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. at City Hall.  The agenda includes:

• 25. Staff Report on Sidewalk Infill/Complete Streets for upcoming street improvement projects (Top-O-Hollow and Opal Drive). City staff notes that two of the streets to be rebuilt in this project already have sidewalks along one side, that adding sidewalks to their other sides exceed the Complete Streets 22% cost threshold policy for sidewalk infill, and that these streets also have design impediments that would complicate the addition of sidewalks. They therefore recommend proceeding with a design that does not add any new sidewalks to the project.
  
  Council followed staff's recommendation and voted 6-0 to proceed with the project without adding additional sidewalks, since each street in question has continous sidewalk connectivity on one side already. Council did also vote 6-0 to add a step in the planning process in which the condition of existing sidewalks is evaluated, and notifying land-owners if existing sidewalks need repairs.
• 26. Motion approving application and criteria for Arts Capital Grant Program. Each year, the City reviews our fund balances and identifies shortfalls or surpluses relative to what was planned. We were lucky to have a surplus in our General Fund last year. Responding in part to community interest in increased support for the arts at a 2019 Town Budget Meeting and a 2020 Workshop on the Arts, Council voted to designate $200,000 of surplus for a one-time capital grant program towards improving arts facilities in Ames. The Public Art Commission and Commission on the Arts have worked with staff to recommend this set of criteria for applications.
  
  Council voted 6-0 to proceed with $200k for an Art Grant program, where businesses, non-profits, or individuals can apply for grants to help improve or create a space for artists. Applications for this year will be due December 3rd for projects completed before 6/30/2023.
• 27. Resolution approving a Minor Amendment to Ames Urban Fringe Plan Framework and Land Use Class Map to change the land located at 2105 and 2421 Dayton Avenue from Agricultural & Farm Service to Planned Industrial. The owner of this land has expressed interest in using it to create small industrial lots. This particular action would continue the process of steps that would be needed for that outcome. The land appears to be appropriate for this use in the context of our draft comprehensive plan, and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval. (Council discussed the low inventory for lots of this size during our July 27 meeting in response to an inquiry from this owner and we asked staff to create a competitive incentive program to increase availability. That program has not yet been brought back to Council for deliberation.)
  
  This item passed 6-0.
  
  
   
• 30. Hearing on SE 16th Street and South Duff Avenue Transmission Modifications. This intersection is part of the Grand Avenue extension—that new traffic pattern will have large impacts here. Significant work is planned at this intersection, including widening, addition of turn lanes, new traffic signals, and new sidewalks. This project will relocate multiple blocks of electrical infrastructure to accommodate the new roadway. It's a lot of work—the low bid came in at $526,140.38.
  
  This item passed 6-0.
• 31. Hearing on Nuisance Assessments (continued from September 14, 2021). See the reports for sidewalk repair/replacement and snow/ice removal. City ordinances require property owners to maintain their sidewalks, including making repairs and clearing them of snow and ice. When the owners don't comply, the City may arrange to do the work and bill the costs back to the property owners through their property taxes. In this item, the City asks for Council approval for this year's assessments.
  
  This item passed 5-0-1, with Gartin abstaining.
• 34. Second passage of ordinance, as amended, creating the Resident Police Advisory Committee. Upon discussion of this item at our last meeting, Council amended this draft ordinance creating the ARPAC structure in response to staff's comments, as reflected in the draft minutes: "Staff has thought more about this and realized that there are other resources available, in addition to NACOLE [National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement], that may provide information about how citizen review boards can operate and what training they should receive. According to Mr. Phillips, it is now the suggestion of staff to indicate, in Section 2.55(3) of the Ordinance, that the educational subjects would be recommended by City staff, rather than a particular organization. Staff recommended striking the specific reference to NACOLE from the Ordinance." 
  
  This 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. 
 

• Solar Net Metering Review. This memo from Ames's Electric Utility describes changes made to the solar power program over the past five years, compares rate impacts for Ames solar customers to those who are served by other electric utilities, and suggests future steps related to solar incentives.
  This item was referred to staff for a memo, 6-0.

• Speed Study Request. This letter requests a speed study on Ridgetop Road.
  Council directed staff 6-0 to proceed with this speed study.

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