[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483695,"mediaKeyId","5600239-3006357cc0b85645ddf0b223552906fa","parentId",5600239,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves easement, urban bow hunt map; takes first readings on water and sewer rates","audioSeconds",566,"startMs",3299000,"endMs",3865000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600239-3006357cc0b85645ddf0b223552906fa&start=3299&end=3865","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600239-3006357cc0b85645ddf0b223552906fa/thumbnail_3299000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483695/Johnston-City/Polk-County/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-easement-urban-bow-hunt-map-takes-first-readings-on-water-and-sewer-rates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483695-7a2a68d455d2086b46269eeb7652362b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170706&Signature=UROxeSmcaiW63aNMOqF4bKNLt6QBvo~OmHBsidCtwxd5QztBKfDs0RnJotADXZF-ZbkMfLaJwsNDui9inonOP1-LEca0EpZmw51WxdpOP1POKENVbRfXMLgdws5Vb2odMeOiW1LPtDDK~ZUGJ02Hff0ioNblOcuy9ZkgTecCDA4jCn39n5ikzbUg~rviGu6fnJh6SxRCg~kHe5N2j2HdQX0jFSXPNj5AqV4B4qq3VGub7fiBC37mUWoH-DLnJH9sZcuwLlxaaveK7~izHF5QFDGTtdrclfLERszqVO3~61lC2NPLpiN0t~ccRbJBhTsKMBV5PGAwZE58pelIOFlOCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Johnston","date","2025-08-19T14:37:31Z","article","The Johnston City Council recorded several formal actions on the evening's agenda, including approvals of an electrical easement, the amended Bombers development agreement, the urban bow-hunt map and the first readings for proposed water and sewer rate changes.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution No. 25-194 (electrical easement to MidAmerican Energy for the Merle Hay Road water access): approved (roll call indicated \"Yes\" votes from Council member Martin, Reddy, Burkhart, Coates and Evans). The easement will provide power for a restroom facility and lighting at the Merle Hay water-access/kayak-launch project.
- Resolution No. 25-211 (amended and restated purchase, sale and development agreement with Johnson Golf Development LLC): approved 5-1 (Council member Martin opposed). See separate coverage for details.
- Resolution No. 25-202 (establishing public hunting areas for the 2025-26 urban bow hunt program): approved. Staff noted the same map has been used for several years; the program emphasizes veteran bow-hunter training and primarily doe tags with limited buck tags available.
- Ordinance No. 1141 (first consideration; sewer rates and sewer usage charges): advanced on first consideration. City staff and the presenter said a 9.5% increase on Jan. 1, 2026 and additional July increases were recommended to meet debt obligations tied to sewer projects.
- Ordinance No. 1142 (first consideration; water rates): advanced on first consideration. Staff recommended a 5% water-rate increase on Jan. 1, 2026 and 5% increases each July for the next four years; staff said the primary driver is the Central Iowa Water Works buy-in and related capital costs.
- Claims approval: council approved claims of $1,827,786.93.

What the votes mean
Staff said the sewer and water rate ordinance readings are being advanced now to meet State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan application timing. Staff said rates would be effective Jan. 1, 2026, with additional increases tied to the fiscal-year schedule, and that staff will revisit rates annually as new connection-fee revenues materialize.

Provenance: each listed vote and its supporting presentation or roll call are recorded in the meeting transcript at the public hearing and consent/nonconsent agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Johnston City Council Meeting - August 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Johnston City Council approved an electrical easement to MidAmerican Energy, the Bombers development agreement, the urban bow-hunt map and voted to advance first readings of water and sewer rate ordinances; the development agreement passed 5-1.","taxTitle","Johnston City, Polk County, Iowa","taxId",52106,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483700,"Johnston council approves amended development agreement for Bombers golf and hotel project",2801,290000,3091000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600239-3006357cc0b85645ddf0b223552906fa&start=290&end=3091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600239-3006357cc0b85645ddf0b223552906fa/thumbnail_290000.jpg","/articles/6483700/Johnston-City/Polk-County/Iowa/Johnston-council-approves-amended-development-agreement-for-Bombers-golf-and-hotel-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483700-8d5b59e8443925dd49638a1c73cdd8be/orig.mp4?Expires=1776170706&Signature=hH6LpExBVDaLwtzmCq7w2BgXOEdLZU3hbL-3K8RfW5IDnn3ubRZHEvqtL7eTduYwQKfmabXUby-l8CjSxd0-uRztRXOnjMLhBWdi-M6FjQMNHZsjw3qNyjIH2-1PZtWy2Ph3VZe6O6LI5wP8sk7RuAWOLKgkVK7d2ON~yjlyk-XNTFU2sDMQ206yWuB0ocliZxTjNb3KAzNiT8P9DrohI1qbyNbpJrQoDlQKU2g5ictsh79uzbzY21NhxqkVfd8GokBgU93N1ptEOsOP0l95tiU27g8Za15oTQEOqpW35Q~ZywPdbKjkbz~VYr~2nwt0LcFbaDeah--09BT5KTs3VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnston City Council voted 5-1 to approve an amended and restated purchase, sale and development agreement with Johnson Golf Development LLC that redefines the scope, tax-increment financing and timelines for the Bombers golf and family entertainment project and an associated hotel.

City staff said the restated agreement consolidates prior amendments and clarifies project requirements. The document sets the golf-entertainment facility at about 80,000 square feet with at least 36 hitting bays and adds mini-golf and bowling amenities. The hotel is described as an \"upscale select-service\" property with a minimum of 65,000 square feet and at least 100 rooms. The developer agreed to increase the minimum number of full-time-equivalent jobs from 150 to 200.

Why it matters: The agreement alters the development's financing profile and incentives. It raises the tax-increment financing (TIF) rebate cap and the minimum assessment the project must meet, which changes projected rebate calculations and the schedule of tax revenues that will be rebated back to the developer.

Key terms and financial changes
- The agreement increases the authorized TIF rebate from a prior cap of $18,500,000 to a new cap of $19,700,000 over 14 years, with a stepped schedule of rebates. Staff explained the first $36,000,000 of assessed value would be rebated at 90%; assessed value above that threshold would be rebated at 100% under the proposal. The agreement also raises the minimum assessment for the hotel and golf facility combined from $36,000,000 to $48,000,000.
- The developer requested a further draw on an existing mortgage with Grinnell State Bank for $800,000 to cover early construction costs such as steel orders, switchgear and design fees; council consideration of that drawdown was incorporated into the approval.
- Outlots facing Broadway remain eligible for incremental TIF incentives, but the rebate structure for those outlots was reduced in the proposed agreement to 50% for up to 10 years (not to exceed $3,000,000); a 75% rebate remains available if a qualifying sit-down restaurant with a rooftop experience is built.
- The developer will either purchase a $25,000 public art piece or contribute $25,000 to a new city public art fund; staff said the fund would be used for art in the project area and that the piece would be family friendly.

Project schedule and performance milestones
- For the golf facility the developer must provide a private lending term sheet by Oct. 31 (staff indicated an imminent date), and documentation of a construction loan by Jan. 31, 2026. Within 90 days of obtaining that loan the developer must complete foundations or order structural steel and sign a GMP (guaranteed maximum price) agreement with a general contractor.
- Completion for the golf facility and the hotel is listed as December 2026. The properties must be fully assessed at the $48,000,000 minimum by Jan. 1, 2027, operational by Feb. 15, 2027, and staffed to 200 FTEs by March 1, 2027.

Council discussion and concerns
Council member Martin said the redesign represented a substantial change from earlier concept plans and raised concerns the hotel \"turns its back\" on Beaver Creek and the bike trail, weakening the intended green-space connection. Martin called the current schematic \"a major redesign\" and said she would not vote in favor of the agreement in its present form.

Developer response and staff notes
Alan Stoy, representing Johnson Golf Development LLC, and other project representatives said design changes reflect constraints, changed property availability and financing realities since the original 2022 agreement. Stoy said the team remained open to preserving trees, enhancing landscaping and moving parking to improve trail-facing views, and noted some landscape work is planned for the end of construction to avoid damage during buildout.

Josh (economic development staff) described the document as a restatement that consolidates prior amendments and said this would be the 10th amendment/iteration of the development agreement since the initial 2022 deal. Staff recommended approval.

Vote and next steps
The council approved the amended and restated agreement by a 5-1 roll call (Council member Martin opposed). With approval, staff will proceed with the financing steps and the developer may draw on the mortgage per the agreement terms; detailed site plans and final architectural drawings will return to the city through the site-plan review process, where council members said they expect further opportunities to influence design details.

Provenance: the council opened the public hearing and staff presentation, and the subsequent roll-call vote and discussion appear in the meeting transcript between the staff presentation (beginning at the public hearing for the development agreement) and the roll-call vote closing the item.","The Johnston City Council on a 5-1 vote approved an amended and restated purchase, sale and development agreement with Johnson Golf Development LLC that increases the project's minimum assessment, raises the TIF cap and adds deadlines and financing milestones for an 80,000-square-foot golf-entertainment facility and an upscale hotel.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: council approves easement, urban bow hunt map; takes first readings on water and sewer rates

Johnston council approves amended development agreement for Bombers golf and hotel project