From major public safety updates to a jam-packed calendar of summer celebrations, the July 9, 2026, Des Moines City Council meeting highlighted a thriving community.
A timeline was laid out for the 2027–2028 biennial budget, inviting crucial public input ahead of its fall adoption.
Meanwhile, the spotlight shone brightly on local festivities and public services, featuring a celebration of Redondo’s unique marine identity at “Shark in the Park,” a peek at the newly expanded Waterland Festival weekend, and an upcoming surge in staffing for the region’s incredibly busy fire stations.
Waterland Festival: Parade, Block Party & Car Show
A proclamation was read in honor of the Waterland Festival, which will include the annual parade on Saturday, July 18. The parade route is shorter this year, according to Deputy Mayor Gene Achziger, but will end at the first-ever Waterland Block Party outside the Des Moines Theater. The Block Party will include a DJ, activities for kids, performers, and a beer garden. See link for full details.
The weekend festivities kick off the day before the Block Party, at the Waterland Kids Festival. This free event takes place at Field House Park at Noon on Friday July 17. The event includes art activities, bouncy toys, an obstacle course, and a junior parade.
The local celebrations culminate in the Waterland Wheels Car Show on Sunday, July 18. This free event will also include live entertainment, food trucks, and a beer garden. The car show will be in the north parking lot at the Des Moines Marina.
Update From Fire Chief
Fire Chief Ryan Woodey told the council that local fire stations will be increasing staffing starting in January. Mayor Yoshiko Grace Matsui shared that this increase is needed to keep up with a growing regional population. According to Chief Woodey, the Redondo fire station is currently the busiest department in the state, based on calls per firefighter.
Local fire stations got over 27,000 calls last year. Most of these were for emergency medical services including overdose and car wrecks. They are also called out for hazardous materials and water rescue, along with fighting fires.
Biennial Budget Planning
As staff work on creating a biennial budget for 2027-2028, at the council’s request the timeline has shifted a little earlier. This year, there will be a budget Study Session on August 6th, then budget presentations at council meetings on Aug. 13 and 27.
At 6pm on August 18th there will be a Town Hall at the Activity Center, where the public can discuss the preliminary budget. On Aug. 26 the budget will be presented to the Citizen’s Advisory Board. Finally, there will be public hearings on the budget on October 29th, before council adoption in November.
Shark In The Park
Deputy Mayor Gene Achziger mentioned that this Sunday is Shark In The Park, the second annual festival in celebration of Redondo being the Sixgill Shark Capital of the World.
The event is put on by the MaST Center, in collaboration with the Redondo Community Association. This event will take place along the brand new Redondo plaza and fishing pier, and includes food trucks, shark-themed activities, and live music. Shark-, diving-, and ocean-themed costumes are highly encouraged.
The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but a section of Beach Drive will be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so be prepared for traffic revisions. This year there will be a free shuttle service to prevent parking issues. See link for details.
Video
Below is full, raw video of this meeting:
