Rachel's Council Review

As usual for the review, my comments are red and italicized in the context of the latest Council Preview by Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen.
 

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at  Tuesday, March 8,  6:00 p.m. at City Hall.  The agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 7. Resolution approving appointments to various Boards and Commissions.
  Thanks to all those who apply and/or serve on our Boards and Commissions!
  
  This item passed as part of the consent agenda. 
• 17. Discussion of additional questions for Residential Satisfaction Survey.
  Every year, we are asked to review the Residential Satisfaction Survey questions, and modify if needed.
  
  Council made a couple of small edits to the Residential Satisfaction Survey, including striking references to school resource officer services, adding a question about mental health and if community members have felt they needed to access mental health resources, and asking how the city of Ames is doing with regards to its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also asked about the possibility to be able to put the satisfaction survey into different languages to help non-english speakers participate as well. The modified questions were approved 6-0.
• 18. Resolution approving Contracts for Arts Capital Grant Program.
  This is the first year of a capital grant program to enhance access to the arts in Ames. Though 11 applications totaling over $420,000 were submitted, 7 awards were granted, reaching the $200,000 allocated for the program this year.
  
  The contracts for the Capital Arts Grant Program were approved (5-0-1, Gartin abstaining for conflict of interest).
• 19. Request from Cameron Gray regarding sculptural free library to be placed on City property.
  This is a request to install an artistic little free library (or two) featuring books by black authors, possibly in a city park. The artist has named a few parks he feels would be good locations for his installations. Council is being asked to consider questions related to the ownership and maintenance of the structures after initial construction.
  
  Council moved that we pursue this project by directing staff to meet further with Mr. Gray to determine details of ownership and structural requirements for the project. The motion passed 6-0.
• 20. Staff Report on affordable housing for or related to the Annex Group.
  Council was recently asked to consider tax abatement for an affordable housing development to be built north of Ada Hayden. The City doesn't currently have a tax abatement program specifically for affordable housing. (We have specific "urban renewal" areas in Downtown and Campustown with separate tax abatement criteria.) Developing an Affordable Housing Strategy is actually already on the workplan for 2022, so staff are asking how Council would like to proceed with this request.
  
  In looking at our Planning and Housing Department work plan, staff was not planning to work on the Affordable Housing Strategy until September 2022, which might be too late in the year for this affordable housing development to be considered with a tax abatement incentive. Council moved to shift the Affordable Housing Strategy up and move back the Accessory Dwelling unit ordinance in the workplan so the strategy could be started sooner (6-0). After some discussion, council moved to communicate with the developer that we would like to work on our Affordable Housing Strategy first, but that we are interested in the proposal and would like to continue the conversation at a later time. This motion passed 6-0. 
• 21. Update on status of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Application for multi-family housing development in the Baker Subdivision (321 State Avenue).
  Unfortunately, the developer that the City was working with was only able to qualify for 4% LIHTC credit from the State, instead of the 9% they had requested. Council is being asked how to proceed; whether to resubmit for 2022 with the same developer, seek new proposals, or provide local funding to assist with the gap between the 4% awarded and the 9% requested (2 to 3 million $).
  
  After much discussion, Council voted to pursue option 3 (partner with Current Developer as a 4% LIHTC project and local assistance of up to $2.0 Million dollars). The motion passed 5-1, Gartin voting nay. 
• 28. Hearing on adoption of FY 2022/23 Budget.
  This finalizes the 2022/23 budget
  
  The budget was approved and finalized, 6-0.
• 29. Hearing on Major Site Development Plan for 913 and 915 Duff Avenue and 115-9th Street.
  Staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission are recommending approval of this Major Site Development Plan for Home Allies at 913 and 915 Duff Ave. Home Allies aims to construct two four-unit apartment buildings, one on each lot, for the purpose of affordable housing.
  
  Home Allies was present and requested that the requirement to have the shared access easement be issued prior to the occupancy permit instead of the building permit, to give them more time to get the easement. Council moved to approve Alternative 1 with this exception, 5-0 (Corrieri had to leave the meeting before this vote).

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.
 

• Green Hills Transformers. This is a request to decorate electrical transformer boxes at Green Hills.
  Council moved to communicate to Green Hills that we have a pilot program for transformer artwork currently underway, and that after it is completed (later this summer) we could entertain their request (5-0).
• HAB Toxins. This is a letter alerting Council to the dangers of HAB toxins.
  Council moved to respond to the letter writer and let them know that we will take this under advisement (5-0).
   

Council Comments: 

Councilmember Gartin moved to direct staff to turn the colors of the lights on Highway 30 and at Bandshell Park to the national colors of Ukraine, and that the matter be placed on the agenda of April 12th to consider the status. The motion passed 5-0.

Thanks for reading,
Rachel Junck
Ames City Council,  4th Ward