HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 03/30/1999MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF AMES, IOWA MARCH 30, 1999
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m. on the 30th day of March, 1999, 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, Hoffman, Parks,
Quirmbach, and Wirth.
Mayor Tedesco briefed the Council on the Downtown Redevelopment Project, which is ahead of
schedule. Council Member Wirth suggested that additional signage be placed in the Central
Business District parking lot due to the extra traffic being routed through there.
URBAN REVITALIZATION AREAS (URAs): City Manager Steve Schainker reviewed the
actions taken by the Council at their meeting of March 11, 1999. Mayor Tedesco asked the
Council if they wished to eliminate the urban revitalization program as it exists today and
consider creating URA districts as proposals for redevelopment are approved in the future. City
Attorney John Klaus advised that the Code of Iowa does not prescribe the size of an urban
revitalization area; it could be as small as one lot. Due to concerns expressed by Council
Member Campbell, Steve Schainker clarified that Urban Revitalization Areas 6 and 7 would
remain intact; the elimination of only Areas 1 through 5 is being considered at this time.
Council Member Wirth felt that it might be more efficient in terms of staff time to retain some
of the existing URAs if Council sees a current need for redevelopment. She does, however,
agree with the approach of evaluating redevelopment on a case-by-case basis governed by a set
of criteria. With so much development presently occurring, Ms. Wirth doesn’t want to open the
door for developers of all new construction to request tax abatement; thus, Council may want to
create URA districts to improve only the areas they feel are blighted or underutilized.
Council Member Parks asked Reinhard Friedrich of Friedrich/Iowa Realty to inform the Council
of how successful he felt the Urban Revitalization Program had been. Mr. Friedrich stated that
his firm had not used the incentive program much; however, he knew of other developers who
had utilized it extensively. He believes it to be an excellent program if there are underutilized
properties and feels that the tax abatement incentives are very important to developers.
Steve Schainker pointed out that if urban revitalization requests are handled on a case-by-case
basis, Council would have to judge each proposal on its own merits; the process, therefore,
would take longer.
Mayor Tedesco said that Council should remember what the Urban Revitalization Program was
initially intended to accomplish. Steve Schainker asked Council to express those goals to staff.
Council Member Parks feels that two of the top priorities for the program would be to replace
deteriorated structures and to cure parking congestion. Council Member Campbell expressed
her desire to have the program require design criteria. Council Member Wirth agreed that design
criteria is important and stated that she would also like to see landscaping design included. She
brought Council’s attention to the suggestions contained in a letter dated January 19, 1999,
which they had received from Keith Denner, Professional Property Management. Ms. Campbell
suggested that Council consider establishing districts for a finite period of time: when the
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approved redevelopment is accomplished, the district is repealed. In Council Member
Quirmbach’s opinion, the vast majority of improvements/rehabilitation benefit the property
owner, and he thinks tax abatement benefits should be given only if the improvements are
realized by the community. He also prefers that Council focus on trying to assist projects that
would not otherwise occur. Council Member Parks feels that the neighborhood is enhanced by
the improved appearance of a structure; it increases the value of the properties of the neighboring
residents.
David Maahs, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, feels that it would be appealing
for Council to judge each proposal on a case-by-case basis if the criteria developed are clear. He
thinks that it might be difficult to develop those criteria. Council Member Hoffman suggested
creating a matrix: each proposal would have to meet a certain number of criteria before Council
would consider the project for tax abatement.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Cross, to reconsider RESOLUTION 99-80, which was to
eliminate the current URA No. 1, create the Old Town Residential Historic District, and set the
date of public hearing for May 25, 1999.
Roll Call Vote on Motion to Reconsider: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Mayor Tedesco called for the question on the adoption of RESOLUTION 99-80.
Roll Call Vote: 0-6. Motion failed.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Hoffman, to refer to staff to create ordinances repealing Urban
Revitalization Areas 1 through 5.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Hoffman, to not establish new criteria or implement any new
URAs until the new Zoning Code is approved and in effect. Council Member Campbell pointed
out that Council would have discretion to approve or deny each proposal for tax abatement.
Council Member Wirth withdrew the motion.
Brian O’Connell informed the Council that there are four applications for tax abatement pending.
According to Mark Reinig, Economic Development Coordinator, these projects are in various
stages of completion. Planning staff had informed developers that there may be changes to the
Urban Revitalization Program and encouraged them to file their applications now. City Attorney
Klaus stated that Council may want to set a date to repeal the URA districts to coincide with the
completion of the projects. Another alternative would be to keep the districts intact, but amend
the plan to make it applicable only to the pending projects.
Mr. O’Connell summarized the urban revitalization criteria proposed by Council at this meeting:
(1) replacing deteriorated or blighted structures, (2) improving parking conditions, (3) meeting
design standards, (4) landscaping in excess of current City standards, (5) building includes
energy-efficiency measures, (6) development coincides with features of the Land Use Policy
Plan.
COMMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Mayor Tedesco stated that the staff is working
on scheduling meetings between the Council and mandated boards and commissions. Since the
Civil Service Commission operates under requirements imposed by the Code of Iowa, it may
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not be necessary for Council to meet with them.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Wirth, that Council not meet with the Civil Service
Commission.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Campbell, that the matter of the Commercial Design Workshop
be placed on the Council agenda for April 27.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
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Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor