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Council OKs interlocal agreement with Highline Public Schools to build frontage improvements at Pacific Middle School
Summary
The Des Moines City Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement allowing the city to construct frontage improvements on 20th Avenue South as part of the Pacific Middle School replacement project; the district will pay $112,000 and receive a credit toward future traffic impact fees.
The Des Moines City Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement on Sept. 4 with Highline Public Schools to construct frontage improvements on 20th Avenue South in conjunction with the district’s Pacific Middle School replacement. The agreement authorizes the city to build the sidewalk, bike lanes, storm drainage and related frontage work while the district will reimburse the city $112,000 and receive a credit toward future traffic impact fees.
Highline representatives presented the Pacific Middle School replacement project earlier in the meeting. Eli Doneshnia, Executive Director of Capital Planning and Construction for Highline Public Schools, said the new middle school will be roughly 81,000 square feet and is designed to serve about 950 students. The district described sustainability features including approximately 145 geothermal wells and a 100% electric building design with photovoltaic roof panels.
Key points from the presentation and agreement: - Site and building: The new three-story Pacific Middle School will place each grade on a separate floor (sixth, seventh and eighth grades) and is slated to open in the fall of 2027, according to district project timelines. - Geothermal and sustainability: The project includes about 145 geothermal wells (roughly 350 feet deep each) to provide heating and cooling and achieve energy goals; the building is planned to be all-electric and to meet Washington State sustainable schools goals. - Frontage improvements and ILA terms: The city’s 20th Avenue improvement project already includes sidewalks, bike lanes, turn lanes, storm drainage, lighting and improved pedestrian crossings. The interlocal agreement covers the school frontage work with an estimated cost to the district of $112,000, which will be credited toward the district’s future traffic impact fee obligation (staff noted the district’s total projected impact fees at about $271,000 during the hearing).
Highline project team members at the meeting included Katie Pond (design partner) and Robin Brown (program manager), and contractor Skanska representatives also outlined construction logistics. The district reported it has completed abatement and planned demolition at the existing Pacific Middle School site, will install geothermal wells under the new playfield, and expects to pour foundations in the fall and complete structure erection in late winter to meet a 2027 opening.
Council action and next steps - Motion: approve the interlocal agreement with Highline School District for frontage improvements on 20th Avenue South adjacent to Pacific Middle School and authorize the city manager to sign the agreement substantially in the form presented. (Motion moved; seconded.) - Vote: unanimous approval.
During council questions, members asked about building orientation, acoustic treatment for aircraft noise, and air filtration. The district said the main entry faces east toward 20th Avenue South and described FAA and Port of Seattle coordination to provide supplemental sound mitigation and glazing; staff also said the building will meet Washington State sustainable school protocol (WSSP) standards for filtration and acoustics.
Sources: Presentation by Highline Public Schools representatives (Eli Doneshnia, Katie Pond, Robin Brown) and the City of Des Moines interlocal agreement packet, Sept. 4, 2025.
