1:54 p.m. – Des Moines mayor repeals mask mandate
A mask mandate for Des Moines that was put in place in August has now ended.
The change is a response to new CDC guidelines that say people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to cover their faces in most situations.
In a statement Friday, Mayor Frank Cownie thanked residents and businesses who followed the rule. He also urged people who are not vaccinated to have it done before Independence Day gatherings take place this summer.
Masks are still recommended in places such as hospitals and in congregate settings and for people who are unvaccinated.
Des Moines City Council plans to reconsider its policy on public comments at its meetings Shelby Fleig, Des Moines Register
How COVID-19 has impacted downtown Des Moines
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The Des Moines City Council plans to once again reconsider its policy on public remarks during meetings following surging participation that recently left residents with only 25 seconds to address their representatives.
The council severely restricted the public speaking portion of its meetings to only 30 minutes after an August meeting dragged on for 14 hours over two days, during which many of the city s residents rebuked the council s approval of the purchase of $99,000 in ammunitions for the Des Moines Police Department. The rule resulted in 25 seconds of speaking time for the 71 people who d signed up to speak at the council s last meeting, on April 19.
The Des Moines City Council plans to once again reconsider its policy on public remarks during meetings following surging participation that recently left residents with only 25 seconds to address their representatives.
The council severely restricted the public speaking portion of its meetings to only 30 minutes after an August meeting dragged on for 14 hours over two days, during which many of the city s residents rebuked the council s approval of the purchase of $99,000 in ammunitions for the Des Moines Police Department. The rule resulted in 25 seconds of speaking time for the 71 people who d signed up to speak at the council s last meeting, on April 19.
In March of 2020, the Des Moines City Council directed the city manager to implement implicit bias, de-escalation, and cultural competency training across city government. This step came out of community led efforts to address racial profiling in Des Moines. At the time and in subsequent conversations, I noted that how we implemented these programs, particularly de-escalation training, mattered.
Many of the same community members who engaged in the discussion leading to our initial action on de-escalation training have expressed concerns about how we are implementing that requirement. There are concerns about who is conducting the training, the model/certification for training that is being used, and at least in part because of council rules limiting public comment how the council is listening and responding to those concerns.
Wesley Acres, a retirement center in Des Moines, plans to add an auditorium and swimming pool to its campus at 3520 Grand Ave., according to city records. Rend