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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/10/1995MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA JANUARY 10, 1995 The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m., January 10, 1995, in the City Council Chambers in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Curtis presiding and the following Council Members present: Campbell, Hoffman, Parks, and Wirth. Coun. Tedesco was absent and Coun. Brown arrived late. PUBLIC FORUM: Merlin Pfannkuch, 1424 Kellogg, requested more information from Staff regarding the so-called "fifth Hospital option," revising the current City ordinance to allow the Board of Trustees to enter into a ventureship similar to that of the University of Iowa Hospitals. He asked that the normal procedure for Item #20 on tonight's agenda be suspended to allow audience participation. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Curtis noted Item #10 had been pulled from tonight's agenda by Staff. Motion by Parks, Second by Wirth, to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda: Motion to approve payment of claims Motion to approve minutes of the regular meetings of December 13 and December 20, 1994 Motion to approve renewal of the following beer and liquor licenses: a. Special Class C Liquor/Outdoor Service Area - Cafe Lovish, 2512 Lincoln Way b. Special Class C Beer - House of Chen, 2508 Ferndale c. Class B Liquor - Best Western Starlite Village, 2601 East 13th Street Motion to approve certification of Civil Service applicants Motion to set 5:30 p.m. on January 17, 1995 as Special Meeting date for joint meeting with Historic Preservation Commission, and 6:00 p.m. for CIP Worksession Motion to set 6:30 p.m. on January 24 and February 28, 1995 as Conference Board meeting dates RESOLUTION NO. 95-001 approving and adopting Supplement No. 18 to Municipal Code RESOLUTION NO. 95-002 approving reappointments of Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA) representatives RESOLUTION NO. 95-003 approving preliminary plans and specifications for the High Service Pumping Improvements Project; setting February 8, 1995 as bid due date and February 14, 1995 as date of hearing and award of contract RESOLUTION NO. 95-004 adopting Workplace Violence policy RESOLUTION NO. 95-005 approving contract and bond in amount of $60,706.25 for Pearle Avenue Storm Sewer Project RESOLUTION NO. 95-006 approving change order in amount of $5,180 for Library Roof Replacement Project Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. REQUEST FROM AMES CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU REGARDING FUNDING FOR GINKGO FESTIVAL: Rich Harter, Executive Director, Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), described the Bureau's work to further develop a "Ginkgo Festival. . .A Celebration of Laughter," for July 14-16, 1995. He said there had long been a desire for a summer festival in Ames, and it was proposed this event be tied in with "Midnight Madness." He said the organizing committee was requesting $10,000 as seed money from the City, and planned to raise an additional $20,000 from corporate sponsors to provide a total $30,000 for the inaugural event. When Coun. Parks asked how much the ACVB was contributing, Mr. Harter said the Bureau was putting a tremendous amount of time and energy into this event, although it was not a line item in the Bureau's budget. Coun. Hoffman asked whether this was a one-time request for funding. Mr. Harter said while it was hoped the festival would be successful this year, it normally took three years for any event to become established and self-supporting. He said he wished to be able to return to the Council to request additional funding next year, if needed. Coun. Brown arrived at 7:10 p.m. At Coun. Campbell's request, City Manager Steve Schainker reviewed how the City contributes in- kind support to Midnight Madness, and $5,000 cash plus in-kind support to the Iowa Games. Motion by Wirth, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 95-007 approving request from Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau for $10,000 seed money for the inaugural "Ginkgo Festival." Coun. Parks said he would support this request for initial funding, but didn't feel the City should provide tax revenues on a sustaining basis for this event. He said the ACVB receives a substantial budget from the Hotel/Motel Tax, and felt that was a more appropriate source of future funding for such events. Coun. Hoffman agreed. She said she would support this request because she felt having this festival was important to Ames. She said she had served on the ACVB Board and felt the Bureau's sizeable budget should plan for events such as these. Coun. Campbell said similar requests should normally be made during the Council's budget planning process. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. AMENDMENT TO DEPOT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE RESERVED PARKING SPACES AT MAIN STREET STATION: Motion by Brown to consider the request from Hubbell Realty for 16 reserved parking spaces in the "Depot" parking lot. The motion failed for lack of a second. Motion by Wirth, Second by Brown, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 95-008 approving amendment to Depot Development Agreement to provide for up to four reserved parking spaces at Main Street Station. Rick Tollakson, Hubbell Realty, said a representative of the Iowa Physicians Clinic indicated they would be willing to revise their request to ask that the spaces be provided for the physicians only, recognizing their need to have ready access to their vehicles in emergency situations. He said eventually, five reserved spaces would be needed for the physicians themselves. He said the Clinic planned to open with two physicians on staff. Motion by Wirth, Second by Brown, to amend the main motion to provide up to five reserved spaces for the Clinic physicians, beginning with two. City Manager Steve Schainker clarified that the Staff recommendation provided for rental of these spaces in the Depot parking lot. Coun. Parks said much of the development of this project was predicated on making certain there was parking space available for the public. He said although the developer was paying maintenance costs on the lot and he felt this was a reasonable request, he would not support the request if fair rent were not received for the reserved spaces. There was discussion regarding the possibility of spaces becoming available this spring in the CBD lot behind Brenton Bank. Coun. Campbell said the City designated that lot for reserved parking places, and she felt it appropriate to use it for this request and for future tenants of Main Street Station. She said she was concerned that this request would create additional reserved parking spaces downtown, reducing the amount of spaces available for the public. Coun. Wirth said she didn't see the benefit of providing spaces for this request in the CBD lot rather than in the Depot lot. She said there was already a large problem with employee parking downtown. There was discussion regarding whether these spaces being requested for physicians created a unique argument for needed ready access to vehicles. Coun. Brown said while she was not in favor of giving out special bonuses, sometimes it had to be done to create a "special" package in order to attract lessees. She said for that reason, she would support the request for five spaces with no rent paid. Coun. Wirth said the Council might consider charging half of the "going rate" rent for these spaces, given that the developer was paying for maintenance of the lot. Coun. Parks said there should also be consideration of the amount of money the City has put in to the Depot project. He said he felt it was an equitable arrangement for the tenants to pay for the parking and for maintaining the lot. Roll Call Vote on Motion: 4-1. Voting Aye: Brown, Hoffman, Parks, Wirth. Voting Nay: Campbell. Resolution declared adopted 4-1, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to set rental rate at the Council's established rate. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Brown, that additional spaces not be reserved in some other parking lot for Main Street Station employees in order that public parking downtown may be preserved. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. REQUEST FOR CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR OLD CITY HALL: Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to amend Developer's Contract for Old City Hall to extend time for proof of financing an additional 60 days so the developer can arrange the financing needed. Roll Call Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. ORDINANCE REVISING MECHANICAL CODE: Motion by Wirth, Second by Campbell, to pass on first reading an ordinance revising the Ames Municipal Code, adopting 1994 Uniform Mechanical Code and its local amendments. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. AMENDMENT TO GATEWAY HILLS PUD: Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 95-009 denying amendment to Planned Unit Development for Gateway Hills, located north of Mortensen Parkway and South of Indian Grass Court. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. CONTRACT AND WAIVER AGREEMENT FOR PROPERTY AT 811 SOUTH DUFF AVENUE (HOWE PROPERTY): Motion by Wirth, Second by Hoffman, to extend the Contract and Waiver Agreement for Property at 811 South Duff Avenue to April 1, 1995 to allow for the removal of the remaining items, and to pursue the Conditional Use Permit for storage in the floodway, with the stipulation that the property owner continue to provide the Letter of Credit in the amount of $16,000 to the City until May 1, 1995. Planning and Housing Director Brian O'Connell provided an update on what has occurred on this property since September 1994. He said Staff inspected the property on December 30, 1994 and found a considerable amount of debris still to be removed. He said the property was reinspected on January 3, and Staff felt considerable progress had been made. He said some of the items that remain are used by the business, and the business owner wishes to continue to store these items within the floodway. He said a Conditional Use Permit would be required to do so. Coun. Parks asked whether the existing Letter of Credit would be cashed if a new Letter of Credit extended to May 1, 1995 were not received by January 31, 1995. Mr. O'Connell said the Letter of Credit was a money source to help the City perform requirements if the property owner does not do so, and the City would most likely cash the Letter of Credit if the requirements were not met by the deadline. Mr. O'Connell showed slides of the property at present, noting this is an industrial use in an area that is zoned Industrial. He said therefore, this property may not have the same degree of visual quality as other businesses along South Duff Avenue. City Manager Steve Schainker noted a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a Community Assessment Visit of the City's Flood Plain Management Program, and directed the City to remove the material stored in the floodway at 811 South Duff Avenue by April 3, 1995, or obtain a Conditional Use Permit to allow the material to remain at the site. He said because of that directive from FEMA, the issue must be resolved by April 3, 1995. Coun. Campbell expressed concern that Staff monitor the situation, to ensure that another extension was not requested immediately before the April deadline date. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. PUBLIC MEETING DATE FOR INPUT ON HOSPITAL OPTIONS: Motion by Campbell, Second by Parks, to set 7:00 p.m. on January 26, 1995 in the City Auditorium as date and location of public input meeting on Hospital Options. Coun. Wirth said she would not be available on that date. Merlin Pfannkuch, 1424 Kellogg, said before a public input meeting is held, he would like more information on the "5th option" of revising the City's existing ordinance regarding the Hospital's governance. He said $90,000 had recently been spent in consultant fees for reports on these options, yet he was not aware of any written information available on this "5th option." Coun. Hoffman agreed that if the Council were going to seriously consider another option, it was important to get that information out to the public. City Attorney John Klaus said a draft ordinance could be prepared and sent to the Council by the end of this week, with copies available in the City Clerk's Office for public review. Coun. Hoffman said she would support the motion if Staff felt the draft ordinance could be prepared by January 14. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER WEST AND NORTH ADDITIONS AND LAB REMODELING: Motion by Brown, Second by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 95-010 approving award of contracts for construction of MGMC west and north additions and lab remodeling. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. REPORT ON TAZZLES/WINSTON'S LIQUOR LAW COMPLIANCE: Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to table action on this item until results of January 25, 1995 Iowa Liquor Control Commission hearing have been received. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. WORKSESSION ON WATER/SEWER RATES: City Manager Steve Schainker and Water Department Director Tom Neumann reviewed the document entitled "Preliminary Report for Water and Sewer Utility Finances Workshop," dated January 10, 1995, regarding long-range plans for the City's Water and Sewer funds. Mr. Schainker noted that last year, the Council approved an increase to the City's minimum water bill from $4.00 to $6.00, and discontinued the initial 100 cubic foot allowance. He said last year, Staff also pointed out that a similar adjustment was warranted in the Sewer utility. He said however, rather than initiating a dual increase in 1994-95, Council instructed Staff to bring back the matter of a similar adjustment in the Sewer utility for consideration in the 95- 96 budget, as well as consideration of establishment of a minimum bill for yard meters, and to revisit the issue of a seasonal water rate to more accurately recoup the true cost of service during the summer months. Mr. Schainker said at budget time, Staff will be recommending the minimum sewer bill be increased from $3.00 to $5.50 per month, beginning in the summer of 1995, with no initial allowance in this base fee. He said they would ask for Council's consideration not only because of the equity justification, but also because the additional net revenue will be generated to help mitigate even larger sewer rate increases in the future. Mr. Schainker said in addition, last year, Council directed Staff to bring back consideration of establishment of a minimum bill for yard meters of $1.75 per month to at least cover the cost of maintaining this type of account. He said Staff was also directed to revisit the issue of a seasonal water rate which would more accurately recoup the City's true cost of service during the summer months when a higher cost of production is experienced. He said Staff estimated that establishment of this type of seasonal rate would result in approximately 4 percent more total revenue to the Water utility. Water Department Director Tom Neumann reviewed projections for the Water and Sewer Funds. There was discussion of a revenue neutral approach toward long-range planning versus equity adjustments and rate increases. No action was taken by the Council at this time. COMMENTS: Coun. Wirth said she felt the Council could benefit from a general review of the tax abatement program and a discussion of how the districts are set up. Motion by Wirth, Second by Brown, that Staff prepare a review of the tax abatement program to be scheduled on the Council's January 24, 1995 agenda. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Coun. Wirth asked if the request from Mr. Harter for the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau annual report were scheduled for the January 24, 1995 agenda, and Mayor Curtis said that it was. Coun. Parks asked that the report from Staff regarding the Pawnbroker's ordinance be forwarded to Mr. Youngberg. Mayor Curtis reminded Council that January 13, 1995 was the deadline for discount rates for airline tickets to the National League of Cities conference. Coun. Hoffman asked whether Staff had reviewed Mr. Whattoff's request regarding the Campustown Plaza parking lot, and if so, if a report might be scheduled on an upcoming Council agenda. City Manager Steve Schainker said Staff hoped to have the item scheduled for the January 24 agenda. Coun. Hoffman noted the Council had received a letter regarding two sections of properties in the area of 13th Street west of Grand Avenue that do not have sidewalks. The City Clerk was asked to provide a copy of the original letter. Coun. Campbell asked whether the Building Code Board of Appeals had been notified of the proceedings and publication date of the ordinances pertaining to inspection of and installation requirements for foundation walls. The City Clerk noted she had forwarded a copy of Mayor Curtis' memo to the Building Official. Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to set a special Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 1995, to discuss extending infrastructure outside the City's corporate limits as well as rural water issues. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor