Councilman Dave Kaplan will be Des Moines’ new mayor. Fellow council members selected him in a unanimous vote Jan. 5.
Kaplan will serve as the city’s new mayor through 2013. Councilman Matt Pina will serve as Mayor Pro Tem, also through 2013.
“I look forward to a brighter economic outlook for the city’s future,” said Kaplan. “This is a fresh start with a lot of things to do,” he said.
Considering community feedback, avoiding “dragging things out”, and reprioritizing basic needs concerning with one-time expenses are at the top of his list.
“In Des Moines’ 53 year history of having a mayor, there have not been that many,” said Kaplan in expressing his appreciation of the council’s support.
Kaplan replaces Bob Sheckler as mayor. Sheckler won a very tight council re-election race against Rebecca King, which went to a mandatory machine recount.
Three categories Kaplan said that need the most attention are strategic objectives, long-term goals and correcting issues with process. These include both long and short-term goals and he said he intends on brainstorming with the other council members at their retreat coming up.
With the addition of two new members to the council Kaplan believes the council is supportive of his ideas and direction for the city.
“I feel pretty good. The council members seem to be cooperative,” said new Councilwoman Jeanette Burrage. Burrage was elected to Position No. 2 in November. She is a long-term resident of Des Moines and former King County Superior Court judge. She was also previously on the City Council from 1994-1995.
“I hope to turn around city finance and make improvements in the building department,” said Burrage. She said city departments have a reputation for making it difficult to obtain building permits.
Newly elected Councilman Dan Caldwell said, “This is fun, getting back in.” Caldwell holds Position No. 4. He was a Highline Water District commissioner in the 1980s.
“Building up the city, creating stronger relationships with neighboring communities and doing something about the vacant houses in the city,” Caldwell said are his main priorities.
Caldwell would also like to see the return of the small craft winch at the marina, which would give small boats the ability to launch there.
In other business, the council agreed to reconsider the exemption of HEAL Grant verbiage from the 2009 Des Moines Comprehensive plan. The decision was made on Dec. 1, 2011 to remove parts that included designating specific land areas as “low-income.
This designation allows Sea-Mar Community Health Center, located at 24215 Pacific Highway S., to receive grant money to build a multi-family, subsidized low-income apartment complex behind their existing building and also build a medical clinic in the front.
With costs in the millions, the grant would be necessary to see the construction happen.
Councilwoman Carmen Scott said she prefers integrating low-income housing in a more family-friendly setting, closer to parks and schools, rather than placing families in areas already known for high crime and in an otherwise commercial area.
Despite Scott’s opposition, the re-consideration passed and the future of Des Moines will include pre-designated “low-income” zones along the Pacific Highway corridor and South Des Moines areas.
“There is not enough time for Carmen’s idea,” said Pina. Although he agreed in part with Scott he said they didn’t have a choice. Without those designations Sea-Mar would not be eligible for the much needed improvements and expansion they would like to carry out, Pina added.
