City Council - Regular Meeting

At this time, I would like to call the August 27th, 2026 Des Moines City Council meeting to order. I'm going to be leading us in the pledge. Please stand if you are able.

Thank you. Please let the record show that we have all council members' attendance and are present. Is there any correspondence that has not been previously shared with the council? All right. Now it is time for public comment. We ask that you keep your comments respectful. When I call your name, you'll come up to the podium. You'll have three minutes to speak. Please state your name and your city of residence. First, I have Susan Aigner. Okay, thank you. Christy.

We're currently running a committee of the whole meeting. However, council members do serve regionally on other committees. Do any council members have any items of interest to the public or the council they'd like to share? All right, then we'll move on to our city manager's report and I'll turn the meeting over to city manager, Catherine Caffrey.

Thank you, Senator. I appreciate that. I would suggest that there's been some rumblings on council about going back and re-implementing some of the STC codes that we had back 10 years ago or something like that. And I would actually push the port to either reimburse developers and homeowners that decide to do remodels with that STC package as opposed to forcing that cost onto the developer or the homeowner.

Just thank you. That's really it. It's just I have just – There's been this notion that the airport is this intrinsic good, so much so for, like, when I talk to your colleagues, you know, the county, the state, the planet, and so on. And I'm just, there is something about the Pacific Northwest. It would just be a given back east with any factory, any large system to consider impact fees. And since I've lived here, it has been stunning to me, this notion of like the airport just does it for you, you know? And I appreciate the fact that you have just worked at this for a long time to change that

Questions? I heard at least seven bill topics. So questions or comments from anyone else? Council Member Simons.

There are two separate areas. Yeah. What you just described about the affordable housing and getting the unions in there, that sounds like a wonderful idea, and that much more affordable housing is needed. There is a bow wave to that, however, because then the cities have to provide services to all these new residents that are moving in. And there can't be a disconnect between those two, because the cities do not have the ability to expand services to that many more right now because our budgets are shrinking. And twofold. One is that we need help from the state just simply to provide those ba

Yeah, and I wasn't meaning to suggest anything about low income versus market rate housing, but just more.

And then the other thing is sort of my, I think the criminal defense caseload standards for public defenders, you know, that is an incredible... burden on cities. Cities do not get any state funds at the moment for public defense. And it's all got to come out of our court budget to pay for public defense, which is a constitutional right that everybody deserves. And Sound Cities Association has asked me to be on a task force that they're putting together that's going to look not just at the sheer numbers, public defense per population, but the disparate impacts. When you have, for example, Kent

No? Thank you so much for coming. We really do have the privilege of having you be a resident here in Des Moines and be so closely tied to us. And so thank you for all that you do. You just said a couple of things that you said you were going to touch on and then went into some topics that are just very significant to many people in our community. And I just want to say thank you so much. And I appreciate our working relationship. And we really are privileged, so thank you very much, Senator. Thank you. I appreciate it, too. Thank you.

Yeah, there's a whole lot going on there. But a very nice presentation. Thank you. Kind of trending back, in Redondo, the cameras seem to be working until the month of July. Is that accurate, that we're actually seeing a change in behavior, do you think?

But infractions equal revenue. There's a correlation between the two. Well, it's nice to know it's worked up until the summer. Yeah. But yeah, I've at least heard from people in Redondo that it's been really noisy again. So maybe August will be another high revenue month. It'll be interesting to see. And then the one other thing is I think it's great we're using the law enforcement sales tax to help partially offset the public defender costs. But that's probably the biggest thing that's rising right now. Is that correct?

And is there a chance that the public defender costs are going to swallow up all that additional revenue?

Okay, so it pushes... Yeah. We have the budget set for those funds, which includes public defender and officer and animal control, and those are going to carry forward into the next budget, is that correct?

Thank you, Jeff. Good presentation. Senator Orwell mentioned that there was a raise in foreclosures in the state, and I'm seeing that their property taxes are 5% below what we estimated. Is that related? Are we seeing some foreclosures increase in Des Moines?

I'm sorry, I can't see this. So is this it, or is there like a part two? Because I thought I didn't should catch the stuff like on the marina and

Okay, well, okay, so the thing regarding the B&O, it was really high, and so could you explain why it was really high, just for the... Yeah, that was a good catch.

And just to be clear, normally you hit these things within – MOST OF THE KEY ONES PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A GENERAL FUND, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE USUALLY REALLY NAIL THESE THINGS. IT'S SOMEWHAT PSYCHIC ON THAT. SO WHENEVER THERE'S SOME BIG VARIANCE. AND THE OTHER TWO THINGS, I NEVER CAN UNDERSTAND THAT NET CHANGE IN THING. IS THERE SOME SHORT EXPLAINER THAT I CAN JUST ON THE TWO ENTERPRISE FUNDS OR IF IT'S not, I can take it off.

No, no, no, no. That's my sense of humor, but I honestly, I'm expecting a starting number. Yeah. And when I look at the marina, it looks like the thing went 300 grand over budget, and maybe that's my mistake.

Yes, Jeff, thank you for the presentation. I'm curious on the property taxes. Is that still reflective of the dispute that Wesley has with, I guess, the state over?

Okay, is it, you're showing a 1%, is that?

Council questions. Council Member Nutting.

I just have one comment. My new project, senior project manager, lives in Three Tree Point and found out that I was a council member on the city of Des Moines, and he can't wait to tell me all the stories of his seven-year-old son and all the fun he has. He takes him to the camps from Normandy Park to Berrien and all over the place, and he says by far his son has the most fun in all the camps in Des Moines that he is. So you guys are doing a great job, and I applaud you for that. Appreciate it. All right.

Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Council Member Nutting.

I move to approve the consent calendar as read.

Thank you. Any second? I hear it from Council Member Steinmetz. Does any council wish to pull any item? Council Member wish to pull any item? Council Member Harris.

Item 8? Okay, sorry, I couldn't hear you. Item eight is gonna be our groundwater remediation. All right, let's go ahead and vote on the items one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and nine. Oh, great, thank you. Is there, thank you, sorry. WENT OFF INTO LA LA LAND. LET'S START DOWN AT THE END. YOUR VOTE, THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR OXINGER, COUNCILMEMBER STEINMAN, COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS, COUNCILMEMBER DISMONI, COUNCILMEMBER NUTTING, COUNCILMEMBER BLOSSOM, MYSELF, THAT PASSES 7-0. WE'LL NOW CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 8. COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT ITEM.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO END, YOU KNOW, JUST AS SUCCINCTLY AS POSSIBLE. You know what I'm asking about, hopefully. OK, so just in 100 words or less.

Is it shifting? I mean, no, because I mean, your predecessor, Lauren, would talk about gravity and changes in weather and so forth. And so some years it would feel like we were there, and then another one would pop up. And I'm just, you know, is it?

Any other questions on that, or is there a motion to approve Item 8? Councilmember Nutting.

I move to approve the consult services contract with WSPUSA, Inc., to provide consulting services services for the public works yard groundwater remediation project in the amount of $119,356 and authorize the city manager to sign said task agreement supplement substantially in the form as submitted.

Is there a second? Second. Member Steinmetz, all right. All those in favor of consent item eight, please raise your right hand until I call your name. Deputy Mayor Oskar, Council Member Stamets, Council Member Harris, Council Member Desmone, Council Member Nutting, Council Member Bloss, and myself. That motion passes 7-0. Thank you very much, Tyler. It's on to some new, oh, I'm sorry.

I will read that. I move to direct. There is two. Sorry, my fault. I MOVE TO A DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE 2026 SELF-ENSURE FUND TO INCORPORATE THE 2026 WSPUSA, INC. CONSULT SERVICES CONTRACT.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE TO A VOTE. DEPUTY MAYOR OXFORD, COUNCIL MEMBER STEINEMANZ, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, COUNCIL MEMBER DISMONI, COUNCIL MEMBER NUTTING, COUNCIL MEMBER BLAS, AND MYSELF. THE SECOND MOTION PASSES 7-0. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, COUNCIL MEMBER NUTTING. I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. NOW WE ARE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. AND OUR FIRST BUSINESS ITEM, AND I'M SAYING IT SLOWLY BECAUSE SOMEONE IS APPROACHING THE PODIUM, A PRESENTATION BY DIRECTOR FRIEND.

Council, do you have any questions? Please, questions only. And we're going to do one question at a time. Okay. Is there a motion? Council Member Nutting.

I move to adopt draft resolution number 26-098 approving the City of Des Moines 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Plan.

Second. Motion made by Council Member Nutting and seconded by Council Member Steinmetz. Now we move to discussion. Council Member Nutting.

I like going to the high, medium, and low aspect of the replacement projects and stuff that we need to do. It'll just give us a better idea of where we need to go. So, appreciate that. Thank you.

I also like the high, medium, and low, but I do, I would like to see something of a time, you know, near-term, mid-term, short-term factored into that. I don't know if that's part of, I would expect, you know, a high correlation between near-term and high priority, but it just gives me a little better sense of what's the time frame that we're looking at getting it done. But I think that would help make things a lot clearer. I do appreciate all the work that went into this.

And boy, when a lawyer starts understanding a finance guy, that's rare synergy. But I think this is a good plan.

I understand that priorities can change depending on what grants are available. I'd like to have a better view of what grants we're applying to and kind of timelines on these grants. I only hear, I'm new to the council, but I only hear things when it's been already approved and get the funding, but I don't have a general idea of what grants we've applied to.

WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF HOW MANY GRANTS WE APPLY TO?

I'M NOT EXACTLY WOWED ABOUT THIS CONSOLIDATED priority list you know we have this tip and because stormwater and transportation are funded so fundamentally differently so just it I think it encourages a myopia what you want to do is you want to encourage where the money actually is you know you have this list of things that you want to do And then when the money shows up, you want to chase that. If you have this hard list, if you make that like the prime directive, then you run the risk of, I think that's why we have a separate CIP and TIP, just basically because the financing is so different

Any other discussion? Well, I heard from a couple folks here that the priorities are very helpful. We talked about adding a time frame or potential time frame along with that high, medium, low priority list. I do think it is another way to organize just a giant list of 78 projects. It's not combining it or changing it. It's just reorganizing it in a way that may be a snapshot that folks can take a look at. I appreciate and I understand how much time that you all will invest in the next year to do that for us, and so I very much appreciate APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'M SOR

YEAH, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS STRATEGIC PLAN AND THESE, YOU developer agreements and we're trying to think in terms of the long game. It has always been my desire to educate the public as to that long game that these projects take forever and somehow reassure them that I understand you've got pants on fire about this today, but we're going to get to all of this stuff. And by asking staff to prioritize stuff It runs the risk of, you really want to show people that, okay, we have this five, ten-year process that will get to all of this stuff. People have this sense t

Just taking a long pause in case I missed somebody. Okay, let's go to that vote. All in favor, please raise your right hand until I call your name. Deputy Mayor Ochsinger, Council Member Steinmetz, Council Member Harris, Council Member Desmoni, Council Member Nutting, Council Member Blass, and myself. Motion passes 7-0. Thank you. And approaching the podium, we have item number two, Development Agreement Ordinance, the first reading and a presentation by Director Demming.

COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS ONLY, PLEASE. DEPUTY MAYOR OXAGER.

YES, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER REQUESTING STANDARDIZATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES. WAS THAT CONSIDERED AND IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

Yeah, I would agree with that. Does your draft, I did not see the magic word trees, I think 1625 or whatever, I don't know why I have that one memorized, but is that included in your understanding or is that something that would need to be added?

I guess what I'm getting at is that this provides a lot of certainty in terms of a lot of stuff. but not so much like the whole tree in lieu kind of a thing. Do you expect that to be folded into this or that's my concern is this being a get out of jail free card on any kind of future tree replacement, tree in lieu, that sort of thing? I mean if it is, it is.

I mean like on the whole Des Moines Street business park. We're just not going to replace trees.

And my other question is just, is there any kind of, you know, there are projects and there are projects. I mean, I mentioned the business park, and that really was a very long-range kind of a thing. Is it somewhat, is it typical to have some kind of sliding thing like... five years for one kind of project. I don't want to micromanage this, but I also have this vision of somebody signing something and then moving to Bali and 18 years go by. I'm just giving you the edge.

I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF CONCERNS THAT ARE KIND OF, I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE SIGNING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THEN WE END UP WITH THE PIT. YOU KNOW, WE WANT SOMEBODY TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION, AND I GET THAT DIFFERENT PROJECTS HAVE DIFFERENT COMPLEXITIES, AND SO IT DOESN'T GO BY SIZE, BUT WOULDN'T, INSTEAD OF WRITING A 20-YEAR maximum, however, wouldn't it be better set by the Planning Commission as to what the duration of that development agreement would be?

But potentially there could be a project for 20 years, more than 20 years might be reasonable. I guess it seems to me within the function of a planning commission to really understand the project and come up with the reasonable timeframe.

Can you fill us in about I believe a conversation was already had with the Planning Commission because they did a public hearing on July 7th and already discussed this and so this this specific item was already considered by the Planning Commission.

Who is it that then determines whether, I'm assuming a developer will probably want 20 years to amortize their expenses over it. Who is it that determines then when we do less than 20 years or not?

Okay. And does it go before the planning commission? So the developer The developer agreement comes to the Planning Commission and then to the Council. Correct.

Can I go on to someone else in case there's other questions? Come back to you.

Right. I'm trying to cap us on questions because we've kind of drifted into many questions. So I want to make sure that other folks have some airtime, and then I'll come right back to you. Does anyone else have any questions?

I just have a comment, but I'll save it. Save that for later. Okay.

Questions is good. Yeah. We haven't had the motion yet. Council Member Harris, your second time.

Is there a motion or that was not, I didn't hear a question there?

No, I'm just, if we're strictly in the question phase, then no, I will defer to the discussion phase, you bet.

Questions? Council Member Simon, it's your second time.

How does... This proposed ordinance addressed transferability of the agreement from one development entity to another, given that developers are often forming different companies as they move things around.

Is there an approval process, or is it just automatic?

And then revocability. OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN IS ABILITY OF THE DEVELOPER TO CURE. I DON'T SEE THAT ADDRESSED. AM I MISSING IT?

IF I CAN, WHAT I'M THINKING OF IN STATUTORIAL LANGUAGE, WELL, WE WOULDN'T DICTATE WHAT THOSE TERMS ARE, BUT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT THE CITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVOKE WHEN THEY FIND NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT AND GIVEN X NUMBER OF DAYS OR REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR AFTER NOTICE FOR THE DEVELOPER TO CURE OR THE CITY MOVES FORWARD. BECAUSE THAT WAY YOU'VE GOT BOTH SIDES WORKING WITH ONE ANOTHER. And as a statutory basis, that gives you the ability to do that rather than trying to negotiate the general. And you just say, OK, these are the specifics that we're looking for or not.

Can I ask a clarifying question? Was that something that was already reviewed by the Planning Commission in July, and was there a recommendation?

And so... Because they are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

I want a point of information here. Okay. We've talked a little bit about who did the deep dive on this, how has it been reviewed so far has folks looks at other jurisdictions. And that is part of the work that the planning Commission already did so essentially the Commission did do that foundational look. and that primer, and now we're getting the result, which is, I believe, why we have a planning commission. And so they've already attempted to answer and debate some of these questions that have come forward, and this has already been shaped by that conversation. Any other questions about th

I move to pass draft ordinance number 26-030 to second reading on the next available regular council meeting agenda.

Is there a second? I can do that? So we get to discussion? Discussion? With Councilmember Simons.

Yeah, I really do think it's important to include revocability and contrary ability to cure. There are structure of the agreement may fundamentally address a cure or not. So it may be like the Salty's agreement that if they don't apply it just goes away. There wouldn't be that. But that wouldn't fit then. But the ordinance needs to give I think the city, the ability to put that language in there. Otherwise, I think you end up in a situation where the first defense is, well, you didn't have the authority to do that because there is no statutory authority. The lawyer in me says, I really think w

Before we address that, why don't we go through the other ones. But it sounds like there's two ways that we can do that. We can either have a vote to amendment or A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN. BUT LET'S GO THROUGH ALL OF OUR DISCUSSION FIRST BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT.

You can track a sale, but you can't necessarily track the change of ownership as well. You form a new LLC, and that LLC takes it over. So I don't think it's easily done. I think if it's going to transfer, you come to the council or the planning commission and you make your presentation, we would like to transfer this. This is the new group that's taking it over. And, you know, we've got somebody reputable and something's going on that just gives us a check that the agreement that we've entered into will be honored.

And I also have a point of information here to you, Rebecca. Section 11, enforceability, says it's binding for parties and the party's successors.

The successor is exactly the problem. We don't know.

Well, because they came back to, I'm sorry. I'm just, yeah.

It's quite okay. I think we're drilling down. I'd like to hear some more issues before we start making some changes. So go ahead, Council Member Harris.

I would move that this be remanded to a study session for a fuller tutorial. Apart from this, and I have any number of questions, this is too big a thing to drill into in this kind of format. Furthermore, just at a more fundamental level. Please.

The discussion is after a motion is seconded.

Yeah. We should have a study session on this.

Is there a second? That does not proceed. Okay. Other discussion? Council Member Harris, that's your second time. Go ahead.

So it sounds to me like from the packet it says that it's you know, to make the area more developer friendly. And this is just more rhetorical. I see that it addresses a lot of the concerns of the residents. But frankly, we've had a very free and open doing it one at a time for a very long period. And I'm struggling to understand how this makes the area are projects any more developer-friendly? That's a serious question. But I definitely want more drawings and more information and so forth. I know residents do. But as to how it will draw more investment, I don't know. Thank you.

I feel like there's just still many questions, some unclear areas, some confusion, and I think maybe if this does go to a second reading that some things just need to be tightened up. I don't feel confident in some of the things I read. I'm hearing questions, concerns from other council members. I think it's just maybe it's a little premature for us to be talking about this since there's so much that's not understood well.

Do you have a specific amendment or something you want to clarify? No. All right, other questions or discussion, sorry. Yes.

I recognize this is my second time. And I just, I do want to say, this has been a lot of work and it's really pretty well done. I'm trying to add a couple of tweaks that caught my eye, just given my background and done this, that I think will put the city in an advantageous position. I think it will make us more developer friendly because there are clear standards and they know what they're getting into. Let's sit down and figure it out. They don't know what they're getting into and developers would prefer to do that, but I do think that we need to make sure the city is fully protected. And th

Okay. Are there any others that we haven't heard from that want to add? No. Okay. So like we said earlier, I heard one of them, which is the revocability and also transferability. Are those the two? I want to make sure I'm reading.

Revocability and reasonable ability to do it.

Okay. So... got it so those are the two things yeah absolutely I need two other folks at least to give me a thumbs up that they would also like to address that all right we've got one two three and so I'm looking for some options when we come back to the second reading absolutely thank you very much I appreciate it vote WITH THOSE, KNOWING THAT THOSE TWEAKS ARE COMING BACK FOR OUR REVIEW, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GO AHEAD AND TO FORWARD THE FIRST TO THE SECOND READING, CORRECT? ALL RIGHT. KNOWING THAT THOSE ARE COMING BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO PASS THESE ON TO A SECOND READING, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLE

Yes, I believe that is one of the things we'll consider.

Yes. Do we have multiple considerations again, or are we just bringing one thing forward?

I heard that there was really more interest because of the discussion in option two. Option one was do nothing. I don't think we need to discuss that again. And option three will be no longer available in the same way.

Yes, it is a question. Okay. But that will not include the water quality grant, which will expire, correct?

Correct. New items. A call for new items. All right. Let's move on to council member reports, which is limited to four minutes.

Do you have three head nods to move that on?

I ACTUALLY DON'T NEED THREE HEAD NODS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YES, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SURE, LET'S DO IT. IS ANYONE, AS EVERYONE SAY, I GOT FIVE, SIX, SEVEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY, I SAID SIX AND THEN SEVEN. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S SIX. Thank you. It's time for Councilmember reports. What is going on first is going to be Councilmember Blass.

I really don't have a lot to report for city business, but I have enjoyed a great summer so far, a lot of good community events. The night market has been just an outstanding success. I'VE ENJOYED THE CONCERTS THAT I'VE BEEN TO. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE MALL. AND REALLY, IT DOES FEEL MUCH MORE LIKE A COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER OVER THE COURSE OF THIS SUMMER, AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.

THANK YOU. IT ALWAYS FEELS TO ME LIKE SHIPS PASSING IN THE NIGHT, BUT I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. the people discussing flock, you know, it's one of those funny things in concert with the Citizens Advisory Board meeting. I was struck by the concerns over public safety in contrast with the budget, and we spend the highest as a percentage of any of the cities around in public safety. Chief says that crime is down, but It's really hard to get a sense of just what's really happening. I know, anecdotally, when I show up with my red hat at different places, childre

Thank you. Council Member Desmoning. I have nothing to report. Council Member Netting.

Thank you, Mayor. The only thing I have to report is that the Des Moines and Normandy Park Rotary are putting on the Poverty Bay Blues and Brews Festival this Saturday from 11 to 7 p.m. in the Des Moines Beach Park. You still have time to buy tickets online at dmnprotary.org. or tickets at the gate, and I do know that the print shop has got tickets as well, and I will be attending, so I hope to see everybody there. Thank you, Mayor.

You stole my thunder. That was what I was primarily going to advertise is Blues and Brews. It's a tradition, and... Hopefully the rain will be gone by the time and we'll have another successful event. Hopefully a park as full as it was for epigraphs. Anyway, that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. I just wanted to spotlight a couple of things. We recently had our budget town hall where we had many folks come to the activity center and talk to us about budget priorities. I should have asked for this but I was very fond of the visual representation of all of our special funds with 37 different buckets out on a table, some of which were big, meaning like the general fund, some of them were smaller like REIT, and then some that were thimble size. I just think is a great way for folks to access that information when they say, why can't you take this money from here and put it over

Second. Council Member Simons, I heard it. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. And we are adjourned. Thank you.