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Council approves easement conveyances for DART shelters, debates $3,000 charge and waiver options
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Summary
The council cleared vacation and easement conveyances for bus-shelter encroachments to the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority and voted to charge DART $3,000; members discussed waiving the fee or identifying other funding sources and asked staff to follow up.
The Des Moines City Council voted to vacate segments of right-of-way and convey easements for bus-shelter encroachment to the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), with a stated conveyance fee of $3,000. Council members debated whether the fee should be collected, whether it would meaningfully pay for a shelter and whether the city should waive the charge or identify a funding source on DART's behalf.
Council discussion: Several council members asked whether charging DART $3,000 would discourage shelters. One member said "I would rather have that and not charge them anything." Staff answered the $3,000 would not cover the cost of a shelter and suggested the figure reflects fair market value for the interest being conveyed. Staff offered to investigate whether the fee can be waived administratively or whether the council could identify a funding source to pay the fee on DART's behalf.
Public comment: Cortez DeMar Calamillo, who identified himself as a Ward 1 resident and said he had experienced homelessness, urged the council not to delay shelter installation and said transit shelters support vulnerable people: "We owe home to something" (excerpt). Carol Maher, a downtown resident and DART rider, urged the council not to hold up the shelters and noted that the $200 right-of-way easement permit is separate and that she supports moving the project forward.
Council action: The council moved and seconded the item and voted 7-0 to approve the conveyance and associated ordinance readings as presented. Members asked staff to provide an annual accounting of amounts charged to DART for right-of-way easement permits and to return with options if council wished to waive fees for future shelters.
Why it matters: Bus shelters affect rider comfort and access to transit, and the fee discussion highlighted tensions between raising modest municipal revenue for conveyances and supporting shelter expansion. Council members noted DART's financial constraints and emphasized they want the shelters to move forward quickly.
Next steps: Staff will look into whether the $3,000 figure reflects statutory fair-market-value requirements and will report back with information about current and historic charges to DART and options for covering the cost.
