Bronwyn's Council Preview

The Ames City Council meets on Tuesday at 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.

• 29. Project Update regarding Indoor Aquatic Center.
  This is the first update on the Indoor Aquatic Center since fall of 2021. Staff outline 5 areas of interest in the report.

1. Project cost increase update ($30.1 million to $32.6)
2. RDG Contract update (to be potentially presented to Council at the May 24th meeting)
3. Construction Manager Contract (also to be presented at the May 24th meeting)
4. Land aquisition from IDOT update (most recent independent appraisal was $2.9 million for the parcel)
5. Environmental Assessment update (due to some initial findings on the northeast quarter of the site, staff are recommending more research be done before proceeding)
    

• 30. Downtown Plaza plans and specifications.
  Because of project cost increases (a common refrain this year), staff are recommending proceeding with a set of change orders to the project that would help keep it in line with available funding, though Council will likely need to use some Council Contingency funds ($740k) to cover the remaining shortfall. 
• 31. Resolution approving Neighborhood Improvement Program grant to Roosevelt Neighborhood Association for Pollinator Pocket Garden at 10th & Roosevelt.
  The Neighborhood Improvement Program provides funding to neighborhoods for a variety of improvement ideas. This grant, for $1616.30, will go towards the installation of a pollinator garden on the northeast corner of Roosevelt Park.
   
• 32. Resolution approving Downtown Facade Grant.
  One eligible grant application was received, asking for $10k for the Pantorium building to rennovate the 2nd story windows.
   
• 33. Resolution approving Preliminary Plat for 5571 Hyde Avenue (Hayden’s Preserve), subject to conditions.
  This Preliminary Plat details the build-out of the first 56 acres of Hayden's Preserve. This area is in a conservation overlay, meaning special environmental precautions need to take place, including at least 25% of land area being dedicated to open space. In addition, for this project the developer met with the Friends of Ada Hayden to discuss stormwater retention systems, and they were supportive of the approach adopted in this development. 
  
  
   
• 34. 2516 Lincoln Way Development Project.
  It is exciting to finally see this vacant lot get some action! A two-story bar/restaurant is planned for the space, and the developer is asking to modify the clay-brick requirement on one hidden facade of the building.
  
  

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.
 

• Anthony Brock Boone County .

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