Des Moines proposes Parks & Rec director, communications manager and targeted maintenance hires

City Manager Caffrey told council that repurposed vacancies created an opportunity to add a Parks & Rec director and a communications manager while generating some savings from the longtime staff retirements that created the openings. She stressed the Parks & Rec director would be a modest net increase relative to filling like‑for‑like roles and that the park levy passthrough could help cover the difference: "We're proposing to use the park levy money to help close that gap," she said.

On maintenance staffing, staff proposed one parks maintenance worker (rather than two requested) to address high daily maintenance needs at Redondo Boardwalk and the Marina steps; staff signaled they will continue to evaluate use of park levy operations passthroughs for recurring maintenance needs. Council asked for tracking metrics to see whether new positions increase commercial permitting throughput or improve service delivery.