HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Cover letter explaining need for proposed ordinance - Legal Department 17
515 Clark Avenue,P.O.Box 811
Ames,1A 50010
Caring People Quality Programs Phone: 515-239-5146
Fx eplioaalservice Fax: 515-239-5142
January 6, 2009
The Honorable Ann Campbell,Mayor
and Members of the Ames City Council
Ames City Hall
515 Clark Avenue
Ames,Iowa 50010
Re: Proposed Ordinance Amendment Relating to Temporary Obstructions
Dear Mayor Campbell and City Council members:
On your agenda is a proposed amendment to the ordinance authorizing Temporary Obstruction permits.This
letter is to provide some background information explaining why passage of this amendment is before you.
The Temporary Obstruction ordinance generally prohibits placing obstructions in streets,alleys,or other public
places absent permission from the City. Since obstructions on public property are sometimes needed by private
parties for such things as scaffolding or construction materials,the ordinance also has provisions allowing the
City Manager to grant permission to allow temporary obstructions upon application and fulfillment by the
applicant of certain conditions,including provision for liability insurance coverage to the City. The ordinance
had also provided the City Manager with authority to withdraw that permission in certain situations prior to the
expiration date of the permit.
Each calendar quarter,the City updates its Municipal Code to add to it all the new ordinances which have been
adopted in the last quarter. In doing so,it is often necessary to print and provide replacement pages for several
portions of the Code. In doing one of these quarterly updates, it appears that several sentences of the
Temporary Obstruction ordinance had been omitted inadvertently from a replacement page. The missing
provisions were those giving the City Manager authority to withdraw permission for Temporary Obstruction
permits where conditions became hazardous. This omission was recently discovered. It is the purpose of the
proposed ordinance before you to replace the sentences which had previously been part of this ordinance and
restore the authority of the City Manager to withdraw permission for a Temporary Obstruction permit if the
obstruction becomes hazardous.
Your favorable consideration of this proposal is requested.
Sincerely,
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Judy K.Parks
Assistant City Attorney
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