HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving Temporary Relocation of Vendors during the Welch Avenue Construction Project RESOLUTION NO. 20- 265
RESOLUTION APPROVING TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF
VENDORS DURING THE WELCH AVENUE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS, construction on the Campustown Public Improvements project had begun and
through this project, utilities under the 100 block of Welch Avenue will be reconstructed, and the
streetscape surface will be significantly modified; and,
WHEREAS,two food vending operations have Vending Licenses to regularly operate in the
area that will be reconstructed, and they are Smiles & Gyros and Cheese Steak Factory; and,
WHEREAS, the Vending Code provides that a vendor may be required to accommodate
construction in the right-of-way,and a license maybe suspended or revoked because of construction
in the right-of-way; and,
WHEREAS,City staff had discussed the construction project with the two vendors and both
expressed a desire to be able to continue operating in an alternative location for the duration of the
construction, as an alternative to ceasing operations during the project; and,
WHEREAS,administrative rules for vending require that vendors seeking a new location to
operate must obtain a letter of support from the adjacent property owner before City approval can
be granted; and,
WHEREAS, in practice, there are very few locations in the Campustown area that are
suitable for vending where the adjacent property owner is also willing to allow the vendor to operate;
and,
WHEREAS, although the City Council may make exceptions to these administrative rules
to assign a temporary location for a vendor, City staff believes it would violate the spirit of this
regulation to do so without obtaining the consent of the adjacent property owner; and,
WHEREAS, as an alternative, Ciyt staff has inquired whether the vendors would both be
willing to operate in Chamberlain Lot Y (at the intersection of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain
Street) during the project, and both expressed an interest in being located in the lot; and,
WHEREAS,City staff conferred with the Campustown Action Association(CAA)and it has
expressed their support for this option: and,
WHEREAS, since the vendors would be operating in the City parking lot rather than in the
right-of-way with an adjacent property owner,there would be no property owner approvals necessary
to allow this relocation; and,
WHEREAS, relocating the vending operations to this lot will take three metered parking
spaces and these parking spaces will be made available for metered public parking during normal
metered hours,but will be signed for the exclusive use of the two vending operations after 6:00 p.m.,
Thursday through Saturday;therefore,there will be no lost revenue to the Parking Fund during this
temporary relocation; and,
WHEREAS, due to the current public health emergency, Vending Licenses have been
temporarily suspended and if the City Council approves the relocation on Welch Avenue, the
temporary relocation would be effective once the suspension of all vending operations have
concluded.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the temporary relocation of vending operations for Smiles & Gyros and the Cheese Steak
Factory from the 100 block of Welch Avenue to Chamberlain Lot Y for the duration of the
Campustown Improvements Project is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 26`h day of May, 2020.
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Gartin
Seconded by: Beatty-Hansen
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26' day of May, 2020.