Des Moines Council approves multiple consent items; approves RTB Renovations rezoning and adopts code changes on stormwater and hearings

The Des Moines City Council on Jan. 27 enacted a package of consent and ordinance items, including conveyances, street vacations and multiple municipal code amendments. Most consent items passed on a single roll‑call vote; several ordinance changes related to stormwater and hearing procedures passed on final reading.

Votes and key outcomes (selected): - Item 50: RTB Renovations LLC (Rodrigo Casares, officer) — Council approved amendments to Plan DSM and rezoning for property at 2625 Cottage Grove Ave. to change future land use to high‑density residential and rezone N5 to N5‑4 (limited) to permit reuse as up to four dwelling units. The council approved both first and final readings after the applicant and neighborhood discussion; vote 7‑0.

- Items 45–49 (consent/conveyances and vacations): The council approved conveyance of excess city property west of 2720 Logan Ave. (item 45), sale of vacated alley right of way west of 805 SE 11th St. (item 46), conveyance of excess property at 3770 and 3790 Hubbell Ave. (item 47), vacation of a portion of Mulberry Street and conveyance of a permanent easement to Cordova Holdings DSM LLC (item 48), and vacation of air rights for Carpenter Ave. adjoining 1900 Carpenter Ave. and conveyance of permanent easement to Polk County (item 49). All passed by voice/roll call; waiver requests requiring supermajorities were noted where applicable and passed.

- Items 52–54: Council adopted amendments to municipal code chapter 135 relating to public hearing sites and plan review (item 52) and adopted multiple changes to chapter 42 regarding stormwater runoff control, grading operations, and stormwater management standards for development and redevelopment (items 53 and 54). Staff noted the amendments were advanced by the city engineer and public works director; items passed on final reading with required votes (roll call showed 7 yes on each).

- Item 55: Amendment to chapter 18 (interfering with animals) passed on final reading; waiver requested by city manager and council approved 7‑0.

Consent agenda and roll calls - The council approved the consent agenda (items 3–44) by roll call; one recorded dissent: Councilmember Voss recorded “no” on item 5. The remaining consent items passed as a single package.

Municipal Housing Agency governance - Earlier in the session the Municipal Housing Agency Governing Board (convened before the council meeting) awarded a contract to Excel Mechanical Company, Inc. for replacement of fan coil units at Oak Park Plaza and Highland Park Plaza (board communication 205‑37); the board vote carried.

Context and implications - The RTB Renovations approval (item 50) was highlighted by council praise for the applicant’s renovations and neighborhood engagement; staff and council framed that conversion from a higher‑density dilapidated structure into a lower-density multifamily product could be a form of affordable housing rehabilitation when supported by neighborhood associations and appropriate design review. - Code amendments on stormwater mirror a broader city push to update grading and stormwater standards; council adopted final readings with the city engineer and public works director supporting waivers and adoption.

Ending: The council concluded the Jan. 27 meeting with a lengthy public speaking period on other city matters, including the city manager’s proposed budget and questions about the recently reorganized Office of Sustainability; council scheduled additional budget engagement events and will consider the proposed FY2026 budget in coming weeks.