HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 11/25/1997MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA NOVEMBER 25, 1997
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on the 25th day of November, 1997, in
the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Larry R.
Curtis presiding and the following Council members present: Hoffman, Parks, Quirmbach, Tedesco,
and Wirth. Council Member Campbell was absent.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
PROCLAMATION: Coun. Quirmbach presented a proclamation to Juana Nolasco declaring
December 1 as World AIDS Day.
CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Parks, to approve the following items on
the Consent Agenda:
1. Motion to approve payment of claims
2. Motion to approve minutes of the regular meeting of November 13, 1997
3. Motion to approve certification of Civil Service applicants
4. RESOLUTION NO. 97-592 approving revision to existing human services contract with
Heartland Senior Services for FY 97/98
5. RESOLUTION NO. 97-593 proposing amendment to Hap’s Air Service hangar lease for
additional land; setting December 9, 1997, as date of hearing
6. RESOLUTION NO. 97-594 approving reappointment of Bob Kindred as representative
and Paul Wiegand as alternate representative to Central Iowa Regional Transportation
Planning Alliance (CIRTPA) Transportation Policy Committee; and approving
reappointment of Paul Wiegand as representative and Scott Logan as alternate
representative to CIRTPA Transportation Technical Committee
7. RESOLUTION NO. 97-595 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Vet Med
69 kV Relaying Project; setting January 6, 1998, as bid due date and January 13, 1998, as
date of hearing and award of contract
8. RESOLUTION NO. 97-596 approving preliminary plans and specifications for 1997/98
Storm Sewer Outlet Erosion Control Project (Briggs Circle); setting December 10, 1997,
as bid due date and December 16, 1997, as date of hearing and award of contract
9. RESOLUTION NO. 97-597 approving preliminary plans and specifications for East 13th
Street Bike Path Project; setting December 10, 1997, as bid due date and December 16,
1997, as date of hearing and award of contract
10. RESOLUTION NO. 97-598 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Freel Drive
Lift Station Project; setting January 21, 1998, as bid due date and January 27, 1998, as date
of hearing and award of contract
11. RESOLUTION NO. 97-599 waiving formal bidding procedures and approving purchase
of HTE citations software for parking tickets
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
PUBLIC FORUM: No one spoke during this portion of the meeting.
HEARING ON COLORADO AVE./WILMOTH AVE. AREA SANITARY SEWER
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: Mayor Curtis declared the hearing open. There being no one
present wishing to testify, the hearing was closed.
Moved by Tedesco, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 97-600 awarding
a contract to Van Hauen & Associates, Inc., of Clive, Iowa, in the amount of $58,500.00
for the Colorado Ave./Wilmoth Ave. Area Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction Project.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON FREEL DRIVE SANITARY AND STORM SEWER PROJECT: Mayor Curtis
declared the hearing open. There being no one present wishing to testify, the hearing was
declared closed.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Tedesco, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 97-601 awarding a
contract to Van Hauen & Associates, Inc., of Clive, Iowa, in the amount of $183,475.00 for
the Freel Drive Sanitary and Storm Sewer Project.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST: Housing Coordinator Vanessa Baker-Latimer gave a presentation
regarding the creation of a Community Land Trust (CLT) in the Ames area. Discussion took
place regarding the establishment and benefits of a CLT, and what makes a CLT distinctive
within a community. At this time, Staff was requesting authorization to provide technical
assistance in the creation of a CLT with other interested parties in the area.
Coun. Parks questioned how much staff time might be involved, and suggested that some
funding might need to be budgeted for this task. City Manager Steve Schainker indicated that
the technical assistance would only be provided in a limited number of hours. He further
indicated that Staff could come back with an estimation of the City’s involvement in the
establishment of a CLT.
Moved by Parks, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 97-602 authorizing
Staff to provide technical assistance in the creation of a Community Land Trust
Organization with other interested agencies and groups.
Some discussion was held regarding whether this would be in conflict with the Story County
Housing Needs Assessment Program. Ms. Baker-Latimer said that it would not conflict with
that program, and that others within the program might want to join the CLT. She stated that
authorizing Staff’s technical assistance would not commit the City to join the CLT, but that it
would allow the City to participate in the creation of such a trust. Coun. Parks said he was
concerned about the cost benefit of this program, and that Staff’s time may not be best utilized
this way.
Coun. Parks withdrew his motion.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 97-602 authorizing
Staff to provide technical assistance in the creation of a Community Land Trust
Organization with other interested agencies and groups.
Roll Call Vote: 4-1. Voting Aye: Hoffman, Quirmbach, Tedesco, Wirth. Voting Nay:
Parks. Resolution declared adopted, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of
these minutes.
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Moved by Tedesco, seconded by Parks, to request a report on the estimated Staff hours that
will be provided for technical assistance in the creation of a Community Land Trust
Organization.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
AMENDED PUD PLAN FOR 3427 POLARIS DRIVE: Moved by Tedesco, seconded by Wirth,
to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 97-603 approving an amended Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Plan for 3427 Polaris Drive, which is a part of the Northern Lights PUD.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
REPORT ON ARIZONA/ROSS AND ARIZONA/PHOENIX SCHOOL CROSSING STUDY:
Traffic Engineer Scott Logan explained that Council had earlier directed Staff to evaluate school
crossing conditions at the Arizona/Ross and Arizona/Phoenix intersections. Both traffic and
pedestrian counts at the two crossings had been conducted. Based upon this evaluation, stop
signs or mid-block pedestrian signals were not warranted at either intersection. Some discussion
was held regarding a previous recommendation of a school safety patrol program for Sawyer
School.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Hoffman, directing Staff to meet with school officials and
PTO members to discuss various options for enhancing school crossing safety at Sawyer
School.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REPORT ON OAKWOOD ROAD SPEED LIMIT: Traffic Engineer Logan reported that in
response to a citizen’s request to decrease the 45 m.p.h. speed limit on Oakwood Road, an
evaluation of this speed limit had been performed. He explained the process of the evaluation,
and it was determined that the current speed limit was appropriate at this time.
RESCINDING ORDINANCE PROHIBITING BICYCLING ON GRAND AVENUE: Moved
by Hoffman, seconded by Quirmbach, to pass on first reading an ordinance rescinding the
ordinance prohibiting bicycling on Grand Avenue between Lincoln Way and 30th Street.
Coun. Parks indicated his concern for the safety of bicyclists riding on Grand Avenue, and
that it constituted an extremely hazardous situation for cyclists. He felt this action showed
no regard for their safety, and he would oppose the ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 4-1. Voting Aye: Hoffman, Quirmbach, Tedesco, Wirth. Voting Nay: Parks.
Motion declared carried.
ORDINANCE REGULATING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS STORAGE: City Attorney
John Klaus reported that the ordinance was based upon a referral from the Council. He
reviewed the ordinance which would regulate the out of doors storage of construction materials
on sites.
Moved by Quirmbach, seconded by Hoffman, to pass on first reading an ordinance
regulating the out of door storage of items pertaining to building construction.
Discussion was held regarding the lack of enforceability of the ordinance, whether it pertained
to the storage of railroad companies’ materials, the differences between residential and
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commercial sites, and the separation of rental properties from other building sites.
Coun. Tedesco said it appeared the Council was trying to pass an ordinance correcting a specific
incident, and that other legal avenues needed to be investigated in solving complaints about the
storage of certain construction materials where there were no construction projects occurring at
the time.
Roll Call Vote: 2-3. Voting Aye: Hoffman, Quirmbach. Voting Nay: Parks, Tedesco,
Wirth. Motion declared failed.
ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ON FRONTAGE ROADS: Moved by Wirth,
seconded by Hoffman, to pass on second reading an ordinance designating parking prohibitions
along the south side of the West Lincoln Way Frontage Road from Hickory Drive to McDonald
Drive and on the north side from McDonald Drive west 70 feet.
Public Works Director Paul Wiegand addressed concerns expressed by a citizen with regard to
designated parking prohibitions on the West Lincoln Way Frontage Road between Hickory
Drive and McDonald Drive. Mr. Wiegand indicated that banning parking along the south side
of the frontage road would accentuate the lack of parking in the area, however, it was important
to obtain visibility at the intersections.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Hoffman, to table the second passage of an ordinance
designating parking prohibitions along the south side of the West Lincoln Way Frontage
Road from Hickory Drive to McDonald Drive and on the north side from McDonald Drive
west 70 feet.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Moved by Wirth, seconded by Quirmbach, to refer the designation of parking prohibitions
on the West Lincoln Way Frontage Road back to Staff for review, and to request a proposed
amendment restricting parking, for visibility purposes, at the intersections only.
Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
COMMENTS: Coun. Parks expressed his appreciation to Staff for their diligence and work put
into Council requests.
Coun. Hoffman referred to a letter received regarding the Hyland Avenue/Oakland Street
intersection and the potential danger to pedestrians. While she did not feel that a stop light was
appropriate, she said that a pedestrian crossing sign might be installed. Public Works Director
Wiegand indicated that Staff would investigate the situation.
In reference to the ordinance regulating construction materials storage, Coun. Tedesco asked
City Attorney Klaus if this issue could be addressed through the public nuisances approach. Mr.
Klaus said that this would involve a situation where it had to be proven, by confident evidence,
that there was a threat to public health, safety, and welfare. Often such cases can “fall out of the
system” due to multiple violations of multiple ordinances. These individuals could be held in
contempt of court, however, the court did not want to jail such violators.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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_________________________________________________________________________
Jill Ripperger, Recording Secretary Larry R. Curtis, Mayor
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