HomeMy WebLinkAboutA010 - FMSAutoLoad: 8/4/2014 10:58:25 AM Merlin Pfannkuch To dvoss@city.ames.ia.us
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Subject Brief comments on agenda items 32, 39
Nov. 23, 2004
Mayor Tedesco and City Council members,
Given the full agenda for tonight's council meeting
and the possibility that I will not stay long enough
to comment, please consider these brief comments
related to agenda items 32 and 39
Agenda item #32 -- Pedestrian Walkway Infill Program
I ask that you not make a decision on where to go with
this tonight. This may seem like a small point, but I
believe in fact it is revealing why us citizens can
become perturbed at your processes. We were told in
June that there would be a workshop before Sept. 30
with council. What occurred was that there was a
meeting Sept. 30 with staff attended by three council
members. Before that meeting occurred, we were then
told that there would be a "workshop" of selected
persons with council on Nov. 9, with a council
decision likely Dec. 14.
Anyway, it seems reasonable that some citizens opposed
to a "proactive" program might be expecting to again
say they don't want it at a Dec. 14 council meeting.
I believe they deserve that opportunity.
I don't necessarily understand why the staff wants to
refer to the current program as "reactive" and
something else as "proactive. " That's rather
pejorative. I don't understand why the current policy
is not adequate. Can't we install sidewalks where we
determine they are necessary (for health, morals, or
safety or whatever the phrase is) using the city's
police power?
Also, it's somewhat disappointing that staff doesn't
acknowledge that those who volunteered for the Nov. 9
workshop weren't representative of those who attended
the Sept. 30 meeting -- most of those who spoke Sept.
30 seemed to favor boycotting" the Nov. 9 workshop on
the hope that our current policy would be seen
adequate.
Agenda item #39 -- City Council budget guidelines
I remain disappointed that my questions in a letter
dated Feb. 19, 2004 relating to city funding for the
AEDC apparently were never clarified. In that letter,
I stated in part: "My question is: What is the
current basis for a relationship between the City and
the AEDC? Is there a written agreement: If so, I
suspect we all should take a good look at it. "
A bit of background to help you recall. I was
concerned about AEDC's taking a position on the rec
plex bond issue and advertising in the Ames Tribune
encouraging residents to contact you to tell you they
supported the proposed mall.
The City produced a copy of a June 18, 1985 agreement
between the City and AEDC to say that "advertising" by
the AEDC is permitted. However, the AEDC board of
directors is no longer determined by the way outlined
in the June 18, 1985 agreement . . . so it appeared
that we no longer may have a valid underlying
agreement by which we budgeted $24,573 for AEDC dues
and $50,000 for AEDC projects in the current budget.
I believe we voted in the hotel-motel tax approval
that some percentage of that revenue (I think it was
20 percent) would go to "economic development. "
Surely, you would now agree that "economic
development" can be defined in ways other than the
AEDC appears to largely favor?
Anyway, this situation appears to be somewhat similar
to my concerns over how "community betterment" funds
from our local option tax revenue are allocated --
there's no real discussion over what "community
betterment" and "economic development" actually are,
rather you seem to assume that what you do relative to
those monies is adequate.
Admittedly, my concern over AEDC funds is heightened
by the fact that I've been told that other groups
interested in commenting on city issues have been more
or less discouraged from applying for city funds with
their "political" nature mentioned as a reason they
should not apply.
Also, again I ask that you make known the fact that
other "off budget" funding requests are considered by
council so that others besides those "in the know"
might be aware of this possible funding source.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Merlin L. Pfannkuch
1424 Kellogg Ave.
Ames, IA 50010-5447
515--232-3319
me2magic@yahoo.com