Destination Des Moines will receive $7,500 next year-- half of the money they requested, from the Des Moines City Council.

Destination Des Moines in its new incarnation has been working the last several months to organize itself and create a plan for the upcoming year. The biggest part of that has been securing seed money from the city so they can hold initial events and fundraisers as they work to become self-sustainable.

Des Moines recently voted to give Destination Des Moines $5,000 this year so the group could hold a couple of events for Halloween and Christmas.

The group was hoping to receive $15,000 from the city throughout next year, which Destination Des Moines President Bradley Hawthorne said they expected would turn into $60,000 by the end of next year.

"We need money to make money," Hawthorne said.

Councilman Matt Pina, who along with fellow councilman Dan Sherman has joined Destination Des Moines, said at some point the city needs to look at both sides of the balance sheet.

"This is a group of people that is working very hard to bring money into the city," Pina said. He said the city cannot continue to keep cutting their way out of their problems.

Sherman amended the motion to only give Destination Des Moines $7,500 next year, instead of $15,000.
The amended motion passed 6-1, with Councilmember Scott Thomasson against.

Thomasson said he could not support giving them the money when the city is looking at possibly cutting another $300,000 from the budget.

City Manager Tony Piasecki has been in talks with city staff and the Des Moines Police Guild to give up their Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) next year. If the police and staff decide to not give up their COLA the city will be looking at some tough decisions on their already sparse budget.

The council is working through a budget with a $1.4 million deficit.

Hawthorne said they would make the $7,500 work, because they have to.

"We are going to make every effort to keep every event we have planned," Hawthorne said.

Events that include bringing back the Waterland Parade next year.

Hawthorne said there was going to be a black tie fundraiser on February 12. The final details are still be ing worked on.

An audit of the original Destination Des Moines finances is ongoing, and should be completed early next year.

Des Moines gave the original Destination Des Moines $15,000 before that group folded. It is unknown at this point where that money went. If it is discovered the funds were misused Destination Des Moines will return the money to the city.

This is something Hawthorne pledged to do from the beginning, and is a stipulation of the city giving them the $7,500 next year.