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Des Moines council approves multiple routine contracts and adopts planning and housing measures; a rezoning and an undergrounding waiver are denied
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Summary
Council approved conveyance to Habitat for Humanity, adopted a HUD-required fair-housing analysis, approved several contracts and traffic changes, and denied a rezoning request and an undergrounding waiver, both after public comment and council debate.
Des Moines City Council on Nov. 4, 2024, approved a series of routine contracts and planning measures, adopted a federal fair-housing analysis, and recorded several contentious items including a rezoning denial and a denied undergrounding waiver with a time-limited compliance window.
The council unanimously approved the conveyance of city-owned property at 1916 Washington Avenue to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity for housing redevelopment after Ryan Doyle, speaking for Habitat, thanked the council and staff. The council also adopted the 2024 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing recommended for HUD consolidation, accepting staff and Polk County outreach summaries.
On capital and operations, the council approved a lease up to $300,000 for equipment used in snow and ice operations, and awarded construction contracts for midblock pedestrian-signal improvements (Klein Electric doing business as Heartland Underground Solutions, $391,940.60), 9th and Locust parking garage elevator improvements (Lloyd Construction Company, $751,500), and Skywalk improvements (Core Construction Services, LLC, $425,000). Council also amended Chapter 114 of the municipal code for several traffic-regulation changes and waived further readings to enact them promptly.
Votes at a glance (recorded in the meeting): - Agenda and consent agenda: approved (6 yes). [Consent items 3–34 passed by roll call.] - Item 35 (1916 Washington Ave. conveyance to Habitat for Humanity): approved (6 yes). - Item 38 (rezoning request to allow high-density residential near 3710 SE 14th St): motion to deny carried (5 yes, 1 no). - Item 39 (appeal to waive undergrounding of overhead utilities at 717 E. Court Ave., Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation): motion to deny the waiver and direct staff to work on a time-limited compliance plan carried (6 yes); council discussed allowing up to a three-year period to try to achieve coordinated undergrounding with the adjacent property before full enforcement. - Item 40 (2024 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing): approved (6 yes). - Items 41–44 (equipment lease; contracts for signals, elevator, Skywalk): approved (6 yes). - Item 45 (traffic regulation changes; waive second/third readings): approved (6 yes). - Items 46 A–F (receive and file): approved and meeting adjourned.
The council recorded audio and public testimony on several items, and council members alternated between staff recommendations that emphasized corridor-based land-use goals and neighborhood concerns about traffic, public safety and property management. The meeting concluded with the public comment segment where residents raised concerns about homelessness enforcement outreach, backyard-chicken ordinance revisions, food security and transit safety for students.
Next steps noted in the meeting record: continued hearings on some rezoning matters (e.g., 1419 Pennsylvania Ave.) to Nov. 18, and staff follow-up to work with applicants on undergrounding timelines if neighboring participation can be negotiated.
