Bronwyn's Council Review

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

As you read the agenda preview below, you might ask: where's the Council's response to the grotesque and infuriating killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and the local and national protests and reform movements?

Of course, the Mayor, Council members, and City staff have all been following the news and forming opinions on their own. Mayor Haila released a statement on May 30 condemning the reckless disregard for life and reminding us of shared ideals. Yet this will be our first Council meeting since the recent protests began on May 26.  Since Council doesn't deliberate together outside of legally announced meetings, we'll literally just be getting started with this conversation in terms of Ames policies. In situations like this, a typical first action might be to vote on adding the topic to a future Council agenda for conversation. You read that right—for Council-initiated topics, before talking about something substantial, we usually vote on whether to talk about it... at a future meeting.

Fortunately, rather than leaving it to Council's typical two-weeks-between-every-step-of-conversation schedule, the Ames NAACP  Branch, Mayor, and City have taken action on their own and have arranged a series of four town hall meetings under the heading Taking the Lead 2020. The first meeting is this week, Thursday June 11 at 6pm on Zoom on the topic of Policing and Justice, featuring questions for panelists ISU VP for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Reginald Stewart, Ames Police Chief Charles Cychosz, and ISU Police Chief Michael Newton. Topics are to include policies, processes, accountability, and communication practices within our local police departments. Click here for instructions on accessing this Thursday meeting. (Also, if you haven't accessed a Zoom meeting before, you might want to read the general instructions on how to access City Zoom meetings—including how to call in with a plain old telephone or just watch online.)

I'm very grateful to the NAACP and the Mayor and City for taking the initiative to arrange these town hall meetings. In my opinion, the fact that they're being arranged collaboratively expands their reach into the community well beyond what Council agendas or workshops alone would be able to accomplish. And listening to the community is a great first step for us. I hope you will attend.

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

• 1. Proclamation proclaiming June 19, 2020, as “JUNETEENTH” in the City of Ames. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read to enslaved African-Americans in Texas. Celebrations of this event date back to 1866.

• 14. Economic Development Administration Grant Application pertaining to the Prairie View Industrial Center Utility Extension Project (East Industrial Area utilities). When we last discussed this on April 28, the East Industrial Area (Prairie View Industrial Center) water and sewer infrastructure work was being bid at $2.5 million over our estimates (with the total project being bid at $7.1 million). If we moved ahead, this would cause a commensurate increase in our sewer and water utility rates. So, we agreed to redesign the project to reduce costs, even though we understood that this was unlikely to close the financial gap. Yet now, it appears that we have a chance at an Economic Development Administration grant in the amount of $3.5 million. In this agenda item, Council is being asked to authorize application for the grant. 

  
  This item passed 6-0 as part of the Consent Agenda.

• 26. Ames Economic Development Commission presentation of Annual Report and resolution approving contract with Ames Economic Development Commission for economic development activities from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $150,000. While some cities have economic development staff on staff, Ames outsources its business development and other economic development activities to the Ames Economic Development Commission through an annual contract. This item is a presentation of last year's activities and a renewal of the contract for next year.

  
  Two motions were made to modify the AEDC Contract for 20/21, both passed 6-0. The first was to add language requiring that the AEDC work to support minority-owned businesses in Ames. Second, Dan Culhane and City Manager Schainker were tasked with reviewing and updating the contract to reflect how the partnership currently works, especially in regards to the Business Development & Marketing position mentioned in the contract.
  
  (video)

• 27. Progress Report from Sustainability Coordinator regarding FY 2019-20 activities and resolution approving contract with Iowa State University for sustainability advisory services from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $25,000. The City of Ames has collaborated with Iowa State University over the past ten years on sustainability activities. This report highlights what was accomplished during the past year—some of which had to be adjusted due to COVID-19.

  
  Several questions were asked of our Sustainability Coordinator, Merry Rankin, though no modifications were made to the contract before it was approved 6-0. Questions asked included how to track data to determine the success of our pilot composting program, as well as the expected timeline of our Climate Action Plan process. According to the report and staff, Council should see the results of our Greenhouse Gas Inventory yet this summer, and bids will be taken for the Climate Action Plan yet this calendar year
  
  (video)

• 28. Story County request to extend the Ames Urban Fringe Plan 28E Agreement and resolution directing staff to work with Story County and Gilbert on future amendments to the Urban Fringe Plan. The Ames Urban Fringe Plan is an agreement between Ames, Story County, and Gilbert to permit annexation and subdivision within the 2-mile area surrounding the Ames city limits only in accordance with agreed-upon designations on a fringe plan map. The agreement is set to expire next year, and Council is being asked how we would like to proceed. Story County and Gilbert have each expressed interest in working to continue the agreement.

  
  The motions to extend the Fringe Plan and to direct staff to work with Gilbert and Story County both passed 6-0
  
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• 29. Minor Amendment to the Land Use Policy Plan Future Land Use Map at 802 Delaware Avenue. In March, Council voted to initiate a change to our current Land Use Policy Plan map to make it possible to build townhomes on this 3/4-acre lot, in the spirit of encouraging densification of infill. However, staff recommended—and the Planning and Zoning Commission has now voted—to recommend denying the request based on our existing plan's goals and objectives, which are still in force even as we continue our planned process to update the plan. Council must now decide what to do with this advice.

  
  A motion to approve this change to the LUPP Future Land Use Map (conditional upon a Master Plan for the property to be presented and approved in the future) passed 4-2 (Betcher and Martin voting Nay)
  
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• 32. Hearing on Second Substantial Amendment to CDBG 2019/20 Annual Action Plan. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified the City of Ames that it will receive a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $354,515 to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. In May, Council asked staff to draft an amendment to our CDBG plan to designate these funds for relief in rent, mortgage payments, and/or utilities to those who are impacted by COVID-19. Tonight, Council will hold a public hearing and vote whether to adopt the amendment or not. If we do adopt the amendment, the City will formulate more precise parameters and rules for participation in this program.

  
  This item passed 5-0 (one Council member had to leave the meeting early)
  
  (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 Farmers' Market. This letter is a request for Council to permit food trucks and drink vendors to operate during the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market.
  
  Food trucks were allowed back to the Farmer's Market by a vote of 4-1 (Betcher voting Nay)
• Mediacom Channel Change. This letter informs us that Mediacom is dropping V-Me, channel 638.
• AUFP Change - 2538 E. 190th. An applicant has requested a change to the Ames Urban Fringe Plan map in order to accommodate their business. This memo from staff explains what Council could do in response.
  
  Council voted 4-1 (Gartin voting Nay) to take no action on this item
• Request For Parking Change on Westbrook Drive. This staff memo recommends permitting parking on the south side of Westbrook Drive but not the north side.
  
  This item passed 5-0.

COUNCIL COMMENTS: (video)

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