Dan DeGeest's Council Review

Hi Friends,

It's been a busy week.  City Council met on Tuesday with a host of interesting issues.  Please see below for a review of those items.  In addition, public forums were held for the Lincoln Way Corridor Study.  The public and business owners were invited to attend one of three different input sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.  I attended both sessions on Wednesday, each had around 50 participants.  The same idea generation activity was done at both sessions and it was very interesting and encouraging to see that there was significant overlap in the ideas and themes that bubbled to the top.  It's clear that we are desiring a safe, multi-modal, attractive, and thriving central corridor through our City.  The goal of this project and resulting plan it to figure out how we get there.  There should be more opportunity to provide public feedback on specifics of the plan and you are encouraged to keep generating ideas on the project website.

The Ames City Council meeting for March 1, 2016.  The agenda included:​

• 16. Requests from Ames Chamber of Commerce for Ames Main Street Farmers Market on Saturdays from May 7 to October 15, 2016.
  This agenda item relates to Farmer’s Market permits for the Summer 2016 season. The City received a letter from Swank’s Jewelry asking Council to consider other locations for the Main St. Farmer’s Market. The letter referenced numerous merchants who believe their business has been negatively impacted by the Farmer’s Market and resulting street closure. In response, the Main St. Cultural District (MSCD) polled business owners downtown, and found that of the 55 surveyed, 48 (87%) favor the current location, 1 didn’t care, and 6 would favor relocation. A recent thread on the Ames People Facebook group showed overwhelming support for the current location, and generated several interesting ideas about the flow of traffic and layout of the stands. According to the MSCD, the Main St. Farmer’s Market brings an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people downtown each Saturday during the season.
  
  Many people were on hand Tuesday night to provide input on this item and the majority spoke in favor of not changing the location, day, or hours of the Main Street Farmer's Market.  It is an identified goal of the City to keep expanding social and cultural opportunities in Ames in an effort to attract and retain residents and the Market is one of most successful events toward this goal to date.  Council members did suggest that the MSCD look into some ideas over the coming season to try to address the concerns that were brought forward from Swank's and a few other merchants that feel negatively impacted.   They further encouraged them to consider the array of very good ideas that were put forth both on social media and at the Council meeting.  I am confident that if we work together and get creative we can make the market benefit every merchant on Main Street and continue to be a great community event.  Let's view this as a challenge and an opportunity.   Please reply with any ideas.

• 18. Resolution approving/motion denying Land Use Policy Plan Minor Map Amendment for the end of Cedar Lane.
  Burgason Enterprises, LLC is asking for some changes to the Urban Fringe Plan and the LUPP to eventually annex and develop a 9.72-acre parcel of land south of Cedar Lane. Planning and Zoning voted 6-1 to approve the request. (This land does include some of the rail bed which could potentially become a bicycle connection to regional trail systems to the south.)
  
  Motion approving Land Use Policy Plan Amendment for Cedar Lane: PASSED 6-0.  This will allow future development on these properties at a density that could yield 25-45 single family homes depending on the final zoning put in place.

• 19. Community Development Block Grant Program. 

  • a. Resolution approving amendment to the 2014-18 Five-year Consolidated Plan to create a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area for redevelopment of 321 State Avenue (Old Ames Middle School) site as a 51% Low- to Moderate-Income housing development.
    This is the beginning of the process to develop the middle parcel of the old Middle School properties recently purchased as part of the settlement with Breckenridge. Since the property was purchased w/ CDBG (community development block grant) dollars, the Federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires compliance with certain criteria. Due to the census track the area lies in, the city needs to pursue a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area designation from HUD in order to develop the property as a mix of low/moderate income housing and market rate housing. In all of the outreach meetings held by the City, feedback indicated overwhelming support for mixing market-rate and low/moderate income housing.
    
    Motion to approve 2014-2018 Five-year Consolidated Plan:   PASSED 6-0.  Council feedback echoed what was heard in the public forums that developing this site as a mix of low/moderate income housing (LMI) and market rate properties will yield the best results for all users, create a diverse neighborhood, and maximize the available development strategies.

  • b. Resolution approving FY 2016/17 Proposed Annual Action Plan projects and budget.
    The attached budget outlines the programs which will receive CDBG funding in 2016/17. Staff recommends reintroducing the Childcare Assistance Program, and also continuing with many programs which were in place during 2015/16. (Acquisition/Reuse, Rehabilitation, Homebuyer Assistance, and Renter Affordability programs)
    
    Motion approving FY 2016/17 Proposed Action Plan Projects and Budget: PASSED 6-0.  This approved budget will direct 100% of the available funds into housing developments of one type or another.  It includes using all of our 2016/2107 funds, $392,789, for improvements on the Old Middle School site.

• 20. Hearing on Amendments to Fiscal Year 2015/16 Budget.
  Amendments to the 2015/16 budget include:
  -The addition of money for a traffic planning study on Ontario, which would explore the feasibility of reducing parking on one or both sides of the street and adding a turning lane and/or bicycle lanes.
  -$20,000 from Council’s contingency fund to contribute to a new LED lighting system to be installed on Main St.
  -Adding a full-time position for Cy-Ride
  
  Motion amending budget for current Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2016:  PASSES 6-0

• 21. Hearing on adoption of FY 2016/17 budget.
  The Council had several meetings in early 2016 to review various aspects of the 2016/17 budget and to hear public input. This item represents the final vote on the 2016/17 budget.
  
  Motion approving 2016/17 budget: PASSES 6-0

• 23. Hearing on rezoning of properties at 1405, 1415, 1425, 1502, 1509, 1510, 1511, and 1519 Baltimore Drive and 1428, 1429, 1506, 1514, and 1522 Boston Avenue from Community Commercial Node (CCN) to Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC).
  Friedrich Iowa Realty and Development is requesting to rezone a number of properties north of East 13th St from Community Commercial Node to Highway-Oriented Commercial. They are asking for the rezoning in order to allow for a wider range of commercial uses in the area. (14 of the 23 lots have remained vacant since the creation of the subdivision in 1999.) The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 (one abstention) to recommend rezoning, and City staff also recommends rezoning.
  
  Motion approving rezoning request: PASSES 6-0

Thanks for reading,

Dan DeGeest>>