Dan DeGeest's Council Review

Hi all,

Another 5 hour City Council meeting with a packed agenda.  There was also a packed house and it was one of those fairly rare occasions when the overflow room was opened up to accommodate the audience.  Please read below for some highlights.

Thanks for reading,

Dan DeGeest>>

The Ames City Council for April 12, 2016.  The agenda included:

• 40. Park Naming Policy
  The Parks and Rec Commission heard a request in summer of 2015 to name the Skate Park after Georgie Tsushima, a young skateboard advocate who passed away in the summer of 2015, but Parks and Rec delayed ruling on that request in order to draft a naming policy. (Which they were previously lacking.) The proposed policy includes guidelines for naming parks and facilities after individuals who have made monetary or non-monetary contributions to the community. The policy also includes a 3-year waiting period after someone passes away before a naming request could be approved.
  
  As a long time advocate for bicycling in Ames, I know all too well the feeling of discouragement after putting blood, sweat, and tears into an idea only to hear "I'm sorry we don't have a policy for that".  I'm sure there were many supporters of Georgie Tsushima in the audience Tuesday night that were feeling that exact same way with the process to rename the local skate park in his honor.  Tuesday's discussion regarding a park naming policy was extensive, lasting nearly 2 hours, with many statements of support for Georgie including heartfelt comments from his mother. But, it also resulted in Council direction that should ultimately produce the desired outcome of the original request, specifically, the removal of the three-year waiting period for naming a park after a deceased individual.  This clause was found to be "arbitrary" and potentially "unfair" without similar requirements for land donation or other monetary based name change requests.  A motion to send this policy back for this revision passed 5-1 (Gartin voting "NO").  For more information see this excellent article at the Iowa Informer. To Georgie's supporters I encourage  you to stay engaged in the next steps and have patience with the process - don't give up.

• 42., 43., 44. Zoning text amendments, zoning map amendments, and municipal code Chap 9 relating to development in the Floodway
  In November of 2015, and then again on March 22nd of 2016, Council directed staff to draft text amendments to the Environmentally Sensitive Area Overlay (O-E zoning) which would add Council approval of a Major Site Plan to the requirements for developing in such areas. This would allow another layer of oversight to developments in floodways in Ames, notably environmentally sensitive areas. Agenda items 42, 43, and 44 all related to these changes.
  
  This topic was discussed in length at a previous City Council meeting and staff was back with the requested changes.  All three items were moved for approval and each passed 5-1 with Nelson the only "NO" vote in each instance.
  
  

• 46. Hearing on Skate Park Renovation Project.
  The Skate Park is in need of repairs and improvements, and has been on the CIP schedule since ‘13/’14, with $105K currently budgeted for these upgrades. One bid was received on the project (out of 9 solicited), well over the budgeted amount, at $149K. Staff recommend waiting until they determine if re-bidding the project might work.
  
  There was plenty of discussion about naming the Skate Park but it also happens that it is in need of a fair amount of repairs and some money has also been set aside for additions and improvements.  Unfortunately, only 1 of the 9 firms contacted to submit bids responded and that bid was well over the budget.  A motion accepting the report of bids was passed but no contract awarded.  This will give staff time to go back and find additional funds and/or alter the scope of the project to meet the budget.  I sincerely hope they find a way to fully fund the work and that the renovated park grand reopening and Georgie Tsushima dedication could be coordinated.

• 47. Hearing on 2015/16 Airport Improvements Taxiway Rehabilitation (Runway 01/19).
  Bids for the rehab of the taxiway came in over the engineers estimate ($243K instead of $185K). Staff is recommending accepting only the base bid ($195K), and rejecting the bid alternates, which included special materials.
  
  Keeping with the trend, here is another project with all bids coming in over budget.  As a result Council voted to remove two additional components of the project that would have extended the lifespan of the new runway section and accepted the lowest base bid for completing the concrete work. 

• 48. Hearing on rezoning, with Master Plan, of property at 896 South 500th Avenue from Agricultural (A) to Suburban Residential Low Density (FS-RL) and Suburban Residential Medium Density (FS-RM).
  This agenda item involves rezoning property to the southwest of Ames, which was recently annexed. The property is currently zoned Agricultural, but is seeking low and medium density residential zoning. Staff is recommending holding the public hearing, but holding off on rezoning until the capacity of sanitary sewer in the area can be evaluated.
  
  There were some concerns from a few council members about delaying or slowing down this development but ultimately the case was made that it was crucial to have the data about the sanitary sewer capacity before moving forward.  Therefore the hearing was left open and will be back on the Council agenda in two weeks.
   

• 50. Resolution approving Rose Prairie Development Agreement.

  Due to a lawsuit many years ago, the property in question is governed by a development agreement, and the area is designated as a conservation subdivision. The current owners are presenting 7 suggestions to alter this development agreement.

  1. Rezone from RL (residential low-density) to RL, RM, or PRD (planned residential development). This would mean an increase from 292 units to a  range from 397 to 739 units!
  2. Extend the time requirement for installing water and sanitary sewer due to delays in construction commencement.
  3. The development agreement includes a provision requiring the developer to pay for sanitary sewer to the boundaries of their property sufficient to accommodate future growth beyond their boundaries. Rose Prairie is proposing an 8” sanitary sewer line to the border of their property. City staff reports being unable to verify whether this is sufficient to accommodate future growth.
  4. Originally, the developer was responsible for a shared-use path along the railroad. Due to other changes to the shared-use path system, the required path will now run along Grant Ave.
  5. The original agreement mandated sprinkler systems be installed in residential units because emergency services didn’t extend to that area. The area is now served by emergency services, and other developments in the area have been released from this requirement, so staff support waiving the sprinkler system requirement.
  6. Rose Prairie is proposing that the City purchase and maintain the park which is required in the development agreement.
  7. Rose Prairie proposes that if they sell any outlots to another developer, any costs or other requirements of the development agreement transfer to the new owner (instead of becoming due when the first subdivision occurs).
  
  There were several concerns voiced about the density of this project but in reality the developer will be subject to the same storm water mitigation standards specified in the conservation zoning regardless if there are 200 or 700 units.  The higher density has already been approved on adjacent projects that have newer development agreements and actually makes it more cost effective to extend city services.  At this stage there is no master plan and there will be many more steps and reviews before a final design and plan are approved.  With the assurance that storm water can and will be mitigated and confidence from staff that the other requests from the developer could be negotiated, Council approved the motion to allow staff to move forward.
  

• 51. Staff Report and Update on Landscape Ordinance Provisions.
  City Council directed staff to review landscaping requirements for apartments and parking lots, with a goal of increasing sustainability and biodiversity. Council is being asked for feedback on formatting of the ordinance, sustainability, and site inspection and maintenance.
  
  Postponed

• 52. Resolution approving Grant Agreement with Iowa Department of Natural Resources for improvements to low-head dam in North River Valley Park in the amount of $85,00.
  Council directed staff to design and submit a proposal to the DNR to replace the roller head dam in North River Valley Park with a system of rock arch rapids. The proposal has been accepted by the DNR, and the project can move forward
  
  Motion approving passes 6-0 and work can begin on removal of the roller head dam with a much safer rock arch.

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