Spring events, traffic cams, City Manager recruitment, levy lid lift & more discussed at Thursday night’s Des Moines City Council

The Des Moines City Council had a packed agenda at its Thursday, April 25, 2024 meeting.

• Spring events like the Waterland Wine & Art Walk and the South Sound Opening Day of Boating were announced.
• Residents aired concerns about park safety and potential tax hikes.
• The activation of speed cameras on Redondo Beach Drive was discussed, along with the rejection of a hefty bid for the Redondo fishing pier project.
• The most contentious issue, however, was the levy lid lift. Facing a looming police officer shortage, the council will ask voters to approve a property tax increase on both the August and November ballots. While some councilmembers saw this as essential for public safety, others questioned the clarity of the message and the need for a double ballot measure.

Spring Events

Saturday May 11 is the Waterland Wine & Art Walk in the Des Moines Marina District. More information can be found here. According to Deputy Mayor Harry Steinmetz, ten different business locations will be participating, including the theater, which will have live music, wine, and art.

In addition, that same weekend marks the South Sound Opening Day of Boating at the Des Moines Yacht Club. The opening day ceremony is open to the public, and more information is available here. According to a proclamation in recognition of opening day, the Des Moines Yacht Club has gathered people from neighboring yacht clubs to host this ceremony annually for over 50 years.