HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/25/2000MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 25, 2000
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on the 25th day of January, 2000, in the
City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Pro Tem Judie
Hoffman presiding and the following Council members present: Campbell, Cross, Goodhue,
Quirmbach, and Wirth.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
PROCLAMATION FOR GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROJECT
WEEK: Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman proclaimed the week of February 13 - 20, 2000, as Good
Neighbor Emergency Assistance Project Week. Present to accept the Proclamation were the
Reverends Brian Eslinger, Selva Lehman, and Heather Withers. Reverend Eslinger explained the
Good Neighbor program and highlighted several of its accomplishments.
PROCLAMATION FOR AMES BOWLING MONTH: The month of February was proclaimed
by Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman as Ames Bowling Month. Accepting the Proclamation were
members of the Ames Area Bowling Association. Arden Schoop, Secretary-Treasurer of the
Association, informed the Council that Ames will be hosting the 83rd Annual Iowa State
Bowling Tournament to be held on 17 consecutive weekends commencing February 5.
PRESENTATION OF THE AMES CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ANNUAL
REPORT. Rich Harter, Executive Director of the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB),
distributed copies of their Annual Report and 2000 Marketing Plan and Budget. He commented
on some of the accomplishments contained in the Report and showed their new promotional
video. Mr. Harter presented a 1999 Hall of Fame Member plaque to Sheila Lundt, Assistant to
the City Manager, in recognition of the extensive work she did to help bring the Family Motor
Coach Association to Ames last summer. He also presented Council Member Wirth with a
plaque commemorating her service as a member of the ACVB Board.
CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Cross requested that Item #8 be pulled for separate
discussion. Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to approve the following items on the
Consent Agenda:
1.Motion approving payment of claims
2.Motion approving minutes of regular meeting of January 11, 2000, and of special meeting of January 18,
2000
3.Motion approving renewal of the following beer permits and liquor licenses:
a.Class A Liquor - American Legion Post #37, 225 Main Street
b.Class BW Liquor - The Pizza Kitchens, 120 Hayward Avenue
4.Motion accepting Auditor’s Report to Management for the year ended June 30, 1999
5.Rocket Chips, Inc.:
a.RESOLUTION NO. 00-014 approving a City of Ames’ Revolving Loan Fund Application
b.RESOLUTION NO. 00-015 approving submittal of CEBA application
2
6.RESOLUTION NO. 00-016 approving 2000 farm lease agreement for WPC plant
7.RESOLUTION NO. 00-017 approving preliminary plans and specifications for South Duff Community
Park Utilities; setting February 16, 2000, as bid due date; and February 22, 2000, as date of public
hearing and award of contract
8.RESOLUTION NO. 00-018 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Unit #8 Cooling Tower
Rebuild; setting February 15, 2000, as bid due date; and February 22, 2000, as date of public hearing and
award of contract
9.RESOLUTION NO. 00-019 awarding contract to Alpha Video/Seacharge for an MPEG-2 Digital
Playback System at a cost of $56,519
10.RESOLUTION NO. 00-020 accepting completion of City Wells 23 and 24
11.RESOLUTION NO. 00-021 approving final plat for Campus Pointe Subdivision
12.RESOLUTION NO. 00-022 approving final plat for Delaware Heights Subdivision
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ANNUAL ANALYSIS: Paul Gierasch, Human Resources Director,
summarized the City’s Affirmative Action Plan and Policy.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-013 approving the
Affirmative Action Annual Analysis.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
PUBLIC FORUM: No one spoke during this time.
REQUEST FOR SPECIAL CLASS C (BW) LIQUOR LICENSE FOR CHINA BUFFET, 823
WHEELER STREET, SUITE 1: Moved by Cross, seconded by Quirmbach, to approve the request
for a Special Class C (BW) Liquor License for China Buffet, 823 Wheeler Street, Suite 1.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST FROM AMES MAIN STREET DISTRICT TO SUSPEND PARKING
REGULATIONS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) ON FEBRUARY 3, 4,
5, 2000: Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to approve the request of the Ames Main Street
District to suspend parking regulations in the CBD on February 3, 4, and 5, 2000, for “Dollar
Days” event.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON UNIT #8 TURBINE GENERATOR OVERHAUL: Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman
declared the hearing open. There being no one wishing to speak, the hearing was closed.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-023 approving plans
and specifications and awarding a contract to Lovegreen Turbine Services, Inc., of Blaine,
Minnesota, in the amount of $172,676.
3
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON REQUEST TO REZONE 0.64 ACRES OF LAND FROM R-3 TO R-4 AND
.024 ACRES OF LAND FROM R-2 TO R-4 FOR PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED ON
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF HOWARD AVENUE AND
WEST STREET: Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman declared the hearing open.
City Planner Eden Schmitt explained the request of Max Porter to rezone a total of .88 acres of
land on the southeast corner of Howard Avenue and West Street. She stated that the request is
consistent with the density goals outlined in the Land Use Policy Plan for this area. In addition,
the request for R-4 zoning is consistent with the proposed rezoning of the subject properties. Ms.
Schmitt explained that, even though R-4 and RH zoning designations both mean high-density
residential, there is a difference in the parking standard between what is currently required under
the R-4 zoning designation and what will be required under the new zoning regulations for RH
zoning. She told Council that if this request were approved tonight, fewer parking spaces would
be required for this property than what will be required when the new Zoning Ordinance and map
go into effect. If that were to occur, Ms. Schmitt explained that these properties would then
become nonconforming under the new RH zoning designation.
Max Porter, 1707 Amherst, Ames, stated that he began the process to rezone the subject property
approximately two years ago. At that time, some inconsistencies in the property records were
noted by the Planning staff, and the Porters have been working to correct those inconsistencies.
One of the issues needing to be resolved was the vacation of an alley, which took a great deal of
time and cost the Porters in attorney and replatting fees. It was pointed out by Mr. Porter that his
rezoning request was consistent with the staff’s recommendation of a high-density zoning
designation for the subject area under the new Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Porter felt that this
application should be handled according to the parking requirements in effect now, not the
requirements proposed in the new Zoning Ordinance, since it would have been brought before
Council years ago if record inconsistencies had not existed.
Sue Weiss, 215 Howard Avenue, Ames, spoke in opposition to this rezoning request. She
referenced a petition signed by her and many of her neighbors that was presented to the Council
at their meeting of January 11, 2000, and she asked the Council to zone the area in question low-
density residential.
Ron Hackerson, 3120 West Street, Ames, also spoke in opposition to the rezoning request. He
told the Council that residents of this area are currently not able to park in front of their own
homes during the day- or night-time hours because tenants of a recently-built large apartment
complex park on the street. Mr. Hackerson also addressed the need for affordable housing in
Ames, stating that many of the homes in this area fit that category; he hopes that they will not
be allowed to be torn down in order to construct apartment complexes.
4
Also speaking in opposition to this rezoning request was Joe Paulson, 3213 West Street, Ames.
He owns several properties in this area, in which he has invested money to improve, but has kept
them as single-family residences. Mr. Paulson asked the Council to abide by their earlier decision
to zone this area low-density residential.
Ed Hendrickson, 4201 Arizona Circle, Ames, spoke in support of rezoning the subject area to
high-density residential. He informed the Council that more than 50% of the properties located
on Howard Avenue are used as rental properties. Mr. Hendrickson stated that he owns properties
at the south end of Howard Avenue.
As a point of order, Mr. Porter stated that 201 Howard currently has five apartments in it; it is
not a single-family residence.
Council Member Wirth asked Mr. Porter if he had looked at different scenarios for traffic to exit
onto West Street instead of Howard Avenue. Mr. Porter said that he had looked at that option
and has not ruled it out; however, the point where the traffic would exit onto West Street is very
close to a stop sign.
Brian Smith, 3102 West Street, Ames, spoke in opposition to this request. He said that several
of the homeowners of single-family dwellings in this area have invested substantial sums of
money in their homes in an effort to build up their neighborhood, and they prefer to have the area
zoned for low-density residential. Mr. Smith referenced the number of young children living on
West Street and stated that traffic volumes are already high in that location.
There being no one else wishing to speak, the hearing was closed.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Wirth, to deny the request to rezone 0.64 acres of land from
R-3 to R-4 and .024 acres of land from R-2 to R-4 for property generally located on the southeast
corner of the intersection of Howard Avenue and West Street.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN (CIP): Mayor Pro-Tem Hoffman asked for input from the
public on the proposed 2000-05 CIP.
Rex Rohrssen, 614 Ken Maril Road, Ames, representing the Ken Maril Neighborhood
Association, expressed appreciation to the Council for including his neighborhood in the Low-
Point Drainage program for 2004-05. He asked that the Ken Maril Neighborhood project be
given a higher priority, allowing it to be accomplished sooner than 2004-05.
David Maahs, Executive Director of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, 213 Duff, encouraged
the Council’s support of the Dayton Avenue project between 13th Street and Lincoln Way. He
also indicated that there had been a strong show of support among business owners for the
proposed overpass.
5
Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman brought the Council’s attention to a letter from Merlin Pfannkuch,
1424 Kellogg Avenue, Ames, that had been placed around the dais. In his letter, Mr. Pfannkuch
was requesting that the $2 million allocation be removed from the CIP for the bridge over the
railroad crossing on Dayton Road. He did not feel it was justified to be included as part of an
arterial street rehabilitation, particularly since the Transportation Plan has not been completed.
Holly Fuchs, 806 Brookridge, Ames, expressed her opposition to a skate park being located in
Brookside Park. She was opposed to this project being included in the CIP and didn’t feel monies
should be allocated in this Plan since a location has not been finalized.
HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEE PARKING IN DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUSTOWN
BUSINESS DISTRICTS: Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-
024 approving the following procedures for handicapped employee parking permits at metered
spaces in the Main Street and Campustown Business Districts.
1.Handicapped Employee Parking Permits will be available for those employees of Main
Street District or Campustown District businesses who are temporarily or permanently
disabled and in need of long-term parking in a metered space.
2.The person must qualify for a state of Iowa handicapped parking tag or license plate.
3.A book of ten permits at a cost of $30 will be available for purchase at the City of Ames
Public Works Department.
4.Individual permits are valid for one day only and must have the date and meter number
written in permanent ink. The permits are valid only for the person to whom they are
issued.
5.The permit must be displayed from the vehicle dashboard in the plastic sleeve provided,
and it must be visible to Parking System Officers.
6.A new permit must be used if the vehicle is moved during the day to another meter.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Cross, to pass on first reading an ordinance to allow for all-day
Handicapped Employee Parking Permits in the Downtown and Campustown Business Districts.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to suspend the rules necessary for the adoption of an
ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to pass on second and third readings and adopt
ORDINANCE NO. 3547 to allow for all-day Handicapped Employee Parking Permits in the
Downtown and Campustown Business Districts.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
6
EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT POLICY ISSUE: Assistant City Manager
Bob Kindred explained that staff has been attempting to negotiate an agreement with Boone,
Madrid, and Xenia Rural Water District that would provide a means for the transmission of water
during emergencies. Xenia Rural Water District plans to construct an 8-inch transmission main
from Boone to just west of Ames, and that main could be up-sized to 12 inches at an
approximate cost of $300,000. Boone and Ames would split the cost of up-sizing. Mr. Kindred
said that policy direction was needed from the Council regarding the level of commitment that
the City is willing to make to supply water to others during an emergency. He pointed out that
the level of commitment our City makes will correlate with the assurance we receive that water
will be available to Ames during an emergency.
Tom Neumann, Director of Water and Pollution Control, explained what storage capacity the
City currently has available to deal with several different emergency scenarios.
City Manager Steve Schainker pointed out that entering into this type of agreement could bring
mild inconvenience to severe hardship to our water customers, but it could also ensure that a
corresponding level of benefit would come back in the event of an emergency in Ames.
Council Member Quirmbach asked how often this supply might actually be used in Ames. Mr.
Neumann said that it depends on what part of our system incurs a problem. Mr. Quirmbach
further asked what the alternatives were for developing a similar back-up system. Mr. Neumann
stated that the City is in the process of attempting to acquire land to develop another Well Field
at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. He has not evaluated if there would be substantial benefit
to developing the additional Well Field earlier.
Council Member Campbell pointed out that the City also needs to look at being good neighbors;
this agreement provides a cooperative effort among cities in the time of a water emergency.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to direct staff to: (1) Establish an acceptable level of
commitment whereby the City would publicly appeal to its water customers to voluntarily
conserve water during another community’s water emergency, and (2) Establish an acceptable
level of commitment whereby the City would temporarily prohibit the use of water for non-
essential uses such as watering lawns, washing cars, filling swimming pools, etc.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REDISTRIBUTION OF FEES RELATIVE TO THE PROCESSING OF PRELIMINARY
AND FINAL PLATS: Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-
025 approving the redistribution of fees relative to the processing of Preliminary and Final Plats.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA FOR 150 CAMPUS AVENUE: Mark Reinig, Economic
Development Coordinator, explained the request for designation of an Urban Revitalization Area
7
(URA) for 150 Campus Avenue. The Council was being asked to determine if the request met
the criteria for eligibility under the Urban Revitalization Multiple-Family Residential Criteria
Matrix.
Mr. Reinig informed the Council of a correction to the Council Action Form (CAF): Page 2,
Paragraph 3, should read: “The total tax revenue for all three properties currently is $5,817.” The
CAF had indicated a combined revenue of $13,667.42.
The Criteria for Eligibility were reviewed by Mr. Reinig. He pointed out that City staff has
determined that the applicant has not met the required Underutilized Condition criteria for the
Multiple-Family Residential Matrix.
Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman pointed out that it might not be the best method to use the Assessor’s
condition rating, even though that was one of the criterion set out for the newly revised URA
program.
Doug Pyle, 3021 Ridgetop Road, Ames, one of the developers of this proposed project, clarified
that they did not apply specifically based on the under-utilization eligibility criterion. He
expressed his dissatisfaction over the usage of the City Assessor’s condition rating and suggested
that the Council review the criteria mandated in their eligibility Matrix.
Mr. Pyle stated that if this URA application is approved, the City will be getting a project that
meets the new construction and landscaping criteria of the Matrix. He distributed an analysis of
the tax revenues to be received. Even though they cannot meet the standards set out in the
Matrix due to the Assessor’s condition rating, Mr. Pyle feels that their application meets the
spirit of the URA program.
Mr. Quirmbach said that, after touring the properties, he felt the properties at 148 and 152
Campus would meet the criteria for revitalization, but the property at 156 Campus would not;
156 Campus, in his opinion, is very livable and certainly not slum or blighted.
Moved by Wirth to determine that the application in question does not meet the criteria for
eligibility. Motion died for lack of a second.
Additional discussion ensued over the use of the Assessor’s condition ratings.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Quirmbach, to deny the request for designation of an Urban
Revitalization Area for 150 Campus Avenue as it does not meet the criteria for eligibility.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PROPOSED TEXT CHANGES TO ZONING ORDINANCE: City Planner Ray Anderson
reminded Council that they had directed staff to examine certain provisions of the proposed
Zoning Ordinance to address concerns with: (1) Standards for Trucks and Equipment Parking
8
and Storage and (2) Zone Development Standards for Neighborhood Commercial (NC). Mr.
Schainker pointed out that firstly, the Council needed to decide if they wanted to have standards
for trucks and equipment parking and storage in the Ordinance.
Mr. Anderson explained the proposed standards in detail.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Goodhue, to approve the staff’s recommended changes for
“Trucks and Equipment Parking and Storage” dealing with zoning districts “Agricultural” (A)
to “Neighborhood Commercial” (NC).
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to direct staff to add the definition language for “Trucks
and Equipment Parking and Storage” to Sections 29.201 and 29.406 of the proposed Zoning
Ordinance.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Mr. Anderson explained the proposed changes to the Zone Development Standards for the
Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to approve the staff’s recommended changes to the
Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zone Standards.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
MECHANICAL LICENSING: Moved by Wirth, seconded by Campbell, to direct the City
A t t o r n e y
to draft an ordinance adopting the 1997 Uniform Mechanical Code.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Wirth, to pass on first reading an ordinance requiring
licensing of mechanical contractors.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
BILLY SUNDAY ROAD SANITARY SEWER AND WATER MAIN PROGRAM: Moved by
Wirth, seconded by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-026 approving the Preliminary
Resolution; to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-027 approving and adopting preliminary plans and
specifications, plat, valuations, and schedule of assessment; and to adopt RESOLUTION NO.
00-028 adopting the Proposed Resolution of Necessity and setting February 22, 2000, as the date
of public hearing.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
AIRPORT MINIMUM FUELING STANDARDS: Paul Wiegand, Director of Public Works,
reviewed this issue which had initially been brought before the Council in October 1999. It was
9
tabled at that time with Council directing staff to compare the safety aspects of underground
versus above-ground fuel tanks. He explained that staff is very concerned about the safety
hazards associated with fueling at the Airport; any above-ground fuel tank increases the safety
risk two-fold. The concern about the safety of an above-ground fuel-storage facility was
reviewed again
by staff from the Fire and Public Works Departments, and the staff retained the consultant that
developed the current Airport standards to address the issues raised by Mr. Smalley.
Jeff Smalley, Hap’s Air Service, requested that the Council again table this issue because he had
been told by Steve Salvo, Operations Administrator, that he would be afforded the opportunity
to discuss this request with a “committee” formed to resolve this issue and the consultant. Mr.
Smalley said he has never been given that opportunity.
Mr. Smalley stated that above-ground self-fueling tanks at the Airport would be safer than
fueling trucks running up and down the runways. In addition, he said it is very cost-prohibitive
for Hap’s to transport their fuel from Boone.
Mr. Smalley again alleged that Hap’s Air Service was not represented on the Airport Users
Committee. Mr. Wiegand explained that Hap’s Air Service had representatives on the Airport
Users Committee. He said that the Committee may not have agreed with what Hap’s
representatives were requesting, but their concerns were heard. Mr. Wiegand pointed out that
Hap’s Air Service is not the Field Base Operator hired by the City.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to deny any changes to the self-fueling standards.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ROADWAY SOLICITATION ORDINANCE: Moved by Cross, seconded by Campbell, to pass
on second reading the roadway solicitation ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE REMOVING 50' PARKING PROHIBITION ON THE WEST SIDE OF
BURNETT AVENUE: Moved by Cross, seconded by Campbell, to pass on third reading and adopt
ORDINANCE NO. 3546 removing the 50' parking prohibition on the west side of Burnett
Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
COMMENTS: Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Wirth, to direct staff to place the issue of the
zoning map designation for the properties facing West Street and Lincoln Way that join Howard
on either end on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Wirth, to refer to staff the letter from Kurt Mackey, Roseland
10
Architects, requesting, on behalf of First National Bank, a dedication of a 40'-wide loading zone
on Fifth Street.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Wirth, to refer to staff for placement on a future agenda the
letter from James and Marilyn Sheets, et al, requesting a change to the parking regulations on
Wheeler Street.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Cross, to direct staff to place on the agenda for the next
meeting the issue of taking “action” minutes referenced in the City Clerk’s memo.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Goodhue, seconded by Wirth, to direct that staff review the Eligibility Criteria Matrix
for Urban Revitalization Areas in regards to the “Slum and Blighted” condition.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION: Moved by Campbell, seconded by Quirmbach, to hold a closed session as
provided by Section 20.17(3), Code of Iowa, 1997, to discuss collective bargaining.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to reconvene the regular meeting.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 234 (POWER PLANT): Moved by Cross, seconded
by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 00-029 approving the Tentative Agreement between
the City of Ames and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234 (Power Plant).
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
_________________________________________________________________________
Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor