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Des Moines council directs staff to expand Community Advisory Committee; creates subcommittee structure
Summary
The council voted May 8 to direct staff to implement an expanded Community Advisory Committee (CAC) model (option A): increase CAC membership, create subcommittees for specialized topics (arts, human services, senior services), and provide dedicated staff support and city‑clerk staffing for records and meetings.
The Des Moines City Council on May 8 directed staff to implement a revised appointive committee structure that expands the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and organizes specialized work through CAC subcommittees.
City Manager Catherine Caffrey and staff presented two options after outreach to existing advisory groups. Option A — the council’s preferred direction — expands the CAC to 18 members (adding at‑large seats in addition to neighborhood representatives), eliminates the ambiguous “alternate” role, and formalizes subcommittees that would study topics such as arts, human services, and senior services. Staff said the CAC would receive dedicated staffing, a city‑clerk liaison to ensure minutes and public‑meeting compliance, and IT support for recorded meetings.
Deputy Mayor Steinmetz, who moved the proposal, and other supporters argued the expanded CAC would increase opportunities for public involvement, provide a broader cross‑section of neighborhood representation and consolidate staff support for advisory work. Opponents raised concerns about committee size, recruitment and whether adding seats would solve underlying outreach and applicant‑pool problems.
Council debated whether to create a separate community events and services committee (Option B) or to adopt Option A's expanded CAC with subcommittees. After discussion the council voted to direct staff to proceed with Option A and bring back implementing language. The motion passed following roll‑call; staff will return with updated membership descriptions, terms, and staffing assignments.
Ending: Staff said they will take the direction, score applicant recruitment and return with updated committee rosters, role descriptions and staffing plans ready for council approval.
