Council Recap | Urbandale, IA

November 28, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, November 28, and began the meeting with routine items such as approving bills and meeting minutes.

The City Council set Tuesday, December 12, as a public hearing to consider the Forward Urbandale Comprehensive Plan. The plan serves as a foundation for decision-making and will help guide the City over the next 20 years as it works to implement the community’s vision. The City’s residents, business community, elected and appointed officials, institutions, and organizations all have a strong sense of stewardship for Urbandale’s success, and all share a determination to make the City the best place it can be.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, December 12. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

November 14, 2023 - Council Meeting

Four proclamations were read by Mayor Andeweg at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 14.

National Apprenticeship Week: Apprenticeships provide a vital role in creating opportunities by allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and help prepare a pathway to good, quality jobs and well-paying careers in Urbandale.
Injury Prevention Day: Injuries, whether intentional or unintentional, are preventable within the state of Iowa and the City of Urbandale is committed to increasing public awareness and education around injury prevention.
Small Business Saturday: Small businesses employ almost half of the private sector employees in the United States and nearly 25% of employees in Urbandale work in the retail industry.
Miss Iowa Preteen: Urbandale resident Anna Pollpeter will be traveling to Florida, representing her community with the goal to become the National American Miss Preteen Queen.

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

October 31, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, October 31, and began with a proclamation designating November as National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, acknowledging the rich cultural contributions of indigenous peoples to the nation's history and development.

The City Council approved a $364,000 contract for the City Hall remodeling project. This bid was lower than anticipated and when completed, the project will lead to more efficient utilization of the building's existing office space.

The North Walnut Creek Bank Stabilization Project, estimated at about $500,000, was completed under budget and the City Council authorized the final payment to the contractor.

Looking ahead to 2024, the City Council adopted a meeting schedule featuring sessions on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. This decision aims to streamline communication and decision-making processes for the benefit of the Urbandale community.

At the end of the meeting, the City Council emphasized the success of the recently held listening session, and expressed a desire to hold more sessions in the future. The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, November 14. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

October 17, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, October 17, and began the meeting with routine items such as approving bills and meeting minutes.

The City Council approved a flag design process, initiating steps to select a new flag for the City. Anyone, anywhere, is invited to participate in the process with their ideas and designs.

As land in the metro area continues to develop, wildlife is pushed into smaller areas of parkland and coyote sightings have become more common. The City Council approved the Urbandale Coyote Management Plan to increase awareness and knowledge of coyotes in urban settings. City staff worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to develop the plan and pilot program. Once launched, this program will also serve as a model for other Iowa communities to consider. Learn more about coyotes here.

The Mayor and City Council will meet again for a Listening Session at Fire Station 42 on Tuesday, October 24, at 7:00 P.M. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their ideas and comments about Urbandale. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

October 3, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, October 3, and began with a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. The Mayor also administered the Oath of Office to Police Officer Juan Ramirez.

The City Council approved an agreement with private property owners in the Urban Loop to help masterplan 65 acres of land along Northpark Drive, adjacent to Interstates 35/80 and 100th Street. The land encompasses prime development property, and the master plan will help create a distinctive placemaking destination in central Iowa.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, October 17. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

September 19, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, September 19, and the meeting began with a proclamation recognizing the 2023 Polk County Injury Prevention Week: Gun Safety Saves Lives. Free gun locks are available at the Urbandale Library and Police Department. The Mayor also asked for a moment of silence for Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram.

As the city's growth continues to move westward, the Council approved a final plat near the southeast corner of 170th Street and Waterford Road. The plat has 79 single-family residential lots, one 9.3-acre lot for parkland, and an outlot for future townhomes.

The Council also approved a site plan for The Loop on Plum Drive, near Home Depot in the Urban Loop. The plan is for the development of a mixed-use apartment building, 33 townhomes, and five standalone parking garages on almost 11 acres. The mixed-use building is four stories tall with 215 residential units and commercial uses planned for the ground floor.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, October 3. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

September 5, 2023 - Council Meeting

At the beginning of the City Council meeting, the Mayor administered the Oath of Office to Urbandale police officers Josie Bailey and Jenna Jensen and thanked them for their service to the Urbandale community.

The Mayor also proclaimed September 2023 as National Library Card Signup Month. The Urbandale Public Library is planning several activities for the month, including a “Golden Ticket” contest. Visit the UPL website for more information.

The City Council approved plats for two new townhome developments totaling 142 units in the northeast of 156^th Street and Waterford Road near the new Waukee Community School District’s Waterford Elementary.

The City Council approved a $61,000 agreement to develop a strategic plan for human services in the City of Urbandale. The research work involved with the plan will begin in the fall of 2023 and is expected to be complete in early 2024. The project will involve data gathering and preparation of strategies and a workplan for delivery of services to those in need in the community.

August 22, 2023 - Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, August 22, and began with a presentation recognizing a $52,500 donation from the National Utility Contractors Association for a Trench Training Facility in Urbandale.

The City Council approved a final plat west of 142nd Street and south of Waterford Road for a total of 25 single-family lots.

The City Council approved several development agreements related to new construction and investments happening in the Urban Loop. These projects will lead to higher property tax revenues that can be used by the City to reinvest in essential public services like infrastructure improvements, public safety, and parks. Moreover, the estimated assessed values of these new buildings—ranging from $6,000,000 to $43,000,000—underscore the potential for substantial growth, ensuring a stronger local economy and an improved quality of life for all residents.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, September 5. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

August 8, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, August 8, and began the meeting with routine items such as approving bills and meeting minutes.

The City Council approved final plats east of 156th Street and north of Waterford Road for a total of 92 single-family lots (and a Waukee School District Elementary School). Land for a public park will also be dedicated in a future plat along the eastern side of the project.

The City Council approved the annual bow hunt for antlerless deer. The Controlled Bow Hunt began in 1998 due to overpopulation of deer within the city. The hunt has mainly been conducted west of I-35 over its history, but in recent years there has been a dramatic increase of deer issues in eastern sections of Urbandale. If left unchecked, the deer population can double in size every three to four years. The hunt is administered by the Urbandale Police Department to ensure the safety and integrity of the program.

The Parks & Recreation Department was recently relocated from City Hall to 3310 86th Street (just across the parking lot) near the Urbandale Public Library. The City Council approved an architectural agreement for remodel plans for the old Parks & Recreation office space, as well as the remainder of the building, including portions of the Engineering and Community Development Departments.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, August 22. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

July 25, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The City Council met on Tuesday, July 25, and Mayor pro tem Matt Blake began the meeting with a proclamation designating Tuesday, August 1, as National Night Out in Urbandale.

The City Council accepted a $414,000 bid to install splash pad equipment at Lions Park. Construction is anticipated to be finished next year in the spring and ready for use in the summer of 2024. The Council also approved a $46,000 purchase for a pickup truck for the Parks & Recreation Department for maintenance and snow removal.

The City Council approved the Safe School Routes for schools in Urbandale. The routes are reviewed and updated by the Pedestrian Safety Committee, which was created by the Mayor and City Council to periodically review the traffic conditions near schools. The committee is comprised of school district, police department, and city officials.

The City Council will meet again for a joint worksession with the Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday, August 7. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

July 11, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, July 11, and started the meeting by approving routine items such as bills and meeting minutes.

The City Council approved a multi-year agreement for additional traffic cameras in various locations to record the rear image and license plate of vehicles traveling in Urbandale. The camera system can run real-time inquiries with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and search for associated criminal activity, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and Amber Alerts. The Police Department initially implemented 14 cameras in May 2022. During the past year, the cameras have resulted in 59 warrant arrests, the retrieval of 14 stolen vehicles, the safe recovery of a missing child, and investigative assistance in 61 criminal cases.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, July 18, for a worksession. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

June 27, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, June 27, and the Mayor began with a proclamation designating July as Parks & Recreation Month in Urbandale.

The City Council approved a $260,000 contract for the Walker Johnston Park Creek Access Project. This project includes a limestone staircase into North Walnut Creek, an outdoor classroom/learning space, an accessible trail, and interpretive signage. Located just east of the Giovannetti Shelter near the Tree House, this project will be complete by the end of the year.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, July 11, for a regular meeting. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

June 13, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, June 13, and the Mayor began with proclamations designating Juneteenth as a day of observance in Urbandale, and designating Wednesday, June 21, as “Go Skateboarding Day". As is tradition, the Mayor also purchased his commemorative button from the Forth of July committee. A new button is designed each year to reflect that year’s theme. Money raised from the sale of these buttons helps fund the fireworks display which will take place on Tuesday, July 4.

The City Council accepted a $245,000 proposal for splash pad equipment for Lions Park. A bid for the installation of the equipment and other improvements, which include sidewalks and shade structures, will be reviewed by the City Council in the future.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, June 20, for a worksession. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

May 30, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, May 30, and the Mayor began with two proclamations; one designated June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Urbandale, and the other designated Friday, June 2, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

The Council approved a $101,000 bid to purchase two Ford Utility Interceptor hybrid patrol vehicles and have them delivered to the Police Department.

In preparation for Urbandale's new Dog Park, the City Council approved the rules, regulations, and associated fees. The dog park is expected to be open later this summer.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, June 13, for a regular meeting. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

May 16, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, May 16, and Mayor Andeweg began by proclaiming May 21-27 as National Public Works Week.

The City Council approved a $320,000 bid for three community entrance signs to be built near NW Urbandale Drive south of I-35/80, at the corner of 100th Street and 54th Avenue, and west of 86th Street at the I-35/80 eastbound off-ramp. All three signs are expected to be built and completed by the end of the year.

The City Council approved site plans for Timberline Wellness near the northeast corner of the Douglas Parkway roundabout at 142^nd Street. The building is proposed to be about 12,000 square feet and will likely be space for a medical and dental clinic, although other uses are possible. The City Council also approved a site plan for 74 new townhomes near the southwest corner of 142^nd Street and Waterford Road.

The City Council also approved purchasing 2,450 tons of roadway salt for $168,000. That's equivalent to about 68 dump trucks fully-loaded with salt.

The City Council will meet for a worksession on Tuesday, May 23. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

May 2, 2023 - Worksession and Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor, City Council, and Planning and Zoning Commission met at 4 PM on Tuesday, May 2, for a worksession to discuss comprehensive planning and future community growth. The discussion included topics on annexation and Urbandale's development. No official action was taken at the meeting.

The Regular Council Meeting began shortly after 6 PM and Mayor Andeweg signed three proclamations recognizing National Police Week, Building Safety Month, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Day Against Bullying and Hate.

The City Council approved a site plan for a commercial building on Plum Drive near the southwest corner of 100th Street and I-35/80 in the Urban Loop. Potential uses for this building could include restaurants, retail, and more.

Toward the end of the meeting, the Mayor and Council discussed a regional grant application for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. The grant application is being spearheaded by the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the program aims to deploy publicly accessible electric level 2 vehicle charging stations across the Des Moines metropolitan area.

The Mayor and City Council will meet again on Tuesday, May 16. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

April 18, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, April 18, and at the start of the meeting Mayor Andeweg signed three proclamations recognizing Arbor Day, Earth Day, and All Urbandale Reads. As part of the All Urbandale Reads program, the Mayor announced The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot as the book selection for 2023. All Urbandale Reads is an annual reading initiative that works to unite the community and promote literacy through one inspiring read.

The City recently received a $2,700 Trees Please! grant from MidAmerican Energy and representatives from the company shared information about the program. The Mayor thanked MidAmerican Energy for their ongoing support.

The City Council approved a site plan and final plat for a cross dock/warehouse in Urban Loop Commerce Park at 128th Street and Plum Drive.

The annual Spring Cleanup event is scheduled for the week of May 1, 2023. The City hires outside contractors and rents additional equipment to help collect the approximately 800 tons of trash that will be set at the curb this year. The City Council accepted a $25,500 quote for garbage trucks, equipment, and operators to help with Spring Cleanup.

The City Council will meet again on Tuesday, May 2 for a regular meeting. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

April 4, 2023 - Regular Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 4, and Mayor Andeweg began by proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month. Fair housing practices help ensure the well-being of everyone in our community. Urbandale values diversity and fairness and strives to be welcoming and inclusive.

The City Council approved the annual sale of general obligation capital loan notes and urban renewal bonds in preparation for the City's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP anticipates spending approximately $12.4 million on various public improvement projects this year. Selling bonds and issuing loan notes is a common practice for many cities to raise funds for capital projects, infrastructure improvements, and other long-term investments. By issuing bonds, the City of Urbandale can borrow money from investors and pay it back over time using revenue from taxes, fees, or other sources. The City of Urbandale has a strong Aa1 credit rating, and Urbandale is considered to be a safe investment due to the City's sound financial management practices and policies.

The Mayor appointed councilmembers Blake and Croll to serve on a committee to help guide a process to define actionable items to address the social and mental health service needs of the community. Before going into a closed session, the City Council approved a sustainability statement and community-wide goals to advance Urbandale as an environmentally sustainable, resilient, inclusive and competitive community.

The City Council will meet virtually for a worksession on Tuesday, April 11. You can watch all the City Council meetings on YouTube and find council agendas here.

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 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 100^th 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.