[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6226669,"mediaKeyId","3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5","parentId",3504135,"title","Des Moines officials update Marina Steps value‑engineering, Redondo Pier permitting as Memorial Triangle opens","audioSeconds",1274,"startMs",1362000,"endMs",2636000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5&start=1362&end=2636","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5/thumbnail_1362000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226669/Des-Moines-City/King-County/Washington/Des-Moines-officials-update-Marina-Steps-valueengineering-Redondo-Pier-permitting-as-Memorial-Triangle-opens","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226669-e3970f53260b1d3672f7604919e4cace/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178093&Signature=lbHSTKjAL7K9~lSw5AYEQyQx2XEw12eDEFBa-gT57ZW343-kuFGRFVCaSFXCz5Ecj4fV9hjkAXz~ibOJKD4vgFXRQ9J9ub4OfXd8SWY0h0LWL1kOjY1QgWjYuyhrVTLWIreV~qz3sn1ty~FPBgH9-xqJx29N4Pe~k8woYNKVbvE8rt~1tOWYTWi24OwI6rbs2yMh1oe5PSCCkISfLt2Ay6DPi~2lQkFmJ39cVE4ZGu-rxU55CbEajSbvu0~EOiWY21fo6v8cj5l-7lx438IZaqsMtLO7BnAFriHXoQqucbZXrXFF2MMHXTMaBUsvrlHU~rimCsywCDYbVXfAoedhbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Des Moines City, WA","date","2025-05-25T09:20:00.4Z","article","The Des Moines City Council received a capital projects update May 22 that detailed progress and funding for three linked projects: the recently finished Memorial Triangle, the redesign and pending permitting for the Redondo Fishing Pier, and value‑engineering work on the Marina Steps project.

The update matters because the projects are funded with a mix of bond proceeds and grants and the council in February directed staff to prioritize and value‑engineer the steps while pushing the pier as the top bond‑funded priority. City staff said Memorial Triangle is complete and will have a ribbon cutting; the pier redesign reduces in‑water piling work and, pending written Corps of Engineers approval, staff expects to advertise the pier for bids in early June.

Public Works staff and the project manager said the pier redesign reduced the vertical piling work required under the original permit (larger pilings required deeper excavation and concrete fill) and that the U.S. Army Corps has given verbal approval to the amended permit; staff said they expect the Corps’ letter soon and, if received, will advertise the pier on June 5 with an anticipated award in July and in‑water construction beginning in August. The revised pier construction estimate after redesign was described as “about $6,000,000” in staff remarks; that figure is presented as a construction estimate and could change when contracts are returned.

On the Marina Steps, staff said the previous contractor bid came in at $11.7 million and that engineering and value engineering work (including deleting underground power, removing cantilevered overlooks, reducing vertical and flat concrete quantities, and eliminating decorative drift logs) has lowered the engineer estimate to about $10,000,000. Staff identified four deductive alternates for bidding that could reduce cost further if needed: removing the splash pad (estimated savings about $130,000), removing the vertical playground (about $250,000), deleting a decorative rear water/wet wall feature and built‑in step lighting (about $40,000), and removing other aesthetic items. Staff stressed those reductions would change the project’s amenity mix and that removing park features could make the site less family‑oriented.

Staff detailed grants and other funds they are pursuing or have identified to close the gap between cost and available bond funds: roughly $1.5 million in previously secured grants, an additional $1,000,000 in state funds administered through the Department of Commerce (recently signed in the state budget, per staff), a pending $1,000,000 King County parks grant application, roughly $8,100,000 of remaining bond proceeds after commitments to other bond projects, a possible $1.25 million of reallocated REET (real estate excise tax) capital funds and about $700,000 in street‑vacation receipts related to Sound Transit right‑of‑way settlements. Staff presented a notional total of about $13.56 million that could be available if all pieces come together, and said they will return to council in late June or July once grant outcomes are known.

Community members who testified during public comment urged keeping the splash pad and playground elements in the steps design to create family‑friendly marina access and to support nearby businesses. Speakers said the amenities would draw families, promote local restaurant use, and serve residents who otherwise travel outside Des Moines for larger parks; others — including some Marina residents — urged restraint because of cost, loss of views, or safety concerns around combining steep slopes and water features. Several speakers suggested alternatives such as a shuttle connecting downtown to the marina or placing different park features elsewhere.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized tradeoffs: the steps’ design currently includes ADA‑compliant switchbacks and landings to meet accessibility requirements; deleting switchbacks would remove the ADA route and is therefore not a simple deduction. Staff repeatedly cautioned that some grants (for example, King County park funds) are specifically tied to park amenities and if accepted would constrain the council’s ability to remove those amenities later without losing the grant eligibility.

Staff said about $1.3 million has been spent so far on design and engineering for the current steps location. They asked the council for no immediate decision, noting they will return with a recommendation once grant awards and updated cost estimates are final; staff said if everything lines up they will seek authority in mid‑July to go to bid, with a mid‑late August bid solicitation and a possible award in September.

The update included these key figures from staff presentations and public comments: prior bid for the Steps $11.7 million; current engineer estimate after value engineering roughly $10,000,000; deductive alternates estimated savings — splash pad $130,000; vertical playground $250,000; rear water/step lighting $40,000; design/engineering expended to date $1,300,000; pending and secured grants and other funding sources totaling the neighborhood of $13.56 million if all are confirmed. Staff also said the pier redesign estimate is a little over $6,000,000 and that work on the pier is being counted as fully funded based on the current mix of grants and bond allocations.

Staff requested public feedback and said formal direction from the council is not required this meeting; the council asked staff to return with updated bids and confirmed grant awards before a final “go/no‑go” decision on bidding. The council and staff also discussed longer‑range infrastructure items to better connect the marina to downtown, including a possible 220 Third Avenue connector project, but those were described as separate, longer‑term efforts.

The council reopened the topic to public comment and additional written input is encouraged as staff prepares the funding/bid recommendation expected in late June or July.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 5/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Des Moines City Council received a capital projects update May 22 about the Marina Steps, the redesigned Redondo Fishing Pier and the recently completed Memorial Triangle.","taxTitle","Des Moines City, King County, Washington","taxId",51807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226656,"Council directs staff to merge several advisory groups into expanded Citizens Advisory Committee",1635,7674000,9309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5&start=7674&end=9309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5/thumbnail_7674000.jpg","/articles/6226656/Des-Moines-City/King-County/Washington/Council-directs-staff-to-merge-several-advisory-groups-into-expanded-Citizens-Advisory-Committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226656-e71cae5587bdc976d63bb6425b6d3fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178093&Signature=Fi3Y6PFTWyFP7DxmJ3BcwfFUGhRfZxLNS49Kor04z3h~HnR~5w9-I3393E4Ts3Kl9N~CaBU3PrmB6HVumxy-tkkSeczi1DCm7AMytjrueTtHryZ3r3upyaPL9p835wCBrIOO-5pRJUDkYAVNhwj7XlOvewlXGBNDtTTpGRwLVOmSQSb3dPqxyt6vz8YT89g4YXN4u~gYCka8m31tp2v1MvLSFoINgBybdsgOa3SEf1qgprs0PY9qO6h3YSBvd59dlt9Qh6~6B5Mb0mRiGfXijyZxYpNbB5ePQfPvbEFzfbinjtHmNEFpLT3W8X9xfHpn68umM8HwuwmBs7M8k2N7IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Des Moines City Council voted May 22 to proceed with a reorganization of several citizen advisory bodies into a single, expanded Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and instructed staff to implement the change under a modified option A that gives priority to currently serving committee members.

City Manager Catherine Caffrey reminded the council that the reorganization — approved in principle at a previous meeting — would dissolve several standing advisory bodies (human services, arts, and senior services) as separate commissions and instead make them subcommittees of a larger CAC. Staff presented three implementation options. Option A would preserve primary (non‑alternate) seats with unexpired terms and promote alternates if primaries are unavailable, then open newly created at‑large seats; the council modified option A to give current committee members a priority application window for vacant neighborhood and at‑large seats before the city opens recruitment to the general public.

Councilmembers discussed term expirations, alternate seats, outreach and the workload for the new CAC subcommittees. Some councilmembers expressed concern about preserving institutional knowledge and making sure active volunteers currently serving on smaller committees would be able to continue participation. Staff confirmed that existing term limits and code amendments would be addressed as the city transitions to the new structure and that the mayor retains appointment authority subject to council approval.

A motion to implement option A with the modification that current committee members receive a priority application window passed on a recorded vote with one abstention (Councilmember Harris abstained); the transcript records that the motion carried after the roll call.

Staff said the CAC reorganization will be phased: staff will contact current CAC members, human services, arts and senior advisory members and ask for interest in vacant neighborhood and at‑large seats during a short priority period; after that, staff will open recruitment to the general public. The city will provide an outreach plan and has proposed multiple recruitment channels to diversify applicants (city communications, Currents newsletter, social media, community organizations and direct outreach to existing committee members). Staff also indicated there will be a follow‑up meeting of the CAC and that the council will receive appointments for approval in a future meeting cycle.

Councilmembers asked staff to ensure subcommittees retain appropriate guardrails around volunteer participation; several asked that volunteers not be given decision‑making authority that would conflict with budgetary or grant allocation responsibilities until they have been formally appointed. Staff agreed to provide process details as applications and appointments proceed.","Council voted to implement a reorganization of citizen advisory committees into an expanded Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) with a priority window for existing committee members to apply. The motion (option A, modified) passed with one abstention; staff will open a priority application period and return with appointments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226660,"Council approves Lake Haven Water and Sewer District franchise agreement after split vote",725,7000000,7725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5&start=7000&end=7725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5/thumbnail_7000000.jpg","/articles/6226660/Des-Moines-City/King-County/Washington/Council-approves-Lake-Haven-Water-and-Sewer-District-franchise-agreement-after-split-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226660-7d5b7f837161efcf778774f1e65701ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178093&Signature=kWekevPFde9FSrykzwa6Qzm04JTs2Kz0vnCjMS9vVn5dH4N8NWysk0d3wSxDr2dLLmaFDZT2lw2-2wVrgRrZ2o7hlmPQ4D~L2iCTVn5MmGdCgshDo34PuDGa~8a3C9z-GQlB~QLKU5FcJRx1FEH6KhNQuUsMFtp1~HFfcUeVTcX75v~d7fQz0rnt-ChiVs28rX~9LKRT0ByiYjRCiIoz9YdKcJAnCGZoaZez2gBkbg628xQJCyTLp5pPvIYnJ6rnM-lVYGMySoUc2kcToQ8ZFzsQtNvDuUdJuLxg7MGcL60Rm3vswqGRS9hH6dpqmEU9aTP2bkqePdYpqbshQqQkrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Des Moines City Council approved a franchise agreement with Lake Haven Water and Sewer District on May 22 after discussion about whether the 6% franchise fee is effectively a tax and whether the city should rely on utility franchise fees as a revenue source.

The consent agenda item was pulled for clarification and discussion before the vote. Staff explained the franchise agreement calls for Lake Haven to pay a 6% franchise fee consistent with other utility agreements in the city and said the franchise contract includes a variety of terms beyond the fee, including protections and operational provisions for right‑of‑way use. Councilmembers discussed equity and regressivity concerns, and whether the franchise fee is appropriate for a public utility that provides essential services.

Councilmember Harris said she would vote no, calling the approach “arbitrary” and warning that the staggered timing of franchise agreements can hinder long‑term planning. Councilmember Grace Matsui said the agreement is not a tax and noted that utilities use city rights‑of‑way to operate and should be accountable; she said she would vote against only if she thought the city could not sustain current services without the revenue. Other councilmembers said the 6% figure had been negotiated with multiple utilities and that a consistent approach across utilities promotes fairness.

On the record in the meeting transcript, the ordinance (identified in the agenda as draft ordinance 25‑037) passed by a 4‑3 margin. The transcript contains cast votes and statements of support and opposition; the motion text read, “I move to pass draft ordinance 25 dash 0 3 7 granting franchise agreement to Lake Haven Water and Sewer District.” The record shows both supporters and opponents of the measure spoke before the roll call, and the chair announced the motion passed 4‑3.

Council discussion also covered administrative points: franchise agreements address more than a simple fee and include provisions that the city relies on for rights‑of‑way management and coordination with utilities on construction and repairs. One councilmember said similar franchise terms previously yielded municipal savings on a separate water project years earlier; another councilmember characterized the fee as regressive and said the city’s finances rely too heavily on utility and other flat fees.

The council approved the ordinance on its second reading and added the Lake Haven district to the city’s existing franchise framework; the transcript does not record any conditions for the contract beyond the agreement language presented.","On May 22 the council approved a franchise agreement with Lake Haven Water and Sewer District that aligns the district with other utilities’ 6% franchise terms. Debate focused on whether the fee is effectively a tax and on fairness; the ordinance passed by a 4‑3 vote (motion recorded as passing 4‑3 in the transcript).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226665,"Des Moines to expand pet licensing with DocuPet contract to fund animal care services",1590,2599000,4189000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5&start=2599&end=4189","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504135-d5703cfc4983a9c793f77b5c9d617ec5/thumbnail_2599000.jpg","/articles/6226665/Des-Moines-City/King-County/Washington/Des-Moines-to-expand-pet-licensing-with-DocuPet-contract-to-fund-animal-care-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226665-4ee17414a70f45d71a86de71c07d57c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178093&Signature=nzS8fbXnciT51e-dlRI68xZ~oUS8XK32BcRbPafXbLCEkI7P1wcN8ruHQ3JmlxjHpyELrAVXEQcYHCQA6mf-6NyGaSBQF-vfh37YsY3wB3hYrX~75sPQBnmaNJJa~bbhwbXux3TVKue~mH1Ejn2D83WA9mvosH9RJJOWF7uC33QUoPjETQCos6nLQdwxUxbQNJ26Nf7Pc6K~--xsof4UhrdvmjJKztWLz7FwfMVEH-5xPoqTfP7BMV438z1iPDmgRAI9fwydf3BxUpv23-rTnFBvppG1~DKF5P2iU2YndTobNZXv5sPJWtDFXcGkGUs2uRI4NykwT~VWoNTe-H0hxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City managers and public safety staff told the Des Moines City Council May 22 that the city has entered a contract with DocuPet, a third‑party pet licensing vendor, to increase pet licensing compliance and to earmark new licensing revenue for animal care services.

City Manager Catherine Caffrey told council the city has seen declines in animal control service capacity after budget reductions and wants to use licensing revenue to help restore services described in the city’s materials as “Burien Cares” funding for animal control. Staff said the new vendor will administer licensing online and with a mobile app, provide management tools and canvassing maps, and offer marketing materials the city can use to drive compliance.

DocuPet representatives described the company’s service model: DocuPet provides a cloud‑based licensing portal, canvassing and GIS tools for targeted outreach, and marketing support. DocuPet said it serves 260 jurisdictions in North America, recently launched in several Washington jurisdictions (Whatcom, Everett, Bothell, Yakima Sheriff’s Office, and others) and Maricopa County in Arizona, and that a DocuPet program called “HomeSafe” and a national registry assist in reuniting lost pets. Company representatives said they do not charge an ongoing software fee to the city for basic licensing administration; DocuPet generates revenue by selling optional designer tags and shares 20% of designer‑tag sales with partner programs in a “safe and happy fund.”

City staff and DocuPet presented baseline and target compliance numbers: Des Moines currently sells roughly 300–400 licenses annually; staff said reaching a modest target of 1,000–1,500 licenses would generate an estimated $44,000–$66,000 per year dedicated to animal control services. Staff also presented household and compliance modeling: with roughly 12,000 households in Des Moines and low (about 17%) current compliance, staff said services should aim for roughly 1,400 licenses to reach national averages; at a 23–24% compliance rate the target would be closer to 1,700–1,900 licenses. Those figures were presented as staff projections, not guaranteed revenue.

DocuPet described an outreach/canvassing workflow that overlays historical licensing and address data on GIS maps to show “blue” addresses that are up to date and “red” addresses that were licensed in the past but are currently expired, and then to create efficient walking routes and outreach lists for staff or volunteers. DocuPet emphasized the platform is configurable; field canvassing would be done by city staff, volunteers or partners — DocuPet provides the tool and training but does not supply canvassers.

City staff clarified administration details during council questions: the city will create a free, generic tag to go with every license at no cost to the pet owner or the city; designer tags are optional purchases and DocuPet shares 20% of that designer‑tag revenue to a donation fund for partners. DocuPet representatives said partners have achieved significant results elsewhere: an example partner recorded about 27,000 outreach visits in 2023 with license sales generated from canvassing; in that case, approximately 9–10% of visits identified pets that resulted in licensing and about 60% of in‑person visits ended in a license sale. DocuPet and staff said marketing materials (posters, door hangers, social media assets) will be provided and tailored at no charge; printing costs would be the city’s responsibility if the city requests physical materials.

Councilmembers asked technical and privacy questions about integration with city systems and microchip lookups; DocuPet said the service is cloud‑based, accessible by a city administration portal and does provide back‑end access that public safety can use to look up tag numbers and microchip information for found animals. Councilmembers also asked whether DocuPet will handle canvassing; staff and DocuPet said the city would manage field canvassing (staff, volunteers or partners) and DocuPet will provide routing, training and materials.

Assistant Chief Stanton and other staff provided a revenue estimate: if the city increases licensing to 1,000–1,500 licenses annually, staff said the city could put an additional roughly $44,000–$66,000 per year toward animal control services, compared with about $20,000 currently budgeted for animal control this year. Staff said the contract includes administrative efficiencies that will reduce staff burden on licensing work and that the city will track licensing funds in a dedicated line item for animal care services.

Councilmembers generally praised the quick rollout and asked staff to prioritize outreach tools such as Currents (the city newsletter) and farmers market presence; staff said the city will use multiple channels and be present at the Saturday farmers market. Councilmembers asked for estimates of expected license growth; staff reiterated projections are dependent on outreach strategy and price points the city sets for licenses, but said DocuPet partners have demonstrated year‑over‑year growth in several jurisdictions.

No formal council vote on the contract was recorded on the transcript; staff said the city had already entered the contract and detailed operational plans and next steps for outreach and tracking.","City staff described a new contract with DocuPet to increase pet licensing compliance and dedicate licensing revenue to restore animal control services. Staff presented canvassing tools, marketing, and revenue projections; DocuPet will provide a cloud platform and reported partner metrics and a 20% donation program tied to designer tag sales.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Des Moines officials update Marina Steps value‑engineering, Redondo Pier permitting as Memorial Triangle opens

Council directs staff to merge several advisory groups into expanded Citizens Advisory Committee

Council approves Lake Haven Water and Sewer District franchise agreement after split vote

Des Moines to expand pet licensing with DocuPet contract to fund animal care services