Nickolas J. Schaul, Finance Director
City of Des Moines, Iowa
City of Des Moines, Iowa
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The City of Des Moines is taking another important step toward the 2026 move to its future home – T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building – the former Nationwide building at 1200 Locust Street.
Staff and consulting architects have been working to refine designs that will consolidate government operations and make the five-story building accessible, efficient and functional for employees and residents. The improvements identify plans for interior demolition that will occur this fall with renovation and construction scheduled for 2025. Residents can learn more about this stage of preparing the building in the recent City Facility Expansion Phase 1 Improvements presentation to the Des Moines City Council.
The improvement plans will drive renovations of 155,000 square feet of interior space on levels 1-5 of the eastern half of the H-shaped building with new public meeting spaces, a new Customer Service Hub and the integration of several administrative departments. Other benefits for residents will be the building’s connection to the Downtown Skywalk and the larger and more accessible City Council Chamber and facilities for other City boards and commissions.
When Phase I is complete, the renovated facility will accommodate new public meeting spaces and 10 City departments that are currently spread out between the Argonne Armory, City Hall, Polk County River Place, and Municipal Service Center (MSC1). The building is expected to house approximately 360 staff positions within the following departments:
Plans for the future relocation of the Police Department to the building’s western half of the building are targeted for Phase II with a timeline to be determined.
A key feature of the facility will be enhancing services for residents with the new Customer Service Hub that will consolidate eight transaction windows that are currently located in four different City buildings. Deputy City Manager Matt Anderson said the service hub concept will allow residents who need to purchase permits, licenses and other services, to perform those transactions at a one-stop-shop designed with service lobbies and kiosk counters.
"When people visit us in the future, they'll come to one place, and we'll have the staff here to help them through their process. We'll go from eight transaction windows to one centralized service area to make it easier and more efficient to do business with the City," Anderson said.
City Council approved the $30 million purchase price of the buildling in September of 2022 and authorized the feasibility study in December 2022. The purchase price for the 360,000-square-foot building came in at less than $90 per square-foot, well below the market rate for new construction of office space in Des Moines which is currently estimated between $300-400 per square-foot. Additionally, the $10.6 million purchase price of the 1200 Mulberry parking garage is below current cost estimates for similar new construction.
OPN Architects is the consulting firm on the design and renovation of the building, while McGough Construction is the construction manager.
Construction on the final segment of the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority's (WRA) Ingersoll Run Sewer Separation Project is underway and it will alter traffic flow in the western portion of Downtown Des Moines.
The project will eliminate a combined sanitary and stormwater sewer overflow, allowing the WRA to treat wastewater before discharging it into the Des Moines River. Previously, periods of heavy rainfall would overflow the combined sewer system which caused untreated wastewater to discharge into the river.
"This is the last of several EPA-mandated projects that aim to eliminate combined sewer overflows" said WRA Facilities Engineer Melissa Schlickbernd. "They are all a part of the WRA's mission to enhance water quality, protect our environment and improve public health."
Residents and visitors have already seen work being done around Western Gateway Park, with the installation of curb bump-outs at major intersections and sewer installation work beginning on 15th Street between Mulberry and Walnut Streets. Most intersections will remain open as the contractor plans to bore underneath them during sewer installation to eliminate the need for more closures.
"In an effort to reduce the impact to downtown travelers, the City of Des Moines has planned several road and traffic improvements to coincide with the WRA's sewer installation work," Schlickbernd said.
Sewer installation will continue north, with 15th Street closing between Walnut and Locust Street starting Monday, May 20. Work will progress west on Locust toward the Fleur Drive to Grand Avenue intersection, which is a major part of the City's traffic improvements for the project.
"Before West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway was constructed, the Fleur Drive Bridge was the main way to travel between the airport and downtown," said City Engineer Steven Naber. "Usage has dropped by over 82%, and with the WRA's project taking place, now is the time to reconfigure this obscure intersection and look at how we can make safety improvements for all travelers."
Starting June 3, the intersection of Fleur Drive, Locust Street, Grand Avenue and 18th Street will close as work begins to replace the area with green space. A multi-use trail will be added to add a needed connection between Ingersoll Avenue and the Meredith Trail.
"We've got a lot of pedestrians and cyclists around here along with Central Campus," Naber said. "These improvements are going to make it much safer for both trail users and motorists."
Grand Avenue and Locust Street will both be converted to two-way traffic from 18th to 15th Street and drivers will be able to utilize 15th and 17th Streets to move between the two major downtown roads.
With the closure of the 18th Street Intersection, traffic patterns will change during the construction phase of this project. It's important to note that the Fleur Drive Bridge is not closing permanently. During construction, traffic patterns on the bridge will be disrupted. When the project is complete, the bridge will reopen to two-way traffic.
West MLK Jr. Parkway, where Segment 1 of the Ingersoll Run Project was installed, is planned to be fully reopened by July 1 — nearly six months ahead of schedule — as the contractor completes reconstruction of the north lanes. West MLK offers travelers a major arterial roadway to access downtown during this next phase of construction.
Residents and visitors are asked to obey all traffic signs and use caution around construction sites. The latest road and trail closures can be found at DSM.city/Closures.
Those with questions regarding the sewer separation work can contact Melissa Schlickbernd at (515) 822-1506 or MDSchlickbernd@dmgov.org. Traffic improvement questions can be directed to Justin Miller at (515) 208-4933 or JWMiller@dmgov.org.
401 Robert D. Ray Drive may not stay an empty parking lot for long.
That’s because last night the Des Moines City Council took the first steps forward for a development proposal for the City-owned site at 401 Robert D. Ray Drive, adjacent to City Hall.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our city to transform an otherwise empty lot into a retail and residential hub that will add to the vibrancy of the East Village,” City of Des Moines Economic Development Coordinator Chandler Poole said. “This project will continue the momentum that is in progress with multiple projects currently under construction in the East Village."
The development partnership of Gold Cap Development, Sidekick Development and Wade Investments submitted the proposal that the City Council approved. The proposed five-story building could include a mixed-use project that will have ground floor commercial and retail space as well as up to 76 residential units.
“This project will provide a combination of high residential density and dynamic retail opportunities and breathe life into a space that has been a vacant concrete pad for years,” Poole said.
Following Monday’s City Council vote, City staff can begin the process to negotiate preliminary terms of an urban renewal development agreement with the Gold Cap, SideKick and Wade Investment teams. City staff will negotiate the number of affordable units and the rate of affordability as well as sustainability elements that will be incorporated into the building’s designs with the development team.
City Council will have opportunities to hear public comment and approve both preliminary terms and final terms at future council meetings.
As new mayors prepare to take the reins in city halls across the country, Connie Boesen took the oath of office tonight as the first woman to be elected as the mayor of Des Moines. Boesen, who previously served six years as an at-large member of the City Council and was a 14-year member of the Des Moines School Board, won the mayoral race in November and began her term on January 2, 2024.
Boesen was sworn in alongside re-elected At-Large Councilman Carl Voss, as well as Councilwoman Linda Westergaard who continues her representation of Ward 2, and Councilman Joe Gatto who represents Ward 4.
Boesen said she was honored and humbled by the trust and support of the residents of Des Moines, and has pledged to work hard to improve the City’s safety, economy, and neighborhoods. She also thanked her predecessor, Frank Cownie, for his leadership and service. Cownie did not seek re-election after serving as the mayor for 20 years.
“I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for the people of Des Moines,” Boesen said. “We have a lot of opportunities ahead of us to build on the progress we have made over the last several years, and I look forward to collaborating with the City Council, the City staff, and the community to make Des Moines an even greater place to live, work, and play.”
Some of Boesen’s top priorities as mayor include enhancing economic development and bringing new business and jobs to Des Moines, increasing mental health services, and strengthening neighborhood infrastructure. Mayor Boesen also plans to launch a series of listening sessions with community members throughout the city.
During the hottest year ever recorded worldwide, the Des Moines City Council is poised to make a major commitment to combat climate change after ADAPT DSM was presented to City Council this morning.
The Des Moines City Council will consider approving ADAPT DSM as the city’s new climate action and adaptation plan at one if its upcoming meetings. If adopted, the plan will implement specific actions to meet emissions and clean energy goals adopted unanimously by City Council in early 2021. ADAPT DSM creates a game plan for the next 25 years to help Des Moines reach its target of net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050 – a goal that was set by City Council unanimously in January 2021.
"Ultimately, the fight against climate change will be won on the local level, and this plan is crucial to building a more sustainable future for Des Moines,” Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said. “From the flash floods of 2018 to the derecho of 2020, we’ve seen the increasingly erratic weather and how prolonged climate change impacts can increase the severity of damage caused right here in our City. This plan provides a roadmap for Des Moines to combat climate pollution and prepare Des Moines to withstand the challenges climate change will bring."
The framework of ADAPT DSM used scientific modeling, expert guidance, and public input to identify and prioritize specific goals and milestones that will enable the City to accelerate progress towards net-zero emissions by the year 2050. The plan lists over 100 actions to help reach those goals over the next 27 years. In the short term, the plan highlights 35 priority actions to accomplish by 2035 to keep ADAPT DSM on track towards its climate change goals.
“These 35 actions represent our immediate areas of focus to begin the process of reducing our carbon emissions and addressing climate change,” Sustainability Program Manager Jeremy Caron said. “These high-impact priorities were selected because they are realistic measures we can take to make a real difference in reducing Des Moines’ carbon emissions and increasing our resilience to the impacts of climate change that are inevitable.”
The 35 priority actions are categorized into key sectors of contribution to the City’s climate goals:
The ADAPT DSM Plan was constructed over the past year with a series of public engagement events that generated over 400 survey responses and included participation of over 700 members of the community who helped form the goals, solutions and actions contained in ADAPT DSM.
“Community involvement is a key part of this plan,” Caron said. “The City of Des Moines is not going to solve climate change without coordinated efforts from our community partners, residents, and businesses rising to the challenge of fighting climate change.”
ADAPT DSM reflects the collective effort that climate action will take by encouraging community engagement, participation, and collaboration to drive the implementation of sustainable practices and policies. The plan emphasizes incentives for participation and progress, as well as equity in its actions and solutions, ensuring that the benefits of climate action are accessible to all residents, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
The plan will continue and shape existing city efforts to build environmentally friendly buildings, electrify the fleet of city vehicles, build out stormwater infrastructure and increase tree planting to grow the urban canopy.
“The launch of ADAPT DSM signifies Des Moines' dedication to remaining a leader in sustainability and climate resilience,” Cownie said. “By taking decisive action today, we’re generating a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow for everyone.”
On Monday, October 23, the City of Des Moines City Council approved plans to reconstruct the 2nd Avenue Corridor. Totaling $17.5 million, the project includes installing a new storm sewer along the west side of 2nd Avenue as part of the River Bend and King Irving Sewer Separation project.
This project is the second phase of reconstructing the 2nd Avenue Corridor. Birdland Drive and the Birdland Drive Bridge were replaced last year, and the Second Avenue Bridge was also rehabilitated.
The project approved on Monday includes:
This project will begin in 2024 and is anticipated to be completed by 2026. Utility relocation work will begin this fall. Construction will be staged to keep one traffic lane open in each direction through the majority of the project.
Second Avenue will be closed at W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway starting Sunday, August 27 at 7 p.m. as the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) continues work on its EPA-mandated Ingersoll Run Sewer Separation Project.
The closure is expected to last three to four months but will be dependent on the completion of a required archeological study of the area.
"Because this area is historically significant, it is required that we allow the archeological team to finish their work before we begin any construction," said WRA Facilities Engineer Melissa Schlickbernd.
The area near Principal Park was the location of Fort Des Moines (the second of three military installations sharing the name) in the 1840s. The City of Des Moines was later established near this site at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
The planned closure is happening ahead of schedule as contractors have completed much of their work in the western third of the project and are already paving 16th through 11th Streets.
Schlickbernd said that the WRA has been preparing for the closure of 2nd Avenue since this segment of the project began in April. This will be the most significant traffic impact since the lane reduction of W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway occurred at the beginning of the project in April.
Residents traveling into Downtown via SW 2nd Street will be diverted west at W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway where they can either utilize SW 5th or SW 7th Street to head north into downtown.
"The WRA is grateful to residents for their cooperation with the traffic changes that have occurred as a result of this project," said Schlickbernd, "Their patience is essential to the completion of this work which will result in cleaner water for all of us."
Details of the Ingersoll Run Project can be found on the WRA Website and all three segments of the project can be viewed on the City's Engineering project map at DSM.City/ProjectMap. Updates will continue to be provided publicly throughout the duration of the project.
Five years ago today, Des Moines experienced severe flash flooding as thunderstorms dropping heavy rain stalled over the City. Since that night, the City has spent over $60 million on major stormwater projects to increase the capacity and resiliency of the stormwater system throughout Des Moines.
That night five years ago, vehicles were swept away, homes were damaged and one resident lost their life when eight inches of rain overwhelmed creeks and streams in northern Polk County.
"The flood response had showed us exactly where there were problems in our storm sewer system," said Gano. "In the aftermath, City Council had asked City staff to accelerate stormwater infrastructure improvements and that’s been a key focus for our department over the past five years. We're working to make sure our infrastructure can withstand high intensity rain better with each project we complete."
In addition to resident assistance and cleanup, the City held a meeting to create an after-action flood report. This resulted in the recommendation of City-wide stormwater master planning going forward to address shortfalls in the stormwater system.
A consultant was hired to help support development of the Stormwater Master Plan which is being finalized with extensive inspection, repair and replacement programs.
"Stormwater is something that most people don't think about until it's actually impacting them," said Clean Water Administrator Patrick Beane, "City Council and staff wants to make sure that we are minimizing the chances of that happening in the future by completing these projects in a timely manner."
The City has spent $38 million on stormwater improvements in the Closes Creek watershed and in the Highland Park neighborhood with the Hamilton Drain project. Another $10 million is planned for the remaining phases of each project.
Since 2018, the City has also spent $12.7 million on property buyouts, primarily on homes in the Fourmile Creek watershed, to reduce the risk of flood damage to residents.
City Council has approved $8 million for stormwater improvements in the five-year Capital Improvements Program to start, but Beane says more will be needed.
"We're doing our very best to understand the more frequent, intense rainstorms that are coming and working on figuring out how to mitigate that when it happens to reduce impacts in the future," Beane said.
Residents who would like to be a part of the planning process by joining the Stormwater Advisory Committee can email the Clean Water team at stormwater@dmgov.org, or call 515-323-8165.
To learn more about programs and incentives for stormwater management, visit DSM.city/Stormwater.
DES MOINES, IOWA — Tuesday, September 21, 2021 — It’s been three years since a torrential downpour brought a raging river of water through Beaverdale basements and backyards and now, something completely different is changing the landscape of the northwest Des Moines neighborhood.
"In 2018, I had the second major flooding of my basement, five feet of water and I lost everything” Des Moines Resident and neighbor of the project Gloria Hoffman said. “That’s why this project is so valuable to the whole community."
With nearly $6 million in funding from the Local Option Sales Tax and the Stormwater Utility Fee, the Closes Creek Phase 2B project has cut a massive scar into the earth behind the houses near 41st St. and College Ave. to create a basin capable of storing more water than 5 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“Putting in basins like this allows the City to slow down that water during those bigger storm events,” Des Moines Clean Water Administrator Patrick Beane said. “It’s not going to store it permanently, but capture it and store it for a short period of time and slowly release it as storms come and go.”
Work on this phase of the project is expected to wrap up this year providing a sizable, above-ground detention basin for stormwater that will greatly reduce flash flooding both in this area of northwest Des Moines and further on downstream.
Click here for more information on Storm Sewer improvements in the Closes Creek watershed.
The Scott Avenue Bridge is part of the $22 million Bridges to Opportunity project focused on rehabilitating four bridges that cross the rivers in downtown Des Moines. Under rehabilitation since April 2020, the Scott Avenue Bridge is now open for traffic.
Since the April 1 closure, the Scott Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation included:
The Walnut Street Bridge over the Des Moines River will be the next bridge downtown to undergo work. The Walnut Street Bridge is planned for full replacement with construction anticipated to start in 2022 and be completed in 2024.
Visit the Projects and Capital Improvement Program map to learn more about this project and work taking place across the City at DSM.city/projects.
DES MOINES, IOWA — Monday, June 7, 2021 — On the outskirts of Des Moines, along East Army Post Road, Public Works crews were hard at work last week installing a state-of-the-art bioreactor that will improve water quality in the Easter Lake Watershed. The bioreactor was installed by members of the Sewer Operations Division who have now installed four similar projects throughout the City of Des Moines.
"Des Moines isn’t full of wide-open spaces where we can implement infrastructure to improve the water quality in our watersheds,” Public Works Director Jonathan Gano said. “That’s why we have to get creative in finding ways we can address water quality before it gets into our lakes, streams and recreational waterways. These partnerships with local farmers go a long way to helping us achieve our water quality goals."
The Easter Lake Watershed has undergone significant improvements over the last 5 years, with the City’s “Restoring Easter Lake” initiative winning the 2021 National Environmental Achievement Award (NEAA) in the Watershed Collaboration Category.
“This newest project is a lot more than a standalone project,” Clean Water Administrator Patrick Beane said. “It fits into our comprehensive plans to reach our water quality and stormwater runoff goals throughout the entire City, and pushes those efforts forward.”
The completed bioreactor came together like this – crews connected to existing farm tiles and dug a 10-foot by 50-foot pit that was filled with woodchips. The buried woodchips contain a bacteria that converts nitrates from the field runoff into harmless gas that is released into the atmosphere, greatly reducing the amount of nitrates left in the water when it reaches Easter Lake.
“Despite being a relatively simple project, this is a measure that we know will make a difference in the water quality of this area,” Beane said. “Partnerships like this are necessary as we continue to find ways to make a difference in the water quality in our City.”
Des Moines homeowners can also participate in the Stormwater Best Management Practices Rebates Program – residents are eligible for $2,000 in rebates for qualifying stormwater upgrades to their property. To learn more about this program, what work qualifies and how to apply, visit DSM.city/swbmp.
DES MOINES, IOWA — Wednesday, April 14, 2021 — The future of Des Moines’s Public Works Department and Fleet Services is taking shape on the City’s southside. Construction of the Municipal Services Center (MSC) II began in late 2020 and despite the coronavirus pandemic, is progressing on schedule.
“We’ve completed a majority of the grading and site work as well as installation of underground utilities. A significant portion of the precast concrete walls have been erected along with adjacent interior walls,” said Jim Hoff, manager of the City’s facilities division. “Fortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t affected construction but we are continuing to monitor material supplies and cost.”
In addition to Public Works and Fleet Services, the 260,000-sq. ft. structure will house the Solid Waste Department and Radio Services. The project is estimated at $45 million and will replace the City’s aging facilities south of East Market Street between Southeast 4th and 5th Streets.
"Our current facilities are old and outdated and were never built for the purpose they’re now serving. MSC II will allow us to be more efficient and cost-effective in our operations which is a benefit to residents,” Hoff said. “In addition, vacating our present location will open up significant development in the proposed Market District."
Hoff adds that MSC II will incorporate energy efficient systems to lower operational costs and that the City is seeking a LEED gold certification as a “green” building. The facility should be completed in late May 2022.
DES MOINES, IOWA – Monday, March 22, 2021 – Touted as a transformational project for the Des Moines and central Iowa, City Council members tonight unanimously approved the adoption of the Birdland Park and Mariana Master Plan.
The $54 million multi-phased project includes:
“What we really hope to do with this project is improve the connection between the marina and the Union Park neighborhood and make it easier for all residents to share the river,” said Mayor Frank Cownie.
Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page said the area would become another ‘crown jewel’ in the City’s park system.
“It will bring every type of recreational use to one spot, I can’t think of one other park that will have all the things that this park will have,” he said.
Ward II Councilwoman Linda Westergaard represents the Birdland areas and was instrumental in moving the plan forward.
“It is just another step in the process of making Des Moines better every single day,” she said. “It will reenergize our entire community.”
For more details and videos of the Birdland Park and Marina Master Plan, visit DSM.city/birdlandplan.
DES MOINES, IOWA – Thursday, March 11, 2021 – Fleur Drive has seen its fair share of construction work throughout the years, and the City of Des Moines is moving forward with new fixes that will last longer. When completed, this $20 million project will completely reshape one of the most heavily used corridors in the City.
Fleur Drive carries approximately 30,000 vehicles per day. With the heavy traffic and age of the road, resurfacing is no longer a viable option for repairs. The current plan, staged in three separate phases, will completely reconstruct the roads, add sidewalks along both sides to improve pedestrian access, and replace storm sewer and water main facilities to address flooding in the area.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience during construction on Fleur Drive,” City Engineer Steve Naber said. “This is a very important corridor to our City. Doing a full reconstruction ensures Fleur Drive will be more accessible and sustain a long life going forward.”
This reconstruction project is planned over five years. With Phase 1 of the project already completed, the two other phases follow this timeline:
