HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 09/18/2001MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA SEPTEMBER 18, 2001
The Ames City Council met in special session at 7:00 p.m. on the 18th day of September, 2001, in
the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Ted
Tedesco presiding and the following Council members present: Campbell, Cross, Goodhue,
Hoffman, Quirmbach, and Wirth.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
HALLETT’S QUARRY BOND ISSUE: Mayor Tedesco reported that the Vision Iowa Board
awarded the City of Ames $1.5 million over a two-year period for the Hallett’s Quarry Project,
contingent upon the bond issue passing. He thanked staff for all their efforts and hard work.
City Manager Steve Schainker stated that the language for the bond issue ballot had undergone
some revisions since last Friday. Language was added that now includes.... “parks and recreation
grounds, and developing a watershed protection area” so that the citizenry clearly understands
how monies will be expended.
Mr. Schainker explained that because of the Vision Iowa award, the maximum amount of
General Obligation Bonds needed to fund this project is $4,970,000 and will be spread over a
12-year period. He further explained that the amount of bonds to be issued had been reduced to
this figure due to “in-kind” labor in the amount of $1,030,000 being contributed by Story
County.
Because some Council members had suggested use of Water Fund monies to partially finance
the project, he discussed three different options for their consideration: a) no Water Fund
support; b) $300,000 of support; and, c) $500,000 of support.
Mr. Schainker offered four observations if it was determined that Water Funds would be used:
1) avoid any acceleration of the next water rate increase until anticipated increase in 2007; 2) at
the end of FY 2000/01, the Water Fund balance was about $300,000 higher than anticipated;
however, uncertainty remains over the current year’s ending balance with nine month’s
remaining in this fiscal year; 3) delay approved CIP projects for 2001/02 in the amount of about
$500,000 making the bond issue amount $4,470,000; and, 4) issue G.O. Bonds for the total
project and have the Water Fund pay back some predetermined amount over a 12-year period to
help abate the debt.
At this time, overheads were shown which described the property tax impact of the three
alternatives. Mr. Schainker reviewed these figures based on $100,000 of assessed valuation for
residential and commercial properties and $500,000 for industrial properties. If the G.O. Bonds
were issued for the total amount of $4,970,000, the cost to homeowners would be $21/year,
commercial property owners would pay $38/year, and industrial property owners would pay
$189/year. It was noted that if Water Funds are used, there would be little tax impact using
either $300,000 or $500,000 to support the Hallett’s project. Considerable discussion ensued
as to whether Water Funds should be used to support this project.
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Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 01-424 setting the date
of November 6, 2001, for the special election on the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in
the amount of $4,970,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of the acquisition, construction,
improvement, and equipping of parks and recreation grounds, and developing a watershed
protection area.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF FROM SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,
TERRORIST ATTACKS: Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO.
01-425 pledging $1.00 per citizen from the Contingency Fund to be sent to the mayors of New
York City, NY, Washington, DC, and Summerset County, PA, contingent upon the State of
Iowa’s 15 most-populated cities pledging the same type of monetary support.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION’S FACES CELEBRATION: Elaine Dunn, Chair of the
Human Relations Commission, introduced fellow members Jan Beran and Aiddy Phomvisay,
co-chairs of the FACES (Families in Ames Celebrating EthnicitieS) Celebration. Mr. Phomvisay
explained how the fall event came to fruition and followed with an overview of the festival that
will be held on October 13. Mrs. Beran reviewed the schedule of planned activities throughout
the day.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 01-426
approving an allocation of $2,500 from the Contingency Fund for financial support of the
Human Relations Commission’s FACES Celebration.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 01-427
approving the following requests from the Human Relations Commission for the
October 13, 2001, FACES Celebration: 1) closure of Main Street and parking spaces from
Clark Avenue to Kellogg Avenue from 7 a.m. on October 13 to 2 a.m. on October 14,
2001; 2) closure of Burnett Avenue and parking spaces from Fifth Street to the CBD
parking lot; 3) closure of the alley north of Main Street from Kellogg Avenue to Burnett
Avenue; 4) provision of street barricades; 5) provision of electricity and waiver of all
associated costs; 6) provision of a blanket temporary obstruction permit for the Central
Business District; 7) provision of appropriate police patrol during the events and waiver
of all associated costs; 8) provision of noise permit from 11 a.m. on October 13 through
12 a.m. on October 14 in the Downtown; 9) allowance of non-licensed motorized vehicles
to operate on the bicycle paths along Elwood Drive north of Lincoln Way, Elwood Drive
adjacent to the Hilton Coliseum parking lot, and Sixth Street from Elwood Drive to
Northwestern Avenue; 10) operation of non-licensed motorized vehicles on Main Street;
11) waiver of the $25 temporary food license fee for food vendors; and, 12) provision of
City insurance coverage for the celebration.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 01-428 allowing
the Downtown Farmer’s Market to operate on Main Street between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on
October 13, 2001, during the Human Relations Commission’s FACES Celebration.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
Because of last week’s terrorist attacks on the United States, the Human Relations Commission
has written a letter with respect to the importance of the community’s unification. Chair Elaine
Dunn read the letter, and it will be sent to the newspaper for publication.
COMMENTS: Mayor Tedesco reported that he had attended the Ames School Board meeting to
request that school administrators be allowed to work with city administrators in the exploration
of partnering opportunities.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Cross, to refer to staff a letter from High Avenue property
owners indicating their interest in extending High Avenue south to Southeast 3rd Street.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Hoffman, to direct the mayor to send condolences to Doug and
Betty Haviland whose son, Tim, has been missing since the September 11 terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Campbell, to have staff examine the Main Street Depot
development agreement to determine if Drugtown is in compliance with respect to the store’s
east side window displays.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Quirmbach, to direct the city manager to send a letter of
response to Katherine Fromm’s requests pertaining to the City’s subdivision ordinance.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Council Member Hoffman referenced a recent Letter to the Editor with respect to school
crossings around the Middle School. She had attended a conference where red flags were used
for crossing busy streets. She suggested that staff might look into this possibility.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:10 p.m.
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Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor
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Jill Ripperger, Recording Secretary