Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 11/16/2004MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA NOVEMBER 16, 2004 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:00 p.m. on the 16th day of November, 2004, in the Parks and Recreation Activity Room, 1500 Gateway Hills Park Drive, pursuant to law with Mayor Ted Tedesco presiding and the following Council members present: Cross, Goodhue, Goodman, Mahayni, and Wirth. Council Member Vegge arrived at 5:23 p.m. Ex Officio Member Tugan arrived at 5:26 p.m. GOAL-SETTING SESSION: City Manager Steve Schainker facilitated this strategic-planning session. Mr. Schainker reviewed goals set by the City Council at their last Goal-Setting Session held on March 26 and 27, 2004. He outlined the progress made towards each of those goals since that time. The meeting recessed at 6:32 p.m. and reconvened at 7:05 p.m. The Council members outlined the next steps to be taken to accomplish their goals, as follows: ADVANCING THE BIO-ECONOMY VISION The Council will determine the City’s role in promoting this economic development strategy after accomplishing the following steps. 1. The City Council will meet with the President of the Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Jim Bloedel and the Executive Director of AEDC David Maahs no later than mid-January 2005 to discuss: a. how the Council can become legislatively active to push for implementation of funding recommendations of the “Battelle Study.” b. the status of the proposed biologics facility. c. strategy for developing a unified marketing plan for the City, Iowa State University, National Animal Disease Lab/National Biologics Lab and Research Park. 2. The City Council will meet in mid-January with the Executive Director of the AEDC David Maahs to discuss:1 a. feedback from technology companies located in Ames. b. a comparative analysis of other cities throughout the country that are home to bio-technology companies. COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION By May 1, 2005, the City Council will identify three projects that would have a major impact in creating momentum for further revitalization in the Downtown. It is hoped that this process will yield at least one project around which the community will rally. 1. Staff will develop a process, by February 2005, that will be used to solicit community-wide input on identifying possible major projects. 1If the AEDC is ready to present this information. 2. The Ames Downtown District Development Plan prepared by BRW, Inc., will be revisited publicly. 3. The Council will host a summit with owners of Downtown businesses and properties, the Main Street Cultural District, and members of interested organizations (AEDC, Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, neighborhood associations, and the general public). CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY In an effort to improve relations with its citizens, the City Council will: 1. meet with the Commission on Improving Relations Among ISU Students, the University, the City of Ames, and the Ames Community in January to review their recommendations. After receiving the report, the Council will determine what role, if any, it will play in helping to accomplish the recommendations. 2. meet at least once a year with representatives of the Government of the Student Body (GSB). The first meeting with GSB will be scheduled for January 26, 2005, to discuss the best technique to ascertain issues of importance to students. (Andrew Tugan will schedule this meeting.) 3. establish, in Fall 2005, a pilot “Civics 101” class, an eight-week course to help residents become better citizens. A $3,000 appropriation will be needed. 4. conduct round-table discussions, where applicable, on controversial issues with citizens from varying perspectives to better understand the issue before referring to City staff for analysis and recommendation. (The Council specifically wants to utilize this approach with the Worle Creek issue.) 5. track volunteer hours committed by Board and Commission members and recognize the number of hours at the Annual Boards and Commissions Luncheon. DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING In continuing the commitment to affordable housing, the City Council has agreed to utilize Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds: 1. as its first priority, to develop a new owner-occupied single-family detached housing subdivision (similar to Bentwood Subdivision) by subsidizing infrastructure costs for a developer. 2. as its second priority, to help maintain existing housing stock by administering a rehab program. City staff will provide a recommendation for accomplishing these priorities over a multi-year time frame. FRINGE AREA PLAN In an effort to coordinate development in unincorporated areas adjacent to the City of Ames, the Council has committed to approving an Urban Fringe Area Plan by July 1, 2005. To accomplish this task, the City Council will: 1. review a time frame from City staff that outlines steps needed to approve the Plan. 2. meet with Story County Supervisors, Boone County Supervisors, Gilbert City Council members, and Ames City Council members on December 14, 2004, to discuss the results of citizen feedback efforts regarding the review of the proposed Plan. 2 The Mayor will write a letter asking each entity to share their time frames for approving the Plan. 3. hold a round table discussion with Planning & Zoning Commission members and interested parties to discuss the concepts contained in the proposed Plan prior to making a final decision on a new ordinance. STRENGTHENING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS Realizing that the livability of our City is dependent on strong, viable residential neighborhoods, the City Council will: 1. meet with the registered neighborhood association representatives in a “round table setting” by April 2005 in an attempt to identify issues of importance in their neighborhoods. It is hoped that common themes will be identified to assist the Council in making decisions that will help ensure the existence of dynamic neighborhoods. At this meeting, Council members will attempt to determine how the associations are established, how representatives are chosen, how the representatives communicate with their constituents, and how we can promote the creation of additional active associations. The City Council wants to make sure that students living on Campus are also invited to participate. Andrew Tugan will provide the names of representatives of the various “residential neighborhoods” on campus (dorm representatives, Panhellenic Council, & Interfraternity Council). ADJOURNMENT: 10:30 p.m. _____________________________________ _______________________________________ Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor 3