November 19, 2020

Busy November Meeting, Next Meeting is December 15

The Woodland Heights Organization met virtually over Zoom for its regular, monthly November meeting on 11/17.  Several guests updated neighbors in attendance on what they are working on and several items of business were voted on.  

InvestDSM Exec. Dir. Amber Lynch speaks
with the WHO on Tue. Nov. 17, 2020

Amber Lynch, the Executive Director of the relatively new nonprofit organization InvestDSM, shared what progress her group has made during the pandemic (estimated $1.1 million in investment).  Funded jointly by the city of Des Moines and Polk County, InvestDSM has been working exclusively with the 4 pilot project areas in the city where 240 projects have been funded so far (their goal was to complete 50 this year).  Through matching funds and other grants, the group helps overcome financial gaps in projects creating benefits to the neighborhoods by boosting curb appeal and more.  Lynch said it is her hope to later expand the reach of InvestDSM to other neighborhoods of the city where it could make the most difference (including places like Woodland Heights) but did not have an estimated timeline of when expansion might occur.  

DMPD’s Scott Baker filled in for Sgt. Scarlett (currently receiving training in command school).  Baker encouraged neighbors to continue to share issues with Sgt. Scarlett by email and she can forward those issues on to the appropriate officer on duty.  

Ward 3 City Council Member Josh Mandelbaum
updates neighbors Nov. 17, 2020

DM City Council Member, Josh Mandelbaum attended the meeting and took time out to share several updates of what the council is working on and hear feedback from neighbors in attendance.  Primarily Mandelbaum commented on the work of the Marijuana Task Force and their recommendations, and a proposal for 100% clean energy resolution (https://councildocs.dsm.city/Resolutions/20201019/45.pdf) (https://iaenvironment.salsalabs.org/dsm100/index.html).  Most importantly however, Mandelbaum stressed the need for vigilantly following public health measure best practices.  This includes avoiding large in-person gatherings for the upcoming holiday, wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance, hand washing, and the like.  Mandelbaum’s own family plans a Zoom Thanksgiving gathering with extended family to better ensure everyone’s health and safety.  

For items of new business, first the membership voted to hold a regular, December monthly membership meeting on the regular date and time: Tue. Dec. 15.  The meeting will be virtual and held over Zoom.  

Next the membership voted overwhelmingly to support development of new infill housing at 2513 Woodland Ave.  While concerns were raised about the small size of the lot and issues related to parking, members agreed that just about anything would be better than what’s currently there, and appropriate infill housing would be good.  

A motion about the WHO’s committees was tabled.  Announcements included the upcoming Welcome Wagon meeting December 5, a proposal from MyPropertyID, and the upcoming Wreaths Across America event.  






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This post typed by Phil.

The Woodland Heights Organization (WHO) is the neighborhood association recognized by the city of Des Moines representing Woodland Heights. Its purpose is is to stabilize, preserve, and revitalize area homes, enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood, and to promote community within our neighborhood amongst all residents and businesses. WHO is a volunteer organization.

for more information email who50312@gmail.com; view past issues of the email newsletter and subscribe at bit.ly/whoemail; like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whodesmoines