City of Des Moines

This week we want to thank Fire Engineer Brian Schmitz for his 20 years of dedicated service. Brian, a Des Moines native, is retiring this week after two decades where his officers routinely noted his ability to learn new skills, his initiative and compassion to our patients and their families. Please join us on congratulating Fire Engineer Schmitz and wishing him all the best in retirement.

Just for Des Moines Residents: Type in your address for a quick reference of when your recycling week is, who your elected representatives are, the phone number for your Neighborhood Based Service Delivery (NBSD) police officer, what school district you're in, who your neighborhood and permitting inspectors are, and more!

?? Central Iowa Community Land Trust (CLT) Open House Invitation ?? We invite you to join the Community Land Trust (CLT) Advisory Committee for an open house on November 20, 2024, from 5:00 - 6:30 PM at the Des Moines Central Library. This event will highlight the CLT’s vision, discuss upcoming organizational steps, and open applications for work groups crucial to the early stages of this affordable housing initiative. As a non-profit steward of permanently affordable housing, the Central Iowa CLT will play a key role in preserving neighborhoods and supporting residents with low to moderate incomes. Work groups are forming to focus on policy, program design, membership, and more! ?? Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 ?? Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM ?? Location: Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines . . . #CentralIowaCLT #AffordableHousing #Nonprofit #CommunityBuilding

You might’ve noticed some serious work going on at this job site lately, so we wanted to share a construction update. The site between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and 19th Street on Clark Street is the future home of Fire Station #4 which will be moving about a mile northwest of its current location at 9th Street and University Avenue. The project has kicked into high gear this fall as site preparation and public utility improvements have wrapped up and the building structure phase of construction has officially begun. Now you can see the foundation of the building taking shape and walls will begin to go up over the winter. This new fire station will improve response times to emergencies in northwest Des Moines and has important features designed to improve firefighter health and safety. The project is expected to be completed in late 2025.

Teamwork makes the dream work! Last week the Des Moines Fire Department had teams from stations across the city head to the East Village to do some fire hose advancement training together. It's important we stay sharp on all of our tools, even ones we don't use as often. It's even more important that all of our stations have the same training so we can focus on the mission at hand. Keeping our residents safe!

ADAPT DSM, the City's climate action and adaptation plan, calls for establishing a Residents Climate Committee to guide the City in implementing sustainability and climate action efforts. If you or someone you know is passionate about the following seven focus areas of the climate plan, consider applying to serve! Visit DSM.city/ADAPT to learn more. ??? Buildings and Infrastructure ?? Energy Supply and Distribution ?? Transportation and Land Use ?? Natural Systems and Water Resources ?? Waste Management and Reduction ?? Food Systems and Security ??? Climate Preparedness and Resilience

It is NEVER okay to store things on your stove. We’ve been called to at least three fires that started on a stovetop in the last two weeks alone – and each one of them was preventable. Based on what we’ve seen recently, it’s time to remind our residents to ALWAYS keep your stovetop clear of flammable items – even when it is turned off. Things like oven mitts, cardboard boxes, paper towels should not be within a foot of your cooktop in case they could ignite – even when the stove is turned off. Protect your family, and keep your kitchen clear!

In observance of the Veterans Day holiday, most City of Des Moines offices will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. There will be NO DELAY in garbage, recycling and yard waste collection. Thank you to all our veterans who have served our country! City offices will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Congratulations to Fire Captain Rick Jacobsen who retires this week after 31 years of dedicated service! He has held the ranks of Firefighter, Engineer, Lieutenant, and has served as a Captain for the last seven years. Throughout Captain Jacobsen’s career, his permanent assignments included Stations 2, 6, and 8, all on the 3rd Division. Prior to joining DMFD, Captain Jacobsen served in the United States Navy, aboard the USS Wadsworth, FFG – 9, a guided-missile frigate. Captain Jacobsen is a long-serving member and leader of the Water Emergency Team (WET). He has been recognized for excellence and bravery on more than one occasion, off-and-on duty, including saving a man caught in a cave at Lake Panorama in 1995, and his role in the rescue of Firefighter Bryan Hansen and then-Captains Pat Crane and Matt Porter during a porch roof collapse during a fire in 2001. Personally, and professionally, Rick Jacobsen has embodied excellence, integrity, honor, and the ability to keep his cool under any circumstances. His commitment to his team, department, and those we serve has raised the bar and we are better, and thankful, for his service. Please join us in wishing Captain Rick Jacobsen the very best in retirement.

A fire stopped in its tracks. Last week a sprinkler was key to containing a fire in a high rise building until our firefighters arrived to put out the flames. This fire could have had drastic consequences if it had become out of control before our team arrived on the scene but was limited to this unit, partially because of the sprinkler system. Yet another reason to be thankful to have both sprinklers and DMFD to protect your property from fire risk.