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West Des Moines council approves ordinances, capital measures and proclamations; hotel-motel grants split council
Summary
On April 7 the West Des Moines City Council approved multiple ordinance readings, proclamations, infrastructure resolutions and a slate of hotel-motel tax awards, and advanced a general-obligation borrowing resolution. One allocation vote included an abstention.
The West Des Moines City Council approved a package of routine and substantive items on April 7, 2025, including ordinance readings, proclamations, infrastructure project resolutions and a resolution to pursue up to $11 million in general obligation capital loan notes.
Key votes at the April 7 meeting (summary):
- Ordinance amendments (second readings and adoption/waivers): The council approved second readings, waived third readings and adopted final form for multiple city-code updates, including an amendment to the West Grand Business Park planned unit development (PUD) for Parcel 5 (approved unanimously), changes to temporary consumer fireworks sales in Title 3 (approved unanimously), and a modification to Title 4 (Solid Waste Control) pertaining to collection charges (approved unanimously). The council recorded the relevant ordinance and code citations during readings.
- Proclamations: The council approved proclamations recognizing National Library Week (April 6–12, 2025), National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 13–19, 2025), Minority-Owned Business Day (April 17, 2025), and Arbor Day (April 25, 2025). Each proclamation passed unanimously.
- Capital and infrastructure measures: Council advanced a resolution to institute proceedings for not-to-exceed $11,000,000 in general-obligation capital loan notes after a public hearing that included no written or spoken public comment. The council also approved resolutions related to the Mill Civic Parkway reconstruction (S. 90th Street to S. Grand Prairie Parkway) and the Rackham River Park trail reconstruction; the parks item was noted as the top-ranked Parks & Rec Advisory Board priority and had prior Finance & Administration subcommittee approval.
- Land use and surveys: Council approved a plat-of-survey to split parcels on Raccoon River Drive (JCG Equity LLC) with a condition that future owners accept responsibility for required public improvements.
- FY 2026 hotel-motel tax allocations: The council approved the FY 2026 hotel-motel tax allocation slate after presentations by applicants and committee review. The motion passed 3-yes, 1-abstention (abstention noted as due to potential conflict of interest).
Votes on routine items were generally unanimous; the hotel-motel allocations drew one abstention. Council members thanked staff and volunteer committees for the work vetting allocations and noted that discretionary hotel-motel funding has declined and applicants should plan accordingly.
What happens next: Several ordinance changes were adopted in final form at second-reading waiver, and some items (including the proposed ordinance change on animal control) will return for further council action. Staff will proceed with project contracts and next steps on capital projects and debt issuance as authorized by council resolutions.
