November 21, 2012

Winter is Coming - Snow Removal

Dear Neighborhoods:


On August 31, 2012, we shared with you and other neighborhoods the details of a recently approved ordinance restricting on-street parking Citywide during snow plowing operations. The new ordinance makes it possible to use larger, more efficient “wing plow” equipment to plow residential streets after snowfalls of greater than 2” compared to greater than 4” in the past.

Public Works has provided the following resources in an effort to educate the public on this new ordinance:

  • Article provided for neighborhood newsletters (September)
  • Insert in Des Moines Water Works statements (October)
  • Insert in the upcoming City Source Newsletter (November)
  • Public Works’ employees meeting with neighborhoods upon request

The snow season is close at hand. The average date of the first measureable snow in Des Moines over the last five years is November 15.
Residents may monitor developing conditions via the City’s website with quick links to radar and press release information. In addition, residents may choose to subscribe to our email so they are notified when plowing begins, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter for information. Up-to-date information on snow removal operations will also be available 24/7 at our Customer Service Center at 283-4950.


To further educate residents, the Police Department will issue informational warnings only during the first two snow events. After that, however, vehicle owners will be ticketed if their vehicle is on the street before it is plowed. The amount of a parking ticket is $35.


Laurie Frederick
Executive Administrative Assistant
City of Des Moines Department of Public Works
216 SE 5th St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
For Patrick J. Kozitza, Public Works Director (Interim)

November 20, 2012

From ISU Students ... Submit your Feedback

Dear Woodland Heights residents,


On behalf of the ISU Planning Team, thank you again to all who helped to make each of the planning workshops a success. We appreciate your valuable insight and leadership. As we stated last Saturday, the information that we received from the workshops will assist us in developing a realistic, yet visionary, neighborhood plan. If you were unable to attend the workshops, please add any comments or questions about the process and results at Revitalize Des Moines: http://www.revitalizedesmoines.com/. We especially want to thank the Woodland Heights Organization in helping to make the workshops a reality.

The purpose of the neighborhood plan is to help the residents of Woodland Heights (you all) to create a community that reflects the vision that its residents have agreed to. A major outcome of the final workshop was the adaption of a neighborhood vision. The vision of Woodland Heights is:
  • The residents of Woodland Heights envision a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing, and peaceful neighborhood where families can thrive in a socially-diverse, historically significant community that remains connected to its natural setting and surrounding urban environment.
  • The next step is to draft the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Plan! We are working diligently on preparing a draft that will be reviewed by the city on November 16th. We will be presenting the plan to you all for your approval on the evening of Tuesday, December 4th at the Mickle Center Community Room. Prior to presenting the plan, we will be distributing the final draft for your comments. In the meantime, we will be updating you all as to the progress of the draft, and also identifying potential neighborhood leaders to help us reach the vision that Woodland Heights strives for.


Thanks again,
John and the ISU Planning Team



Mark the Calendar: December 4 Holiday Party

Make plans to attend the annual neighborhood meeting/gathering on Tuesday, December 4.

The fun beings at 5:30 p.m. at the Mickel Center (1620 Pleasant Street).  Bring a dish to share and come to celebrate the season and learn about the future vision for our neighborhood.

Hope to see you there!