Bronwyn's Council Preview

The Ames City Council meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. this Tuesday at city hall. The agenda includes (but is not limited to):

• 9. Resolution approving 2019 Urban Renewal Report and appropriating the payment of a rebate of incremental taxes for the Campustown and Barilla TIF Districts.

  • Every year, we get a report of the taxes we rebate through TIF districts throughout Ames. Examples of these TIF districts include Campustown, Barilla, the ISU Research Park and South Bell.

• 32. East Industrial Area Utility Connection Fees.

  • This item deals with water connection fees for properties already existing in the East Industrial Area. A connection fee formula has already been established for new developments, this addresses those properties which already may have a farmhouse on an acreage.

  • If a property owner chooses, they could hook up to Ames water and sewer, and prior direction from Council was at a cost of $20/linear foot of frontage. Staff is suggesting we set a maximum of 80 linear feet for this calculation. (A resident of the area could stay on the rural sewer and water systems if they choose, unless they have a septic system failure and are within 200 feet of a sewer main.)
     

• 33. Mainstream Living request to purchase property at 1417 Douglas Avenue.

  • This agenda item is in response to a request from Mainstream Living to purchase a property at 1417 Douglas Ave. The house that had been on the property will be demolished, and staff are recommending the following options;

    • 1. Sell the property to Mainstream Living for the costs of purchase and demolition (approx $36,000 for all three options)

    • 2. Send out an RFP for an affordable housing unit to be developed on the property, with preference given to non-profits who serve low-income individuals. 

    • 3. Sell the property on the open market to any interested party.
       

• 34. Letter from U. S. Board of Geographic Names requesting an opinion about a proposal to change the name of Squaw Creek.

  • The U.S. BGN (Board of Geographic Names) received a request to consider renaming Squaw Creek, and they are requesting input from the City of Ames, and the Boards of Supervisors in Story, Boone, and Hamilton Counties.
    
     

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.
 

• Letter from Harold Pike combine 2 lots on Duff Avenue.
• Climate Action Team.
• AHRC Memo to Council November 2019.
• Request for text amendment from Tanek.

Thanks for reading,

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen

At-Large Council Member