HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/07/1994MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JANUARY 7 and 8, 1994
The Ames City Council met in special session from 6:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. on January 7 and from
9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on January 8, 1994 in the Executive Board Room of the Holiday Inn/Gateway
Center, Ames, Iowa, pursuant to law with Mayor Larry Curtis presiding and the following Council
Members present: Brown, Campbell, Hoffman, Parks, Tedesco, and Wirth.
Tim Shields from the Institute of Public Affairs in Iowa City facilitated this team-building and goal-
setting workshop for the Council.
The Council members began by discussing the successes of the past year, including the following:
1. Campustown Plan
2. Land Use Planning Preparation
3. Hospital Discussion
4. Flood Response
5. Building Code Revision
6. South Duff Planning/Initial Actions
7. Progress on Affordable Housing
8. Economic Growth
9. Staff Responsiveness
10. Common Vision in Community Rather Than Specific Group Focus
11. Sister City
12. Good Working Relationship between City and ISU
13. New Ways to Assist Businesses and Development Process
The Council members discussed visions for the future of Ames, including:
1. Increased Technology Creating a "Technopolis"
2. Regionalism
3. Becoming an Economic and Cultural Leader
4. Drawing Younger People
5. Maintaining Base of what is Best Suited for Ames
6. More Attractive Community
7. Continue Diverse Leadership
8. More International
The Council members next discussed concerns for the future of Ames, including:
1. Needs for Housing
2. Need for Shared Vision in Community
3. Potential Perception of Elitism
4. Transportation Needs
5. Tax Base Problems
The Council discussed Key Issues for the next 2 years, including:
1. Hospital
2. Infrastructure - maintenance and expansion
3. Bus System (i.e., subsidy)
4. Affordable Housing Plan
5. Central Park Golf Course
6. Land Use Policy Plan
7. South Dakota/Hwy. 30 Interchange
8. Recreational Facilities (i.e., Youth Sports Complex)
9. Downtown Parking
10. Downtown Planning
11. Depot
12. Annexation
13. Animal Shelter
14. Flood Task Force
15. Increased Staff Levels
16. Regional Planning
17. Non-Traditional Approaches to Revenue Enhancement
18. Environmental Issues
19. Technological Enhancement
From the above-listed issues, the Council members reached consensus on the following highest
priority goals to be completed in the next two years:
High Priority Goals:
1. Make a decision on the Hospital
2. Complete Landuse Policy and Subdivision Ordinance revision
3. Develop an affordable housing policy
4. Complete downtown development plan (to including parking and
streetscape)
5. Develop and implement methods designed to enhance public awareness of
City projects and issues
6. Make a decision on Youth Sports Complex proposal
The Council members discussed each goal. They agreed the Council should make a statement to
the public regarding the timeline for the decision process on the future of MGMC. They discussed
the formation of a steering committee on the LUPP and subdivision ordinance revision, agreeing on
representatives from the following groups: Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic
Preservation Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood, Environment, Developer,
Landlord, Tenant/ISU student, League of Women Voters, Retailer, "Citizen,"
Commercial/Industrial. They discussed how Council members would read the minutes of the
steering committee, and attend the meetings as members of the audience, allowing the committee
to function on its own. They agreed it would be helpful to have quarterly workshops on the progress
of the steering committee, similar to the process used during the recent Building Code revisions.
The Councilors discussed the goal of developing an affordable housing policy, agreeing that they
need to reach a consensus on a definition of affordable housing.
The Councilors discussed enhancing public information via a "Council Outreach" program whereby
they would develop and implement methods designed to enhance public awareness of City projects
and issues.
The Council members thanked Mr. Shields for leading them throughout this session, and discussed
the possibility of meeting informally every 4-6 weeks for a general discussion of strategic issues.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 1994.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor