Your Direct Link To City Hall
THIS ISSUE
Municipal Service Center Opens . . . . 2
DMTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Rent An Event Space . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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PLOWS ARE COMING!
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‘Des Moines Public Works’
Twitter: Follow us @dmdpw
Call:
Public Works 24-Hour at
515-283-4950
Fall 2014 Edition
New Leadership for City Administration
The Des Moines City Council appointed Scott Sanders as the
new City Manager in September and a new era of leadership for
the city administration has begun. Sanders, age 43, joined the
City of Des Moines in 2011 as Finance Director and most recently
served as Assistant City Manager. He has a strong background
in city management with an emphasis on finance, budgets and
administration. He has experience working with the Iowa Legislature
and is familiar with the city and its neighborhoods.
Sanders says his first order of business is to work closely with the
Scott Sanders
Mayor and Council to develop a strategic plan for service delivery
DSM City Manager and setting goals for the future. He is leading the process for
developing the City’s two-year budget plan for fiscal year 2015-2016;
an area Scott knows well. As City Manager he is also charged with filling five department
head vacancies created by recent retirements and employee career advancements. Within
the next 12 months he must hire a new Police Chief, Public Works Director, Finance Director,
(Continued on page 4)
WRA Director and a Deputy City Manager.
Growth
In All Directions
DMTV 7 IS ONLINE!
WATCH
LIVE
Smartphones
Tablets
Laptops
Desktops
dmtv-live.dmgov.org
www.dmgov.org
Cable Channel 7
Left: View from Warren County
looking north to downtown.
Above: Echo Vally development
in Warren County.
Opportunities for new economic investment exist throughout Des Moines and
city leaders are working to expand the
momentum of downtown development
into neighborhoods. On the horizon is
new growth and investment in the city’s
south and eastern annexed areas along
the US 65-Iowa 5 Highway corridor, which
expands the city into Warren County.
Strategic policy decisions over the last
20 years provided Des Moines with the
ability to plan for new development along
this regional transportation corridor. These
areas were targeted to ensure that the city
had adequate ability for planned growth and
expansion over the next 30+ years. New
(Continued on page 3)
Council
Meeting Dates
Mondays at 4:30 p.m.
Mayor T. M. Franklin Cownie
[email protected]
515-283-4944
At Large, Chris Coleman
[email protected]
515-237-1622
At Large, Skip Moore
[email protected]
515-681-9804
Ward 1, Bill Gray
[email protected]
515-237-1623
Ward 2, Bob Mahaffey
[email protected]
515-237-1624
Ward 3, Christine Hensley
[email protected]
515-237-1625
December 8, 2014
December 22, 2014
January 12, 2015
January 26, 2015
Ward 4, Joe Gatto
[email protected]
515-237-1626
Richard A. Clark
Municipal Service Center
The City of Des Moines’ new Municipal Service Center (MSC) located at 1551 East Martin
Luther King Jr. Parkway officially opened for business in late October. This 112,000 square
foot building improves efficiency in delivering municipal services by bringing together the Park
and Recreation Department staff under one roof, along with the Traffic and Transportation
Division. The new facility also includes space for the city’s outdated materials testing lab and
the survey division of the Engineering Department.
The MSC facility has been officially named the Richard A. Clark Municipal Service Center
in honor of the former city manager who retired after a 41 year career with the City. The new
MSC is Phase 1 of a master plan developed to create greater efficiency by consolidating
staffs and reducing the number of city owned buildings and their associated costs.
The City is currently pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certification for the MSC. It is equipped with sustainability features such as a 2,000 gallon
tank that captures rain water from the roof to water the landscaping. The LED lighting
throughout the facility is the most energy efficient available. Daylight fills about 80% of the
regularly occupied spaces and occupancy sensors reduce the use of electrical lighting. The
heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system has the lowest life cycle cost and lowest
CO2 emissions when compared to geothermal systems. There is also a solar thermal hot
water system to assist the boiler for in floor radiant heat and hot water needs of the employee
locker rooms.
City leaders hope that this new, attractive building will help stimulate development along
the Southeast Connector/M.L. King Jr. Parkway.
page 2
Frequently Called Numbers
Animal Control.................................... 283-4811
Animal License...................................283-4209
Birth Certificates.................................286-3781
Building Permits..................................283-4200
Bus Schedules....................................283-8100
Cemeteries.........................................248-6320
City Assessor......................................286-3141
City Clerk............................................283-4209
Clerk of Court.....................................286-3772
Community Action Agency..................248-6216
Consumer Protection..........................281-5926
DM Human Rights Commission.........283-4284
DM Waterworks..................................283-8700
Driver’s License Info...........................244-1052
Election Office....................................286-3247
First Call for Help ...............................246-6555
Forestry..............................................283-4950
Garbage Collection.............................283-4950
Graffiti Removal..................................248-6350
Information Center (City Hall).............283-4500
Library Information..............................283-4152
Mayor & Council Office.......................283-4944
Neighborhood Complaints .................283-4046
Park & Recreation Info.......................237-1386
Parking Tickets...................................283-4125
Police (non-emergency)..................... 283-4811
Polk County Information.....................286-3000
Potholes..............................................283-4950
Property Tax.......................................286-3060
Social Services Referral Info....................... 211
State of Iowa Information.................... 281-5011
Street Maintenance............................283-4950
Tax Abatement....................................283-4751
Underground Lines......................800-292-8989
Vehicle Registration............................286-3030
Virtual Librarian (renew books)...........283-4000
Visitor Information at CVB..................286-4960
Weed Commission ............................286-3005
Zoo (Blank Park).................................285-4722
Website: www.dmgov.org
DMTV on MediaCom Cable 7.1 and 7.2
City Hall
400 Robert D. Ray Drive
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
515-283-4500
Email: [email protected]
City Manager’s Office
Phone: 515-283-4141
[email protected]
Fax: 515-237-1300
Editorial Board – [email protected]
Amelia Hamilton Morris Editor
Shekinah Young
PIO
Jan Kaiser
Library
Diane Rauh
City Clerk
Jennifer Fletcher
Parks & Rec
Laura Graham
CMO
Brian O’Keefe
Fire Department
Melissa Rezab
Public Works
Sgt. Jason Halifax
Police Department
Watch DMTV Channel 7
DMTV Channel 7 on Smart Phones and Tablets
Anyone with access to the internet can
watch the City of Des Moines cable channel,
DMTV 7 on their smart phones, tablets and
computers, 24/7. The link to the channel’s
new live stream is dmtv-live.dmgov.org.
Save it in your bookmarks or favorites.
Look for it on City’s webpage; www.dmgov.
org, scroll down to the DMTV-7 icon, then
click on the link for “DMTV Live”. Plus the
channel is on Roku®, the streaming internetvideo player; look under the “PEG TV”
section for City of Des Moines.
“Online viewing of the channel is a very
popular feature”; said Amelia HamiltonMorris, Chief Communications Officer,
who manages the channel and the Public
Information Office. “I received a number of
telephone calls during the channel rebuild
process from residents asking when the
channel would be back online, especially
during City Council meeting broadcasts,”
said Hamilton-Morris. The rebuild to upgrade
DMTV’s technology began in February and
was completed in late summer. The goal
was to replace the original system installed
in 1999 with current technology that
offers future capabilities and to make the
government channel accessible to as many
people as possible.
There is a new look and feel to the
online appearance. The live stream is in
HD and can adapt to meet the streaming
requirements of various devices. The
system moved from tape to all digital files
(Des Moines Expansion continued from page 1)
Residents are very proud of the
recognitions and awards received
by the City of Des Moines. At the
DSMove Open Street Project event
in September citizens took pictures
of the City’s award banner to share
with friends on social media.
www.dmgov.org
taxable valuation will assist in providing
services and improving the local economy.
In the best scenario, these planned growth
areas will see new development in business,
retail services and housing that will in turn
spark activity along SW 9th Street, SE 14th
Street, SE Vandalia Road, East University
and NE Hubbell Avenue.
The US 65-Iowa 5 Highway corridor
provides optimum locations for new
economic investment from the southwest
city limits to the northeast city limits.
Partnerships with the Warren County
Economic Development Corporation,
Eastern Polk Regional Development and
neighboring cities have led to regional
marketing efforts designed to bring national
attention from site selectors looking for
great visibility, transportation connectivity
and infrastructure.
Development planned or under
consideration includes the Echo Valley
community located south of US 65-Iowa
5 with executive level and single-family
homes; multi-family units and commercial
for recording, editing and broadcasting.
It has new servers and cloud-based storage.
DMTV has added new video partners;
look for Community TV (CTV) segments
every day at 6AM, 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM;
6:30 PM and 10:30 PM; except during live
public meeting broadcasts. Videos are from
the Science Center, Blank Park Zoo, Des
Moines Performing Arts, Convention and
Visitors Bureau, Polk County Conservation
and other local family-friendly attractions.
The VOD (video on demand) feature on
the DMTV web page offers 2014 public
meetings; you will find them under the
“Playlist” tab along with department news
updates, City Spotlight with Mayor Cownie
and other popular programs.
DMTV is available in SD and HD on the
Mediacom Cable lineup in the basic tier of
service on channels 7.1 and 7.2 depending
on the type of TV (box or flat screen) and
the type of service a customer has with
Mediacom. Some viewers may have to
rescan their TV channels to view 7.1 and 7.2.
development. The Des Moines International
Airport expansion is sparking investment in
business parks bordering Fleur Drive and
the airport, while Southridge Mall has been
entirely reinvented.
Industrial investment is growing along the
planned SE Connector from US 65 to SE
15th Street and along Vandalia Road to the
SE Agrimergent Business Park. There are
opportunities for gateway enhancements
and new business along East University,
which carries significant traffic from US
65 through the city of Pleasant Hill to
Des Moines. The NE Hubbell corridor
area provides a direct connection to US
65, and can open up business and retail
development sites for new Des Moines
investment west of the city of Altoona.
The connections from the US 65 - Iowa
5 Highway corridor provide the critical
components essential for south, southeast
and eastern economic development.
This area has access, high traffic counts
important to retail investors, and existing
core neighborhoods of patrons combined
with new population growth which will attract
new businesses and services.
page 3
Interim Police Chief
Police Major Douglas B. Harvey
has been selected to serve as the
Interim Police Chief for the City
of Des Moines. Major Harvey will
lead the Police Department until a
replacement is hired for former Police
Chief Judy Bradshaw, who retired
in October. Major Harvey has a 37
year career with the Des Moines
Police Department (DMPD) beginning
as a police cadet in 1977 and has
progressed through the ranks.
Major Douglas B. Harvey
During his tenure with the DMPD,
Interim DSM Police Chief
Harvey has managed various units
and projects including the $2.3 million
addition to the police station. He is a police department Medal of
Valor recipient and has served on the Urban Dreams Board. Harvey
is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior
Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at Harvard University.
Over the next several months the City of Des Moines will be
conducting a national search for its next police chief. Meanwhile, City
Manager Scott Sanders has expressed his complete confidence in
Major Harvey’s abilities to lead the Police Department in protecting
our citizens.
Des Moines Welcomes
Green Iowa AmeriCorps
The City of Des Moines is excited to host five Green Iowa
AmeriCorps members from September 2014 to August 2015. The
primary objective of Green Iowa AmeriCorps is to assess and
weatherize Des Moines homes to make them more energy efficient.
The Green Iowa team will perform Home Energy Assessments at no
cost to the homeowner. Weatherization can be done on all assessed
homes for free or at a low cost. All supplies and services are free for
low-income, veteran, elderly, or disabled citizens of Des Moines.
To schedule a home assessment or for information on education
opportunities, please contact Green Iowa AmeriCorps at 515-2486378 or via email at [email protected].
(New Leadership continued from page 1)
“I am continuing to meet with each department director, getting
a more detailed view of their equipment and staffing needs and
any challenges they face. I’m also reviewing employee training
assessments and department succession plans. All this helps shape
the strategies for the city’s future,” said Sanders.
“Des Moines is a fabulous community with a high quality of life
and great public amenities. We have gained national recognition
by working hard and taking innovative and new approaches to
better our community. Downtown Des Moines development has
transformed the skyline and the landscape and we can all be proud
page 4
When Traveling It’s Better
To Be Safe Than Sorry!
With the increase in passengers and
flights at DSM International Airport,
there may be a longer wait at checkin and in TSA screening lines. A few precautions and a little
planning will make traveling more enjoyable!
1. Arrive early! Airlines recommend 1½ - 2 hours before your
flight is scheduled to leave. Visit a restaurant or gift shop or
enjoy a good book while you wait!
2. Baggage Rules - Check with your airline. Each airline has
its own rules and regulations when it comes to baggage –
both checked and carry-on. Extra fees may be charged due
to extra weight or size of bags.
3. Save some money. - Print your boarding pass (ticket) at
home or save it on your smart phone. Many airlines are now
charging extra to print one at the airport.
4. Always pack medications and valuables in your carryon bag! Place medications in one quart clear plastic bag.
Follow TSA’s 3-1-1 regulations – Place 3 oz containers in 1
clear, 1-quart plastic bag for toiletries. Visit www.tsa.gov for
more information.
5. Inclement weather may cause delays. It may be sunny in
Des Moines, but a blizzard is raging on the east coast. Visit http://
www.dsmairport.com for flight information and delays. Contact
your airline directly regarding cancelled and delayed flights.
Pre-Check: The Fast-Lane At DSM Airport
Travelers can now sign up in Des Moines
for Pre-Check, the fast-lane program that allows fliers to
keep on their shoes and belts while passing through airport
security. Enroll before your flight. The Transportation Security
Administration Pre-Check Enrollment Center is located at:
TSA Enrollment Center
1233 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265-2623
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
of central Iowa’s urban center. I am researching options to broaden
development and spur revitalization efforts in our neighborhoods
with thoughtful input from our citizens,” he added.
Scott Sanders is a Council Bluff native. He has a Bachelor of
Science degree in Computer Science from Iowa State University
and a Master of Community and Regional Planning degree also
from Iowa State. He has worked as a Senior Managing Consultant
at Public Financial Management; as the Finance Director for the City
of Council Bluffs; Assistant City Manager and Finance Director for
the City of West Des Moines. Scott also served in the Iowa National
Guard. He is married with two children.
Watch DMTV Channel 7
Snow Removal Reminders
• Parking is restricted on residential streets
after the snow ends until they are plowed
curb to curb. The cost of a ticket is $35.
•Property owners must remove snow
and ice from sidewalks within 48 hours
following the end of a snowfall. The cost
of a ticket is $50 for a first offense.
•Snow from driveways and parking lots
may not be placed on the public right of
way. The cost of a ticket is $100 for a first
offense.
Solid Waste Holiday Tree Collection
Holiday trees will be collected curbside
on your regular solid waste collection day.
Compost It® stickers are available at metro
area Hy-Vee and Dahl’s stores for $1.20 per
sticker.
Holiday Recycling TIPS
• Wrapping paper: If its paper and it tears,
its recyclable.
• No ribbon, bows or foil wrap. Save for reuse.
• Hard plastic ‘shells’ and styrofoam are
not recyclable.
• Cardboard boxes are recyclable and should
be broken down to fit in the blue cart.
Fall Leaf Collection
The fall colors are fading and there is
chill in the air, which means yards are
full of leaves and gardens are filled with
dead plants and flowers. Dispose of your
yard debris with the Premium Yard Waste
Cart available in two sizes for a monthly
subscription fee that will appear on your
monthly Des Moines Water Works bill.
Compost It® paper yard debris bags are
also available for $7.75 + tax for a bundle
of 5 at Dahl’s or Hy-Vee stores; place them
at the curb on your regularly scheduled day
for collection. Manufacturer’s paper bags
for leaves each require a $1.20 Compost It®
sticker also available at Dahl’s or Hy-Vee;
attach one to each bag.
www.dmgov.org
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFERS
It is a violation of city ordinance to put
leaves or other yard debris in solid waste
containers or to rake or blow leaves from
private property into the streets. Leaves
blown into the street reduce traction and
can also contribute to the clogging of the
storm sewer system.
For more information on any of Public
Works services please call the Department
of Public Works 24-Hour Customer Service
at 515-283-4950 or go to www.dmgov.org
and visit the Public Works page.
page 5
“Safies” are the New “Selfies”
Rent
An Event
Space
Check out the wide variety of facilities
available to rent from Des Moines Parks and
Recreation for your special event. If you are
looking for a more intimate setting like the
newly renovated Jay Spence Shelter House
in Greenwood Park or something larger
like the Ding Darling Shelter at Birdland
Park, we have just the right size venue, no
matter what kind of event you are planning.
Facilities are filling up fast, so visit dmparks.
org to reserve your space now to make sure
you get the site and date you want!
Parks Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you looking for a new or unique way to
expand awareness of your business while
supporting parks and recreation programs?
Des Moines Parks and Recreation has
Jay Spence Shelter in Greenwood Park.
numerous sponsorship options available.
Packages can be customized to any level for
departmental offerings including recreation
and sports programs, environmental
education, special events and playgrounds.
Contact our marketing team at 515-2371386 or [email protected] to learn about
how your group can collaborate with us.
Keep up with Parks and Recreation online:
Facebook.com/desmoinesparks
Twitter.com/desmoinesparks
Pinterest.com/desmoinesparks
Instagram.com/desmoinesparks
GET UP TO $10,000 FORGIVABLE
LOAN TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME
WHEN YOU BORROW FROM NFC!
GET UP TO $10,000 EXTRA TO
IMPROVE
YOUR
HOMEfinancing
WHEN in specific areas within Des Moines
•NFC
provides
YOU BORROW
FROM
NFC!
for purchase,
refinance
or home improvement
• NFC provides financing
in specific areas
within Des Moines
for
purchases,
•Each NFC loan comes with a 5 year forgivable loan
refinances or home improvement
(up to $10,000 per property) for home repairs
• Each NFC loan comes with a 5 year
forgivable loan
(up toour
$10,000
per
•Visit
website
at www.neighborhoodfinance.org
property) for home repairs
to see if your home is in an NFC lending area
• Visit our website at
www.neighborhoodfinance.org
see of
if our Loan Originators:
Calltoone
your home is in an NFC lending area
— Joni (NMLS #26251) 273-1368
• Call one of our Loan Originators with any
— Richie (NMLS #29833) 273-1370
questions: 288-5626
Ext 209 for Joni (NMLS #26251) or
Ext 211 for Karen (NMLS #29833)
Ext 213 for Richie (NMLS #521207)
page 6
The Des Moines Fire Department
(DMFD) is continuing to promote Fire
Prevention with its new “Safie” Campaign.
DMFD is asking the public to take
“safies,” or photos of themselves testing
their smoke alarms and post them on
social media. When posting “safies” on
Facebook, Twitter, Vine or Instagram, the
fire department asks people to mention
@DSMFireDept or @NFPA and include the
hashtags #smokealarm or #safie.
The
Fire
DMFD’s Sparky
Department
is challenging
people to use
their “safies” to
promote their
favorite teams,
branches of
service or fire
and polic e
departments.
Des Moines Community Action Agency
1618 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314
Hours: 8am-5pm (M, W, F), 8am-7pm (Tues/Thurs)
www.dmgov.org/hs/dmcaa • Twitter: @DMCAA2
Call: (515) 248-6216 • Email: [email protected]
LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program)
Applications accepted through April 30, 2015.
Call 515-248-6212 for more information.
Holiday Food Program
“More Than Just a Meal”
Des Moines Community Action Agency
partners with the community to provide
holiday food baskets to families in need. This
season the goal is to provide 1,000 families
with a 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food
items as well as a $20.00 gift certificate to a
local grocery to be used toward the purchase
of fresh produce and meat. Everyone can
help; schools, businesses and citizens.
Three ways to help:
• Host a Holiday Food Drive to collect nonperishable food items
• Donate money to assist with our wholesale
food purchase
• Volunteer to pack food baskets - December
8 thru 19, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
If you or your organization is interested in
making a donation or volunteering contact
Shannon at 515-283-4180 or donate online
at www.dmgov.org/store.
Watch DMTV Channel 7
Your Direct Link To City Hall
Promote Your Business
In City Source:
Looking for a new job or curious about a particular occupation? Visit the library’s online
Job and Career Center for assistance in creating professional resumes and cover letters,
plus search more than five million job postings. Find tips to improve your interviewing skills,
advice on conducting your job search, and assistance in tracking your job search progress.
VOTE MARCH 4TH
Since 2009 the City of Des Moines has
received 65 awards and recognitions from
national media, think tanks, independent
economic research firms and others.
Prestigious publications like Forbes
Magazine have recognized Des Moines
15 times since 2009. In 2013 alone, Forbes
recognized our city three times including
naming the city #1 “Best Places for Business
and Careers.” The capital city accolades do
more than just put us on the map:
“The Midwest’s darling,
Des Moines was rated by
Forbes magazine as the #1 Best Place
for Business and Careers in 2013. You
may be wondering: What does Des
Moines have to offer? Well, the business
costs in the city are 17 percent lower
than the national average, meaning
• Published four times a year
• Direct Mail to 80,000 households
• Available on the City’s website at
www.dmgov.org
• 77% of Des Moines residents read
City Source*
• Contact the Public Information
Office at 515-283-4795
or e-mail: [email protected]
• Council WARD 4
Election
• Citywide Franchise Fee Referendum
PARKS
BROCHURE
INSIDE
(Continued on page 5)
DMACC DART
1.47% 1.44%
Polk County
14.81%
Des Moines has been recognized by
national media, think tanks and economic
research firms.
81% of Residents Satisfied with Quality of Life
YOUR PROPERTY TAXES
%
6.39
Old Job, New Job, Different Job?
DMPL Has Career Resources for You!
Whether you are exploring careers, new to the job
market, or looking to improve in your current job, the
library has dozens of free resources to help. An online
service called, Learning Express offers more than 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and
eBooks to help jobseekers of all ages.
Franchise Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Construction Permits Up! . . . . . . . . . 5
Ash Tree Insect Alert! . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The results are in for 2013 Citizen
Satisfaction Survey for the City of Des Moines
and 81% of residents are satisfied with
quality of life in our community! Residents
and businesses continue to be satisfied with
the overall quality of city services, with high
marks in the following areas:
• 81% of residents are satisfied with
“Quality of Life in Des Moines”
• 72% of residents are satisfied with the
“Image of the Des Moines Community”
• 71% of residents are satisfied with the
“Quality of Downtown”
• 69% of residents are satisfied with the
“Cleanliness of the City”
Other
.68%
ns
dlaw
Broa
Wondering What’s for Dinner?
The library may not be the first place you think of when planning
your meals, but maybe it should be! Smart cooks know that the library
is a great resource for recipes, cook books, and cooking magazines.
Use your mobile device to collect recipe ideas from e-magazines via
the library’s Zinio service. You can even check out DVD sets of food
shows and programs with famous chefs.
The holidays will soon be here. Do you have family members who are
vegetarian or need gluten-free recipes? Discover how to host a meatfree Thanksgiving. Perhaps someone in your family is looking to lose
weight or has a food allergy. The library is a great resource for all kinds of diet and nutrition
information. Looking for easy gifts for the family? Consider home-baked goods, tasty
jellies, or salty snacks. And don’t forget to look on the library’s Pinterest page for hundreds
of yummy ideas, too!
Winter 2014 Edition
Taking Top Honors
THIS ISSUE
DSM Public
Schools
39.13%
City
36.08%
• 64% of residents are satisfied with the
“Quality of City Services.”
These survey results show that Des
Moines is setting the bar for mid-sized
cities in several national benchmarking
categories. City Manager Rick Clark said,
“I’m very pleased with the results of this
survey. Our citizens continue to give us
high marks for our services. Despite major
cuts to the City’s budget over the last
few years, City workers have found ways
to do more with less, and to provide the
essential services that our citizens depend
upon.”
(Continued on page 3)
* 2013 City of Des Moines Resident Satisfaction Survey
by the ETC Institute in Olathe, Kansas.
CITY AWARDS
#1 Best City for Young Professionals
Forbes, 2014
#1 City with an Up-and-Coming
Downtown Fortune, 2014
#1 Metro for Economic Strength
Policom Corporation, 2014
#2 Best Farmers’ Market in America
The Daily Meal, 2014
#2 Best City for Business and Careers
Forbes, 2014
#5 Best Cities for Jobs
Zip Recuriter, 2014
Close to graduating? Getting into college is an important step to building a strong future.
First, you must do well on your college admission tests and write a personal essay that
highlights your special talents. The Learning Express College Center can help students
achieve their college preparation goals. There are also plenty of resources for college
students wishing to strengthen their academic skills, prepare for placement tests, and earn
top scores on grad school entrance exams.
#6 Top Mid-Size Cities of 2014
Nearly 200 Years of Library Service
Six Des Moines Public Library employees
were recently honored for their years of
service. Pictured from left to right: Tim Kelly
(25 years), Pam Deitrick (30 years), Carla
Tibboel (30 years), Tina Brooks (35 years).
Not pictured: Deborah Cox (35 years) and
Bill May (40 years).
n YOUTUBE
Parks YouTube Channel: DSMParksDepartment
Encourage Your Teen to Become a VolunTEEN
The Des Moines Public Library invites teens in 6th through 12th grades to have fun
while helping with various library projects at monthly meetings. To learn more about
becoming a VolunTEEN, stop by the library for an application form or give the library a call
at 515-283-4152.
www.dmgov.org
Energy Star, 2014
#6 Best Cities for Raising a Family
Forbes, 2014
CITY SOCIAL MEDIA
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City of Des Moines: DesMoinesGov
Airport: DSM-International-Airport
Library: DMLIB
Parks: DesMoinesPark
Police: DMPolice
Public Works: Des-Moines-Public-Works
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Des Moines Intl Airport: dsmairport
Parks and Recreation: @DesMoinesPark
Public Library: DMPL
Public Works: DMDPW
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400 Robert D. Ray Drive
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1891
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Get to Know the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission
The Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission (DMCHRC) is an
impartial investigative body that seeks to determine through investigation, if
a person has been treated unfairly in violation of the Des Moines Municipal
Code which is enforced by the City of Des Moines’ Human Rights Department
(DMHRD). Together the two bodies address illegal discrimination occurring
within the city in the areas of employment, housing, municipal practices, and
public accommodations.
The commission is comprised of seven Des Moines citizen volunteers
who are appointed by the Mayor and Council. Currently serving are Francis
Boggus, Michael Bowser, Kathy Collins-Reilly, Peggy Dandy, Daniel Garza,
Margo Jones, and Christine Manbeck. The City’s Human Rights Department
staff includes Rudy Simms, Director; Vern Ostrander, Sr. Human Relations
Specialist, Mikel Johnson, Human Relations Specialist, and Nekesha Palmer,
Human Relations Specialist.
Over the past three years the Human Rights Department has investigated
129 complaints and resolved 120 of those. The department works to help the
City of Des Moines adopt specific policies or amendments to the jurisdiction’s
charter that protect the civil and human rights of all residents and in 2012,
successfully amended the municipal code to include gender identity as a
protected class.
The department has hosted a number of events to help the community
learn more about human and civil rights. These include annual symposiums on
human and civil rights and partnering with various community events to provide
information about the commission. Annually in December the department
presents a citywide Human Rights Day Celebration. The Human Rights
Department received a STAR Community rating of 9.1 out of a 10!
For more information contact the Human Rights Department at
(515) 283-4284 or via email [email protected]. Visit us online at
http://www.dmgov.org/Departments/HumanRights/Pages/Commission.aspx
Fair Housing Is Your Right! Use It!
For more information, contact the Des Moines Human Rights
Commission for assistance at (515) 283-4284 or go to
https://www.dmgov.org/departments/HumanRights/Pages/default.aspx