Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen's Council Preview

The AAMPO begins at 6:00 PM, followed by the Ames City Council .  The agenda includes:

• 31. Hearing on rezoning, with Revised Master Plan, of 5571 Grant Avenue, now known as Hyde Avenue, (Rose Prairie) from Agricultural (A) to Suburban Residential Low Density (FS-RL), Suburban Residential Medium Density (FS-RM), and Convenience General Service (CGS). See Ordinance and Addendum to Pre-Annexation Agreement.
  This developer is back with another revision of their site plan for the Rose Prairie subdivision. They are proposing the following zoning: a 10 acre commercial node, 15 acre FS-RM site (medium density), and the remaining 145 acre site FS-RL (low density). In April, Council voted to deny a rezoning request showing 746 dwelling units…the developer has reduced that number on the master plan to 620 units. Planning and Zoning recommended approval with a 4-2 vote, and staff also recommend approval.
  Note that North is to the left on map below.
  
   
• 32. Hearing on Amendment to Master Plan for 2617 Bobcat Drive.
  Most of the Ringgenberg Subdivision has been completed (off Oakwood Dr.), but now the developer is asking for amendments to the master plan which would allow them to construct an additional 13 single-family attached houses. This development would have its frontage on Bobcat Drive, which is a private road (not built to City specifications). This is typically not allowed. Also, to meet the open space requirement, the developer is proposing the use of an off-site common space. Planning and Zoning voted 6-0 to recommend approval, and staff recommend approval too.
• 33. Hearing on rezoning, with Master Plan, of 3115, 3119, 3301, 3325, 3409, and 3413 South Duff Avenue from Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC) and Agricultural (A) to Residential High Density (RH) and Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC) [Continued from September 27, 2016]. Council recently amended the Land Use Policy Plan to allow for high-density residential zoning on these properties. Now the developer is back asking for the actual rezoning of the properties. Staff recommend approval, but only with a contract in place that will ensure the developer cooperates and shares costs for storm water, transportation, and other required improvements.  
   
   
• 37. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat for 5871 Ontario Street. 
  The developer of the Birch Meadows subdivision at 5871 Ontario St. is looking for approval of their preliminary plat. They plan to build 74 single-family homes over the 33.5 acre site, with three outlots for open space.  As part of the subdivision, the developer will build six streets, four of which are continuations of existing streets. (Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, and Tennessee Streets) The developer is asking Council to waive their obligation to extend Ontario. Staff recommend approval of the preliminary plat, but maintaining the requirement to extend Ontario St. 
  
   
• 39. Resolution approving final tax abatement for 2311 Chamberlain Street (The Edge).
  Gilbane, developer of The Edge at 2311 Chamberlin is asking for final approval of their project, thus beginning the URA tax abatement. Staff typically do not bring such requests to Council outside of the annual approval cycle in February.  The developer is asking for approval earlier than usual so they can work on securing long-term financing yet this fall. Staff feel that the project has met the URA criteria. Council will have to decide if approving this request outside of our normal schedule will set any precedents we may later regret.
• 40. Staff Report on 13th Street and Kellogg Avenue Traffic Signal Request .
  During hospital renovations, a temporary stoplight was installed at 13th and Kellogg. Now that renovations are over, the city has heard requests to keep that stoplight and crosswalk installed. There is an additional crosswalk about 200 feet to the west, halfway between Kellogg and Burnett Avenues, near the fire station. To better understand the dynamics of traffic in the area, staff is recommending a study. The study would need to wait until next summer, so no final decision will be made for some time yet.
  
   
• 41. Resolution awarding 2015/16 Airport Improvements (Terminal Building) to Jensen Buildings LTD of Des Moines, Iowa, in the amount of $1,973,900 (for base bid with no alternates).
  The airport is back on the agenda after a Sept. 13th decision by council directed staff to explore the possibility of bringing cost estimates down. Staff report some cost savings in furniture and technology equipment, but contingency funds are down to $31K for any project overruns. (The City’s design engineer recommends a 5% contingency figure, which would be closer to $98K.) If the project does run over budget (and over the contingency), who pays? (City, AEDC, ISU, or all three?)
   
• 42. Ames Airport Fixed Base Operator Management Contract.
  City staff have negotiated with North Iowa Air Service to assume the FBO role for the expanded airport beginning April 1, 2017. Early estimates provided by the University figured that the City could receive up to $150K annually from a new FBO with an expanded airport, but these numbers were a little optimistic, with the City planning to receive between $50K and $65K annually for the next five years from North Iowa Air Service. 
   
• 43. Motion directing City Attorney to draft amendment to Funding Agreement with Iowa State University for Public Improvements at Ames Municipal Airport.
  Staff have made a slight change to the funding agreement between the City and ISU regarding the airport. As before, ISU still agrees to pay any shortfall between debt issued to finance the airport expansion and revenue to the City from the new FBO. The change in this funding agreement relates to timing, as the airport expansion has taken longer than initial estimates. Under the amended agreement, ISU's first payment will occur on 9/30/18 instead of the originally proposed 9/30/16.

Thanks for reading,

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen

City Council At-Large

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