S 16th Widening by Vet Med, Parking for Affordable Housing
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The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 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.
- 25. 2023/24 Intelligent Transportation System Phase 3
This system of fiber serves several purposes. It is capable of carrying information to traffic signals, to make them easier to program and thus add efficiency to our system of stop lights. It also serves as an intranet (a network where you have to be physically connected to the network in order to access data) which can be used for things such as payments. Several city facilities, such as the Furman Aquatic Center and now Homewood Golf Course, utilize this network. Because Homewood is a park, special care has to be taken to minimize impact, so the conduit will be bored in rather than trenched. Several traffic signals along Grand Ave. are being added to the network. - 26. Widening of S 16th
This project was included in our most recent CIP (Capital Improvements Plan), and includes widening S 16th from University Blvd. to the point at which it narrows. This project also includes separated 10 foot shared-use paths on both sides of S 16th. This is one of several "institutional roads" in Ames, which are actually owned by Iowa State. In this case, the City is assuming the task of roadway improvements for a number of unique reasons, including the increase in traffic since the extension of Grand Ave. - 28. Staff Report and direct staff to Pursue a Grant Application for Chautauqua Park-Ridgewood Historic District.
A group of residents in the area between Brookside Park and the railroad tracks around 9th Street have requested designation as a historic district. In order to proceed, they are asking the City to file a grant application on their behalf. - 29. Staff Report on Reduced Affordable Housing Parking Rate.
This item is in response to a conversation that began during the process for multi-family affordable housing on State Ave. Staff are recommending a process for reducing the minimum required parking for affordable housing. (Housing that will serve those earning 60% or less of the area's median income.) Staff did some data collection in areas currently with this designation, and even at peak times, no more than 50% of the parking was utilized. Parking requirements are often seen as an impediment for development, and affordable housing is no exception. Staff are recommending a staff-level approval for reduced parking, as well as a Council-approved level. - 30. Planning Division Work Plan update.
Periodically we get an update from the Planning Department about projects currently in the works, and those yet waiting to be programmed into the schedule of work. Currently, they are wrapping up work on things like ADUs/Duplexes, the Chautauqua historic area, tweaks to the Downtown URA (Urban Revitalization Area), and our affordable housing strategy, not to mention all the small projects that get referred over the course of the year for specific properties requesting variances, waivers, and more. Staff give an estimate for staff-hours required for many of the on-deck project, and are asking Council to begin to prioritize. - 32. Hearing on 2022/23 Traffic Signal Program – State & Mortensen. (The Resolution)
Also an "institutional road", the City and ISU are partnering to install a permanent signal at Mortensen and State. There had been a temporary one, but it is getting an upgrade. - 33. Hearing on Amendments to the Downtown Urban Revitalization Area. (The Ordinance)
As mentioned in item 30, one of the things the Planning Department has been working on is the Downtown URA. The schedule for tax abatement and the removal of the requirement for facade work are among the biggest changes to the program.
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.
- Regulation on garbage haulers working hours .
- Chapter 31 revision project .
- USDA forestry grant acceptance memo.pdf .
Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, At Large