HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - February 7, 2024, Special Meeting of the Ames City Council, Full MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 7, 2024
The Special Meeting of the Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 5:13
p.m. on the 7th day of February, 2024, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark
Avenue, pursuant to law. Present were Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Amber
Corrieri, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and Anita Rollins. Council Member Gloria Betcher was
absent. Ex officio Jeff Clark was also absent.
CULTURE AND RECREATION PROGRAM:
Parks and Recreation: Director of Parks and Recreation Keith Abraham and Parks and Facilities
Superintendent Joshua Thompson presented the proposed Parks and Recreation FY 2024/25
Operational Budget. Director Abraham highlighted grants, fundraising, scholarships, price
increases, and major projects in development.
Grants and fundraising tactics were discussed to help alleviate the need for taxpayer’s
contributions in providing services. Scholarships and the beginning of an endowment fund were
also discussed in relation to providing programming to those in the community who may not
otherwise be able to afford it. Director Abraham explained that staff wanted to expand the
scholarship program to serve more members of the community. He provided a brief synopsis of
several major projects which had been topics of recent City Council discussion , such as Fitch
Family Aquatic Center, Ontario Park Master Plan, and partnerships with the 60 Forward Center.
He also detailed programming at City facilities and parks, including Furman Aquatic Center,
Homewood Golf Course, and the Ames/ISU Ice Arena. Director Abraham presented proposed
inclusion strategies to make programming available for all to participate. He shared updates on
popular activities, such as pickleball and open gyms. Director Abraham explained the reason
behind fee increases for several programs, as well as staff’s efforts to keep programming
affordable. He concluded Parks and Recreation by highlighting sustainability initiatives and
accomplishments of the Department in the last fiscal year.
Cemetery: Director Abraham stated that contract mowing prices had increased significantly. More
people are utilizing niches in the columbariums, and lot sales are slow as many community
members have purchased burial plots while preplanning, reducing the “At Need” sale of lots.
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM:
Right-of-Way Maintenance: Director Abraham stated that 101 Right-of-Way risk trees had been
removed, and that staff continued with the program to address Emerald Ash Borer concerns.
UTILITIES PROGRAM:
Utilities: Director of Electric Services Donald Kom stated that a new energy peak was set at 138
megawatts, however the Power Plant still had the capacity to meet demand. He noted that
communication between staff and the community kept the peak lower than what was projected.
Director Kom compared the current rates for those in the Electric Services area to neighboring
communities while noting that overall, the City’s rates are lower. The Climate Action Plan (CAP)
was listed as a key factor in future expenditure planning, as Electric Services would be involved
in many of the proposed steps. The need for greener generation of energy would come with Capital
Improvement costs. He stated that staff is investigating solar energy as an alternative. However,
startup costs, needed land, and approvals from varying State and Federal agencies were highlighted
as areas that needed to be assessed.
Director Kom highlighted a costs of service study currently underway to help identify ways for
residents to use energy in a cost-effective manner. Time of use and green rates were two areas
being evaluated. To help capitalize on the results of the study and administer time of use rates,
more sophisticated Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) would be utilized. AMI would also
be utilized by Water and Pollution Control and Customer Services as well as provide more data to
the respective engineering departments.
Rebate programs were reviewed and updated for greater utilization. The Department also
conducted a geothermal pilot program. Additionally, Director Kom highlighted the electric vehicle
charger plug points throughout the City and stated that the chargers were attracting traffic off of
Highway 30. He noted that funds were budgeted to conduct an energy audit of all City buildings.
Next, Director Kom provided an overview of the City’s renewable energy portfolio, explaining
that the portfolio is dependent on the amount of wind energy generated per month.
Major planned expenditures included property insurance, with costs increasing by 47%. Director
Kom explained this is partially due to not having many providers willing to insure the Power Plant
because of the Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) that the Power Plant relies on. Wind and solar
investment costs will be high in the coming years once staff decides which avenue to pursue.
Renovation costs for the Ash Pond, Plant Boiler life assessment, and Combustion Turbine controls
projects were additional large projects. Natural gas prices have continued to increase, which
impacts the budget as natural gas is necessary to burn the RDF. Director Kom stated that in order
to keep costs lower for customers, less natural gas had been purchased. This led to additional
burden on the Resource Recovery Plant, and although the Waste-to-Energy study is complete, staff
has not decided how to move forward, and costs are high. In the meantime, expanded recycling
options have been made available to residents.
Electric Distribution saw increased expenditures as well with supply chain delays and price
increases presenting challenges. To address this issue, staff invested increasing on-hand inventory
to negate future issues. This would also help keep maintenance times lower. Building additional
lines was also a priority of this budget, as well as higher prices on capacitors, Director Kom
explained.
Safety issues are being addressed through a remote breaker removal system which would be going
out to bid soon. An additional storage building was being added to help safely store equipment
where it would be shielded from weather. Director Kom noted that much of the City’s electrical
system is more than 30 years old, which made replacement of equipment an essential budget item.
He also highlighted that a 161 kV line was scheduled to be moved per the Iowa Department of
Transportation’s (IDOT) request. The IDOT would pay for the work, but City staff would find the
contractor. Director Kom concluded by stating there is no requested rate increase for FY 2024/25.
PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM:
Storm Warning System: Director Kom stated there were no major changes or programs associated
with the Storm Warning System, which was functioning well.
Fire: Fire Chief Rich Higgins, alongside Deputy Fire Chief Tom Hackett, Deputy Fire Chief Karen
Tapper, and Building Official Sara Van Meeteren, presented the proposed FY 2024/25 Operating
Budget for Fire Safety. He highlighted community partnerships, community outreach, and how the
Department was working to lessen the costs of a new Fire Station #4 location, as well as a Fire
Station #2 relocation.
Built into the budget was the addition of a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) to hire an additional
firefighter. After completing this hire, the Department would have ten firefighters ready to shift to
the future Fire Station #4 when it was built. This strategy would reduce the impact on residents
when funds are needed to build the new fire station. Additionally, Chief Higgins highlighted that
Iowa State University (ISU) has an agreement to pay for 25% of the funds needed to operate the
Department.
Additionally, partnerships with ISU extend to working with student innovators to help design
firefighting gloves as well as assisting ISU with developing an Artificial Intelligence program to
help track how well a fire is being controlled and potential solutions to address the fire as well as
get information to commanders quickly. Another way the Department is working with ISU is in
evaluating the relocation of Fire Station #2. A location south of the Baker Subdivision has been
identified, and funds have been allocated for a land study and conceptual design. Chief Higgins
stated that those plans would come back before the City Council once staff had better costs
estimates. Furthermore, the sale of the current Fire Station #2 location would go towards paying
for the relocation, helping to defray costs to residents.
Chief Higgins elaborated on how preparing for an eventual Fire Station #4 was worked into the
budget. He explained that staff are looking at outside the box approaches and are using Ames Plan
2040 in evaluating where the best location would be. The new Mobile Command Trailer was
highlighted, along with its additional functionality and capacity to serve the community. Staff’s
commitment to keeping costs low for residents and sustainability was displayed through staff’s
initiative to recycle carpet from the IDOT office purchased by the City for use in Fire Station #1.
Another line item in the budget was battery powered extrication tools to allow all frontline vehicles
to contain a set.
Grants received by the Department was the next focus, as Chief Higgins highlighted the work done
by Training Officer AJ Plach to secure additional funding. He also elaborated on community
engagement efforts, such as Fire Department open houses, fire extinguisher training, and virtual
aids for trainings where full-scale equipment may not be feasible. The Department also
administered crowd management training, attended neighborhood block parties, and provided
support in events such as RAGBRAI. In practicing Total City Perspective, the Department
administers trainings on AEDs, CPR, and Stop the Bleed.
Chief Higgins concluded the Fire Safety portion by stating that the Department responded to 5,780
calls, 52% of which were medical calls. The Department also expanded their services and training
to include grain bin rescue after grain bins were recently added to the community.
Building Safety: Chief Higgins also presented the proposed FY 2024/25 Operating Budget for
Building Safety and stated that there were no Building Permit or Rental Fee increases. He noted
there had been an 43% increase in commercial permits, that inspectors continued to inspect rental
units for resident safety, and that staff continued to evaluate customers ’ experience with the
Department by evaluating Development Review Committee procedures. Additionally, the
Inspections Department evaluates compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) to
ensure the public buildings in the City are accessible to all. Like the Fire Department, the
Inspections Department prioritizes engagement and education. Chief Higgins stated that this was
evident in the properties staff were able to help bring into compliance and thanked the Department
for their commitment and investment in the community.
Mayor Haila added his gratitude for the partnership that the Department has with the Story County
Emergency Management team and Chief Higgins echoed that sentiment for Emergency
Management at ISU as well.
LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Police: Chief of Police Geoff Huff, along with Commander Jason Tuttle, Commander Dan
Walters, and Support Services Manager Aaron DeLashmutt, presented the FY 2024/25 Operational
Budget for the Police Department. He reviewed vacancies in the Department, partnerships and
outreach in the community, and trends in crime in Ames. Extra emphasis was placed on mental
health partnerships and the relationship the Department cultivated with local schools.
Chief Huff detailed the open positions in the Department, as well as recruiting efforts and trends
nationwide. He also discussed how the Department values relationship building and problem
solving as a priority in all interactions with the community. One highlighted event that
demonstrated this value was the annual National Night Out. Chief Huff shared that the 2023 event
was the largest attendance so far and the department was able to distribute over 800 backpacks to
those in need in the community.
Chief Huff also highlighted the organizations the Department partners with to provide services in
the community. The Boys and Girls Club, Coffee with a Cop, Donuts in the Park, Special
Olympics, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Freedom Fund
Banquet, and scam education with local entities were all a part of the community engagement the
Department seeks to provide. He furthered that the Department also works with Cyclone Welcome
Weekend to meet students right away and build relationships and special events such as RAGBRAI
to ensure the wellbeing of the community.
To further elaborate on the outreach with local schools, Chief Huff explained the P3 Campus app,
which allows students to make anonymous tips and has been utilized over 60 times this year. He
then reviewed how the Department was putting the goal of transparency and accountability into
practice, and shared that online messages are more compliments than complaints. The work of the
Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee (ARPAC) was also highlighted, along with the
Department’s support for ARPAC’s goals for the next year.
Grants received were detailed, as well as the use of those funds for equipment such as bulletproof
vests. Efforts to procure more hybrid vehicles for the Department’s fleet were also discussed.
Supply chain issues have stalled the Department’s efforts to fully replace the fleet with hybrid
vehicles, but staff are optimistic that the next production year will offer a chance to secure more
hybrid vehicles. Chief Huff detailed savings on gas, oil changes, and brake replacements with
hybrid vehicles.
Next, Chief Huff explained trends the Department was tracking in calls for service. He stated that
there continued to be an increase in mental health calls for service and recognized Mental Health
Advocate Julie Saxton for all the work she does to bridge the gap between services. Chief Huff
also noted that this volume of calls does include calls for the Alternative Response for Community
Health (ARCH). He stated that the Department is looking forward to seeing the impact of the
ARCH program in the future. Other partnerships that were included in support for mental health
included Mobile Crisis, Mental Health Criminal Justice Task Force, Alternatives, Mental Health
Court, Peer Support, and Community Conversations.
Chief Huff further noted that accidents are trending up, and so are citations. He stated that grants
from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau were used to focus on distracted driving. He further
detailed that personal crimes are trending down, and so are domestic cases. Noise complaints,
trespassing, nuisance parties and fireworks calls were trending up. He explained that trespassing
calls are usually related to homeless individuals and officers work with community partners to
help individuals gain access to resources. Theft cases, specifically retail theft, were on the rise.
He detailed the number of non-emergency calls as being over 100,000 for the year, and an
additional over 30,000 911 calls. He expressed pride in staff maintaining fast response times with
vacant positions. He highlighted awards presented to the Department, notably the Award of Valor
to Commander Jason Tuttle and the Crisis Negotiation Team placing second at the IACNA training
event. Five rescue awards, four commendation awards, and three letters of achievement were
awarded as an effort to recognize staff for their hard work.
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM:
Animal Shelter: Chief Huff stated that prioritizing a new Animal Shelter started by evaluating what
the needs were. He thanked the staff for their commitment, highlighting the great work that had
been done in adverse conditions. Chief Huff commended Animal Control Supervisor Ron Edwards
for the work he did with community involvement and education. He detailed the length of stay for
animals at the shelter, noting that cats average 14 days, kittens four days, and three days for dogs
and rabbits. With the hoarding cases that the Animal Shelter had, he noted that the average length
of stay had increased. He also highlighted the high live release rates of the Animal Shelter.
Parking Lot Enforcement: Regarding Parking Lot Enforcement, Chief Huff stated that 24,152
citations were written, and 3,964 parking tickets remained unpaid. The Department was hopeful
to see a decrease in the number of unpaid tickets with the new partnership with Story County for
collection.
Council Member Gartin requested an update on drug offense data points. Chief Huff affirmed that
the data could be included in the future.
Chief Huff responded to Mayor Haila’s inquiry of what the Department’s engagement with the
school system looked like in the wake of tragic school shooting by explaining that the Department
provides ongoing active shooter/violent intruder training, as well as keeping lines of
communication open, facilitating the P3 Campus app, and training staff on how to utilize
emergency radios. He encouraged community members to share information early on so that the
Department could help connect individuals to resources.
DISPOSITION OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL: None.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Rollins reminded everyone that registration for the
NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet ended that night.
ADJORNMENT: Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Junck, to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
_______________________________________ __________________________________
Grace Bandstra, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
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