Des Moines City Manager Weekly Report for the week ending July 19, 2024

Des Moines Weekly report from the city manager for the week ending July 19, 2024

Director of Court Administration Receives National Recognition

Melissa Patrick, the Director of Court Administration for Des Moines, has been certified as a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management at the National Center for State Courts. The certification ceremony took place at the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Melissa was the only graduate from Washington State this year. Her fellowship project was titled “DUI Courts: Why, How, & Going Forward.” Melissa began her career with the city in 2014 as a part-time caseworker and has made significant contributions since then, including establishing the city’s first probation service and bringing DUI therapeutic court to Des Moines.

More information about this strict program can be found here: I CM.

Waterland Parade Weekend

Des Moines will host the annual Waterland Festival and Parade on Saturday, July 20. Festivities include:

Waterland Children’s Festival at Pirate Cove, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Des Moines Field House with face painting, arts and crafts, food trucks and more.
Waterland Parade and Junior Parade from 5:45 p.m. Participants are encouraged to dress up in festive costumes and decorate strollers, scooters and bicycles.

Leadership Conference and Workforce Discovery Lab at Highline College

Leadership Conference: Taking place on July 19, this event brings together local business and community leaders, subject matter experts, and emerging professionals for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration.
Employee Discovery Laboratory: Scheduled from August 5-9, 30 local students will have the opportunity to explore different career paths, gain professional skills and earn $500. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and the job market.

More information can be found here: Seattle Southside Chamber Events.

Kick-off of the National Night Out

The police department will host a National Night Out Kick-Off event on Tuesday, July 30 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Steven J. Underwood Park. The event is designed to increase community awareness and cohesion with a citywide block party theme.

Meetings of importance

Meetings with city officials: City Manager Tim George spoke with several city officials and employees about the upcoming budget, city issues and reorganization options.

Summary of the municipal council meeting

No meeting this week: The city council did not meet on the third Thursday of the month.
Upcoming meetings: Regular council meeting on July 25, with the Municipal Facilities Committee meeting at 4:00 PM and the Economic Development Committee meeting at 5:00 PM. Agendas and materials can be found here:
Agenda of the Municipal Facilities Committee
Agenda of the Economic Development Committee