How does the City collaborate with other cities in the area?
The City collaborates and partners with surrounding communities and organizations in a variety of ways. First, the City has 28E agreements with a variety of communities for Public Safety assistance such as fire, ambulance and police services. Windsor Heights provides backup for surrounding communities when needed and the communities assist Windsor Heights in return.
The City also has a housing program for low to moderate income homeowners that was developed and operated in conjunction with a number of surrounding communities. The program is called MetroHelp. Click http://www.wdm-ia.com/Index.aspx?page=87 for additional information.
Recently, Windsor Heights also partnered with Clive and Urbandale to build a joint fire training facility. Click http://www.windsorheights.org/Documents/Newsletter/2009-10%20October%20WHL%20newsletter.pdf to access a newsletter with additional information and a rendering of the facility.
Windsor Heights, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, Waukee, Grimes, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill also recently built a salt storage facility. This enables Windsor Heights to purchase salt during the summer when it is less expensive and more plentiful and store it for use in the winter. This not only lets us have salt when we need it for our streets, but reduces the costs of salt procurement by purchasing it jointly with the other communities during a time when it is more easily available.
Windsor Heights also participates in many area organizations such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Metro Advisory Council, the Metro Advisory Council-Legislative Action Committee, BRAVO cultural arts alliance, Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Mayors Group, the Metro Managers group, Polk County Emergency Management, the Police Chief group, Polk County fire Chief’s Association, the Metro Waste Authority, Des Moines Area Regional Transit.
The City also partners with area schools on a variety of projects. For example, the development of the playground at Colby Park was done in partnership with the students at Cowles Montessori School.
