The Ames City Council begins at 5:00 PM Aug 25th with the  Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee meeting.  The Regular City Council Meeting will immediately follow. The agenda includes items:

• 31. Staff Report on Hyland Avenue and Oakland Street/Sheldon Avenue Crosswalk Traffic Study. Concerns were raised by the neighbors, that this crosswalk can be dangerous due to the speed of traffic on this road. The staff is suggesting, as a first step, that we install a traffic treatment called a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon. Sounds cool right? This could be a good first step in working on improved safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area. Here is an image of the treatment.  

• 32. Airport Improvements. 

  • c. Resolution approving allocation of $250,000 from Local Option Sales Tax available fund balance.
    The council believes the Ames Municipal Airport is a valuable asset to the community. However this asset improvement is now coming in at over $750,000 over budget. To make up for the shortfall, the current plan is to take the money from Local Option Sales Tax funds, the pot of money available to fund Human Services. Last year the council approved only half of the increased funding requested by human services agencies, around $162,000. Council approved instead, about an $80,000 increase for human services. The $250,000 cost overrun should not be taken from the pool of money that funds human services while there are unmet needs in our community. If council believes in the economic development benefits of an improved airport, more appropriate funding dollars would be property tax dollars or economic development dollars that comes from the hotel motel taxes. Human service organizations, will see little benefit from such improvements, let's save their dollars for their priorities. Some of the organizations that receive money from Local Option Sales Taxes are:

    • Access, American Red Cross, Ames Community Preschool, ARC of Story County, Boys & Girls Club, Campfire USA, Center for Creative Justice, Childserve, Emergency Residence Project, Good Neighbor, Heartland Senior Services, HIRTA, Homeward of MGMC, Legal Aid Society, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Mid-Iowa Community Action, National Alliance for Mentally Ill, Raising Readers, RSVP, Salvation Army, University Community Childcare, Visiting Nurses, Volunteer Center for Story County, and YSS.

• 34. Staff Report to initiate LUPP Amendment for RH land use designation at 3535 S. 530th Avenue. This project is interesting. The project is close to the research park. If done well it could provide future housing for those employees adjacent to their place of work. However, we have many ongoing conversations about similar projects in the community. It would seem the same process those groups are engaging in would be fair for this project as well. 

• 36. Staff Report on Kingland Development Agreement clarification for store front window. The Kingland Systems and the CVS project is requesting a change in the abatement agreement to allow 2 windows along Lincoln Way to be display cases rather than windows. Active windows are important to the lively environment  associated with commercial districts, especially those which are restaurant and entertainment districts. Long areas of non active space, like walls, opaque decals, or display cases, detract from this energy. This is why you see so much glazing in modern commercial districts and why the current facade grant program in Campustown, has, as a value, "transparency" in new projects that can receive support through facade grants. The Opus project and the Gilbane project (old Campus Bookstore, Lorry's Coffee and  First National Bank) are both almost entirely glazing along Lincoln Way. This change, while minimal, detracts from the project. It would be great if CVS could find another area for their walk in coolers as the project is receiving a 2.3 million dollar abatement. 

• 41. 5400 Grant Avenue. This rezoning seems appropriate in many ways. Erv Klass raised questions recently on the phosphorus load on Ada Hayden Park. Phosphorus yields algae laden water bodies. While Low Impact Development/ Conservation Subdivision guidelines were built years ago, considering we are doing everything within reason to protect this amazing feature of our community is important. I wonder if taking some data on where we are now with regards to phosphorus, and exploring additional precautions available since 2011 might help us protect this lake. I would hate to miss an opportunity to ensure the continued health of Ada Hayden Park. 

Thanks for reading

Matthew Goodman

Ames City Council At-Large

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