The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Council Action Summary from February 4, 2008 T COUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY Meeting Date: 2104108 Agenda Item #: Comments SUBJECT: Letter from Mark Kutchen of Ames Little League specifically requesting to know the current rules pertaining to advertising on outfield fences and enforcement of those rules ACTION TAKEN: Referred to staff. MOTION BY: Goodman SECOND BY: Popken VOTING AYE: Doll, Goodman, Larson, Mahayni, Popken, Rice VOTING NAY: None ABSENT: None By iane Voss, City Clerk Copy to: Steve Schainker "Mark Kutchen" To <bobanncamp@aol.com>, <drice827@msn.com>, <mkutchen@mchsi.com> <email@jamilarson.org>, <1 dollr@gmail.com>, 02/03/2008 12:56 PM <rmahayni@isunet.net>, <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, cc bcc Subject Request to Change City Code Honorable Mayor and City Council, In October, I sent a letter to all of you on behalf of the Ames Little League Baseball Board of Directors and our 477 participants and their families. The letter requested a couple of changes in the City Code to allow us to fundraise via selling advertising spots on our outfield fences. A copy of the letter is attached. This type of program is used throughout the country at many athletic venues and has had great success. Based on our recent experience of getting 3 corporate sponsors to donate funds to purchase scoreboards in exchange for them being recognized on the scoreboards, we have every reason to believe the advertising program would be a success. I was greatly disappointed to learn from the City Clerk's office that you had decided to not take action on this request. I would encourage you to reconsider this. With a slight change in the code, we could raise funds that would lead to better facilities and lower participation fees, which would likely lead to increased participation and greater satisfaction by those that do participate. I have discussed this issue with City Staff before and have been told it would be illegal for us to proceed with this program since it clearly violates the code. When I inquired as to why the City of Ames allows Ames High School to not comply with this same code in the city's Brookside Park, I was told that City Staff does not actively enforce this provision of the code. When I asked if we could proceed with our program since the code was not being enforced, I was told no and the City Staff would enforce the code with Ames Little League Baseball. This practice of allowing one group to ignore the code and enforcing against others seems greatly unfair. Please don't start enforcing the code and cut off a significant revenue stream for the Ames High School Athletic Department. Just change the code so that all groups are treated equally and fairly and raise funds by selling advertising. Mark Kutchen t President Ames Little League Baseball 291-1107 irnage001.jpg 1005071-ettertoCityCouncil.pdf r Ames Little League Baseball, P.O. Box 1713,Ames, Iowa 50010 Board of Directors October 5, 2007 2007 to 2009 Directors Ames City Council Brian Agnitsch PO Box 811 515 Clark Ave. Ron Christensen Ames, Iowa 50010 Jeff Clendenen Matt Elbert Re: Request to Change City Code Lisa Erickson Dear Ames City Council: Mark Kutchen Ames Little League Baseball is hereby requesting that the City of Ames modify two Steve Mayberry sections of the City of Ames Municipal Code that pertain to signs. Section 5.714 (4) prohibits off premise signs from being closer than 300 feet to any other off premise Bryan Rademacher signs and Section 5.714 (7)prohibits signs from being attached to fences. We are Flynn Ravner requesting that both of these sections be modified to allow at athletic facilities only off Mike Schmit premise temporary signs to be placed next to each other and to be attached to fences. Tori Shahidi The requested changes would enhance our ability to raise funds to support our non- profit operation. We try very hard to keep our user fees low so that all the children of Tony Stevens Ames that want to play baseball can. With all of the other organizations and 2006 to 2008 Directors fundraisers in town, local business get asked to make donations all the time and they have very limited donation funds. However, a lot of local businesses are willing to David Blakeley spend some of their advertising budgets for signs. We think we could be successful in Mike Brothers raising funds by charging a fee to have a sign posted on the outfield fences at our baseball fields during our baseball season which is about 90 days during the spring Bart Fowles and summer. Ron Frantzen Please review the request and let me know if you have any questions that Ames Little Rick Hansen League Baseball can address. I can be reached at mkutchen(a�mchsi.com or Chris Keenan 291-1107 at anytime. Bruce Maxwell Sincerely, Tim Simodynes Scott Thompson Mark Kutchen Rob Wallace President Jamie White Ames Little League Baseball Craig Wiebke Jim Withers 0 Character—Courage—Loyalty Diane R Voss/COA To mkutchen@mchsi.com 02/05/2008 02:21 PM cc bcc Diane R Voss/COA Subject Request to Change City Code Mark: At last night's budget hearing, the following action was taken. "Moved by Goodman, seconded by Popken, to refer to staff the letter from Ames Little League, specifically requesting to know the current rules pertaining to advertising on outfield fences and enforcement of those rules. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously." I have now referred this item to David Brown, Building Official, for response and copied City Manager Steve Schainker. I will keep you apprised. Diane Voss, City Clerk/Records Manager P. O. Box 811 Ames, Iowa 50010 (515) 239-5105