Urbandale council members express concern about recent state legislative measures, call to protect residents

Mayor Robert Endwag and several councilmembers used the council’s mayor-and-council time to express concern about recent activity at the Iowa Legislature and to affirm the city’s commitment to welcome and protect all residents.

Endwag said he watched recent state developments “firsthand” and called the pace and scope of change alarming; he pledged the city will “stand up at the appropriate time” and reaffirmed that “all are certainly welcome in Urbandale.”

Councilmember Amy Kroll referenced two House study bills the council had been watching—House Study Bill 1195 and House Study Bill 286—and described language that would criminalize homelessness as returning to the legislative agenda. Kroll said there would be hearings the next day and expressed hope that those measures would not advance.

A councilmember who identified himself as Joe said the Legislature’s actions — including proposals to strip civil-rights protections based on gender identity from a state Civil Rights Act — concern him both morally and for their local economic impact. He told the council that local business leaders have told him retaining and attracting talent is a major challenge and that actions perceived as exclusionary can harm workforce recruitment and economic development.

Councilmembers urged continued outreach, coordination and advocacy with state and regional partners. Several council members thanked staff and local advocacy groups for their work and asked that the city reaffirm commitments to vulnerable residents in future communications.

Why it matters: Council remarks reflect the city’s stance on state-level proposals affecting civil rights and homelessness; such statements can shape local outreach plans, intergovernmental advocacy and municipal communications.