Independence City Council adopts storm water policy, SUDAS urban-design standards and multiple zoning measures

The Independence City Council voted Oct. 13 to adopt a set of development and infrastructure measures the city says will streamline project reviews and address stormwater management across the community.

Council placed the ordinance creating Chapter 102, the storm water management policy, on first reading and — after suspending the statutory two-meeting requirement — approved final passage and authorized the mayor to sign the ordinance. The mayor told council that the draft had been through several work sessions (May 5, July 7, Aug. 4 and Oct. 9) and had received input from multiple engineering firms and university expertise. The city recorded the suspension vote 6–1 and the final passage 6–1; Councilmember Hannah cast the lone no vote on the suspension and the final passage.

The council also approved an ordinance adopting the statewide urban design and specifications (commonly referred to as SUDAS) as local rules. City staff noted that recent local projects had already followed many of these standards. After a suspension of the two-meeting requirement, the SUDAS ordinance passed on final vote (6–1; Hannah recorded as the no vote on suspension and final passage).

A separate zoning amendment — including a rezoning request (UM2 to C1) for property at 11th Street NE and 7th Avenue NE — was the subject of a public hearing. The clerk said no written comments were filed and no members of the public spoke at the hearing. Council approved the ordinance amendment to Chapter 170 by roll call, again after suspending the two-meeting rule; the suspension and final passage votes were 6–1 (Hannah no).

Votes at a glance - Chapter 102 (storm water management policy): first reading approved 7–0; suspension of two-meeting rule approved 6–1 (Hannah no); final passage approved 6–1 (Hannah no). Ordinance number: not specified in the record. - Chapter 168 (statewide urban design and specifications/SUDAS): first reading approved 7–0; suspension approved 6–1 (Hannah no); final passage approved 6–1 (Hannah no). Ordinance number: not specified. - Chapter 170 (zoning amendments / rezoning UM2 to C1): public hearing held (no public comments); suspension and final passage approved 6–1 (Hannah no). Ordinance number: not specified. - Resolution to assess mowing costs (Chapter 52): approved 7–0; property referenced at 808 First Street West. - FY2025 annual urban renewal report (TIF) acceptance and submission: approved 7–0. Staff noted roughly 39% of returned TIF funds support low- and moderate-income projects and grants. - Setback resolution (15-foot north and south side yard setbacks): approved 7–0; property described as across from the high school behind Independence Plumbing & Heating and west of Print Express. - Resolution establishing policies for expenditure of public funds for public purpose: approved 7–0. Specific dollar amounts were included in the staff memo.

What it means City officials said the storm water ordinance and the adoption of SUDAS are intended to provide clearer technical standards for developers and staff, reduce repeated variances, and incorporate outside engineering review. Council members discussed that adopting SUDAS aligns local practice with standards already used on recent Crawford projects.

Several of the ordinances were advanced under suspension of the two-meeting rule allowed by Iowa Code §380.3; that procedure requires a supermajority and drew one dissenting vote from Councilmember Hannah on multiple items.

Next steps Staff will publish the adopted ordinances and prepare final signed copies for the municipal record. Where memo references or ordinance numbers were not provided in the packet, staff agreed the formal resolutions/ordinances will be prepared and signed by the mayor. Implementation details, such as engineering standards and enforcement protocols for the storm water policy, will be handled by city staff and relevant departments.