Our Agency

Call to order 1:03 p.m.

Board Members Present
Dennis Plautz, Board Chairperson
Jim Halverson, Board Vice Chairperson
Thomas Treharne
Laura Skogman*

Board Member Absent
Chris McKee

Others Present
Matt Rasmussen, Administrator, City Development Board
Betty Hessing, Administrative Assistant, City Development Board
Eric Dirth, Iowa Department of Justice
Vicky Clinkscales, IT Department, IEDA
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Manager, City of Dubuque*
Jason Duba, Assistant Planner, City of Dubuque*
Andy Kass, Community Development Director, City of Waukee
Robert Fangmann, Cedar County Engineer*
Ted Nellesen, Iowa Dept. of Management*
Tom Wittman, Knapp Properties, Inc.*
Eric Bohnenkamp, ATI Group*
Jace Mikels, Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus Staff*
Nathan Aronson, IDOT*
Anthony Volz, IDOT*
Christopher Higgins, The Des Moines Register*
Robert Rice, Public Works Director, Polk County*
Andy Swanson, Guest*
Rob Fangmann, Guest*
JJJ, Guest*
BJ Covington, Guest* 

*Participated via Teams Webinar

Introduction by Chair Dennis Plautz

Roll Call by Matt Rasmussen, Board Administrator
Four board members were present; a quorum was established.
    
Request for amendments to agenda
Motion by
Jim Halverson
Motion
I move to approve the agenda as presented.
Second
Thomas Treharne
Roll Call
All ayes. Motion approved.

Consideration of July 12, 2023 Business Meeting Minutes
Motion by
Jim Halverson
Motion
I move the Business meeting minutes of July 12, 2023 be approved as printed and distributed.
Second
Thomas Treharne
Roll Call
All ayes. Motion approved.
    
New Business
UA23-19 Dubuque
Matt Rasmussen reported this is a 100% voluntary annexation petition for the City of Dubuque. The City of Dubuque has received a written application from the City of Dubuque Engineering Department (applicant) and the Iowa Department of Transportation (property owner) for the 100% voluntary annexation of 4.56 acres of property. The property is comprised of 1.34 acres of public right-of-way along Westside Drive and land to the south of Westside Drive and east of Westside Court. 

The submitted annexation request is to allow the City of Dubuque to work with the Iowa Department of Transportation to dispose of excess property that was acquired as part of development of the Southwest Arterial. The future growth and development of the City of Dubuque makes it desirable that the annexation territory be made part of the City of Dubuque. The proposed land use is commercial, as is the existing land use. The City of Dubuque has the capacity to provide substantial municipal services to the annexation territory. Services include water; sanitary sewer; storm sewer; existing street access; police, fire & emergency response is available.

Mr. Rasmussen stated the annexation territory is not subject to an annexation moratorium agreement and the petition appears to be complete and properly filed.

Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Manager with the City of Dubuque, was present to explain further and answer questions from the Board.

Motion by
Thomas Treharne
Motion
I move the Board finds UA23-19 as complete and properly filed and in the public interest and that it be approved.
Second
Jim Halverson
Roll Call
All ayes. Motion approved.
    
UA23-20 Waukee
Matt Rasmussen stated this is a 100% voluntary annexation request for the City of Waukee. The proposed annexation consists of 3 parcels located east of T Avenue and approximately one mile south of West Hickman Road within Dallas County. The existing city limits border the northern and western boundaries of the annexation area. The annexation territory is 75.86 acres.

The Waukee City Council held a public hearing on July 10, 2023, regarding the annexation of consenting & non-consenting property. The annexation was approved after the public hearing was closed. Subsequently, the non-consenting property owner applied for voluntary annexation after the City Council had held the public hearing and approved the annexation. The Waukee City Council held a special meeting on July 17 and approved the revised resolution to accept the consenting application. Mr. Rasmussen explained the City did due diligence for an 80/20, which is overkill for a 100% voluntary, but this is being presented as a 100% voluntary.

It is anticipated that most of the property proposed to be annexed will be developed for additional residential units over the next five to ten years. Development of residential neighborhoods to the north and to the east are currently underway. In addition, developers have started paving sections of University Avenue to the east. Additionally, the City of Waukee owns approximately 220 acres of land to the east that will someday be the Civic Center for the City of Waukee.

Public water main and public gas main are located directly north of the proposed annexation area. Public sanitary sewer is available to the south and will be extended to the annexation area as development within the area occurs. The Waukee Fire and EMS Department already serve the area proposed within the annexation. Upon completion of the annexation, the City's Police Department would be responsible for patrolling and responding to the area. Both departments are equipped to handle this additional area within the Waukee City limits.

The proposed annexation territory is subject to an existing moratorium agreement with the City of Adel and it is within that agreement. Mr. Rasmussen stated the packet appears to be complete and properly filed.

Andy Kass, Community Development Director for the City of Waukee, was present to answer questions. No questions were asked.

Motion by
Jim Halverson
Motion
I move the Board finds UA23-20 as complete and properly filed and in the public interest and that it be approved.
Second
Thomas Treharne
Roll Call
All ayes. Motion approved.
    
SR16-0123 Lowden / Cedar County
Matt Rasmussen explained that on July 19, 2023, the City Development Board received a letter from the Cedar County Engineer’s office requesting the City Development Board to retroactively correct the failure of the City of Lowden to annex a segment of county road right-of-way when adjacent property was annexed by the City of Lowden. In your board packet is the mailing we received from Cedar County, which contains a legal description describing the section of road right-of-way that was excluded. A map is included which shows the location of the annexation in relation to the road. Matt Rasmussen displayed the area on a map and explained that when an annexation territory has a common boundary with road right-of-way, it is automatically taken to the centerline. There is a provision in Iowa Code to correct that when it is missed and that is what is before the Board today.

Robert Fangmann, Cedar County Engineer, was present to answer questions.

Motion by
Thomas Treharne
Motion
I move the Board certify that the notification by the Cedar County Engineer is correct and declare the county road right-of-way of Yankee Avenue be annexed to the City of Lowden.
Second
Jim Halverson
Roll Call
All ayes. Motion approved.
    
Staff Reports
Matt Rasmussen stated we will have two or more annexation petitions before the Board at the September 13th meeting.
    
Future Meeting
September 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., City Development Board Business Meeting at IEDA, 1963 Bell Ave., Suite 200, Helmick Conference Room, Des Moines or via Teams Webinar
    
Adjourn
1:16 p.m.
    
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Hessing, Administrative Assistant