BNA Quarterly Meeting minutes 8-12-25

BNA Quarterly Meeting Agenda 

Tuesday, August 12th 2025, 7-8 pm  

Topic: BNA Quarterly Meeting 

Location: Northwest Community Center 5110 Franklin Ave 
Time: August 12th, 2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 
 

Board and Membership Topics 

• Board Updates – 5 min 

• Jesse Coleman provided an update on financial reports. We are sitting in a strong financial position. Good on budget other than Sidewalk and Memberships. Show a negative that we had come off books from sponsoring Des Moines book fair run by Beaverdale books (roughly 30k). BNA beautification brought in around 7k for the Garden Walk, and Blue Grass Festival has brought in to early estimates of 8k.  

• One member Alex Moats has stepped away from the board and role is being filled. 

• Currently involved in Strategic Planning 

• Committee Updates (Beautification, Public Affairs, Special Events) – 5 min 

• Blue Grass was a success again this year 

• Beautification update from Nancy Dunbar. Garden Walk had 7 gardens and nearly 600 tickets sold. A record of 9 sponsors for the event also.  

• Public Affairs from Isacc LaFluer. National Night out was a success with roughly 500 people in attendance. Beaverdale Big Event was a success in May donating 

• Des Moines Water Works - Melissa Walker & Amy Kahler – 30 min 

• Amy is new CEO for 3 weeks, but with Water Works for 25 years.  

• Summer has been hectic with nitrate levels. 

• Amy wants to root DWW as an anchor institution in Des Moines.  

• Many great activities going on at Water Works park and its improvements.  

• Our two largest feeders of water  (Racoon and Des Moines River) are listed as some of the most polluted, but the city maintains a high quality in water safety. The water shed feeding this is about 70% agricultural. 60% of farm tiling in the state also lies in that watershed area.  

• Ponds in Water Works Park are a part of the infiltration pond. Until the 40’s it was the main water source for Des Moines.  

• 1992 City built the largest nitrate facility, and it can run 10 million gallons. 

• Handouts given about the water treatment process and how we handle water filtration. Handout also on billing. A note to that is 25% of water bill comes from water usage. The rest is from items for the City of Des Moines like storm sewer, sewer, and garbage services.  

• About 1 million spent in using nitrate filtration so far in 2025.  

• Open forum questions: 

• Initiatives working with agricultural agents to help with better practices. Red tape from farmers tends to be biggest barrier and not financials.  

• Question on 10 mg per literis the high side of the standard and we cut off at 7 from advanced filtration. EPA sets the rate and that is what the city achieves to be under. Harken institute on cancer and relations to all aspects. Study will show more on causation and not correlation. EPA’s study did for research last year and did not change. If the city wanted to maintain fully below without change it would have required 26 vessels and the city has 8 vessels.  

• In relation to the rest of the state our nitrate level is more of a struggle and it is also for 20% of the water from the state.  

• Question on Water Works moving from a voluntary to regulatory steps to limit water infiltration. In past lawsuits have not been effective. Collaboration has been a better method to see improvements. Iowa went from 80 nitrate monitors in the state to 20 monitors due to defunding. 

• Do we have more leverage in Central Iowa Water works move. Twelve water works agencies got together to join together to create a regional entity. Amy feels that there is a better system with the regional format to help gain support and buy in.  

• Ask for talking points in the newsletters to better help constituents talk to their legislators.  

• Fall Festival – 5 min 

• Nick Aceto presenting on Fall Fest information. 

• Fall Festival is about a month away 

• Parade, bags tournament, dog parade, baking cook off, and many other events occuring this year.  

• Art design posters back for this year. Look for them around and will also be available on the t-shirt. 

• Volunteers are still needed for the event. Sign up and shifts available at www.fallfestival.org  

• Board members are also needed and can reach out to Nick through the website.  

• City Council Ward 1 – Rob Barron, CeCe Ibson, Cortez LaMar Kellum El, Dudley Muhammad – 20 min 

• Each candidate allowed 5 minutes to tell the group about their priorities and agendas for their candidacy.  

The BNA recognizes the importance of allowing members to express themselves on matters of community interest. All discussions are to be relevant to the issue and respectfully presented with civility, kindness, dignity and good taste, in turn, and free of interruptions. 

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