Council approves two‑year Sky Elements drone show contract after debate over cost and measurement of tourism impact

The Des Moines City Council on April 10 approved a two‑year agreement with Sky Elements to present a drone show for the city’s Fourth of July celebration in 2025 and 2026 and authorized the city manager to sign the contract substantially in the form submitted.

The motion to approve the contract passed 6–1 after several council members spoke in support and a lone dissent from Councilmember Christina Harris, who said she would vote no because she believes the city should pursue competitive bids and be able to show clearer tourism metrics.

Councilmember Mahoney moved to approve the proposed agreement and “authorize the city manager to sign the agreement substantially in the form as submitted.” Deputy Mayor Steinmetz seconded the motion. Deputy Mayor Steinmetz told the council he supported the two‑year deal because it delivers a discount and “this is a good company” experienced with larger shows. Mahoney and other supporters described the 2024 show as an improvement over 2023 and said the event drew positive, “family‑friendly” responses from attendees.

Harris urged more competitive bidding and measurement. She said she could not find a council approval for the 2024 program contract, said lodging‑tax advisory committee materials were not posted as thoroughly as earlier years, and argued the city should require stronger metrics for overnight stays and tourism impacts before committing additional years. Harris said she would vote no: “I’m gonna have to vote no on this…I’m gonna have to vote no on this. …There are other vendors out there and we should be pursuing competitive bids.”

Steinmetz and other supporters pushed back on concerns that the drone show would be funded from general fund money. Council discussion clarified that funds for the show come from the city’s tourism/lodging tax bucket; Steinmetz explained that those funds are restricted to tourism‑promotion activities and are not interchangeable with general‑fund items such as animal control or police services. He said the company’s shows reduce noise and certain pollution compared with traditional fireworks and argued the community response had been largely positive.

The vote: Deputy Mayor Steinmetz, Councilmembers Ochsiger, Grace Matsui, Mahoney, Nutting and Mayor Bert Buxton voted yes. Councilmember Harris voted no. The motion was recorded as moved by Councilmember Mahoney and seconded by Deputy Mayor Steinmetz.

The contract’s dollar amount was not stated in the council meeting record. Council discussion referenced that a two‑year agreement would provide a discount and that the lodging‑tax advisory committee previously reviewed the contract; officials said the contract was funded through the tourism bucket and would not reduce general‑fund services.

Council members asked staff to provide improved documentation and clearer tourism metrics for future events so the council can measure returns from lodging‑tax expenditures.

Ending: The approval keeps the drone show on the city’s schedule for two more summers. Supporters emphasized the perceived community and tourism benefits; dissenters pressed for competitive procurement and clearer post‑event metrics on overnight stays and other tourism outcomes.