Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar And Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Councilors press for municipal solar projects, consider accelerating creek-access grant and debate 'Welcome to Urbandale' sign placement
Summary
Councilors urged the inclusion of a municipal solar project in the CIP (Fire Station 42 and visible sites were suggested), asked staff to pursue an ICON creek-access grant that could be accelerated, and debated the timing and location of new 'Welcome to Urbandale' signage near 70th and Hickman.
Several councilors urged the city to include a visible municipal solar project in the CIP or as an alternate in large building projects. Pat said staff should lead by example: "I really am uncomfortable with us not doing a solar project since we did that study... I'd love to see us do one that has visibility to it," Pat said, suggesting Fire Station 42 or a similarly visible site.
Councilors also discussed an ICON grant application for a creek-access project on the West Side; staff said grant award notification is expected in January and that a $125,000 grant is possible. Council asked whether the creek-access work could be moved up if the grant is awarded; staff replied that moving the project earlier in the CIP would depend on staff capacity and other priorities.
The council debated the placement of new 'Welcome to Urbandale' entrance signage proposed at 70th and Hickman (a site near the Bucks Arena). Some members argued the current conditions (parking lots and storage units) made the site feel premature for a flagship sign; others noted the signs are meant mainly to communicate jurisdictional boundary and could be modest. One councilor asked staff to avoid choices that would interfere with a geo-bonded TIF for Westover if the location is inside a TIF boundary.
Ending: Staff will compile additional cost and performance data on existing solar work and provide options for a municipal solar project and grant-timing scenarios for the creek access project; the council did not finalize sign placement and asked staff to return with refined options.
