Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Update
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Due to the scheduling of RAGBRAI, this meeting was held 6 p.m. on 7/27/23 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.
- 9. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Update.
We heard an update from staff and consultants about the current proposal for the indoor aquatic center. The current proposal shows a facility with three pools (wellness, recreational, and lap swimming) and we will consider a small walking track as a bid alternate. This means that we have not yet committed to the track, but will consider it when official bids come in and we see what the updated costs are.
- 10. Resolution authorizing staff to approve amending the contract with Macquarie Energy LLC, Houston, Texas, to extend the existing natural gas supply contract for a term of not less than one but not more than three years at a price of not more than $4/MMBtu and a total cost of not more than $14,900,000, and further authorizing a transfer of funds from the Electric Fund to Resource Recovery Fund to offset the shortfall in net revenues due to the reduction in natural gas purchased for the remainder of FY 2023/24.
This is a very impactful topic for all residents of Ames, and especially those of us served by Ames Electric. The cost of natural gas is very volatile, and it seems likely the cost for the natural gas used to burn RDF (refuse-derived fuel) will increase, impacting rate payers. (Our current system of solid waste collection and disposal requires the use of natural gas to burn RDF.) In addition to authorizing staff the ability to lock in a contract if conditions are favorable, staff recommend several strategies to reduce the amount of RDF requiring incineration. Suggestions include beginning and/or strengthening recycling programs for cardboard, metals, milk jugs, and glass, and for continuing our food waste diversion efforts. Staff estimate having suggestions for those programs yet this year. - 11. Hearing on a Zoning Text Amendment to allow for a Sports Practice Facility as a use within the General Industrial (GI) Zoning District of Section 29.901 of the Ames Municipal Code.
This agenda item was in response to a request to allow a sports facility within GI zones with a special use permit. Staff recommend approval.
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.
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, At Large