Bronwyn's Council Review

As usual for the review, my comments will be in red and italicized. 
 

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. The agenda includes:
 

• 31. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat for 321 State Avenue (Baker's Subdivision). The Council previously approved the general layout of the subdivision shown in the map below, which is now coming to us with details such as grading, utilities, and street trees. This subdivision is on track to share a geothermal system that the individual homes will be required to use, replacing the need for traditional air conditioning and furnaces. The large Lot 27 in the south is envisioned as a Multi-Family development, and is the topic of a planned workshop on July 21. Together, at least 51% of the homes on this site will be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
  
  The new street in this area (Baker's Subdivision) is being named Latimer Lane, in recognition of the outstanding contributions of the City's Housing Coordinator Vanessa Baker-Latimer. Over her 37 years, her responsibilities have included managing and administering the City’s affordable housing programs, providing housing-related financial analysis, acquiring property and managing new construction projects, overseeing the department’s $2-plus million budgets, and managing more than $45 million in various federal, state, and local grant funds. Ms. Baker-Latimer was also honored last fall as the 2019 recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award from ISU.
  
  There's lots to love about this proposed subdivision. (I'll just let that pun sink in for a second...) But really, there is. From desperately needed affordable housing to a multi-use trail to the north (part of a larger connection eventually linking Beedle Dr. with the Intermodal Facility) and an incredibly innovative shared geothermal system, this Preliminary Plat was exciting to see. It passed 6-0. 
  
  (video)
  
  
• 32. Kingbury’s Subdivision, Third Addition (315 SE 3rd Street). This action creates lots north and south of SE 3rd. St near Target. Staff is recommending approval with conditions ensuring that SE 3rd St. will connect with Cherry Ave. off the East end of this map when Cherry is extended south of East Lincoln Way.
  
  This item was pulled from the agenda prior to the Council meeting.
  
  
• 33. Resolution approving Ames Plan 2040 Land Use Map, with adjustments based on input received during Workshop discussion held April 21, 2020, and directing RDG to move forward. (See the full draft Land Use Map). Staff and RDG consultants ask whether Council is ready to approve the principles and designations from our workshop last week. This would allow RDG to move forward with refining the naming and city-wide mapping of designations.
  
  Following some discussion by Council, the proposed Land Use Designations were approved by Council 6-0. The map itself was not yet approved, and one modification was made on the consultant's to-do list...Councilmember Betcher moved to limit the South Campus redirection area to buildings not exceeding 4 stories. This modification passed 4-2, with Gartin and Junck voting nay. 
  
  (video)
  
  
• 34. East Industrial Area Utility Extension Project. Without water and sewer, the East Industrial Area (Prairie View Industrial Center) will not attract much industry. Unfortunately, the lowest bid was over $2.5 million more than expected. Council is being asked to decide what to do next.
  
  Council voted 6-0 to reject the bids and rebid after revisions. Staff indicated that possible revisions could include a reduction in the area served by the initial infrastructure.
  
  (video)
• 35. FY 2019/20 Funding Contracts Impacted by COVID-19. Council is being asked to make adjustments to our contracts with outside entities whose operations are impacted by the pandemic. Some entities have not been able to spend their allocations (e.g., provide required services or hold their events) but may be able to do so later; meanwhile, many fixed expenses remain. The Emergency Residence Project has seen its expenses climb sharply and is requesting additional funds.
  
  (video)
  • ASSET (Human Service Agencies). (video)
  • Request from Emergency Residence Project for additional funds. (video)
  • Commission On The Arts (COTA). (video)
  • Outside Funding Requests. (video)
  • Request from Ames Main Street for additional landscaping funds.
    
    All of the above passed 6-0 in accordance with staff's suggestions, with the exception of additional funds for Main Street for beautification. A motion to deny the request for additional funding passed 5-1, with Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Junck, and Martin voting aye, and Gartin voting nay.
• 36. Budget Amendments for 2019/20. Staff projects that the City's revenues ending June 30 will be $9.1 million below budget. Much of this can be attributed to decreased economic activity due to widespread closures and virtualization, including decreased utility usage, local option sales tax, hotel/motel tax, and road use tax. In this item, staff seeks approval for the revised budget, including corresponding expenditure cuts. Deciding on what to propose cutting must have been very hard work. The resulting budget somehow manages to avoid depleting most of our major funds beyond what we originally intended for June 30, but some projects and activities will have to be reduced, postponed, or eliminated. And it's going to take a while to figure out what the next fiscal year beginning July 1 will look like. We have already approved that budget, but we'll certainly have to adjust it too.
  
  After a presentation from staff about the challenges of predicting and responding to budgetary changes, the proposed amendments passed 6-0.
  
  (video)

Non-Agenda Packet: The following items are requests and communications to the council that are not on the agenda for full discussion.  This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically the council will ask city staff for more information (a memo), put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action. Council generally processes these requests and communications during the agenda portion called "Disposition of Communications to Council."

(video)

• Ames Main Street / Campustown Action Association. This letter relates to agenda item #35 and requests funds for certain events that have been interrupted due to the pandemic. 
• Ames Farmers' Market Proposal. The Governor's proclamation from last Friday makes it possible to operate Farmers' Markets.
  Council voted to discuss this item again at our May 12th meeting. In the meantime, the Farmer's Market can conduct a virtual market option, but not open for in-person foot traffic.
• Ames Economic Development Commission. This letter relates to item #34 and requests that the City find a way to move forward on the East Industrial Area utility extension.
• Mortensen Speed Limits. The requester asks the Council to consider adjusting the speed limits on Mortensen west of South Dakota.
  This item was referred to staff for a memo, 6-0.

Council Comments: (video)

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, At Large