BUDGET WOES; YOUR INPUT WELCOMED As you’ve probably read or heard, the Iowa State Legislature passed new property tax laws this spring that force Des Moines and other Iowa cities to trim budgets for fiscal year 2027-28. The Des Moines City Council faces the daunting task of cutting $12 million from our General Fund. David Derong, a communications team member from the City Manager’s Office, has developed a nifty Budget Savings Calculator for residents to weigh in on priorities

SERGEANT BEHIND DMPD DATA Des Moines police Sgt. Bryan O’Donnell is quick to acknowledge he loves data and organization. That’s a good thing: When I visited Sgt. O’Donnell, in his tidy second-floor office at police headquarters, I counted 54 tasks on the whiteboard behind his desk. Yes, this sergeant has a boatload of duties. Sgt. O’Donnell manages the department’s tasks to achieve Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation while overseeing

QUEEN OF PARKS & REC VOLUNTEERS April is a busy month for Des Moines Parks and Recreation staff: Open park restrooms and water bubblers for the new year; hire seasonal staff for cemeteries, parks, and pools; and prepare athletic fields for baseball, softball, and soccer games. And it’s all hands on deck to organize more than 1,000 volunteers for the mid-April Trash Bash to clean up at 100 locations around the metro, including 55 in Des Moines. Since 2008, volunteers have pick

SKYWALK SECURITY UPDATE A downtown resident recently asked me about skywalk security, giving me an opportunity to check in with Senior Police Officer Steve Walters, the City’s eyes in the 4.1-mile network since June 2021. The skywalk is a safer and more enjoyable experience today than it was five years ago, Walters asserted. “I have downtown workers tell me this several times over the last year or so,” he told me. “This is not because of one person. It’s because of everyone w

QUIETLY LEARNING ENGLISH SKILLS “My granddaughter wants balloons for her birthday party,” Sue Huber tells her English Language Learning (ELL) students. “Now, write that sentence.” The former Peace Corps volunteer is one of 12 devoted teachers who dedicate their Tuesday and Thursday evenings to teaching English at Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church. When I visited, 19 eager students were taking part in this learning opportunity. The nonprofit 8th & College Connection

KNOCK AND DROP EXPANDS TO 5-DAY PANTRY What began as one woman’s after-hours effort to deliver food to Latino families on Wednesdays has expanded into a five-day operation. Zuli’s Knock and Drop now operates weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving all Des Moines neighbors. This growth shows how one person’s vision and drive can spark community change. Zuleyma “Zuli” Mendez began the program in her garage on March 4, 2020. As demand outgrew her space, Zuli and her volunteers

BUSIEST YEAR EVER FOR MYDSMMOBILE See something. Say something. Public Works, Engineering, and Neighborhood Services will sort it. Des Moines residents embraced the myDSMmobile app for reporting City issues—15 categories in all, with 7,058 tickets opened in 2025. That’s an uptick from 6,946 the previous year. Potholes were once again the largest category, with 2,256 reports (32 percent of the 2025 total), and up from 2,021 in 2024. Public Works director Jonathan Gano told me

POTHOLES, SNOW & THE ENVIRONMENT In addition to overseeing nearly 400 employees, Public Works Director Jonathan Gano is stepping up in 2026 to become president of the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC), dovetailing with his City duties and longtime interests. Jonathan and I sat down at Scenic Route Bakery for coffee and a chat about how a leadership role for this nonprofit fits nicely with his City role. But first, a little background. Jonathan told me that as a teenager growi

TRAINING TOWER FOR FIREFIGHTERS Fire Marshal Jon Lund, left, and Captain Steve Kiburz stand outside the training tower that is part of the new Fire Station 4 under construction at 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The $15.8 million station is expected to open in early 2026. The five-story training tower, shown in the background, will serve firefighters from all 11 Des Moines stations. The cost to build the tower and the covered trench (below grade) is estimated at $300,000