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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - October 2021 Monthly Project Highlights MONTHLY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 2021 Report Compiled by Carly Watson, Principal Clerk, City Manager’s Office 2 FIRE The Ames Fire Department increased their emergency medical service (EMS) level to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level on October 1. Ames firefighters now carry and can administer breathing treatments and epinephrine to patients while on scene instead of waiting for an ambulance to arrive to start these lifesaving treatments. Ames firefighters also carry equipment to test blood sugar levels to help evaluate and treat diabetic emergencies. As a conditional EMT service provider, Ames firefighters will only be able to provide EMT patient care when an EMT is on the call. Come January 1, 2022, Ames Fire will transition to a full time EMT provider, which means every call for service and every vehicle that leaves the station will provide EMT level service. On September 29, the Ames Fire Department hosted an ISU Honors Course called "You Are Your Own First Responder" (pictured right). Station 1 Shift A Crew taught the students how to complete basic lifting and stabilization of large items, moving and lifting injured patients, and how to conduct an organized interior search of a building. All of these skills be utilized during an upcoming scenario that the students will be participating in at ISU Fredriksen Court Apartments. MercyOne AirMed provided a Landing Zone Training this month that allowed responders to understand different landing zone considerations, requesting and communicating with the helicopter, along with reviewing the different equipment on- board the aircraft. 3 One of the training events allowed collaboration between the Ames Fire Department and Huxley Fire Department which ultimately allowed nearly ten different mutual aid Fire and EMS agencies in Story County to attend. On October 18, 39 City staff members of the City’s Emergency Incident Command Center participated in a 2-hour workshop, facilitated by Story County Emergency Management and members of the City’s Incident Command Center Development Team (Brian Phillips, Doug Allen, Aaron DeLashmutt, Ben McConville, Jason Tuttle, Justin Clausen and Rich Higgins). The workshop focused on the notification, activation and the initial response of the City’s Incident Command Center during a large disaster. The workshop is one of many that are planned over the next 2 years as the City prepares for a large- scale, multijurisdictional scenario involving Story County Emergency Management and Iowa Homeland Security. 4 LIBRARY Early Voting and Civic Engagement: On October 30, Ames Public Library will be an absentee voting destination for the city-school elections in Story County. Along with that, Ames Public Library has hosted three separate public candidate forums for the upcoming city-school elections on November 2. These forums were widely popular requiring staff to relocate overflowing community members into two extra rooms. Babysitting Clinic: On October 4, a babysitting clinic took place at the Ames Public Library. This program taught 5th graders and older about ages and stages of youth, ways to be a safe babysitter, and what to do in case of an emergency. Registration filled up quickly and we are planning another one this upcoming winter. Share Your Story: In the month of October Ames Public Library ran a promotion asking community members to share what role the Library plays in their lives. You can go to www.amespubliclibrary.org/shareyourstory to find out more! The Bridge Home Partnership: Beginning in October, Ames Public Library became a partner with The Bridge Home to provide easy access to critical services. Staff from The Bridge Home is available in the Library to assist individuals or families on the verge of--or experiencing--homelessness with apartment searching, appointment scheduling, job applications, and more. Upcoming Book Sale: Ames Public Library Friends Foundation’s book sale will take place in the auditorium November 4-7. We will have used books at great prices. 5 PARKS AND RECREATION Ada Hayden Fishing Pier Repairs: Woodruff Construction, Inc., is completing final punch list items to the renovated fishing pier at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The project will be open to the public November 1, weather permitting. A ribbon cutting celebrating the newly renovated structure is set for November 3 at 5:00 PM at the park. Franklin Park Improvements: Improvements to Franklin Park are nearing completion. Improvements included the addition of a new two-bay swing, concrete playground border, water fountain, 20’x24’ shelter, grills, and garbage receptacles. Yet to be completed is the installation of the security lighting in the shelter. Public Works will be installing a shared use path through the park in 2022 which will connect to these new features. 6 Recreational Programs: A new six-week session of Fitness, Yoga and Small Group Training classes began Monday, October 4 with 463 in-person registrations, 60 virtual registrations, and 37 outdoor registrations. A new nine-week session of Aqua classes began at Green Hills Wellness Center on Monday, October 25 with 167 registrations. A new eight-week session of Aqua classes began at the ISU Forker Pool on Monday, October 18 with 47 registrations. A new eight-week session of Tae Kwon Do classes began Tuesday, October 19 at the Ames Middle School with 128 registrations. Homewood Golf Course closed on October 31, 2021. Homewood will be hosting new cribbage and euchre card programs starting in mid-November. Miracle League of Ames Fall Season finale was on October 16. Twenty-four athletes came out each week and made this season a success. Staff, volunteers, and athletes are very excited to get started again next spring! Tahira and Labh Hira Park Development: The development of Tahira and Labh Hira Park is nearing completion. All concrete has been poured at the site including the basketball pad, sidewalks, shelter pad, and trash enclosure. Yet to be completed include backfilling all paths, complete shelter roof, and complete installation of basketball hoops, grills, and drinking fountain. The project is expected to be completed in early November. 7 PLANNING AND HOUSING Housing and Community Development CDBG: Applications for the CDBG CARES (COVID-19) Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance Programs are still being accepted. Applications are available at www.cityofames.org/housing. Staff is preparing the CDBG 2020-21 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for a 15-day public comment period beginning November 2. The report will be presented for City Council approval at its November 23 meeting. The CAPER reports the accomplishments of the CDBG 2020-21 Annual Action Plan activities and expenditures. Planning Accessory Building and Garage Setbacks: City Council initiated changes to accessory building and garage setbacks at its meeting in October. Proposed changes include allowing for a nonconforming accessory building to be rebuilt and expanding applicability of the reduced 3 - foot rear yard setback exception. Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the proposed changes at its November 3 meeting and City Council will review a proposed text amendment in December. Downtown Plaza: Downtown Plaza design work continues with refinements to the building design, site layout, and water features. The water features have been adjusted to focus on one system including the runnel and a small spray feature on the east side of the site rather than the preliminary concept of two features with the runnel and spray feature in the middle of the site. City Council will receive an update on the concept and cost estimates at its November 9 City Council meeting. The Downtown Plaza Signature Sculpture RFQ is out and available for proposals. Qualifications are due by December 1 for staff to evaluate and make a recommendation for City Council selection in January. The signature sculpture is one of three planned significant art pieces for the plaza and has a budget allowance of $150,000 within the RFQ project requirements. Hayden’s Preserve: Hayden’s Preserve (formerly Rose Prairie) has completed a joint meeting with City staff and the representatives from the Friends of Ada Hayden regarding storm water management plans for the project. The developer has now submitted for Preliminary Plat approval which will make its way to City Council sometime in the next 2 months. Windsor Point Apartments: The Windsor Point Apartments located at (3709 Tripp Street) have recently been acquired by new housing company. The owner is interested in having the use of the property as affordable housing and to end its designation for 61 of the units as Senior Housing per its original approval. 8 The Zoning Board of Adjustment denied a variance for the change in October. However, the owner intends to apply under the City’s PUD Overlay to seek relief for parking and building standards to allow for the use as low-income affordable housing with a 30-yr commitment as affordable housing. This request will come to the P&Z and City Council in November as there is an Iowa Financing Authority funding deadline of December 20201 to take advantage of low- income tax credits. 9 PUBLIC WORKS South Grand Avenue Extension Project: The South Grand Avenue Extension opened on Friday, October 29 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public joined Mayor John Haila and the Ames City Council, along with City of Ames staff, consultant team, and contractors at the intersection of South Grand Avenue and South Fifth Street to celebrate this milestone project. The South Grand Avenue Extension project was a multi-phase, multi-year project, and involved multiple agencies, consultants, and contractors. The first phase included utility and intersection improvements at Grand Avenue and Lincoln Way in 2002. The next two phases included the sections from Lincoln Way toward South Fifth Street, and from South 16th Street north 400 feet. In 2020, another phase opened that included the extension of South Fifth Street from South Grand Avenue to South Duff Avenue. The final phase completes the connection between South Fifth Street and South 16th Street, providing a through route from South 16th Street to the north boundary of Ames. A temporary traffic signal located at South Grand Avenue and South 16th Street is now operational. During the 2022 construction season, pavement and intersection improvements will be made on South 16th Street each direction from South Duff Avenue. 10 Stormwater Program: The City of Ames partnered with Prairie Rivers of Iowa, Story County Conservation, the South Skunk River Paddlers, the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and local volunteers for a stream clean-up event on October 2. Twenty-nine volunteers participated to clean 3 miles of the Ioway Creek from the east side of South Duff to South Grand. Volunteers walked on Sandbars and waded in ankle deep water, using mesh bags and buckets for small trash, alongside wheeled bins for larger items. Two drop-off points were established at the bridges where pickup trucks were filled with the largest items. 2,500 pounds of trash were removed, including 13 car tires. Volunteers also removed an engine block and more trash from an upper stretch of the river. With such success, City Staff and local organizations are hopeful to make this an annual event. To view the Fall 2021 Iowa Creek Trash Cleanup Report and learn more about the City of Ames Stormwater programs, please visit https://www.cityofames.org/public-works/stormwater- program. Photos from the event were taken by Mike Kellner of Prairie Rivers of Iowa. Find Prairie Rivers of Iowa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prrcd to see all of the pictures from the event. 11 RESOURCE RECOVERY Staff hosted several facility tours over the last two months. In September Merck Animal Health from ISU Research Park (8 people), ISU’s Principles of Environmental Engineering (90 students), and ISU Software Engineering students visited. In October, ACPC Bumblebees and Dragonflies (24 kids, 8 teachers), Ankeny Cub Scouts Troop 413 (20 scouts, 6 adults), New Employee Orientation (20 employees), and the Paul Hinderaker Coffee Group (9 people) made a visit as well. The numbers are in! In the month of September, the Food Waste Diversion (FWD) program collected 4.5 tons! Dispose of Food Waste year-round at the Resource Recovery Plant, 402 East 2nd Street. Resource Recovery assisted the Public Works Stormwater Program to dispose of debris collected from the Ioway Creek clean up event. Photo by Mike Kellner of Prairie Rivers of Iowa. 12 The Great Pumpkin Disposal is available through November 22 . If you have pumpkins, gourds, or other vegetable decor from the Fall Season, you can dispose of them, for free , at the Resource Recovery Plant, 402 East 2nd Street. Totes are located on the north side of the building and are available 24/7.