Des Moines, IA

City Council Work Session

The Des Moines Mayor and City Council are holding a work session on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM at the Invest DSM office, 525 SW 5th Street, Suite F. The only listed agenda item is a neighborhood bus tour. Upcoming topics noted are a My DSM rebranding and a budget update, but no action items or votes are listed.

• Work session only; no ordinances, contracts, or votes listed
• Neighborhood bus tour is the sole agenda item
• Upcoming topics: My DSM rebranding
• Upcoming topics: budget update
• Meeting held at Invest DSM, 525 SW 5th Street, Suite F

Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board Meeting

The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board meets Monday, October 5, 2026, at 4:55 PM in City Council Chambers, 1200 Locust Street. The board will consider approving 2027 Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Emergency Housing Voucher payment standards based on HUD's published Small Area Fair Market Rents, and will vote on submitting a Family Self Sufficiency Program Coordinators grant application to HUD. It will also consider authorizing up to $300,000 from administrative fee reserves to cover a projected December 2026 shortfall in Housing Assistance Payments if needed.

• Approval of DMMHA Payment Standards for Section 8 HCV and EHV programs after review of HUD's 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents
• Authorization to submit a Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program Coordinators grant application to HUD
• Up to $300,000 from administrative fee reserves to fund a projected December 2026 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) shortfall if necessary
• Meeting held at City Hall, City Council Chambers, 1200 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Regular City Council Meeting

The Des Moines City Council meets Monday, October 5, 2026, with a 3:30 PM closed session on litigation and a personnel matter, followed by the 5:00 PM open meeting. Most items are on a consent agenda approved by a single vote, including liquor and tobacco permits, construction contracts, tax abatements, and purchases. Public hearings cover several rezonings, property vacations, and a $739,690 sewer repair contract, and the council will direct the sale of $56,940,000 in General Obligation Bonds and $6,400,000 in Taxable General Obligation Bonds.

• Directing sale of $56,940,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026A, and $6,400,000 Taxable GO Bonds, Series 2026B, to be sold October 21, 2026
• Public hearing on 2026 Sewer Repair Contract 2 with TK Concrete, Inc. at $739,690
• Rezoning request at 2100 E. Army Post Road from NX2 to EX Mixed-Use for an Industrial Service – Light use
• Rezoning request in the vicinity of 1210 Army Post Road from MX3 to CX Mixed-Use to allow a warehouse use
• Purchase of a sewer televising vehicle from Armor Equipment Co. Inc. for $430,193.92

Special City Council Meeting - Amended

This is a special City Council meeting with a short agenda. The council will take roll call, approve the agenda, and vote on a 5-day Special Class C Liquor License (Beer/Wine) for Excell Brands at 5501 Park Avenue for a 35th Anniversary Celebration on October 3, 2026. The meeting is expected to adjourn after this item.

• Approving 5-day Special Class C Liquor License (Beer/Wine) for Excell Brands at 5501 Park Avenue for October 3, 2026 event

City Council Work Session - ISDF CANCELLED

The Des Moines City Council is holding a work session to discuss the current state of the Pro Iowa Soccer project with the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation, United Soccer League, and Krause Group. This is a discussion item only, with no formal votes or decisions scheduled on the agenda.

• Discussion on the current state of Pro Iowa Soccer with ISDF, USL, and Krause Group

Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board Meeting

The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board will consider two property actions: releasing a forgivable mortgage for a homeownership program participant and conveying city-owned property for another homeownership program. The agenda is otherwise procedural, with roll call, agenda approval, and adjournment.

• Release of forgivable mortgage for Tyler W. Roach, 304 E. Diehl Avenue, 5(h) Affordable Homeownership Program
• Conveyance of city-owned property at 106 Astor Street, Section 32 Homeownership Program

The Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board met on September 14, 2026. The Board approved the release of a forgivable mortgage for a property on E. Diehl Avenue and authorized the conveyance of City-owned property at 106 Astor Street.

• Approved meeting agenda (7-0)
• Authorized release of forgivable mortgage for 304 E. Diehl Avenue (7-0)
• Approved conveyance of 106 Astor Street property (7-0)

City Council Work Session

This is a work session agenda with three discussion items: an update on the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, skywalk signage, and upcoming topics including an Invest DSM bus tour and My DSM rebranding. No formal votes or decisions are listed; the meeting is for discussion only.

• Neighborhood Finance Corporation update
• Skywalk signage discussion
• Invest DSM bus tour (upcoming topic)
• My DSM rebranding (upcoming topic)

Regular City Council Meeting AMENDED

The Des Moines City Council will vote on a consent agenda covering routine licenses, permits, and contracts, plus hold public hearings on issuing up to $42 million in general obligation bonds and several urban renewal bonds. The council will also consider development agreements for a four-story office building at 401 Robert D. Ray Drive and a mixed-use project near Drake University, along with rezoning requests and a roundabout project.

• Issue up to $42,000,000 General Obligation Bonds for Essential Corporate Purposes
• Urban Renewal Development Agreement with Heart of America Group for office building at 401 Robert D. Ray Drive
• Urban Renewal Development Agreement with SEDU, LLC for 121 residential units and 5,700 sq ft commercial space near Drake University
• Rezone 2100 E. Army Post Road from NX2 to EX for industrial service use
• Construct E. Army Post Road and Three Lakes Parkway Roundabout

The City Council approved several bond issuances, including up to $42 million for essential corporate purposes. The Council also authorized various public improvement projects, liquor licenses, and urban renewal agreements.

• Approved $42M in General Obligation Bonds or Capital Loan Notes (7-0)
• Approved $18M in Urban Renewal Bonds or Capital Loan Notes (7-0)
• Authorized agreement with Department of the Army for Des Moines River Flood Protection Project (7-0)
• Accepted IEDA grant for Birdland Park – Phase 1A Improvements (7-0)
• Approved conveyance of 401 Robert D. Ray Drive to Heart of America Group for $1,000,000 (7-0)
• Approved multiple alcoholic beverage license applications and renewals (7-0)
• Approved expansion of Cheatom Park Neighborhood boundaries (7-0)
• Approved appointment of Breann Bye to 6th Avenue Corridor, Inc. Board (7-0)

Budget Work Session

The Des Moines City Council is holding a work session to review the City Manager's budget recommendations for fiscal year ending 2028 (FYE28). The agenda also lists upcoming topics including skywalk signage, a Neighborhood Finance Corporation update, and an Invest DSM bus tour, but no decisions are scheduled.

• FYE28 City Manager Budget Recommendations
• Skywalk Signage (upcoming topic)
• Neighborhood Finance Corporation Update (upcoming topic)
• Invest DSM Bus Tour (upcoming topic)

The Mayor and City Council held a work session to discuss the City Manager's FYE28 budget recommendations. No formal decisions were made; the item was presented and discussed only.

Regular City Council Meeting Amended

The Des Moines City Council will hold public hearings and votes on two rezoning requests, including a Habitat for Humanity project at 6100 Hickman Road to build about 22 row homes, which also involves creating an urban renewal area and TIF district. The council will also consider a request to rezone 4027 SW 56th Street for a single-family home. The consent agenda includes numerous routine items such as liquor licenses, contracts, and bond issuance hearings.

• Rezoning 6100 Hickman Road to allow 22 dwelling units and creation of TIF district
• Rezoning 4027 SW 56th Street from EX to N2b for one-household dwelling
• Hearings on up to $42M GO bonds and $18M urban renewal bonds
• Contract with T-Mobile for citywide cellular services, estimated $350,000 annually
• Acceptance of $191,757 JAG grant for law enforcement equipment

The Des Moines City Council approved a rezoning request from Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity to allow construction of approximately 22 row home dwelling units at 6100 Hickman Road, along with an urban renewal plan and TIF district for the site. The council also approved a separate rezoning at 4027 SW 56th Street to allow reconstruction of a single-family home. All votes were 7-0.

• Approved rezoning 6100 Hickman Road from N3b to RX1 for 22 row homes (7-0)
• Approved urban renewal plan and TIF district for 6100 Hickman Road (7-0)
• Approved rezoning 4027 SW 56th Street from EX to N2b for single-family home (7-0)
• Approved $77,400 contract for Greenwood Park Pond Bridge (7-0)
• Approved $44,000 contract for Tim Lane Trail Stop shelter (7-0)
• Approved $112,269 change order for parking garage repairs (7-0)
• Approved $191,757 JAG grant for law enforcement equipment (7-0)
• Approved $350,000 annual T-Mobile cellular contract (7-0)

Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board Meeting

The Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board is meeting to consider two action items: approving the submission of its 2026 Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification to HUD, and approving the removal of the property at 1248 McCormick from its approved Disposition Application. The board will also take roll call, approve the agenda, and adjourn.

• Approve 2026 SEMAP certification submittal to HUD
• Approve removal of 1248 McCormick from Disposition Application
• Roll call and agenda approval
• Motion to adjourn