FROM THE DESK OF THE CITY MANAGER
MAYOR’S COLUMN
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
Given the number of large In the state of Iowa, West Des Moines is MAYOR/CITY CIVIL SERVICE
Larry Swanger PLANNING
special events West Des the only municipality with all three
COUNCIL/ COMMISSION
Harold Templeman
AND ZONING
Moines hosted this departments accredited. Two fire
CITY MANAGER
Clare Gee
Amy Thorne
COMMISSION
summer, many residents departments, West Des Moines and Iowa
Steven K. Gaer,
Chris Haviland
Russ Trimble
Michele Brown
Mayor
probably attended an event City, have achieved accreditation. Three
James Smith
Patrick Williams
John J. Clarke
Robert L. Parks,
Kevin Crowley
where some of the security ambulance agencies have received
First Ward
and planning were accreditation: West Des Moines, Medic Charles M. Schneider,
HUMAN RIGHTS
LIBRARY
Gary Hammers
conducted by the public EMS (a private agency in Davenport), and
Second Ward
COMMISSION
BOARD OF
Scott A. Hatfield
safety departments of West Des Moines. Siouxland Paramedics, a private agency in
Loretta J. Sieman,
Frank Harty TRUSTEES
Sam Kreamer
Our police, fire, and emergency medical Sioux City.
Third Ward
Gopal Krishna Louise Gately
Chris Voggesser
departments have a strong public presence,
Ted Ohmart
Rita Luther Millie Knee
At Large
Justine Morton John M. Lewis WATER WORKS:
both through the open houses and
Nine law enforcement agencies in Iowa are
Jim Sandager
Ila Plasencia Mark Lowe
BOARD OF
celebrations they take it upon themselves
accredited: West Des Moines, the Iowa
At Large
Bryan Myers
TRUSTEES
to host and the outside events they are a
Department of Public Safety, Davenport,
HUMAN SERVICES
Richard Riley
Brian P. Rickert
vital part of pulling off.
Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine, Sioux City, Jeff Pomeranz,
BOARD Kay Rosene
Philip J. Dorweiler
the ISU Department of Public Safety, and
City Manager
Vicky Arroyo
Timothy J. McCulloh
The fact that all three City of West Des the Marshall County Sheriff. In 2008, the
phone 222-3610 Alice Book
PARK BOARD
Karen Novak Swalwell
Moines public safety departments are City of West Des Moines Police
Keith Brown
William B. Spencer
Chris Andrews
accredited is a testament to their Department was named a Flagship Agency
BOARD OF Peter Cownie Colleen Armstrong
professionalism and desire to be among by CALEA, and was asked to present about ADJUSTMENT Roy Garcia
Marcia Brown
the best in the country. We did some their processes and department at the
Dr. Robert Brooks Michele Griswell
Rick Messerschmidt
research recently to identify other cities annual conference. There is definitely a
Erik P. Christiansen Marian Nelson
Forrest Ridgway
who can make the same claim. Here is focus on innovation and quality in the
Tammy Cline Diane Notch
what we found: professional discussions taking place when
David Erickson Wendy Ogden
public safety officials get together from
Leonard Gutshall Mark Reetz
• In the Commission on Fire
across the country, and I’m happy we are at
Accreditation International (CAFI),
the table and in many cases leading the way.
128 total Agencies accredited.
• 397 Municipal Law Enforcement Our public safety departments have
Agencies have achieved Law warranted congratulations for going above
West Des Moines Environmental Leader
Enforcement Accreditation (CALEA) and beyond to meet the high standards of
• There are 122 ambulance agencies accreditation agencies. Accreditation is
accredited through the Commission on much more than just a designation - it is a
Accreditation of Ambulance Services valuable process that helps the department
Commercial
(CAAS): evaluate its work and relentlessly improve
Industrial
upon it. In West Des Moines, our public
There are only 4 municipalities in the
safety departments have responded to the
country that have all three of their public
Residential
challenges of a growing city deliberately
departments accredited. West Des Moines
and positively, which has made a significant
Recycling
joins ranks with Cary, North Carolina;
difference in our ability to successfully
Henderson, Nevada, and Plano, Texas to
manage growth. Medical
form this exclusive group.
Waste
Even given the fact that some
Confidential
This magazine was
municipalities may not seek the separate
Shredding
produced by the City
ambulance accreditation or have
of West Des Moines,
ambulances operated by private agencies,
Central Iowa’s JM Impressions and
there are only 45 municipalities nationwide
262-4040
Locally Owned
ACME Printing.
that have both their police and fire Waste Leader
departments accredited. Steven K. Gaer, Mayor
© 2009 City of West
www.artisticwaste.com
Des Moines, Iowa
46 WDMMAGAZINE • SUMMER/FALL 09 Visit us on the web at
www.wdm-ia.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41