Bronwyn's Council Review

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. on Zoom.  The agenda begins with a slate of budget presentations and votes. Although there are some formal certifications to come and the possibility for amendments later in the year, these decisions essentially conclude Council's "budget season."
 

• 1. Council Budget Presentations, including: 
  a. Public Art
  b. Arts Funding (COTA)
  c. Human Services (ASSET)
  d. Outside Funding Requests
  e. Other Requests
  
  Each of the budgets listed above were presented to Council, and staff and/or committee members were available to answer any questions about each budget. Decisions on these budgets were made during the discussion on item 3, parts e and f, listed below.
• 2. Public Input on Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and Budget. If you would like to address Council on the record about the the CIP or budget, this is the time. (You can always send us email too, and then we can actually think about it before voting.)
  
  Two people spoke during public input; one regarding the ASSET funding process and how it relates to the funding of the Volunteer Center of Story County, and the second asking when more information on the reinvestment district and the indoor pool might be available. (Council was tentatively schedule to have a workshop on this topic on Tuesday the 16th, but there is not yet enough information to proceed with a workshop.)
• 3. Final Council Decisions:
  a. Amendments to 2021-2026 CIP, if desired
  b. Vote on motion to approve 2021-2026 CIP, as amended
  c. Amendments to FY 2020/21 Adjusted Budget, if desired
  d. Vote on motion to approve Adjusted Budget for FY 2020/21, as amended
  e. Amendments to proposed FY 2021/22 Budget, if desired
  f. Vote on motion to approve proposed budget for FY 2021/22, as amended
  g. Motion to set February 23, 2021, as date of public hearing to adopt a Maximum City Property Tax Levy for FY 2021/22.
  
  All items a.-g. (above) passed 6-0 after some minor amendments were made to the 21/22 Proposed Budget. One amendment made to the 21/22 Budget was to fully fund COTA (the Commission on the Arts) to the amount of their request. This amendment passed 6-0. Also, a one-time allocation of $7,000 was designated for the Farmer's Market due to a missed funding application deadline, also passing 6-0. One other addition (again by a vote of 6-0) to the upcoming budget was to allocate $10,000 for decorative and educational painting of storm drains. With the addition of these minor amendments, all items passed as proposed.

The Regular City Council meeting immediately follows this Budget Wrap-Up.
 

• 15. Bulbs for the UV disinfection system at the Water Pollution Control Facility. Everyone raves about Ames's drinking water, but you should know that the other end is all sparkly too. The Ames Water Pollution Control Facility has now surpassed the 31-year mark with perfect compliance with its discharge permit. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, this is the second-longest compliance record in the nation. The ultraviolet disinfection part of the overall system cost about $2 million and was completed in 2015. It's time to replace UV bulbs that it relies on, for $51,246.26. Ames is certainly doing its part to minimize the impact of our WPC discharge.
  
  This item was part of the Consent Agenda (items 1-23), and all passed unanimously.
  
  
• 24. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat for Sunset Ridge Subdivision, 11th Addition. The Sunset Ridge neighborhood has been building out over the past 15 years. This amendment to the plat addresses some detail changes in the plans. The image below only shows the general location of the changes; click through the item above for more information including proposed lot lines.
  
  This item passed 6-0 with no questions or objections.
  
  
   
• 26. Hearing on Baker Subdivision Geothermal Heat Pump System. The City previously issued an RFP for a single geothermal well field to serve the entire affordable housing subdivision, but the only bid came in at $475,000 over estimate. After reissuing the RFP to allow for individual well fields for each property to be served, the project is now within budget and staff recommends accepting the bid.
  
  This is an exciting addition to the development of affordable housing at 321 State, because ongoing costs such as energy consumption and maintenance are also important factors to consider when talking about the affordability of housing. This item passed 6-0.

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.  This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action. 
 

• Habitat for Humanity - 1126 Grand Ave. Habitat for Humanity writes to express interest in purchasing 1126 Grand Ave. to build affordable housing. The City recently purchased this property and demolished its house due to unsafe conditions.
  
  This was referred to staff for a memo, 6-0.

• Drafting Error in Ordinance. Our City Attorney noticed an error in a 2015 ordinance and recommends Council ask him to draft a fix.
  
  Council did indeed direct the City Attorney to fix this error in our ordinance, 6-0.

• Ragweed Memo. Responding to Council acting on a resident request, the City explains some of the difficulties that would be involved in designating ragweed as a "noxious weed" under our Municipal Code.
  
  Council voted 6-0 to take no further action on this item.

• The next items are all traffic studies requested by Council in response to resident concerns:

  • Ash Ave. Speed Study. The City's Traffic Engineer recommends several improvements, including adding a four-way stop at Country Club Blvd. Here's a graphic of the recommended traffic calming measures.

  • Cessna St. Speed Study. The City's Traffic Engineer recommends adding flashing red lights on the all-way stops at Cessna and Beach.

  • Delaware Ave. Speed Study. The City's Traffic Engineer recommends increased police speed enforcement in this area and notes that missing sidewalk segments could naturally be completed as part of the planned 2025-2026 pavement improvements. Here's a map of the study area.

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