Des Moines officials update Marina Steps value‑engineering, Redondo Pier permitting as Memorial Triangle opens

The Des Moines City Council received a capital projects update May 22 that detailed progress and funding for three linked projects: the recently finished Memorial Triangle, the redesign and pending permitting for the Redondo Fishing Pier, and value‑engineering work on the Marina Steps project.

The update matters because the projects are funded with a mix of bond proceeds and grants and the council in February directed staff to prioritize and value‑engineer the steps while pushing the pier as the top bond‑funded priority. City staff said Memorial Triangle is complete and will have a ribbon cutting; the pier redesign reduces in‑water piling work and, pending written Corps of Engineers approval, staff expects to advertise the pier for bids in early June.

Public Works staff and the project manager said the pier redesign reduced the vertical piling work required under the original permit (larger pilings required deeper excavation and concrete fill) and that the U.S. Army Corps has given verbal approval to the amended permit; staff said they expect the Corps’ letter soon and, if received, will advertise the pier on June 5 with an anticipated award in July and in‑water construction beginning in August. The revised pier construction estimate after redesign was described as “about $6,000,000” in staff remarks; that figure is presented as a construction estimate and could change when contracts are returned.

On the Marina Steps, staff said the previous contractor bid came in at…