HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 03/24/1998MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA MARCH 24, 1998
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on the 24 day of March, 1998, in theth
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,
Quirmbach, and Wirth. Council Member Parks was absent.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Tedesco introduced Mike Halloran, a Gilbert High School sophomore who had “shadowed”
the mayor as he conducted City business that day.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Campbell, Second by Cross, to approve the following items on
the Consent Agenda:
1.Motion to approve payment of claims
2.Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 12, 1998
3.Motion to approve renewal of the following beer permits and liquor licenses:
a.Class BW Liquor - Valentino’s, 2500 Ferndale Avenue
b.Class C Liquor - Lucullan’s, 400 Main Street
c.Class C Liquor - Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe, 621 Lincoln Way
d.Class E Beer - Sam’s Club #6568, 305 Airport Road
e.Class E Beer - Cub Foods, 3121 Grand Avenue
4.Motion to accept auditor’s report to management for year ended June 30, 1997
5.RESOLUTION NO. 98-109 approving boards and commissions appointments
6.RESOLUTION NO. 98-110 adopting new and revised fees for rental housing regulation
7.RESOLUTION NO. 98-111 approving correction to calculation error in establishing City
Clerk’s salary for FY 98-99
8.RESOLUTION NO. 98-112 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Roof
Replacement and Exterior Building Repairs at CyRide Facility, setting April 30, 1998, as
bid due date and May 12, 1998, as date of public hearing and award of contract
9.RESOLUTION NO. 98-113 accepting bids and awarding contract for 1998 Tuckpointing
and Related Repairs
10.Street lighting materials for Electric Department (Somerset Subdivision):
a.RESOLUTION NO. 98-114 awarding contract for purchase of aluminum street light
poles (Div. II) to Kriz Davis Co., in the amount of $14,436
b.Motion to accept bids and delay award of contracts for luminaries (Div. I) and
foundation anchors (Div. III)
11.RESOLUTION NO. 98-115 approving contract and bond for 1998 Traffic Safety
Improvement Project (Wheeler/Grand, 30th/Duff/Grand, 13th/Dayton)
12.RESOLUTION NO. 98-116 approving contract and bond for Stange Road Extension North
of 24th Street Project
13.RESOLUTION NO. 98-117 approving contract and bond for East Lincoln Way
Reconstruction Project
14.RESOLUTION NO. 98-118 accepting completion of Air Handling and Dehumidifier
Systems for Municipal Pool Project
15.RESOLUTION NO. 98-119 approving revised agreement between City and Iowa
Department of Transportation for STP enhancement funding of Elwood Drive Bike Path -
Phase I
16.RESOLUTION NO. 98-120 approving subordination of second mortgage lien for property
located at 5461 Frost Drive in connection with Phase III Affordable Housing Program in
Bentwood Subdivision
17.RESOLUTION NO. 98-121 approving subordination of second mortgage lien for property
located at 5445 Frost Drive in connection with Phase III Affordable Housing Program in
Bentwood Subdivision
18.RESOLUTION NO. 98-122 approving release of real estate mortgage for property located
at 618 12th Street in connection with Phase II “CDBG Existing” Affordable Housing
Program
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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PUBLIC FORUM: No one addressed the Council at this time.
CLASS C BEER PERMIT FOR JIFFY CONVENIENCE STORE, 326 LINCOLN WAY:
Motion by Hoffman, Second by Quirmbach, to approve a Class C Beer Permit for Jiffy
Convenience Store located at 326 Lincoln Way.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
EASTER MAGIC EVENT: Motion by Hoffman, Second by Wirth to approve request from
Ames Main Street District to suspend parking regulations in the Central Business District on
April 4, 1998, for the “Easter Magic” event.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
KEN’S CAFE: Motion by Cross, Second by Hoffman, to refer to staff a request from Ken’s Cafe
to use the public walk way between Main Street and the parking area north of the railroad tracks
for an outdoor seating area for his restaurant.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
VEISHEA 1998 REQUESTS: Motion by Cross, Second by Campbell to approve the requests
for installation of temporary electrical services for the stage area and for waiver of electrical and
water charges and vendor solicitation fees for VEISHEA ‘98.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Quirmbach to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-123 approving
the request to close certain streets and City parking lots for the VEISHEA celebration and
directing placement of signs and devices for traffic and parking control.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PARTNER CITIES GRANT PROGRAM: Ralph Farrar and Marilyn Polito of the Ames
International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) referred to the memo that had been distributed
to the council regarding their five proposed criteria for grants. While they acknowledged that
the most pressing need right now was to provide support for this year’s trip by the Ames
Children’s Choir’s trip to the Czech Republic, they indicated that the criteria had been designed
to apply generally to all grant requests, not just this one idea.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Quirmbach, to accept the grant idea for the AIPCA, using
a funding process whereby the grant would be allocated by the City Council and the
AIPCA would forward recommendations for expenditures to the Council for approval.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to allocate $3,000 out of the Contingency Fund for
FY 1998/99 for the AIPCA.
Motion by Quirmbach to amend the motion to allocate the $3,000 for the AIPCA from the
current fiscal year’s budget (FY 1997/98). Motion to amend died for lack of a second.
Vote on original motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Wirth, Second by Cross, to allocate $1,500 out of the Contingency Fund for FY
1997/98 for the AIPCA.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON GRAND AVENUE LANDSCAPE/PLANTING PROJECT: Mayor Tedesco
declared the hearing open. No one rose to testify and the hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Cross, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-124 approving
final plans and specifications for the Grand Avenue Landscape/Planting Project and
awarding the contract to Central Landscapes in the amount of $33,913.00.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON 1997-98 WATER SERVICE TRANSFER PROGRAM: Mayor Tedesco
declared the hearing open. No one rose to testify and the hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Cross, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-125 approving final
plans and specifications for the 1997-98 Water Service Transfer Program and awarding the
contract to Van Hauen & Associates, Inc., in the amount of $26,350.00.
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Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON AIRPORT TAXIWAY CONNECTOR (VISIONAIRE): Mayor Tedesco
declared the hearing open. No one rose to testify and the hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Wirth, Second by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-126 approving final
plans and specifications for the Airport Taxiway Connector (Visionaire) and awarding the
contract to Manatt’s, Inc., in the amount of $69,978.00.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
WELL WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM PROJECT: Motion by Campbell, Second by
Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-127 approving professional services agreement with
Fox Engineering for design and installation of Well Water Treatment System Project.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
1998-99 PUBLIC PARKING LOT REHABILITATION PROGRAM: Motion by Campbell,
Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-128 approving preliminary plans and
specifications for 1998-99 Public Parking Lot Rehabilitation Program, setting April 22, 1998, as
bid due date and April 28, 1998, as date of public hearing and award of contract.
Public Works Director Paul Wiegand explained that the parking areas in question were sorely in
need of repair but that some owners of property and adjacent businesses had expressed concern
over the proposed layouts, mainly because four existing parking spaces would be lost. He said
that the new plans called for nine-foot stalls, as required by the Municipal Code, and various
designs had been considered. He stated that the loss of two spaces was unavoidable because, in
the course of planning for the repairs, it had been determined that Lot 11 is not actually City
property, even though it is presently being used for city parking. Attorney Klaus noted that
records show that the City was granted an easement for access to adjacent city-owned lots, but
that the owner of Lot 11 is Bud Corieri.
Harold Pike, 2715 Valley View Road, came forward to say that he understood why the City
would have an interest in conforming to its own standards, but asked that everything possible be
done to prevent the loss of parking spaces.
Bill Merrill, owner of Beacon MicroCenter, 213 Lincoln Way, stated that he was also concerned
about the potential loss of parking spaces. He said that his employees were accustomed to
using the Gilchrist Lot, even though it is quite a distance from his business.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
STREET CLOSURES FOR GREEK WEEK OLYMPICS ON APRIL 4, 1998: Motion by
Hoffman, Second by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-129 approving street closures
for Greek Week Olympics on April 4, 1998, along Greeley Street, Pearson Avenue, Gray
Avenue, Sunset Drive, and Gable Lane, subject to the following stipulations:
1.that no alcohol be served or consumed on the streets or other public property during the
events;
2.that Greek Week organizers inform affected residents about the street closures and move
the barricades to allow those residents access to their properties as needed; and
3.that Greek Week organizers secure any necessary noise permits in advance for these
events.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
REPLACEMENT OF DUFF AVENUE/O’NEIL DR. SCHOOL CROSSING FLASHING
BEACONS: Motion by Quirmbach, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-130
approving replacement of Duff Avenue/O’Neil Dr. school crossing flashing beacons with a
mid-block traffic signal.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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REPORT ON RAILROAD CROSSING HORNS — “THE PARSONS, KANSAS,
EXPERIENCE:” Scott Logan, City Traffic Engineer, reported that he had traveled to Parsons,
Kansas, to look at their railroad horns since the City of Ames was planning to install three in
July. He said that he had questioned many people who lived near the tracks and, since the
decibel level of the automatic horns was lower than the train whistles, all had reported a vast
improvement in the quality of their lives. He mentioned he thought that the quieter horns might
be harder to hear if motorists had their radios turned up, but also reported that there had been no
accidents involving trains in Parsons in the two years since their horns had been installed. Mr.
Logan also stated that, even though the Union Pacific Railroad has indicated they would be
willing to discontinue their whistle blasts once the automatic horns were installed, there is a
chance that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) might address this issue in the near
future. He said that if the FRA were to enact a policy adopting stricter standards or exempting
automatic horns the FRA’s policy would have to be adhered to. Mr. Logan added that he felt
the City’s crossings would be safer if short medians were also constructed when the automatic
horns were installed.
City Manager Schainker pointed out the good news that the automatic horns could be obtained
for $20,000 each, which was less than anticipated, and that therefore the amount already
budgeted for this project would be sufficient to purchase the horns and install the short medians.
It was also mentioned that grant money might still be available from the Department of
Transportation for the medians.
Mr. Logan advised the Council that the next steps would be to contact Union Pacific to obtain
permission to install the horns on railroad’s property and to request exemption from whistle
blowing at the affected crossings. He said the equipment would be ordered and installed after
July first.
LOADING ZONE AT 114 WELCH AVENUE: Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to
deny a request for a loading zone at 114 Welch Avenue.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
THUMB’S, 2814-2816 WEST STREET: (This item was tabled to this meeting during the
meeting of March 12, 1998.)
Motion by Wirth, Seconded by Quirmbach, to adopt a RESOLUTION approving a P-C Plan to
allow for an Outdoor Service Area at Thumb’s, 2814-2816 West Street.
City Attorney John Klaus reported that he had found no laws which would allow the City
Council to regulate the hours of the Outdoor Service Area. He stated that the licensee could
limit the dates of service, but the hours were controlled only by the State’s alcoholic beverages
laws. He said that the City’s P-C Plan regulations did not allow for regulating the hours of
operation either.
Susan Triplett, 615 Luther Drive, informed the Council that the patrons of the establishment
were generally low-key and older, and that the outdoor area was planned to allow an area for
conversation. She said they did not have large crowds of college students in the bar and were
not planning to have music or speakers outside. She pointed out that letters of support for the
outdoor area had been signed by the landlord and all the tenants of the neighboring apartment
building. She said Thumb’s intended to self-impose shorter hours on the outdoor area.
Matt Triplett, owner of Thumbs, came forward to state that the lease agreement he had with Joe
Paulson already stipulated that the outdoor area be closed early.
Council Member Wirth withdrew her original motion.
Motion by Wirth, Second by Cross, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-131 approving the P-
C Plan for the property located at 2814 West Street to allow an Outdoor Service Area with
the stipulation that the exterior doorway on the east wall of the building at 2816 West
Street be removed and filled in with no openings at the time the open space no longer
functions as an “outdoor service area,” or at the time the lease agreement for the “outdoor
service area” is terminated, and that the City of Ames Building Official be contacted for
approval prior to the signing of a lease between new parties.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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Motion by Wirth, Second by Cross, to approve application for an Outdoor Service Area.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared adopted unanimously.
CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (CDP) FOR WINDSOR OAKS SUBDIVISION:
Motion by Hoffman, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-132 approving CDP for
Windsor Oaks Subdivision.
Brian O’Connell, Director of the Department of Planning and Housing, gave an overview of the
proposed subdivision, noting that the developers would now like to divide the land into two
lots and build one 28-unit apartment and two six-unit condominiums in order to offer residents
different ownership options. O’Connell also explained that the public infrastructure (street and
water) would need to be extended for this development, and that the situation was unusual in
that the land was at the northernmost boundary of the City’s corporate limit. He said that Staff
recommended that the City pay half the cost of the infrastructure ($61,000) for the
development. He said that the Land Use Policy Plan does not currently call for expansion of the
city to the north in this area, but if the City were to annex the adjacent land at some point in the
future, the street and water service would be made available for use by those property owners
and at that point in time the costs could be recouped.
Tim Irish, representing the Essex Corporation, the developer of the subdivision, explained that
some of their potential residents appeared to want to own their units and others would prefer a
rental arrangement, so they had created a new plan to provide those alternatives. He displayed
artist’s renderings of the buildings being proposed for the two lots. He indicated that they hoped
to start construction on the new buildings and to renovate the former Episcopal church building
into a central gathering area simultaneously and as soon as weather permitted.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AMENDED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) PLAN FOR WINDSOR OAKS
SUBDIVISION: Motion by Hoffman, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-133
approving the amended PUD Plan for Windsor Oaks Subdivision to allow three (3) one-story
buildings with six (6) units each in two of the buildings and 28 units in the third building for a
total of 40 units on 9.65 acres.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AMENDED P-C PLAN FOR SIGNAGE AT 3218 ORION STREET (SWIFT STOP #5):
Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-134 approving the
amended P-C Plan to allow for a change in the signs previously approved at 3218 Orion Street
(Swift Stop #5).
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
FIFTH STREET STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Mayor Tedesco noted that
a letter had been received from Youth and Shelter Services expressing concern that the
proposed brick pier at the corner of Fifth Street and Kellogg would detract from the new 13-foot
bronze Icarus fountain. He indicated that this specific issue would be addressed during the
Public Hearing prior to the award of the contract.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 98-135 approving
preliminary plans and specifications for Fifth Street Streetscape Improvement Project as
per the City Manager’s recommendation; setting April 21, 1998, as bid due date and April
28, 1998, as date of public hearing and award of contract.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY EAST OF SOUTH DUFF AVENUE (TARGET):
Motion by Cross, Second by Wirth, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3478
rezoning property located east of South Duff Ave. between SE Third Street and SE Fifth Street
from G-I (General Industrial) to G-C (General Commercial).
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
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COMMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Motion by Hoffman, Second by
Quirmbach, to place consideration of the issues raised by Harry McMaken in his letter about the
Ames Youth Sports Complex on the agenda of the April 14 meeting.th
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Council Member Hoffman requested clarification of the phases of the bike path project on
Elwood Drive. Paul Wiegand stated that the portions from Lincoln Way to South Sixteenth and
from Mortenson Road to Green Hills Drive would be done this year, but that the extension
from Green Hills Drive to Oakwood Road would be done later in conjunction with the widening
of Elwood Drive.
Council Member Cross expressed thanks to Harold Pike on behalf of the Council for the snow
removal, painting, and maintenance he had done in the parking lot on Gilchrist Street.
Mayor Tedesco mentioned that the Mayor’s Bike Ride would be held on May 2 , and that itnd
would begin from Emma McCarthy Lee Park at 10:00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by consent at 8:52 p.m.
Jill Ripperger, Acting City Clerk Ted Tedesco, Mayor