HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Joint Meeting of the Ames City Council, Ames Parks and Recreation Commission, and Ames Community School District 07/08/2002M I N U T E S O F T H E J O I N T M E E T I N G O F T H E A M E S C IT Y C O U N C IL ,
A M E S P A R K S A N D R E C R E A T IO N C O M M IS S I O N ,
AND AM ES COM M UNITY S CHO OL DIS TRI CT
AMES, IOWA JULY 8, 2002
The Ames City Council, Ames Parks and Recreation Commission, and Ames Community School
District met in joint session at 7:00 p.m. on the 8 day of July, 2002, in the Multi-Purpose Room atth
Ames High School, 1921 Ames High Drive. Those in attendance from the City Council were Mayor
Ted Tedesco and Council Members Russ Cross and Judie Hoffman. Council Member Herman
Quirmbach arrived at 7:14 p.m. Council Members Steve Goodhue, Daryle Vegge and Sharon Wirth
were absent. Ames Parks and Recreation Commission Members present were Mike Hamilton, Linda
Emmerson, Chuck Glotfelty, David Dirks, Gregory Barclay, and Susan Belcher. Commission
Member Jeffrey Johnson arrived at 7:12 p.m. Representing the Ames Community School District
Board of Directors were John Hascall, Allison Tyler, Mary Ann Dilla, Barbara Guy, Mary Jane
Bastiaans, and Pat Brown.
Mayor Tedesco explained that the intent of this meeting was to introduce the proposed Master Plan
for the Middle School and Recreation/Aquatics joint-use facility to the City Council, City Parks and
Recreation Commission, Ames School Board, and the citizens.
W. Ray Richardson, Superintendent of Ames Community School District, gave a chronology of the
actions taken by the School Board that have led them to this point. He referenced the three-year
facilities plan that was launched in early August 2001 and stated that they will also be creating a ten-
year facilities plan. Mr. Richardson said tonight’s meeting is a culmination of many discussions with
representatives of the City of Ames held over the past year.
City Manager Steve Schainker gave the historical review on behalf of the City of Ames. He referred
to action taken by the City Council on August 21, 2001, directing staff to explore a possible
partnership with the Ames Community School District for a joint-use facility. Mr. Schainker
explained that with the recent decision to build a new Middle School at the Mortensen Road site and
to renovate the existing High School, it is now possible for the two entities to present a proposed
Master Plan that can accommodate both the City and the School District’s needs. He advised that
if the Council and School Board agree with the concept, the Plan will be presented to the public to
obtain input prior to its approval. Because we are well into the vacation season, these public sessions
would not be held until late August and into September.
Architect Al Oberlander, RDG Sports, reported on the national trend toward pooling resources to
build joint-use facilities to meet public needs. He said blending community centers with schools has
become one of the most common joint-use facilities. Mr. Oberlander pointed out that there have
already been three successful joint-use projects undertaken by the City and the School District: (1)
Municipal Pool, (2) Brookside Park Baseball Complex, and (3) tennis courts.
Mr. Oberlander advised that a number of different sites were considered for a joint-use facility as
well as different combinations of facilities on these sites, and the analysis revealed that the most
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cost-effective site would be at Mortensen Road and State Avenue. He pointed out that if we are
successful in co-locating the Middle School and Recreation/Aquatics Complex on this new site, the
citizens of Ames could realize a savings of approximately $3 million in construction costs (6% less
than if each group built its own facility). This savings would be derived from sharing the costs of
the parking lot, entry roads, off-site improvements, fitness space, and gymnasiums. Sharing also
results in annual operating cost savings (approximately 5 - 10% less than for two separate buildings).
Tom Penney, Architect with the DLR Group, explained what is being proposed to be located at the
new Middle School. He indicated what spaces would be dedicated for use only by the School, the
spaces to be dedicated to the community recreation complex, and the spaces that would be shared.
Mr. Penney and Mr. Oberlander reviewed the matrix and phasing plans to show how the four
components of the project could be built as phases. The four components were identified as the
Middle School Phase, the Recreation Center Phase, the Indoor Aquatics Phase (as an addition to the
Recreation Center), and the Outdoor Aquatics Phase (at the School site as an addition to the
Recreation Center). They explained what would be included in each phase.
General discussion ensued about what would be included in a joint-use agreement and which entity
would pay for what amenities.
It was Mayor Tedesco’s recommendation, and the City Council concurred, that City staff work with
the Ames School District Superintendent to take the proposed Master Plan out to the public for their
input.
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
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Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor