HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Joint Meeting Between City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission 08/21/2001 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA AUGUST 21, 2001
Mayor Tedesco introduced Loras Jaeger, new Police Chief of the Ames Police Department, and his
wife, Becky.
JOINT MEETING BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND PARKS & RECREATION
COMMISSION
The Ames City Council met in joint session with the Parks & Recreation Commission at 7:00 p.m.
on the 21st day of August, 2001, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue,
pursuant to law with Mayor Ted Tedesco presiding. The following Council members were present:
Campbell, R. Cross, Hoffman, Quirmbach, and Wirth. Absent was Goodhue. Present from the
Commission were: Chairperson B. Cross, Emmerson, Glotfelty, Hamilton, Johnson, Peterson, and
Walsh.
DISCUSSION OF STRATEGY FOR AQUATICS/WELLNESS CENTER: City Manager Steve
Schainker explained that the initial strategy to secure Vision Iowa grant funds to finance half of
the $24 million wellness/aquatics complex is highly unlikely. He stated that City staff believes
that this facility remains critical to the quality of life to Ames citizens.
Mr. Schainker highlighted the five main issues that staff feels need to be revisited in the
development of a new strategy for the aquatics/wellness center, as follows: (1) Components. The
various components originally envisioned for this facility need to be reviewed and a determination
made if all the elements are still desired. (2) Possibility of Phasing Components. The possibility
of separating the major components (the aquatics component from the gym component) and
phasing the construction of some of the components over a number of years needs to be explored.
(3) Possibility of Developing Partnerships. An examination could be made of locating City gyms
on various elementary school sites throughout the City. Some possibilities might exist for
partnerships with private sector entities that provide similar types of services to our citizens. (4)
Discussion of the Issue of Location. It might be advisable to construct some of the components
on other sites, such as on the proposed middle school site along Mortensen Road, on elementary
school sites, on other city parkland, or on some other sites within the City. (5) Funding. With the
loss of Vision Iowa funding, it might be time to more aggressively explore the possibility of
private donations.
Beth Cross gave a report of the discussions occurring at tonight’s meeting of the Parks and
Recreation Commission. She conveyed three recommendations to the City Council from the
Parks and Recreation Commission: (1) that the City Council direct the Mayor to meet with and
convey to the Ames Community School District Board members our desire to explore partnering
opportunities for a major recreation facility; (2) that the City Council move ahead to put the
indoor/outdoor aquatics center to a bond issue by Spring 2002; and (3) that the City Council direct
staff to develop a strategy to determine the feasibility of private donations available for an
aquatics center.
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Ms. Cross explained that the Commission felt that the components of a wellness facility,
primarily gym space, are just as important as an aquatics center. However, they felt that the
aquatics center could stand alone and be a good starting point; and the other components
(wellness center/gym space) could be phased in, possibly by partnering with the Ames
Community School District.
If the City does partner with the School District, Ms. Cross advised that the Commission feels
an agreement should be written to allow the use of the facility by all citizens throughout the day.
Also she made a plea to anyone in the community who would like to make a private donation to
do so now. Steve Schainker explained that knowing of any donations during this planning phase
would assist the City in making a decision on the amount needed from the bond issue.
Mr. Schainker asked for clarification from the Commission as to their recommendation for a
location of an aquatics center, especially if the plan is to phase in the other components of the
wellness center. Commission Member Glotfelty stated that the Commission did not narrow their
recommendation down to one site as they wanted to remain flexible. B. Cross stated that if it
were more economically feasible to build the entire aquatics/wellness center on one site, that is
what they would recommend. She pointed out that they still really like the Gateway Hills site
because it met all of their criteria for the best location.
Council Member R. Cross asked if the Commission had explored the possibility of pursuing
partnerships with the private sector. Commission Chairperson B. Cross explained that the
Commission had discussed this and felt that there had been ample opportunity for members of
the private sector to come forward with an offer to partner with the City. She reiterated that if
there is a private entity who would want to make a donation, now is the time to do so.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to accept the three recommendations of the Parks and
Recreation Commission: (1) that the City Council direct the Mayor to meet with and convey to
the Ames Community School District Board members our desire to explore partnering
opportunities for a major recreation facility; (2) that the City Council move ahead to put the
indoor/outdoor aquatics center to a bond issue by Spring 2002; (3) that the City Council direct
staff to develop a strategy to determine the feasibility of private donations available for an
aquatics center; and add a fourth recommendation: to direct staff to meet with owners of related
private/ public sector fitness facilities in the community to discuss partnering possibilities.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Campbell, to amend the motion to state, as the second
recommendation, that the City Council move ahead to put the indoor/outdoor aquatics center to
a bond issue for the aquatics center as soon as possible.
Commission Chairperson B. Cross informed the Council that the Commission had initially
worded that recommendation in that manner, but thought it might be confusing to the public as
it is not their intent to have the aquatics center on the November 2001 ballot.
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Vote on Amendment: 2-3. Voting aye: Campbell, Hoffman. Voting nay: R. Cross, Quirmbach,
Wirth. Amendment failed.
Vote on Original Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE RELATING TO PRECINCT AND WARD BOUNDARIES AS A RESULT OF
THE 2000 CENSUS: Moved by Cross, seconded by Hoffman, to pass on second reading an
ordinance relating to precinct and ward boundaries as a result of the 2000 Census.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMENTS: Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to refer to staff the following: letter from
David Keller on behalf of Cochrane and Associates regarding the potential of a shared-use
parking facility and the letter from Heartland Senior Services to place signs promoting their
variety show in the public right-of-way along Sixth Street.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:04 p.m.
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Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor