Annexations, social service data tracking, and Lincoln Way corridor report
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Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen's Council Preview |
The meeting of the Ames City Council begins at 6:00. The agenda includes:
- 14. Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) Grant Application for Grand Avenue Extension Improvements.
The City is applying for $931K in Iowa DOT funding to assist with parts of the Grand Avenue extension included in the 2016/17 CIP. As the grants being sought are through the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP), an emissions report will also be required after the project is completed. - 20. Hearing on Annexation of territory east of Ames between Interstate 35 and 590th Avenue (East Industrial Area).
Council initiated annexation for this area at the August 23rd meeting, this is the next procedural step in the process.
As I have said at previous council meetings, if the build-it-and-they-will-come strategy doesn’t pan out, the City will find itself being asked for more and more along the way. If industry is slow to develop, we’ll be asked to install additional infrastructure, waive water buyout fees, further incentivize with public dollars. I am not against the concept of increased industrial land, but I think the size of this undertaking is risky. 
- 21. Hearing on 2016/17 U.S. Highway 69 Improvements Program (South Duff Avenue Traffic Signal).
At the Oct. 11th Council meeting, plans and specs were approved for traffic flow improvements near Wal-Mart on South Duff. This is a report back from staff saying only one bid was received, $163K over the engineer’s estimate (with no contingency funding). Staff need time to discuss funding alternatives with other funders (Wal-Mart and Hunziker) before making a recommendation to Council on how to proceed. - 22. Staff Report on Emergency Residence Project FY 2015/16 draw-down request and definition of Ames Resident.
In July, Council directed staff to hold off on paying out $28K to the Emergency Residence Project while staff looked into some billing issues. After comparing notes with the County, staff is satisfied that all but around $2K of the $28K can be paid out under current contract terms. In addition, the police depart refers individuals (192 of them non-Ames residents in 15/16), and if the Council also includes those in the calculations, the entire balance can be paid out. In addition to the matter of funding, staff is asking for clarification on how Council measures Ames residency. - 23. Presentation from United Way of Story County regarding Clear Impact Scorecard (Human Services Outcomes).
United Way of Story County is implementing a program called the Clear Impact Scorecard. Since they are already going to require agencies they fund to keep records through this internet based system, they are inquiring with other ASSET funders (City of Ames, Story County) to see if there is interest in piggy-backing on the use of this system. - 24. Motion directing staff to prepare Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Supervised Transitional Living Homes.
In an August meeting of the City Council, staff were directed to develop a text amendment which would make the approval of supervised transitional homes an administrative level decision. (Not requiring Council approval.) At the time of the August meeting, there was also a question of regular inspections, and the Fire Department reports that facilities such as this could be included with commercial and social service inspections, on a schedule every 3 years. Staff is recommending proceeding. - 25. Ames Urban Fringe Plan Amendments.
At the 9/23 Council meeting an amendment was initiated for the Ames Urban Fringe Land Use Framework Map, requesting a change from Highway Oriented Commercial (HOC) to Urban Residential for a piece of land directly to the west of Ames along the south side of Lincoln Way. Staff recommend maintaining the HOC designation along Lincoln Way. To annex this property as HOC would require a change to the 28E agreement between Gilbert, Ames, and Story County. - 27. Update regarding Lincoln Way Corridor Plan Focus Area Workshop.
This is the first update in a while from the consultants tasked with the Lincoln Way Corridor Study. A slide show was in the council packets and will be presented by the consultants to Council on Tuesday. - 28. Planning Division Work Plan discussion.
Delayed from last week: The last time Council set priorities for additional Planning and Housing projects was 13 months ago. Item #32 lists 12 committed and future projects, but Council has 25 additional items they have referred to planning staff, and now need to prioritize these remaining projects.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
City Council At-Large
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