City Council - Regular Meeting

We created nearly two out of three net new jobs in our economy. We cannot capitalize economic growth in America without supporting our entrepreneurs. And whereas the president of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week every year since 1963 to highlight the programs and services available to entrepreneurs through the US Small Business Administration and other government agency. And whereas the city of Des Moines is proud of its diverse small businesses and grateful for the essential role they play in our local economy. Now therefore, I Connie Boesen on behalf of the city council and the residents of Des Moines do hereby proclaim May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as Small Business Week. And I urge all residents to support and join in this national effort to help America's small businesses do what they do best. Grow their businesses, create jobs, drive innovation, and ensure that our communities remain as vibrant tomorrow as they are today. Thank you.

Thank you. Does anyone want to say a few words? THANK YOU. SO, DOES ANY SMALL BUSINESS owner like to make any comments? Yep. Go ahead. We just appreciate the support of the city and and you especially. Um it's been it's been amazing to see the development in our neighborhood and all the rest of the neighborhoods that have that have been going on. I mean, almost all of us are friends here at this point. We've all worked together for years and again, thank you very much, all of you. You're welcome. Uh and if anybody wants to say your business that you have This is Cha Cha's Highland Park Bakery. Do you want to say

Trixie's Salon and Spa. Okay. Yeah. Come on. Uh Tricia Rivas with Trixie's Salon and Spa. I'm Alec Davis with Doco Pizza, Des Moines Beer Garden, and Highland Underground. Thank you very much. Anybody else? Go ahead. Nick Wuertz with Lutheran Services of Iowa and we are privileged to work with entrepreneurs from the immigrant refugee community. I'm Julie Bundy with SCORE and we're a resource partner of the SBA and do a lot of free mentoring uh for small businesses. So, thank you. Teresa. Uh I'm Teresa Greenfield. I'm the executive director for Invest Des Moines DSM and we provide uh grants to small businesses within our special investment districts. Some of them are here. Go ahead, Lauren. I'm Lauren Kollauf. I'm with the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand. This week we're encouraging people to shop small on Ingersoll. I have a few extra stickers if anybody wants one. Um but we are lucky to have hundreds of amazing small businesses right on Ingersoll. So, as you can see, we have the city pretty well covered and uh thank you again because I know I only do a small business for 11 days. It's not easy. So, I appreciate the work and the dedication that you all do to make our community so great. So, with that, I guess we'll get a picture. If we can squeeze in. Are we all in? And I don't know who gets this, but I'll let that sit.

[laughter]

Thank you. Thank you very much. We're coming in. I can smell the bakery goods are Okay, now we're going to talk about water. A very important topic as we know has been coming forward. So, proclamation on whereas water is our most valuable natural resource and whereas drinking water serves a vital role in daily life serving an essential purpose to health, hydration, and hygiene needs for our residents. And whereas top tap water delivers public health protection, fire protection, and support for our economy and the quality of life we enjoy. And whereas Des Moines Water Works designs capital projects, ensures the cleanliness and the quality of water meets all drinking water safety standards, and maintains the infrastructure our region relies on to transport high-quality drinking water from its source to consumers' taps. And whereas we are all stewards of the water infrastructure upon which current and future generations depend. And the residents of Des Moines are called upon to help protect our source waters from pollution, practice water conservation, and get involved with their water by familiarizing themselves with it. Now therefore, I Connie Boesen on behalf of the city council and the residents of residents of Des Moines do hereby proclaim May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as Drinking Water Week. So, would you like to say some words, Amy? Thank you, Mayor, for the proclamation and the support for drinking water. I'm Amy Keeler, the CEO and general manager of Des Moines Water Works. And with me, I have Alec Davis uh who came back up to join us. And he he he Yes. He's our board chair and I have our union president, Jared Alberson. Uh so, and and Melissa Walker who kind prefers to blend in the chairs, but uh

we're thrilled to be here. We consider ourselves an anchor institution in the community, which means we've been here a long time serving the community and we will continue to be here a long time. Uh protecting public health is is our mission. We take it very seriously. It's at the heart of everything we do, every decision we make. We make tough decisions to make sure that we keep uh the drinking water safe to drink. So, um thank you for the for the uh support and I really want to thank our employees who answer the call day and night um and work around the clock literally to make sure uh that we provide a a high uh level of service to this community. So, thank you. We'll see you up here shortly again, too, I'm sure.

[laughter]

I believe Manisha, are you coming up? Our next proclamation is whereas the United States Congress designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1992 to recognize and celebrate the rich histories, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of Asian American, Native Hi- Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities across the nation. And whereas the month of May commemorates two important milestones in United States history, the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7th, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10th, 1869. An achievement made possible in large part by the labor and perseverance of Chinese immigrants. Whereas the city of Des Moines is home to a vibrant and growing AAPI population representing nearly 7% of residents and recognizes one of the fastest growing demographic groups according to the 2023 US Census estimates. And whereas Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have made and continue to make enduring contributions to the cultural, economic, civic, and social fabric of Des Moines. And whereas it is essential to honor the resilience, heritage, and achievements of AAPI communities while also reaffirming our commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. Now therefore, I Connie Boesen on behalf of the city council and the residents of Des Moines do hereby proclaim the month of May, 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. And I encourage all residents and visitors to join in celebrating the rich heritages and diverse cultures of the AAPI communities and continue working together to build a more just, impactful, and compassionate community for all. And I will turn it over if you'd like to say a few words.

Thank you, Mayor, for the proclamation and acknowledgement. Uh my name is Lisa Thai. I am here to represent Iowa Asian Alliance as the chair for the Asian Heritage Festival that will be here right outside, actually, May 22nd and 23rd. Um this year our theme is the story of us. We're celebrating uh the 250th anniversary of the United States, but also the iconic influences that the communities that are here and their iconic influences in the United States. So, please join us. Right. It's always a great event, so be sure to come down. Okay. One more proclamation. Before I start, I just wanted to thank Ben Page and the Park and Rec staff for the mayor's bike ride. All the work they did to put it together. And Garland was our get the people in order and get them in line. He has a voice that carries very well, so we didn't even need a loud speaker. So, thank you, Garland, for what you did, but I just want to make sure we acknowledge everyone. Whereas biking plays a vital role in creating healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities, and May has been celebrated nationally as Bike Month since 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists. And whereas Des Moines' expansive network of 87 miles of paved trails and 27 miles of dedicated bike lanes supports over 1 million trips annually. Bike riding provides transportation, exercise, recreation, while also reducing congestion and pollution. And whereas as part of Bike to Work Week, the city is hosting employees and downtown workers at City Hall on Tuesday, May 12th to encourage commuters

to ride to their jobs. Bike ride to their jobs. Whereas Move DSM, Vision Zero, and Adapt DSM demonstrate the city's commitment to building a transportation network that is safe, sustainable, and accessible to all. And whereas organizations like the Street Collective, Ride On Des Moines, and the Moore and Hubbell Elementary Bike Buses advance education, accessibility, and advocacy throughout the city neighborhoods. Now, therefore, I, Connie Boesen, on behalf of the City Council and the residents of Des Moines, do hereby proclaim May 26th as Bike Month. I think we have some bikers. Did you guys want to come up? If someone Do you have just a few words, Carol? Go ahead. Okay. Thanks, Mayor Boesen. Um, I really appreciate you and the city staff, um, for celebrating Bike Month with us today. Um, we all enjoy here, um, riding our bikes to get to work and school and play and to spend a lot of money when we get there. So, um, I want to introduce some bike friends here. Of course, we have Alex Rice, who's the new executive director at the Street Collective, Alex, and a Beaverdale resident. And Lauren Kollauf, who we've already met. She runs the Avenues and our bestest bike friend on the bestest bike corridor in town. Love Lauren. Elliot Clothierski, who is a strong Des Moines, um, founder in, uh, in the city and also lives in the North of Grand neighborhood. And And Crotty, who works at the state and lives in the Ingersoll corridor. So, we're excited to have her here. Andrew Post is a transportation planner and engineer at HNTB and lives in Merle Hay. Nick Tarpy didn't want to come up and hang with us. But But he works for the city and he rides his bike and so does Jeff Wiggins,

who wasn't able to be here tonight, but the city sets a really great example for, um, property owners and multi, um, family residential buildings. They have indoor bike storage here at, um, City Hall with a shower. And it's really rockstar A plus and I encourage everybody to do the same. And, uh, Kimberly Stone, Theo, and Cormac are from the Moore Bike Bus. If you have never ridden on a bike bus, you're you're missing out. It's a great way to start your day. And Montana and Justin and Alaska Goodman all live in the Capital Park neighborhood and they would love to be able to get from Capital Park to the East Village without having to figure out a way to get go over 235 on their bike. And then the man that owns the day, uh, Alec Davis, um, he's in his he's in his Momentum DSM, uh, hat for this, probably. Um, but thank you for everyone and I it sounds like I'm we want to get off the here and take the picture, but I just want to thank you again and encourage everyone out there to really think about riding their bike because it's a great way to experience the city, to see things you never notice when you're behind a windshield, and, um, and to feel joy when you do it. So, I encourage everyone to ride their bike. Thank you. Thank you, Carol. You did feel joy on Saturday. It was a beautiful day to go on the bike ride. Carol was my bike buddy. Yes. We're going to take a picture [laughter] and do a big bike cheer. It's my bike that you can do it. You got to close your eyes and do it. Cheer!

[laughter]

When I became mayor, I, uh, asked that we have a certificate for, uh, special mayoral recognition. And I'm presenting this to you today, Carol Maher. I, Mayor Boesen, issue this certificate of special mayoral recognition to Carol Maher for her generous donation of 140 bicycle racks to the City of Des Moines' parks. Carol Maher has made a generous financial donation to Friends of Des Moines Park. The donation was approved by the Des Moines City Council in August to be used to install 140 bike racks across 23 different park locations. The Des Moines Park and Recreation Department has already begun installing these racks with completion expected in 2027. These bike racks allow more of our residents who travel by bike to have a safe and secure place to store their bikes when visiting our trails, playgrounds, and green spaces. Carol's donation will make a lasting impact on accessibility and safety for the Des Moines biking community. The City of Des Moines thanks Carol for her generosity and commitment to making Des Moines a better place to live, work, and play. Presented this 4th day of May, 2026. Oh, thank you so

You got that fire going as long as me. [laughter]

Okay, I guess we're I would like to call the May 4th, 2026 Des Moines City Council meeting to order. Could we please take the roll? Here. Here. Boesen. Here. Barron. Here. Westergaard. Here. Mandelbaum. Here. Gatto. Here. We have a quorum. Item number two is approving the agenda as presented and or as amended. And for tonight's meeting, a 4S is withdrawn to negotiate a good neighbor agreement. 21I add is approving the second amendment to 280 agreement with Invest DSM, Inc. and Polk County, uh, sponsor Mayor Boesen, Council Communication number 26-174. 23 is withdrawn by the city manager for further review. Regular agenda items, uh, 32 has been updated added Council Communication number 26-173. And 38 is updated speaker list.

Move approval. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven yes. Motion carries. The next item is item three, approving consent agenda. These are items three through 30. Uh, tonight item five Voss is no. Item six Voss is no. Move approval. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven yes. Our next will be moving to hearings. Item 31 on conveyance of an electric easement on city-owned property located at 4850 Southeast 5th Street to MidAmerican Energy Company for the 2026 neighborhood sidewalk program. We'll accept germane comments from the general public, two minutes per person to speak. Anyone wishing to speak? I see none, Your Honor. I'll move item 31. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven yes. Motion carries. Item 32 on vacation of a portion of Base Park located at 220 Clark Street, Council Communication number 26-173. A is first consideration of the ordinance above. Again, germane comments. Anyone wishing to speak? Seeing none, Your Honor. I'll move 32 and 32A. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. The second, sorry. Disappeared. It's coming.

See, I'm missing one. Linda's. Thank you. Seven, yes. Motion carries. Item 33 on vacation and conveyance of subsurface and air rights easements within the portions of East 2nd Street, East Court Avenue, and East 3rd Street to Riverview Parking LLC for $38,100. A is first consideration of ordinance above. Again, germane comments. Seeing none, I'll move item 33 and 33A and pursuant to rule 42A, waive the second and third reading. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven, yes. Motion carries. Next item is item 34 on request from Demolition and Prep Facilities LLC, Manuel Mackey, officer, to rezone three parcels located in the vicinity of 107 East 6th Street from DX2 Downtown District to uh limited DXR Downtown District to allow development of a new athletic field and accessory park, which is a sports and recreation private participant outdoor use type. A is first consideration of ordinance above. B is final consideration of the ordinance above. Waiver requested by applicant. Requires six votes. First would be the party of interest to speak. Those are within 250 ft of the property to be rezone. They'll be given 5 minutes. Second is germane comments from the general public, 2 minutes per person. Anyone wishing to speak to this. Seeing none, I'll move item 34A and 34B. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote.

Seven, yes. Motion carries. Item 35 on 2026 sewer repair contract. Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract documents, engineer's estimate, receive and file bids, and designating the lowest responsive responsible bidder as TK Concrete Inc., Tony J. Vermeer, president, for $410,295. Council Communication number 26-165. A is approval of contract and bond. Anyone wishing to speak to only the plan specifications and form of documents. Seeing none, your honor, I'll move 35 and 35A. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven, yes. Motion carries. Item 36 on Southwest 9th Street rehabilitation from Watrous Avenue to Walcott Avenue and from Park Avenue to Creston Avenue. Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract documents, engineer's estimate, receive and file bids, and designating the lowest responsive responsible bidder as Inroads LLC, Joseph J. Manatt, CEO, $1,484,314.25. Council Communication number 26-164. A is the approval of contract and bond. Again, general comments. Seeing none, your honor, I'll move 36 and 36A. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven, yes. Motion carries. Item 37 on traffic signal replacement at Merle Hay Road and Meredith Drive and I-80 and I-35. Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract documents, engineer's estimate, receive and file bids, and designating nating

the lowest responsive responsible bidder as Van Maanen Electric Inc., Nathan Van Maanen, president, $597,000. Council Communication number 26-163. A is approval of contract and bond. No one. No one. Oh, yeah. No one's here to speak. Seeing none, I'll move 37 and 37A. Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Please vote. Seven, yes. Motion carries. The next item is our request to speak. Uh we provide speakers under the public speaking portion the opportunity to address the council for up to 3 minutes each for up to 20 speakers for a total of 1 hour agenda. Speakers will be called forward individually and we ask everyone to please state their name, address, or ward prior to providing comments. Please keep comments germane and avoid references to personalities or character attacks as those types of comments do not contribute to the purpose for which this public forum exists. As a reminder to council and the public, this public speaking time is to hear your comments and if there is a need to follow up, we will get it to the appropriate staff or council to follow up after the time of the meeting. Thank you for your support of Des Moines. And I believe we have Elliot Klamathski who is up to speak.

Mayor, members of the council, uh Elliot Klamathski, Ward 3, 41st Street. Um last week on Thursday was the Polk County Housing Trust Fund Housing Symposium, which I think I saw most, if not all of you at. Um and many of you stopped by the table to say hi. Um I think the stories from that symposium were extremely compelling. I hope they were for you guys as well. One of the exhibits that we had at our table, um I guess I'm here on behalf of the Strong Des Moines Strong Towns group locally, which meets on the final Thursday of every month, for what it's worth. Strongdesmoines@gmail.com for updates. But we had a an exhibit at our table talking about how ready the city of Des Moines is for providing housing. One of the big things that Strong Towns really champions is local code reform and initiatives that make housing opportunities more plentiful as much as possible. Um these are some kind of technical steps that they have outlined in their strategic guide for making every city housing ready. Strong Towns has a really wide berth in the United States. Their content reaches millions of people every month and um through just evaluating what these are within our group, we've kind of determined that we as a city check two of the boxes for housing readiness. There's a couple policy ideas that we're maybe halfway there. And then a couple that I don't think the city of Des Moines meets necessarily. Um these are all things that really hinge on technical details in zoning code. I myself deal with zoning administration in a neighboring community in my day job. Um Our group just wanted to thank you guys for coming to the symposium to hear the stories told by Chuck Marohn, who is behind the parent organization, and to let you guys know that we are more than

happy to workshop any of these at any time. We're trying to be creative in the way that we advocate for housing opportunities in the city of Des Moines. Um and one other thing I just wanted to mention is the National Gathering for Strong Towns, which is groups like ours. There's over 200 of them in the United States. The National Gathering is happening in 2 weeks in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Easy drive for us, but we have, I think, about eight people from Des Moines that are going to be attending that conference to hopefully be sponges to see what kind of advocacy policy reform is working nationwide. And so if that's a thing that any of you are curious about wrangling specific ideas from, we're all ears. So strongdesmoines@gmail.com will find its way to me. And just wanted to say thank you guys again. That's all I have. Okay, thank you, Elliot. Mayor, I'll make a motion to receive and file 38 and 38A. Second. Please vote. And the motion carries.

Okay, before we adjourn tonight, I just wanted to take this time to address something that some citizens contacted me about. Uh there was a text to sign up for a petition along with other social media posts that has created some confusion and misinformation surrounding our efforts to keep our boards and commissions gender balanced. So I want to set the record straight. First, there was no secret meeting to discuss the changing of the policy. The meeting we had was what I had talked about in a previous city council meeting, and that was to review all the boards and commissions to see what boards and commissions are needed, what new ones should we have, how many people should serve on those boards, and what could we get consistent term limits. That meeting was with me, the city manager, assistant city managers, the two at-large council members, Mike Simonsen Carl Voss, along with other staff who had put together the information. The purpose of the meeting was not to change gender balance. We have and continue to work in good faith to keep our boards and commissions balanced. At the same time, we work to make sure our appointments are the most qualified. Balancing those two top priorities can be challenging at times and requires all of us to work together as each to help create that balance. There will be times when it might not be 100% because of resignations or people terming off, but we will continue to work to make sure our boards and commissions are reflected of our community and the residents we represent. So, I just wanted to clarify that tonight. So, with that, I'll take a motion to adjourn.

Your Honor. Is there a second? Second. Uh this meeting is adjourned.