Windsor Heights took the first step Monday to raise the speed limit on University Avenue to 30 mph.

The City Council passed the first of three readings on an ordinance that would raise the limit and said it would seek more community input before final approval.

The city's current 25-mph limit on its main thoroughfare has long drawn the ire of metro drivers, leading some Windsor Heights business owners to believe it's keeping potential customers away.

Councilwoman Threase Harms was the only dissenting vote against the increase Monday. She said she wanted to wait until the avenue is redesigned to increase the speed limit.

Dennis Block, who lives on the 6400 block of University Avenue, said the council was going to make the street "into a speedway."

“This is going to make my house a lot less of a good place to live,” he said.

Lauren Campbell, who owns a photography business on University Avenue, said driving 31 mph would still be speeding. She hoped it could draw in more customers while still being safe.

“I believe it will make our city more welcoming to visitors,” she said.

The city is also discussing whether to remove its automated traffic cameras from University Avenue as it contemplates a redesign between 63rd and 73rd streets. A stretch between 42nd and 73rd streets currently fluctuates between four and five lanes.

MORE:Is Windsor Heights ready to pull the plug on its traffic cameras?

On Monday, however, Mayor Dave Burgess said he "very well could" veto a proposed three-lane design for University Avenue, the plans for which had previously included a switch to a 30 mph limit.

That aside, Councilman Mike Jones said past city surveys have shown a preference for a higher speed limit. Like Campbell, he said the neighboring cities, like Des Moines, seemed to be getting along fine with higher speed limits.

“We’re not going to make everybody happy,” he said.