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Council approves changes to citizens advisory board structure, names deputy mayor as presiding officer
Summary
The council voted 6‑1 to advance an ordinance reorganizing several advisory committees into a Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) with subcommittees for arts, human services and senior services, set term limits, and designate the deputy mayor as the CAB presiding officer.
The Des Moines City Council on July 24 approved on first reading an ordinance to reorganize the city’s volunteer advisory committees into a Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) with three subcommittees (arts, human services and senior services), to set membership structure and term rules, and to name the deputy mayor as the board’s presiding officer. The ordinance was moved to second reading on Sept. 11, 2025.
City attorney Tara Vaughn presented the ordinance and described the proposal to consolidate the arts, human services and senior services bodies as subcommittees of the CAB to reduce staffing needs and improve continuity. The draft ordinance would preserve 12 neighborhood seats (nine neighborhood seats plus two business owners and one marina tenant), allow up to 11 at‑large seats, set four‑year terms with an initial staggered two‑ and four‑year term schedule, and permit subcommittees to have three to nine members.
A council member proposed an amendment to designate the deputy mayor rather than the mayor as the CAB presiding officer; Deputy Mayor Steinmetz seconded that amendment. Supporters said naming the deputy mayor creates an additional formal leadership role for council members under the city’s committee‑of‑the‑whole model and gives councillors more opportunities for presiding duties. The amendment passed 6‑1 with Council member Harris opposed. The council then voted 6‑1 to pass the ordinance as amended to second reading on Sept. 11, 2025; Harris recorded the lone no vote on final passage.
During questions, council members and staff clarified workflow: subcommittees would meet as needed, report to the full CAB, and the CAB would forward recommendations to the city council; the ordinance reiterates existing DMMC 2.24 language about appointive committees and keeps the requirement for three council members to serve on appointive committees. The ordinance record notes staff intent to limit total board size in order to preserve effectiveness and to reduce staffing burdens.
