Des Moines Councilman Bob Sheckler was re-elected as the city's mayor by his fellow lawmakers on Jan. 10.

Councilman Dan Sherman was elected as the new mayor pro tem.

Their terms will continue through the first city council meeting in January 2010.

In other business, council members guaranteed that water taxi service will sail into Des Moines during Tall Ships Tacoma 2008.

The council approved an agreement between the city and Argosy Cruises to make Tacoma Tall Ships Festival water taxi service and cruises available between Des Moines and Tacoma during the festival at the Thea Foss Waterway July 3-7.

"We're approving up to $26,500 and as I recall the anticipated revenues generated will cover that full amount," said Councilwoman Susan White. "The Tall Ships will only be here this year."

White is a leading advocate of regular water taxi service between Des Moines and Seattle.

Although water taxi service will be around for only three days, Councilwoman Carmen Scott said the Tall Ships event will make more people aware of other summer events in Des Moines.

Summer Waterland Festival activities there will include a July 4 fireworks show, a car show and a judged art festival.

The Des Moines Human Services Advisory Committee recommended that the council reallocate funding for some human services organizations in surrounding cities.

Council members approved the proposal to fund crisis clinics, childcare resources, pregnancy aid, community health centers and senior services in Auburn, Covington, Federal Way, Kent and Renton.

"Each year we sign or the council has signed a joint human services funding program memoranda of understanding, whereby some of the human services organizations that the city funds only have to apply in one application to multiple jurisdictions and then that funding is distributed," said Parks and Recreation Director Patrice Thorell.

Aided by a presentation from Planning Manager Denise Lathrop, the council approved three proposed amendments to the annual Comprehensive Plan dealing with land use in Des Moines. The amendments apply to three properties in Redondo.

The property designations were changed to be consistent with the zoning designation, the designations were changed from public facility to single family, and wording in the plan was changed from "environmentally sensitive" to "environmentally critical."