HomeMy WebLinkAboutA021 - Excerpts from March 27, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to ask staff to notify property owners in the
potentially affected neighborhoods prior to the April 10 meeting.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried ul.
Moved by Martin,seconded by Corrieri,to direct staff to report on hardship rental cases at the April
10, 2018, Council meeting.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. ed carried u
ORDINANCE REVISING CHAPTER 28 TO EXEMPT INDIVIDUAL METERING
REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 1, 2018: Water and
Pollution Control Director John Dunn stated that the purpose of the proposed amendment was to
insert an effective date for the individual metering in multi-family-residential. The effective date
was inadvertently left out of the Ordinance when Chapter 28 of the Municipal Code was passed.
This is an issue of policy relating to water conservation and housing. Individual meters can cause
the cost of housing to go up a bit,but data supports that if tenants paid the bills themselves there is
a more conscious effort to preserve water. A question concerning the billing of water in the City of
Ames with a minimum bill to each meter will not increase the bill. The rate structure is set to be a
wash in those cases. The minimum bill goes up as the size of the meter goes up.
Council Member Gartin asked if other communities were doing this. Mr.Dunn responded that there
are very few at this time. A trend is showing towards this, but it is not the norm at this time.
Director Dunn conveyed that this has posed a problem for a small number of developers who had
projects already under design, such as the construction at Crawford. The recommendation of staff
is to"grandfather"in those projects that had submitted a Site Development Plan to the Planning and
Housing Department prior to February 1, 2018, and allow them to proceed with the single master
meter construction originally presented to Water & Pollution Control staff. This would prevent
developers from having to start all over again.
Jerry Cable,623 South Dayton,Ames,reported that it would be an estimate of$1,000 per apartment
to run individual piping from a meter. This Ordinance will cause individual water heaters in each
apartment. This will add an expense for a room to put the water heater in with a drain and vent.
Water heaters also tend to leak,which could cause problems for apartments below. Efficiency will
also be lost. The gas water heater will end up being too costly;an owner may then choose to use an
electric water heater with very low efficiency. The meter room will have to be larger,which takes
space away from the apartment. The landlord would have to find a way to make up the extra cost.
This is another ordinance that will add cost to building. He is opposed to this Ordinance and would
like to see it removed.
Justin Dodge, 105 South 161h Street, Ames, conveyed his appreciation for the intent of the change.
Mr.Dodge noted that he represents the Hunziker Company,where the policy is that water is included
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Rick Thompson,414 South Duff,Ames,stated that he does not want to see his property rezoned and
restricted on the opposite side of the road due to the possible new project.
Mr. Stessman added that he wants to be a good neighbor. It is the intent to work with the local
businesses and comply with any zoning the City decides on. He is also willing to help with possible
future development on the south side of the road.
Council Member Betcher conveyed to Council that she liked the concept of the project,but definitely
felt the size of bedrooms for rent will need to be adjusted and not exceed the guidelines. Ms.Betcher
noted that tying incentives to the filling of the first floor retail spaces would be a wise choice
considering the recent construction that still has empty retail spaces on the first floor.
Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Gartin, to direct staff to continue to work with the developer and
negotiate a potential incentive package.
Council Member Gartin inquired about needing to upgrade the infrastructure for this project.
Director Diekmann stated that staff had looked at the sanitary sewer capacity, water and utilities.
It had been determined that the infrastructure is fine. Staff is looking at different traffic access points
and what it means for travel and how things will work with intersections.
Vote on Motion: 5-0-1. Voting Aye:Betcher,Martin,Beatty-Hansen,Gartin,Corrieri. Voting Nay:
None. Abstaining due to conflict of interest: Nelson. Motion declared carried.
ORDINANCE REVISING CHAPTER 13, RENTAL HOUSING CODE, REGARDING
OCCUPANCY: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Corrieri, to pass on first reading an Ordinance
making revisions to Chapter 13, Rental Housing Code regarding occupancy.
Council Member Betcher expressed concern about the language used to identify the neighborhoods
that are a part of the moratorium. She does not feel that all of those neighborhoods are adjacent to
the University, but near campus may be a better way to identify the neighborhoods.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Corrieri, to amend the "University adjacent neighborhoods"term
to "near campus neighborhoods".
Vote on Amendment: 6-0. Amendment declared carried unanimously.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion, as amended, declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Martin,seconded by Corrieri,to add the topic of which neighborhoods are to be included
n the rental concentration cap to the April 10 Council meeting and hold the first reading of the
ental Concentration Cap Ordinance to April 24.
City Manger Steve Schainker explained that the Council will need to finish the discussion on which
neighborhoods the overlay would be applied. It needs to be discussed if all eight neighborhoods are
to be under the overlay.
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