Des Moines council directs staff to pursue potential franchise fee increase to support DART

The Des Moines City Council voted to direct the city manager and city attorney to pursue options for a potential franchise fee increase as an alternative funding mechanism for Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART). The motion passed on a 7-0 voice vote.

Councilman Cobham, who spoke at length during the discussion, said the franchise fee should translate directly into additional funding for DART. "If the franchise fee were to create new revenues of $7,000,000, the DART budget should go up by $7,000,000," Cobham said, adding that any revenues created should not be converted into offsets or tax credits that reduce funds available to transit. Other council members praised regional collaboration and the consultants who assisted the Reimagine DART process.

Public speakers during the meeting also voiced support for funding transit. Carol Maher, a downtown resident who told the council she plans to go car-free, thanked the council for starting the process to approve a 2.5% franchise fee and said the move would help riders who rely on DART for daily travel.

Council discussion emphasized the item as an early step to give the city and its DART representatives flexibility, including creating reserves or pilot programs, while the Reimagine DART planning work continues. The motion directs staff to continue work on the legal and administrative steps necessary to pursue a fee; no specific ordinance or final fee amount was adopted at the meeting.

The council asked the city manager to return with follow-up information; no implementation timetable was set at the meeting.