The Des Moines City Council convened on Thursday, May 22, 2025, navigating a packed agenda that saw spirited debate and presentations on several key community projects and policies.
Residents voiced contrasting opinions on the much-anticipated Marina Steps project.
The council received updates on that and other significant public works initiatives, including the newly completed Memorial Flag Triangle and the redesigned Redondo Fishing Pier.
Financial matters also took center stage with a narrow vote passing the Lakehaven Utility Tax amidst discussions of its potential impact on residents.
Furthermore, the council considered public concerns regarding animal control services and heard a presentation on a new pet licensing program aimed at bolstering funding for these essential services.
Public Comments Divided On Marina Steps
Public comments were given both for and against the marina steps project. One family said they have been waiting years for the promised park and play areas that the completed steps project will provide, and that they have to drive to other cities anytime they want to play at popular splash parks. Another speaker mentioned that it was wasteful to build a splash park in an area renowned for its rain.
Public Works Projects Presentation
The council heard a presentation on where the city is at with three big public works projects. The Memorial Flag Triangle has just been completed, in time for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday May 26, at 2pm.
The Redondo Fishing Pier project has been prioritized and was recently redesigned to reduce costs. This project is likely to go out for bidding in early June, once the permit amendments are approved. If that happens, construction would begin in August and the entire project could be complete by February 2026. The current estimate for this project is $6 million.
And finally, the Marina Steps project, which has been value-engineered to reduce the scope and cost from $11.7 million to $10 million. The reductions include deleting underground power, eliminating stair landing overhangs, reducing specialty concrete, eliminating drift logs, and reducing specialty landscaping. Critics have suggested the city remove the switchback trail that will run adjacent to the steps, but that is a required component for ADA compliance, and it was argued that the switchbacks will add to the park-like feel of the slope.
Things that could be removed to reduce the cost even further include the splash pad ($130,000), the play area ($250,000), the weir wall ($80,000) and the step lighting ($40,000). These optional features add up to half a million dollars, but the council generally felt it was not worth disappointing families and gutting the project to save these funds.
$3.5 million in grants are likely, including grants specifically for the play area. $8.1 million will come from bond proceeds, $1.25 million from real estate excise tax, and $700,000 from street vacation funds. Council will hear an update on this in July, with a bid award likely in September. If all goes without a hitch, the steps project could be complete by spring of 2026.
Lakehaven Utility Tax Passes 4–3
On this second reading of the Lakehaven Utility tax, Councilmember JC Harris pulled the item from the consent agenda. Councilmember Yoshiko Grace Matsui said this was a regressive tax as the utility provider simply passes the fee along to consumers. Councilmember Gene Achziger was the third councilmember to vote no on this tax, which brings Lakehaven water & sewer fees in line with all other utility providers for Des Moines residents.
Councilmember Jeremy Nutting argued that this is just like any other business tax, but Councilmember Grace Matsui said these service providers are not businesses, and shouldn’t be taxed for providing basic needs to residents. Mayor Traci Buxton argued that the utility tax is one of the only ways for the city to collect revenue for essential city services in a state that is set up based on regressive tax policy.
Pet Licensing Revenue To Fund Animal Control
City Manager Katherine Caffrey shared that she has been hearing lots of public concern over recent cuts to animal control services. She said that funds from pet licensing fees will be earmarked directly for the contract with Burien CARES, returning services to prior levels as soon as those funds come in. The city could bring in as much as $45,000 per year in pet licensing fees, and will begin a campaign of informing the public about the need to start licensing their pets. This was a service previously provided by the Des Moines Police, but going forward it will be contracted out to a company that specializes in pet licensing.
