Living in Vehicles on City Streets
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Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
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The Ames City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.
- 12. Resolution approving appointments to various Boards and Commissions.
This is a list of residents who are being appointed by the Mayor to City Boards and Commissions. There are still several vacancies, for those of you who might be interested in serving on a B or C. (hint hint) It is a good way to give back to the community, and sometimes advise on policy relating to the respective board or commission. - 30. Requests from Ames Chamber of Commerce for Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from May 6 to October 14, 2023.
In addition to their typical annual asks, the Chamber is also asking for parking limits to be waived in the lots behind Main St for the duration of the Market. Staff are recommending most of the asks, but recommend asking for reimbursement for the lost parking revenue (totaling $2,025 for the season). - 31. Discussion on persons living in their vehicles on City streets.
This discussion is on our agenda after receiving a number of complaints related to someone living in a vehicle and parking on the street. In Ames, there is currently no prohibition on staying in a car on the street overnight in any type of vehicle, as long as it is parked correctly. There are many ways in which that could manifest, such as RVs after an ISU game, an intoxicated person sleeping it off in their car overnight, or someone experiencing homelessness, to name a few. There are also several approaches to potential solutions, such as designating an RV/Vehicle Parking area or adding time, distance, or vehicle limitations in the parking code (mentioned in the staff report). - 32. Staff Report on Request to Initiate Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Corners of Cameron School Road and George Washington Carver.
This item involves a change we made at the request of a developer to add a Commercial node (5 acres) on property that they now are requesting be changed back to Residential zoning so that they can put a church there.
- 35. Hearing on Baker Subdivision.
This item involves the sale of one lot at the Baker Subdivision to Habitat for Humanity, for the purpose of building a single-family home. If you remember from last meeting, the Baker Subdivision involves both single-family style housing, with a mix of affordable and market rates, and a multi-family affordable housing development. (This item deals with the former rather than the latter.) - 36. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to Eliminate Rooftop Solar Panel Zoning Requirements.
As part of our upcoming Climate Action Plan, staff identified zoning requirements for rooftop solar panels as a policy area that might need adjusting in order to lower the barriers to sustainable energy sources. In response, Council can decide how to modify our zoning to more easily facilitate rooftop solar installations.
Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially. This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, At Large