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:
 

• 10. Resolution authorizing Mayor to sign the Letter of Support for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program Alternative Funding Arrangement grant application. The state is mandating that cities implement expensive improvements to their wastewater treatment plants in accordance with the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, even though the vast majority of nutrient runoff doesn't come from cities — it comes from agricultural sources. Ames is planning to spend roughly $40 million over the next 20 years for this (paid for in part by water utility fees). On top of these required improvements, the Council authorized $200,000 per year to be spent on agricultural mitigation in our watershed, even though that is not going to substantially relieve us from the other required costs. This proposed resolution would line us up in a partnership to see these funds used for cover crops that are actually expected to have a worthwhile impact on nutrient runoff in our watershed. We're still going to have to pay that $40 million though; this partnership effort isn't enough to hit our overall reduction targets.
  
  This item passed as part of the Consent Agenda, 6-0

• 44. Campus and Community Commission.  The Commission presents their report regarding Landlord/Tenant Relations. They suggest instituting a mediation process between landlords and tenants, creating informational packets to be distributed with leases by landlords, and revamping and promotion of the Rent Smart Ames website.
  
  The Commission suggested increasing the amount of information available to renters, and making the information captivating or relevant to renters. Council voted 6-0 to direct the Campus and Community Commission to recommend ways to revamp the Rent Smart Ames website based on suggestions from tenants and landlords. Council also voted 6-0 to ask City Attorney to look into what might be done to expand Story Co mediation services.
  
  (video)

• 45. Discussion regarding re-openings on City property:
  • a. Sidewalk Cafes. The Governor has announced plans to allow bars to re-open for indoor and outdoor seating on May 28, at 50% capacity, under the same restrictions as restaurants. Given this, Council will decide whether to allow use of City sidewalks for outdoor alcohol service.  (video)
    • i. Resolution approving/motion denying exception to Section 22.32(c)(2)(v) to allow alcohol service at Sidewalk Cafe at Della Viti, 323 Main Street, Ste. 102, contingent on the Council lifting suspension of Sidewalk Cafe Permits and contingent upon bars being permitted to re-open by Order of the Governor.
      
      This item passed 6-0
      
      (video)
    • ii. Resolution approving/motion denying exception to Section 22.32(c)(2)(v) to allow alcohol service at Sidewalk Cafe at Mother's Pub, 2900 West Street, contingent on the Council lifting suspension of Sidewalk Cafe Permits and contingent upon bars being permitted to re-open by Order of the Governor.
    • This item passed 6-0
      
      (video)
  • b. City Swimming Pools (Furman Aquatic Center/Brookside Wading/Municipal Pool). Since our last meeting, the Governor has permitted pools to open for lap swimming and swimming lessons only. So Ames could open its pools for those purposes now. But opening pools center is complex. Not only is it difficult to ensure recommended physical distancing, there are incidental facilities to worry about (restrooms, deck chairs, etc.) and we need time for recruiting and training of staff, particularly at the Furman Aquatic Center. Council will weigh the demand and the risk and decide how to proceed.
    
    Furman - This was a difficult decision, and ultimately Council voted 3-3 on whether to reopen Furman (once allowed by the State), with the motion failing and thus Furman remaining closed through the summer.  (Gartin, Martin, and Beatty-Hansen voted to reopen, Corrieri, Betcher, and Junck voted to remain closed, with Mayor Haila ultimately breaking the tie to keep Furman closed for this season.) Again, a difficult decision, weighing all the factors against the risks. Again evidence that even if we don't always agree on topics, we can rest assured that each Council member is trying to do what they feel is right for Ames. Even though people may be disappointed Furman won't reopen, we can all try to understand why we need to make that sacrifice this year.
    
    Municipal Pool - Council voted 6-0 to reopen the Municipal Pool for lap swimming and lessons as allowed by the State.
    
    Brookside Wading Pool - Council voted 6-0 to give staff discretion on the ability to reopen this facility once allowed to by the State.
    
    (video)
  • c. Fireworks in Ames near Jack Trice Stadium can be seen as a kind of tailgating event. City staff, ISU, and the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsors are recommending cancelation this year.
    
    Council voted 5-1 (Gartin voting Nay) to cancel the fireworks for the 4th of July this year. Concerns included ISU's reluctance to host the fireworks, as well as the expected funding shortfall in hotel-motel tax, which funds this event.
    
    (video)
  • d. Iowa Games have canceled most of the events that were to take place on City property. They ask only for use of the Carroll Marty Disc Golf Course.
    
    Council voted 6-0 to allow Iowa Games to use the Carroll Marty Disc Golf Course.
    
    (video)
  • e. Resource Recovery Plant. To limit potential transmission of the coronavirus, the Resource Recovery Plant had closed to its non-commercial drop-off customers. The plant is now to open to non-commercial customers starting May 26.
    
    This item was informational only, to make Council and the public aware than the Resource Recovery Plant is again taking non-commercial customers.
    
    (video)
• 46. Resolution approving Final Plat for 321 State Avenue. Council previously approved the preliminary plat for this site. This item also specifies the work to be done to create these buildable lots in more detail, along with estimated costs for that work, totaling $1,393,207.50.
  
  This item passed 6-0.
  
  (video)
  
  
• 50. Hearing on 2020/21 Airport Improvements Program (Electrical Vault & Lighting Project). Federal funding via the FAA is being supplemented with CARES Act funds to accelerate this planned project and remove the City's previously required financial contribution of about $68,700. So, assuming the funds arrive, the federal government will be footing the bill for this entire half-million dollar project.
  
  This item passed 6-0.
  
  (video)
• 52. Hearing on Final Amendments to Fiscal Year 2019/20 Budget. Usually the changes in the City budget happening this time of year are minor. COVID-19 has changed that. The final fiscal year 2019/20 budget ending June 30 includes a net decrease in revenues of $6,273,682 and a net decrease in expenditures of $5,768,703.
• This item 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)

• 321 State Ave Geothermal. This memo provides more planning detail for the shared geothermal system at the 321 State Avenue affordable housing project.
  
  No action was required on this item.
• 6th and Northwestern Safety. This memo outlines next steps that Council could consider to pursue safety improvements for this intersection.
  
  Council voted 6-0 to conduct a traffic study for this intersection.
• Ames Main Street Design Committee Walk on Main St. Ames Main Street (an affiliate of the Ames Chamber of Commerce) presents some design preferences for Main Street.
  
  No action was required on this item.
• Ames Main Street Parking Fee Waiver Request. Ames Main Street asks for the City to "waive parking meter fees and fines from Thursday, May 28th - Monday, June 1st to drive people to [Main Street and Campustown] and provide a welcoming atmosphere for both the businesses and their customers upon their return."
  
  Council voted 4-2 (Corrieri and Gartin voting Nay) to deny this request to waive parking meter fees from May 28th to June 1st in Downtown and Campustown.
• Caremoli AUFP Request. The Caremoli site owner asks that Council amend the Ames Urban Fringe Plan or take other steps to permit new uses. Council considered a very similar request from the owner on January 28, 2020 and decided to make no changes at that time.
  
  Council referred this to staff for a memo, 6-0.
• Jensen AUFP Request. A property owner of land south of Ames asks Council to amend the Ames Urban Fringe Plan to permit new uses. 
  
  Council referred this to staff for a memo, 6-0.
• Parks and Recreation Aquatics Facilities. An Ames resident writes with opinions on opening aquatics facilities.

COUNCIL COMMENTS: (video)

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