HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 28, 2025, Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council Minutes1
SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES CITY
COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 28, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 6:00
p.m. on the 28th day of January 2025, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark
Avenue, pursuant to law. Present were City Council Members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria
Betcher, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck, and Anita Rollins. Ex officio Emily Boland was also present.
Council Member Amber Corrieri was absent.
CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Betcher requested to pull Item No. 6: Requests from the
Grand Drives, LLC for Campustown Showdown on April 26, 2025.
Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Junck, to approve the Consent Agenda less Item No. 6.
1. Motion approving payment of claims
2. Motion approving Summary of Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting on January 14,
2025 and Special City Council Meeting on January 21, 2025
3. Motion approving Report of Change Orders for period January 1-15, 2025
4. Motion approving Civil Service Candidates
5. Motion approving the renewal of the following Beer Permits, Wine Permits, and Liquor
Licenses:
a. Fareway Stores, Inc. #093, 3619 Stange Road, Class E Retail Alcohol License
b. Fareway Stores, Inc. #386, 619 Burnett Avenue, Class E Retail Alcohol License
c. Dog Eared Books, 203 Main St, Class C Retail Alcohol License
d. Blaze Pizza, 2320 Lincoln Way, Special Class C Liquor License with Outdoor with
Service
e. El Azteca, 2727 Stange Rd, Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service,
Pending Dramshop Review
f. Outlaws, 2522 Chamberlain Street, Class C Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor
Service, Pending Dramshop Review
6. Requests from The Grand Drives, LLC for Campustown Showdown on April 26, 2025
a. RESOLUTION NO. 25-026 approving closure of Welch Avenue from
approximately 100 feet south of Chamberlain Street to Knapp Street, and Hunt Street
from Chamberlain Place to Welch Avenue, between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on April
26, 2025
7. RESOLUTION NO. 25-027 approving Quarterly Investment Report for period ending
December 31, 2024
8. RESOLUTION NO. 25-028 assessing $2,788.42, current charges accumulated under the
Dangerous Building Declaration, to the property located at 3323 Tripp Street per Municipal
Code Section 5.407
9. RESOLUTION NO. 25-029 approving preliminary plans and specifications for 2024/25
Shared Use Path System Expansion - Skunk River, setting February 19, 2025, as the bid
due date and February 25, 2025, as the date of Public Hearing
10. RESOLUTION NO. 25-030 approving preliminary plans and specifications for the
2023/24 Stormwater Erosion Control (College Creek Bank Stabilization - Hemingway
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Drive) project and establish February 19, 2025, as the date of letting and February 25, 2025,
as the date of report of bids
11. RESOLUTION NO. 25-031 approving partial completion of public improvements and
reducing financial security on file for Ansley Subdivision 1st Addition to $198,478.75
12. RESOLUTION NO. 25-032 accepting the 2022/23 Traffic Signal Program (State Ave &
Mortensen Road) as completed by Kline Electric d.b.a. Heartland Underground Solutions,
of Des Moines, Iowa in the amount of $143,243.88
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motions/Resolutions declared carried/adopted unanimously, signed by the
Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these Minutes.
REQUESTS FROM THE GRAND DRIVES, LLC FOR CAMPUSTOWN SHOWDOWN:
Council Member Betcher stated that the event organizer was in attendance, and she wanted to give
him the opportunity to highlight the event.
Christian Calliham, CEO of The Grand Drives, shared that the goal of the event was to bridge the gap
between beef producers and consumers while positively impacting local businesses.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-026 approving closure
of Welch Avenue from approximately 100 feet south of Chamberlain Street to Knapp Street, and
Hunt Street from Chamberlain Place to Welch Avenue, between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on April
26, 2025.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
PUBLIC FORUM: Mayor Haila asked Director of Public Works John Joiner to stand and be
recognized for his 32 years of service, as this was Director Joiner’s last City Council meeting
before retirement.
Mayor Haila opened the Public Forum.
Tommy Lenz, Ames, spoke to the uncertainty of many Iowa State University students and faculty
on visas and inquired what was within the City’s power to protect those individuals.
Mayor Haila closed the Public Forum when no one came forward to speak.
2025-2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN: Mayor Haila opened the Public Input.
Kevin Bourke, Discover Ames, urged the City Council to prioritize adding a indoor recreation center
for the community and emphasized the impact hosting events at the facility could have on the local
economy.
Twyla Anderson, Kathy Parsons, and Jennifer Hubbs expressed their support for the animal shelter
relocation project and detailed the positive impact the animal shelter had on the community.
Mayor Haila closed the Public Input when no one else came forward to speak.
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City Manager Steve Schainker gave updates on the status of the prioritized new projects as directed
by the City Council. He stated that next steps included the budget wrap-up on February 11, 2025.
CITY OF AMES CLIMATE ACTION GRANTS PROGRAMS: Sustainability Coordinator
Nolan Sagan and Assistant City Manager Pa Vang Goldbeck introduced the proposed programs
and answered questions from the City Council.
Mayor Haila opened and closed the Public Input when no one came forward to speak.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-033 authorizing City staff
to establish two City of Ames Climate Action Grants Programs with an allocation of up to
$70,000.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
2025-26 GREEN IOWA AMERICORPS HOST SITE: Coordinator Sagan highlighted the
scope of work that could be accomplished through the program.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Junck, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-034 authorizing City
staff to apply for 2025-26 Green Iowa AmeriCorps host site status.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
ENERGY READY SUITE OF PROGRAMS: Coordinator Sagan explained the benefits of the
program, such as identifying and implementing best practices.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Rollins, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-035 authorizing City
staff to participate in the Energy Ready suite of programs.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
FITCH FAMILY INDOOR AQUATIC CENTER MONTHLY UPDATE: Director of Parks
and Recreation Keith Abraham, Troy Turner of Story Construction, and Brad Rodenburg of RDG
Planning and Design presented the update and shared their excitement with the progress made.
DOWNTOWN FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM UPDATES: Director of Planning and
Housing Kelly Diekmann and Planner Benjamin Campbell presented the proposed changes based
on previous City Council direction.
Mayor Haila opened the Public Input.
Travis Toliver, Ames Main Street (AMS), expressed the enthusiasm of AMS regarding the changes
and offered to partner in promoting the changes to eligible businesses.
Mayor Haila closed the Public Input when no one else came forward to speak.
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Moved by Betcher, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 25-036 approving
Downtown Façade Grant Program Updates related to Other/Rear Facade and Maintenance
Activities for Historic Buildings.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
HEARING ON TEXT AMENDMENT TO CREATE A TOWNHOME BUILDING TYPE
WITHIN ARTICLE IV OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE: Mayor Haila opened and closed the
Public Hearing when no one came forward to speak.
Moved by Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Betcher, to continue the Hearing on a text amendment to
create a Townhome building type within Article IV of the Zoning Ordinance to February 25, 2025.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON TEXT AMENDMENT MODIFYING PUBLIC HEARING
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY AMENDING CHAPTERS 20 AND 29 OF
MUNICIPAL CODE: Mayor Haila opened the Public Hearing.
Kate Gregory, Ames, shared her support for additional notification methods.
Mayor Haila closed the Public Hearing when no one else came forward to speak.
Moved by Rollins, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to pass on first reading an ordinance on a text
amendment modifying Public Hearing Notification Requirements by Amending Chapters 20 and
29 of Municipal Code.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON TEXT AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 29 ARTICLE 12 FLOATING
ZONES LOT AND BLOCK DESIGN REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO LOW IMPACT
AND CONSERVATION SUBDIVISIONS: Mayor Haila opened and closed the Public Hearing
when no one came forward to speak.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to pass on first reading an ordinance on text
amendments to Chapter 29 Article 12 Floating Zones Lot and Block Design Requirements related
to Low Impact and Conservation Subdivisions.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
SECOND READING ON TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE CONSERVATION
SUBDIVISION STANDARDS OF CHAPTER 23 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE: Moved by
Beatty-Hansen, seconded by Betcher, to pass on second reading an ordinance a text amendment to
the Conservation Subdivision Standards of Chapter 23 of the Municipal Code.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
THIRD READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4546 OF ZONING TEXT
AMENDMENT TO ALLOW SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE SINGLE-
FAMILY CONSERVATION OVERLAY (O-SFC) ZONING DISTRICT WITH THE
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APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CERTAIN PROPERTIES ABUTTING
COMMERCIAL ZONING: Moved by Gartin, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to continue third
reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4546 of a Zoning Text Amendment to Allow Social Service
Providers in the Single-Family Conservation Overlay (O-Sfc) Zoning District with the Approval
of Special Use Permit for Certain Properties Abutting Commercial Zoning to the January 31, 2025
meeting of the Ames City Council..
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
DISPOSITIONS OF COMMUNICATIONS TO COUNCIL: Mayor Haila highlighted the
three items presented for consideration. The first correspondence was from Brian Foltz of Snyder
and Associates detailing a request for Plat of Survey Subdivision Waiver.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Betcher, to request a memo from staff.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
A request from Spencer Cruise regarding a request for parking to be allowed on one side of
Suncrest Drive was evaluated next.
Moved by Gartin, seconded by Betcher, to request a memo from the Traffic Engineer.
Vote on Motion: 4-1, Beatty-Hansen dissenting. Motion declared carried.
The last item requiring action was from Moses Ward, NAACP Branch President, requesting City
sponsorship of the 2025 Freedom Fund Banquet.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Junck, to add the request to the January 31st, 2025, meeting of the
Ames City Council.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REPORT OF GOVERNING BODY: The Mayor and City Council Members provided highlights
from their attendance at various board and commission meetings.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: The Mayor and Council Members reported on various meetings
attended, upcoming meetings, community events, and items of interest.
Moved by Betcher, seconded by Gartin, to request the Finance Director prepare a report that shows
where funds received from the federal government are allocated in the budget.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Rollins, seconded by Betcher, to request the City Manager identify a source for establishing
a fund of up to $100,000 to be utilized to address community challenges for those who are unhoused.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Rollins, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to request a memo of the various notifications made
to the community for zoning changes that are now represented so that the City Council is aware of the
reach and frequency of notifications over the last couple of years.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
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Moved by Gartin, seconded by Junck, to request that staff add a page the City website that would
facilitate public notices and add an e-notification category for the notice.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Rollins, seconded by Beatty-Hansen, to reaffirm RESOLUTION NO. 16-717 reaffirming
the City’s commitment to the values of equity, fairness, inclusion and justice.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Betcher, seconded by Rollins, to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
_______________________________________ __________________________________
Grace Bandstra, Deputy City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
_____________________________
Renee Hall, City Clerk