City of Indianola Packet Summary — 2026-07-13
Meeting: Monday Jul 13, 2026 6:00 PM CDT City Council Study Session Agenda Posted on: July 9, 2026 4:01 PM 110 N 1st Street City Hall Council Chambers Indianola, IA 50125 City Council
The City Council study session agenda includes three main topics: a conceptual design for a new Indianola Public Library, proposed adoption of the 2024 International Building and Fire Codes, and a proposed Lexipol policy-management subscription connected to Indianola Police Department accreditation efforts.
Key Items on the Agenda
Indianola Public Library Conceptual Design
The Council is scheduled to review a concept presentation and report for a potential new Indianola Public Library. The concept study is intended to define space requirements, community programming needs, and a long-term vision for a modern library facility.
The report says the existing library at 207 N. B Street was constructed in 1984 and faces structural and space limitations. It identifies constraints including limited designated space for teen and children's programming and insufficient room for public meetings, quiet study, collaborative work, and technology uses. Prior assessments concluded that repurposing or expanding the existing building would not be a feasible or sustainable long-term solution because of site, architectural, structural, infrastructure, and cost considerations.
The design process included community and stakeholder engagement. A survey conducted from February 22 through March 11, 2025 received 119 responses. Themes identified in the report include demand for additional meeting and gathering space, separate areas for children, teens and adults, outdoor space and natural light, improved accessibility and parking, and technology and creation spaces. The report also records concerns about project cost and funding and notes that some participants believe the current library is sufficient.
The initial building program contemplated approximately 30,274 to 32,797 gross square feet. A subsequent "right-sized" program reduced that range to approximately 22,848 to 24,752 gross square feet. The conceptual design work states a need of approximately 25,000 square feet, and the design alternatives presented in the packet range from 25,400 to 28,000 square feet.
The site planning materials identify a proposed project site and show a refined layout on approximately 2.75 acres. Earlier site concepts were narrowed to Scheme B for further development, with later refinements including an entry event space/plaza, landscaping, a courtyard and areas identified for possible future growth.
Library Cost Scenarios
The packet presents three conceptual cost scenarios rather than a final project budget.
- Option 1a: A 28,000-square-foot concept with an estimated total project budget of $21,025,180.
- Option 1b: A 25,400-square-foot cost-reduction concept with a projected total project budget of $18,971,180 if the identified changes are implemented.
- Option 2: A 25,400-square-foot concept incorporating additional design and construction reductions, with a revised total project budget of $17,324,180.
Option 1a's estimate includes approximately $15.16 million in building components, $2.32 million in contingencies, $2.19 million in owner design costs, $1.34 million for furniture, fixtures, equipment and specialty systems, and other project costs.
The lower-cost alternatives consider changes including reducing the building footprint, simplifying its shape, modifying structural systems and exterior materials, reducing canopy size and landscaping allowances, and lowering portions of the building. The estimates also account for moving the assumed construction start to spring 2028, which adds escalation costs.
The packet does not present these estimates as an approved construction budget. They are part of the conceptual-design and cost-comparison materials scheduled for Council review.
Building and Fire Code Updates
The Community and Economic Development Department and Fire Department are preparing to move the City from the 2018 International Building and Fire Codes to the 2024 editions. Building and fire officials are scheduled to present the proposed updates so Council members can ask questions and provide input on proposed amendments.
The packet identifies no budget impact for this study-session item. Staff recommends that Council provide input on the 2024 International Building and Fire Codes.
The proposed schedule in the packet is:
- July 20: Set dates for a public hearing.
- August 3: Hold a public hearing on the 2024 Building and Fire Codes.
- August 17: Second reading.
- September 8: Third reading and adoption.
These dates are presented as next steps in the packet and should not be interpreted as completed actions.
Police Policy Management and Accreditation
Proposed Lexipol Subscription
The Police Department is seeking Council direction on a proposed Lexipol subscription intended to modernize its policy manual and support accreditation through the Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP).
The proposal follows a Center for Public Safety Management Police Operations and Data Report. According to the packet, that report contained 34 recommendations, including adoption of a policy subscription service and pursuit of ILEAP accreditation. The City Council formally accepted the report's findings on June 15.
The Police Department applied for the ILEAP accreditation program in June 2026 and was accepted. The packet says all 87 ILEAP standards involve policy-driven initiatives and that the department's policy manual will need updating and legal review as part of the accreditation process.
Lexipol's proposed services include:
- An Iowa-specific law-enforcement policy manual with continuing legal and best-practice updates.
- Daily scenario-based policy training for employees.
- Electronic policy acknowledgments and compliance reporting.
- Policy version control and archival functions.
- Supplemental policy-management services.
- An Accreditation Workbench to organize standards and proof-of-compliance documentation.
The packet states that IPD would retain ownership of its policy manual if the subscription were discontinued, although future Lexipol legal and policy updates would no longer be provided.
Cost and Budget Impact
The proposed first-year cost is $32,251.60, consisting of a discounted annual subscription and one-time implementation services.
The packet breaks out the pricing as follows:
- Annual subscription: $15,823.60, compared with an original annual cost of $18,616.
- One-time implementation: $16,428, compared with an original cost of $20,535.
- First-year total: $32,251.60, compared with standard pricing of $39,151.
- First-year savings under the proposal: $6,899.40.
- Ongoing annual subscription: $15,823.60.
The Police Department proposes funding the FY27 first-year expense with salary savings resulting from two vacant police officer positions. The ongoing subscription would be incorporated into future budget cycles.
The packet estimates approximately $63,899 over three years and approximately $95,546 over five years at the discounted pricing assumptions presented.
Implementation and Contract Considerations
Implementation is estimated to take 9–12 months, with weekly implementation meetings and approximately four employee hours per week devoted to the rollout. Work would include reviewing, migrating, customizing and restructuring the department's existing policy manual.
The materials also identify several considerations for Council, including the staff commitment required during implementation and the ongoing subscription expense. The agreement renews annually unless canceled in accordance with its terms, and the contract provides for renewal pricing adjustments following notice.
The packet says the special pricing is time-sensitive. The presentation identifies August 1, 2026 as the expiration date for the special pricing offer, while the attached Lexipol agreement itself states that its special offer is valid if the signed agreement is received on or before July 22, 2026. The packet therefore contains differing dates regarding the availability of the discounted terms.
Staff's recommendation for the study session is discussion and direction.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The study session is structured around Council feedback rather than final action on the three major subjects.
For the library, the central questions are likely to involve the scale and design of a potential new facility and the tradeoffs among conceptual options ranging from approximately $17.3 million to $21.0 million. The packet also documents community priorities alongside concerns about affordability and the necessity of a new facility.
For the building and fire codes, Council input is an early step in a proposed process leading to a public hearing and subsequent readings. The packet's schedule anticipates the adoption process continuing into September.
For the Police Department, Council is being asked to provide direction on whether to proceed with the Lexipol subscription as part of the department's policy modernization and ILEAP accreditation effort. Cost, staff implementation time, recurring subscription expenses, accreditation benefits, and the timing of the discounted offer are among the considerations identified in the packet.
The official public-body source used for this packet is the City of Indianola meeting materials provided through CivicClerk.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials.
