Council debate focuses on CIP priorities as Berlin Pool capital needs and park plans loom

Des Moines city officials and council members spent hours on Thursday probing the five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP), with parks funding and several major transportation and downtown projects taking center stage.

The administration said much of the CIP peak in the adopted/amended 2025 column reflects authorized but not-yet-spent carryover rather than new spending; staff described an effort to focus future years on ongoing maintenance and fewer new projects so the city can hold long-term debt near the modeled limit of about $2.86 per $1,000 in taxable valuation. Staff warned that additional annual general‑obligation borrowing above roughly $40 million would require raising that rate.

Parks and pools drew the most council scrutiny. Staff cited consultant findings and the CIP schedule showing major pool capital needs later in the five‑year window — for example, items tied to repair or replacement at Birdland, Nahas and other facilities — and noted a consultant estimate that correcting several major pool issues could total millions over several years. Council members repeatedly asked for a project‑level breakdown showing which capital fixes are mission‑critical for safe operation next season (doors, filters, pumps and decking) and which are longer‑term improvements. Several members said they were willing to pursue short‑term fixes to keep Berlin Pool open for the coming summer while seeking a clearer capital plan for long‑term sustainability.

Councilmembers also pressed staff for clearer line‑item detail across parks projects so neighborhoods can pursue matching private funding. Several council members asked that Allen Park — purchased in recent years and repeatedly moved in earlier plans — be presented as a distinct line item with a near‑term budget estimate so the council and local donors can pursue fundraising and design work. Parks staff said a modest planning allocation appears in the CIP and promised to provide project‑level cost estimates and an itemized near‑term schedule.

Major multi‑year projects carried in the plan include the Southeast Connector (federal and bond funding), the Walnut Street bridge replacement (TIF-backed finance), market-district infrastructure work and the City’s $43 million administration building project. Staff said gaming‑revenue receipts used for several CIP programs are capped under the city’s current agreement and are forecast to reach that cap in 2026; any continuation of that revenue will depend on a new agreement or renegotiation.

Ending: Staff said they would return with project‑level cost details and prioritization for parks and pools, clearer breakdowns for contracted services and facilities costs, and a listing of which 2026 CIP line items are true new starts versus carryover from earlier years. Councilmembers asked staff to prioritize data that would enable targeted private fundraising for neighborhood projects and to reassess the CIP schedule for any work that can be delayed to reduce near‑term borrowing.