West Des Moines council approves zoning changes, infrastructure projects and two bond sales for RecPlex and capital needs
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Summary
Council approved multiple items including Falcon Heights and other zoning amendments, urban‑renewal actions, road and stormwater projects, and two bond issuances: a taxable GEO sale for the RecPlex expansion and a GO bond issue for capital projects. PFM reported competitive pricing and the city retained AAA ratings.
The West Des Moines City Council on March 23 approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and financings covering zoning, infrastructure and capital finance.
On zoning and land‑use, the council adopted a final zoning amendment for the Falcon Heights area to establish single‑family residential zoning and approved ordinance changes affecting temporary‑use permits. The council also approved first readings to amend PUD sketch plans and rezone properties related to Dowling Catholic High School and the Lounsbury Grand West site.
Infrastructure resolutions passed unanimously for an urban‑renewal plan along Southeast 35th Street, easement reservation for Fire & EMS Station No. 13 water main, Ashworth Road reconstruction (19th–23rd), Southeast Salix Drive improvements and the 2026 HMA resurfacing program. Council emphasized preconstruction notification for affected property owners and tied the new Fire Station approval to planned residential buildout in the Southeast 35th area.
On financing, municipal adviser Suzanne Gerlach of PFM reported on a competitive sale to market up to $44.7 million in taxable GEO local‑option sales tax bonds to fund the RecPlex expansion; the sale produced a true interest cost under 5% and drew multiple competitive bidders. A separate $15.19 million general‑obligation issuance also priced competitively with a TIC in the mid‑3% range and will be paid with the debt‑service levy and included in the FY27 budget as planned.
Council members noted the city’s AAA credit ratings from both Moody’s and S&P and discussed the sensitivity of ratings to fund‑balance limits being debated at the state level; PFM said a AAA-to‑AA downgrade could widen spreads by roughly 10–15 basis points per notch on a typical issue.
Votes on the consent agenda and these items were recorded as unanimous where noted (4–0), with one abstention recorded on a hotel/motel funding award where a council member declared a conflict.
