Council adopts updated mission, vision and values statement with language edits

The Des Moines City Council approved an updated mission, vision and values statement on Jan. 9, following a motion to adopt and a subsequent amendment to a sentence to reference “waterfront” rather than “marine.”

What happened Councilmember Nadine moved to approve the city’s mission/vision/values document as drafted; the motion was seconded. Deputy Mayor Steinmetz proposed a friendly amendment to rephrase the opening sentence to read: “Des Moines is a waterfront community, committed to maintaining a safe, sustainable environment, while ensuring a high quality of life for all who live, work and play.” The amendment was seconded and adopted after brief discussion about phrasing and inclusivity.

Why it matters Councilmembers said the statement will serve as a high‑level guide for city priorities and help frame long‑term planning. Some members raised grammar and phrasing concerns; others sought to retain broader terms such as “marine” to emphasize maritime uses. After additional edits and an affirmative vote, the council adopted the document and staff will publish the finalized language.

Next step Staff will publish the adopted mission/vision/values statement and circulate it to council and the public. Councilmembers asked and staff agreed to maintain a clear record of the final adopted text.