Healthy Life Center Update and E 13th Regional Commercial Site
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Bronwyn's Council Preview |
The City Council meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. this Tuesday at city hall. The agenda includes (but is not limited to):
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These two properties were both purchased with CDBG funds with the intent of using them for affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity has approached the City about purchasing the two properties, one of which requires asbestos removal and demolition.
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Selling these properties to Habitat ensures their use for affordable housing, and allows the City to reinvest the money from their purchase in other affordable housing projects (such as 321 State).
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27. Update regarding Healthy Life Center.
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This proposal has been in the works for a long time. This Spring, the funding partners were all asked to confirm their commitments, so the City would know where the financial need actually stands. The funding is all as proposed, with two exceptions. First, Story County agreed to a $2,000,000 commitment, rather than the originally proposed $3 mil. Second, private fundraising efforts have yielded $6,000,000 in donations, as opposed to the $18.2 mil target. This would increase the public bond referendum ask from $15 million to $24.3 million. The staff report also outlines the annual operating deficit, and while a deficit was always anticipated, staff have estimated it can be reduced to $536k annually (down from $673k). While the costs of this project are daunting, the concept is unique and visionary, and staff recommend proceeding.
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This site may be familiar to Ames residents as the "No-New-Mall" site, previously owned by Bucky Wolford. The new owner is asking for modifications to the development agreement on the property, in order to start developing regional commercial in the area.
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While the property is on both the north and south sides of East 13th St, the owner plans to start with the southern portion of the property. The new concept for this property is more of a series of box stores than a mall, per say. In order to achieve this, the existing development agreement (which stays attached to the property) will need to be modified.
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The biggest financial commitment from the city is proposed TIF funding to finance the installation of a sewer trunk line along 13th St. from Dayton to the site.
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29. Staff Report on 14th Street sidewalk in-fill request.
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This staff report is in response to a letter from a resident on 14th St. who is legally blind, and requested the City install a sidewalk along the north side of 14th from Kellogg to Duff. (There is not a sidewalk along that side currently.) Staff report that road improvements and sidewalk installation is already on the schedule for 2020 construction.
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30. Discussion on Small Cell Wireless Facilities in the Right-of-Way.
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This discussion item is a result of a 2018 FCC ruling which affects the permitting process for "small cell" wireless installations. Staff are proposing a number of standards related to aesthetics and installation of these units, mostly designed to limit their visual obtrusiveness. These standards need to be in place by mid-April of this year.
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Non-Agenda Packet: The following items are requests and communications to the council that are not on the agenda. This includes staff reports and communications/request from constituents/developers. By tradition the council can ask city staff for more information (a report), put the item on a future agenda for discussion or just accept the communication (taking no further action). This usually takes place at the end of the meeting during council comments.
- Bill Nichols sidewalk letter
- Pure Bridal sidewalk letter
- Both these letters are in objection to the planned installation of a sidewalk along the south side of S 16th St. in conjunction with the planned Grand Avenue extension.
- Michael Gaston
- This letter is requesting the City consider minimum property maintenance standards for owner-occupied properties in addition to rentals. (Currently we have such standards in place for rental properties only.)
- This letter is requesting the City consider minimum property maintenance standards for owner-occupied properties in addition to rentals. (Currently we have such standards in place for rental properties only.)
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
At-Large Council Member