Des Moines advisory committees consolidated; members agree to reset, 4-year terms and new name

The Des Moines Citizens Advisory Committee agreed May 28 to consolidate the Arts Commission, Human Services Advisory Board and Senior Services functions into a single expanded advisory body and to move forward with a membership reset and term-limit plan meant to simplify volunteer management and reduce staff workload.

City Manager Catherine Caffrey said the council asked staff to review the city’s appointive committees after a recent expansion left the city with nine committees. "For a city of 32,000, that's a lot of committees," Caffrey said, arguing the change aims to preserve meaningful volunteer roles while easing staff support responsibilities.

The committee’s discussion centered on three linked changes: folding the three advisory panels into the Citizens Advisory Committee (to be renamed), eliminating alternate seats so every appointee has a full role, and changing terms. Committee members reached a consensus to "reset" membership (reapply from a new starting point), adopt four-year terms with a limit of two consecutive terms, and stagger terms so turnover occurs gradually. The group also agreed to the board’s new public name,…