City Council Agenda & Packet Summary – City of Ankeny – July 31, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: City of Ankeny
• Organization Type: municipality
• Government Body: city-council
• Meeting Title: Monday Aug 3, 2026 CDT City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Posted on: July 31, 2026 Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library - Council Chambers 1250 SW District Drive Ankeny, IA 50023 City Council
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-31
• City: Ankeny
• County: Polk
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://ankenyia.portal.civicclerk.com/event/740/files
• Meeting Listing URL: https://ankenyia.portal.civicclerk.com/?category_id=26
• Public Body Website: https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/456/Mayor-City-Council
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofAnkeny/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofAnkeny

What Community Members Should Know

This meeting includes several land-use decisions, infrastructure investments, capital project actions, and financial approvals that will shape future development and public services across Ankeny. The agenda combines routine engineering payments with several policy and development decisions that could affect neighborhoods, transportation, parks, and future growth.

The council will hold three public hearings covering the vacation of an unused public right-of-way, the vacation of a public utility easement to accommodate future development, and a proposed rezoning of approximately 48.73 acres for future single-family residential development. Together, these items reflect continued redevelopment and expansion in both established and growing parts of the city.

Major financial actions are concentrated in the consent agenda. The council will consider engineering payments for numerous transportation, bridge, sewer, utility, and planning projects, approve construction of a citywide surface restoration project for $59,720, initiate bidding for the Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Phase 1, and authorize several grant applications intended to leverage outside funding for trails and transportation improvements.

The meeting also includes consideration of updated parking regulations, a proposed memorandum of understanding with the Ankeny Art Center, adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget document, and preparation for a major future public hearing that would comprehensively replace large portions of the city's zoning code.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Right-of-Way Vacation Along SW Ordnance Road

The first public hearing concerns approximately 0.14 acres of unused public right-of-way along SW Ordnance Road and an alley west of SW Cherry Street. Historical records indicate the property originally served Seventh Street when Thomas 2nd Addition was platted in 1908, but aerial photography shows the roadway disappeared after SW Ordnance Road assumed its current alignment decades ago.

City staff determined the land is no longer needed for transportation purposes. Ownership would transfer to adjacent property owners, who would assume maintenance responsibilities. The change would also return currently tax-exempt public land to the tax rolls.

Utility providers reviewed the proposal. Most indicated they had no remaining interests, while CenturyLink requested retention of a small utility easement for existing telecommunications facilities before the property transfer proceeds.

Public Utility Easement Vacation for Future Development

The second hearing addresses a request from DRA Properties LC to vacate a public utility easement on Lot 2 of Plaza 36 Plat 2.

According to staff, the easement became unnecessary after revised lot boundaries combined and reconfigured parcels. The existing easement would eventually be replaced with new easements as future development occurs, allowing redevelopment while maintaining long-term utility access where needed.

Rezoning Nearly 49 Acres for Future Residential Development

One of the largest planning decisions involves approximately 48.73 acres owned by Bill Kimberley, LC.

The proposal would rezone land west of NE Delaware Avenue and north of NE 54th Street from R-1 One-Family Residence District to R-3 Multiple-Family Residence District restricted exclusively to single-family residential use.

Although the zoning designation changes, staff explains the requested restrictions keep the project focused on detached single-family housing. Planning staff concluded the proposal is generally compatible with the city's long-range growth plans and noted surrounding properties already contain similar zoning classifications.

Preparing for Comprehensive Zoning Code Replacement

Among the consent agenda items is scheduling a public hearing for August 17 on an ordinance that would repeal and replace Chapters 190 through 197, Chapter 200, and the city's official zoning map.

While detailed code language is not summarized in the accessible packet, this represents one of the most significant upcoming policy actions because it would comprehensively modernize the city's zoning regulations.

Transportation, Utilities, and Capital Improvement Projects

The consent agenda advances numerous ongoing infrastructure projects through engineering payments, maintenance bonds, construction authorization, and grant applications.

Projects include roadway reconstruction, traffic signal improvements, bridge projects, corridor planning, adaptive traffic signal technology, sanitary sewer improvements, channel improvements, and intersection upgrades. These approvals generally keep previously authorized capital projects moving through design and construction.

Community Partnerships

Council members will also consider approving a memorandum of understanding with the Ankeny Friends of the Arts, doing business as the Ankeny Art Center.

The agenda identifies the agreement for formal approval, although detailed terms are not included within the accessible source text.

Financial Matters

Several meaningful financial actions appear on the consent agenda.

Engineering and professional service payments include:

• $97,872.07 to RDG Planning & Design for the Saylor Creek Channel Improvements project.
• $87,962.00 to Bolton & Menk for NW 18th Street Reconstruction design engineering.
• $16,319.50 to Snyder & Associates for the NE 18th Street Bridge over Interstate 35 project.
• $15,312.75 to Snyder & Associates for construction engineering associated with Northwest Northlawn Area Utility Improvements Phase 4.
• $13,465.33 to Snyder & Associates for the North Ankeny Boulevard/Reinhart Drive signal project.
• $13,457.21 to Snyder & Associates for construction engineering on South Ankeny Boulevard improvements.
• $12,939.98 to Snyder & Associates for the NE 72nd Street Bridge rehabilitation project.
• $12,637.57 to HDR Engineering for the NW State Street Corridor Improvements Study.
• $8,044.75 for the South Ankeny Boulevard and Oralabor Road Concept Study.
• $5,811.25 to Olsson for Adaptive Signal Control Technology engineering.
• $4,281.27 to Olsson for SW Oralabor Road and SW Irvinedale Drive intersection engineering.

Additional financial actions include:

• Approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 adopted annual budget document.
• Authorization of repairs to the Public Works fueling station.
• Acceptance of a $59,720 proposal from Alpha Landscapes for the 2026 City-Wide Permanent Surface Restoration project.
• Authorization to seek federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funding.
• Authorization to apply for Iowa REAP grant funding for the West First Street Trail connection.
• Declaration of intent to issue future debt to reimburse eligible project expenditures.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Council members will consider first readings of three ordinances involving:

• Vacation of obsolete SW Ordnance Road right-of-way.
• Vacation of a public utility easement in Plaza 36 Plat 2.
• Rezoning approximately 48.73 acres for future residential development.

Additional legislative actions include:

• Second consideration of Ordinance 2264 updating parking regulations.
• Final consideration of Ordinance 2262 rezoning Legacy Housby property from residential to light industrial.
• Final consideration of Ordinance 2263 vacating part of a sanitary sewer easement.
• Authorization for sale of vacated property to the Ankeny Community School District.
• Numerous resolutions accepting plats, maintenance bonds, grant applications, engineering actions, and project authorizations.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The packet contains detailed planning analyses supporting the public hearings.

Planning staff document the historical evolution of SW Ordnance Road using aerial photography from the 1930s, 1950s, and 2025 to demonstrate why portions of the former right-of-way are no longer needed.

Staff reports also summarize compatibility between proposed zoning changes and the city's comprehensive planning framework, including references to the Ankeny Plan 2040 Future Land Use Map.

The council will also receive and file minutes from recent meetings of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Library Board of Trustees and formally receive the adopted Fiscal Year 2027 budget document.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The accessible packet contains limited personnel actions.

The principal organizational item is the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Ankeny Friends of the Arts (Ankeny Art Center).

The agenda also includes routine reports from Mayor Bobbi Bentz and individual council members following the business portion of the meeting.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Infrastructure continues to dominate the city's capital agenda.

Projects advancing through engineering or administrative approvals include:

• NW 18th Street reconstruction.
• NW State Street corridor improvements.
• Adaptive traffic signal control technology.
• Saylor Creek Channel Improvements.
• South Ankeny Boulevard improvements.
• NE 18th Street bridge.
• NE 72nd Street bridge rehabilitation.
• Northlawn utility improvements.
• Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Phase 1.
• West First Street Trail connection to the Neal Smith Trail.
• Permanent citywide pavement restoration.
• Future grade-separated trail crossing at SW Oralabor Road and SW Irvinedale Drive.

Together, these projects represent continued investment in transportation capacity, pedestrian connectivity, utility infrastructure, and long-term system maintenance.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents may provide comments during three public hearings:

• Vacation of unused SW Ordnance Road right-of-way.
• Vacation of a public utility easement within Plaza 36 Plat 2.
• Rezoning approximately 48.73 acres for future residential development.

Future opportunities include:

• August 17, 2026 public hearing on comprehensive zoning code replacement.
• September 8, 2026 public hearing for the Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Phase 1 project.

The meeting is available both in person and electronically through Zoom.

Community Impact

Residents living near SW Ordnance Road may see ownership responsibilities shift as unused public property transfers to adjoining owners.

Future homeowners and nearby neighborhoods could be affected by the proposed residential rezoning as additional single-family housing develops.

Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists stand to benefit from continued investment in roadway improvements, bridge rehabilitation, trail connections, traffic signal modernization, and intersection upgrades.

Taxpayers may benefit from grant applications that seek outside funding for major transportation and recreation projects while also returning unused public land to the local property tax base.

Businesses and developers continue to see the city process subdivision plats, infrastructure improvements, zoning updates, and utility coordination that support continued community growth.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• Why is the proposed R-3 zoning considered appropriate while remaining limited to single-family housing?
• How quickly could development occur after the rezoning is approved?
• What long-term maintenance savings result from vacating the obsolete right-of-way?
• How much outside funding could the proposed transportation and REAP grant applications secure?
• What projects would receive priority if grant funding is awarded?
• What changes should residents expect from the upcoming comprehensive zoning code replacement?
• How will the Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension support future growth?
• What prompted revisions to the city's parking regulations?
• What responsibilities will adjacent property owners assume after the right-of-way vacation?
• What objectives are included in the memorandum of understanding with the Ankeny Art Center?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• August 3, 2026: City Council considers first readings of three ordinances and numerous consent agenda items.
• August 17, 2026: Scheduled public hearing on comprehensive replacement of major zoning code chapters and official zoning map.
• September 1, 2026: Bid opening scheduled for Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Phase 1.
• September 8, 2026: Public hearing on the Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension project.
• September 8, 2026: Expected final consideration dates for several ordinances receiving first readings at this meeting.

Key Takeaways

• Three public hearings focus on land use, easements, and residential growth.
• Nearly 49 acres are proposed for rezoning to support future single-family housing.
• The city continues major investment in transportation and utility infrastructure.
• Engineering payments advance numerous active capital projects.
• A $59,720 citywide pavement restoration project is proposed.
• Grant applications seek outside funding for trail and transportation improvements.
• The FY2027 budget document will be formally received.
• Parking regulations advance to second reading.
• A major zoning code overhaul is scheduled for public hearing later in August.
• Future sewer infrastructure planning continues through the Deer Creek project.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://ankenyia.portal.civicclerk.com/event/740/files
• Meeting listing: https://ankenyia.portal.civicclerk.com/?category_id=26
• Public body website: https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/456/Mayor-City-Council
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofAnkeny/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofAnkeny

About the Public Body

• Name: City of Ankeny
• Organization type: municipality
• Government body: city-council
• Location: Ankeny, iowa
• County: Polk
• Provider: civicclerk

Keywords

City of Ankeny, Ankeny City Council, August 3 2026, Polk County, public hearing, SW Ordnance Road, Seventh Street, right-of-way vacation, Plaza 36 Plat 2, public utility easement, Bill Kimberley LC, residential rezoning, R-1 zoning, R-3 zoning, Ankeny Plan 2040, Northgate Plat 8, Crossings at Deer Creek, Deer Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer, Saylor Creek, NE 18th Street Bridge, South Ankeny Boulevard, Adaptive Signal Control, REAP grant, Surface Transportation Block Grant, Neal Smith Trail, parking regulations, Ankeny Art Center, FY2027 budget, capital improvements