City to Inspect Green Meadows West Sidewalks by November 2023

The City of Johnston has posted information regarding its plans to inspect all sidewalks in Green Meadows West and other neighborhoods, and to repair/replace at homeowners’ expenses in 2024 those that are out of compliance. Homeowners will have an option to repair or contract repairs themselves.

This will be the second year of an 8-year, city-wide Sidewalk Repair Program. The project's execution began earlier this year in the original Green Meadows neighborhood, which is located between Beaver Creak and Merle Hay Road, and south of N.W. 62nd Avenue.

The program will help address:

• Gaps between sidewalk panels
• Tripping hazards, including heaved, raised, or lowered sidewalk panels
• Deteriorated, crumbling, cracked, or unevenly surfaced panels 

While this work is being done, city contractors will also ensure that corner "pedestrian ramps" (also called "ped-ramps" and "curb cuts") meet current requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.) Homeowners will not be charged for this ADA-related work.

According to information first presented at two public information meetings held Wed. Sept. 27, 2023 at the Johnston City Hall, Green Meadows West homeowner-members could see city inspectors marking neighborhood sidewalks as early as October or November 2023.

A presentation the city's repair program, as well as common types of sidewalk deficiencies, is now available on-line here: www.cityofjohnston.com/DocumentCenter/View/12007/Johnston-Sidewalk-Repair-Presentation_Public-Meeting-92723

According to the September 2023 meetings, all homeowners will be presented with official, written inspection results by March 2024. Recommended repairs will be detailed and documented for each homeowner address.

However, homeowners need not wait for these reports or notices. City inspectors are available to meet with individual homeowners at any time, officials said.

Pubic works officials said that the Sidewalk Repair Program should not interfere or interact with the city's concurrent efforts to cut down untreated Ash trees in rights-of-way. "Our goal is to not to take any trees with our sidewalk program," said Johnston Public Works Director Matt Greiner. "Our contractors will typically only cut the root [of any tree causing a sidewalk to heave or shift]. That doesn't mean, however, that the problem won't grow back in 5 or 10 years."

Prior to the city's sidewalk-reconstruction efforts in Green Meadows West, additional public information meetings will be held in March-April 2024. Homeowners will then be presented with three options:

• DIY repair within 90 days. (City permit required, but right-of-way permit fees will be waived.)
• Privately contract repairs within 90 days. (City permit required, but right-of-way permit fees will be waived.)
• Have city contractors repair the sidewalk at a flat, per-panel rate. (Neighborhood-wide project likely to occur Fall 2024 or Spring 2025.)

City officials and experts said 4-foot-square sidewalk panels will be determined in each neighborhood's contract. They expect more clarity on Green Meadows West rates by March 2024, after work is complete in the original Green Meadows neighborhood. Variables include contractor bids and materials costs. At the September 2023 meetings, however, they estimated the city's flat-rate charge to homeowners would likely be set between $350 to $550 per sidewalk panel.

Homeowners opting to repair sidewalks under city contract will be given an option to pay directly, or through special assessment over a period of 5 or 10 years. Further details on available payment plans will be presented in March 2024, city officials said.

For more information on the city's sidewalk repair plans, visit:

https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1228/Sidewalk-Repair-Program

Review the September 2023 public meeting information packet here:

www.cityofjohnston.com/DocumentCenter/View/12007/Johnston-Sidewalk-Repair-Presentation_Public-Meeting-92723

Or contact:

Matt Greiner, public works director

mgreiner AT cityofjohnston DOT com

phone: 515 - 278 - 0822

New Areas, New Season of Neighborhood Nature Walks!

The 2022 summer season brings new opportunities to learn about plants and green spaces in the Green Meadows West neighborhood, with an expanded schedule of informal and educational events hosted by the homeowners' association Prairie Committee.

The Green Meadows West Homeowners' Association boasts more than 17 acres of restored prairie areas, and maintains even more green spaces among houses, boulevards, and other areas.

NEW!!! Forest walk: Meet 8 a.m. Sat. Jun. 11, 2022 at the trail entrance at Foxboro Road and Chatham Circle. "We'll walk our section of the wooded area and try to make it over the bridge into the city's section of the Beaver Creek Recreation area, where many new trees have been along bike trail," says Prairie Committee chairperson Jason Hamata.

NEW!!! 86th Street Landscape Walk: Meet at the neighborhood's parking lot at the intersection of Windsor Parkway and King's Row 7:30 p.m. Wed., Jun. 15, 2022. "We'll talk about the work the city completed in 2021 and what is left to accomplish, as well as the new landscape," Hamata says.

Prairie Walks: Meet on the following Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the neighborhood's parking lot at the intersection of Windsor Parkway and King's Row:

• Jun. 14, 2022
• July 12, 2022
• Aug. 9, 2022
• Sept.6, 2022

Lost Your Trees to Ash Borers? Upcoming Sales May Help!

Green Meadows West Homeowners' Association (GMWHOA) members may need to plant new trees on their properties later this summer or fall, in order to stay within compliance of neighborhood covenants. Those covenants, established when the area was first developed, stipulate a minimum number of trees per lot. This number is determined by a given lot's square-footage.

The potential need developed after the City of Johnston began removing street-side Ash trees that have not been treated against Emerald Ash Borer infestation. Street trees that have successfully been treated at homeowner expense will likely not be removed, although the city reserves the right to do so.

Trees planted in the area between sidewalk and curb—colloquially called the "parking," and more technically called the "right-of-way"—are planted and maintained at homeowner expense.

Real estate professionals often say that street trees enhance curb appeal and improve potential resale values. Utility companies often promote potential energy savings generated by tree shade.

Green Meadows West rules and covenants stipulate a minimum number of trees per homeowner lot. For example: In Plat 2, one of the original plats (link here), the covenants specify:

"A minimum of one (1) tree is required per one thousand three hundred (1,300) square feet of space unoccupied by structures, parking, sidewalks or driveways. At least forty percent (40%) of the trees shall have a minimum of two-inch (2”) truck diameter measured two (2) feet vertically from the ground level."

If you have questions about covenant compliance at your location, please contact the Covenants Committee via the association manager. (Contact iformation below.)

Trees planted to meet GMWHOA covenants can be planted anywhere on homeowner property. However, city ordinances stipulate where any "street trees" may be planted, and how they must be trimmed in order to avoid coming into contact with vehicles or pedestrians. You may not be able to simply replant street trees removed by the city.

Also, a city permit is also now required for planting street trees.

Keep in mind that, according to city ordinances: "No street tree or street shrub that will grow more than 30 inches in height shall be planted on a corner lot where two streets intersect—for a distance of 25 feet in any direction from the point of intersection at the curb line (safety zone)"

Street trees must be a minimum of 3 feet from both sidewalk and curb.

Also, according to ordinances, no street tree shall be planted within:

• 15 lateral feet of overhead utility lines

• 3 lateral feet from water and sanitary sewer lines

• 10 feet from a fire hydrant

• 5 feet from a driveway

• 25 feet from a traffic control sign

• 3 feet from a sidewalk

Additionally, according to city ordinances, street trees must be kept trimmed to the following specifications:

• All branches will be at least 14 feet above the surface of the street.

• All branches will be 8 feet above the sidewalks.

To encourage tree planting across Johnston, the city's annual tree sale will open for on-line orders beginning 8 a.m. Fri., Apr. 12, 2022. Deliveries will take place Sat., May 7, 2022.

A list of tree species acceptable to the city is here: https://www.cityofjohnston.com/289/Plant-a-Tree

Also, the GMWHOA Grounds Committee is negotiating with select landscape vendors for potential discounts for homeowner-members. More details will be provided in the June-July 2022 newsletter.

Meanwhile, for more information and/or suggestions on how to select tree species, please contact the GMWHOA Grounds committee via: Association Manager Ben McMenamin, 515.222.5206; benm AT knappproperties DOT com 

Dates Posted for 2014 Cleanup Days, Shredding, and Garage Sales

Ready to jump into some spring cleaning? The Green Meadows West Homeowners Association will conduct its annual "neighborhood garage sale" Fri., May 2 and Sat. May 3, 2014.

On and around these dates, neighbors are encouraged to conduct and advertise their individual sales. The association will advertise the neighborhood-wide event via online classifieds, social media, and yard signs posted at entrances.

Starting Mon., April 28, individual signage in association common areas will be allowed temporarily, including at neighborhood entrances. Subject to city enforcement, neighbors are reminded to place signs approximately 18 feet away from the curb on the following streets:

• N.W. 86th Street

• N.W. 54th Avenue

• N.W. 62nd Avenue

Signs should be removed by those who placed the signs not later than Mon., May 5.

This is the first year that the neighborhood garage sale will not be conducted immediately prior to the City of Johnston's annual "Cleanup Days" event. At this year's annual meeting, members asked that the neighborhood garage sale be moved to a potentially warmer month. On Mon., April 14 and Tues., April 15 Johnston residents can place additional trash and bulky waste items for collection during normal trash collection.

Tires and tree branches may also be disposed of through the city's department of public works, 6400 N.W. Beaver Drive, on April 10, 11, and 12. Branches cannot be larger than 18 inches in diameter. Drop-off hours are from 7:30 am until 3:30 p.m. on Thurs., April 10 and Fri., April 11;, 8:00 a.m until 12 noon on Sat., April 12. Click here for details.

Getting rid of out-dated tax records or other personal, private information? A FREE on-site paper-shredding service will be located at the Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Road, on Sat., April 19, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Association Conducts Annual Meeting, Officers Elected

The general membership of the Green Meadows West Homeowners Association braved polar blasts to conduct its annual meeting, Mon., Jan. 27, 2014, at the Crown Point Community Center, Johnston.

Achieving a quorum of 10 percent of its membership was somewhat problematic, given the sub-zero temperatures, but proxies and late arrivals eventually crossed the required threshold. Special thanks to former association president Steve Halterman for helping "get out the vote."

The minutes of annual meetings are typically published and approved at the subsequent year's meeting. In an effort to communicate annual meeting actions in a more timely manner, however, draft minutes are available to members upon request to the association manager.

Highlights of the 2014 meeting included the election of new directors to the board of directors, presentation of the new year's budget, and discussions of neighbors' concerns regarding light infiltration from newly developed businesses along N.W. 86th Street. Regarding the latter topic, follow-up meetings with the association's Grounds and Property committee are planned for later this spring.

With the election of officers at its regularly scheduled February meeting, the 2014-2015 Board of Directors is now:

• David Erbes - President
• Jack Sullivan - Vice President
• Gary Vaden - Treasurer
• Randy Brown - Secretary
• Mark Hilliard
• Greg Knoploh
• DeAnn Lee
• Ron Lower
• Jon Vasey

Neighborhood-wide Garage Sale is April 19-20

The annual Green Meadows West neighborhood garage sale will be Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20.

Official signs will be posted as early as April 15, and neighborhood rules about posting garage and yard sale signs in common areas will temporarily be suspended. Members are asked to remove their individual signs not later than Mon., April 22.

The neighborhood-wide sale will also be advertised in The Des Moines Register, Craigslist, and other online and print venues.

The annual event takes place annual the week prior to Johnston Spring Clean Up Days. This year, Spring Clean-up Days will occur the week of April 22.

According to the City of Johnston website, details include:

• Curbside pickup for large items will be on April 22 and 23. Please have your items curbside by 6 a.m. to insure your items will be collected. These items do not require a sticker for the pickup.

• Your pickup date will be the same as your normal garbage day.

• Hazardous items are not allowed during the clean up. Televisions may be set curbside for disposal.

• Tree branches will be accepted again this year at the Johnston Public Works facility at 6400 NW Beaver Drive. Dates and hours for this service are: Thurs., April 25, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Fri., April 26, 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; and Sat., April 27, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

• Passenger tires may be dropped off at the Public Works facility from Mon., April 22 to Fri., April 26th between the hours of 7:30 and 3:30 a.m. Tires must not be mounted on wheels or rims.