City of Des Moines - Government

06/12/2026

🚧 Street Closures in the East Village neighborhood are in place in the Historic East Village for the Capital City Pride Festival this weekend. 🚧

Capital City Pride Festival (effective through end of day Sunday, June 14)
E Locust St, E 3rd St to E 4th St, E 4th St to E 6th St, & E 6th St to E 7th St
E 5th St, E Grand Ave to E Walnut St
E 4th St, E Grand Ave to E Walnut St
E 6th St, E Grand Ave to E Walnut St

Capital City Pride Festival (effective 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday June 13)
E Locust St, E 3rd St to E 2nd St
E 2nd St, E Locust St to E Grand Ave
E 3rd St, E Locust St to E Walnut St

Capital City Pride Stride Closures (effective 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13)
E 4th St, E Locust St to E Court Ave
E Court Ave, E 4th St to Water St
E 1st St, E Market St to E Court St

Capital City Pride Parade Closures (effective 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 14)
E Grand Ave, Robert D Ray Dr to E 14th St
E 2nd St, E Grand Ave to E Locust St (with limited access to the garage)

06/12/2026

🚨New Art Alert🚨

Under the coordination of the Community Impact and Relations Department, the Des Moines Youth Advisory Board has partnered with East High School - Des Moines art students to design and paint a mural in a spot that was identified by City staff as an ideal location for beautification efforts.

Des Moines Public Schools art teacher Ryan Koning and her talented students designed the art piece “Imagination Lives Here.” Beyond imagination, the impact of these students lives here, adding beauty, color and a sense of belonging to a Des Moines trail for years to come.

Previously, the wall was a canvas for taggers; now, the mural showcases community and a strong connection to our city.

Projects like these are just one way the Youth Advisory Board is helping make a positive impact for youth in Des Moines.

06/10/2026

Even before the next fiscal year begins, we’re already planning for the operating budget that begins July 2027.

Des Moines City Council is hosting a budget discussion on Wednesday, June 17 to kick off an extended process. We’ll hear from the City Manager and Finance Director about what Iowa's property tax law changes (including a 2% cap on growth) mean for the future of Des Moines municipal government services.

There won't be public comment, but it's the starting point for a larger conversation that will include opportunities for you to share your budget priorities this summer. The City Manager will present a recommended budget to the public and City Council at the beginning of 2027.

06/10/2026

Continued investment in the evolution of Downtown Des Moines.

The City of Des Moines has launched Restore the Core DSM, a new $7 million incentive program designed to help transform long-vacant ground-floor commercial spaces into active businesses, destinations, and community gathering places.

“Downtown Des Moines is the economic engine of our city, a destination for visitors, and a growing neighborhood with more than 1,600 residential units currently under construction,” said Mayor Connie Boesen. “As more people live, work, and spend time downtown, active storefronts play an even greater role in daily life. Restore the Core DSM gives us another tool to fill vacant spaces, support local businesses, and incentivize the kinds of businesses that make downtown a stronger, more active, and more connected neighborhood and destination.”

Learn more about eligibility requirements and application opportunities at DSM.city/restorethecoredsm.

06/09/2026

🚨We’re helping Des Moines Water Works spread the word about the Stage 3 Water Warning issued yesterday.🚨

Stage 3 is a ban on lawn watering for businesses, residential and governmental customers served by Des Moines Water Works.

This ban is due to persistently high nitrate concentrations in raw source waters which are creating significant operational strain on the regional water treatment system. Limiting water use will help Des Moines Water Works lower the high nitrate levels and continue to produce and deliver high-quality drinking water to homes and businesses.

Please turn off your irrigation and sprinkler systems to help.
During the summer, lawn watering can account for up to 40 percent of daily water use. Small changes by many customers can make a big difference for our community’s water supply.

During Stage 3 of the Water Use Plan, the lawn watering ban will be enforced by Des Moines Water Works according to their policies. This includes residents and businesses in Alleman, Berwick, Bondurant, Cu***ng, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, Unincorporated Polk County and Windsor Heights.

Individuals can report addresses in the DMWW service area to have their irrigation reviewed by DMWW staff by e-mailing [email protected].

Together, these simple actions help preserve critical water supplies, maintain reliable service, and ensure high-quality drinking water for our community all summer long.

06/08/2026

Take Note Des Moines: Central Iowa Water Works has moved to Stage 3 of its Water Use Plan, which includes a regional ban on lawn watering for homeowners, businesses, and government agencies in Greater Des Moines.

This action is necessary to preserve the region’s drinking water supply as water treatment facilities continue to manage elevated nitrate levels in source waters. While drinking water remains safe and meets all state and federal standards, the regional water system is operating at the limits of its available treatment resources.

🚨The Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) Board of Trustees has initiated Stage 3 of its Water Use Plan, implementing a mandatory lawn watering ban for residential, business, and government customers across the region.

To help manage elevated nitrate concentrations in source waters and ensure adequate treatment capacity, the regional system is utilizing all available resources, including the Nitrate Removal Facility, Maffitt Reservoir, and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells.

Visit: https://ciww.gov for more information on this notice and frequently asked questions.

All drinking water produced by Central Iowa Water Works meets all Safe Drinking Water Standards.

The following communities and agencies are affected by this alert: Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Norwalk, Polk City, Waukee, Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility, West Des Moines Water Works, Warren Water and portions of the Xenia Water District.

06/05/2026

🚧 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Due to the rain we have received this week and the rain still forecast, we've delayed the start of this project to next Friday, June 12. Thank you again to everyone for your patience.🚧

Crews will begin resurfacing Hickman Road between Merle Hay Road and Beaver Avenue as part of a project to improve pavement conditions and extend the roadway's life. Work includes repairing select sections of pavement and replacing the top layer of asphalt along the corridor.

Construction will take place in five stages, beginning near Merle Hay Road and progressing east. During construction, "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" signs will be posted at each end of the project area. Residents within the project limits will still be able to access their homes, though access routes may change depending on the active construction stage.

Please note: During milling and patching operations, residents will be able to access driveways. However, on the day asphalt is placed, the street will be closed, and driveway access will be temporarily unavailable until the new pavement has cooled and the roadway reopens, typically later the same day.

Drivers and residents are encouraged to use caution in the work zone and watch for construction crews, trucks, and heavy equipment.

Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to Hickman Road!

06/03/2026

As spring starts feeling like summer and the sun shines down intense solar rays across Des Moines, our solar panels collect that energy, providing clean electricity to City facilities.☀️

Since the Harriet Street Solar Field came online in August 2024, it has generated approximately 1,800 MWh of electricity.

This production has avoided over 1,527 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. These avoided emissions are equivalent to 280 homes' electricity use for one year.

What this means: when greenhouse gases are released into Earth’s atmosphere, it creates a warming effect. Solar energy and other clean sources reduce emissions released into the atmosphere.

This solar field is joined by many other solar installations across the City of Des Moines. - Just one initiative in the City of Des Moines’ sustainability plan, Adapt DSM.💚

05/29/2026

🍔 The long lines were worth it at this week's Out to Lunch! 🌮

Thanks to everyone who joined us as food trucks took over 12th street from Locust to Grand Ave to provide a variety of bites for the Downtown Des Moines - DSM's Out To Lunch event.

✨ We co-hosted this week's lunch was with American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company.✨

Out to Lunch events will be held downtown weekly on Wednesdays until June 24 with different food vendors taking to downtown each week. 🎟️

See you next week for the next round of Out to Lunch fun!

To check locations for each week, visit: https://www.dsmpartnership.com/downtowndsmusa/experiencing-downtown/festivals-and-markets/out-to-lunch

05/28/2026

🚧 Temporary road closures are taking place this week across several Des Moines neighborhoods to facilitate the Dam to DSM race happening Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 29:
• Locust St, 2nd Ave to Robert D Ray Dr

Starting at 4 a.m. on Saturday, May 30:
• Locust St, 5th Ave to 2nd Ave
• 2nd Ave, Walnut St to Locust St
• 3rd St, Grand Ave to Walnut St
• Cherry St, Eastbound South Curb, between 9th St and 7th St – Bus staging
• NW Aurora Ave, 12th St to 11th St
• 11th St, Aurora Ave to Oak Park Ave
• Oak Park Ave, 11th St to 9th St
• E 9th St, Thompson Ave to E Jefferson Ave
• E Jefferson Ave, E 9th St to Pennsylvania Ave
• Saylor Rd / Pennsylvania Ave, Guthrie Ave to Cleveland Ave
• Robert D Ray Dr, Armory Parking Lot to E Locust St – Southbound lanes only
• Des Moines St, Robert D Ray Dr to E 4th St – Eastbound lanes only
• E 4th St, Des Moines St to E Locust St – Southbound lanes only
• Locust St, E 4th St to Robert D Ray Dr – Westbound lanes only

All of the above closures will end by 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.

Use caution when driving in this area and follow posted signage.
Find information for current road closures at DSM.city/Closures