HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 02/05/2002MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 5, 2002
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2002, 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, Quirmbach, Vegge, and
Wirth. Council Member Cross was absent.
CONTRACT AND BOND APPROVAL FOR DAYTON AVENUE ELECTRIC FACILITIES
RELOCATION PROJECT: Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION
NO. 02-064 approving contract and bond for Dayton Avenue Electric Facilities Relocation
Project.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE STATION NO. 3: Fire Chief Clint Petersen
reported that 13 bids for the construction of Fire Station No. 3 were received. The proposals
ranged in price from $1,199,900 to the low bid of $1,049,900 that was submitted by The
Keystone Group of Urbandale, Iowa. Chief Petersen stated that the company did meet all of the
criteria and qualified as a responsive bidder. The Keystone Group has performed five
construction jobs within Ames, and City staff has received positive recommendations from
project managers of these projects.
Mayor Tedesco declared the hearing open. There being no one wishing to speak, he closed the
hearing.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 02-065 finally approving
plans and specifications and awarding a contract to The Keystone Group, LLC, of Urbandale,
Iowa, in the amount of $1,049,900.00 for the construction of Fire Station No. 3.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
FY 2002/03 BUDGET PROPOSALS: Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Hoffman, to approve
the proposed FY 2002/03 budget. (Vote will be taken on Tuesday, February 12, 2002.)
The City Council heard the report on the proposed budget for Library Operations. Highlights
were then given on 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; Utilities Program, which included Resource Recovery, Water Distribution
Maintenance, Storm Sewer Maintenance, and Sanitary Sewer Maintenance.
The meeting recessed at 7:15 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:22 p.m.
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.
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COMMENTS: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Wirth, to refer to staff a letter from Fox
Engineering requesting that the City vacate a portion of right-of-way at the northeast corner of
Lincoln Way and Bell Avenue.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. (Motion declared carried unanimously.)
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Quirmbach, to place on an upcoming agenda the issue
pertaining to release of judgment liens against Regency Builders, Inc., and Regency Land Co.,
L.C.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. (Motion declared carried unanimously.)
ADJOURNMENT: 8:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________
Jill L. Ripperger, Recording Secretary Ted Tedesco, Mayor
_________________________________
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk
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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 6, 2002
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:22 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2002, 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, Quirmbach,
Vegge, and Wirth.
FY 2001/02 BUDGET PROPOSALS: The Council heard and discussed highlights of the
Community Enrichment Program, which included Recreational Opportunities and Parks; the Public
Safety Program, which included Law Enforcement Activities and Fire Safety Activities, and the
Utilities Program, which included the Electric Utility.
Finance Director Duane Pitcher distributed an analysis of Local Option Sales Tax history to the
City Council, and City Manager Steve Schainker explained same.
Relating to the Police Department budget, Mr. Schainker told the Council that over 1,000
requests for Loss Verification Reports and Accident Reports are received annually. He explained
that Tom Hawley, Publisher of the Ames Tribune, recently pointed out that those reports fall
under the Open Records Law, and costs may not be charged that are higher than the actual costs
to retrieve that information. The City now charges $10, which also took into consideration the
officers’ time when investigating the incident and preparing the report. Mr. Schainker advised
that Mr. Hawley is correct, and he is now recommending that the fee be reduced to $5. Further,
Mr. Schainker stated that over 1,000 requests for Criminal History Checks are also annually
received, and he will be recommending a $5 fee per request be charged to non-City of Ames and
non-law-enforcement agencies; the City has not charged for these in the past.
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COMMENTS: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Goodhue, to refer to staff the letter from Ames
Main Street District requesting $4,000 to purchase flowers for the planters along Main Street.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: 7:25 p.m.
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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 7, 2002
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:19 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2002, 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, Quirmbach, Vegge, and Wirth.
Council Member Cross arrived at 5:33 p.m. Council Member Goodhue was absent.
FY 2001/02 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.
Regarding Health Insurance Management, Council Member Quirmbach asked for a report on
what kind of additional costs would be incurred if we were to provide parity in benefits between
mental health/chemical dependency and medical. Risk Manager Jon-Scott Johnson will provide
that report to the Council.
Discussion continued on budgets for the City Clerk, City Attorney, Human Resources, Public
Relations, Cable TV, Long-Range Planning, Current Planning, Leased and Affordable Housing,
and Economic Development.
The meeting recessed at 7:22 p.m. and reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
Reports were given on Financial Services, Information Services, Communication Services,
Purchasing Services, Customer Service, Pension and Retirement, and Parking Violation
Collection.
Mayor Tedesco noted that a letter had been received by the City Council from Dorothy
Schwieder dated February 7, 2002, indicating her support of allocating $5,000 to the Tom Evans
mural restoration, as requested by the Public Arts Commission. Her letter will be addressed as
part of the budget requests at the Council’s February 12, 2001, meeting.
City Manager Steve Schainker distributed a report on current vacancies and employee turnover
data.
Given the economic situation of our nation and the fact that we have been experiencing cut-
backs, Council Member Cross asked staff to report back to Council with a “refined” budget;
specifically, he asked staff to come back with a budget that limits the amount of tax rate increase
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to just the two new bond issues ($.26) by making use of available balances, stretching out bond
issues, and other possible budget adjustments. Council Member Hoffman stated that she does
not want to get into a situation where the City has to raise taxes considerably the next year to
make up for 2002/03.
Budget Director Duane Pitcher provided the Council with the Local Option Tax Fund History
and explained same.
COMMENTS: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Cross, to refer to staff the letter from David
Thompson dated February 5, 2002, requesting waiver of Major Subdivision regulations for property
located within one mile of the Ames’ city limits.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
The Mayor and City Council members recognized Elizabeth Dahm for her significant monetary
contribution towards improvements at Ames Quarry.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:20 p.m.
____________________________________ ____________________________________
Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor