HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 07/20/1999MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JULY 20, 1999
The Ames City Council met in joint session with the Gilbert City Council at 7:00 p.m. on the 20th
day of July, 1999, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law
with Mayor Ted Tedesco presiding. Present from the Ames City Council were: Campbell, Hoffman,
Parks, Quirmbach, and Wirth. Representing the City of Gilbert were: Mayor Paul Smith, Council
Members Crouse, Vogtlin, Morrow, Mahoney, and City Clerk Barbara Bettis.
Mayor Tedesco stated that the purpose for this meeting was to allow both cities to be proactive in
looking at their future growth needs and to allow for open communication between the entities
concerning those needs.
Brian O’Connell, Director of Planning and Housing, gave a brief review of the City of Ames’ Land
Use Policy Plan (LUPP), adopted in 1997, and Phase I of its Annexation Study. He stated that the
LUPP projects that the population of Ames will increase by approximately 15,000 people in the next
30 years. It is estimated that an additional 8,700 jobs will be created in that time period. This growth
will create a need for 7,000 additional dwelling units.
Mr. O’Connell stated that City planners and consultants project the growth of the community to be
accommodated by an outward expansion of a total of approximately 3,000 - 3,500 acres (six to seven
square miles) over the next 30 years. It is projected that an additional 1,700 - 2000 acres will be
needed to support residential use, an additional 800 - 900 acres will be needed to support commercial
use needs, and an additional 300 - 400 acres will be needed to support industrial use needs.
According to Mr. O’Connell, the LUPP represents two concepts: (1) continue infilling remaining
land currently located within the corporate limits, and (2) for land resources needed in addition to
infill, a direction of growth that is primarily west and south (the Southwest Growth Priority Area),
and then secondarily, to the north and west. The second priority growth area to the north and west
is bounded on the north by 190th Street (Moose Road), on the south by the current corporate limits,
on the west by George Washington Carver, and on the east by U. S. 69. Currently, the City of Ames
is entering Phase II of their Annexation Study. This Phase will describe the implications of annexing
different areas; it will be presented to the Ames Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council
in the near future.
Gilbert Mayor Paul Smith stated that Gilbert is in the midst of developing a Comprehensive Plan that
will include what type of growth they are expecting to have and in what direction it will be going.
They have hired a consultant to assist with its preparation and hope to have the Plan completed in
approximately one year. Mr. Smith requested that the City of Ames wait until July 2000 to proceed
with any annexation of land to the north of Ames except for the Hallett’s Quarry area, which is
currently pending. He believes this time period will allow Gilbert time to complete their
Comprehensive Plan and also provide opportunities for Ames and Gilbert to have future meetings
about annexation and projected growth.
Ames Council Member Campbell asked Mr. Smith how closely Gilbert School District boundaries
follow Gilbert city limits. Mr. Smith stated that the School District boundaries include portions of
North Ames, cross into Boone County, and over to Interstate 35.
Ames Council Member Wirth asked Mr. Smith where the city limits of Gilbert begin and end. Mr.
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Smith stated that their city limits do not extend very far south from the currently developed area.
LeAnne Harter, a planner with Story County Planning and Zoning, stated that the County is currently
updating their Development Plan. Ms. Harter said when the Development Plan was initiated five
or six years ago, it coincided with the City of Ames Land Use Plan. The County’s Plan shows future
growth of Ames occurring to the north; this is now contrary to what Ames’ new LUPP shows.
Council Member Quirmbach pointed out that both communities have experienced a lot of growth
in the past few years. He referenced the substantial cost of growth to the City of Ames which has
already become apparent through the Capital Improvements Plan. He feels both communities need
to be very careful to balance the benefits of growth to the costs. Mr. Quirmbach has concerns about
the fiscal impact of growth occurring in many directions simultaneously.
Council Member Parks believes it is becoming more apparent that Ames will need more land than
what is available to the southwest and that is imperative that Ames look at what the cost
effectiveness is for expanding to the north of its corporate limits.
Mayor Smith said that Gilbert citizens have expressed three main concerns about the land area
between the two communities: [1] school district boundaries, [2] Westory Fire Agency, which
receives the majority of its funding from Franklin Township (if Gilbert annexes that area, the Agency
would still be funded; however, if Ames annexes it, the funding would cease from Franklin
Township), [3] Ames could grow to the extent that its two-mile limit would surround the City of
Gilbert.
After reading that Gilbert had passed a moratorium on further annexation, Council Member Wirth
asked how much infill space Gilbert has within its current corporate limits. Mayor Smith stated that
the moratorium was passed to allow for the completion of their Comprehensive Plan. He said they
have a lot of infill space remaining, mostly to the north. According to Mr. Smith, if they were to
develop in all the current infill areas, they would need to upgrade the infrastructure.
Council Member Hoffman asked what direction is being given by the Gilbert City Council to their
consultant who is assisting with the preparation of their Comprehensive Plan. Bob Jaquis, a member
of the Gilbert Planning and Zoning Commission, said that they are getting input from their citizens
as to how and where they want their city to grow. They will be conducting surveys and having focus
groups and neighborhood meetings.
Council Member Campbell asked what the demand is and how much land is available in Gilbert for
commercial and industrial growth. Mayor Smith said that there is very little demand, but there is
also very little land available for that type of development. They are just starting to see some interest
for industrial and commercial uses.
Mayor Tedesco said that the Ames City Council could not state that they would not approve of a
request for voluntary annexation to the north if one would be filed before July 2000. Council
Member Parks pointed out that realistically, it would be difficult for Ames to accomplish a great deal
of annexation to the north in a year’s time. Mr. Parks suggested that if such a request did come in,
Ames would notify the City of Gilbert and discussions could be held.
Paul Wiegand, Director of Public Works for the City of Ames, briefly explained the draft
Transportation Plan. The Plan is basically looking at a major east-west arterial that would connect
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from the Interstate west to George Washington Carver. He stated that the Plan should be finalized
by the end of this year.
Helen Gunderson, a member of the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Commission, feels that the most
critical thing that she has gleaned from meetings in Gilbert is that people believe developments are
market-driven. She thinks it is important that citizens have an opportunity to provide input on what
they want for their community and hopes that Ames and Gilbert will share a common vision when
developing the land between them.
Bob Jaquis from Gilbert stated that citizens of his community have pointed out that they like their
small-town atmosphere and smaller school district. He wanted to make Ames aware that as they
grow to the area to the north, it adds to their school district. Mr. Jaquis said that the residents of
Gilbert had indicated that they did not want to be “swallowed up” by Ames.
Council Member Quirmbach stated that he did not think it was imperative for the communities to
have a common vision, but they should have a coordinated vision; Gilbert should decide their future
and Ames should do likewise.
Council Member Campbell asked if there had been any interest in having discussions about school
boundary adjustments since there is a concern that the Gilbert School is reaching capacity. Mayor
Smith stated that he did not believe there was any interest in the Gilbert School District giving up
students or dollars.
Fred Mathison, Story County Board of Supervisors, stated that the County is most concerned with
preservation of agriculture land. He said that tax dollars would also be impacted if the land is
rezoned from agricultural use.
Council Member Parks pointed out that Phase II of the City of Ames’ Annexation Study should be
made public in the near future. Mayor Smith encouraged that the Planning and Zoning Commissions
of both communities meet in the interim.
The meeting recessed at 8:17 p.m.
The Ames City Council reconvened at 8:27 p.m.
A request had been received from business owners of property on Main Street asking that parking
meters not be reinstalled on Main Street, but that tires be marked for a two-hour limit to help ensure
customer turnover.
Council Member Quirmbach asked for an overview of what the fiscal and traffic impacts would be
if the meters were not reinstalled. Council Member Wirth asked for the cost implications on the
suggestion to leave the meters out, but have enforcement by marking tires.
Council Member Campbell stated that she was reluctant to put this item on the agenda for the 27th.
She feels that the City has been working with the Main Street District group throughout the
reconstruction of Main Street process, but they have not brought this up before. Ms. Campbell feels
that it needs to be determined if there is a consensus among all downtown business owners that the
meters are not wanted.
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City Manager Steve Schainker stated that the meters had already been installed in one block. Paul
Wiegand stated that if no action was taken on this request until the first meeting in August, perhaps
another block of meters would be installed.
Council Member Wirth thought that the Council could delay further installation until more input
from the Main Street District is heard and their request acted upon. Council Member Campbell felt
that no parking enforcement should be done during that interim time.
Mayor Tedesco pointed out that this issue should not have come in at the “eleventh hour,” since it
had been mentioned in many of the meetings during the time the project was being planned. He
recollected that when contracts were awarded for the Main Street Reconstruction Project, he
specifically addressed the parking meter issue.
Council Member Parks recommended that the Ames Main Street District group address this issue
during “Public Forum” at the meeting of July 27.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Quirmbach, to place the discussion concerning the reinstallation of
the downtown parking meters on the July 27th Council meeting.
Vote on Motion: 2-3. Voting aye: Quirmbach, Wirth. Voting nay: Campbell, Hoffman, Parks.
Motion failed.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
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Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor