Council remembered and honored Des Moines Master Police Officer Steven J Underwood who was tragically killed in the line of duty on March 7, 2001. A devoted public servant, husband, father, and son, his sacrifice will never be forgotten. On this 25th anniversary, the City will lower their flags to half-staff in remembrance of his service, sacrifice and lasting legacy. 

Now Accepting Applications for Human Services Funding 2027-2026


The City’s Human Services Program partners with local nonprofit organizations to support vital services for Des Moines residents, including food access, housing stability, and mental health support. Applications are now open for the 2027–2028 Human Services funding cycle, and eligible nonprofit agencies serving Des Moines residents are encouraged to apply. Priority funding areas include Housing & Food Security, Safety from Violence, Health & Wellness, Job Skills & Employment, and Early Childhood & Youth Success. Hurry, applications will be accepted through April 6th! 
Click Here to Apply!

Planning a Trip? Passport Services Coming to Des Moines Soon


Beginning April 1, the City of Des Moines will begin offering passport acceptance services at City Hall. This new service will provide residents and community members with a convenient local option to apply for a U.S. passport. Staff in the City Clerk’s Office have completed the required training and certification to serve as Passport Acceptance Agents and will assist applicants with submitting passport applications and required documentation to the U.S. Department of State. Additional details about hours of service, required documents, and fees will be available on the City’s website.
City Clerk's Office

Notary Services Now Available at City Hall


The City of Des Moines now offers notary services to the public at City Hall. Residents who need documents notarized can visit the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours—no appointment is necessary.


The cost is $15 per stamped page, consistent with Washington State notary fee guidelines. Common documents requiring notarization include affidavits, acknowledgments, and other official forms that require verification of a signature.


Please remember to bring a valid photo ID and do not sign the document in advance, as signatures must be witnessed by the notary at the time of service.


For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.


Did you know that in September 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled through Washington State during a larger tour of the Pacific Northwest. During that trip, his motorcade passed through Des Moines.


At the time, Des Moines was still a relatively small town, but Roosevelt’s visit created significant excitement. Residents gathered along the roadway hoping to catch a glimpse of the President as he traveled between larger stops in the region. Newspapers from the time reported crowds lining roads and cheering as the presidential motorcade moved through the area.


Roosevelt’s trip to the region focused largely on New Deal public works projects, hydroelectric development, and economic recovery during the Great Depression. While he did not deliver a formal speech in Des Moines itself, his presence was memorable enough that it was recorded in local historical accounts and community histories.

Thank you, as always, to our wonderful and hardworking staff. This Staff Kudos section will serve as a way to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our City of Des Moines employees, volunteers, Councilmembers, and more.
Click Here to Share Your Staff Kudos!

Staff Kudos


“Hi Mike,

 

Just wanted to say thanks for stopping by the Marina District meeting the other night. The community always has lots of questions, and hearing straight from the source is the best way to get information. 

 

We really appreciate you sharing some of your time - looking forward to all the great projects in the City!”

 

Jim Lampariello

Resident 
Apply Here Today! 
Contact Us! 

Job Opportunities


Looking for a fulfilling career with competitive pay and excellent benefits? The City of Des Moines is hiring for several positions, including:



  • Administrative Coordinator I - Public Works
  • Facilities Maintenance Specialist
  • Paralegal/Domestic Violence Victim Advocate
  • Police Officer-Hiring Incentives Available!
  • Volunteer Opportunities with Des Moines Community Enrichment Services
  • Youth Soccer Referee – Spring Season


Applying for a job with the City of Des Moines is simple!



  1. Browse current Job Openings
  2. Click on a job title to learn more
  3. Apply!

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City Council Meeting Preview


The following items were discussed at last night’s meeting:

 

Committee of the Whole:

  • Surface Water Management Tree Preservation Program Update
  • Draft 2027-2046 Transportation Improvement Plan
  • Update on Federal Uses within City of Des Moines

 

City Council Study Session:

  • Day to Remember Master Police Officer Steven J Underwood Proclamation
  • City of Des Moines Local Road Safety Plan Update
  • Amenity Rentals Discussion
  • Appointive Committee Code and Citizens Advisory Board Code Update Discussion
Link to March 5, 2026 Committee of the Whole & Study Session Packet
Click here for a listing of all future Council meeting items

Airport Committee Meeting

City Hall

March 9


Day Trip: Ben Franklin Crafts & Ooba Tooba Mexican - Redmond

March 10


Day Trip: Pike Place Market and Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub - Seattle

March 12


City Council Meeting

City Hall

March 12


Family Bingo Night - Luck o' the Irish

Activity Center

March 13


Day Trip: Thrifting Around Bremerton

March 17


Monthly Dessert Social

Activity Center

March 17


Senior Bingo

Activity Center

March 17


Out to Lunch Trips: Island Lodge - Lake Tapps Golf Course

March 20


Day Trip: Snoqualmie Casino

March 25


Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

City Hall

March 25


Out to Lunch Trips: Farm 12 - Puyallup

March 26


City Council Meeting

City Hall

March 26


Spring Recycling Event

Des Moines Marina – South Parking Lot

March 28


Day Trip: Flower World/Maltby Cafe

March 31


City Council Committee of the Whole & Study Session

City Hall

April 2


Out to Lunch Trips: The Pumphouse Bar & Grill - Bellevue

April 3


Eggstravaganza

Beach Park

April 4


Out to Lunch Trips: Chambers Bay Grill - Chambers Bay Golf Course

April 7


City Council Meeting

City Hall

April 9


Day Trip: Point Ruston Public Market - Tacoma

April 9


Airport Committee Meeting

City Hall

April 13


Day Trip: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - LaConner

April 15


Out to Lunch Day Trips: Bourbon Street Creole Cafe - Puyallup

Aptil 17


Shredding Event

Activity Center

April 22


Out to Lunch Trips: Lobster Shop - Tacoma

April 22


Monthly Dessert Social

Activity Center

April 23


City Council Meeting

City Hall

April 23


Day Trip: Olympia Farmers Market

April 24


International Sculpture Day

April 25


Day Trip: Enumclaw Downtown Shopping

April 28


Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

City Hall

April 29


Day Trip: UW Botanical Gardens - Arboretum Tram Tour - Seattle

April 30


Out to Lunch Trips: Pink Chandelier: High Tea- Puyallup

May 5


Spring Planter Painting & Potting Workshop

Activity Center

May 5


Day Trip: Downtown Poulsbo

May 7


City Council Committee of the Whole & Study Session

City Hall

May 7


Family Night Bingo - Mother's Day

Activity Center

May 8


Airport Committee Meeting

City Hall

May 11


City Council Meeting

City Hall

May 14


Out to Lunch Trips: Jak's Grill - West Seattle

May 15


Day Trip: Amazon Spheres - Seattle

May 16


Day Trip: Issaquah Troll & Gilman Village

May 19


Day Trip: Village Theater - GREASE - Everett

May 21


City Offices Closed in Observance of Memorial Day

May 25


Day Trip: Cougar Mountain Zoo - Issaquah

May 27


Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

City Hall

May 27


Monthly Dessert Social

Activity Center

May 28


Senior Bingo

Activity Center

May 28


City Council Meeting

City Hall

May 28


Out to Lunch Trips: Bogey's Public House - Auburn Golf Course

May 29




Have An Upcoming Event You Want To Share?
Share Your Events With Us Here!


Game Time

Des Moines Library

March 6


Woodmont Library Teen Advisory Board

Woodmont Library

March 6


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

March 7


Terrarium Make & Take with Sky

Zenith Holland Gardens

March 7


Discovery Day

MaST Center

March 7


Live Music - Sam Astra

Quaterdeck

March 7


Destination Roadhouse "Music Around the World" House of Tarab

The Roadhouse

March 7


Waterland Yoga

Des Moines Theater

March 8


Discovery Day Free Pass

Saltwater State Park

March 9


STEAM Family Story Time

Woodmont Library

March 9


English Language Learners (ELL) Classes

Des Moines Library

March 9


Craft & Chat

Des Moines Library

March 10


Talk Time: English Conversation Practice

Des Moines Library

March 10


Trivia Night

Quarterdeck

March 10


Create Your Life

Des Moines Library

March 11


Study Zone Tutors

Des Moines Library

March 11


Beads, Bears, and Besties: 90's Family Craft Night

Woodmont Library

March 11


Young Toddler Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 12


Messy Babies! (Morning Session)

Woodmont Library

March 12


Preschool Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 12


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

March 12


Tween Zone

Woodmont Library

March 13


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

March 13


Drag Queen Bingo

The Cove

March 13


Live Music - Tyler McGinnis

Quarterdeck

March 13


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

March 14


Grower Talk With Mark Leichty

Zenith Holland Gardens

March 14


Discovery Day

MaST Center

March 14


Lego Brick Building

Des Moines Library

March 14


Comedy

Quarterdeck

March 14


Waterland Yoga

Des Moines Theater

March 15


Woodmont Library Garden Club: Small Space, Year-Round, Edible Organic Gardening

Woodmont Library

March 15


STEAM Family Story Time

Woodmont Library

March 16


English Language Learners (ELL) Classes

Des Moines Library

March 16


Daytime Playtime

Des Moines Library

March 17


Talk Time: English Conversation Practice

Des Moines Library

March 17


Bingo Night

Quarterdeck

March 17


Study Zone Tutors

Des Moines Library

March 18


Throwback Theater: Fever Pitch

Woodmont Library

March 18


Des Moines Evening Book Group

Des Moines Library

March 18


Des Moines Historical Society Lecture

Odd Fellows Hall

March 18


Cribbage Night

Quarterdeck

March 18


Discovery Pass Free Day

Saltwater State Park

March 19


Young Toddler Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 19


Preschool Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 19


Handwriting Lab: Society of Scribes

Woodmont Library

March 19


Study Zone Reading Buddies

Des Moines Library

March 19


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

March 19


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

March 20


Woodmont Library Teen Advisory Board

Woodmont Library

March 20


Open Mic

Des Moines Library

March 20


Live Music - Ian Jones

Quarterdeck

March 20


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

March 21


Discovery Day

MaST Center

March 21


Romantic Regency Tea (or LiteraTea)

Marina Mercantile

March 21


Community of Creators

Woodmont Library

March 21


Uncle Ernie

Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant

March 21


Waterland Yoga

Des Moines Theater

March 22


Sound It Out Saturday!

Woodmont Library

March 22


STEAM Family Story Time

Woodmont Library

March 23


Des Moines Writing Group

Des Moines Library

March 24


Talk Time: English Conversation Practice

Des Moines Library

March 24


Study Zone Tutors

Des Moines Library

March 25


Arty Time 90's Rewind! The Ultimate 90's Paint n' Sip Party

Des Moines Library

March 25


Tiny Art Show

Woodmont Library

March 25


Young Toddler Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 26


Preschool Story Time

Des Moines Library

March 26


Study Zone Reading Buddies

Des Moines Library

March 26


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

March 26


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

March 27


After School Hangout

Woodmont Library

March 27


Creation Station

Des Moines Library

March 27


Live Music - Michael Powers Jam

Creole Soul

March 27


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

March 28


Hardy Fuchsia Care with Sky

Zenith Holland Gardens

March 28


Pruning 101 with Sky

Zenith Holland Gardens

March 28


Discovery Day

MaST Center

March 28


Live Music - Michael Powers Jam

Creole Soul

March 28


Lego Brick Building

Des Moines Library

March 28


Waterland Yoga

Des Moines Theater

March 29


STEAM Family Story Time

Woodmont Library

March 30


Talk Time: English Conversation Practice

Des Moines Library

March 31


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

April 2


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

April 3


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

April 4


Discovery Day

MaST Center

April 4


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

April 9


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

April 10


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

April 11


Discovery Day

MaST Center

April 11


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

April 16


Live Music - Sam Chambliss

Creole Soul

April 17


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

April 27


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

April 18


Discovery Day

MaST Center

April 18


Live Music - Sam Chambliss

Creole Soul

April 18


Earth Day-Discovery Pass Not Required

Saltwater State Park

April 22


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

April 23


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

April 24


Live Music - ASTA NICE

Creole Soul

April 24


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

April 25


Discovery Day

MaST Center

April 25


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

April 30


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

May 1


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

May 2


Discovery Day

MaST Center

May 2


Redondo Boardwalk Beats

Redondo

May 2


SR3 Community Open House

Des Moines Marina

May 2


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

May 7


Marina Mamas Walking Group

May 8

Des Moines Marina


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

May 9


Discovery Day

MaST Center

May 9


South Sound Opening Day Boating Ceremony

Des Moines Yacht Club

May 9


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

May 14


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

May 15


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

May 16


Discovery Day

MaST Center

May 16


Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program

Des Moines Beach Park

May 17


Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Program

Des Moines Beach Park

May 19


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

May 21


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

May 22


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

May 23


Discovery Day

MaST Center

May 23


Blues Jam

Creole Soul

May 28


Marina Mamas Walking Group

Des Moines Marina

May 29


Des Moines Creek Park Run

Beach Park

May 30


Discovery Day

MaST Center

May 30

City of Des Moines | 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite A | Des Moines, WA 98198 US

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