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Council accepts Port of Seattle grant and approves economic development consultant contract
Summary
The council accepted a Port of Seattle economic development grant (~$68,800) and contracted Earnest/Ernesi Consulting (not to exceed $96,000) to provide downtown outreach and implementation work; one council member expressed dissent about timing and scope.
The Des Moines City Council voted Dec. 11 to accept Port of Seattle phase‑3 economic development grant funding and to approve a related consultant services agreement.
Deputy Mayor Steinmetz moved to accept the Port grant of $68,800 and authorize the city manager to sign the economic partnership agreement. City Manager Catherine Caffrey said the grant requires a 25% local match and has limits on eligible uses (the Port restricts repeated studies), and the city intends to use it for implementation and outreach rather than a study. Caffrey said the grant will support targeted downtown work: updating property‑owner records, contacting business owners and developers, and producing deliverables to inform council policy.
Consultant Dan Ernesi, who would serve as a fractional economic development director for the city, described the proposed scope and a not‑to‑exceed contract amount of $96,000 through 2026. Ernesi said the Port grant will cover most of the proposed work and that his role would include outreach, placemaking strategies and coordination with regional partners.
Council discussion included questions about any Port restrictions (Caffrey said the grant is flexible if the city delivers the proposed work), and whether a consultant arrangement without a full‑time director was appropriate. Council member Harris voiced concern that the contract is expansive and criticized the timing and sequencing relative to the strategic plan; he announced his intention to vote no on the consultant contract. Other council members supported the contract as a pragmatic, lower‑cost way to provide professional economic development capacity.
Council approved acceptance of the Port grant and later approved the professional services agreement with Earnest/Ernesi Consulting not to exceed $96,000; the contract passed following roll‑call and recorded dissent by Council member Harris.
What happens next: If the grant acceptance and contract are executed, the consultant work would begin in January with Port deliverables as the primary focus and contract tasks completed through 2026.
