HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - March 7, 2024, Special Meeting of the Ames City Council, Full Minutes1
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA MARCH 7, 2024
The Special Meeting of the Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 3:02
p.m. on the 7th day of March, 2024, pursuant to law. As it was impractical for the Council Members
to attend in person, Council Members Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck,
and Anita Rollins joined the meeting electronically. Council Member Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
and ex officio Jeff Clark was absent.
PLANNING AND HOUSING: Planning and Housing Director Kelly Diekmann noted that at the
February 27, 2024, City Council meeting, staff was directed to proceed with establishing an Urban
Revitalization Area (URA) Plan to encourage construction of additional housing within the City
of Ames by offering a five-year partial property tax abatement incentive for owner-occupied
residential housing units. He furthered that State law requires setting a date of public hearing for
approval of a proposed URA Plan and includes prescribed notification requirements. He explained
that the City must publish notice 30 days before the hearing in the Ames Tribune and it must
provide mailed notification to all property owners within the proposed boundary of the URA 30
days prior to the hearing. Staff proposed April 9, 2024, as the date of Public Hearing.
Council Member Corrieri left the meeting at 3:05 p.m.
The estimated notification costs were reviewed by Director Diekmann. He explained that staff was
requesting that the City Council approve waiving the occupant notice under Iowa Code Section
404.2(3) due to an incomplete notification list. The City Council members engaged in detailed
conversation with staff regarding specifics of the notification process. City Attorney Mark Lambert
confirmed that staff was working within the legal requirements of Iowa Code, and that waiving
notification to occupants was valid in this case. He concluded that staff would be able to promote
the creation of the URA through social media or other news outlets; it is, however, separate from
what the law requires.
Moved by Rollins, seconded by Gartin, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 24-109 approving property
owner notices and waiving occupant notification for an April 9, 2024 Public Hearing Date.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
Moved by Junck, seconded by Rollins, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 24-110 approving
authorization of $8,500 from Council Contingency to pay for notification costs.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
DISPOSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL: There were no items to consider.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: The members of the City Council had no comments to share.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Rollins, to adjourn the meeting at 3:15 p.m.
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Carly M. Watson, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
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Renee Hall, City Clerk