HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 07/27/1999MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JULY 27, 1999
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on the 27th of July, 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, Hoffman, Parks, and Quirmbach.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Campbell, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the following items
on the Consent Agenda:
1. Motion approving payment of claims
2. Motion approving minutes of regular meeting of July 13, 1999, and special meeting of July 20,
1999
3. Motion approving certification of Civil Service applicants
4. Motion approving renewal of the following liquor licenses:
a. Class C Liquor - Cafe Northwest, 114 S. Duff Avenue
b. Class C Liquor - Sportsman’s Lounge, 123 Main Street
5. RESOLUTION NO. 99-271 approving appointment of Peggy Faden to fill vacancy on Historic
Preservation Commission
6. RESOLUTION NO. 99-272 accepting deed of land from Willow Creek Church of the Open
Bible to the City of Ames
7. RESOLUTION NO. 99-273 approving agreement with Iowa Department of Transportation for
raised medians on Hazel Avenue, Scholl Road, and North Dakota Avenue railroad crossings
8. RESOLUTION NO. 99-274 authorizing filing of mortgage release on security interest held on
National Farmers Organization
9. RESOLUTION NO. 99-275 approving revisions to Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance
Program Guidelines and Underwriting Guidelines for Ames/Story County Partnership for
Affordable Housing
10. RESOLUTION NO. 99-276 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Roof
Replacement at Ames Transit Agency Facility; setting August 31, 1999, as the bid due date and
September 14, 1999, as the date of public hearing
11. RESOLUTION NO. 99-277 approving contract and bond for Power Plant Chimney Demolition
12. RESOLUTION NO. 99-278 accepting completion of Phase 3 of Lime Sludge Disposal Project
13. RESOLUTION NO. 99-279 accepting completion of Grand Avenue Landscaping/Planting
Project
14. RESOLUTION NO. 99-280 accepting completion of Stange Road Extension, north of 24th
Street
15. RESOLUTION NO. 99-281 accepting completion of 1998/99 Asphalt Resurfacing Program
16. RESOLUTION NO. 99-282 approving appointment of Herman Quirmbach to Story County
REAP Committee
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
PUBLIC FORUM: Priscilla Matt, 1722 Northwestern Avenue, Ames, Iowa, expressed her
appreciation of the Main Street Reconstruction Project. She believes, however, that the area
would be much more attractive without parking meters and that the meters keep customers
away from the downtown businesses. Ms. Matt asked Council to consider not reinstalling the
parking meters.
Mayor Tedesco reminded the public that the City Council had been discussing the Main Street
Project for approximately three years and the subject of parking meters had not surfaced. He
said that at the time the contracts were approved for the Main Street Project, he specifically
referenced the parking meter issue, and there was no mention of not reinstalling them from the
Main Street District members.
David Durlam, 226 Main, Ames, spoke as president of the Main Street District, and asked
Council to re-examine the issue of parking meters on Main Street. Council Member Campbell
asked if the District had any suggestions for enforcement and funding. Mr. Durlam stated that
the Central Committee had met this morning to discuss the results of the survey of Main Street
business owners, but had not discussed all the elements.
Jim Moore, 305 Main Street, Ames, stated that he and Maggie Wynja had put together the
survey of Main Street proprietors asking if they supported free two-hour parking or wanted
to continue with parking meters. A copy of the survey results was distributed to Council
members. In light of those results, Mr. Moore requested a moratorium be placed on the
reinstallation of meters until the issue can be discussed with City staff and placed on a future
Council agenda.
Council Member Campbell said that the Main Street District needs to come up with a plan that
will work from an enforcement angle in terms of City resources.
It was pointed out by Council Member Parks that, while meter removal and enforcement costs
are a factor, more serious repercussions could occur if the downtown proprietors were not
pleased with the results of allowing free parking and then asked to have the meters reinstalled.
After being asked by City Manager Steve Schainker, Public Works Director Paul Wiegand
advised that meters are scheduled to be reinstalled on Main Street in the next two weeks. This
reinstallation is included in the services to be performed by the contractor. He does not see
any ramifications if meter installation is delayed.
Council Member Quirmbach felt that the City should suspend enforcement of any parking
meters in the downtown area until the Main Street Project is complete. Mayor Tedesco
pointed out that the City has been very lenient about parking meter enforcement throughout
the Project.
Jim Moore said that enforcement is necessary to allow for turnover of customers. He asked
for enforcement by chalking tires within the block of Main Street where construction is
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complete. Council Member Hoffman pointed out that signs would need to be posted denoting
the regulations, and since the regulations have not been established, that was not possible.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to place the parking meter issue on the next Council
agenda with the report from staff to include cost implications of not reinstalling the meters
and to temporarily delay the reinstallation of additional meters on Main Street.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
APPLICATION FOR DOWNTOWN BANNER PLACEMENT FROM UNITED WAY OF
STORY COUNTY FOR SEPTEMBER 1 - NOVEMBER 30, 1999: Moved by Campbell,
seconded by Hoffman, to approve the application for downtown banner placement from United
Way of Story County for September 1 - November 1, 1999.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST FROM IOWA GAMES TO PLACE TEMPORARY SPONSOR SIGNS ALONG
SIXTH STREET AND E. 13TH STREET FROM JULY 31 THRU AUGUST 1, 1999: Council
Member Campbell asked if there had been any meetings to discuss other alternatives. Steve
Schainker said he had not been informed of any meetings.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Parks, to approve the Iowa Games request to place
temporary sponsor signs along E. 13th Street and Sixth Street from July 31 thru August 1,
1999.
Council Member Quirmbach asked if Council wanted to open up the City right-of-way to
advertising for private enterprises. Council Member Campbell stated that an alternative would
be to place the signs on non-city property. Council Member Parks pointed out that there was
no directional aspect to the signs; they would provide no service to visitors.
Council Member Campbell withdrew the motion.
Council Member Quirmbach inquired as to what precedent had been set for the City to allow
this type of promotion in the City right-of-way. City Attorney John Klaus stated that he knew
of no precedent which had been set concerning privately owned signs. He pointed out that the
City has sign regulations which prohibit ground signs to be located in the City right-of-way;
therefore, if Council approves this request, they would be setting a precedent of allowing the
regulations to be waived.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to deny the request from the Iowa Games to place
temporary sponsor signs along E. 13th Street and Sixth Street from July 31 thru August 1,
1999.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET PAVILION: Robert Karp, Co-Director of Field-to-Family
Community Food Project, 917 Burnett, #3, Ames, said that he felt staff time would be well
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spent to explore the possibilities of constructing a market pavilion. He believes that requesting
funding through state and federal programs for economic development is a possibility. Mr.
Karp thinks that there are ways to build the pavilion which would result in much lower costs
than the preliminary estimate arrived at by City staff.
Council Member Parks suggested that representatives of the Field-to-Family Community Food
Project make a presentation on this issue during the public meeting to be held in October on
CIP projects.
Council Member Campbell suggested that the Downtown Farmers’ Market group join forces
with the North Grand Mall Farmers’ Market to help promote the concept of a market pavilion.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to delay action on this request until the market
pavilion project is prioritized with the other projects contained in the downtown plan and the
downtown priority projects are compared with all other community priorities prior to being
placed in a future Capital Improvements Program.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON ADAMS STREET PAVING: Mayor Tedesco declared the hearing open. There
being no one present wishing to testify, the hearing was closed.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-283 approving the
plans and specifications and awarding a contract for the Adams Street Paving Program from
Calhoun Avenue to 827 feet west of Calhoun Avenue to Manatt’s, Inc., of Ames, Iowa, in the
amount of $132,918.40
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF 13TH
STREET AND 1/4 MILE WEST OF NORTH DAYTON AVENUE: Mayor Tedesco declared
the hearing open. Mike Kastner, attorney representing the Convalescent Home for Children,
explained the request of the owner, Stage Coach Stables, L.C., to annex Parcel “C” so that the
property can be developed commercially within the City. Once annexed, the applicant intends
to sell that Parcel to the Convalescent Home for Children. In turn, the Convalescent Home for
Children plans to subdivide the Parcel into a commercial subdivision. They plan to build a
daycare and respite care facility on part of the subdivision. Doug Lokken, representing the
Convalescent Home for Children headquartered in Johnston, Iowa, expressed appreciation to
the City of Ames for their willingness to work with their organization.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-284 approving the
request to voluntarily annex 9.09 acres represented as Parcel “C”, generally located north of
E. 13th Street and approximately 1/4 mile west of North Dayton Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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Moved by Parks, seconded by Campbell, to pass on first reading an ordinance rezoning Parcel
“C” from A-1 (Story County Agricultural) to G-C (General Commercial) and Parcel “B” from
G-I (General Industrial) to G-C (General Commercial), said land being a 9.09-acre parcel
located north of E. 13th Street and approximately 1/4 mile west of North Dayton Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ELECTRIC SERVICES CONTRACT WITH SEGA, INC., FOR BURNER AND
COMBUSTION CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADE ON BOILERS #7 AND #8: Moved by
Campbell, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-285 approving an electric
services contract with Sega, Inc., of Stilwell, Kansas, for complete burner and combustion
control system upgrade on Boilers #7 and #8 in the amount of $670,000.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
LOAD MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL STUDY: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Campbell,
to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-286 approving a contract for professional consulting services
with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company for a review of a Load Management
Potential Study in the amount of $20,500.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
COST UNBUNDLING STUDY: Moved by Campbell, seconded by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION
NO. 99-287 approving a contract for professional consulting services with Burns and
McDonnell Engineering Company for a Cost Unbundling Study in the amount of $20,900.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR NEW
AMES/ISU ICE ARENA: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO.
99-288 approving an agreement with the team of RDG Bussard Dikis and Bonestroo Rosene
Anderlik & Associates for architectural and engineering services for the new Ames/ISU Ice
Arena in an amount not to exceed $330,000.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
RICHARDSON SUBDIVISION: Planning and Housing Director Brian O’Connell advised that
it was the staff’s recommendation for Council to deny the request of the developers, Lowell
and Doris Richardson, for a waiver of the sidewalk requirement for the Richardson
Subdivision. Mr. O’Connell said that the concerns expressed by Mr. Richardson were not
uncommon to those dealt with by other property owners in Ames.
Lowell Richardson, 3504 Emerald Drive, Ames, stated that the issue of off-street parking is
one of his biggest concerns. He felt that it would be best if the residents of this new
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Subdivision could be allowed to park in their driveways without being concerned about
parking over the sidewalk. Mr. Richardson said that snow removal from sidewalks would be
a burden for residents who leave for the winter months. One of the concerns expressed by Mr.
Richardson was the need to remove a number of lilac bushes to accommodate the construction
of a sidewalk. He said that some of the bushes had been in place for around 25 years and the
residents of the area had expressed much appreciation for their beauty. According to Mr.
Richardson, a landscaper had looked at the bushes and stated that he doubted the bushes would
survive a transplanting.
Mr. Richardson voiced his opinion about the new Subdivision Ordinance requirements, stating
that even though this subdivision request was being processed as a minor subdivision, it had
required a lot of effort and costs on the part of the property owners. He recommended that
some changes be made to allow for simple developments of lots. Council was apprised by Mr.
Richardson that the sidewalk, if required, would cost him approximately $2,000. He said that
he had incurred approximately $2,000 in additional costs, e.g., a land survey and attorney’s
fees.
Council Member Campbell said that she was sympathetic to the plight of the Richardson’s,
however, in the past, the Council had received requests for sidewalks to be installed after they
were not initially required by the final plat approval.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Hoffman, to deny the request for waiver of the sidewalk
requirement for the Richardson Subdivision.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-289 approving
the final plat of the Richardson Subdivision.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY AT 2419 KNAPP STREET: Moved by Campbell,
seconded by Hoffman, to pass on second reading an ordinance rezoning property at 2419
Knapp Street from General Commercial to High-Density Residential.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ZONING ORDINANCE: Council Member Parks indicated that he had strong reservations about
approving the proposed Zoning Ordinance. He has concerns about how the new Ordinance
deals with nonconformities. Mr. Parks stated that he would feel more comfortable approving
the Ordinance if the City would grandfather in existing nonconformities. In Mr. Parks’
opinion, to not do so would create a substantial burden to homeowners and raise the costs
significantly for home improvements. He also feels that the density requirement will cause
more development to occur outside of the corporate limits of Ames. Mr. Parks pointed out that
every property in the City will be rezoned by this Ordinance, and he feels it is imperative that
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every property owner be notified by mail.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Campbell, to table second passage of the Zoning Ordinance to
the August 10, 1999, meeting.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ON PORTIONS OF POE AVENUE AND POE
CIRCLE: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Parks, to pass on third reading and adopt
O R D I N A N C E
NO. 3530 prohibiting parking on portions of Poe Avenue and Poe Circle.
Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
COMMENTS: Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Campbell, to refer to staff a letter from
Wheatsfield Grocery requesting closure of a portion of the 400 Block of Douglas and to
request that it be placed on the next Council agenda.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Campbell, to request staff to forward the information
provided by staff pertaining to the speed limit on Oakwood Road to the registered
neighborhood association representative.
Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Council Member Hoffman stated that a street light had gone down in the 3800 block of
Quebec. Staff had picked up the light, but not replaced it. She requested that the light be
replaced.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
_________________________________________________________________________
Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor
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