Dan DeGeest's Council Review

Hello All,

I hope everyone enjoyed the first day of Bike to Work Week.  It was a gorgeous morning and there was a great turn out at City Hall for the City sponsored commuter breakfast.  Thank you, City of Ames, for hosting this for the third straight year.  There are breakfast opportunities all week and the list can be found on the Ames Bicycle Coalition Facebook page.

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Dawes Avenue were a topic that generated a lot of discussion at the City Council meeting.  This missing piece of infrastructure will close a much needed gap in reaching Ada Hayden on foot or by bike and has been in the CIP since 2007.  It is a challenging project from an engineering standpoint with two options being presented.  In the end Council could not decide how to proceed and tabled the discussion.  If this project is of interest to you please plan to attend the next meeting when it is discussed.

Please read below for a brief recap of some other agenda items and as always, thanks for reading.

Dan DeGeest>> 

The Ames City Council for May 9th, 2017. The agenda included:

• 18. Resolution awarding contract for two-year Water Quality Monitoring Study at Ada Hayden Heritage Park to State Hygienic Laboratory of Coralville, Iowa. Ada Hayden serves as a valuable recreation area, wildlife habitat, and backup water supply for Ames. Staff recommends water quality testing every 5-7 years, with the last study occurring in 2009/2010.
  
  This was passed as part of the consent agenda but there was public comment suggesting increased frequency of testing of more like every 3 years that could/should be addressed sometime.

• 40. Presentation of local amendments to 2015 Editions of International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Fire, and Fuel Gas Codes; and Uniform Plumbing Code. (Video)
  Every few years, various international code standards are updated. By adopting, Council would be bringing the city into compliance with changes adopted in 2015 by the International Code Council. In addition to the approval of international/uniform codes, Council would be amending chapters 5 and 8 of Ames Municipal Code, and setting the date of public hearing on these changes to May 23, 2017.
  
  There was not a lot of discussion on this after the presentation.  The building codes are pretty complicated and when they are wrapped up in the context of improved safety they tend to be adopted without much hesitation.  I'm not saying this is wrong, but these types of code changes can have very significant ramifications for someone planning to build or rehabilitate a building.  For example, if adopted the following change will go into effect.
  
  "An automatic sprinkler system is now required within a building when the roof is used for assembly purposes associated with restaurants, bars, and banquet halls when the occupant load exceeds 100 occupants and for all other assembly uses when the occupant load exceeds 300 occupants. Previously this was not required."
  
  That is a big change and could be quite cost prohibitive to a project.  I'd strongly suggest that anyone in that role take time to read through these and plan to attend the hearing on May 23.  Motion proposing adoption of 2015 Codes and setting date of public hearing for May 23, 2017 passed 5-0.

• 41. Motion agreeing to accept Old Edwards School site at future date for use as City park, with certain conditions. (Video)
  The old Edwards school location on Woodland could potentially become a city park. The Edwards Neighborhood Association has raised over $80k to put towards tearing the building down, which the school district estimates could cost $241k. City staff recommend the ACSD (Ames Community School District) first clarify (move) the southern property line, which apparently includes some encroaching structures from neighboring properties. Secondly, the letter of intent from the ACSD didn't propose a specific dollar amount, which the city would like to clarify before any agreement is made.
  
  Several people have asked me why they can't or won't save the old school building as part of this project.  The reasons given include a leaky basement, the age of the boiler, the poor quality of the windows, etc.  I even wondered myself since it was a functional school just last year as the temporary location for Sawyer while that school was renovated.  The short answer, there just isn't any group willing to put up the money to renovate, and more importantly, maintain this building.  The neighborhood is stepping up to raise money to turn it into a park and once they have the site in "green and clean" condition the City is willing to adopt it as a City park.
  
  Motion agreeing to accept site with conditions passed 5-0.

• 42. Staff Report regarding North Growth Gap Area. (Video)
  In Spring of 2016, staff reported on several infrastructure issues (sewer, transportation, etc.) facing growth in the North Growth Gap area. They are reporting back with options for sewer service. Council also got a request from the Squaw Valley Homeowners Association, asking to connect to city sewer. To accommodate this request, staff report, would require the costliest ($14.5mil) sewer upgrade. In addition to the question of sewer, Council is being asked to choose between three policy options; maintain Priority Transitional Residential status in the fringe plan, change its status to Urban Services, or designating it as Rural Transitional. (The differences involve density, development standards, and how and when to annex.)
  
  There was no motion to pursue a construction project at this time but a motion to initiate an Ames Urban Fringe Plan Amendment to apply Urban Services Area for all or a portion of the Gap Area passed 5-0. Under this option, if the amendment was approved, a property owner would not be able to subdivide their property without first annexing to the City at which point plans and costs for City services would be addressed.
  
  

• 43. Hearing on rezoning of property at 3505 South Duff Avenue from Agricultural (A) to Highway-Oriented Commercial (HOC). (Video)
  This agenda item relates to a church that wants to put a parking lot in the front of their building, rather than behind it. The area is designated as future HOC in the LUPP, and staff are recommending the change.
  
  Passed 5-0.

• 44. Hearing on Proposed 2017/18 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan. (Video)
  Due to uncertainty of federal funding, this item is on the agenda with a recommendation that we continue the hearing until June 13th. Uses for the funding include $550k for affordable housing on State Ave., $150k for homebuyer assistance, and other programs including renter affordability and housing improvements.
  
  Passed 5-0.

• 45. Hearing on Zoning Text Amendment pertaining to on-street parking in Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District. (Video)
  This zoning change will allow property owners to count on-street parking toward their parking requirement in Neighborhood Commercial zones. NC zones are fairly limited across the city, and tend to occur in places without room for additional parking lots.
  
  Passed 5-0.