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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Amendment to the Downtown and Campustown Facade Grant Awards RESOLUTION NO. 23-281 RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUSTOWN FACADE GRANT AWARDS FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS,in 2022,Council discussed increasing both the individual award amount that each facade grant receives as well as the yearly funding appropriated. Each grant currently awards a maximum of$15,000. The Downtown Grant can receive $1,000 for design services, the Campustown Grant can receive $2,000; and, WHEREAS, the decision to increase the amount was postponed until the next budget was adopted,when the increased amounts were formally adopted. The recently adopted FY2023-34 budget increased the Downtown Facade program annual budget to $75,000. The Campustown budget remains at $50,000; and, WHEREAS, with the increase in the budget for the Downtown program, staff now is seeking guidance regarding any changes the City Council would desire to the overall fagade programs. Staff is proposing to standardize the grant award for both the Downtown and Campustown programs at a maximum grant amount of$23,000 with a 1-to-1 match ratio requirement. Additionally, each project that employs a licensed architect can receive an additional$2,000, as is currently the allowance within Campustown,while the grant for design services in the Downtown will remain at$1,000; and, WHEREAS, the proposed amounts will allow for three full grant awards per year Downtown and two within Campustown, which reflects the number of grants that historically have been awarded each year; and, WHEREAS, these programs have helped to transform the fagades of dozens of buildings over the course of their respective existences. As construction and labor costs have risen, the incentive of the Facade Grant Programs has lessened. Increasing the amount of the grants will help them to stay relevant and to achieve the goals of the Downtown Design Guidelines and the Campustown Idea Book. Increasing the value of the grant award may also permit the City to emphasize additional and higher quality elements within each facade rehabilitation project. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames,Iowa,that resolution approving amendment to the Downtown and Campustown Facade Grant Awards is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 9th day of May, 2023. 4 W_ 4VIO Renee hall, City Clerk John A. Haifa, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Rollins Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen,Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent:None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 9th day of May,2023.