HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 18, 2020, Special Meeting of the Ames City Council MinutesMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 18, 2020
The Ames City Council was called to order by Mayor John Haila at 8:19 a.m. on the 18th day of
January, 2020, in the Parks and Recreation Office, 1500 Gateway Hills Park Drive. City Council
Members present were Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri, Tim Gartin,
Rachel Junck, and David Martin. Ex officio Council Member Devyn Leeson was also present.
City Manager Steven Schainker, City Attorney Mark Lambert, Assistant City Manager Brian
Phillips, and Assistant City Manager Deb Schildroth were also present.
COUNCIL GOAL UPDATE:
Ms. Gilligan outlined the objectives for the day. She then invited Mr. Schainker to discuss what
the staff can do to help the City Council become a more effective decision-making body.
The meeting recessed at 9:00 a.m. and reconvened at 9:05 a.m.
Ms. Gilligan introduced the process to prioritize the Council Members’ individual initiatives. She
reviewed the list of items that were already underway or that could be directed to begin at a
Council meeting. These items were set aside. The Council Members reviewed the remaining
initiatives and placed stickers to indicate their priorities. Ms. Gilligan reviewed the initiatives
that had apparent consensus to move forward.
The meeting recessed for lunch at 11:57 a.m. and reconvened at 12:25 p.m.
Ms. Gilligan reviewed the next steps. Two Council Members were assigned to each value area to
refine the initiatives that were identified as priorities. The groups reported out and the entire
Council made suggestions regarding the wording.
The Values and Goals identified were as follows:
• We value communication and engagement with the public
o Adopt an attractive, single civic app by the end of 2020
o Use the best communication engagement techniques and modern technologies to
engage the community by reaching people in geographic areas using multiple
channels.
• We value diverse housing options for the community
o Increase the stock of diverse housing types for a variety of income levels through
zoning, including adjusting minimum lot area, multiple dwelling units on a lot,
and accessory dwelling units
• We value a fun, vibrant community that attracts and retains people
o Begin construction on a downtown community space by 2021
o Obtain referendum approval to construct an indoor aquatic facility by summer
2021
o Create a Beautification Master Plan for community entryways and thoroughfares
by spring 2021
• We value a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community
o Develop a shared understanding of diversity, equity, and bias as they relate to
Council decisions and the policy-making process.
o Through local ordinances, expand protections for Ames citizens beyond the Code
of Iowa floor protections by 2021
o Identify, by the end of 2020, the ways the City can assist the Ames Community
School District in its efforts to close the achievement gap
• We value environmental sustainability
o Initiate and complete a Climate Action Plan by the end of 2021
Mr. Schainker noted that the staff will develop proposed tasks for each initiative the Council has
identified. The entire list of values, goals, and tasks will be returned to the City Council for
review and approval. Mr. Schainker noted there can be a goal update over the summer, with
status reports in the spring and fall.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 3:08 p.m.
_____________________________________ ____________________________________
Brian Phillips, Assistant City Manager John A. Haila, Mayor