Bronwyn's Council Preview

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.

• 16. Resolution approving preliminary plans and specifications for the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center setting January 11, 2024 as bid due date and January 23, 2024 as date of Public Hearing.
  Among the things I get inquiries about from residents, progress on the Fitch Family pool often leads the pack. This resolution will approve the plans we put out for a bid, and includes already incurred costs such as design and land, as well as estimates for construction, equipment, and any environmental remediation required. The request for proposals for bids will also include three bid alternates, including one for a walking track option, one for heated concrete at the entrance of the building, and one bid alternate for tile around the pool edge. (Bid alternates 2 and 3 would save maintenance costs over time, according to staff.) Since an evaluation of geothermal wells at the site proved them to be unfeasible, staff mention that additional energy-saving measures (such as solar panels) will be investigated in the future, and may be added to the building after construction. Overall, the project will cost just over $28 million before the bid alternates. (A thorough breakdown of costs and funding sources can be found in the staff report by following the link above.)

• 17. Motion approving/denying 12-month Class E Retail Alcohol License - Neighborhood Liquor and Smokes, 3505 Lincoln Way, Suite 105.
  Back in November of 2022, Council denied a 12-month renewal for Neighborhood Liquor's liquor license, following repeated failed compliance checks (where the business sold alcohol to a minor). Neighborhood Liquor and Smokes appealed this decision, but in November of 2023, an Administrative Law Judge upheld the denial. In September 2023, Neighborhood Liquor and Smokes failed yet another compliance check, bringing their total to 4 failed compliance checks in 3 years. Iowa Code prescribes a license revocation in these cases, but the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division can't proceed with that until the appeals process has been completed. In the meantime, staff are recommending Council deny this latest application for a 12-month liquor license.

• 18. Ames Main Street Request for Downtown Ames Master Plan Cost Sharing.
  Ames Main Street is proposing a Master Plan visioning process for Downtown Ames with a three-fold purpose; enhancing gathering spaces, increasing the downtown ambiance, and encouraging residential and commercial development. The estimated cost of a consultant to assist with this process is $50,000, and the City is being asked to contribute half of the cost ($25,000).

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.

• Garden Road Same Side Parking.
• Resident Feedback Downtown Pillars.

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