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Des Moines Council directs manager to negotiate DART franchise-fee split after heated debate
Summary
The Des Moines City Council voted Dec. 22 to instruct the city manager to negotiate terms with DART over a proposed franchise-fee allocation that would send 70% to transit and retain 30% for local priorities. Councilors traded sharp questions about regional fairness, service cuts and ramifications for police and fire funding.
Des Moines City Councilors voted Dec. 22 to direct City Manager Scott Sanders to negotiate terms with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) over how a newly adopted franchise fee would be allocated.
The council’s action asks the manager to pursue a framework that would give 70% of franchise-fee proceeds to DART and reserve 30% for the city to use for local priorities, a proposal several councilors described as a compromise. “Seventy percent is probably a good compromise, and I’m willing to take that,” Councilmember Coleman said, adding the retained 30% could be…
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