Mike Slavin, director of public works for the City of Des Moines, briefed the council on completed work and projects planned or underway during the April 24 meeting.

Slavin said staff are finishing closeout tasks for the Sound Transit Federal Way Link Extension, completing property transfers and easement issues, and performing final inspections. He identified the Redondo Pier redesign as 100% drafted and said bidding could start if the city secures required permits and expected funding schedules.

On stormwater, Slavin described a King County Flood Control District grant that will fund stormwater-pipe replacements in the Redondo area; design work will continue and construction could occur in 2026. He also discussed a broader study to refine the surface-water management (SWM) rate and budget model and a possible shift to move some right-of-way and tree-canopy maintenance into the enterprise fund, which would require an offsetting rate adjustment if adopted.

On parks and waterfront projects, Slavin said the Des Moines Marina steps project was reduced in scope to remove about $1 million–$1.5 million in features and that the city has applied for two additional funding sources: a King County parks capital grant and a state commerce grant, which staff said is currently in the state budget pending final legislative actions. If those grants are awarded the project could proceed without further cuts.

Slavin reviewed construction and maintenance highlights from 2024: the city completed its largest pavement overlay in history; installed Redondo speed cameras in 2024; replaced or surplused older fleet vehicles (16 in 2024, 20 replacements including police vehicles); and completed stormwater pipe work on Kent-Des Moines Road and 16th Avenue.

Slavin reported staffing numbers for public works: 36 full-time employees (FTEs) in regular staffing, with up to five seasonal positions during peak months that expand capacity to 42 employees. He noted a persistent need to standardize onboarding and training because of turnover at lower staffing levels and said the department is hiring an assistant for operations as budgeted.

Other goals and pilot work listed by Slavin included a traffic-calming pilot that will install five speed humps, a GIS-based real-time public work-order/map system to improve community visibility of work, and continued design on the Moynihan Creek estuary. He also said some projects remain vulnerable to material-price swings such as steel tariffs, which staff are tracking while preparing bids.

Slavin asked the council to note ongoing grant applications and to expect upcoming agenda items on rate modeling and capital project bids; he did not request immediate council action during the presentation.