Bronwyn's Council Review

As usual for the review, my comments are red and italicized in the context of the latest Council Preview by David Martin. 
 

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.  This is actually a fairly light agenda--only 36 items! It includes:

• 9. Motion Accepting Bi-annual Sustainability Coordinator Report regarding FY 2020-21 Activities. "This report provides a mid-year update of the FY2020-21 activities and accomplishments related to the Sustainability Advisory Services contract between the City of Ames and Iowa State University." The activities include work on the food waste diversion (composting) program, the Smart Business Challenge, the community's Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and the RFP for the Climate Action Plan.
  
  This item was part of the Consent Agenda (select routine agenda items that we vote on as a group), so it passed 6-0 with no discussion.
• 23. Motion to Extend Suspension of Vending Licenses until June 30, 2021. Council suspended vending licenses as part of our effort to mitigate possible coronavirus transmissions by limiting the use of public spaces for congregation. Our current suspension expires on December 31, and the City is recommending extending it to June 30, 2021.
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  Though staff recommended extending the suspension of vending (food cart) licenses through June of 2021, Council voted 6-0 to let them resume immediately. Council also directed staff to work with the Campustown Action Association to develop new protocols for vending on Welch Ave., now that the street is redone without parking on the first block.
  
  
• 24. Resolution approving Amendment to Schedule 3 of Energy Services Agreement with ForeFront Power regarding Sunsmart Ames Community Solar Farm. Our solar farm project was designed as a public-private partnership, to be able to leverage federal tax credits that would have been unavailable to the City acting alone. When the City completed an agreement with ForeFront Power to build the farm, it included a schedule of financial consequences if the project were to be shut down prior to its expected 25 year lifetime (which no one hopes for, of course). ForeFront Power is now asking for some modifications to those contract terms that they say are necessary to secure their further contract with their "tax equity partner" who would reap the credits.
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  This item passed 6-0
• 26. Request to Initiate Zoning Text Amendment to Eliminate Residential Parking Requirements Downtown. Council has expressed interest in pursuing a request to eliminate or reduce parking requirements for residences downtown, in order to encourage smaller-scale development. This staff report supports the concept and suggests a few different approaches that might be used. Council will discuss it and give direction on next steps.
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  The first motion on this topic, to waive parking requirements for developments with 18 units or less, failed 2-4 (Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Junck, and Martin voting Nay). A subsequent motion, to waive parking requirements for developments with 18 units or less provided they be 2-bedroom or fewer, passed 6-0. (The 2-bedroom limit is meant to reduce the incentive for building larger 4 or 5-bedroom unit apartments Downtown, by still requiring parking for these larger format apartments.)
• 28. Hearing Regarding the Establishment of a New Industrial Zoning District To Be Known as the Intensive Industrial Zone in Chapter 29, Article 9, of the Ames Municipal Code. The Prairie View Industrial center sited at Ames's East Industrial Annex is still zoned for agriculture. Previous discussions concluded that none of our existing industrial zoning designations were a great fit for this land, so Council directed staff to create a new zone type that could eventually be applied here. This topic is only about the parameters for the zone type--actual rezoning of the land will be considered at a future meeting.
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  This concept for a new zoning district for the East Industrial Area passed 6-0.
• 29. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Housing Project (Baker Subdivision). This agenda item includes contracts required to create multi-family affordable housing at the old middle school site (321 State Avenue). We could have housing ready for occupancy in 2023, if the Iowa Development Authority awards the requested tax credits and all else goes well.
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  Council voted 5-1 to proceed in partnering with Prairie Fire by selling Lot 27 at 321 State Ave for $2500, which then allows Prairie Fire to complete their application to the Iowa Finance Authority by March. If approved for Low Income Housing Tax Credits (or LIHTC, pronounced "lie-tech"), then development of low-income multi-family housing can begin at 321 State Ave.
• 31. Hearing on Amendment to the Planned Residence District Major Site Development Plan for a Development Known as Domani Located at 2200 Oakwood Road. The developer of this land discovered that they needed to make some setback and property line adjustments. Since this development is a Planned Residence District, Council approval is required to make these changes. 
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  This amendment to the Major Site Development Plan passed 6-0.
  
  
• 32. Hearing on Major Site Development Plan Alternative Landscape Plan for 1910 Isaac Newton Drive (Kwik Trip, Inc.). The developer of this site near Dayton Ave. and S. 16th St. is requesting approval of an alternative landscape plan. As the staff report states, "This site is unique in that is has approximately 2.5 Acres of paving and three street frontages. Staff has worked with the developer to work through other ideas and options. It has become evident that it is not physically possible to provide the number of required overstory parking lot trees and meet the goals of the developer for use of the site." 
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  This item also passed 6-0.
  
  
   

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."
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• Small Arts Grants. This staff report describes the Public Art Commission's progress towards developing  a small arts grant program. The leading contender is a proposal from the Octagon to "convert space on the third floor of its facility, which is currently  underutilized, into co-working studio spaces and private studio spaces for artists, including tools, equipment, recording space, meeting space, office equipment, and other amenities for users."
  
  Council voted 6-0 to place this item on a future (January) agenda.
• Dayton Park Development Delay. As part of a developer's agreement for the South Bell TIF district, a speculative building was to have been completed by June of this year. This letter informs the City that although the building is not yet complete, work is underway and they are anticipating completion early next year. 
  
  No action was required on this item.

COUNCIL COMMENTS: (video)

Thanks for reading,

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen

Ames City Council, at Large

P.S. How about volunteering to serve on a board or commission for the city? This is a great way for residents to help shape the services and policies that we all depend on. Openings are available to people of all backgrounds, including ISU students and non-U.S. citizens. See current vacancies for next year here, and the descriptions of each board/commission here.  You may fill out a online application.