From streamlining bureaucratic bottlenecks to navigating the nuances of the “gig economy,” the Des Moines City Council’s April 2 Study Session focused on bringing city operations and regulations into the modern era.
The council reviewed a proposed software overhaul designed to transform the notoriously clunky permitting process into a transparent, user-friendly digital experience for developers and residents alike.
However, efficiency wasn’t the only item on the agenda; the council also dove into the tricky waters of regulating residential amenity rentals. As they weigh the rise of private backyard dog parks and pool rentals against the sanctity of neighborhood quiet, the city is searching for a regulatory “middle ground” that balances entrepreneurial spirit with community peace. These discussions set the stage for pivotal decisions, including a scheduled vote on the new permitting software contract this April 23, that will shape the city’s growth and lifestyle for years to come.
Permitting Process Overhaul
The city has received innumerable complaints about its permitting process over the years, and has recently made many updates, under the management of Katherine Caffrey. The response time has improved and customer service hours have increased to handle issues.
However, an ongoing complaint that builders have is with the clunky permitting software the city has been using. The council heard a presentation on new permitting software that will be much more useful, and user-friendly.
With the new software, applicants will be able to follow a decision tree to make sure they get to the correct permit application for their project, while experienced developers can click right to their application, and the status of a permit will be easy to check on. In addition, the public will be able to search for current permit applications using a map, relieving city staff of many public records requests.
Implementing the new software will cost $166,250, and it will have an ongoing cost of $78,737 annually. The city allocates 5% of Building & Planning Fees, around $140,000 per year, towards processing permit applications, so there is already money in the budget for this. Staff expect it to take a year, and a lot of staff time, to fully implement the new software. The system will eventually be much easier for both staff and builders to use, improving efficiency all around. The council will vote on this contract at the regular meeting on April 23rd.
Regulating Amenity Rentals
The city has been working to create regulations around home amenity rentals. These include things like backyard pools, off-street parking, private dog parks, or other outdoor elements that are rented to users. Commercial activity is generally not allowed in residential areas, with the aim of keeping neighborhoods quiet and free of the hustle of commerce. However, amenity rentals seem to be part and parcel of the new economy.
Some cities have responded to this by ignoring it, while others have banned this type of commerce altogether. Des Moines is trying to regulate the practice in a way that works for neighborhoods and amenity owners alike.
Staff are putting together an ordinance that will differentiate between amenity rentals that are Limited, Modified, or Large, with a different process and cost to permit each level. Limited rentals are for smaller group sizes, less frequent rentals per week, and will be apparently similar to standard homeowner use. Limited amenities would be outright permitted, with no Conditional Use Permit (CUP) required.
Modified amenities are those which don’t necessarily fit neatly into the Limited category, because perhaps the use frequency or numbers are higher, but they still are intended for a small scale–not as a standalone business. Modified rentals would have to demonstrate “no observable impacts beyond typical residential use”. This category would require an application, neighbor notice, and review by the community development director.
Large amenities are for any higher intensity amenities use, which would function more like a primary commercial business. These facilities must have a CUP, and will be more of an extensive and costly process to permit. Large amenities would be subject to public review and higher scrutiny, due to greater potential impacts.
After the informational presentation, several councilmembers expressed concerns with the proposed numbers of users, which they thought were quite high for a Limited amenity. They said that calls for service and noise complaints would surely go up for regular gatherings of up to 40 people. After staff refine the details of this a bit more, it will come back to the council in the future for consideration.
Video
Below is full, raw video of this Study Session:
