Let's Catch Up! February '26

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 moved Knock and Drop to Franklin Junior High, expanding it to a food pantry. This month, it was rebranded as the Iowa Multicultural Food Pantry and moved into larger quarters at Polk County’s Northside Community Center, 3010 Sixth Avenue. Zuli estimates that the senior center’s location will serve 300 to 500 families per week.

Zuli knows how to get things done at a breakneck pace. After the Polk County Supervisors approved Knock and Drop for Northside at its February 3 meeting, the expanded service opened its doors to the public just six days later.

When I visited on a recent Monday, I saw pantry shelves stocked with staples such as rice, beans, spices, and flours commonly used in African, Afghan, Asian, and Latino cuisines.

“This work began with a focus on my Latino culture,” said Zuli, who works as a civilian in the Des Moines Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigations section, “but the mission has always been about serving all neighbors.” Volunteers also deliver to about 10 seniors with medical, transportation, or emergency needs.

“As we have grown, we have expanded our reach even further,” Zuli acknowledged. “This has been possible because we now have a strong foundation and the support of incredible and committed partners who share this vision.

“We want the community to know there are people here to help you! You are part of our community—wherever you’re from.”

Police Chief Mike McTaggart serves up high praise for Zuli. “Since she started with the Des Moines Police Department in 2012,” the chief told me, “Zuleyma developed methods to break down barriers to improve the department and create a better city to live in.

“She’s constantly working to improve Des Moines.”

UPTICK IN DM RECYCLING

City Public Works Director Jonathan Gano shared some good news with me about Des Moines’ recycling efforts in 2025. Four of the eight product categories recycled daily at the Metro Waste Authority’s Metro Recycling Facility near Grimes saw significant increases in tonnage. These are, along with the prices they can bring:

*High-density polyethylene containers, including milk jugs.

**High-density polyethylene containers, including detergent bottles.

***Polyethylene terephthalate plastic, including water bottles and food jars.

Jonathan told me that the revenue from recycled products doesn’t cover the full cost of recycling, which includes trucks, mileage, and labor. But they diverted 6,590 tons of waste from the Metro East Landfill in 2025, valued at $777,000. And that’s a good thing.

NEW CARDBOARD DROP-OFF SITES

Jonathan told me that earlier this year, his team set up three new 24/7 cardboard drop-off locations:

• East Side Library, 2559 Hubbell Avenue

• Southside Library, 1111 Porter Avenue

• Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Avenue

The existing location at 110 Southeast Sixth Avenue (just south of the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks) will remain open for the near future, with six lidded containers.

Metro Waste Authority Community Engagement Manager Cassie Riley told me there are now 29 corrugated (brown) cardboard drop-off locations in the metro. “These are heavily utilized by residents and small businesses,” Cassie said.

She also noted you can drop off cardboard at any Metro location; you do not need to reside in the city where the drop-off is located.

Separate cardboard commands a higher price per ton because it contains no embedded glass, metal, plastic, or food waste, making it easier to process than cardboard separated from other products.

NEW CITY BUILDING OPEN TO PUBLIC

City Manager Scott Sanders, left, shakes hands with former Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie at the February 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building at 1200 Locust Street. Cownie was the longest-serving mayor in the City’s 176-year history.

The new building, now home to 11 city departments, replaces City Hall at 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Four departments—police, fire, public works, and parks and recreation—and our six libraries remain in separate buildings.

The new building consolidates staff from four buildings into a single facility. Meetings rooms? Got plenty now! Somewhere between 20 and 30 meeting rooms have been identified.

Next up for the City’s facility staff: Move into the new Fire Station #4 at 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and the Reichardt Community Center at 915 College Avenue. Stay tuned for more ribbon-cuttings.

BROTHER & SISTER ACT AT DMFD

It was smiles all around for the Dishinger family at the Des Moines Fire Department academy graduation ceremonies on Friday, January 16, when Grant joined his sister, Allie, on the force. It is believed the Dishingers are the first brother and sister to serve on the force.

Alexandra, Grant’s wife, holds their daughter, Amelia, born during Grant’s academy training, following the ceremonies for 19 firefighters who also completed paramedic training. Grant previously served in the Altoona department.

MENTAL HEALTH CALLS LOWER IN 2025

Here’s a dose of good news: Fewer mental health calls were logged in 2025 than in 2024.

Sgt. Sean O’Neill, who heads the Des Moines Police Department’s Mobile Crisis Response Team, reports that total calls to Broadlawns Medical Center’s Crisis Advocacy Response Effort (CARE), supported by the Des Moines force, dropped from 3,922 calls in 2024 to 2,722 in 2025.

The CARE team’s Field calls, with no police officer present, dropped to 1,241 last year vs. 1,468 in 2024. CARE calls via telecommunications fell to 1,514 in 2025 from 2,454 the year before.

One clinician shared a memorable story: “I was called out to a business that had a female employee who was intoxicated and requested help for alcoholism. When I arrived, the employee was in tears and reported that she had previously been sober for six months, but just relapsed three days ago when her husband filed for divorce.

“She said that her current job is the best place she's ever worked, and she doesn't want to lose everything she has built. She needed a substance abuse evaluation for court, due to an OWI, but didn't know where to go. She also wanted inpatient alcohol treatment, but was overwhelmed trying to figure out the process and not having access to her health insurance information.

“We called her insurance company to obtain her information. Ultimately, Community and Family Resources had a bed available for the patient. After her evaluation, the patient quickly got back on the path of recovery.”

NEW LEADER FOR ASIAN OUTREACH

SPO Xiaotian “Bill” Lu was recently named Asian Outreach Resource Officer, replacing Sgt. Dua Lor, who led this unit for 20 years. SPO Lu, a 13-year veteran of the Des Moines force, immigrated to the U.S. from China at age 5. He is believed to be the only police officer in Iowa who speaks Mandarin Chinese.

SPO Lu reports there are 19 Asian DMPD officers (including those of mixed race). Proficient languages include Mandarin Chinese, Tai Dam, Lao, Hmong, Thai, Vietnamese, Tagalog (national language of the Philippines), and Telugu (one of India’s regional languages).

“I have assisted on human trafficking rescue operations around the entire state,” SPO Lu told me. “Due to the sensitive nature of these operations, I feel that in these operations, my language skillset is just a small tool that is used for interviews and assisting with safety plans.

“The bigger assistance I provide to these trafficking victims is familiarity—someone who looks like them, from the same country, speaks their language, and knows on some level where they are coming from in life.

“They can open up more than if they were just speaking to a translator over the phone or using a digital translator with an English-speaking individual.”

SPO Lu also shared details about upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations in several of our Asian communities:

• Chin Asian* 10-4 pm on February 21 at Franklin Junior High

• Vietnamese: 3-6 pm February 28 at the United Steelworkers Local 310 Union Hall (125 N.E. Broadway Avenue), followed by 7-11 pm live entertainment

• Tai Dam 4-6 pm dinner on March 14 at the United Steelworkers Local 310 Union Hall (125 N.E. Broadway Avenue)

• Cambodian:  Saturday, April 11, at the Scottish Rite Consistory (hours TBA)

  *a western state in Myanmar, formerly Burma

Nu Huynh, executive director of the Iowa Asian Alliance, believes the Laotian community will host a celebration in late April. No details available at this time about a Hmong celebration.

MAJOR PROMOTION AT DMPD

Fairfield residents Wanda, left, and Doug Bagby, right, attended their son Kirk’s promotion to major on February 9 in the Des Moines Police Department. Major Bagby will lead the department’s Operations Division, which includes the three watches, patrol support, the bomb squad, airport security, Neighborhood Based Delivery Service, and the traffic unit.

BOOK REPORTS: POPULAR TITLES AT LIBRARY

The Des Moines Public Library staff has compiled its list of the most popular books checked out at one of the six branches in 2025.

Most requested title: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (also the top fiction title). Henry’s historical fiction/romance title follows two journalists as they attempt to write a biography of a reclusive Georgia heiress.

Other popular titles by category:

Nonfiction: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, a self-help book prioritizing personal goals of happiness and personal peace.

Teen: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, a prequel to the 50th Hunger Games. (Collins also ranked #2 and #5 among the Top 10 teen titles.)

DVDs: A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet.

More details on what Des Moines residents are reading.

• The Library of Things: Your Des Moines Public Library has assembled an inventory of machines and gadgets to check out. A carpet washer is the most popular item, followed by a Yoto Player. (Yes, I had to look that up, too.)|

• This just in: Melissa McCollum, the Des Moines Public Library’s new director, is reading The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, a Kiran Desai novel about two young characters who met on a train in India.

• On my nightstand: The Gales of November by John U. Bacon, an accounting of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. And Think Bigger, Lead Better by Des Moines’ own Rick Tollakson.

Let's Catch Up! January '26

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 his crews aim to fill potholes within 24 to 48 hours of receiving each ticket. Other categories:

• Trash - 866 reports (12.3%)

• Tall grass and weeds - 856 reports (12.1%)

• Trees - 669 reports (9.5%)

• Inoperable vehicle on private property - 436 reports (6.2%)

• Snow - 427 reports (6.0%)

• Graffiti - 364 reports (5.2%)

• Request a street sweeper - 361 reports (5.1%)

• Traffic sign missing – 198 reports (2.8%)

• Traffic signal problem - 182 reports (2.6%)

• Stormwater problem - 176 reports (2.5%)

• Alleyway repair - 141 reports (2.0%)

• Sanitary sewer problem - 45 reports (0.6%)

• Report work without a permit - 41 reports (0.6%)

• Rooster concern/complaint - 40 reports (0.6%)

Something to crow about: 2024 marked the first year for rooster complaints—just four tickets opened. The jump to 40 in 2025 represents a 900% increase.

Here is the 2025 Top 10 leader board:

1. Roy Salcedo -76

2. Renda Barbieri-Snyder 61

3. Kenzie Henderson, aka “Pothole Wrangler” -51

4. Albert Daniel -43

5. Tyler Haberman -40

6. Charles Beebe III -34

7. Jami Yoder -33

8. Pavla DeFrancisco -32

9. Tie: Seth Hall and Jason Bahr - 30

I reported 28 myDSMmobile incidents in 2025, just a tick below the Top 10.

VOLUNTEER WINS GOLDEN GRABBER

John Taylor, a friend from the running and biking community, became obsessed in 2021 with picking up trash along downtown trails. And he hasn’t downshifted. For his dedication to trail cleanup, Des Moines Parks and Recreation will recognize John Taylor as its Volunteer of the Year at a January 27 ceremony. Parks and Recreation staff will recognize eight other individuals or groups for their volunteer efforts that evening.

Besides a handsome plaque, the Parks and Recreation department dressed up a trash grabber for John—far too nice for trail work, but nice for a wall in his condo at The Plaza.

Here are some stats from 2021–2025 that make John the GOAT local trail trash fanatic:

• Hours: 1,428.8

• Value: $47,073.13

• Filled-to-the-brim trash bags (2024 and 2025 only): 383

To give you a clearer picture of what 383 bags would look like, imagine two school buses nose-to-tail, both brimming with litter.

For John, it’s not work. He’s always walked or run a lot, having completed 30 Boston Marathons, and this year (April 20), on two replacement hips!

Parks and Recreation supplies John with plastic bags, disposal gloves, and a trash grabber. He texts City Field Coordinator Katy Cantin the pickup locations for his filled bags. Broken trash grabber? Nothin’ a little duct tape can’t fix!

If you run into John, ask him about his worst trashcapades. He’ll probably tell you about the Neal Smith Trail beneath the University Avenue Bridge (giant ugh; always at least two bags). Or the time he found a dead body along the Carl Voss Trail (true story). Or maybe when he picked up two $50 bills (donated them to the Botanical Garden). Or the time the Urban Bike Food Ministry volunteers mistook him for a homeless guy and offered up a burrito and water.

Free food notwithstanding, “the most rewarding aspect of volunteering,” John told me, “is the hundreds of thank-yous I’ve received.”

Good luck at Boston, John. Then, get back here healthy and keep filling those bags!

FIRST FULL YEAR FOR LIFE SERVICES CENTER

Since opening in mid-November 2024, the Life Services Center at 1914 Carpenter Avenue has made a significant impact in the community. Steve Johnson, Broadlawns Medical Center’s government liaison, shared some encouraging numbers:

• Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Averaged 12 patients daily and helped more than 3,500 individuals seeking mental health assistance.

• Crisis Observation Center: Sees an average of two new patients a day.

• Sobering Center (operated by St. Vincent de Paul): Averages nearly four admissions a day and supported 1,418 guests in 2025.

St. Vincent de Paul CEO Steve Havemann estimates that since opening in November 2024, the Sobering Center has saved taxpayers $3.5 million in emergency room expenses, $74,000 in admissions avoided at the Polk County jail, and 35,000 law enforcement hours. The City of Des Moines contributes 50 percent of the Life Services operating budget, or up to $600,000 annually.

Steve told me the Sobering Center staff had a busy December, with 152 guests admitted:

• 54 arrived via police from Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Windsor Heights, or the Mobile Crisis team.

• 4 were transported by Des Moines Fire/EMS crews.

• 4 are regulars who arrive nearly every night.

• 32 were new guests.

“We struggled to get guests into treatment when they requested,” Steve reflected. “We found out the months of November and December are busy months to receive treatment, as people want to do this [sobriety treatment] for their family before the holidays.

“We were able to send two guests to the House of Mercy to get same-day help.”

BUSY YEAR FOR HOYT SHERMAN

Is there a busier Des Moines venue than Hoyt Sherman Place?

When I reached out to Hoyt Sherman Place CEO Robert Warren for a 2025 update, he reported that the historic site at 15th and Woodland Avenue:

• Hosted 432 events and welcomed 103,948 guests. The tally includes 99 headliner artists, from comedy to country, in the 1,252-capacity theater, plus 333 additional bookings, including meetings, events, conferences, breakfast clubs, corporate rentals, and classes. Wowzer!

• Des Moines residents purchased 10,862 tickets, spending $528,014.

• Ticket buyers living more than 50 miles away made up a third of attendees, spending $1,547,000 and contributing to local restaurants and hotels.

• 225 Des Moines residents made personal donations of more than $110,519.

• A big hand up from BRAVO, which awarded $289,500 for 2026.

Robert ticked off four additional proud moments:

1. The Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, “And we are now completely debt-free!”

2. For the fifth time, the American College Theater Festival generated more than 600 hotel room nights in the dead of January.

3. And more than 500 people from across the country attended an eight-day Community Theater Festival this past summer.

4. In 2025, Catch Des Moines recognized Hoyt Sherman Place with the Tourism Champion Award.

Susan and my personal favorite Hoyt Sherman moment from 2025: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s “Creole Christmas” and pianist Kyle Roussel’s “Silent Night.”

ARTS FESTIVAL BENEFITS 4 NONPROFITS

Four local nonprofits recently were awarded a total of $40,000 for volunteer staffing at the 2025 Des Moines Arts Festival beverage stations. Here’s a snapshot of the partners and how they used their hard-earned dollars:

• Community Youth Concepts updated its Stowe Heights Challenge Course, an East Side ropes course accessible to youths 10 and older.

• Cowles Montessori Parent Group intends to use the generated funds to host 25 local artists for a Fine Arts Day, to fill the Cowles art supply closet for teachers and staff, and support after-school enrichment activities.

• Des Moines Refugee will use these funds to purchase art supplies, camps, and summer activities for youths involved with Des Moines Refugee Support.

• Perkins Elementary PTA plans to use its funds to purchase musical playground equipment, supplies for their new art teacher, and recorders for the music room. Parents can appreciate that the instruments will stay at school and not be played at home (whew!).

PRIDE PICKS UP THE BEAT

In June, I wrote about the newly formed Iowa Pride Ensembles that marched for the first time in the June 8 PrideFest parade. “This was grassroots recruiting and word of mouth,” Meredith Murphy, one of the co-founders, told me. “We had 65 marching with us on Sunday. Ages ranged from 19 to 65 years—professional musicians, band directors, and some who hadn’t marched since high school.”

In the photo above, that’s Amanda Thomas-Murphy, Pride Ensembles artistic director and co-founder, leading the band.

The new group planned to establish a pep band, a jazz band, and a concert band. And they’re checking the boxes: The Pride Ensembles marched in Valley Junction and Ankeny pride parades. And Iowa Pride Ensembles won the “People’s Choice” and “Pitch With Pride” awards from the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.

“At our ‘Coming Out Of The Dark’ concert on December 21,” board community liaison and co-founder Rachel Gulick told me, “we performed with 60 musicians, had an audience of 350, and 50 of those were youth! Our goal was to sell 150 tickets, so we’re ecstatic over all the support.

“Saturday, March 28, at Bash DSM [event space at 1312 Locust Street], Pride Ensembles will shift to its first ‘Swing Fling,’ a night of big-band jazz music, light apps, drinks, a VIP experience, and of course, swing dance! Don’t worry, we’re bringing in dance instructors.

“We’re utilizing this event as our fundraiser for our marching band season and beyond. We hope to see you there!”

Look for details about February 1.

ARF! FREE PET FOOD

Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Iowa’s Abbey Youker talks to a Des Moines resident next in line for the mobile Pet Food Pantry in September. The ARL’s new mobile pantry, which opened in August, provides free pet food and cat litter at locations sprinkled around the City.

Abbey told me that in 2025, ARL assisted more than 2,300 families (8,000 companion animals) by furnishing more than 100,000 pounds of pet food and 1,745 units of kitty litter at 40 mobile Pet Food Pantry stops. ARL plans similar weekly Pet Food Pantries this year. When supplies allow, the ARL also provides free pet food at 12 food pantries. Residents in need of pet food can visit the ARL events page to see when and where the next Pet Food Pantry will be located.

Steve Rohrer, director of ARL community partnerships and animal services, told me ARL hosted 52 low-cost/no-cost Wellness and Community Paws Clinics in 2025. Most of these clinics were held on Fridays at the Des Moines Animal Services building. One of the first mobile clinics at Grand View University, sponsored by Invest DSM, drew 53 dogs and 37 cats (plus their humans). Steve told me the ARL plans to host 10 Community Paws clinics this year, where pet owners can get their pets vaccinated and microchipped at no cost. How to register.

Late last year, the ARL used a $1 million donation from Ardin and Nona Backous to purchase two low-cost storefront veterinary clinics. Now rebranded as ARL Afford-A-Care East (1258 E 14th Street; just north of University) and Afford-A-Care South (3003 SE 14th Street; north of Park Avenue), these clinics expand the ARL’s affordable quality veterinary care to the community.

SOCCER THROW-INS

Late last year, I had breakfast at the Hobnob in the Hotel Fort Des Moines with Scott Munn, the newly appointed director of soccer operations for the Krause Group, which will bring men’s and women’s USL professional soccer to the City. Scott previously served as chief football officer at Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League and is relocating to Des Moines.

Scott told me he has recommended that the pitch — field, as Americans say — planned for the new stadium be a hybrid system modeled after the Premier League pitches: about 95 percent natural grass and 5 percent synthetic. The synthetic fibers are stitched in, Scott explained, allowing the field to recover quickly from wear and tear. With a little online poking around, I learned the UK considers itself the “Silicon Valley of Turf.”

And a heated pitch! Because of women’s matches into December, Scott has recommended an undersoil heating system to keep the pitch playable year-round. Think of something similar to Lambeau Field, where the Green Bay Packers play.

Currently, the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation—the nonprofit that will build and own the stadium—is reviewing RFPs for the stadium’s design and construction. First matches are expected in 2029.

Scott’s ambitious Des Moines goals also include securing a location for professional practices and a youth academy.

Stay tuned for more developments!

HARM-REDUCTION VENDING MACHINE

In July, I included information about a new 24/7 harm-reduction vending machine outside the Polk County Health Department at 1907 Carpenter Avenue. There, residents can pick up naloxone (branded often as Narcan), which rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, and 14 other items. Polk County Public Health communications supervisor Addie Olson reported that from May to December, nearly 15,000 items were dispensed. Yes, all free and no registration required.

For 2025, Plan B (an emergency contraceptive) was the most popular item (2,382 packages), followed by sexual lubricant (1,685) and latex-free condoms (1,486). Other high-profile categories: naloxone (No. 6, 1,206 kits) and gun locks (No. 7, 806).

In that July newsletter, Allison Smith, executive director of the project partner Family Planning Council of Iowa, said: “Some of the items are more sensitive health products. The vending machine enables people to access potentially life-saving supplies more privately.”

“We are very interested in adding more health and safety vending machines throughout the community,” Addie told me in the new year’s first week. “We have been working with partners to identify other potential locations and funding avenues.” Details.

SAFE BARS LIST GROWS

Polk County Public Health communications supervisor Addie Olson reports that in 2025, 15 local bars or restaurants completed Safe Bars training. The three-hour program, patterned after the national Safe Bars training, teaches staff to recognize, respond to, and intervene in sexual harassment and related gender violence. The local Safe Bar program also includes training on how to deliver Narcan, a medication to reverse an opioid overdose quickly.

The certified Safe Bars list includes: Buzzard Billy's, The Continental, Escape Lounge, Hessen Haus, Iowa Taproom, Joe's Pub, The Kee, McCann's Tap, Palms DSM, Polk City Pub, The Purveyor, Ricochet, The Royal Mile, Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, and University Library Café.

Amara Sama, above, owner of Palms DSM, at 1905 Ingersoll Avenue, completed the Safe Bars training in October. “The team used real-life scenarios that strengthened our ability to screen situations,” Amara said. “As a new restaurant owner, I appreciate any tools or training that would help make this space safer for everyone.”

In the photo below, Amara has placed Safe Bar stickers on Palms DSM's entrance doors and additional signage in the women’s restroom.

The next three-hour training program is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, at Hoyt Sherman Place. Registration details.

AWARD-WINNING BRICK SIDEWALK

Later this month, 1000 Friends of Iowa will present the Capitol Park Neighborhood with its Best Development Award in the Neighborhood Revitalization Category. The neighborhood, which spans both sides of the Des Moines River between 2nd Avenue and East 14th Street, celebrated the completion of new brick sidewalks at 1300 Fremont Street in early September.

The City has reconstructed brick sidewalks in front of a few homes. Still, no one in Engineering or Development Services can recall an entire block of brick sidewalks being rebuilt within the last 30 years.

Most of the bricks from the old Fremont sidewalks were salvaged for the $88,000 project, funded by grants from the City, Polk County, and Prairie Meadows. The contractor first constructed a concrete base for the new sidewalk. A bed of sand over the concrete allowed the crew to level the bricks.

Joining in for the celebratory photo above were Anuprit Minhas, senior City planner in development services; Chelsea Lepley, Capitol Park Neighborhood Association vice president; Dena Bennett, the association’s president; and Jon Hanson, its treasurer.

FOOD COMMITTEE READY TO ROLL

What began as the Food Security Task Force in December 2020 has transformed into the Food Sustainability Advisory Committee, with new duties.

The City Council approved the change, elevating the group to a standing committee, at its November 17 meeting. City council approved the appointments at its December 8 meeting:

• Hailey Boudreau – community health consultant, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Brings expertise in public health nutrition and statewide healthy-eating programs. Served on the second Food Security Task Force.

• Katie Das – state coordinator, Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT). Focused on farmland preservation and sustainable agriculture outreach.

• Paul Gibbins – regional director, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach. Provides leadership in community education, youth development, and agricultural programming.

• Amy Joens – community garden specialist, Lutheran Services in Iowa (Global Greens). Leads refugee farmer and community gardening programs.

• Sheila Knoploh-Odole – Attorney and sustainability consultant, Knoploh Law & Consulting. Former SILT director and served on both prior Food Security Task Force iterations.

• Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz – food rescue logistics manager, Eat Greater Des Moines. Coordinates large-scale food recovery and redistribution efforts. Served on the second Food Security Task Force.

• Adam Shriver – director of wellness and nutrition, Harkin Institute for Public Policy. Experienced food and environmental researcher with a focus on public engagement.

• Vannessa Silva – produce manager, Gateway Market. Experienced in food retail operations and served on the second Food Security Task Force.

• Kathy Underhill – chief executive officer, Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). Leads Central Iowa’s largest food pantry network and brings national anti-hunger leadership experience.

Breann Bye and Nick Tarpey from Development Services will staff the monthly meetings, with a kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Breann told me: “It is anticipated the new committee will focus on initiatives that expand and support urban food production, advance local food entrepreneurship and market access, strengthen community gardens and orchards, promote food-friendly policies, and improve coordinated community food access and resilience across Des Moines.”

Let's Catch Up! December '25

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 growing up in DuPage County, west of Chicago, his family was “aggressively environmental.” He assumed every household also subscribed to Mother Earth News, a top-of-mind coffee table magazine. And he assumed other kids his age got an “atta boy!” for adding a brick to the toilet tank to reduce water consumption.

The West Point-educated and licensed civil engineer began volunteering with the IEC shortly after assuming the City’s Public Works leadership role, in January 2015. Since arriving in Des Moines, his primary IEC focus has been on water quality and water quantity. “I’m a believer in quality measures to reduce water quantity,” Jonathan told me, “and thereby reducing flood risk.”

Reducing flood risk ties directly to Jonathan’s Public Works role. Every April, his department holds its annual Flood Meeting to review everyone’s role during an emergency response, should one of our rivers or creeks overtop its banks. In that case, it’s all hands on deck.

Back to water quality. “I’m a believer that cover crops and no-till are the most effective ways to reduce flooding,” he told me. “The best local examples are the Fourmile Creek Watershed Management Authority and the Beaver Creek Watershed Plan.

“There’s good science on cover crops showing the economic and conservation benefits,” Jonathan told me. “Minnesota has a conservation program that requires permanent vegetation adjacent to waterways. The Minnesota Buffer Law could be a model to replicate.”

Jonathan points to a cooperative program among Polk County, Des Moines Water Works, the City of Des Moines, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture to purchase a Hagie-manufactured cover crop seeder that has shown positive results in the Central Iowa Watershed. In the five years Heartland Co-op has operated the machine, they have spread 32,738 acres of cover crops on more than 100 farms.

GO WITH THE FLOW: NEW WASTEWATER AGREEMENT

Regional communities are in the final stages of agreeing to a 12-year Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) operating contract for the treatment plant, plus a separate shared resources contract, commonly known as a 28E agreement. Every community, county, and sewer district—18 in all—have approved the agreement.

What many residents call the sewage treatment plant is located at 3000 Vandalia Road on Des Moines property. The 100-plus WRA employees are city employees.

Des Moines City Attorney Jeff Lester told me that initial work on the new agreement commenced five years ago. Jeff reports activity has ramped up dramatically within the last three years.

Besides extending the contract to 2038, the new agreement shifts community support from population-based (City Council members Joe Gatto, Linda Westergaard, and I represent Des Moines) to “flow” representation; think flushes. With of 41–44 percent of the WRA flow, Des Moines will have approximately two-fifths of the weighted vote representation and the equivalent financial support.

So flush away!

FITTING IN WITH NOCE JAZZ PROS

Alto saxophone player Andrew Whittmer, a Michigan State University sophomore, is one of seven young members of the 18-piece Nate Sparks Big Band performing jazz holiday tunes Saturday, December 20, at Noce Jazz & Cabaret Club, 1326 Walnut Street.

Saturday’s concerts mark Andrew’s third year performing in Nate’s big band holiday show, beginning with a professional gig when he was a Waukee Northwest senior. “When I went to my first rehearsal,” Andrew told me, “I was seated in front of my high school band instructor, Chris Strohmaier, who was playing trumpet. A great memory!

“Playing in Nate’s big band gives young musicians like me an idea of the professional jazz culture,” said Andrew, who plays in a Michigan State jazz big band and “every ensemble I can find. And as a high school student, Nate’s big band prepared us to play at a higher level. When I arrived at Michigan State, I was ready to fit in.”

Nate selected Andrew and six additional former high school Youth Jazz Orchestra musicians he mentored for this year’s big band: Hudson Lybarger, Colin McCann, Ryan Fitch, Ethan Cecil, Grace Aerisolphal, and Jack Deahl.

“We all appreciate Nate pushing us,” Andrew added.

Saturday's performance will be heavy on Nate's arrangements of holiday tunes, as well as Duke Ellington's “Nutcracker Suite.”

Noce schedule and tickets.

LASTING BENEFITS OF PRESCHOOL

Earlier this month, I attended a safety meeting at Woodlawn Education Center on Lower Beaver Avenue, one of four Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) preschools. About a dozen of us gathered around a table to discuss safer crosswalks for schoolchildren, parents, and staff along this busy corridor. Two weeks earlier, a motorist struck a parent and child in a crosswalk. Yes, safety improvements are underway.

During the meeting, Kristin Rourk, director of DMPS Early Childhood programs, mentioned the value of preschool education, which continues to fuel student performance through the seventh grade. I asked Kristin to follow up with the metrics she mentioned. Her email included impressive data that clearly charts student performance in key reading comprehension and math skills, as the charts above demonstrate.

Kristin told me about 950 students attend the four Early Childhood Centers, with about 400 additional preschoolers in satellite classrooms located at 12 elementary schools. Some families qualify for reduced fees, based on income.

• Every $1 invested in preschool returns $17 in the form of reduced costs for special education, welfare, and crime, plus increased earnings and tax revenues from program participants later in life.

• Short- and long-term gains were greatest for low-income children and dual-language learners.

• Research also confirms positive effects in social-emotional behavioral health development, as children were provided access and support in building friendships and participating in learning with peers.

There’s more, of course.

Given the results, preschool for all would deliver an eye-popping return on investment. However, DMPS estimates that fully funding an all-day preschool program for 2,300 students would add about $9 million to the school budget.

Just me, but I think preschool for all is worth a second look.

SUCCESSFUL VOTE RESULTS VIA QR CODE

Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald reported a pilot program successfully reported unofficial results from the November 4 municipal and school board races to the election headquarters. Yes, a first-in-the-nation program!

Unisyn selected Polk County to pilot the secure transmission of precinct results with QR codes via election-only county-provided Microsoft Surface Pro tablets to the election offices, now located at Polk County Riverplace (2309 Euclid Avenue). Election staff assigned a unique QR code to each of the county’s 176 precincts.

Jamie told me the precinct election official scanned the QR code from the ballot machine tally or the machine-generated results tape. He said results began arriving at 8:05 p.m.—just minutes after the polls closed and on the heels of absentee ballot reporting. As prescribed by Iowa law, the unofficial election night results are audited within 20 days of the election to determine official results.

Polk County will use the same process December 30 for the special election to choose a new state senator to replace Claire Celsi, who died October 6.

“The entire process worked really well,” Jamie added. “This is a great, secure way to get unofficial results. The vendor is now trying to make the reporting even easier.”

“The new QR code reporting should provide our voters with a renewed sense of security,” said Jamie Dorrell, a Southside precinct election official. “The closing and transmittal process, while not experienced by the public, was far more efficient and secure.

“Gone are the days of waiting 15 to 30 minutes for a phone call to transmit precinct results. As a precinct captain, I cannot begin to express my appreciation enough for the investment into updating technology and ensuring a fair and secure election.”

Two Unisyn employees were on-site for the November 4 returns; four additional employees worked remotely to support. McDermot Couts, the Unisyn team leader, told me that “Polk County was the inspiration for the project. Together, we were looking for a sustainable solution to communicating results that also met standards for a secure system.

“The willingness of the Polk County team to work with us brought it to reality. Their [Polk County election workers] forward-thinking approach to elections is a gift to a vendor who is willing to listen.

“The system is certified in Iowa, so that will remain our focus. As we certify it in other states, we hope to expand the QR code program. The design is such that previous versions of our system can be upgraded with minimal impact.”

A PEEK AT 2025 HABITAT BUYERS

If you have a preconceived idea who is a typical buyer of a new Habitat for Humanity homebuyer, you might be surprised at the wide variety of occupations.

Danny Akright, director of communications for the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, provided a snapshot of the 43 new Habitat buyers in the metro area. Thirty-four homeowners put down roots in new Des Moines homes.

Amazon employee Ray Fitzgerald, above, his wife, Kristina, and their daughters Emma, left, and Kylie, moved into their new Habitat home on the northeast side of Des Moines just days before Thanksgiving.

Here are the occupations of this year’s new homeowners:

• 12 manufacturing employees, making products ranging from tires to frozen foods, to windows and doors

• 9 employees of a local package distributor, with roles including packaging and processing, assembly, quality assurance, and local delivery

• 7 full-time custodians, ranging from food-processing plants, to restaurants, to a school district

• 4 employees at a major meat processor

• 4 retail clerks

• 3 employees of a major household goods manufacturer

• 2 interpreters

• 2 educators

• 2 support staff (a home health care company and a hospital system)

• 2 home health care providers (health care company and Medicaid provider)

• 2 public safety professionals (police department and Iowa National Guard)

• 1 customer service representative at a scientific materials manufacturer

• 1 assistant service manager at a farm implement dealer

• 1 auto mechanic at a local custom car builder

• 1 construction worker building food-service systems

• 1 delivery driver

There are a handful of households with two employed adults.

Danny told me that of the new 2025 homeowners:

• 26 are single-parent households

• 18 households have three or more children

• 13 are households with young adults

• Average household size: four individuals

In 2025, a typical Habitat home was appraised at about $244,000. The Habitat 30-year mortgage, based on 30 percent of household income, is about $191,000. Donations, volunteer hours, and grants—including the Community Block Grant through the City—cover the difference between the appraised cost to build and the Habitat mortgage.

AIRPORT’S NEW DIRT MOUNTAIN

At a recent Southwestern Hills Neighborhood Association meeting, board member Steve Sarcone asked about the towering mound of dirt approaching Fleur Drive that appeared on the airport property over the summer.

Glad you asked, Steve!

Brian Mulcahy, CEO of the Des Moines Airport Authority, reports that contractors have hauled 200,000 cubic yards of dirt—about 20,800 truckloads—for the terminal expansion. The airport is adding six gates to the 13 it operates. The new terminal and additional gates are expected to be operational in early 2027, with five more added in late 2029.

With a tip of the hat to C.W. McCall’s 1975 hit song “Convoy,” a bumper-to-bumper convoy of trucks delivering that much dirt would stretch across 275 miles of I-80 from Council Bluffs to nearly the Walcott exit in eastern Iowa (the Iowa 80 truck stop).

Gina Beltrame, another Southwestern Hills resident, followed up with a question about the trucks pounding the recently resurfaced Fleur Drive.

City Engineer Steve Naber told me Fleur Drive, from McKinley Avenue to north of Bell Avenue, was completely reconstructed from 2019–2024. The pavement was removed down to the dirt and replaced with a new, full-depth pavement, plus a base course and underdrain system to accommodate the 30,000 vehicles that use the street each day.

Steve added that due to impacts from sun rays, freezing and thawing, and surface wearing, full-depth asphalt pavements such as this typically need resurfacing—milling off the couple of inches of surface and replacing it with new asphalt—but only every 15–25 years. So, not to worry, Gina: The City shouldn’t need to fully reconstruct this newly reconstructed stretch of Fleur Drive for several decades.