Breckenridge and Sewer for Gilbert
The Ames City Council begins at 6:00 PM Oct 13th. The agenda includes items:
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36. Motion accepting Draft Plan for South Wilmoth Avenue Urban Revitalization Area and setting public hearing date for November 24, 2015. Weeks ago the Ames City Council accepted terms to a settlement, that traded away any insurance regarding any future conflict about that contract. Due to the way in which council has chosen to settle this court case, we have traded a strong case for which we have insurance, for a weaker case with none. It made little sense to me then, and even less today.
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37. Southwest Annexations: Crane and McCay annexation. Council made a good decision, waiting 3 weeks to ensure the small Crane annexation would not be pivotal in efficient growth of the community. As such, it appears this annexation will move forward, expeditiously, while that of the McCay property will be part of a broader process involving master planning of the southwest allowable growth area in general.
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38. 2320 Lincoln Way (Gilbane Development Company) Resolution approving sealed epoxy windows as equivalent to fixed windows.
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41. City Branding. The city will attempt to leverage its investment in branding, but creating a brand communication plan.
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44. Staff report on request from City of Gilbert for authorization for City staff to discuss potential wholesale water and/or sewer contract. The availability of sewer to Gilbert has some positive results. Maximizing the use of our sewer plant and being a good neighbor are two of them. However, one unintended consequence will be Ames subsidizing the future growth of Gilbert towards our city limits. If we have learned anything in recent years, infrastructure availability creates pressure on growth. Water and sewer are often the limiting factors for a city's growth and the City of Ames would be removing one of those barriers. Gilbert has no sewer treatment plant that would support growth to the south currently, but a wastewater contract, could change that. Heretofore, the attractiveness of the Gilbert School District to some families has yielded growth in the City of Ames. The availability of sewer could change the delicate balance between these two communities and their school districts for years to come. It may be a bigger decision that it seems.
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46. Hearing on rezoning property at 125 and 130 Wilder Avenue from Convenience Commercial Node (CVCN) to Planned Residential District (F-PRD). Staff would like to see a little more attention to design...Hunziker Development disagrees.
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47. Hearing on Major Site Development Plan for 125 and 130 Wilder Avenue.
Thanks for reading
Matthew Goodman
Ames City Council At-Large
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