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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 02/03/2003MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 3, 2003 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:18 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2003, in the Council Chambers in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Tedesco presiding and the following Council members present: Goodhue, Hoffman, Mahayni, Vegge, and Wirth. Council Member Cross arrived at 6:07 p.m. FY 2003/04 BUDGET PROPOSALS: Moved by Mahayni, seconded by Goodhue, to approve the proposed FY 2003/04 budget. (Vote will be taken on Tuesday, February 11, 2003.) The City Council heard the report on the proposed budget for Library Operations. Highlights were then given on the budgets for Public Relations and Cable TV as well as the Utilities Program, which included Water Production and Wastewater Treatment. The Council heard and discussed highlights of the Public Safety Program, which included Traffic Control. The meeting recessed at 7:04 p.m. and reconvened at 7:12 p.m. Budget highlights of the Utilities Program, which included Resource Recovery, Water Distribution Maintenance, Storm Sewer Maintenance, and Sanitary Sewer Maintenance, were given. Budget reports were also given on the Transportation Program, which included Street System, Parking Operation, and the Airport; and Cemetery, Public Works Administration, Engineering, and Public Buildings. ADJOURNMENT: 8:18 p.m. ******************************************************************************** MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 5, 2003 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, in the Council Chambers in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Tedesco presiding and the following Council members present: Hoffman, Mahayni, Vegge, and Wirth. Council Member Goodhue arrived at 5:22 p.m. Council Member Cross arrived at 5:30 p.m. FY 2003/04 BUDGET PROPOSALS: The Council heard and discussed highlights of the Community Enrichment Program, which included Recreational Opportunities and Parks. Mayor Tedesco advised the City Council that he and Nancy Carroll, Director of Parks and Recreation, met with the subcommittee of the Ames Foundation that is coordinating the fund- raising efforts to make improvements to the Bandshell. He reminded the Council that the proposed improvements are estimated to cost $480,000, and in 1999, the City Council committed $100,000 (from Local Option Sales Tax proceeds) towards the project contingent upon the subcommittee raising $380,000. The subcommittee has raised $250,000 to date. The Mayor explained that the original plan called for revamping a basement room for use as a year-round meeting room. This would necessitate the construction of an elevator to make the facility handicapped-accessible, at an approximate cost of $93,000. The subcommittee representatives indicated to the Mayor and Ms. Carroll that the fund-raising efforts were not progressing at the desired rate to accomplish their goal, and they’re questioning whether the improvements to the basement room should be made. The subcommittee will now follow-up with a structural engineer to make sure that the integrity of the building would not be comprised if the room in the basement were not improved. Mayor Tedesco suggested that the Council meet with the subcommittee after they have met with the Ames Foundation to determine if they want to proceed with the original plan or if the plan should be modified. Council Member Wirth said she feels that the City Council needs to be careful about allowing changes to the plan after people have made donations towards the project, as originally presented. Ms. Carroll shared information on Existing Parks and Open Space, the History of Park Land Acquisition, and Program Analysis Tax Subsidy. Details were given of the budget for the Public Safety Program, which included Law Enforcement Activities. Discussion ensued about the Financial Crimes division. Commander Robinson pointed out that it takes the same amount of time to investigate a 20-cent non-sufficient-fund (nsf) check as it does a $200 nsf check. He said that the Ames Police Department conducted a survey of other agencies concerning investigating nsf checks, and all indicated that discretion must be used on the commitment of their resources. Other agencies have set limits, ranging from $200 to $500, on what nsf checks will be investigated. Commander Robinson advised that they have had discussions with the City Attorney and City Manager on this topic, and it has been suggested that the Police Department only investigate those nsf checks that are written for $200 and above; those violations could then be prosecuted as serious misdemeanors. Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Cross, to place this issue on the March 25, 2003, City Council Agenda. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Continuing with the Public Safety Program, the budget for Fire Safety Activities was given. Chief Petersen told the Council that they are responding more often from Station #3 than they are from Stations #1 or #2; this indicates how much that Station was needed in this community. City Manager Schainker explained that a Memorandum of Understanding was entered into with Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) approximately three years ago to share in the cost of a new apparatus capable of performing vehicle extrication. This equipment formerly was housed on the ambulance and their personnel trained in its usage. A new apparatus has now been purchased by the City, and a request for their share of the funding has been sent to MGMC. Mr. Schainker advised that the amount of that reimbursement has not been placed in this budget as the funds have not yet been received. Chief Petersen advised that rate increases are being recommended in each of the programs comprising Division 23 Building/Safety Structural Code Enforcement, i.e., Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Rental Housing, and Building/Structural. He said without the rate increases, the 2003/04 budget would show a deficit of $53,414 that would be subsidized through property taxes. Highlights of the budget for the Utilities Program, which included the Electric Utility, were given. Discussion ensued about the residential air conditioner control program and whether the City should mandate the program for new construction. Council Member Cross asked to know the cost versus the benefits of doing same. Electric Services Director Merlin Hove indicated that he would provide a map to the Council showing the City’s service territory. ADJOURNMENT: 7:48 p.m. ****************************************************************************** MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 6, 2003 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2003, in the Council Chambers in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Tedesco presiding and the following Council members present: Cross, Goodhue, Hoffman, Mahayni, Vegge, and Wirth. FY 2003/04 BUDGET PROPOSALS: The Council heard reports on and discussed the proposed budgets for the Transportation Program, including the Transit System; and General Government and Internal Services, which included Risk Management, Health Benefits, Fleet Services and Fleet Purchase, City Council, and Executive Management. Discussion continued on budgets for the City Clerk, City Attorney, Human Resources, Long- Range Planning, and Current Planning. Brian O’Connell, Director of Planning & Housing, informed the Council that the 2003/04 budget will reflect changes to the fee structure for development review. He said some existing fees will be increased by approximately $10, and some new fees will be proposed, such as those for comprehensive plan amendments, zoning compliance letters, and minor PUD amendments. Budget discussions continued for the Economic Development program. Finance Director Duane Pitcher pointed out that in the Economic Development’s budget, property tax support should be lessened to $60,206 and support from the Hotel/Motel Fund increased to $141,264. Mayor Tedesco requested that the City Council be provided with a monthly report of the activity in the Economic Development program, i.e., current business contacts (no names), new business/industry contacts, etc. Discussion ensued concerning the City’s Revolving Loan Fund and the continued annual appropriation of $100,000. The budget for Leased and Affordable Housing was reviewed. Council Member Hoffman asked what the average length of stay was for persons on the Leased Housing (Section 8) Program. Housing Coordinator Vanessa Baker Latimer stated that she would provide those statistics to the City Council. City Manager Steve Schainker explained that the County-wide program agreement will expire in 2003, and 90% of the Housing Coordinator’s and 15% of the Senior Clerk’s administrative time and expense will be shifted to the Affordable Housing Program activities; the Housing Assistance Fund will cover the cost. Ms. Baker Latimer advised that staff will be developing options for several modest City-wide affordable housing programs, such as down-payment, closing costs, housing rehabilitation, lease purchase, and/or trust fund partnership. Moved by Cross, seconded by Mahayni, to direct staff to look into possible programs that would encourage revitalizing rental properties to owner-occupied homes. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Reports were given on Financial Services, Information Services, Communication Services, Purchasing Services, Customer Service, Pension and Retirement, and Parking Violation Collection. ADJOURNMENT: 8:05 p.m. ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor