HomeMy WebLinkAboutA017 - Excerpts from December 12, 2017 Council Meeting Minutes - 2-
Kris Abel-Helwig, 423 West Riverside Road, Ames,commented that she understands the limit of
one adult person per bedroom,but feels that limiting occupancy to parking spaces does not address
the concerns of the students. Many take the bus or use other means of transportation. Mayor
Campbell responded that the City does not reexamine the new renters each year to see who has a car
and who does not.
Adam Daniel, 2342 Storm Street, Ames, stated that he thought part of the issue is the on-street
parking. He doesn't understand why when he has a four bedroom house and wants to expand off-
street parking to fit four vehicles and he has the room that he can't do that. Director Diekmann
responded that he could up until January 1, 2018. Mr. Daniel feels that restricting the creation of
off-street parking is unfair to the landlord who wants to help the parking issue. He asked that the
City at least have the parking ratio be consistent(the number of bedrooms to the number of off-street
parking spaces).Council Member Beatty-Hansen stated the reason for that is because some landlords
have paved spots on the property.
Mayor Campbell closed public input. —-
\ Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Corrieri, to amend the freezing of the current off-street
�parking spaces to expire at the end of the period
Council Member Beatty-Hansen clarified that the amendment she made was that landlords can not
add parking spaces until the end of the moratorium period.
Ms. VanMeeteren stated this could freeze parking for another whole year because of the timing for
signing new leases. Mr. Diekmann clarified that the intent for calculating parking spaces for either
existing or requests for new rental properties prior to April 30, 2018, is restricting the number of
parking spaces that exist on January 1, 2018. Beginning May 1, 2018, that rule is gone. Council
Member Beatty-Hansen confirmed that was her intent of the motion.
Ms. VanMeeteren stated that she had compiled all the information on the number of bedrooms for
registered rental properties and compared that with the Assessor's numbers. She was able to find
the number of bedrooms for all registered rentals except for 63. If a landlord disagrees with a
number, they can file a form with Inspections. An inspection to see what is actually there or
provided records from the landlord could give a better number. This process can be done with other
rentals if the landlord contests it. Eighty three percent of the rental units are one-two or three
bedroom. The four-bedroom and higher is very minimal. The larger units are going to want to
increase their occupancy. The focus will need to be on those units and compile numbers for parking
off
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on Motion: 6-0. Motion carried unanimously.
d by Beatty-Hansen, seconded Corrieri, to am d the freezing of the current bedroom count
at the end of the moratorium period.
Council Member Betcher clarified that Council Member Beatty-Hansen is talking about bedrooms,
but Council is not freezing bedrooms. Ex-officio Member Rob Bingham stated that a change that
could be made to the motion would be to say the number of bedrooms that can be used to calculate
occupancy, that way a change can be made to occupancy based upon the bedrooms after the
moratorium. Mayor Campbell reminded Council that the moratorium was so occupancy could not
expand. Council Member Betcher explained that the ordinance now is to capture the number of
bedrooms at January 1,2018 to determine occupancy. A landlord could then build another bedroom
but could not increase occupancy. Council Member Nelson added that Council Member Beatty-
Hansen wants to have the opportunity to increase occupancy if a bedroom is added at a future point
in May. This would provide an avenue if an addition is made. City Attorney Lambert reminded the
Council if the Ordinance is adopted, a change can be made before April 30, 2018.
Council Member Beatty-Hansen withdrew the motion.
lr —
Mayor Campbell stated that"one size does not fit all". The driving force is for the properties near
Campus,but Ames does have renters who are not students and live in other parts of town. Council
Member Corrieri added that this will affect them and the landlords of those properties.
y artm, seconded by Betcher, to pass on first reading an ordinance as amended, to limit
rental occupancy in single- and two-family residences.
Council Member Nelson added that this is a kind of stop-gap to have further conversations about
overlays. Council Member Gartin stated that he is glad to hear from new people and learning of new
situations. Council Member Corrieri stated that she believes some of the reason for that is because
of understanding and communication with customers who are affected. City Attorney Lambert stated
that the amendment is not a major change to the ordinance. The occupancy issue has been discussed
and published for quite some time. Legally it is fine to proceed.
Roll Call Vote: 5-1. Voting Aye: Orazem,Nelson, Betcher, Beatty-Hansen,Gartin�Votin�gNay*
Corrieri. Motion declared carried.
Mayor Campbell reminded Council that the next meeting is December 19, 2017,that will have the
second reading with the amendment. The Council has three options to suspend the rules to do
second and third reading at the next meeting,have a special meeting before the end of year,or have
the third reading at the January meeting with a new Council.
The meeting recessed at 7:42 p.m. and reconvened at 7:48 p.m.
Reconvened at 7:48
ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY AT 415 STANTON AVENUE FROM
GOVERNMENT/AIRPORT ZONING DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL HIGH-DENSITY
ZONING DISTRICT: Moved by Corrier, seconded by Betcher, to pass on second reading an
ordinance to rezone property at 415 Stanton Avenue from Government/Airport Zoning District to
Residential High-Density.
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