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The Urbandale Council Recap is a brief highlight of the City Council meetings. The recap is not minutes of the Council meeting. Minutes are considered and approved at the subsequent Council meeting.

March 21, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 21.

The City Council approved the annual budget with no levy increase, keeping the City’s tax levy at $10.01. Strong valuation growth has allowed the City to maintain the current levy rate, amid rising costs and increased staffing. The budget includes six new full-time positions in the Police, Economic Development, Engineering, Horticulture/Parks, and Administration divisions to provide services to a community growing in population and area. The budget anticipates spending $66.4 million for municipal operations (like snow removal, garbage collection, and park maintenance), $41.8 million for capital projects (like the construction of roads and stormwater management), $34.8 million for water utility operations, and $19.8 million to pay down debt. You can view the budget here, and the budget presentation here.

The City Council also approved adding traffic signals on 156th Street at Meredith Drive and Waterford Road for $918,000.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, March 28 for a worksession. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

March 7, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 7.

At the start of the meeting, the City was presented with a jumbo check, representing a grant from Mid-American Energy Company's Regional Fund/Great Outdoors Foundation for Urbandale's water trails project. The Mayor also proclaimed March as Women's History month in Urbandale and recognized current and former women councilmembers that have helped lead Urbandale:

  • Vada Wilson, serving from April 1928 to January 1929;
  • Elizabeth Williamson, serving from February 1929 to April of 1930;
  • Lyleene Lemon, serving from January 1958 to January 1960;
  • Miriam Cline, serving from January 1980 to December 1991;
  • Marilyn Kollmorgen, serving from September 1991 to December 1999;
  • Susann Siebke, serving from January 2000 to December 2003;
  • Mary Polson, serving from January 2004 to December 2011;
  • Bridget Carberry Montgomery, serving currently since January 2020;
  • And Amy Croll, serving currently since January 2022

The City Council set a public hearing for Tuesday, March 21, to consider the Annual Budget. Urbandale's budget is a plan of expected incomes and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2023. You can see a copy of the budget here. The total proposed tax levy is $10.01, which is the same as the current year's levy. 

You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here. The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Tuesday, March 21.

February 21, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 21, and began by approving routine items such as bills and minutes. 

Clive, Urbandale, and Waukee are working together to facilitate the construction of a sanitary sewer through parkland that will ultimately connect to the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) sewer. The Council approved agreements that help clarify how the cities will cooperate regarding the coordination and construction of the project. The City of Waukee will be leading the project.

The City Council approved a $2 million bid for a pavement preservation project on Aroura Avenue from 86th Street to Tanglewood Drive, a $500,000 bid for a storm sewer intake rehabilitation project—that will replace 43 storm sewer intakes in various locations around the city, a $113,000 bid for playground equipment for Murphy Park, and park development work at Acadia Park. Frank and Shelley Mokosak, who live in the Acadia neighborhood, generously donated funds for an open shelter to be built at the park.

The City Council set a public hearing for Tuesday, March 7, to consider the proposed property tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year budget. The City’s proposed tax levy will not be changing, remaining the same at $10.01 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The City maintains one of the lowest tax rates in the state for cities with populations of 15,000 and larger. It's important to remember that the City’s tax levy is just one part of your overall property tax bill. Property taxes are also levied by other agencies, like the School District your home is in and the County you live in. Those other agencies operate independently from the City and determine their own budgetary needs. Learn more about your property taxes here.

You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here. The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Tuesday, March 7.

February 14, 2023 - Council Worksession

The Mayor and City Council met virtually on Tuesday, February 14, for a worksession to discuss the City code related to tall weeds/grass and the noise ordinance. No official action was taken at the meeting. The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Tuesday, February 21. You can watch all the City Council meetings here on YouTube and find council agendas here.

February 7, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 8, and Mayor Andeweg began by proclaiming February as Black History Month in Urbandale. 

The Council authorized a $46,000 design services agreement for a new splash pad at Lions Park. 

Each year the City of Urbandale patches city streets that need repair. Last night, the Council approved bids for patching projects—addressing more than 250 locations around the city. This work is divided into phases and will cost about $2 million.

The Council also approved an $86,000 bid to construct and repair ADA accessible routes at intersections around the city.

You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here. The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Tuesday, February 14, for a worksession.

January 28 & 30, 2023 – Budget Worksessions

The City Council met on Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th for budget worksessions.

The Mayor, City Council, and City Staff worked to develop a budget for operating expenses across various departments and services for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024). The budget recommends no levy increase, keeping the City’s tax levy at $10.01. Strong valuation growth has allowed the City to maintain the current levy rate, amid rising costs and increased staffing. The budget recommends six new full-time positions in the Police, Economic Development, Engineering, Horticulture/Parks, and Administration divisions to provide services to a community growing in population and area. Most of the positions would be budgeted to start on July 1, 2023.

The City will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on March 7, 2023 and you can review a copy of the document here. The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, February 7, for a regularly scheduled council meeting.

January 24, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 24. 

The City Council approved a preliminary plat for Urban Loop Commerce Park near 128th Street and Plum Drive and approved a site plan for a new warehouse nearby.

The City Council approved artwork pieces by various artists for display at the Urbandale Art Park. The Urbandale Art Park is a permanent outdoor sculpture park with annually changing exhibits. The Art Park is located just south of City Hall.

With an ongoing commitment to sustainability, the City Council approved purchasing a fully electric cargo van for the Parks & Recreation Department's Mobile Recreation Program for $64,000. Plans are underway to wrap the van with custom graphics.

You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here. The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Saturday, January 28, for a budget worksession.

January 10, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The City Council approved a project that will install solar energy panels on the roof of the newly-constructed Parks and Public Works Maintenance Facility on Hickman Road east of 100th Street. When complete, the 225 kilowatt photovoltaic array is expected to reduce City energy costs by approximately $25,000 per year. The project is expected to be complete in January 2024. 

The Council held a public hearing on the City’s five-year Capital Improvements Plan. Attendees at the public hearing addressed projects in the categories of stormwater management and on-street bike lanes on Aurora Avenue. After the public hearing, the City Council approved the 2023-2028 Capital Improvements Plan. The Plan is available for review on the City’s website.

The City Council established a Tuesday March 7, 2023 special election for voters to consider this question: “Shall the City of Urbandale, Iowa, issue its General Obligation Bonds or Capital Loan Notes in an amount not exceeding the amount of $43,000,000 for the purpose of designing, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new community recreation complex, with related recreational site improvements?” More information on the project is available at this page on the City website.