City Council Agenda & Packet Summary – Grimes City Council – May 12, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: City of Grimes
• Organization Type: municipality
• Government Body: city-council
• Meeting Title: Tuesday May 12, 2026 5:30 PM CDT City Council Meeting Agenda Posted on: May 8, 2026 11:00 AM Grimes Community Center, 410 SE Main Street, Grimes, IA 50111 City Council
• Meeting Date: 2026-05-12
• City: Grimes
• County: Polk
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://grimesia.portal.civicclerk.com/event/431/files
• Meeting Listing URL: https://grimesia.portal.civicclerk.com/
• Public Body Website: Not available
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The May 12, 2026 City Council meeting combines routine business with several decisions that could influence Grimes' future growth, infrastructure planning, and municipal finances. While the consent agenda contains a large number of construction payments and administrative approvals, the most significant policy item is the second consideration of Ordinance 812, which would establish a 3% franchise fee on electricity and natural gas sales within the city.

The meeting also advances several long-term planning efforts. Council members are scheduled to review a Goodwill store site plan, consider entering a pre-design agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for work related to Iowa Highway 44, and certify the results of the city's 2025 Special Federal Census, an action that can affect future state distributions and official population counts.

Construction activity remains a major focus. More than $1.4 million in claims are presented for approval, including engineering services, contractor payments, change orders, and work associated with street reconstruction, utility improvements, the Grimes Public Safety Center, roadway expansion projects, and the new administration building.

Residents will also see several community-focused consent items, including a neighborhood street closure request, alcohol licensing, hazardous waste storage licensing, personnel transactions, spring budget transfers, infrastructure repairs, and approval for a fundraising event at the Grimes Public Library.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Goodwill Store Site Plan

Council is scheduled to review a proposed site plan for a new Goodwill store. Although the packet excerpt does not provide detailed architectural or zoning analysis, site plan approvals typically evaluate building layout, traffic circulation, parking, landscaping, utilities, and compliance with city development standards. The proposal represents a potentially significant commercial development that could expand retail services and employment opportunities.

Second Consideration of Ordinance 812

The council will hold the second consideration of Ordinance 812 establishing a 3% franchise fee on electricity and natural gas revenues collected by Black Hills Energy and MidAmerican Energy within Grimes.

The ordinance follows an earlier public hearing and first reading. According to previous council discussions included in the packet, city officials have explained that anticipated franchise fee revenues were incorporated into planning for the FY 2026-2027 budget. Continued approval moves the ordinance closer to becoming effective and would create an additional ongoing municipal revenue source.

Iowa Highway 44 Pre-Design Agreement

Council will consider Resolution 05-1726 approving a pre-design agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation concerning Iowa Highway 44.

Although the packet excerpt provides only the agenda description, pre-design agreements generally establish coordination, engineering evaluation, and preliminary planning before major transportation improvements advance into design and construction. The agreement signals continued cooperation between the city and the Iowa DOT on an important transportation corridor.

Certification of the 2025 Special Federal Census

Resolution 05-1826 would certify Grimes' 2025 Special Federal Census to the Iowa Secretary of State and the State Treasurer.

Special census certifications are important because official population figures can influence state funding allocations, planning assumptions, and other governmental calculations. Formal certification represents an administrative step with potentially long-term financial implications.

Capital Improvement Program

The consent agenda continues work across numerous infrastructure projects, including:

• SE 41st Street and SE Park Drive Extension
• SE Little Beaver Drive and SE 4th through 6th Street reconstruction
• SE 2nd Street water main
• SW 19th Street water transmission main extension
• S. James Street and S. 19th Street improvements
• NW County Line Road widening
• Lions Park Phase One
• Grimes Public Safety Center
• Grimes Administration Building

Several projects receive progress payments, retainage releases, engineering invoices, or change orders, reflecting active construction across the community.

Community Services and Administrative Actions

Additional consent items include:

• Block party street closure request.
• State alcohol license approvals.
• Metro Waste Authority hazardous waste storage license.
• Equipment transactions.
• Personnel transactions.
• Spring FY 2025-2026 budget transfers.
• Storm sewer repair on SE 19th Street.
• Fundraising event approval at the Grimes Public Library.
• Acceptance of completed reconstruction work on SE Little Beaver Drive and SE 4th Street.

Financial Matters

The council is asked to approve a Claims Report totaling $1,402,306.34, consisting of approximately $1,219,847.74 in expenditures plus $182,458.60 in payroll.

Professional service payments include:

• McClure Engineering: $21,178.75 for SE 41st Street and SE Park Drive Extension.
• MSA Professional Services: $6,528.54 for the SE 2nd Street Water Main project.
• MSA Professional Services: $6,781.55 for SE Little Beaver reconstruction.
• Confluence: $229.51 for Lions Park Phase One.
• Kirkham Michael: $37,710.43 for NW County Line Road widening.

Capital project payment requests include:

• Elder Corporation: $92,959.55.
• Sternquist Construction payments totaling more than $88,000 including retainage.
• Evolution Contracting: $19,497.00.
• Core Construction retainage: $23,692.72.

Three construction change orders are proposed:

• Sternquist Construction: $16,505.05.
• CTI: $4,975.00.
• Nelson Construction Services: $9,871.15 for revised administration building site work involving pavement and markings.

The packet also includes approval of FY 2025-2026 Spring Transfers, although detailed transfer amounts are not fully visible in the extracted text.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The principal policy action is the continued consideration of Ordinance 812 creating a 3% utility franchise fee for electricity and natural gas providers operating within Grimes.

Additional resolutions address routine governance, including approval of minutes, claims, engineering payments, construction payments, change orders, personnel actions, equipment transactions, infrastructure acceptance, budget transfers, easement agreements, hazardous waste licensing, alcohol licensing, and certification of the special census.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Most informational materials support resolutions authorizing payments or documenting construction progress.

Engineering documentation accompanies multiple infrastructure projects, while administrative communications explain the purpose of consent agenda items. The packet also contains supporting materials for the Goodwill site plan, transportation planning, and municipal construction projects.

Discussion items at the end of the meeting include staff reports and reports from the mayor and city council.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The consent agenda includes Resolution 05-1126 approving personnel transactions. The extracted packet does not provide detailed employee actions, so the briefing does not speculate regarding specific hires, promotions, or separations.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Infrastructure investment remains a dominant theme.

Roadway projects include SE Little Beaver reconstruction, SE 41st Street and SE Park Drive Extension, NW County Line Road widening, S. James Street improvements, and SE 19th Street storm sewer work.

Utility projects include the SE 2nd Street water main and SW 19th Street water transmission main extension.

Municipal facility work continues on both the Grimes Public Safety Center and the new Grimes Administration Building. The administration building includes a change order associated with revised site paving and pavement markings.

Parks improvements continue through Lions Park Phase One, while Iowa Highway 44 planning may establish groundwork for future transportation improvements.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents may speak during the Public Forum by signing in before the meeting. Speakers are generally limited to three minutes and may address up to two issues.

Although no public hearing is listed for Ordinance 812 at this meeting, council is conducting its second consideration following an earlier hearing and first reading.

Community participation opportunities also include review of the Goodwill site plan and observation of discussion surrounding transportation planning and capital improvements.

Community Impact

Residents may eventually experience higher utility bills if the franchise fee ordinance receives final approval, while the city would gain an additional recurring revenue source to support municipal services.

Drivers should expect continued construction activity associated with roadway, utility, and transportation improvements throughout Grimes.

Businesses and developers may be interested in the Goodwill site plan because it represents additional commercial investment.

Property owners may benefit from continued investments in streets, utilities, drainage, public safety facilities, and municipal infrastructure that support long-term community growth.

Neighborhood residents requesting community events continue to benefit from the city's street closure approval process, while library supporters may benefit from fundraising activities authorized at the public library.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How much annual revenue is the proposed 3% franchise fee expected to generate?
• How will franchise fee revenue be used within future city budgets?
• What is the anticipated timeline for Iowa Highway 44 planning and construction?
• What major issues prompted the construction change orders?
• When will the administration building and Public Safety Center be substantially complete?
• What benefits are expected from certifying the 2025 Special Federal Census?
• What is the anticipated construction schedule remaining for SE Little Beaver reconstruction?
• What traffic impacts should residents expect from ongoing capital projects?
• Are additional commercial developments expected near the proposed Goodwill location?
• How will spring budget transfers affect remaining FY 2025-2026 finances?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• May 12, 2026: City Council considers the consent agenda, Goodwill site plan, Ordinance 812 second consideration, Iowa Highway 44 agreement, and special census certification.
• June 6, 2026: Requested neighborhood block party street closure from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., subject to council approval.
• Following council approval, multiple infrastructure projects will continue through additional construction phases and payment requests.
• Ordinance 812 will continue through the remaining legislative process before becoming effective.

Key Takeaways

• More than $1.4 million in claims and payroll are scheduled for approval.
• A proposed 3% utility franchise fee remains one of the meeting's most important policy decisions.
• Council will review a Goodwill store site plan.
• Iowa Highway 44 planning advances through a proposed pre-design agreement.
• The city will certify its 2025 Special Federal Census.
• Numerous roadway, utility, and municipal building projects remain under construction.
• Multiple engineering invoices, contractor payments, and change orders support ongoing capital improvements.
• SE Little Beaver reconstruction is moving toward project acceptance.
• The meeting includes approvals affecting neighborhood events, licensing, personnel, and municipal operations.
• Continued investment in transportation, public safety, utilities, and civic facilities remains a central city priority.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://grimesia.portal.civicclerk.com/event/431/files
• Meeting listing: https://grimesia.portal.civicclerk.com/
• Public body website: Not available
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

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

Keywords

City of Grimes, Grimes City Council, May 12 2026, Goodwill site plan, Ordinance 812, franchise fee, Black Hills Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Iowa Highway 44, special federal census, SE Little Beaver reconstruction, SE 41st Street extension, SE Park Drive, NW County Line Road, Public Safety Center, Administration Building, Lions Park, water main, storm sewer, engineering services, capital improvements, budget transfers, alcohol licenses, hazardous waste license, personnel transactions, infrastructure, Polk County, Iowa