West Des Moines council approves zoning changes, traffic-code updates, RecPlex expansion and Human Rights Day proclamation

The West Des Moines City Council on Dec. 1 approved a string of ordinance amendments, resolutions and land-use items and read a proclamation recognizing International Human Rights Day.

Mayor Russ Trimble opened the meeting, and after a brief attendance check the council approved amendments to the agenda. Public commenters included Steve Freibert, executive director of the Historic Valley Junction Foundation, who said Small Business Saturday activities were rescheduled because of weather and thanked public services for clearing streets; Jay Kennedy of Thirsty Pigs Mobile Events asked about licensing for a nonprofit event at Raccoon River Park. An online commenter identified in the record as Amy Buere raised several allegations about city operations; Councilwoman Renee Hardman, participating remotely, called the statements "full of untruth" and asked that the record reflect her dispute.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda amended and approved (initial roll call reported 4 yes; after remote attendance confirmed the meeting recorded 5 yes). - Consent: Pulled items 4C4, 4E2 and 4K; remaining consent items approved. - Item 4C4 (Kum and Go / Maverick business signage): approved (vote recorded as 4 yes, 1 abstention for potential conflict). - Item 4E2 (Jamie Hurd amphitheater restrooms professional services agreement): deferred to Dec. 15, 2025, after council requested additional timeline confirmation from Parks & Recreation. - Item 4K (Proclamation for Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, 2025): read by Mayor Trimble and adopted unanimously (5 yes). - Ordinance adoptions (second-reading waivers and final adoptions): multiple traffic-code amendments and a Title 1 administrative amendment (officers and employees) were adopted on second reading with unanimous votes. - Public hearings: Cedar Ridge lot rezoning (first reading approved), Jordan West specific-plan setback reduction (first reading approved), Amendment No. 8 to the Alluvion Urban Renewal Area (resolution approved), and the 2025 sewer manhole rehabilitation program (two resolutions approved) all advanced with no or no substantive public opposition. - New business approvals: Veil Estates preliminary plat (six single-family lots) approved; Raccoon River Trail site plan (10-foot multiuse trail) approved; MidAmerican Energy RecPlex major modification (about a 96,000-square-foot addition, added parking, and two conditions) approved. - Code updates advanced: first readings or approvals were completed for board-of-adjustment jurisdiction changes, adoption of the 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments (repealing the 2021 edition), and updates to motor-vehicle/traffic provisions to comply with Iowa Code.

Council discussion and context

Council members repeatedly framed the code updates and renewal-area amendment as steps to support safety and anticipated growth south of Highway 5. Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Penning told the council a two-week deferral on the amphitheater restroom consultant contract would not "push back significantly," and the council agreed to move that item to Dec. 15. The RecPlex modification drew positive remarks from council members, who described its third sheet of ice, event-seat capacity (comments referenced about 3,000 seats) and an estimated 452 additional parking spaces; the approval carried conditions requiring tree planting before occupancy and reworking an existing water-main easement.

Procedural notes and personnel items

The council received and filed the abstract of election and accepted the resignation of Courtney Garcia Mueller from the Public Art Advisory Commission due to relocation to Des Moines. Councilwoman Hardman noted that Audrey Kennes, identified in the meeting as the city's human services director and liaison to the Human Rights Commission, will receive an NAACP award.

What happens next

Several items advanced only as first readings or were deferred for further review; the Jamie Hurd amphitheater restrooms professional-services agreement was set for the Dec. 15 meeting. The council adjourned to a follow-on workshop scheduled to begin minutes after adjournment.

Sources: West Des Moines City Council meeting transcript, Dec. 1, 2025. Direct quotes and vote tallies are taken from the official meeting record.