HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/18/2005MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 18, 2005
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m. on the 18th day of January, 2005, in the
City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Ted Tedesco
presiding and the following Council members present: Goodhue, Goodman, Mahayni, and Wirth.
Council Members Cross and Vegge and Ex officio Member Tugan were absent.
REVISING DATE OF LETTING AND REPORT OF BIDS FOR THE EAST LINCOLN WAY
WIDENING PROJECT: Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 05-
019 revising the date of letting to February 2, 2005, and date for report of bids to February 8,
2005, for the East Lincoln Way Widening project.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
WORKSHOP ON THE 2005-2010 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN (CIP): Mayor Tedesco
stated that tonight’s meeting would serve as a workshop for the Council members to hear staff
presentations on the recommended five-year CIP. He announced that public input on the CIP will
be taken on January 25, 2005.
City Manager Steve Schainker explained that this Plan reflects expenditures of $273,822,067 from
various federal, state, and local funds to accomplish major projects in our community over the next
five years. He advised that $203,381,071 is earmarked for Utility improvements; $56,265,850 for
Transportation improvements; $11,141,956 for Public Safety improvements; and $3,033,190 for
Community Enrichment improvement. In order to fund this Plan, revenues will be generated from
General Obligation Bonds, Electric Revenue Bonds, other City funds (such as Utility user fees,
local sales tax, hotel/motel tax, road use tax, and parking receipts), and non-City funds (such as
state/federal grants and contributions from other entities).
Mr. Schainker explained that the majority of the projects recommended in this Plan have been
approved by the City Council in prior CIPs; however, there are a number of new projects or
upgrades to existing programs that are being introduced.
Public Safety. The Fire Department Alarm and Dispatch project will replace an outdated system
that is not easily maintained and not designed to handle the call volumes currently being
experienced. A Police Holding Facility project is being introduced in order to improve prisoner
security and officer safety, and local sales tax proceeds will be used to make improvements to the
prisoner unloading and booking areas. The Police Mapping project will allow the Police
Department to visually display crime and traffic information for the Council, citizens, and officers.
This project will be paid exclusively from a federal terrorism grant. Mobile Data Terminals for
Fire and Police Vehicles are being delayed to allow city staff to explore funding sources.
Public Safety - Fire. Fire Apparatus Replacement was explained. A new project, Fire Department
Alarm and Dispatch, will provide redundancy, improve the clarity of the sound, be able to dispatch
single companies, and provide for enhanced fire station safety. It is hoped that a FEMA grant will
be received to finance this project. Renovations to Fire Stations #1 and #2 were reviewed.
Public Safety - Electric. There is no change to the Outdoor Storm Warning System; this capital
program will allow the City to acquire larger sirens to augment, and eventually replace, the
smaller, older sirens. City Council will be provided a map of the sirens’ coverage area.
Public Safety - Traffic. Public Works Director Paul Wiegand explained the Annual Traffic Signal
Program and proposed locations; Railroad Crossing Improvements and locations; and the West
Lincoln Way Intersection Improvements, which provide for turn lanes and modifying traffic
signals at the Franklin Avenue/Lincoln Way and the Dotson Drive/Lincoln Way intersections. A
new project, U. S. 69 Intersection Improvements, will alleviate congestion and reduce accidents
at various locations; the first will be 190th Street to Dawes Drive. Another new project, Traffic
Engineering Studies, combines the bi-annual traffic accident studies and the Intelligent
Transportation System study pages from the 2004-09 Capital Improvements Plan and will focus
on examining the traffic signal and the bicycle path systems and accident data (for planning future
CIP projects). The Shared Use Path System project will provide for construction of shared use
paths on street rights-of-way, adjacent to streets, and through greenbelts. Council Member Wirth
would like to see the segment of Grand Avenue (20th Street to Murray Drive) moved from 2007/08
to 2005/06.
Utilities - Resource Recovery. Mr. Wiegand explained the Air Knife Modification project, which
calls for the replacement of air knives at strategic points in the process system, and will result in
a reduction in operational costs. The payback is less than five years on this project.
Utilities - Water Distribution. Water System Improvements, which provide for replacing water
mains in areas that are experiencing rusty water problems, was explained by Mr. Wiegand. He
went on to review Annual Residential Street Low-Point Drainage Improvements and proposed
locations and the Storm Sewer Intake Rehabilitation Program. Mr. Wiegand advised that the
2005/06 Storm Sewer Outlet Erosion Control project location will be in Inis Grove Park and will
be completed in conjunction with construction of the shared use path that will traverse the area.
He went on to explain South Duff Area Storm Sewer Reconstruction; the Clear Water Diversion
program; the Sanitary Sewer System Study, which will identify improvements to existing
infrastructure in order to adequately handle current conditions as well as future growth; and the
annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program, which allows for reconstruction of partially
collapsed sanitary sewers and deteriorated manholes at various locations through the City.
Utilities - Water Treatment. Water and Pollution Control Director Tom Neumann informed the
City Council about the Water Supply Expansion and Water Plant Equipment Replacement
programs. He explained new projects: the Water Supply Aquifer Capacity Study, which will
update current water supply capacity estimates of the Ames aquifer in order to identify present and
future supply capabilities/limitations, and Lime Sludge Disposal Improvements, which will expand
the lime sludge de-watering operation to increase the City’s ability to de-water and recycle lime
sludge for ultimate disposal. Mr. Neumann reviewed the Southwest Pressure Zone project, Well
Replacement, and Repainting of the Bloomington Road Elevated Tank.
Utilities - Water Pollution Control (WPC). Mr. Neumann described the WPC Plant Equipment
and the Department Database Management System. A new project, the WPC Plant Automation
Upgrade, will provide for the replacement and upgrade of the WPC Plant Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA) system originally installed in 1989. The Biosolids Storage/Thickening
project, Plant Expansion, and Wet-Weather Flow Treatment were reviewed. The Council was
reminded that the WPC Plant Expansion project has been included in the CIP since the early
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1990s, but is projected in the final years of the five-year period due to the uncertainty about what
requirements must be met and the time frame to achieve compliance. The Plant Wind
Turbine/Generator is a new project and will provide for installation of a 500 KW or larger wind
turbine/generator to produce electrical power for WPC Plant operation.
Utilities - Electric Production. Director of Electric Services Merlin Hove explained that there are
15 projects listed; however, only one is a new project. Projects reviewed were the Mid-American
Energy Company Interconnection and Upgrade Alliant Utilities Interconnection, the Wide-Area
Network (WAN), Unit 7 Turbine Generator Overhaul, Paving the Truck Road in the Coal Yard,
the Power Plant Fire Protection System, Well Water Iron Removal System, Retube Unit 7
Condenser, the Power Plant Heating Boiler, 69-kV Breaker Additions at the Ontario and Top-O-
Hollow Substations, the 13.8 kV Distribution Line along Grand Avenue between 13th and 20th
Streets, the Southeast 16th Street 69 kV Line Relocation, SCADA Upgrade, and the Base Load
Generating Capacity project. A new project, the Vet Med Substation Additional Feeder, will
allow for the installation of a new main feeder to serve loads south of Highway 30.
Transportation - Street Engineering. Paul Wiegand described the East Lincoln Way Widening
project (Skunk River to Interstate 35), Collector Street Rehabilitation Program, Cy-Ride Route
Reconstruction, West Lincoln Way Widening (Thackeray Avenue to the west corporate limits),
Asphalt Resurfacing of various streets, the Neighborhood Curb Replacement Program from
Maxwell Avenue north of 13th Street, the Arterial Street Rehabilitation and proposed schedule, and
the Grand Avenue Extension (Lincoln Way to South 4th Street). A new project, Dayton Avenue
Widening (north of 13th Street), will be initiated by the U. S. Department of Agricultural expansion
activities at the NADL (a project that will accommodate moving all veterinary facilities in Ames
to this location). Additional projects reviewed were the South Duff Avenue Improvement Project
and South Dayton Avenue Realignment. Mr. Wiegand reminded the Council that the Southeast
16th Street Paving and Bridge Replacement calls for paving the gravel portion of SE 16th Street
between the Dayton Avenue/I-35 interchange and about two blocks east of South Duff Avenue.
The City was to pay for the bridge and the area property owners were to pay for the street
improvements. This project is being delayed to allow for additional time to work out financing and
other issues.
Transportation - Street Maintenance. Programs further explained by Mr. Wiegand were Concrete
Pavement Reconstruction, Seal Coat Removal/Asphalt Reconstruction, Sidewalk Safety, and
Slurry Seal.
Transportation - Transit. Steve Schainker pointed out that the majority of Transit’s projects have
been in the CIP.
Transportation - Airport. Paul Wiegand explained Airport Improvements, which are determined
by the Airport Master Plan. The largest project in the next five years will be the Runway 01/19
Taxiway Rehabilitation scheduled in 2005/06.
Community Enrichment - Public Works. City Hall Improvements, which provide for replacement
of equipment, materials, and mechanical system components, were explained by Mr. Wiegand.
Community Enrichment - Parks and Recreation. Nancy Carroll, Director of Parks and Recreation,
explained that the Municipal Pool Maintenance in 2006/07 will require closure of the Municipal
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Pool for up to six months. In 2005/06 a lighting system will be installed at the Ames Skate Park,
and there is a possibility that Iowa State will donate old, but still usable, light poles. Moore
Memorial Park Improvements, i.e., replacing the existing five-foot pathway with an eight-foot
pathway, may be delayed until after summer. A new project, Renovation of Campustown Court,
was explained. New metal table shelters/benches and trash receptacles will be installed, and
decorative block will replace existing wood landscape timbers. According to Ms. Carroll, the
Gateway Park shelter/restroom will be moved from 2005/06 to 2006/07. The Charles Calhoun
Memorial Park, a new project, was described. This is a four-acre parcel located across Dawes
Drive adjacent Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Another new project, a Dog Park, is currently slated
for 2006/07. This project is for the development of an approximately ten-acre dog park at the
abandoned 43-acre Water and Pollution Control Plant (immediately east of Animal Control
facilities). Parks and Recreation would provide construction and ongoing maintenance of the
facility, and once opened, Animal Control would manage the Park. Mr. Schainker pointed out that
the Park Land Acquisition and Development page is not shown in this Plan, but the fund remains;
individual projects are highlighted in the Plan.
Community Enrichment - Library. Assistant City Manager Sheila Lundt described a new project,
Property Acquisition, for expansion of the Library. Any building expansion must include the
acquisition of the property at 215 Fifth Street. Initial estimates indicate that the Library could add
approximately 18,000 square feet by adding this property and building on to the existing part of
the building. Ms. Lundt advised that the Library Board has approved the acquisition of the
existing building, the funds for purchase and demolition of the existing building, appraisal and
environmental studies, possible hazardous substance abatement activities, and temporary creation
of green space until the Library begins a building project. The source of the funds is a bequest
totaling $575,000. An ongoing project, Library Building Improvements, was also reviewed.
Community Enrichment - City Manager. Steve Schainker described the new Duff Avenue Open
Space project (the former Munn Lumber office and storage yard). The Neighborhood
Improvement Program was briefly reviewed. Mr. Schainker said that eligibility for these funds will
be expanded beyond the Grant Program to include such projects as the sub-area planning elements
or other support programs for neighborhood associations.
Community Enrichment - Planning & Housing. Mr. Schainker described a new project, the
Downtown Facade Improvement Program.
Revenue Summary. Steve Schainker brought the City Council’s attention to the amount of G. O.
Bonds; this amount influences debt capacity.
Finance Director Duane Pitcher reviewed the City’s debt capacity. He advised that the City of
Ames has a policy to reserve 25% of the available debt capacity. Mr. Pitcher said the City still
shows a large percentage of debt capacity available (58%) in 2004/05.
Mr. Schainker advised that copies of the CIP are available at the Public Library, City Manager’s
Office, City Clerk’s Office, and the Finance Department. Council Member Mahayni indicated
his preference to have the draft CIP placed on the City’s web site. Mr. Schainker stated that once
approved, the CIP is placed on the web site.
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ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor
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