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Pleasant Hill council approves FY27 rate increases, grant applications and staffing moves
Summary
On June 9 the Pleasant Hill City Council unanimously approved sewer, solid‑waste, recycling and stormwater fee increases tied to regional agencies, authorized grant applications including an $80,000 Polk County feasibility study and a SAFER firefighter grant, ratified a four‑year Teamsters contract, and appointed interim finance and clerk leadership.
The Pleasant Hill City Council on June 9 approved a package of budget, service and personnel measures tied to the FY27 budget by unanimous 5‑0 votes.
City Manager Ben Champ told council the city must raise sanitary sewer rates because Pleasant Hill is a Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) member and will face higher debt service after the WRA's new facility plan. The council adopted Ordinance #969 to increase sewer rates by 7.25%, raising the base rate from $8.92 to $9.57 per 1,000 gallons and the sewer access charge from $14.96 to $16.05 per unit; Champ said the change will increase the average residential customer's bill about $1.74 per month and is effective July 1, 2026 to allow billing updates by Des Moines Water Works.
Council also approved third readings for solid‑waste and recycling fee ordinances. Champ said Metro Waste Authority (MWA) adjustments — including removal of recycling subsidies — drive the changes: the 96‑gallon garbage container fee rises from $12.52 to $13.17 per month (a $0.65 increase), the 48‑gallon container rises from $11.59 to $12.24 per month, and the recycling fee increases from $4.91 to $5.18 per month (a $0.27 increase), all effective July 1, 2026.
The council adopted Ordinance #972 to implement phased stormwater utility fee increases anticipated in the adopted FY27 budget: $0.55 on July 1, 2026; $1.00 on Jan. 1, 2027; $1.00 on Jan. 1, 2028; and $0.50 on Jan. 1, 2029. Champ said these changes support ongoing stormwater system maintenance.
On other items, the council authorized a Polk County Community Development Grant application for an $80,000 regional sports facility feasibility study to evaluate indoor turf and court options and funding strategies, with the Southeast Polk Community School District expressing interest as a partner. The council approved a special event permit for an Iowa Spasmodic Dysphonia support‑group walk at Copper Creek Lake on Oct. 17, and authorized submission of a FEMA SAFER grant application to fund three full‑time firefighters; Fire Chief Jamie Lee said SAFER would cover 75% of salaries and benefits for two years, 35% in year three, and the city would be responsible for costs thereafter.
The council approved Resolution #060926‑08 to ratify a four‑year agreement with Teamsters Local #238 covering police and public works employees; the contract includes a 3.15% cost‑of‑living adjustment for the first year (effective July 1, 2026) and 3.0% in each of the following three years, new health‑savings account options and other administrative updates. The council also approved two interim appointments to cover a planned July 1 vacancy in the City Clerk/Finance Director role: appointing the Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director as Interim City Clerk and Annette Graeve as Interim Finance Director (part‑time), with the city engaging a search consultant for the permanent role.
All votes on the ordinances and resolutions described above were unanimous (5‑0). The meeting closed with brief council comments, a closed session to discuss possible litigation under Iowa Code Section 21.5.1(c), and an announcement on return to open session that no action was taken.
