The Vision for Generation
Des Moines
Grow Des Moines
Des Moines should be a vibrant and growing city that leads the metro and the state. We need to grow in a way that ensures our community works for everyone and provides opportunity for all.
Diversify downtown by focusing on housing and cultural amenities to complement the business district
Create vibrant, accessible corridors that support small businesses
Create more housing of different types and at different levels of affordability
Support working families by increasing access to child care, health care, and grocery stores
Make our Community More Accessible
An accessible community is a community that works for everyone. We need to invest in basic infrastructure to ensure that our community is walkable, bikeable, and transit-accessible.
Ensure safe walking routes to schools, parks, and bus stops
Support a strong public transit system that connects housing to jobs, services, and amenities
Implement Vision Zero in order to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities
Repair existing roads, storm sewers, and infrastructure
Improve Public Safety
Our community doesn’t work for everyone if it doesn’t keep our residents safe. We need to support our first responders while improving how we provide public safety services.
Provide our first responders with the resources and support they need
Improve public safety services by responding to more public safety calls with a mental health and social workers when appropriate
Legalize marijuana and treat it like alcohol
Implement strategies to reduce gun violence and intimate partner violence
Invest in Neighborhoods
Strong neighborhoods are what makes a city great. We need to create accessible neighborhoods that have services and amenities that enhance quality of life.
Partner with Des Moines Public Schools to ensure access to strong neighborhood schools
Improve neighborhood parks and access to trails
Create new housing on vacant properties
Incentivize neighborhood grocery stores and child care options
Build a Sustainable & Resilient City
We must ensure that our city is sustainable and resilient. We should lead on implementing local climate solutions and prepare our city for the challenges of climate change.
Adopt and implement the Climate Action and Adaptation plan
Transition the city to 24/7 100% clean energy
Align city incentives with sustainability and climate goals
Invest in green infrastructure to reduce flooding and stormwater problems
Convert the city’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles
Affordable Housing
We can’t have a community that works for everyone without housing that meets everyone’s needs at a price they can afford.
Build more housing of all types at all price points
Require projects that receive city incentives to include 20% of the units at an affordable rate
Eliminate barriers to building housing in our zoning code
Comprehensively Address Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive solution to ensure that our most vulnerable residents have the opportunity to live in a dignified way.
Build more permanent supportive housing with on-site services
Provide additional street outreach and social work services
Expand shelter options to reduce barriers
Protect Reproductive Freedoms
There are actions we can and must take at the local level to protect the rights of our residents, regardless of state laws.
Advocate for the codification of abortion in state and federal law
Provide a travel benefit to city employees to cover travel costs for reproductive health care that is no longer available in the state
Prohibit discrimination based on reproductive care decisions
De-prioritize the enforcement of state laws that seek to criminalize abortion
Prohibit the use of city funds to store or catalog information about abortion, conduct surveillance or collect information to determine if an abortion occurred, or provide information to government agencies about an abortion, except as otherwise required by state law
Provide Strong Transit Service
A strong transit system is essential to connect people to jobs, health care, child care, grocery stores, and other businesses.
Fix DART’s structural deficit with new funding sources rather than service cuts
Improve transit service with greater frequency and more crosstown routes
Fill gaps in service with on-demand pilot options
Create a Welcoming and Inclusive Des Moines
We need to create a community that people will choose to live in and choose to stay in, where everyone is accepted for who they are.
Advocate for LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights
Improve language access to city services