NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATE

City News for Neighborhood Association Leaders and Residents

August 2022 | {View as Webpage}

The Iowa State Fair is well underway, and we've started the final countdown until school is back in session - it must be August!

This month's Neighborhood Update deviates from the normal. The City has announced and started work on a number of new initiatives this summer, and we are looking for resident participation and feedback.

If the opportunities below interest you or someone you know, mark your calendar, share the sign-up links, or fill out the surveys! 

As we do each month, we encourage you to get your COVID vaccine shot if you have not already. You can get COVID-19 information here.

The Next Step for MoveDSM

Adopted in 2018, MoveDSM was the City's first Transportation Master Plan. This plan was followed by a complete streets policy update and a new CIP project development process to reflect the goals and objectives. Vision Zero is the next step in the master plan.

Vision Zero is an idea with an end goal, but it will take strategies and commitment to a plan to make Vision Zero a reality. The following strategies will be followed to make sure the City of Des Moines implements the necessary changes to ensure transportation is usable and safe for everyone.

• Building and sustaining leadership, collaboration, and accountability - especially among a diverse group of stakeholders. This includes transportation professionals, members of the City Council, public health officials, community members, and police officials.

• Collecting, analyzing, and using data - to understand trends and potential disproportionate impacts of traffic deaths on certain populations.

• Prioritizing equity and community engagement.

• Setting a timeline to achieve zero traffic deaths and serious injuries - which brings urgency and accountability, and ensures transparency on progress and challenges.

To stay up to date with the progress made throughout Vision Zero, visit DSM.city/visionzero.

Community Listening Workshop Series

A vital step in shaping future projects is gathering resident feedback. In an effort to make this happen, four workshops have been set up around the City in September for residents to provide feedback. Below are the dates and locations:

Upgrades Coming to Chesterfield Park

Last improved in the 1970s, Chesterfield Park is receiving a complete overhaul. Currently underway, the upgrades include a new sprayground, two playgrounds, a futsal court, an open-air shelter, and a basketball court.

Developed in partnership with the surrounding neighborhood, these improvements will bring significant enhancements and revitalize the park for decades to come.

Have You Heard of ADAPT DSM?

Between derechos, flash floods, extreme heat, and extreme cold, residents of Des Moines have felt the impact of our changing climate. These impacts challenge our quality of life, economy, and future outlooks. To boost neighborhood resiliency and better prepare for future climate challenges, the City of Des Moines is in the early stages of developing a community-wide Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, ADAPT DSM.

This plan will guide decision-making, policy, and program development to mitigate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and identify specific actions that help the City adapt to climate change.

The planning team has identified the following guiding principles for climate action in Des Moines:

• Assess our climate risks and vulnerabilities
• Design equity-centered solutions
• Act now and with urgency
• Prevent the worst effects of climate change 
• Together we will create a more resilient future

We want your input in this process. To learn more about how you can get involved with ADAPT DSM and take the survey, visit DSM.city/ADAPT. 

The Monthly Update From Your Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator

Neighborhood Leaders,

We are excited to announce the first two Leadership Workshop Sessions for leaders of Des Moines' 51 neighborhood associations. Both sessions are held at the Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

You can register online for the Leadership Workshop Sessions here: DSM.city/LeadershipWorkshops.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Toolkit Kick-Off!

Leaders from Des Moines' 51 neighborhood associations are invited to the unveiling of the Neighborhood Association Toolkit and to learn about training opportunities and neighborhood association funding through June 30, 2023.

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Risk Management and Insurance

Guest speaker Melissa Kauffman, CPCU, CIC, with Jester Insurance Services, will lead this session focused on risk management best practices and insurance options, including Directors & Officers Insurance, General Liability Insurance, and Events Cancellation Insurance.

All current and incoming neighborhood association board members are welcome to register and attend.

Again, you can register online at: DSM.city/LeadershipWorkshops.

Thank you for continuing to make a difference in your neighborhoods and in the City of Des Moines.

Heather Tamminga

Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator

You may contact Heather at [email protected] or call (515) 283-4775.