HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 02/27/1996OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA FEBRUARY 27, 1996
The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on the 27th day of February, 1996, in the
City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Pro Tem John
Parks presiding and the following Council members present: Campbell, Hoffman, Parks, Quirmbach,
Tedesco and Wirth. Mayor Curtis was absent.
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to approve the following items
on the Consent Agenda:
Motion to approve payment of claims
Motion to approve Official Minutes and Clerk's Notes of Regular Meeting of February 6, 1996
Motion to approve renewal of the following beer and liquor licenses:
a. Class C Liquor - Cafe Baudelaire, 2504 Lincoln Way
b. Class C Beer - Fareway, 619 Burnett
c. Class A Liquor - B.P.O. Elks #1626, 522 Douglas
d. Class C Liquor - Lucullan's, 400 Main Street
Motion to accept 1995 Resource Recovery System Annual Report
Motion to approve certification of Civil Service applicants
RESOLUTION NO. 96-93 accepting bids and awarding contracts for purchase of two street
sweepers
RESOLUTION NO. 96-94 approving preliminary plans and specifications for FY 96-97 Joint
Sealing Program; setting March 11, 1996 as bid due date and March 19, 1996 as date of hearing
and award of contract
RESOLUTION NO. 96-95 approving preliminary plans and specifications for FY 96-97 Slurry
Surface Treatment Program; setting March 11, 1996 as bid due date and March 19, 1996 as date
of hearing and award of contract RESOLUTION NO. 96-96 approving preliminary plans and
specifications for FY 96-97 Seal Coat Resurfacing Program; setting March 11, 1996 as bid due
date and March 19, 1996 as date of hearing and award of contract
RESOLUTION NO. 96-97 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Ontario Street
Box Culvert; setting March 13, 1996 as bid due date and March 19, 1996 as date of hearing and
award of contract
RESOLUTION NO. 96-98 approving plans and specifications for restroom/shelter house at
Daley Park; setting March 28, 1996 as bid due date and April 9, 1996 as date of hearing and
award of contract
RESOLUTION NO. 96-99 approving contract and bond in amount of $22,243.30 for Hickory
Erosion Control Project
RESOLUTION NO. 96-100 approving activities of 1996 Mayor's Bike Ride and waiving fees
associated with traffic control
RESOLUTION NO. 96-101 approving annual farm lease and power of attorney for farm
manager for WPC properties
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
PUBLIC FORUM: Mayor Pro Tem Parks noted a number of individuals had indicated they were
present to speak regarding the preliminary plans and specifications for the Hyland Avenue
Reconstruction Project. He said the issue was not an item for Public Forum, as it was on the
agenda. He said however, the item was not a public hearing, and noted the Council had held
previous public hearings on this issue. He said therefore, the Chair would not entertain public
comment on the resolution to approve preliminary plans and specifications for the Project. He
noted the action this evening included setting a hearing date of May 14, 1996 for award of the
contract.
John Hascall, 701 Ash Avenue, said he wished to thank the City for its February 20 presentation
on the "village" concept, and agreed there were many positive aspects to the concept, such as
being able to walk to work. He said however, there seems to be a certain amount of
apprehension regarding the concept, mostly related to traffic. He said most of the City's
contentious issues revolved around traffic issues, and the City needed to develop a sense of trust
with residents that the Village Plan would not lead to further traffic issues. He showed a
diagram one village plan, as displayed during the February 20, 1996 meeting between the City
Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission. He then displayed a diagram of the ISU
Towers, which he said created what was in essence a "village" in the area, but which was also
a large source of traffic in the area. He said the Village Plan was workable if something could
be done about the traffic problems for existing areas.
Motion by Quirmbach to appeal the ruling of the Chair not to entertain public comment this
evening regarding the Hyland Avenue Reconstruction Project. The Motion failed for lack of a
Second.
NEW LIQUOR LICENSES AND BEER PERMITS: Motion by Tedesco, Second by Wirth, to
approve the following new beer permits and liquor licenses:
a. Class E Beer permit and Class E Liquor License for Sam's Club #6568, 305 Airport Road
b. Class C Beer permit for Swift Stop #4, 1118 South Duff
c. Class C Beer permit for Gateway Expresse, 2400 Elwood
d. Class C Liquor License for The Main Event, 115 Main Street
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT FOR AWNING AT 406 MAIN: Motion by Campbell, Second
by Tedesco, to approve request for encroachment permit to allow an awning at 406 Main (Sail
Aweigh Travel).
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST TO ELIMINATE BICYCLE PROHIBITION ON GRAND AVENUE: Steve
Moehlmann, 1810 Bel Air Drive, said he felt this issue was important because it pitted safety
concerns against concerns for access. He said while he was concerned about safety, and might
not use Grand Avenue himself for biking, he felt the prohibition should be lifted because it
limited access and eliminated a biker's choice, particularly during winter months when Grand
Avenue was one of the first streets to be cleared of snow.
Jim Gregory, 216 N. Hazel, said his company Fresh Aire Delivery has been operating on Grand
for the past three years. He said he had asked the Bicycle Committee to consider this issue
because he has customers who live on Grand, and he doesn't like to operate in violation of the
law. He said many times Grand is the only north/south street cleared immediately after a
snowfall. He said he had read the Staff Report with its mentioned concerns for safety, and felt
Staff was making a judgment call based on their own inexperience of bicycling, rather than on
hard and fast data. He said Grand Avenue was just like several other streets in Ames, heavily
travelled with moderate-speed vehicles, but no more dangerous than any other route in town.
He said cyclists in Ames have paid property taxes for Grand Avenue maintenance and
improvements, and deserve to be able to exercise their right to use that road.
Dennis Jones, 1500 Truman Drive, noted he was a Board Member of the Friends of Central Iowa
Biking, and said the group supports removal of this prohibition. He said statistics indicate off-
street bikepaths are less safe than on-street paths. He said he didn't believe there would be a
dramatic increase in cyclists on Grand if the prohibition were lifted, and said he doubted
motorists would notice the change.
Dan Mathis, 1002 Oklahoma Drive, said he was Chair of the Ames/ISU Bicycle Committee, and
reiterated that the Committee supported removal of the ban, as stated in his January 11, 1996
letter to the Mayor and Council and his February 20, 1996 letter to the City Manager. He said
he felt the safety concerns were perceived rather than actual concerns. He said a number of
facilities in Ames have the same or greater volumes of traffic as Grand Avenue does, at the same
or greater speed levels, yet those other streets have no prohibition of bicycles. He said this ban
has taken away the right of cyclists to determine whether or not they want to ride on Grand.
Mr. Mathis said the Ames/ISU Bicycle Committee has not yet made a statement regarding this
year's CIP funding of off-street bikepaths. He said they were currently discussing the
philosophical issue of on-street versus off-street facilities, and said over the past 20 years,
feelings about that issue have changed substantially. He said at present there was much feeling
supporting the integration of bicyclists and motor vehicles. He said the Committee will be
reviewing that issue as it works on updating the Bicycle Master Plan, and hopes to recommend
a combination of on-street and off-street bikepaths.
Steve Schnell, 416 Ash Avenue, said he was also a member of the Ames/ISU Bicycle
Committee, and favored removal of the ban. He said cars are allowed to drive on Grand at what
would be the average speed of a bicyclist, as are mo-peds and motorcycles. He said the actual
delay involved in passing a cyclist is a great deal less than that caused by a left-turning vehicle,
and it was easier to pass a cyclist as it didn't involve moving entirely into the other lane. He said
removal of the ban would not be promoting that every cyclist ride on Grand, but rather that each
have the choice of being able to do so.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to delay any action at this time to rescind the
prohibition of bikes along Grand Avenue until the Council makes a final decision regarding the
revised Bicycle Route Master Plan.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST FOR REVISED PARKING PROHIBITIONS ON PEARSON AVENUE: Stephanie
Nelson and Erin Davis, 318 Pearson Avenue, reviewed how they had surveyed residents of the
area, and found 86% were not satisfied with the present parking regulations in the area. Ms.
Nelson said they had submitted a report to the Mayor and Council citing concerns regarding lack
of personal safety, traffic accidents, unclear signs, spotty enforcement of parking regulations,
and inadequate lighting in the area. She said safety issues were the biggest concern as residents
sometimes had to walk 2-3 blocks at night to their parked cars. She said the combination of
illegal parking plus curvature of Pearson Avenue have led to accident concerns as well. Ms.
Davis discussed concerns regarding enforcement of the current regulations and the need for sign
clarification. She said they encouraged Council to address this issue by directing Staff to study
parking prohibitions in the area.
Motion by Tedesco, Second by Campbell, to deny request for Staff to study this issue, but to ask
Staff to look at clarification of language on signs and at more strict enforcement of current
parking regulations on Pearson, particularly the curved area in front of 318 Pearson, where
conflicts regarding alternate side parking can be viewed as a safety issue.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO AMES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION: Motion by Tedesco, Second by Campbell, to approve request for reimbursement
to Ames Economic Development Commission in amount of $3,297.24 for marketing-related
activities.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 13 OF AMES MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING
TO RENTAL HOUSING: Motion by Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to direct the City Attorney
to prepare ordinance revising Code.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 5 OF AMES MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT 1994
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE INCLUDING THREE LOCAL AMENDMENTS: Motion by
Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to direct the City Attorney to prepare ordinance revising Code.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 7, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING
ADMINISTRATIVE ADDENDA TO THE ELECTRICAL CODE: Motion by Hoffman,
Second by Tedesco, to pass on first reading an ordinance revising Chapter 7, Ames Municipal
Code regarding Administrative Addenda to the Electrical Code.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PRELIMINARY PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS FOR HYLAND AVENUE
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: Motion by Campbell, Second by Tedesco, to adopt
RESOLUTION NO. 96-102 approving preliminary plans and specifications for Hyland Avenue
Reconstruction Project; setting April 30,1996 as bid due date and May 14, 1996 as date of
hearing and award of contract.
Motion by Quirmbach, Second by Hoffman, to amend the preliminary plans and specifications
for the Hyland Avenue Reconstruction Project, as detailed in his February 23, 1996
memorandum to the Mayor and City Council.
Vote on Motion to Amend: 2-4. Voting Aye: Hoffman, Quirmbach. Voting Nay: Campbell,
Parks, Tedesco, Wirth. Motion declared Failed 2-4.
Roll Call Vote on Main Motion: 4-2. Voting Aye: Campbell, Parks, Tedesco, Wirth. Voting
Nay: Hoffman, Quirmbach. Resolution declared adopted 4-2, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these minutes.
WELCH AVENUE PARKING & SNOW ORDINANCE REVISIONS: Motion by Campbell,
Second by Tedesco, to pass on first reading an ordinance revising parking prohibitions and snow
route designations for portions of Welch Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR 1996 WATER PROGRAM NO. 1: Motion by Hoffman,
Second by Tedesco, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-103 approving final plans and
specifications and awarding contract to Van Hauen & Associates in amount of $389,181.40 for
1996 Water Program No. 1.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AMES-ISU TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AGREEMENT: Motion by Tedesco, Second by
Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-104 approving Ames-ISU Transmission System
Agreement.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
POWER PLANT BOILER #7 & #8 CHIMNEY REPAIR: Motion by Hoffman, Second by
Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-105 accepting bids and awarding contract to Gerard
Chimney Company of St. Louis, Missouri, in amount of $63,750.00 for chimney repair on Boiler
Units #7 and #8.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
BRIEFING ON SEWER REVENUE REFUNDING BOND SALE TO BE HELD MARCH 5,
1996: Finance Director Alice Carroll reviewed the Staff Report.
ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR MUNICIPAL INDOOR POOL: Motion by
Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-106 waiving formal bidding
procedures and authorizing Staff to retain A&J Associates to provide engineering services for
the design of the municipal indoor pool's environmental control system, in an amount not to
exceed $9,875 and approximately $1,900 in reimbursable expenses.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
URBAN REVITALIZATION TAX EXEMPTION REQUESTS FOR 1996: Motion by Tedesco,
Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-107 approving Urban Revitalization Tax
Exemption Requests for 1996.
Coun. Parks noted he was employed by one of the applicants, and therefore would abstain from
voting on this issue.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0-0. Voting aye: Campbell, Hoffman, Quirmbach,
Tedesco, Wirth. Voting Nay: None. Abstention: Parks. Resolution
declared adopted 5-0-0, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of
these minutes.
Motion by Wirth, Second by Campbell, to place on a future Council agenda a historical report
from Staff on how the Urban Revitalization Program began, to initiate a discussion of the status
of the Program and whether it is still viable and relevant.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
REPAIRS TO 16-INCH RAW WATER WELL LINE: Motion by Tedesco, Second by Hoffman,
to authorize Staff to initiate formal bidding process for replacement of approximately 1,000
lineal feet of raw water well pipeline from Duff Avenue east at an estimated cost of $90,720.00.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR WET WEATHER FLOW TREATMENT PROJECT:
Motion by Tedesco, Second by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-108 approving
engineering services agreement for Wet Weather Flow Treatment Project for Water Pollution
Control Plant.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 14 OF MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO HUMAN
RELATIONS: Motion by Wirth, Second by Tedesco, to pass on first reading an ordinance
amending Chapter 14 of the Ames Municipal Code relating to Human Relations.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 7, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING
TERMS OF OFFICE FOR ELECTRICAL BOARD MEMBERS: Motion by Tedesco, Second
by Hoffman, to pass on second reading an ordinance amending Chapter 7, Ames Municipal
Code, to establish staggered terms of office for Electrical Board Members.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to suspend the rules required for adoption of an
ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Tedesco, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO.
3373 amending Chapter 7, Ames Municipal Code, to establish staggered terms of office for
Electrical Board Members.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 21, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING
TERMS OF OFFICE FOR PLUMBING BOARD MEMBERS: Motion by Tedesco, Second by
Hoffman, to pass on second reading an ordinance amending Chapter 21, Ames Municipal Code,
to establish staggered terms of office for Plumbing Board Members.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to suspend the rules required for adoption of an
ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Tedesco, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO.
3374 amending Chapter 21, Ames Municipal Code, to establish staggered terms of office for
Plumbing Board Members.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
ORDINANCE CHANGING STREET NAME TO "EAST" O'NEIL DRIVE: Motion by
Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3372
changing street name to "East" O'Neil Drive for segment east of Duff Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON SNOW/ICE REMOVAL: Mayor Pro Tem Parks declared the public hearing
open. There being no one present wishing to testify, the public hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-109 assessing the
costs of snow/ice removal to property owner for property located at 803 and 805 13th Street.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
HEARING ON OPTIC FIBER CABLE INSTALLATION - HABER ROAD SUBSTATION
TO ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION: Mayor Pro Tem Parks declared the public hearing open.
There being no one present wishing to testify, the public hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Tedesco, Second by Campbell, to accept report of bids and delay award of contract.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON 30TH STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: Mayor Pro Tem Parks
declared the public hearing open. There being no one present wishing to testify, the public
hearing was declared closed.
Motion by Tedesco, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 96-110 approving final
plans and specifications and awarding contract to Manatt's, Inc., in amount of $506,773.96.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
COMMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Motion by Hoffman, Second by Tedesco, to
place on future agenda request for waiver of separation of distance for Ames/Story County
Landfill, as contained in letter of February 14, 1996 from Fox Engineering.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
In response to a question from Coun. Campbell, it was noted Staff was contacting Tim Shields
regarding possible dates for the Council goal-setting session, and would be reporting back to the
Council.
In response to a question from Coun. Hoffman, Public Works Director Paul Wiegand said the
Staff report on the speed limit on Oakwood Road had been shared with the residents, and no
negative comments had been received. It was noted the proposed subdivision was on an
upcoming Planning & Zoning Commission agenda and would be coming before Council in
about 3-4 weeks. Mr. Wiegand said a traffic count in this area had also been conducted last year,
and said Staff would continue to monitor the situation as development occurred.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor