March 17, 2026 - City Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on March 17, 2026, and the meeting began with three mayoral proclamations recognizing and reinforcing Urbandale’s commitment to inclusivity and well-being. The Mayor proclaimed March 31, 2026, as Transgender Day of Visibility; March 27, 2026, was recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day; and March as National Social Worker Month.

The Council also approved parks and recreation upgrades totaling about $870,000, including new playground equipment for various neighborhood parks, splash pad equipment for Walnut Creek Regional Park, and improvements at the Recreation Station in western Urbandale (the City’s recently acquired recreation complex) as staff prepares the facility for expanded use by residents.

Overall, the meeting highlighted a continued focus on maintaining core infrastructure while making meaningful investments in amenities that improve everyday life for residents.

January 20, 2026 - City Council Meeting

The Mayor and City Council met on Tuesday, January 20, and covered a range of items, with the most notable discussion centered on new electric and natural gas franchise agreements with MidAmerican Energy. These agreements replace 25-year-old contracts and modernize how utilities operate within city rights-of-way, including updated rules for construction, maintenance, relocations, and vegetation management.

A key component of the new agreements is the introduction of a 1% franchise fee on electric and natural gas services. City staff emphasized that this fee is not an additional tax for residents. Instead, it replaces the existing local option sales and services tax (LOSST) that already appears on most utility bills. Because state law does not allow both to be charged at the same time, the franchise fee effectively swaps one charge for another. As a result, the majority of households will see no change in their overall utility costs.

The franchise fee is expected to generate about $500,000 annually, helping stabilize the city’s budget without increasing costs for typical residential customers. Some nonprofit or tax-exempt accounts that previously did not pay LOSST may see a modest new charge on their bill--averaging less than $5.00/month.

The City Council also approved Phase I of a comprehensive municipal code update. These changes were described as mostly administrative, focusing on modernizing language, correcting citations, and removing outdated provisions. No major policy shifts were included in this phase. Additional updates to other sections of the city code will return later in the year in future phases.

Before adjourning, the Council voted to enter a closed session to discuss pending litigation, as allowed under state law. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Meetings are open to the public and can also be watched online through the City of Urbandale’s website.

January 6, 2026 - City Council Meeting

The Urbandale City Council met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, for its regular meeting at City Hall, opening the year with a mix of reflection, facility investments, and long-term planning decisions. 

The meeting began with a proclamation recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, officially designating Monday, January 19, 2026, as a day of remembrance and service in Urbandale. 

Council then approved two major projects focused on improving City facilities that serve residents every day. The first addressed the Public Library Interior Renovations Project, designed to modernize interior spaces and furnishings with a cost of about $310,000. A similar process followed for the Fire Station #42 Interior Renovations Project, which focuses on updating and improving office and working space for a total cost of about $215,000.

One of the most significant items of the evening was the public hearing and approval of the 2026–2031+ Capital Improvements Program (CIP). This multi-year plan lays out how the City will prioritize and fund major infrastructure and facility projects over the next several years, including streets, utilities, parks, and public buildings. The CIP serves as a financial and planning roadmap, aligning future investments with the City’s long-term goals for growth, maintenance, and service delivery.

The meeting concluded with additional agenda items and administrative updates before adjourning. The next regular Urbandale City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are held at City Hall and are also livestreamed for residents who wish to watch online.