Recent & Upcoming Economic Development Projects

• The Cunningham (Jordan Creek Parkway & Ashworth LINK):

  • Mixed-use project including Ruth’s Chris Restaurant; commercial space; outdoor areas; 199 residential units (opening 2023).

• Jordan Creek Tower (60th and Mills Civic Parkway LINK):

  • Mixed-use project including retail, restaurant and office space along with owner-occupied residential (opening 2023).

• Suite Shots (Grand Avenue & i35 LINK) & Top Golf (Jordan Creek Parkway & Mills Civic Parkway LINK):

  • Four seasons driving ranges and restaurants with climate-controlled hitting bays.

• Des Moines University (Grand Avenue & 88th Street LINK):

  • Largest medical school in Iowa and among the top 25 largest accredited schools in the Nation - enrolling over 1,500 students across all nine programs (opening 2023).

• West Bank Redevelopment Project (Westown Parkway & Valley West Drive LINK):

  • The oldest business of any kind remaining in West Des Moines and building a new, 72,000 Sq. Ft. corporate campus, jump starting redevelopment in the Valley West Mall area (opening 2024).

Finances

• One (1) of approximately 100 cities in the entire U.S. (approx. 19,500+ cities in the US) with the highest, AAA bond rating from both S&P and Moody’s:

  • West Des Moines is the ONLY city in Iowa that holds S&P Global Ratings’ top, AAA bond rating in 2023 (LINK);

  • This highest rating helps ensure lower operating costs within the City and that taxpayer dollars are used most efficiently.

• Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (23rd year);

• Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (28th year);

• Financial transparency portal on our website (LINK);

• Among the DSM Metro’s lowest consolidated property tax rate (LINK):

  • Lowered the City’s property tax rate again in Fiscal Year 21 from $10.99 to $10.95 per $1,000 in valuation; and again in FY23 from $10.95 to $10.90. For context, in 2017 the City’s portion (does not include the County, School, and other taxing entities’ rates) of property taxes was $12.00 per $1,000.

  • Over the last 10 years, West Des Moines has responsibly lowered the rate of tax on property (LINK). Schools and counties have their own rates that make up a portion of local property taxes (LINK).

• Reserve Funds, as a percentage of operating expenditures, meet and exceed S&P and Moody’s thresholds for responsible budgeting;

• Annually operate within and according to a thoroughly planned and detailed budget.

FIRE & EMS

• West Des Moines EMS is an accredited agency through the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) which is an independent commission that established a comprehensive series of standards for the ambulance service industry. These standards are often referred to as “the Gold Standards.”

• The West Des Moines Fire Department is an accredited agency through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). The metrics used for the accreditation are based on 244 performance indicators and reported back on a yearly basis to the CPSE in the form of an Annual Compliance Report.

Police

• Since 1996, the West Des Moines Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in the Law Enforcement Program. To maintain this status as one of only 11 agencies in Iowa, the department must undergo annual compliance checks and a full assessment every four years supported by public input. 

• Youth Justice Initiative (YJI): YJI is a community-based restorative justice program. YJI programs successfully encourage youth to make positive changes in school, improve family relationships, refrain from drug use, and become positive participatory citizens leading to a crime free community. YJI’s re-offending rates are no more than 5%, over the last 3 years.

Supporting Our Environment

• West Des Moines’ Rain Barrel Program (LINK);

• West Des Moines’ Soil Quality Restoration Program (LINK);

• West Des Moines’ Rain Garden Program (LINK);

• West Des Moines’ Native Landscaping Program (LINK);

• Founding City of the ICON Water Trails Program (which includes numerous initiatives to improve water quality) (LINK);

• Utilizing the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program;

• Updating City ordinances to allow for greater rooftop solar installations; and

• Since April 1, 2022, the City has planted almost 600 trees on City rights-of-way, facilities, and parks.

Providing a Variety of Housing Options

• In 2023, the Iowa Economic Development Authority recognized the City of West Des Moines as a “Thriving Community” (LINK) - an important designation for housing initiatives that allows for developments in West Des Moines to receive additional benefits related to federal housing tax credits in 2024.  West Des Moines was selected following a highly-competitive process in which many communities across the State of Iowa were evaluated and competed for this designation;

• Updating numerous City ordinances in 2023 to reduce the costs for housing (e.g. reduced front and side yard setbacks); and

• In 2022, the City of West Des Moines issued a record number of housing permits for all kinds of housing (651 permits issued, totaling 904 units).