MANAGER'S MESSAGE
Dear Employees,
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is rolling through Des Moines on Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27. The Street Use Committee, along with several other employees within the City, have been working closely with RAGBRAI, Catch Des Moines, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Iowa DOT, Polk County, and other surrounding communities to provide a safe, enjoyable experience for those participating in the event while balancing the needs of our residents and businesses.
The spotlight is going to be on us, and we want to make sure we shine brightly not only as a community, but as an organization. Please do your best to assist residents if they contact the City with inquiries. If you are unable to help with the resources that have been provided to your directors, please redirect people to Catch Des Moines as they have a website established specifically for the event.
Here’s some high-level information:
- riders will be coming from Ames/Ankeny to Des Moines on 7/26/23
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some of the main roads that will be impacted include Hwy 69/E. 14th St., E. 9th St., Walnut, W. MLK. Jr Pkwy and Fleur Drive
- participants will be camping at Des Moines Water Works Park
- Des Moines Water Works Park is the main location for entertainment where Lynyrd Skynyrd will be the headliner
- riders will leave Des Moines and head to Tama-Toledo on 7/27/23
For those of you who travel around Des Moines during your workday, please be aware that traffic will be impacted and that you should expect delays throughout the two-day period. Also, please exercise caution while driving. There will be thousands of cyclists occupying the roads who we aren't used to having in our city. Practice patience and give yourself plenty of time and space while you're out and about.
I know that the planning and preparation for this iconic ride has been a heavy lift for some of our departments and employees and I want you all to know that your efforts don’t go unnoticed. It truly takes a village and I’m proud to be part of such an amazing team. Thank you to everyone who has and will continue to assist in the days to come.
Sincerely,
Scott Sanders, City Manager
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Volunteer Coaching with City of Des Moines Soccer Club
John E. Cook, Neighborhood Services Property Improvement Liaison, has been a volunteer coach for the past two summers with the Des Moines Soccer Club, a team of 18U kids from the city of Des Moines. What makes this team stand out in the tournaments they participate in is that they are made up of primarily first-generation immigrants. With a team of no fewer than seven different languages, tribes and nationalities, John was inspired by their teamwork.
“It is difficult to put into words how much I admire this group of young men,” John said. “They work hard, they fight for each other, they are goofy, they are young boys and grown men simultaneously and they are amazing in so many ways. It has been an honor to coach them during this journey.”
Last year after playing a full season of club soccer through the summer and fall, the team of young men won the Iowa 18U President Cup championship. The team separated over the winter to train for their school clubs and came together again this summer to represent the Des Moines Soccer Club, the City of Des Moines and the State of Iowa, highlighting just what their family looks like. Despite the language barriers, there is one phrase the team says in every breakdown huddle, “Family on 3!”
We appreciate John sharing this story with us. If you see him and have a moment of free time, don’t hesitate to ask him how soccer is going.
We’ve made it easy for you to share your story too! Just go online and complete the form and the Comms team will take it from there. |
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CULTURE & WELL-BEING UPDATES |
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Give Blood. Save Lives. Win the DMCG Trophy!
Make plans to save local lives while scoring Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG) points for our organization at this week's blood drive.
Friday, July 21 from 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Bloodmobile at MSC I
Blood donations are especially important during the summer months as the need for blood increases. Every donation makes a difference! One blood donation can save the lives of up to three different hospital patients in our community.
At the end of the challenge, whichever company from each division has the most presenting donors wins the DMCG Blood Donation Award.
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Des Moines Corporate Games Update |
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Women's
Bowling Team - Bronze
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City of Des Moines employees have been staying busy participating in Des Moines Corporate Games events and bringing home the hardware.
Pictured above are:
- Dodgeball: Bronze – Courtney Haley, Chas Cahill, Alex Strajack, Mike Bahl, Dan Just, Jantina Wennerstrom, Lisa Crabbs and Michael Delp
- Trivia: Silver – Chas Cahill, Gary Goudelock, Janis Steele, Wes Morrison, Michael Delp, Jordan Hutchens, Molly Rupert and John TeKippe
- Women's Bowling: Bronze - Jody Rouse, Eman Mahgoub, Carrie Kruse, Jantina Wennerstrom, and Janis Steele
Congratulations to Nick Tarpey and Fire Chief John TeKippe for placing in Cross Country and Fire Chief TeKippe on placing in the Duathlon.
Corporate Games incentive winners after weeks two-five are: Jeremy Marker, Mike Miller, Michael Delp, Dan Just, Rebecca Linhart, Evan Woods, Alex Strajack, Ryan Doty, Joe Brandstatter, Glory Parks, Breighen Powell, Trenton Powell, Wesley Morrison, Molly Rupert, Gary Goudelock, Mike Bahl, Andy Juelfs, Joe Hyman, Dustin Fulgslang, Lisa Crabbs, Chas Cahill, Carrie Kruse, Sophia Sanchez, Eric Weisenhorn, John TeKippe, Tess Cody, Jantina Wennerstrom and Chad Danley.
Don't forget about this week's blood drive or donating blood at the LifeServe Blood Center Donor Center as part of the Blood Donation Challenge. That's one more way we can earn points for the City before the end of July.
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The City Challenge
We have our fourth City Challenge event, a cornhole tournament, coming up Friday, July 28 at 5:30 p.m. at Captain Roy’s.
We will be accepting one team per department but If you have players that want to switch off games to get more people involved that is great. To RSVP, email CityChallenge@dmgov.org by Tuesday, July 25. |
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National Night Out
In partnership with the Des Moines Police Department and several Des Moines neighborhoods, the Public Works Department will have Oscar the Grouch making guest appearances at Columbus Park and Snookie’s Malt Shop in Beaverdale to visit with kids and their families at this year’s National Night Out, on Tuesday, August 1 from 6-8 p.m.
Kids can meet Oscar and enjoy learning about the Solid Waste Divisions dump trucks. Public Works employees will be there to hand out activity and coloring books to local kids while providing a fun, educational opportunity to learn about all the ways they keep Des Moines clean.
National Night Out is a community event where residents can interact with their law enforcement officers to help raise awareness of crime prevention efforts in their neighborhoods. It’s also a great opportunity to strengthen community spirit! Oscar will appear at Columbus Park at 6 p.m. and Snookie’s at 7 p.m. Check the Police Department’s social media pages in the coming days for other neighborhood locations for National Night Out!
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Mark Your Calendar for Two Technology Updates
July has been a busy month for our dedicated IT team! We're happy to announce two improvements launching later this month that address email security and our employee directory.
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Starting July 26, you'll have access to a new tool to keep your email safe. Suspicious emails will automatically be quarantined before reaching your inbox, making it more difficult to open or share an email received from a cybercriminal.
The Spam Quarantine portal will provide access to review suspicious messages sent to you, delete malicious messages, and release any messages you trust for delivery. Quarantined messages will automatically be deleted after 90 days.
We'll send a reminder CDM Broadcast next week with the full user guide.
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Starting July 31, you'll have access to the City's new digital phonebook. rDirectory is being replaced with Adaxes, a modern directory tool for looking up City employees, City facilities, and general phone numbers for City information.
Adaxes includes all the data from rDirectory and provides you new ways to search, sort, and filter through the directory. You can easily group contacts by department, building or manager. Customize your view and the columns of information you want to see each time you open the directory. If you’re in the directory all day, toggle on “dark mode” to reduce eye strain.
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Parks and Recreation Summer Activities
Summer is in full swing, and our Parks and Recreation Department is staying busy offering all sorts of activities. Make sure you and your family make it a point to check them out!
Friday, July 21st at Beaverdale Park – 6:30 p.m. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Friday, August 4th at Birdland Pool Parking Lot – 6:30 p.m. Finding Nemo
Saturday, July 22nd at Northwest Aquatic Center – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 29th at Woodland Cemetery – 10 a.m.
Saturdays at Gray’s Lake SE Lawn at 9 a.m.
Saturdays at Nahas Aquatic Center at 10:30 a.m.
Check out the full Parks and Recreation summer experience, by checking out their current programming guide.
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New at DMPL: Fall Author Series |
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The Des Moines Public Library is bringing three national, best-selling authors to the library this fall for free events. They are:
· James Rollins, a thriller writer who has sold more than 20 million books in his long, illustrious career, will be at Central Library on Wednesday, August 16.
· William Kent Kreuger, a best-selling mystery and crime author based in Minnesota, will be at Central Library on Wednesday, September 20.
· Margaret Renkl, a best-selling nature author and New York Times columnist, will be visiting Franklin Avenue Library on Thursday, November 2.
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See the Prairie Roots Project at Franklin Avenue Library
A new permanent display at Des Moines Public Library’s Franklin Avenue branch will educate library visitors on and spread awareness of the importance of native perennial plants in rural and urban Iowa landscapes.
Through a partnership with Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, Franklin Avenue Library received a large prairie root specimen from the University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center.
Tallgrass’s Prairie Roots Project grows and preserves these plant specimens and distributes them, via grants, to nature centers and educational organizations in Iowa and beyond.
The specimen now at Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave., is the first to ever be installed at a public library. The large preserved root specimen, an intertwined prairie rose and switchgrass root system, sits inside a custom-built 11-foot-tall enclosure inside the library’s main reading room.
Franklin Avenue Library will highlight the display and the importance of prairie preservation with new books, displays, nature kits for kids and adults, and free public programs for all ages.
Prairie ecosystems were a part of Iowa’s natural heritage for thousands of years, at one point making up 80% of land in what is now Iowa. Today, prairie makes up only one-tenth of 1% of Iowa land. Native prairie plants benefit Iowa land with its deep, dense roots that absorb rainfall, reducing flooding, keeping waterways clean, and providing healthy ecosystems for plants and animals. Reintroducing these plants creates more sustainable environments and habitats.
For more information on the display, plus upcoming special programs, book bundles, and nature kits, visit dmpl.org/prairie-roots.
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Des Moines Police Department Bike Camp
Nine youth recently participated in a week-long bicycle camp sponsored by Des Moines Police Activities League and the Des Moines Street Collective. Kittie Weston-Knauer and Councilman Carl Voss planned the week of activities and lead the way as the youth learned to travel safely on the bike trails and routes throughout the city and Polk County. They worked on their biking skills and got to visit several landmarks in the area.
Des Moines Police Officers Deb VanVelzen, Erin Costanzo, Brooklyn Danti and Jon Maxwell rode alongside the kids providing safety, friendship, and encouragement as they pedaled more than 90 miles. The campers received helmets, their bikes serviced, t-shirts from Bozz Prints, lunch, ice cream and bike safety tips.
Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who made the week special for the kids.
Jeff Wiggins, Transportation Planner, pictured left, even used some of his volunteer time off (VTO) to help with the event. Have you used your VTO yet? Did you take a photo when you did? Please share. Email to: communications@dmgov.org for consideration in a future newsletter. Interested in learning more about VTO? Start here: Policy 5.31.
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EOAC Welcome to DSM Event |
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The Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee (EOAC) recently held its inaugural Welcome to Des Moines event at the Ding Darling Shelter. Newly hired employees were invited to meet and mingle with other new colleagues as well as members of the EOAC.
Through some fun, no-pressure, activities attendees learned each other's favorite hobbies, desired superpowers and something interesting or unusual about each other. If you're interested in learning more about what the EOAC does, check them out on SharePoint. |
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New Video Series Explores What 'Equity' Means to Us
The Equity Office is excited to introduce Equi-Tea Time, a new series that invites you and your coworkers to sit down and discuss all things equity. In this teaser trailer, a few City of Des Moines leaders discuss their own interpretation of equity and how it applies to their public service.
Tune in each month to discover how familiar faces at the City implement equitable practices into their work lives, along with personal testimonies that explain what drives them to use their equity lens every day.
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Upcoming Events
City of Des Moines employees have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for different events held at the Iowa Events Center.
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Some upcoming events to look forward to with discounted tickets available include:
Lauren Daigle-Friday, September 29 at 7 p.m.
(save $10/ticket)
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Have suggestions for the next employee newsletter?
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