[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6212929,"mediaKeyId","3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504","parentId",3681445,"title","Council defers decision on two downtown property purchase agreements to July 1","audioSeconds",1209,"startMs",1101000,"endMs",2310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504&start=1101&end=2310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212929/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-defers-decision-on-two-downtown-property-purchase-agreements-to-July-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212929-0c9c97411bcfb4106cda5f96ec9845f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189995&Signature=OpSmBqJ-mudYNLXbUVqkhEAfrBsWcbs2jepqxRoJMsqDXo5eUDRGOXM10-WHWNMUuOo8pMbbAhoUhM4oJhzObiZmSvg2mC5IljBNCw-6zxnnQD-MHN8Ast1-Y7IsZHp0NuaOoepnPGYbT3yqETM3OinA6BPg6Mp~AG8pHJembPezzbYmib2YJXJ9RAQKSBm8I3Ky6udIk8E3LyqTcwAHoA~iDN4mOwg8uy4zOO2gc8KMuwcTbuitzxaiJjixaDo7Qwtm18keZqmlgIGe1ilFmou9eQoTUoELizuaj65qmDj7piP0fy3auk5bbsPWeVATr7DOXwQue7ClW4s0FLYhaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T14:03:15Z","article","Aaron, a city staff member, presented two potential purchase agreements tied to downtown master-plan objectives: (1) 7015–7025 Douglas Avenue (the former Big Sky Bridal/Jerry Green building, two buildings totaling about 5,800 square feet plus a back parking area) for a negotiated purchase price of $850,000; and (2) an estimated 14,000-square-foot rear parking lot behind S & C Auto at $6.50 per square foot (approximately $91,000 at the estimated size). Karen DeYoung, the city's economic development director, was present with the presentation materials.

Aaron said the city would assume existing leases on the Douglas Avenue property and identified due diligence items including an environmental assessment (auto and dry-cleaner uses on site can pose contamination risk), a building inspection, lease review and a commercial appraisal. The Douglas property acquisition study period was described as ending August 15 with closing thereafter; the Douglas purchase includes a $20,000 earnest deposit. The S & C Auto lot due-diligence period would end September 15 with a later closing; staff noted the 14,000-square-foot figure is an estimate pending a plat/survey.

Several council members voiced concern about approving purchase agreements before the Council's anticipated vote to adopt the Downtown Urbandale master plan. Council members asked whether the city could withdraw from the contracts during the due-diligence period and whether the master-plan approval should be an explicit contractual condition. City legal counsel (Maria) advised the existing agreements provide exit options tied to the acquisition study outcomes (environmental, appraisal, inspections, lease reviews), but she did not identify an express contractual condition making master-plan approval itself an automatic termination trigger; she said she could provide a more detailed opinion with additional time.

After extended discussion about negotiation risk and timing, Council Member Carberry Montgomery moved (seconded by Bode) to defer action on both purchase agreements to the July 1 meeting. The motion passed. Staff warned that a deferral could require renegotiation of due-diligence dates with the sellers and might re-open some terms depending on sellers' positions. No purchase closed at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council heard presentations on two potential downtown property purchases — 7015–7025 Douglas Avenue (former Big Sky Bridal and adjacent parcels) and a 14,000-square-foot S & C Auto rear lot — and voted to defer action to the July 1 meeting amid questions about timing relative to the Downtown Urbandale master plan.","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},6212935,"Council approves low bid for Walker Johnson shelter and Dunlop Arboretum restrooms",105,763000,868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504&start=763&end=868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504/thumbnail_763000.jpg","/articles/6212935/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Council-approves-low-bid-for-Walker-Johnson-shelter-and-Dunlop-Arboretum-restrooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212935-7520de7274132d68d315ebd1777ce73a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189995&Signature=e5KYK1hhy~rYfTJW6B0R2IKtTjZCH0CXsVaHRSr8Uk2aZblBczMG92KN6YFQgfPP-4SODd6CGRWox3CVdYPqTbe8HiOUb~0xpppxpxKIjwT5KUVY8qFYPrnKqhyt9m5UnJvif7ulJ-X28qlC4Vl2woOjXjZh5Y4caQtpn~JK1IxUrVdd~1udT9AYRQFNEGyvph3NKsbSeKs7SJUna53go9VQF6A9b5~XMV7itfd4OfAQJ28FATp6zrWWyGTgS-MHV~410SV-z2~DPRRtFuzKIv4jprZCcRl6XZh4MHrPLTstBNsKBuDn6mWuIGwC~eJ-OL9wwKRXyOdxjfEaxVRwMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jan, a city staff presenter, offered the council plans and bid results for the Walker Johnson shelter and a Dunlop Arboretum restroom and recommended award to the low bidder. The Walker Johnson scope includes demolition of the existing shelter, a new covered shelter, three ADA-compliant restrooms (including an adult changing table in a large restroom), a large storage room and a mechanical area; the project also adds a paved, accessible path linking the shelter to nearby handicap parking. The Dunlop Arboretum project includes a single ADA-compliant restroom and adjacent seating.

Seven companies submitted bids for the combined project. Staff recommended awarding the contract to Henkel Construction, the low bidder at $847,000, which was $17,000 above the architect's estimate of $830,000. Staff noted a target completion in spring 2026.

Council opened and closed a public hearing on the bid solicitation (public notice published in the Des Moines Register on May 16, 2025) and then approved the recommended low bid and the related resolutions. The council vote to approve the contract and related resolutions passed; the staff presentation recorded that standard project due-diligence and coordination tasks would follow.

Council members asked clarifying questions during the presentation about the ADA-accessible path alignment and about the project schedule. No speakers from the public spoke during the hearing.

The project will proceed to contract administration, permitting and construction oversight; staff will return with any contract documents or additional approvals required by city purchasing rules.","The Urbandale City Council approved low bid awards for two park projects — a new Walker Johnson shelter with three ADA restrooms and a Dunlop Arboretum restroom — accepting Henkel Construction's low bid of $847,000 for the combined contract.",{"_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},6212941,"Urbandale resident asks council to rewild portion of Timberline East to tallgrass prairie",362,246000,608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504&start=246&end=608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681445-91900c749de14b8d90690719f652d504/thumbnail_246000.jpg","/articles/6212941/Urbandale/Polk-County/Iowa/Urbandale-resident-asks-council-to-rewild-portion-of-Timberline-East-to-tallgrass-prairie","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212941-b6ca8a428a5114699e7cb73b62a6f3e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189995&Signature=bdWDm0lKeUZ7hhdjTxDNGleQIgyWEiAQn6dHg71aJqJoRZaiFbhcJC6~0Nygb9OqUSxabx~wwRuCdQ8Ge2WRlKGqct8fl6hAHAmvKlrljcqjVx-AQsBIA5YFJFrS864fz~x5t91gRfzC9UFKt54i9TDPfwLjnrNtcy84NVu3Wwnj8Oo5fILnHSSc0U3jqbPaYLAlTD31gTTLD7QXenu3d6geAQ0a42aVXvvSuUeAxYpYL7BnZ3Vqy7DFIWsP5fAv9mb937qC66oavNuEe3GQrf9wEO2QG58OhVWq1BeWJzicUCQmSLIqQRsG1CL6atedBnX54m9iIXz~Ja44wAIwdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ian Fefczyk Robinson, a Urbandale resident, asked the City Council during the citizen forum to convert part of the Timberline East open space back to native tallgrass prairie to increase climate resilience and habitat for pollinators. \"I stand before you to propose that we take a portion of that section and rewild it, turn it back into prairie,\" Robinson said, showing photographs of standing water on turf and contrasting images of unmaintained natural areas.

Robinson told the council he lives in the Days Run Park area and said the open space near Timberline East currently is a \"sea of green regular turf grass\" that does not capture stormwater as a prairie would. He cited the 2008 floods as personal context for why greater infiltration matters and said rewilding could reduce basement flooding and restore habitat for species such as monarch butterflies.

Robinson also noted proximity to Living History Farms and suggested a restored prairie could complement that existing attraction and offer educational opportunities. He said he left contact information for city staff and residents who want to follow up.

The council did not take action on the proposal during the meeting; Robinson spoke during the public forum, and the item was informational only. No staff report, agenda item, motion or vote was taken on rewilding at this meeting.

Community members or councilors who want to pursue this further would need to request a staff study or an agenda item; Robinson told the council he had photographs and background material available for follow-up.","A Urbandale resident urged the City Council to convert part of Timberline East open space from turf lawn to native tallgrass prairie to improve flood resilience, habitat for pollinators and public access to native landscape.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council defers decision on two downtown property purchase agreements to July 1

Council approves low bid for Walker Johnson shelter and Dunlop Arboretum restrooms

Urbandale resident asks council to rewild portion of Timberline East to tallgrass prairie