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Community and council react after city manager eliminates two sustainability positions amid $17M shortfall
Summary
City Manager Scott Sanders said two sustainability positions were eliminated as part of steps to address a $17 million budget shortfall; residents, neighborhood leaders and sustainability advocates urged the council to restore the staff or present an alternative plan for ADAPTDSM implementation.
City Manager Scott Sanders told the Des Moines City Council on Jan. 13 that, after months of organizational analysis, he made the decision to lay off two employees who primarily worked on sustainability as part of steps to address a projected $17 million shortfall in the fiscal-year 2026 budget.
Sanders said sustainability work will continue through subject-matter experts embedded in multiple departments and through nonprofit partners. He described the layoffs as a difficult choice and said the city will continue sustainability actions through cross-departmental staff.
The announcement drew extended public comment. Residents, neighborhood leaders and members of the Des Moines Citizens Task Force on Sustainability urged the council…
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