HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 11/09/1999MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA NOVEMBER 9, 1999
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on the 9th day of November, 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.
CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 p.m.
FIRE STATION LOCATION STUDY: City Manager Steve Schainker explained that with the
completion of the City’s Land Use Policy Plan, various master plans that rely on that growth
policy are being or have been developed; one such plan is the Long-Range Fire Station Location
Plan. He said that it is critical for the City Council to make a decision on which way the City is
going to grow as that will dictate where future fire stations are built. Also, he pointed out that
once a station location is chosen, it is difficult financially and politically to relocate it.
Acting Fire Chief Clint Petersen brief the Council on the present locations of the two fire stations,
when they were built, and the current number of uniformed personnel stationed at each location.
He talked about travel-time response for fire suppression and stated that travel time is the best
benchmark to determine where future stations should be located. Chief Petersen explained the
different components upon which the methodology to analyze response time is based. He
described how “neighborhood nodes” were used to measure travel times to 239 points within the
current city limits and potential growth areas. Joe Pietruszynski, Planning Technician, elaborated
on how the three districts and multiple-service nodes were created using the City’s GIS.
Chief Petersen discussed the Response Time Study that was conducted in 1984. He said that the
goal approved by City Council at that time was to cover 85% of the community within five
minutes travel time from any station. Mr. Schainker pointed out that the five-minute travel-time
goal should be viewed as a benchmark where a community can balance an economically
acceptable level of risk with the Fire Department’s desire to meet the city’s fire emergency
demands. He said that staff believes that the City’s approach is more meaningful because it deals
with the potential response capabilities to a geographic area should a citizen require our services,
and not merely an average time based on past experiences. Mr. Schainker advised that this report
was not prepared as an evaluation of how well the Fire Department is currently operating; it is
to provide Council with a sound and practical way to determine where fire stations would be best
located.
Five scenarios were presented, i.e., (1) Current Coverage in Existing City Limits, (2) Coverage
in Multiple Directions, (3) Coverage in the Southwest, (4) Coverage in the North, and (5)
Coverage in Two Directions. Mr. Schainker explained that the data are based on the Council
wanting to maintain the travel-time response goal of 85% of the City covered within five minutes.
He advised that, due to the City’s growth, it is time to start planning for a third fire station; there
are no two-station scenarios that will maintain the present response-time goal within the current
city limits. He added that these scenarios should also help the City Council to better understand
the impact of their annexation decisions.
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Chief Petersen emphasized that increasing the number of fire stations, fire trucks, and firefighters
is not the only technique that can be utilized to reduce human and property loss due to a fire-
related incident. He described the non-traditional techniques, e.g., home sprinklers, automated
home/commercial alarms, additional building and fire code requirements, that the Council could
consider to assure the safety of Ames citizens.
Steve Schainker summarized the significant points emphasized in the Plan, as follows: (1) The
goal is to cover 85% of the community within five minutes’ travel time from any station. (2) The
existing two-station scenario no longer meets the City’s current travel-time response goal for fire
suppression services. (3) Expanding either to the southwest area as prescribed in the LUPP or to
the north to Moose Road will necessitate the building of a new third station. (4) Expanding both
to the southwest area and north up to the Uthe Farm and the Hallett’s Quarry area will necessitate
the building of a new third station and relocating the station in Campustown. (5) Expanding both
to the southwest area and north to Moose Road will require the addition of a new third and fourth
station along with the location of the Campustown station. (6) A greater travel-time response goal
for fire suppression incidents to the area east of Interstate 35 can be established so that a fifth
station is not required should the Council decide to expand the corporate limits in that direction.
(7) Mary Greeley Medical Center administrators have indicated that they will retain primary
responsibility for emergency medical services within the City and develop their own strategy to
accomplish their response goal.
In conclusion, Mr. Schainker stated that in order to properly locate the City’s fire stations, the City
Council will be asked to (1) either reaffirm the existing travel-time response goal of 85% of the
City within five minutes or establish some other acceptable standard, (2) decide in which direction
and to what extent the City should expand during the next 30 years, and (3) determine if the
reliance on non-traditional techniques in certain sections of the City is acceptable.
The meeting recessed at 7:12 p.m. and reconvened at 7:17 p.m.
PROCLAMATION FOR CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK: Mayor Tedesco proclaimed November
15 - 21, 1999, as Children’s Book Week. Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the Ames
Public Library were Gina Millsap, Director, and Carol Elbert, Coordinator of Youth Services.
CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Wirth requested to pull Item #7 from the Consent Agenda
for separate discussion. Council Member Hoffman asked that Item #10 be pulled from the
Consent Agenda for separate discussion. Moved by Wirth, 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 October 26, 1999
3.Motion approving certification of civil service applicants
4.Motion approving the following beer permits/liquor licenses:
a.Class C Beer/Class B Wine - Osco Drug, 207 S. Duff Avenue
b.Class B Beer - Happy Chef of East Ames, 1520 S. Dayton Avenue
c.Special Class C Liquor - Pizza Hut, 436 S. Duff Avenue
d.Class C Beer - Southgate Expresse, 110 Airport Road
5.Motion authorizing Mayor to correspond with owners of New Tazzles, 2522 Chamberlain,
concerning number of violations
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6.RESOLUTION NO. 99-400 approving appointment of Ahmed Merchant to fill vacancy on the
Public Art Commission
7.RESOLUTION NO. 99-402 approving Phase II Engineering Services Contract with Stone and
Webster for Resource Recovery Air Classifier
8.RESOLUTION NO. 99-403 approving USTEP agreement with the IDOT for Grand Avenue
Traffic Signal Interconnect Project (13th Street to Bloomington Road)
9.RESOLUTION NO. 99-404 approving IDOT Federal-Aid STP Funding Agreement for 13th
Street Resurfacing Project (400' west of Crescent Street to Grand Avenue)
10.RESOLUTION NO. 99-405 approving REAP grant agreement between City of Ames and State
of Iowa Department of Natural Resources to allow for the installation of an 8' wide hard-surface
pathway and bridge in the Elwood Pasture
11.RESOLUTION NO. 99-406 waiving formal bidding procedures and approving one-year
contract with Betz-Dearborn to provide boiler and cooling water treatment services in an
amount not to exceed $168,500
12.Sale of alley to First Christian Church:
a.Motion setting date of public hearing on vacating ordinance for November 23, 1999
b.RESOLUTION NO. 99-407 proposing Deed and setting date of hearing for November 23,
1999
13.RESOLUTION NO. 99-408 approving contract and bond for Reroofing of the Administration
Building for Parks and Recreation Department
14.RESOLUTION NO. 99-409 approving completion of the fire line to Larson’s Body Shop on
the East Lincoln Way frontage road
15.RESOLUTION NO. 99-410 approving completion of 1999/2000 Neighborhood Curb
Replacement Program
16.RESOLUTION NO. 99-411 approving completion of 1999/2000 Annual Residential Street
Low-Point Drainage Improvements
17.RESOLUTION NO. 99-412 approving completion of 1999/2000 Sidewalk Safety Program
18.RESOLUTION NO. 99-413 approving completion of Colorado Avenue/Wilmoth Avenue
Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction
19.RESOLUTION NO. 99-414 approving final plat for Somerset Subdivision, 7th Addition
20.Hillside Subdivision, 5th Addition:
a.RESOLUTION NO. 99-415 approving installed public improvements
b.RESOLUTION NO. 99-416 approving final plat
21.Bloomington Heights, Plat 8:
a.RESOLUTION NO. 99-417 approving installed public improvements
b.RESOLUTION NO. 99-418 approving final plat
22.RESOLUTION NO. 99-419 approving agreement to assure retention of shared off-street
parking per Section 29.42(2) of the Municipal Code
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
SETTING SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATES AND/OR TIMES: Council Member
Wirth advised that she will not be available during the afternoon of Friday, February 4, and
asked to move that session to Saturday, February 5.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Cross, to hold the Budget Overview on Saturday, February 5, at
8:30 a.m. and leave the remaining schedule as is. The meeting dates/times will be as follows:
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a.January 18, 2000, at 5:15 p.m. for CIP Work Session
b.February 5, 2000, at 8:30 a.m. for Budget Overview
c.February 8, 9, 10, and 15, 2000, at 5:15 p.m. for Budget Hearings/Wrap-Up
d.March 7, 2000, at 5:15 p.m. for Public Hearing on Budget
Vote on Motion: 5-0-1. Voting aye: Campbell, Cross, Hoffman, Quirmbach, Wirth. Voting nay:
None. Abstaining: Parks. Motion declared carried.
AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR TO SIGN PROGRAM DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION
WITH ADMINISTRATION OF AMES/STORY COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAM: Council Member Hoffman asked for an update on the progress of the Ames/Story
County Affordable Housing Program. Vanessa Baker Latimer, Housing Coordinator, gave a
review of the Program from its initiation in June 1999 to the present. She informed the Council
that she will be conducting one-on-one counseling to prospective first-time homebuyers at local
businesses, an endeavor which was requested by the business owners.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-401 authorizing the
Mayor to sign all Program documents in connection with administration of the Ames/Story
County Affordable Housing Program.
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.
SPECIAL CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE FOR HOUSE OF CHEN, 2508 FERNDALE: Moved
by Hoffman, seconded by Cross, to approve the application for a new Special Class C Liquor
License for House of Chen, 2508 Ferndale.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT TO ALLOW AN AWNING/SIGN IN CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY
AT 229 MAIN STREET: Council Member Wirth advised that she had received calls from five
business owners complaining about the awning recently installed at Main and Kellogg. She
encouraged the other Council members to not allow further encroachment permits for awnings
or signs in the Downtown area without having any design standards to govern them. Council
Member Campbell indicated that she had also received complaints about that particular awning.
She believes that a request for guidelines is forthcoming from the Main Street District.
Moved by Cross, seconded by Campbell, to approve the request for an encroachment permit to
allow an awning/sign in City right-of-way at 229 Main Street.
Vote on Motion: 5-1. Voting aye: Campbell, Cross, Hoffman, Parks, Quirmbach. Voting nay:
Wirth. Motion declared carried.
REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 316 LINCOLN WAY: Director of Planning and Housing Brian O’Connell advised
that he had been contacted today by Bob Goodwin, attorney for the owner of 316 Lincoln Way,
and Mr. Goodwin had asked that the City Council table this matter. Mr. Goodwin had asked
for this action to allow staff time to look at the possibility of an amendment to the regulations
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contained in the Subdivision Ordinance which would create a means for the City to determine
when a subdivision would not be necessary. Mr. O’Connell said he believes that there could be
instances when a subdivision would not be required, however, this has not been included in the
Ordinance and must first be legislated into law before exceptions may be granted.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Quirmbach, to table the request for a waiver of the
subdivision regulations for property located at 316 Lincoln Way.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST FROM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND EMERGENCY RESIDENCE
PROJECT FOR WAIVERS OF CITY PERMITS, INSPECTION FEES, AND
REQUIREMENT TO ABANDON WATER SERVICE AT 219 S. KELLOGG: Moved by
Cross, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-420 waiving building, plumbing,
electrical, and demolition permit fees for the P.A.T.H. project at 219 S. Kellogg and authorizing
City staff to expose the water service tap at the main and replace the street at the City’s expense
contingent on a plumber licensed in the City of Ames volunteering his time to perform the
abandonment of the old water service at the main as required by the Municipal Plumbing Code.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
REQUESTS FROM AMES MAIN STREET DISTRICT: Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by
Parks, to approve the request from Ames Main Street District to utilize the holiday lighting on
downtown buildings from November 18 thru December 31, 1999, which will entail the Ames
Municipal Electric System donating the energy to run the lighting display during this time; and
to approve their request to suspend parking enforcement for the Central Business District on
Friday, November 19; on every Saturday from November 20 thru December 25, 1999; and on
weekdays from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. from November 18 thru December 24, 1999.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON RIVER VALLEY PARK LOW HEAD DAM SLOPE PROTECTION
PROJECT: Paul Wiegand, Public Works Director, explained that the low bidder on this project,
KRI Company of Ames, had formally withdrew their bid late this afternoon after the Company
had found an error in their calculations. Staff is now recommending that City Council accept
the bid of VanHauen & Associates of Clive, Iowa, the second-lowest bidder, in the amount of
$188,000.00.
Mayor Tedesco declared the hearing open. There being no one present wishing to testify, the
hearing was closed.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-421 approving final
plans and specifications and awarding a contract for the River Valley Park Low Head Dam
Slope Protection project to VanHauen & Associates of Clive, Iowa, in the amount of
$188,000.00.
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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COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE
30, 1999: Sue Rybolt, Assistant Finance Director, said that she was available to answer any questions
this evening or in her office during the work week.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-422 approving the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AMENDMENT TO P-C PLAN TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MOTEL AT 2609
ELWOOD DRIVE: Moved by Wirth, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 99-423
approving the removal of “hotel/motel” from the list of impermissible uses and approving an
amendment to the P-C Plan for proposed commercial development at 2609 Elwood Drive with
the following stipulations:
1.That cross easement documents to provide for vehicular movement between the proposed
driveway for the property at 2609 Elwood Drive and the properties at 2515 and 2521
Elwood Drive be received by the City prior to the issuance of building permits for the
property at 2609 Elwood Drive.
2.That the ground-mounted signs labeled as “B” be deleted from the Lighting Plan and all
light fixtures, including those under the proposed canopy structure, be of a full cut-off
design.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
13TH AND DUFF AVENUE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT: Paul Wiegand
explained that the intent of this project is to construct left-turn lanes on 13th Street and Duff
Avenue to increase safety and reduce delays for traffic traveling through the intersection. In
order to accomplish this, Mr. Wiegand stated that it will be necessary to widen both 13th Street
and Duff Avenue approximately 11 feet to provide enough pavement width for four through
lanes of traffic and left-turn lanes. Rather than purchasing the property, Mr. Wiegand advised
that the City will be requesting that a permanent easement be granted by the property owners
to the City. He explained the new legislation which requires written notification to each affected
property owner at least 30 days prior to the time that City Council adopts a measure to declare
its intent to proceed with the project.
Council Member Parks asked why some property owners are opposed to granting an easement
to the City. Mr. Wiegand advised that these people don’t see the need for improvements at that
intersection and are concerned about the encroachment of public land onto their property.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Cross, to approve the tentative concept and budget for the 13th
and Duff Avenue Intersection Improvements Project, to authorize notice of intent to acquire
private property, and to set the date of public hearing on this matter for January 11, 2000.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
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ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ON PORTIONS OF BILLY SUNDAY ROAD:
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Campbell, to pass on first reading an ordinance prohibiting
parking on portions of Billy Sunday Road.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE REZONING 39.89 ACRES OF LAND AND 1.21 ACRES OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
FROM A-1 (AGRICULTURAL, STORY COUNTY) TO P-I (PLANNED INDUSTRIAL) FOR
PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE 13TH STREET/NORTH
DAYTON AVENUE INTERSECTION, WEST OF NORTH DAYTON AVENUE: Moved by
Cross, seconded by Parks, to pass on second reading an ordinance rezoning 39.89 acres of land
and 1.21 acres of right-of-way from A-1 (Agricultural, Story County) to P-I (Planned Industrial)
for property generally located 1/4 mile north of the 13th Street/North Dayton Avenue
intersection, west of North Dayton Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE REZONING 18.5 ACRES OF LAND AND 0.76 ACRES OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
FROM A-1 (AGRICULTURAL, STORY COUNTY) TO R-4 (HIGH-DENSITY
RESIDENTIAL) FOR PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED ON LINCOLN WAY 1/4
MILE WEST OF THE AMES CORPORATE LIMITS AND ADJACENT TO BENTWOOD
SUBDIVISION ON THE SOUTH: Moved by Cross, seconded by Hoffman, to pass on second
reading an ordinance rezoning 18.5 acres of land and 0.76 acres of right-of-way from A-1
(Agricultural, Story County) to R-4 (High-Density Residential) for property generally located
on Lincoln Way 1/4 mile west of the Ames corporate limits and adjacent to Bentwood
Subdivision on the south.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ALONG EAST SIDE OF EMERALD DRIVE
FROM JEWEL DRIVE TO GARDEN ROAD AND ALONG BOTH SIDES OF EMERALD
DRIVE 120 FEET SOUTH OF JEWEL DRIVE: Moved by Cross, seconded by Wirth, to pass
on second reading an ordinance prohibiting parking along the east side of Emerald Drive from
Jewel Drive to Garden Road and along both sides of Emerald Drive 120 feet south of Jewel
Drive.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMENTS: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Parks, to refer to staff the letter from Winifred W.
Guthrie requesting that the end of Fletcher Boulevard where it meets with Bloomington be
painted yellow.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Council Member Parks requested that the street sign at the intersection of Fletcher and Stone
Brooke be replaced as there are letters partially missing in the word, “Fletcher.”
Council Member Hoffman distributed information on state and federal tobacco laws to the
Council. One of the suggestions that had been offered at the forum she recently attended was
for the City Council to talk to the legislators about possible changes, i.e., hearings on violations
being conducted by the state rather than the City Council.
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Council Member Campbell said she had heard concerns that drivers are not realizing that the
brick crosswalks on Main Street are for use by pedestrians, and it had been suggested that white
paint be applied on the sides of the crosswalks. Mayor Tedesco said that he believes it is a
matter of the drivers getting used to the changes on Main Street. He suggested that the City
Manager present this information on Channel 12.
Council Member Wirth pointed out that there are no trash cans on Main Street since its
reconstruction. Paul Wiegand advised that the trash cans will be put back in place yet this week.
Mayor Tedesco announced that he is again participating in the “Bear-to-Care” Tree project,
which is an effort to collect 500 new teddy bears for local children’s charities. He said that
persons may donate new teddy bears at numerous locations from now until November 19. The
“Bear-to-Care” tree will be displayed at the North Grand Mall during the 1999 holiday season.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
_________________________________________________________________________
Diane Voss, City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor