Newsletter Fall 2003

Special Interest Articles: Waukee Development Sets Record in 2003............... 1 Special Census Planned For Waukee ........................... 1 School District Continues Rapid Growth ......................... 3 Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition............................ 5 New Developments: Voters Choose Stanton and Mertz ..............................2 Painted Woods New Waukee Subdivision..............2 Waukee's Safety Rating Improves ...............................3 Community Development Member Spotlight ..................4 REMAX West Realty to build office building................4

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OtherMulti-f

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Townhome/CondoTax Exempt

Single Family

City of Waukee Building Permits

Source: Waukee Code Compliance Department

FALL/WINTER 2003-04 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

Based upon preliminary estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau and the City's Planning Department, the City of Waukee has been growing at an annual rate of about 13 percent from 2000 to 2004. Waukee's Director of Planning, Chad Weaver, said that getting a more exact measurement for the City's population will assist the City with its efforts to seek funding and development opportunities.

While the nation’s economy experienced modest growth throughout 2003, the City of Waukee issued more building permits than in any other period in the City’s history. "It has been a fantastic year for new construction in the community," said City Administrator Mark Arentsen. "We have had very strong residential development…which is beginning to translate into strong commercial development.” In 2003, the City issued building permits for 208 single residential homes totaling $35.4 million, 59 townhome and condominium units totaling $12.1 million, 1 multifamily structure totaling $1.6 million, and 21 commercial permits totaling $7.6 million.

Jody T. Gunderson, Waukee Community Development Director, said “I remain even more optimistic about development for 2004…there has been more land acquisitions by real estate developers in recent months than in any other period in the City’s history.” Gunderson believes that as the national economy continues to improve, businesses will move their conceptual projects from the conference room to the construction site. "Waukee is poised for another record year in 2004."

Waukee Continues Development at a Record Pace in 2003 Most residential permits issued in City’s history

"Waukee's city staff has been working with staff from other metro area communities to coordinate census efforts and potentially save money on the overall cost of a special census," said Weaver. At least a half dozen other communities are planning a special census in 2004 or 2005. Based upon recent growth and record permit applications, Waukee’s 2004 special census population could exceed 8,000.

Waukee to Conduct Special Census Estimates have City's growth increasing by 50% since 2000 census

Did You Know…

According to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, each school must show adequate yearly progress (AYP) and have 100 percent of its students demonstrate proficiency by the year 2014. The state of Iowa has chosen to use the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) to measure the proficiency of fourth and eighth graders and to use the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) to measure the proficiency of eleventh graders. All students must take the same test as their peer group, including special education students.

"Our intent has always been to leave no child behind because we are Waukee!" Edie Eckles Director of Teaching and Learning Waukee Community School District

Waukee Community School District 2002-2003

Student Achievement Data

Math Grade Waukee Iowa Four 84.2% 64.0% Eight 83.9% 63.0% Eleven 83.2% 69.0% Reading Four 82.6% 65.0% Eight 82.3% 61.0% Eleven 88.8% 69.0%

WAUKEE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Page 2 of 6

Developer Dan Stanbrough, President of Stanbrough Development, will begin construction this spring on Painted Woods, a subdivision located in southwestern Waukee along Ute Avenue. The development features executive lots ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 acres surrounded by a wooded creek area.

Stanbrough said considerable effort was made to maintain the wooded features of the area in order to create a more unique and attractive development. The development of this area of the City began over a year ago and was made possible through a partnership with the City of Waukee and local land owners. John Gibson, Waukee Public Works Director said, "The City is always looking for ways to make projects work…this project serves as an example of the commitment the City has to partner with developers in a manner that benefits both parties."

Voters Choose Stanton and Mertz to Fill City Council Seats Oberman reelected to a two-year term running unopposed

Jeff Mertz claimed a seat on Waukee's City Council, defeating incumbent Mike Watts in the City elections held on November 4, 2003. Voters also elected Tony Oberman and Darlene Stanton to full terms. Oberman was elected Mayor in a special election held on March 25, 2003 to replace Mark Leslie who moved from the city.

"I have received a number of comments from people regarding my performance as Mayor of Waukee…most of them are expressing their satisfaction with the manner in which the City Council meetings are conducted," said Oberman. Stanton was voted onto the Council in a special election held on June 3, 2003. "I'm excited and looking forward to serving the residents of Waukee for the next four years…and looking forward to working with Jeff and the other council members," said Stanton. Mertz said he is also very excited about taking his place on the Waukee City Council. "My initial response upon learning of the election results was relief," Mertz said. "There were a number of people that invested their time and energy in my campaign…I am truly humbled by the support I received from Waukee's residentsand I am looking forward to representing their interests."

Construction Begins this Spring on New Subdivision Painted Woods is a wooded suburban retreat

City Administrator Mark Arentsen administers the oath of office to Councilmember Darlene Stanton, Mayor Tony Oberman, and new Councilmember Jeff Mertz at the January 5, 2004 City Council meeting.

What they’re saying About Waukee “I think as the economy improves, we'll see a lot more movement of businesses to Waukee. The weak economy is delaying that growth. I'm surprised by the strength of retail in the area and surprised that Westwood Plaza, which was completed in spring 2002, is 65 percent occupied.”

Arun Kalra, owner Westwood Plaza "I can't say we didn't look other places, too, but Waukee officials help create a climate that is good for business. We employ close to 100 people, and we would like to see more business like that move in around here. It would create more retail opportunities; more affordable housing…the decision to expand the existing location was made in part because the company would still have room to grow at the site." Kirk Tyler, president Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling “City successful at luring businesses” Des Moines Register 08/08/2003


The Waukee Community School District is educating 540 more students this year than last, according to figures presented at the November 11, 2003, School Board meeting. With a 17.9 percent increase in students, the district is experiencing the largest growth among suburban Des Moines districts, and in fact, it's the largest growth spurt of any district in the past 20 years. Enrollment in Waukee elementary schools has more than doubled since 1998, when 961 pupils were present; elementary enrollment this year is 2,027. The biggest increase came in the kindergarten enrollment, which went from 180 to 445.

Waukee Community School District's growth nears 18% Level of growth is unique for any district in Iowa

Waukee's safety rating upgraded Continued improvements planned for the future

A new and better safety rating for the city may lower costs for residents and businesses when insurance premiums come due. Waukee recently received a Class 6 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), which can translate into lower premiums for both residential and commercial properties in the area. The upgrade was based on the city's score in a checklist-type analysis performed by the ISO, an independent company based in New Jersey. That rating is taken into account when insurance companies determine property insurance rates. "The city's previous rating hadn't changed for years," said City Administrator Mark Arentsen. It is based largely on the strength of the local fire service and water availability, and tells insurance companies how safe a specific location is."

Construction continues on Prairie View, Waukee's newest school. The building will provide classrooms for grades eight and nine beginning in the fall 2004.

Middle school enrollment went from 440 to 733; the high schools grew from 500 to 843. Students from other districts who have "open enrolled" in Waukee schools total 236. Students that live in the Waukee district but are enrolled in nearby districts total 134. Ten years from now, district officials expect about 7,600 students to enroll in Waukee schools. "We're just unique," Associate Superintendent Dave Wilkerson said. He said in the last 20 years only two other Iowa school districts grew by 300 students in a year.

Des Moines Register

"Forty percent of the survey is based on the fire department," said Fire Chief Terry Sesker. "The rest is based on dispatch services, the water system, water towers, pump capacities, hydrants. . . . They take a lot into account when determining a City's rating."

continued on page 6


Waukee’s Fall Festival Parade

In January, REMAX West Realty announced plans to construct a new office building in the lot adjacent to Waukee's City Hall. The company has been in Waukee for over 5 years and has leased space from the City for the last three years. Nancy Nevins, owner and broker of REMAX West Realty, said that based upon the rate of growth in Waukee, she knew the day would come when the City would need additional office space. In October REMAX was notified that the City would not be renewing their lease. "The company wanted to remain in Waukee and originally planned to lease space in

Waukee Community Development Committee Member Spotlight Michelle Durand-Adams Committee Member Profession: Vice President, Mortgage Production Manager,

Union Planters Bank

Experience: Bank Executive Officer for 16 years; Real Estate Agent, Iowa Realty, 3 years; Current Chair of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission Board; Recipient of the Governor's Volunteer Award for Service to the State of Iowa in 2003; Treasurer of the Friends of the Iowa Comm. on the Status of Women; Fundraising Chair and Capital Campaign Building Committee member St. Boniface Catholic Church; City of Waukee Comprehensive Planning Committee; member of the Waukee Community Development Committee

Hobbies: Golf, travel, reading -

Family: Husband Mark - Attorney with Wasker, Dorr, Wimmer, Marcouiller, PC Elizabeth - student at St. Olaf College, MN Mark, Jr. - 8th grade at Waukee Middle School

Primary Goal: Work with Committee members, Elected Officials, and interested parties to develop marketing material that promotes Waukee as a community in which to live, work, and conduct business.

Waukee’s Wauktoberfest

REMAX Realty West Announces Plans to Construct Office Building Completion of building expected by September

another building in the community. We contemplated leasing but eventually took the advice we give to our customers…Waukee is a great market to own real estate," said Nevins. The building is about 6,600 square feet, but REMAX will be occupying only half of the building. Nevins said that she will sublease the remainder of the space to tenants seeking 500 square feet or more. Ground breaking for the building is expected in early spring, with a completion date of September 2004.

Rendering of the REMAX Realty West office building provided by Simonson and Associates


Park Board Holds Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition

Last September Waukee area kids competed in Waukee's second annual "Punt, Pass, and Kick" competition. The competition is a relatively new offering within Waukee Park and Recreation Department's revamped line-up of programming, but it has a long history in youth football circles. The program is sponsored by Pepsi Cola and the NFL and offers kids an opportunity to excel in the same arena as professional players. A number of similar competitions take place around the United States, showcasing the basic football skills of boys and girls ages 8 to 15. In local events, competitors' scores are computed based upon the distance and accuracy of their punts, passes, and kicks. Top finishers advance to sectional competition, and then to a team championship. Sam Horsch, 11, took first place in the 10 to 11 year-old group. The Waukee youngster said he joined in the competition "to have fun." His father, Tim Horsch, won the same competition as a young boy growing up in Kansas. "I'm really very proud of him," the elder Horsch said. Olivia Herr, 10, also of Waukee, was the only girl to participate in the competition this year. Encouraged by her father and her aunt, one of the Park Board members, Olivia said that she was a little nervous, but glad to try. John Gibson, Waukee's Public Works Director, oversees the parks and recreation program. Gibson said the goal was to make more Waukee youths aware of recreational

opportunities. "This is a good program designed to bring the Waukee kids out to see what Parks and Recreation has to offer," he said.

"I think the kids handled themselves well," added Becky Briant of Waukee, whose son Jacob placed third in the 10 to 11-year-old group. "I feel good about the third place," Jacob said. "But next year, I'm going to win!" Des Moines Register

Waukee Parks and Recreation Annual Events

Easter Egg Hunt....................................April 3

Youth Soccer Clinic......................... Saturdays May 1 & 8 June 5 & 12

Art in the Park ............................ Wednesdays June 2 - June 23 June 30 - July 21 July 28 - August 18

Farmers Market ......................... Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 PM June 2 - September 29

Coed Softball Leagues............Tuesday nights June 8 - July 27

Sand Volleyball .............................. Thursdays June 10 - July 29

Kinnick-Feller Pool Trips ................ Thursdays 1:00-4:00 June 10 - August 12

Brad Penrith Wrestling Clinic with the UNI Coaching staff......... June 21 - 24

Hit, Run and Throw ............................. June 9

Sand Volleyball Tournament .............. June 19

July 4th Parade .................................2:00 PM Fireworks display (approx.) ..............10:00 PM

Punt, Pass and Kick....................September 2

Fall Festival..........................September 17-19

Coed Softball Tournament ........September 18

Community Development Board

Chairman: Councilman Nick Gruber Board Member: Michelle Durand-Adams Board Member: Todd Noah Board Member: John Aunan Board Member: Rick Mosher Board Member: John Turpen

Mayor: Tony Oberman Dir. of Planning: Chad Weaver

Dir. of Com. Dev.: Jody T. Gunderson

City of Waukee

230 Highway 6 Waukee, IA 50263

PHONE:

(515) 987-4522

FAX: (515) 987-1845

E-MAIL:

[email protected]

Contact Us on the Web

www.waukee.org

CITY OF WAUKEE 230 HIGHWAY 6

WAUKEE, IA 50263


Waukee Safety Rating continued… In a letter to the city, the ISO said the upgrade "is an improvement from the former classification of 7/9. That means your community's fire suppression services are improving in the face of demands of a changing environment. Congratulations on this recognition of your commitment to serve the needs of your community's property owners and residents." Some of the improvements made in the last few years that affected the analysis include

the fire department's purchase of a new tanker truck, adding two full-time fire fighters/paramedics to its staff, hiring a full-time fire chief and improving water pressure throughout the community. City officials are making plans to lower the rating further over the next few years. Waukee is only 3.5 points away from the next level, a Class 5 rating. The ratings are based on a possible 100-point scale, and cities are scored with a system much like a report card, where a range of scores determines the class rating.

The ISO surveys cities every 10 years or upon request from a city that can prove it has made substantial changes, and notifies insurance companies of the changes that may have occurred. The last survey in Waukee was done by ISO in 1992.

Waukee Public Safety building located at 1300 LA Grant Pkwy

Get Your Tickets Annual Fooling Around In April

7:00 PM, April 17, 2004, Waukee High School

Sponsored by the Waukee Rotary Club with proceeds benefiting community projects. Call City Hall for ticket information: 515-987-4522

Documents

Newsletter Fall 2003