2026-10-19 - City Council

00:00,

00:00hospitality and service to

00:02o thers.

00:02Creating a legacy that continue

00:04to end rich our city today.

00:08Whereas, the Italian American

00:10cultural center of Iowa has

00:12w orked for more than four

00:16d ecades to preserve, share

00:18Italian American heritage

00:18ensuring that the stories,

00:20traditions and contributions of

00:22generations past are carried

00:24forward for generations to come.

00:26Whereas October 2026, marks an

00:28historic chapter for the Des

00:31Moines Italian American

00:32community with the opening of

00:34the Italian American cultural

00:36center of Iowa new home of

00:37historic butler mansion.

00:39Creating a permanent place for

00:41cultural, education, exhibits,

00:44programming and community

00:45g athering.

00:49Whereas Italian American

00:50Heritage Month provides an

00:51opportunity for all Des Moines

00:53residents learn about and

00:54separate the history, culture

00:55and contributions of Italian

00:57Americans and the immigrant

00:59stories that are an important

01:01part of our city's shared

01:07history.

01:07I Connie Boesen proclaim

01:17O ctober 2026 as Italian

01:17American Heritage Month

01:18celebrate the generation of

01:19Italian Americans who's heritage

01:23and contribution and traditions

01:23continue to strengthen our

01:25community.

01:26I will let you speak.

01:32>> I was to all of you to come

01:36and visit our new center.

01:37It's been redone.

01:38We have an open house on Sunday

01:42from 1:00 to -- 11:00 to 4:00.

01:45It's open for everybody.

01:48We have a lot of things that

01:50maybe available for some of the

01:51things you would like to do.

01:52Come see what we've got.

01:56Thank you.

01:58>> I think some people have been

01:59through it.

02:00They say it's absolutely

02:02fantastic.

02:02It will be a great new addition

02:04to our city.

02:04With that, we'll get a picture

02:10here.

02:41come on up.

02:43We have few planners here.

02:45This is community planning

02:47m onth.

02:49I think we have the whole staff

02:53almost.

02:57Whereas changes constant and

02:58affects all cities, town,

02:59suburbs, counties and other

03:01places, whereas community

03:03planning can help manage, change

03:05in a way that provides better

03:07choices for how people live,

03:09work and play.

03:09Whereas community planning

03:11provides an opportunity for all

03:13residents to be meaningfully

03:15involved, making choices that

03:19determine the future of their

03:21community.

03:21Full benefits of planning

03:23requires public officials and

03:25residents who understand support

03:27and demand excellence in planned

03:29implementation.

03:29Whereas the month of October is

03:31designated as national community

03:33planning month.

03:35Throughout the United States of

03:36America and its territories.

03:38Whereas the American planning

03:41association endorses national

03:42community planning month as an

03:44opportunity to highlight how

03:46planning is essential to strong

03:48cities and how planners can lead

03:50communities to equitable,

03:54resilient and sustainable

03:56outcomes.

03:56We recognize the valuable

03:57contributions made by the

03:58professional planning community

04:00and more specifically by the

04:02planners of the City of Des

04:04Moines and extend our heart felt

04:06thanks for the continued

04:06commitment to public service by

04:08these professionals.

04:10Now, therefore, I Connie Boesen

04:12on behalf of the city council

04:13and the residents of Des Moines,

04:16proclaim the month of

04:18O ctober 2026 as Community

04:22Planning Month.

04:22I encourage all resident to

04:24learn more and engage with the

04:24planning process in the City of

04:26Des Moines.

04:28I will turn it over if anybody

04:28like to highlight.

04:34>> Mayor and council.

04:36Thank you for recognizing

04:38October as Community Planning

04:39Month.

04:40I feel pretty honored to be up

04:42here with this great group of

04:44planners.

04:44I want to take the opportunity

04:46to recognize them for all the

04:47dedication and hard work they

04:50put together.

04:51Planning really does play an

04:53important role in shaping the

04:54future of Des Moines.

04:55It help us make thoughtful

04:58decisions on how the city grows.

05:01Where where we invest and

05:02infrastructure in neighborhoods.

05:03How we create opportunities for

05:05businesses and residents.

05:07You can look around just about

05:09any day of the year and see the

05:11results of the plans cities put

05:13in place.

05:13A lot of that comes from the

05:15effort from this team around me

05:19here.

05:21Thanks everyone.

06:59Of

07:01

07:03

08:44>> We're officially called to

08:44order.

08:44Please take the roll.

08:46[ roll call]

08:59We have a quorum.

09:01>> Next item is approving the

09:03agenda as presented and or as

09:06amended.

09:07It was amended at 3:00 p.m.

09:09today.

09:09See the attachment.

09:10Two of the items 38B has been

09:13updated.

09:13It's southeast 24th court and

09:17east park avenue and item 40 is

09:19updated speaker list.

09:21>> Move approval.

09:21>> Second.

09:22>> Moved and seconded.

09:25Please vote.

09:33>> Seven yes.

09:33>> Motion carries.

09:35Next item.

09:37Approving the consent agenda.

09:37These are items 3-30.

09:41These are routine items.

09:43They will be enacted by one roll

09:45call vote without separation of

09:47discussion unless pursuant to

09:50council request.

09:51We allow the public speaking to

09:53consent item for three minutes

09:55each for total of 15 minutes.

09:57We have someone that would like

10:00to speak on item 23.

10:04If you want to come up and speak

10:08on that, Carol Maher.

10:12Please state your name, address

10:16and ward.

10:24

10:24>> Hello, Mayor Boesen.

10:26My name is Carol Maher.

10:30First of all, this award on

10:38local and state level, workforce

10:40housing tax credit, need much

10:44more sunshine.

10:46The whole tip process need

10:50sunshine.

10:50This deal was previously on many

10:54agendas.

10:55It applied for work for housing

10:56tax credit.

10:58I don't know if it got that.

10:59We offered tax abatement.

11:00I don't know if that's still on.

11:02They're getting sales tax

11:05a batement.

11:07Those things should be included

11:09in these requests.

11:11We understand the stack.

11:12Where is the money coming from?

11:15Is the investment sound?

11:16Is it a good investment for the

11:21city?

11:21The final partially executed tip

11:25agreement must be posted with

11:26the agenda before it is approved

11:27by the council.

11:27Today, only after your approval,

11:31signature by the mayor, posting

11:33by the clerk can a civilian see

11:37what what's agreed to.

11:41Wouldn't you think showing the

11:43agreementer in the process will

11:45be a good idea especially with

11:45the millions and millions of

11:49judgment against us?

11:50A public facing searchable

11:53database needs to be available

11:55for projects awarded with public

11:57funds.

11:57Along with a dashboard that

12:00s hows the future risk of our

12:02bottom line.

12:03I'm sure AI could whip something

12:08up quickly or open source the

12:09data and let the marketplace

12:11provide the dashboard.

12:12Sure, I know your job sucks.

12:16You found that out especially

12:22through more transparent budget

12:23process.

12:24You treated us like adults.

12:28Please continue this strategy.

12:30We can handle the truth.

12:34Thank you.

12:36>> Move approval.

12:36>> There's also item 5 and 6,

12:40Voss votes no.

12:42Move approval.

12:42It's been moved and seconded.

12:46Please vote.

12:54

12:54>> I do think there will be

12:58value thinking about how to

13:00might this more transparent.

13:02I think those points are well

13:03taken we could figure out a way

13:05if there was an easy way to

13:08create a dashboard or to put

13:11some of this online so it was

13:13searchable.

13:14I think there's value to the

13:16public and just being little bit

13:18more transparent on this.

13:19>> Aren't these blue letters

13:23online?

13:23>> This one was preliminary.

13:25There was no agreement.

13:27>> She's asking for the actual

13:29agreement.

13:29>> I think it's a larger point.

13:33I think she was making it about

13:41this particular tiff.

13:43We could be more transparent in

13:47general.

13:49I do think blue letters capture

13:51a lot of it.

13:53If there are things that we can

13:55do to get these things online in

13:56a way that is searchable or that

13:59the public might use I think

14:01that's worth trying to do.

14:04>> Counsel, these are available

14:06at the state with their annual

14:08reports.

14:09Let me get back to you about how

14:11to get to those and if there are

14:13ideas to you who summarize those

14:15better.

14:16>> Just to add to that.

14:18I e-mailed you and Matt couple

14:20of weeks ago about what's been

14:21the impact of projects when

14:24we've put tiff in them and what

14:26are some examples?

14:28Taking on Carol's idea and

14:32Josh's suggestion, could we see

14:36the long-term taxable value

14:38that's generated out of some of

14:40these things over time so we can

14:42see the story of something that

14:44tiff was invested in five or six

14:46years ago.

14:48>> Different what they had.

14:54>> Not talking about this

14:54project in particular.

14:55>> In general, you get the

14:56l ayout.

14:56>> The blue letter has

15:00everything that you're asking

15:02for.

15:02It's got 10, 20, 30-year under

15:04the blue letter.

15:06It kind of states where all the

15:08funding coming from.

15:10This is preliminary terms.

15:12This is available to the public

15:13when they go online.

15:16>> Okay, I will finish making my

15:17point then.

15:19If you don't mind.

15:21>> Go ahead.

15:23>> The conversation isn't just

15:24about this one thing.

15:25The conversation is how we can

15:27be more transparent.

15:28We can tell our story better.

15:31It's not about project by

15:33project.

15:33I like to see the whole city and

15:35say okay, where have we invested

15:41it tiff?

15:41What it generated and yielded

15:43for us.

15:43I get it.

15:45I'm new here.

15:47Y'all been doing this for a long

15:49enough that's not important to

15:49you anymore.

15:51I want to be able to see that.

15:53>> That's why I'm saying, maybe

15:55you guys can write down

15:57specifically what more you think

15:57needstor shared if it's project

15:59by project.

15:59That's one thing.

16:01You want the area of the active

16:05where the tiff project is and

16:07what the past has been?

16:09>> That would be of interest to

16:10me.

16:11Ten years ago, the city made

16:15this commitment on this project.

16:17This is what it yielded overtime

16:20or has not.

16:21That's an interesting story to

16:22tell especially if we're

16:25committing more dollars down

16:26line and in the future.

16:28That's advantageous to us.

16:29>> I wanted to get clarity.

16:32>> I'll happily write up what I

16:33think will be good.

16:34>> If you have pointers.

16:38>> Can I be clear.

16:40Carol saying she has to ask

16:42Laura for this document.

16:46>> For the agreement.

16:50>> Okay.

16:50>> We can have more discussion

16:52on that.

16:52We'll have -- if you guys have

16:54different ideas what you think

16:56you would like to see.

16:58We'll bring in forward to see

17:00what we can get.

17:02>> I can take a first draft of

17:04that.

17:08>> Okay.

17:13>> Next item is start of our

17:17hearings.

17:19Item 31.

17:21[agenda item read]

17:27Anyone wishing to speak to this?

17:33>> Seeing none.

17:35I will move item 31.

17:39>> Second.

17:39>> It's been moved and seconded.

17:41Please vote.

17:47>> Seven yes.

17:49>> Motion carries.

17:49Next item is 32.

17:53[agenda item read].

18:05Event -- anyone wishing to

18:09s peak?

18:09>> Move item 32.

18:13>> Been moved and seconded.

18:14Please vote.

18:20>> Seven yes.

18:22>> Motion carries.

18:26Item 33.

18:28[agenda item read]

19:04Anyone wishing to speak?

19:08>> Seeing none.

19:10I'll move item 33, 33A and 33B.

19:14>> Second.

19:14>> Moved and seconded.

19:17Please vote.

19:19>> Seven yes.

19:22>> motion carries.

19:23Next item is 34.

19:27[agenda item read]

20:11anyone wishing to speak to this?

20:30>> Hello, my name is Heather

20:32Armstrong.

20:33I live in ward two.

20:36I think this is a good decision

20:42to approve this parking lot

20:44across the street.

20:56It's too tiny where it's

20:58l ocated.

20:58They have to go across the

21:02street to where the school is

21:06the park.

21:08Thank you.

21:12>> Thank you.

21:14>> I'll move approval of item

21:1634, 34A and 34B.

21:20>> Second.

21:20>> It's been moved and seconded.

21:23Please vote.

21:26Sorry, did it too fast.

21:35>> Seven yes.

21:37>> Motion carries.

21:41Item 35.

21:43[agenda item read]

22:36

22:36Anyone wishing to speak?

22:40>> Seeing none.

22:41I'll move approval of 35, 35A

22:46and 35B.

22:46>> It's been moved and seconded.

22:50Please vote.

22:54>> Seven yes.

22:56>> Motion carries.

23:04Item 36.

23:08[agenda item read]

23:22>> Can I ask.

23:24Do we have to do this every

23:27y ear, Jonathan or do we have

23:30the piece of equipment that we

23:33need or we couldn't get it

23:34fixed?

23:35How does this work?

23:47I assume this is the piece of

23:49equipment that was broke.

23:51>> Mayor, Jonathan Gano, public

23:53works director.

23:55This is a piece of equipment

23:56needed to clean the cast in

23:59place drainage system for this

24:01particular bridge.

24:03Its partner on the other side,

24:07southeast ninth was rehab and

24:07these were replaced with

24:09r emovable part to access it.

24:11We expect that same thing to be

24:13done when southwest eighth is

24:15rehabbed.

24:15They are clogged now and we have

24:19drainage and ice on the bridge.

24:23We wanted to get this specialty

24:23piece of equipment while we

24:25still have this problem.

24:31>> Okay.

24:31Is that the only bridge that we

24:33have to use it on?

24:35>> Just this one.

24:38>> Okay.

24:39I'm happy to move 36.

24:42>> It's been moved and seconded.

24:46Please vote.

24:50>> Seven yes.

24:52>> Motion carries.

24:53That's end of our hearings at

24:585:16.

24:58The next item is 37.

25:02[agenda item read].

25:20Any discussion?

25:24>> I move approval of 37 and

25:283 7A.

25:28>> Been moved and seconded.

25:30Please vote.

25:34>> seven yes.

25:36>> motion carries.

25:37Next item is 38.

25:41[agenda item read]

26:19

26:24

26:50

26:50>> If there's in comments I'll

26:54move 38A and B, 1 and 2.

27:00C, D, E, 1-11 and waive second

27:02and third readings.

27:06>> Second.

27:06>> It's been moved and seconded.

27:08Please vote.

27:12>> Seven yes.

27:14>> Motion carries.

27:14Next item is 39.

27:20[agenda item read]

27:45Any discussion?

27:49[ indiscernible ]

27:51>> 39A, 39B, 39C.

27:55>> Second.

27:56>> It's been moved and seconded.

27:57Please vote.

28:01>> Seven yes.

28:05>> Motion carries.

28:05The next item is request to

28:09speak.

28:11We provide speakers public

28:13s peaking portion to address the

28:14council up to three minutes up

28:15to 20 speakers for a total of

28:17one hour agenda.

28:17Speakers will be called forward

28:19individually.

28:21We ask everyone to please state

28:21their name and address or ward

28:23prior to providing comments.

28:25Please keep comments germane and

28:27avoid references to

28:29p ersonalities and character

28:35attacks.

28:35As a reminder, this public

28:37s peaking time is to hear your

28:39comments.

28:39If there's a need to follow-up

28:41we will get to the appropriate

28:43staff or council to follow up at

28:45a time after the meeting.

28:47Our first speaker is Ed Fallon.

28:56>> Thank you, madam mayor.

28:59Ed Fallon, 735, 19th street

29:04ward three.

29:04You expect me to talk about

29:06f ood.

29:08Right.

29:08Wrong.

29:08Not strawberries not parking

29:12strips.

29:12The election.

29:16Is anybody concerned about what

29:18will not happen.

29:19But the threats that president

29:22made against our elections.

29:24Most of those have been shot

29:26down by the courts.

29:26He's made it clear as have

29:28o thers in his administration

29:30that sending federal agents to

29:32polling places is not off the

29:36table.

29:36That's something he's

29:38considering.

29:38I'm not cheer as to what the

29:40city council and our police

29:42department are prepared to do in

29:43response to that.

29:46Our police department is there

29:47to stop crime.

29:50If they do good job of that.

29:52What if that criminal is

29:54somebody from the federal

29:55government here and breaking the

29:58law.

29:58The law is very clear, federal

30:00agents are not to be at polling

30:03places except for unique

30:05circumstances.

30:06What if they are there and I or

30:07someone else call and say, we

30:09got a federal agent here.

30:11What are you going to do about

30:13it?

30:13This is a question.

30:15I don't expect an answer now.

30:17That's not the appropriate

30:17format.

30:19I would like to get an answer.

30:19I would like to know what the

30:23city leaders have been having in

30:23terms of conversations with the

30:25police department.

30:27What the police department

30:29response might be if and when

30:29people call and say, we've got

30:31an incident here involving

30:35federal law enforcement breaking

30:35the law.

30:37I like to know what the plan is

30:39for that?

30:39Des Moines is probably one of

30:41the primary targets.

30:45Obviously, the Trump

30:46Administration upset about

30:48so-called blue parts of the

30:51country.

30:51We are a blue dot in the I could

30:55call it, it's a purple state.

30:57I think if somebody is something

31:00will happen, this is a good

31:02example where it might happen.

31:04It might not happen on Election

31:06Day.

31:06It might be after the polls

31:10closed, then something might

31:12happen as we saw happen in

31:14Atlanta, Georgia.

31:14Also in the illegal activity

31:18where the federal government

31:20came in and stole voting

31:24machines in other stuff related

31:26to the last election.

31:26What is going to happen?

31:28That's my question.

31:30I love an answer.

31:30Thank you.

31:32>> Next person is Garry Rowlan.

32:01>> Talk about the budget.

32:09On September 18th of this

32:11y ear, KCCI reported on

32:15financial distress under SF2472.

32:19The decision to fly the city

32:23flag upside down.

32:25Republican Senator who was asked

32:29about this protest, responded --

32:33the city should be spending --

32:35doing better job with their

32:41finances.

32:41The current law allow cities to

32:43obtain consent of the people if

32:47they want more of their tax

32:51dollars.

32:58I spent a lot of quality time

33:00with Chat GPT.

33:02This is like I wanted to follow

33:06up on this.

33:06Told me that the Iowa code 38412

33:12section four allows simple

33:14majority vote to exceed levy

33:16limit for one budget year,

33:20S F2472 retain this option where

33:22it says, except for levies

33:24authorize in section 384.12.

33:30I e-mailed the city manager

33:32about a special levy.

33:38I can find my place here.

33:42First said the option had been

33:44eliminated.

33:44After I challenged that, he

33:48acknowledged the option said the

33:48council did not wish to pursue

33:50it.

33:51I do not recall any public

33:54discussion of a general fund

33:59levy.

34:00You may recall since this

34:01process started I pretty much

34:04been at every budget meeting.

34:07With special concern about the

34:11library.

34:13The council reluctantly approved

34:17FY28 cut to close the budget

34:19g ap.

34:20I heard all of you ring your

34:21hands about that.

34:25Expressed a deep concern pain.

34:27Those reductions included cut to

34:31public-facing services which

34:33were especially painful.

34:33They were presented as necessary

34:37because there was no other

34:41choice.

34:56But there was and still is

34:59another option voter approved

35:01levy deserves public evaluation.

35:04>> Thank you.

35:05That's your time.

35:16>> I move to receive and file

35:2040A and B.

35:22>> Second.

35:22>> It's been moved and seconded.

35:26Please vote.

35:40>> Mandelbaum.

35:44>> Motion carries.

35:44At this time,

35:46>> Motion to adjourn.

35:48>> Is there a second?

35:50All in favor.

35:52>> Aye.

35:52>> This meeting is adjourned.

35:59

36:15