A temporary moratorium on the construction of wind turbines in Clive is needed, City Council members agreed at their July 16 meeting.

The moratorium, expected to last three to six months, would give city officials time to craft an ordinance and work together with other cities to create a consistent ordinance to govern the use of wind turbines in the metro.

Currently, Clive city officials know of only one resident, Kevin Babb, who plans to install a wind turbine. City officials believe Babb, who has already purchased a turbine, is close to finishing the installation. If the work is done before the proposed moratorium takes effect, Babb would be allowed to keep his turbine, since they are largely unregulated by the city of Clive.

Doug Ollendike, Clive's community development director, told council members the city doesn't have any sort of policy regulating wind turbines.

"We'd treat it as an electrical device, make sure it isn't going to electrocute anyone," Ollendike said. "Right now there isn't anything to prevent someone from installing one."

While council members agreed on the idea of a moratorium, they don't want to send a message to residents that they are opposed to the idea of green energy. Council members agreed they want to see an ordinance that includes specifications about safety and reliability, whether a wind turbine was purchased from a turbine supplier or homebuilt.

"It flies in the face of being a greener community to ban these things from residential property, so I'm not sure I support that," Councilwoman Ronni Begleiter said.

The length of the proposed moratorium will depend on how much time is needed for city officials to get an ordinance in place that's consistent with metro standards, said city attorney James Wine. He wasn't sure how much time is needed to draft an ordinance.

The Metro Advisory Council, which includes representatives from Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties and cities in those areas, has expressed interest in creating a consistent policy to govern wind turbines.

Clive City Manager Dennis Henderson said the proposed ordinance could look different than earlier versions that have been proposed. Previously city officials have said they would like to limit wind turbines to properties of two acres or more, a plan that would limit the use of wind turbines to about 20 residential properties in Clive.

"That's not a feasible number," Henderson said. "We're more interested in setback requirements; we want to make sure it doesn't come crashing down into the neighbor's bedroom window."

City council members will get a chance to look at, and vote on, the proposed moratorium at the next city council meeting, at 7 p.m. July 30.