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:
 

• 2. Ames Plan 2040 Workshop Regarding Parks and Open Space Principles and Environmental Principles. The Ames Plan 2040 under development will set the stage for decision-making in future years. In this meeting, we'll discuss our parks, trails and open spaces as well as environmental stewardship generally. These topics are organized under two high-level vision statements, with each statement being followed by a description of current conditions and offering some potential principles and actions that the City could take:

  • Parks, Trails and Open Spaces Vision: Open space and recreation facilities support the physical and social well being of the community.

    • Staff and the consultants outlined principles and policy actions related to parks, trails, and open spaces. They are as follows:

      • Principles:
        i. Public land is valuable, necessary for quality of life in a community
        ii. Such land should be accessible, within a reasonable distance
        iii. New parks are needed with expansion areas
        iv. Existing parks still need to be maintained too
        v. Plan for interconnected greenways
        vi. Stewardship is a goal too, not just recreation
        vii. Public land should be managed in a fiscally responsible manner
        viii. Partnerships are essential (ISU, County, etc.)

      • Policy Directions
        1. Expansion
           a. In new growth areas, large community parks will be needed (40-60 acres)
           b. We should strive to maintain open space of 18 acres per 1,000 residents
           c. In expansion areas, 5 acres of new parkland per 1,000 residents are needed
           d. A Parks Master Plan process will be used to guide the aforementioned bullets
        2. Plan for Parks with Development
           a. Consider a Parkland Dedication Ordinance
           b. Time park development with build-out of expansion areas
           c. Still require private open spaces within developments
           d. Set aside natural areas for preservation
        3. Park System with Variety of Needs/Uses
           a. Consistent marketing across Parks System
           b. Maintain hierarchy of regional, community, neighborhood, and specialty parks
           c. Goal of parks within 10 minute walk
           d. Plazas in urban/core areas serve as public spaces
        4. Support User Experience
           a. Safe, family friendly, accessible
           b. Consider specialty parks in underserved areas
           c. Plan to create uninterrupted greenways
        5. Support Environmental Opportunities
           a. Open spaces have environmental benefits beyond recreation (ie conservation)
           b. Design for environmental priorities (stream preservation, trees and air quality, non-vehicular trails, habitat conservation)
        6. Apply Conservation Standards in Growth Areas
        7. Partnerships (School districts, County, ISU, Volunteer Groups, State/Fed grants)

  • Environment Vision: Ames will practice environmental stewardship to support a high quality natural environment.

    • Principles and Policy Directions were also given for Environmental considerations:

      • Principles
        i. Design for environmental priorities
        ii. Preserve network of green spaces
        iii. Improve water quality
        iv. Apply climate-change conscious principles

      • Policy Directions
        1. Assess conditions, maintain inventory of known environmental resources
        2. Tie in other plans (Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Storm Water, etc.)
        3. Adopt policies from these other plans to regulate development
        4. Support alternative energy systems
        5. Economic development should consider resources and intensity of use

• This assessment and recommendation incorporates the project's outreach activities in the community and engagement with Council over the past year and a half or so. During the workshop, Council will have an opportunity to influence this content as it takes its place in the draft plan.
  
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Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, At Large