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Des Moines council approves consent agenda, awards city contracts and conveys property to developer and Habitat
Summary
The Des Moines City Council approved a broad consent agenda March 23 that included conveyance of three homes to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, an air-rights easement to Goldfinch entities, and multiple public-works contracts for sidewalks, asphalt resurfacing, park improvements and bridge lighting; votes were unanimous.
The Des Moines City Council on March 23 approved a sweeping consent agenda that included property transfers, public-works contract awards and an air-rights conveyance for development along Ingersoll Avenue.
Mayor Connie Boszen said the council would treat routine items as a single roll-call vote; the motion to approve items 3–33 passed with seven yes votes. Included in that package was the conveyance of 3026 Hubble Avenue, 1615 Southeast Glennwood Drive and 1428 East 15th Street to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, approved as part of council communication 26-103.
Later in the meeting council approved first and final readings of an ordinance to vacate air rights adjoining 3404 Ingersoll Avenue and convey a permanent easement for airspace to Goldfinch Commercial LLC and Goldfinch Apartments LP for $1,100. The item was described by staff as requiring a waiver requested by Scott Cutler and carried the necessary votes.
The council also approved multiple public-works contracts: HS Concrete Inc. was designated the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the 2026 citywide sidewalk and pedestrian ramp replacement program at $415,445; Grimes Asphalt and Paving Corporation was selected for the 2026 hot mix asphalt resurfacing program at $1,255,375.12; Absolute Concrete Construction was chosen for Chetm Park playground improvements (project cost and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant amendment noted); and Baker Electric, Inc. was designated low bidder for Southwest First Street bridge lighting improvements at $179,250. Each contract was approved by roll call.
Resident Carol Maher used the public-comment portion tied to consent items to press the council on budget transparency and to urge denial of a separate developer request to deviate from the Market District master development agreement by using light wood framing rather than the heavier structural systems the master plan specifies. Maher asked whether consolidated responses to citizen budget questions on the city’s website would be published before the April 6 budget hearing; the record shows her concerns but no council response in the meeting transcript.
The council accepted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and set dates related to the current and proposed fiscal-year budgets. Where votes were taken the transcript records unanimous approval, recorded as seven yes votes.
Next procedural steps for the items approved vary by matter: conveyances and ordinances have effective dates tied to ordinance publication or recording, contract awards proceed to execution and bonding per standard procurement practice, and the budget hearing dates were placed on the council’s calendar for further consideration.
