Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen's Council Preview

This meeting the council reviews the Council Budget Issues for 2014-2015 (item 37). 

Several years ago the voters of Ames approved 1% sales tax referendum that stated (see the sales tax history):

"... Revenues from the sales and services tax are to be allocated in the city of Ames in the county of Story as follows: Sixty percent (60%) for property tax relief. The specified purpose for which the revenue shall otherwise be expended is human service agencies, the arts, and community betterment." That is, 60% of sales tax offsets property taxes that pay for services like roads, police and fire protection.  40% is to be expended on” human service agencies, the arts, and community betterment."

This Tuesday Council sets the 2017-2018 funding levels for Human Services (ASSET) and the Arts. It is often tempting for city councils to use the funds earmarked for "Human Services and the Arts" on items that are traditionally paid for out of the general fund (property tax). The idea of "community betterment" is a vague one, and council might be wise to treat its meaning conservatively, and ensure its use is not for something traditionally purchased with property taxes dollars.

The regular meeting of the Ames City Council begins at 6:00. The agenda includes:

• 15. Resolution committing to 20-year maintenance of modifications to River Valley Park Low-Head Dam as a condition of grant application for Iowa Federal Recreational Trails Program. This is a great project to take advantage of the rivers in Ames. Sometimes it is easy to view the rivers as a problem to be dealt with, as opposed to an opportunity to improve the amenities available to citizens. This project is the exception to that tendency. This project started in 2008,  8 years later and dirt will be moved. Despite the delay, this is an exciting project for outdoor recreation opportunities in Ames.
• 26. Staff Report on 13th Street and Kellogg Avenue Traffic Signal Study.
  Staff are reporting back on several metrics use to determine if a permanent stoplight at the intersection of 13th and Kellogg is warranted. None of the metrics indicated the stoplight is warranted. Most of the feedback in favor of the light relates to having a safe crossing of 13th St. for pedestrians. Staff recommends some changes to the mid-block crossing by the fire station to provide a safer pedestrian crossing across 13th St.
• 28. Motion providing direction on Community Solar project.
  Community Solar has been on EUORAB’s slate for nearly a year. They are recommending a third-party owned model, with voluntary customer contributions. If Council agrees, staff will move forward by exploring a site and developing an RFP.
• 29. Motion directing staff on annexation strategy for Auburn Trail Subdivision.
  Hunziker Land Development has requested annexation of nearly 70 acres of land just north of Bloomington Heights. City staff recommends annexation of some other properties at the same time, to avoid creating a small group of unincorporated property. To round off the area, though, would involve include 20% non-consenting ownership, and would delay the process of annexation.
• 30. Resolution accepting ownership of Airport Hangar at 2511 Airport Road.
  As part of the Airport renovations, a hanger was built with money raised by the private sector, with the intention that ownership would be transferred to the City. The hangar is nearing completion, this item finalizes the transfer of ownership to the city.
• 31. Resolution reaffirming City's commitment to the values of equity, fairness, inclusion, and justice.
• 32. Resolution approving parkland lease agreements with Iowa State University for Brookside Park, Franklin Park and Stuart Smith Park.
  The City leases several parks from Iowa State, the contracts for which expired in March of 2015. These leases have recently been renegotiated, with a few notable changes. No lease extension is being recommended for McDonald Woods or Zumwalt Trail Railroad. Franklin park will be purchased by the City after an additional 4.5 year lease. Brookside Park will be leased for an additional 20 years, but ISU will have the option to use the western portion of the park. 
• 33. Healthy Life Center.
  The City Council recently attended a joint workshop on this topic, though nothing was decided at that time. Issues to decide now include whether to continue to pursue this concept, whether the city should own/manage, and whether to allocate funds for a feasibility study.
• 36. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment to allow for Supervised Transitional Homes in RL, RM, RH, UCRM, RLP, FS-RL, FS-RM, F-PRD, S-SMD zoning districts.
  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. This is the first approval of the zoning ordinance amendment.
• 37. Council Budget Issues.
  The memo regarding this agenda item says, “Staff is still collecting data for this item.” More information will be sent to Council on Monday.
• 38. Net Metering.
  During the past few months, EUORAB has been studying the issue of net metering, and how to fairly compensate users for excess energy they produce. The proposed change moves to a ‘fixed cost’ method (show in the table below), with an additional incentive ranging from 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour to 1 cent per kilowatt hour (listed by the table), depending on the user’s classification as residential vs. industrial, etc. 
  

  1. Residential: 2 ½ cents/kilowatt hour incentive

  2. General Power: 2 cents/kilowatt hour incentive

  3. Large Power : 1 ½ cents/kilowatt hour incentive

  4. Industrial: 1 cent/kilowatt hour incentive

Thanks for reading,

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen

City Council At-Large

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