[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6270633,"mediaKeyId","3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2","parentId",3032853,"title","Council awards $59,150 contract for 2025 sanitary sewer spot repairs","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",4715000,"endMs",4800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2&start=4715&end=4800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2/thumbnail_4715000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270633/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-awards-59150-contract-for-2025-sanitary-sewer-spot-repairs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270633-8d9bf220843cb42a033705b5082b769d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501278&Signature=SGHaSMN07EU9hea68iYCSf21tTL0i2~ch36n~MwQTan1sGXJP6yzApuJNxeGzNjBzYr4aKTuwzGO49-Xws2m3ctQho8DgViJ8VUKsYlUiLdmxzu90BQ8Blekiylaf7sVbWTHtDrzPK2dsdw76XMNBI-CfogyOigp-uZPThtbv8eto1Oxq55Ck04Ig9cvk9oM5L1LPWQoBGX5nrpkCm7gPSZb~F9zRHMl6HtB8EwYELj30n5iiYSQ1TYdxETXgdqsz36X7NiWvt7T-gd3HItGMlZFOjFaAnD~wO2w8isAzaTL08sQCHRz9Ts2E-gc5PBo3GtYJGomMZA8Xtfb2bZKQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T05:21:08.883Z","article","The Urbandale City Council on April 15 approved a low bid of $59,150 from MPS Engineers doing business as Kingston Services for the city's 2025 sanitary sewer spot-repair program.

Public Works staff said the project will raise and reconstruct two sanitary sewer manholes located near Hickman Road and 70th/Second Street intersection areas and that the work will be paid from the utility fund. The low bid was approximately 2.8% below the engineer's estimate. Staff recommended awarding the contract to Kingston Services with completion anticipated by Sept. 26, 2025.

Vote

Council moved and approved the council letter for the sanitary sewer spot-repair program (Council Letter 8,156 as recorded in the meeting packet). The motion passed on the council floor.

Next steps

Staff will coordinate scheduling and public notifications for the localized work and will include final contract documents and timeline updates in the city's project listings once the contractor mobilizes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Urbandale awarded the 2025 sanitary sewer spot-repair contract to Kingston Services (MPS Engineers d/b/a Kingston) for $59,150 after four bids were opened; work is expected to be finished by Sept. 26, 2025.","taxTitle","Urbandale, Polk County, Iowa","taxId",55398,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6270638,"Council hears sidewalk inspection update after Iowa Supreme Court ruling; staff recommends continuing current program",376,4814000,5190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2&start=4814&end=5190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2/thumbnail_4814000.jpg","/articles/6270638/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-hears-sidewalk-inspection-update-after-Iowa-Supreme-Court-ruling-staff-recommends-continuing-current-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270638-aae2b364d6ad93853f8dc06b847a4b3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501278&Signature=Ta7DCr-j5Er8JIo8bnVUd6lGGsF3A9sBUkokMZRfHfUgFZnTEAszLsp3okwKO9VrxFHXHLxiopaxGGGEKpfNm5WTl4nzFP2PLWJMIUTHRfuNRKNOmA-huw24FNGJYn9LP6JVtus9M6FyGZUeIxmavTvnE1jvY17gUWhivQAcC4SkU5h0q3U~YkPm5KrfSFPCuOx6iY2poXS1pnAkUQ47Bzpv-MCPWfhLY8T6e6vyMMJBOEkNMfDxz5jSeqzespdYMJheWneIp74VyCVm-wxPle6LAIMg3WOI5~7sODiuYy3yH7L73dtbSeRi10ph4Yl9n7JdkoZKT41cnwiemmoDFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Urbandale staff briefed the council April 15 on the city's sidewalk inspection program and a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision that limits municipal ability to shift liability to adjacent property owners via ordinance.

Kristen Brostrom, who presented the program update, said the city inspects sidewalks on a four-year rotation (typically in May with seasonal interns) and usually identifies between 50 and 250 defects per year. Defects the city targets include vertical lips (the city's working tolerance is 1 inch for tripping hazards) and substantial cracking or spalling that creates holes.

Brostrom said the current process notifies property owners of defects, offers an opportunity to complete repairs privately, reinspects in the fall and, if needed, bids a city repair program and invoices property owners for their share of the work. Historically, the city has relied on municipal code language that placed corrective responsibility on the adjacent owner; a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling now limits the ability to transfer liability in that fashion.

City attorney and risk-management staff explained that the court decision removes an automatic transfer-of-liability defense that some insurers relied on; it does not prevent the city from continuing a sidewalk maintenance program. The city's insurer (ICAP) previously handled defense costs and occasionally denied claims as a transfer under the former code provisions; staff said the legal landscape is now different and ICAP's response may change.

After questions from council, staff recommended continuing the existing inspection and notification program and maintaining the one-inch vertical-lip tolerance. Council members discussed the tradeoffs of tightening the tolerance (for example, moving to a half-inch standard used in some neighboring jurisdictions) and staff said shrinking the tolerance would materially increase the number of identified defects and the volume of work residents would be asked to address.

Brostrom said the city continues to accept SeeClickFix requests and will incorporate them into inspections; staff also intends to refine intern training, photographic documentation and the workflow that moves identified repairs into bidding and invoicing.

Next steps

Council asked staff to continue the program as implemented, monitor claims under the new legal standard, and report back if the Legislature amends state code to reassign sidewalk liability. Staff noted a similar bill was discussed in the state House this session but did not pass the funnel; staff will monitor future sessions and return with policy options if needed.

","Staff briefed the council on changes in sidewalk-liability law after a state court ruling. The city will continue its four-year inspection program and letter-notification process while monitoring legislative changes and pursuing regular program improvements.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6270643,"Council approves Merle Hay Mall IRA amendment to support arena, volleyball and pickleball plan",602,3678000,4280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2&start=3678&end=4280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2/thumbnail_3678000.jpg","/articles/6270643/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-Merle-Hay-Mall-IRA-amendment-to-support-arena-volleyball-and-pickleball-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270643-a5f169d6ec8c9256d69e1d953da17f9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501278&Signature=Vy55LffUxt~prqzW0BzF85fh5WgpQXz5Ce39veMuJdztMRrXLW0eugDJWhu~Bep-Pki3VHy4HM1hpW-LxILxBp1cYF3uPiyliExyKNd5jBUGaT8Jd7UlFn99bxsdtQLPKwW-CsXI1V9VBoFRukq6pzwJB3YT~ExR5pnm2fuJ-S1ulfLZm1Q1K~4tt2yvwlVrNWISoK0NLz9ZT09Gj4TjjfAtogQlpdZmlUqtkMhZQU52kbGu3Bfcrzj17FCO6C8kgz9yAxfGGA6fcZ-ri9u42uUBNgJ-03RxBukctJEgqOxs~PKi8516Qv~08kMzF1Z4IOnkz7czO~uNY7umjIXbCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Urbandale City Council on April 15 approved an amendment to the Merle Hay Mall Iowa Reinvestment Act (IRA) plan so the project can shift scope and pursue upfront municipal financing backed by future sales and lodging tax rebates.

Aaron DeYoung, Urbandale's economic development director, told the council the original IRA award (approved in February 2022) allocated $26.5 million in future sales-tax and lodging-tax rebates for redevelopment of the Merle Hay Mall campus. Under the amendment the mall's previously proposed four-sheet ice facility will be reworked: the Yonkers space would host an arena, the north parcel would host a volleyball training and competition facility, and the former Coles location is already operating as a pickleball facility.

DeYoung said the amendment requests two principal changes: (1) authorization to use a future municipal bond (paid from the IRA's future sales and lodging tax rebate stream) to pull construction dollars forward in a single financing rather than waiting for incremental rebate flows, with a notional bond range in the application of $16 million to $20 million; and (2) removal of a hard condition requiring a developer on the central Merle Hay Tower parcel by the end of 2026, a target staff now regards as unlikely to be met.

DeYoung told the council the 28E entity that administers the award (a joint body including Urbandale, Des Moines and Polk County) planned to forward the amendment to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board; Des Moines had approved the change the prior week. He said the IEDA is expected to acknowledge receipt and consider the amendment at its May or June meeting.

DeYoung emphasized that approval of the IRA amendment would not bind the city to issue bonds; the amendment instead allows the project team to seek IEDA permission to pledge future rebate receipts as the source for a municipal bond. He said the city will complete further due diligence on construction cost, future sales performance and financing structure before any subsequent council decision on a municipal bond or TIF commitments. He also said Urbandale staff have discussed possible shortfall assistance with Des Moines and Polk County should actual rebate receipts fall short of bond debt service.

Council discussion and next steps

Council members asked about likely users and tenants; DeYoung said Drake Hockey and college- or club-level hockey groups were among likely arena users and that a professional volleyball organization had expressed interest in using the volleyball facility for training and ticketed events. Members asked whether mall ownership had shared financials; DeYoung said the mall had not yet provided full financing documents and that those would be part of the city's due diligence.

DeYoung summarized due-diligence tasks the city will undertake if IEDA approves the amendment: updated redevelopment plans from mall ownership, private equity and loan commitments, a commissioned sales-performance study, confirmation of retailer/tenant commitments, and drafting of a development agreement and TIF structure. He also said the 28E entity planned to meet the Thursday following the council meeting to formalize its approval before submitting to IEDA.

Vote

The council recorded a motion and roll-call approval of the council letter associated with the IRA amendment request (Council Letter 8,150 as shown in the meeting packet), and the motion passed on the council floor.

Why it matters

If the IEDA approves the amendment and Urbandale's subsequent due diligence supports the financing plan, the city could accelerate construction by issuing a municipal bond backed by future IRA rebate receipts rather than waiting for rebate flows to accrue. That approach shifts financing risk and will require further council decisions on agreements, bond structure and potential intergovernmental shortfall assistance.

","Urbandale approved an amendment request to the Merle Hay Mall Iowa Reinvestment Act award to shift the project scope away from four-sheet rinks toward a mixed sports complex and to permit the city to pursue municipal financing backed by future sales and lodging tax revenues.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6270648,"Urbandale council adopts 2025–26 operating budget as debt service levy falls",1747,1133000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2&start=1133&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3032853-2dc696f4eeb95c2f02067dc86998f2c2/thumbnail_1133000.jpg","/articles/6270648/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Urbandale-council-adopts-202526-operating-budget-as-debt-service-levy-falls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270648-54e2c6659dd599e8530d8c829b8f0349/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501278&Signature=KqvhmUSuevFFY~tzdKQjWYlaooHTHAmL1gtJMbYm2cRHkB7LjYAzdYQPcKX5CosnM3pgWymh52Seq4Qq13wkG-HVDIMrkippQbk~l895-hizr0e6fE7SgsFEqdISU4J2IV4JCfb-Idl9DUKrGR7jxPOmON88-vqwjDjm5Be5BWRfjcFdd3sqWUnJunfspuhCneVxaLWZHxYRTkmz2vZdNXQkva3cHusDN8CD-axzUopxj~~XvO~PlTcJwxQvIuzpzn04PlUCX2Du9mCNDy04oRtxePj8dYO7Ay-aydsa3CmKqJtEjXc24UhhV78NkL6Qqfu2~OiCDAymwfer~E6-aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Urbandale City Council on April 15 adopted the fiscal 2025\u000026 2026 operating budget after a public hearing and a series of related motions and resolutions.

Finance Director Nikki Lam told the council the operating budget \"had a decrease of, about 2 and a half percent.\" Lam said the city plans to retire about $18 million in debt in 2026 (including more than $5 million tied to TIF) and that use of local option sales tax (LOST) and other revenues has reduced the city's debt service levy to $1.44, its lowest level in recent memory.

The budget package approved by the council keeps most service levies stable while shifting some consolidated general levy authority among available levies. Lam said the city's certified budget includes all enterprise funds and capital items; the full package totals about $183 million and reflects the inclusion of the water utility in the certified total. She also told the council there are four new budgeted positions for the coming year: a school resource officer at the middle school, a crisis intervention team mental-health professional, a hire in fire, and a new fleet position budgeted for half a year.

Lam outlined revenue changes: an estimated 8.5% increase in miscellaneous revenues (including some interest income) and the final year of a state backfill program the city had received. She said the stormwater fee will increase from $7 to $9 per ERU for the first 100 ERUs (a $2 monthly increase for a typical single-family residence) and that garbage rates remain unchanged.

Council discussion emphasized the size of the city's property-tax reliance (about 65% of revenue) and the council's long-term effort to reduce debt using LOST proceeds. Councilmembers and the finance staff described the result as a multiyear plan to shift from debt issuance toward cash-flowing capital where feasible.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 147-2025 (operating budget public hearing outcome): moved and approved (motion recorded on the April 15 meeting). The council voted to close the public hearing and proceed to adoption; the motion carried.

- Resolution 802-2025 (as referenced in the meeting transcript): motion and approval recorded (transcript text: \"Move approval of resolution 80 two-twenty 25\"); details as presented at meeting, outcome approved.

- Resolution 148-2025 (2025 series A general obligation capital loan notes; bond sale acceptance): approved. Council recorded yes votes during roll call (Kroll; Rosendahl; Cacciatore; Carberry Montgomery; Bode; McHenry) as part of the acceptance of the winning bid from Huntington Capital Markets. The bond sale followed a presentation by Travis Squires, the city's financing advisor.

Context and significance

Lam said the city will retire roughly $18 million in FY2026, down 32% from the prior year, and that 13 of 15 previously outstanding bonds have been retired using LOST proceeds and other strategies. That retirement reduced the debt-service levy and creates capacity for the council to consider more pay-as-you-go capital funding.

Travis Squires, the city's municipal finance advisor, told the council the April 15 bond sale attracted seven bids and produced an overall true interest cost of approximately 3.7003% for the issue, lower than the conservative assumptions used in the budget. Squires said the city's AA1 rating was affirmed and that rating agencies noted the city's strong debt- reduction plan and reserves, while recommending higher available fund balance for a hypothetical upgrade to AAA.

What the budget changes mean for residents

- Stormwater fee: increased from $7 to $9 per ERU for the first 100 ERUs (residential = 1 ERU), adding about $2 per month to a typical single-family bill; the council said that increase will generate roughly $878,000 for CIP stormwater projects.

- No garbage-rate increase recommended.

- Four new positions approved for FY2026 (SRO, CIT specialist, fire hire, and half-year fleet position).

- Overall city levy downward pressure from debt retirement; consolidated general levy shuffled among levies with no broad operations cuts announced.

Ending

Council members thanked staff for the multi-year financial work and for the budget presentation; the council voted to approve the budget and related resolutions, and staff said the city will publish full budget documents and a taxpayer explanation online for residents.

","After a public hearing, the Urbandale City Council approved the city\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000operating budget for fiscal 2025\u000026 2026, lowering the overall levy by cutting debt service, approving four new positions and a modest stormwater fee increase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council awards $59,150 contract for 2025 sanitary sewer spot repairs

Council hears sidewalk inspection update after Iowa Supreme Court ruling; staff recommends continuing current program

Council approves Merle Hay Mall IRA amendment to support arena, volleyball and pickleball plan

Urbandale council adopts 2025–26 operating budget as debt service levy falls