Due to the coronavirus scare and health recommendations, the Des Moines City Council will be changing the way it handles Public Comments, starting at its next meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

The council will only allow the reading of written comments submitted prior to the meeting – not via in-person at a podium as previously conducted.

This is due to the official recommendation that gatherings of ten or more be discouraged “in order to stem the spread of the virus.”

The meeting be held at Des Moines City Hall on Thursday, March 12, 202,0, starting at 7 p.m.

“The City of Des Moines is currently operating under a Proclamation of Emergency issued on March 5, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,” the agenda packet says. “Gatherings of more than ten people are discouraged in order to stem the spread of the virus. As a result, the City Council will be suspending Public Comment during Council meetings and will be limiting the business conducted to essential matters only. Public Comment is still encouraged but will only be accepted in writing.”

All written Public Comment will be entered into the record and also be available for review on the City’s website. Consistent with state law, Public Comment will be allowed during the Council Meeting for any matters requiring a public hearing.

City Council meetings will remain open to the public but can also be viewed live on Comcast Channel 21 or live streamed on the City’s website at www.desmoineswa.gov.

Comments can be submitted either by email to the City Clerk at [email protected], or by mail to: Attn: City Clerk, 21630 11th Avenue S., Des Moines WA 98198.

Here’s the agenda (download PDF here):

    • CALL TO ORDER
    • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
    • ROLL CALL
    • CORRESPONDENCE/WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT
    • BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS – 30 minutes PRESIDING OFFICER’S REPORT
    • ADMINISTRATION REPORT:
      • Item 1: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE
      • Item 2: WOODMONT SLIDE UPDATE
    • NATIONAL SERVICE RECOGNITION DAY PROCLAMATION Motion is to approve the Proclamation recognizing April 7, 2020 as National Recognition Day.
    • WOODMONT LANDSLIDE EMERGENCY REPAIRS – CIP BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION Motion 1 is to direct City Staff to bring forward a budget amendment to the 2020-2025 Capital Improvement Plan and the 2020 Capital Budget to include the Woodmont Emergency Landslide Repairs
    • PUGET SOUND GATEWAY PROJECT SR 167 AND SR 509 COMPLETION PROJECTS – LOCAL FUNDING AND PHASING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
    • INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT – VALLEY SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS TEAM
    • PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER DRAFT ORDINANCE 19-112 RELATING TO CODE CLEAN-UP ITEMS TO CORRECT OMISSIONS, ERRORS, AND INCONSISTENCIES AND TO CLARIFY CITY COUNCIL INTENT
    • CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE CITY OF DES MOINES PARTICIPATION IN StART (SEA-TAC AIRPORT STAKEHOLDER ROUNDTABLE)