Elkhart public meetings in 2025

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing and take action on a code violation notice for the property at 268 NW Main Street. The council will also vote on a motion to proceed with litigation to recover damages for the Elk Run Plat 2 project. Other business includes resolutions on zoning amendments, employee handbook changes, and a special event application.

• Public hearing and action on code violation notice for 268 NW Main Street
• Motion to proceed with litigation for Elk Run Plat 2 project damages
• Resolution #2025-68 setting a public hearing for January 20, 2026 on zoning amendments requiring traffic impact studies
• Special event application for Mean Machine Cycles (Gears & Beers) on May 30, 2026
• Discussion on screening requirements of Code 165.277

Onboarding Packet for Elected Officials 2026

This meeting agenda is a procedural onboarding packet for newly elected officials, covering Iowa open meetings and ethics laws, city budgets, debt, ongoing projects, and orientation materials. No decisions or votes are scheduled.

• Review of Iowa open meetings (Chapter 21) and ethics laws
• Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and proposed FY 2027 Budget for adoption on 4.20.26
• List of city debt including GO Sewer Improve 2020A, Sewer Revenue Bond 2020B, and Water Revenue Series 2023
• Discussion of establishing an emergency preparedness plan
• City membership in Iowa League of Cities with training materials provided

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing and take action on a code violation notice for the property at 252 NW Main Street. A motion to table the matter until January 2026 has been made and seconded. The council will also consider resolutions on urban renewal reports, TIF certification, a deferred compensation plan, and a first reading of an ordinance creating a special speed zone on East Walnut Street.

• Public hearing and action on code violation notice for 252 NW Main Street; motion to table until January 2026
• Resolution #2025-61 approving the Annual Urban Renewal Report for FY 2025
• Resolution #2025-62 directing filing of TIF certification for urban renewal projects
• Resolution #2025-63 setting a public hearing date for December 15, 2025 for property at 268 NW Main Street
• First reading of Ordinance No. 2025-13 amending Section 63.04 for a special speed zone on East Walnut Street

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold third readings on seven ordinances, including one to impose a 2% natural gas and electric franchise fee. They will also vote on the final plat for the Elkhart W Walnut Commercial Plat 1 and set a public hearing for a property at 252 NW Main Street. The consent agenda includes appointments to the volunteer fire department and a tax abatement application for 3T's Clubhouse, Inc.

• Third reading of Ordinance 2025-6 imposing a 2% natural gas and electric franchise fee
• Resolution #2025-60 approving final plat for Elkhart W Walnut Commercial Plat 1
• Resolution #2025-57 setting a public hearing date for property at 252 NW Main Street
• Tax abatement application for 3T's Clubhouse, Inc. at 500 NW Reagan Ave
• Appointments of Kellen Miller and Cameron Weaver to the Elkhart Volunteer Fire Department

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a second reading of an ordinance to impose a 2% franchise fee on natural gas and electric utilities, and consider several other code amendments. The meeting also includes approval of consent agenda items, appointment of a parks board member, and discussion of the comprehensive plan and ball field rental policy.

• Second reading of Ordinance 2025-6 imposing a 2% natural gas and electric franchise fee
• Ordinance 2025-7 amending cigarette and tobacco permit provisions
• Ordinance 2025-10 adding a prohibition on false representation of service animals
• Resolution 2025-54 adopting a policy for use of security cameras on city property
• Discussion of Memorial Park Ball Field rental policy

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to add a 2% franchise fee to natural gas and electric utility bills. The council will also consider several other ordinance amendments and routine consent agenda items. Public comments are limited to three minutes per person.

• Public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-6 to add a 2% Natural Gas and Electric Franchise Fee
• Ordinance No. 2025-7 amending cigarette and tobacco permit provisions
• Ordinance No. 2025-10 adding a new section prohibiting false representation of service animals
• Ordinance No. 2025-11 amending fireworks provisions
• Resolution 2025-48 designating Beggars' Night

Special City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will conduct a work session regarding the city's Comprehensive Plan. This is a special meeting scheduled for July 22, 2025.

• Comprehensive Plan Work Session

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will consider resolutions to adopt electric and natural gas franchise fees, approve final payments for water system improvements and a park pond seeding project, and set a public hearing on franchise fee code amendments. The consent agenda includes tax abatement applications for four properties on NE Madison Ave and a special alcohol license for The Hen House Pub N' Grub. Discussion items cover a Memorial Park ball field rental policy and radar speed feedback signs.

• Resolution #2025-46: Adopting a Revenue Purpose Statement for expenditure of fee revenues from proposed electric and natural gas franchise fees
• Resolution #2025-47: Setting a public hearing date on an amendment to the Elkhart Code of Ordinances regarding electric and natural gas franchise fees
• Tax abatement applications for 405, 407, 409, and 505 NE Madison Ave
• Resolution #2025-42 & #2025-43: Pay estimate No. 4 and final acceptance for Water Systems Improvements, Well No. 4 project with Gingerich Well & Pump Service, LLC
• The Hen House Pub N' Grub LLC – Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for 462 W. Walnut Street (Off-Premises) Sept. 2-6

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on an amendment to the Urban Revitalization Area plan. They will also consider resolutions approving staff wages for FY2026, a fishing pier at Prairie Pointe Park, and final acceptance of the Main Lift Station project. Several tax abatement applications and a special event permit are on the consent agenda.

• Public hearing and resolution on amendment to Elkhart Urban Revitalization Area plan
• Resolution #2025-39: Approving City Staff Wages for Fiscal Year 2026
• Resolution #2025-36: Approving Concrete Connection LLC proposal for Prairie Pointe Park fishing pier construction
• Resolution #2025-37 & #2025-38: Pay estimate and final acceptance for Main Lift Station Improvements Project with On-Track Construction LLC
• Second reading of Ordinance 2025-4 amending animal control code (Chapter 55, Section 55.20) on number of animals

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing on Budget Amendment #1 for FY 2024-2025 and consider resolutions for a street rehabilitation project and a comprehensive plan update. The consent agenda includes tax abatement applications, a tobacco permit, a special class C alcohol license, and several routine reports. The council will also conduct first readings of ordinances on animal control and recycling fees, and discuss gas/electric franchise fees.

• Public hearing on Budget Amendment #1 (Resolution #2025-27)
• Resolution #2025-32: 2025 Street Rehabilitation Project & Cost
• Resolution #2025-33: Professional services agreement with Snyder & Associates for Elkhart 2045 Comprehensive Plan
• Tax abatement applications at 229 NE Adams Ave, 322 NE Driftwood St, and 320 NE Driftwood St
• First readings of ordinances amending animal control (Chapter 55) and recycling fee collection (Chapter 107)

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing to adopt the FY 2025-2026 budget and consider a resolution to set a hearing for a budget amendment. Other business includes first reading of a noise control ordinance, approval of a code enforcement agreement, and appointments to the Board of Adjustment. The consent agenda features tax abatement applications, alcohol license renewals, and a special event application for the city festival.

• Public hearing and resolution to adopt FY 2025-2026 budget (Resolution #2025-23)
• First reading of Ordinance 2025-3 adding Chapter 53 Noise Control
• Resolution #2025-26 to approve agreement with Iowa Code Enforcement
• Tax abatement applications at 400 NE Driftwood and 216 NE Adams Ave
• Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for The Hen House Pub N Grub LLC (West Walnut Street, off-premises)

Special City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy rate for fiscal year 2026. No other business is scheduled; the meeting is otherwise procedural.

• Public hearing on proposed property tax levy rate for FY 26

Special City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council is holding a special meeting to set the date for the public hearing on the FY26 budget adoption and to discuss residential tax abatements. The meeting is largely procedural, with the main action being a resolution to schedule the budget hearing for April 21, 2025.

• Resolution #2025-22 setting public hearing for FY26 budget adoption on April 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
• Discussion of residential tax abatements

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will consider multiple resolutions approving payments for water infrastructure projects, set peddler permit fees for the 2025 city festival, and vote on a new complaint policy. The agenda also includes discussion of a comprehensive plan RFP, city-wide clean up options, and a closed session for litigation strategy.

• Resolution #2025-16: Pay Estimate No. 3 for Well No. 4 Project with Gingerich Well & Pump Service, LLC
• Resolution #2025-17: Pay Estimate No. 19 and early retainage release for Water Treatment Plant Expansion with WRH, Inc
• Resolution #2025-18: Pay Application No. 3 for Industrial Park Water Main Extension with Rognes Corp
• Resolution #2025-19: Agreement with Veenstra & Kimm for Prairie Pointe Park Fishing Pier Project
• Resolution #2025-20: Site plan approval for Elkhart W Walnut Commercial

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will hold a regular meeting with several action items, including a second reading of a special events ordinance, a resolution to set a public hearing date for the proposed property tax levy, and discussion of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The consent agenda includes approval of minutes, claims, financial reports, an alcohol license, a tax abatement application, and two resolutions. The council will also discuss the industrial park, city hall software proposals, a complaint policy, spring clean-up day, and code enforcement.

• Second reading of Ordinance No. 2025-2 adding Chapter 119 Special Events to city code
• Resolution #2025-14 setting a public hearing date for the proposed property tax levy
• Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026 budget
• Tax Abatement Application for 1407 NW Laurel St.
• Resolution #2025-10 waiving city review of a subdivision within two miles (The Chateau Plat 1)

The council passed the second reading of a new special events ordinance and adopted it after waiving the third reading. They also approved a software proposal from Edmunds for city hall, pending a response on data security and cloud failure plans. Other actions included approving a premium-only health plan for employees and setting a public hearing date for the property tax levy.

• Adopted Ordinance 2025-2 adding Chapter 119 Special Events (5-0)
• Approved Resolution 2025-12 setting special event application/permit fees (5-0)
• Approved Mean Machine Cycles special event application with fee waiver (5-0)
• Approved city hall software proposal from Edmunds, pending data security response (5-0)
• Adopted Resolution 2025-13 for a Premium-Only Plan for employees (5-0)
• Approved Resolution 2025-14 setting a public hearing date for property tax levy (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda including Hen House Pub n' Grub liquor license and tax abatement (5-0)
• Tabled complaint policy and spring clean-up day to March agenda

Special City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss and possibly vote on renewing the employee benefit insurance plan effective April 1, 2025, and to hold a work session on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. No other substantive actions are listed on the agenda.

• Discussion and possible motion on employee benefit insurance plan renewal effective April 1, 2025
• Fiscal Year 2026 budget work session

Regular City Council Meeting

The Elkhart City Council will consider a zoning ordinance amendment and several resolutions, including approvals for site plans and plats in the Elkhart Industrial Park, a hazard mitigation plan, and a complaint policy. The consent agenda includes a tax abatement application, a water treatment plant pay estimate, and appointments to the Polk County 911 Service Board.

• Ordinance No. 2025-1 amending zoning regulations
• Resolution #2025-5 approving site plan for Elkhart Industrial Park Plat 3, Pt. Lot 6 at 1407 NW Laurel Street
• Resolution #2025-6 approving plat of survey for South Half of Lot 5 of Elkhart Industrial Park Plat 3
• Tax abatement application for 509 NE Madison Ave
• Resolution #2025-2 approving Pay Estimate No. 18 for Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project (WRH, Inc.)

The Elkhart City Council approved a consent agenda including minutes, claims, financial reports, a tax abatement, and three resolutions. They also passed a zoning ordinance amendment, approved site plans for the industrial park, set the 2025 mileage reimbursement rate, and adopted a complaint policy. All actions were approved unanimously unless noted.

• Approved consent agenda items including minutes, claims, financial reports, tax abatement at 509 NE Madison Ave, and Resolutions 2025-1, 2025-2, 2025-3 (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-4 adopting the 2024 Polk County Hazard Mitigation Plan (unanimous)
• Passed Ordinance 2025-1 amending zoning regulations (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-5 for site plan at Elkhart Industrial Park Plat 3, Lot 6 (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-6 for plat of survey at South Half of Lot 5, Elkhart Industrial Park Plat 3 (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-7 for 2025 board and committee appointments (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-8 establishing a complaint policy (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025-9 setting mileage reimbursement rate (unanimous)