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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - February 2023 Monthly Project HighlightsHIGHLIGHTS FEBRUARY 2023 MONTHLY PROJECT Contact the City Manager's Office at 515-239-5101 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 Report compiled by Jeramy Neefus, Principal Clerk City Manager's Office FIRE Truck 3 Refurbishment: The Truck 3 refurbishment is well underway. The rusted frame of the ladder truck has been replaced with a new frame and equipment is starting to be bolted on. The pump has been completely overhauled and is ready to be bolted back onto the frame after the motor is installed. The estimated delivery date is now May. 2 LIBRARY Author Fair Signup: Ames Public Library is holding an free Author Fair Saturday, March 25! Readers and authors are welcome to attend any or all of the day’s events. Make Sense of Writing • 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Rotary Room • A presentation by Michaeljulius Idani, University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Science Postgraduate Visiting Writer in Fiction and Visiting Assistant Professor Book Sales and Signing • 2:15-4:15 p.m. in the Library Auditorium • Readers are welcome to drop in, chat with authors, purchase books, and have books signed. • Authors may request a table to participate in this portion at the following link by March 10. Space is limited. https://bit.ly/APLAuthor2023. After the Writing: The Journey of Publishing • 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Rotary Room • A presentation by Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting and many more, and Rachel Mans McKenny, author of The Butterfly Effect Book Sale: The Ames Public Library Friends Foundation will hold its spring book sale March 9- 12. Find great deals on thousands of used items, including books, movies, music, and more! • Thursday, March 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $2, with free admission and early entry starting at 5:00 p.m. for donors to the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation at the $20 level and above • Friday, March 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free Admisison • Saturday, March 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free Admission • Sunday, March 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $1 and everything is free! (Auditorium only) 3 Make sure to stop by the Literary Grounds Bookstore for a sale featuring vintage and collectible books. $1 off everything in the store (except book bundles and items marked $1). Proceeds from the Book Sale are used to enhance Library programs and services. Community Conversation on Mental Health: In a partnership with local substance use treatment organizations, Iowa State University Student Wellness, and the Ames Community School District, the City of Ames is hosting a “Community Conversation about Substance Use Disorders” at Ames Public Library Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. This month’s event will explore the connections between substance use and its impact on mental health. Community & Family Resources at the Library: Starting in March, community members will be able to visit with staff from Community and Family Resources at Ames Public Library Thursdays between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Community and Family Resources staff can provide information about addiction, substance abuse treatment, problem gambling treatment, and mental health therapy. They can also provide assistance in getting started in any of these services, including filling out some of the pre-appointment forms. 4 PARKS AND RECREATION Ames City Auditorium: The Ames City Auditorium recently received an Arts Midwest GIG Fund grant for its March 23-24, 2023, engagement with Indigenous musical artist Geneviève Salamone. Geneviève Gros-Louis Salamone is an internationally recognized professional violinist, producer, film composer and designer from the Huron-Wendat Nation. After overcoming PTSD from childhood sexual abuse, she uses her platform to raise awareness on issues surrounding mental health, sexual violence and critical Indigenous issues such as the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and the Indian Residential Schools. She holds a degree in Violin Performance and Indigenous Studies from McGill University and may currently be found performing with her violin duo, the Dueling Fiddles, producing award-winning music in her own recording studio, Wendat Records, and designing fashion for her Indigenous apparel store, 4DirectionWear. The two day engagement will feature a daytime workshop with local teens, and an evening interactive discussion on March 23. On March 24, the events will conclude with a concert and multimedia presentation of Geneviève’s work featuring other artists, gymnasts, and other Indigenous performers. Auditorium Alcohol Sales Discussion: After receiving requests from customers and auditorium patrons, staff is currently exploring the option of alcohol service for the Ames City Auditorium. In addition to satisfying demand, alcohol service would be an additional revenue stream that could help reduce the Auditorium subsidy. Staff is exploring the feasibility of beer and wine service, potential revenue models, and potential liability concerns that come with alcohol sales. Staff will present this information to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council at a future meeting to decide next steps. 5 Brookside Park Tree Work: City staff removed several dead or dying ash trees along the north side of the road leading to the northern parking lot. Additionally, 85 trees were identified to be pruned, and since this pruning is not possible with City equipment, a contractor was selected for this activity. As a cost saving measure, the contractor will drop the branches and Parks and Recreation staff will chip the branches. ISU Shade Tree Short Course: Five Parks and Recreation staff attended this recent two-day annual conference to refresh their knowledge, learn new tree management methods, and network with other professionals in the field. Pickleball Courts: On February 15, staff submitted a Built Environment MATCH Grant through The Wellmark Foundation to assist in funding the Emma McCarthy Lee Pickleball and Tennis Court Renovation and Conversion project. The City Council approved the submittal of the match grant at the January 24 City Council Meeting in the amount of $100,000. These funds would contribute to the project to ensure completion with ongoing rising costs, along with the additional amenities of lighting upgrades, windscreens, portable pickleball nets, a storage unit, and paddle racks. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in May 2023. 6 Spring Program Guides: Stay active with Ames Parks & Recreation this Spring! The Spring Fitness & Wellness Guide and Spring Programs & Facilities Guide have been released, and registrations are being accepted. The Spring Guides include information on all classes, programs, and events from March – February 2023. To view the guides, go online to www.AmesParkRec.org or click on the link below each guide. Spring Fitness Guide Spring Recreation and Facilities Guide Wellness: New sessions of wellness programs begin in February. Registrations are shown below for various activities: Program In-Person Registrations Virtual Registrations Fitness, Yoga, TRX & Cycle Tai Chi Yoga Basics 7 PLANNING AND HOUSING Iowa Economic Development Authority: City staff attended the Iowa Economic Development Authority February board meeting to discuss the status of the City’s Reinvestment District application. The application was submitted in February 2022 and as of yet has not been finalized as staff works through the development agreement for the Linc. Staff presented an overview of the project, explained the hurdles that came up this past summer regarding acquisition of the pool site, negotiation status of The Linc Development agreement, and that the Downtown Plaza was already under construction. Staff will return to the City Council to update the application materials once The Linc Development agreement is completed and the details on the north parking garage and construction milestones for the project are known. Prairie View Industrial Center: Wyffels Hybrids has submitted for approval of its first warehouse and distribution facility for its site within Prairie View Industrial Center. Wyffels acquired approximately 150 acres for a multi-phase project in late 2022. The City Council will review a plat of survey to reconfigure the site boundaries and potentially consider deferral of sidewalks or utility extensions at an upcoming meeting. Wyffels plans to break ground this April. The Linc Development: The proposed The Linc Development agreement is in legal review with the City and the developer at this time. The terms of the agreement are based upon the preliminary terms identified to the City Council on October 25, 2022. Along with the legal review of the agreement, there will be a number of companion items necessary to complete the process of approving the agreement regarding hearings for alley vacation, sale and transfer of land, and update of the Urban Renewal Area TIF limitations. Staff is hopeful that the final agreement can be returned to the City Council at the March 14 meeting, or no later than March 28. 8 PUBLIC WORKS ISU Virtual Reality Training: City of Ames Public Works staff participated in late February in a virtual reality research study centered around safety in confined spaces. The virtual reality environment allows users to safely simulate being placed into settings where hands on training is difficult due to space and safety constraints. This research is being performed by Iowa State University to help guide training resources and apply decision making research centered around safety in industrial setting. Thank you to the Iowa State staff for including us in this important research! 9 Resource Recovery Plant: The Trash Pandas from Bettendorf, Iowa, visited the Resource Recovery Plant on January 27 ahead of their Lego League competition at Iowa State University on January 28. The team based the actions of their robot on what the machines do at Resource Recovery.