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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regular Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/11/1994MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA JANUARY 11, 1994 The Ames City Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m., January 11, 1994 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. Couns. Brown and Tedesco were absent. PROCLAMATION FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY: Mayor Curtis read a proclamation naming January 17, 1994 as Martin Luther King Day within the City of Ames. Public Information Official Pam Vokolek accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Ames community. PRESENTATION ON NON-ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF PROPOSED YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX: Parks and Recreation Department Director Nancy Carroll said since learning of a $100,000 donation commitment from Helen Daley Smith for a project that would be of value to the park system, Staff has met with representatives of youth soccer, baseball, and softball user groups regarding the possibility of developing a youth sports complex. She said all three groups have expressed great enthusiasm and need for the idea, as these groups currently have inadequate facilities and are playing in facilities that were intended for other uses. Ms. Carroll said 80-85 acres would be needed to supply the numerous fields necessary to allow these sports to host state or regional tournaments. She said while two sites within the community would provide that amount of land, only the old Water Pollution Control Plant/DOT property was currently available. She said the other site, the Asgrow property east of Save-U-More, has not found a relocation site for their test plots, and it is anticipated that they could remain at their present site indefinitely. She discussed other advantages of the WPC site, such as serving as an entryway enhancement feature on Hwy. 30; City ownership of land for Phase I; existing utility services, excluding potable water; and existing well for irrigation of fields. She said while the DOT had agreed to construct a frontage road at this site as part of the Dayton Road Project, the road had recently been deleted from the project by the DOT. She said Staff is currently discussing the matter with the DOT. She said conversation will also be needed between City and DOT officials regarding the long-term need of the DOT property becoming a part of the complex. Ms. Carroll described the proposed three phases of the project, saying an estimated $620,000 would be needed to accomplish Phase I, which would provide 5 soccer, 4 baseball, and 2 softball fields. She said it was proposed that the zoning code requirement for hardsurfaced parking lot be deferred until Phase II of the project, or a minimum $175,000 would be added to Phase I. Ms. Carroll discussed potential funding sources for the project, saying $65,000 was the estimated land value of the City's property. She said the issue of whether remuneration to the Sewer Fund was needed would have to be resolved. She said the youth sport groups are collectively contributing $75,000 toward the project, and have committed to organize and initiate a fund drive to collect the needed balance. She said the project was proposed to be a revenue-generating attraction to community, so that tax dollars would not be utilized. She said the Youth Sports committee proposed instituting league fees as well as concession fees to provide operational costs of the complex. Ms. Carroll discussed the proposed time frame of the project, saying if the environmental status issues were resolved, the Youth Sports Committee would like to kick off a fund drive by June 1, 1994. She noted the DNR had deferred the investigation of this site to the Department of Public Health, and it was anticipated that a response from that agency would be forthcoming within the next two months. Coun. Parks asked the anticipated annual operating costs of the completed complex. Ms. Carroll said the only comparison Staff had at present was the Adult Softball Complex, which had a seasonal operating cost of $25,000-$35,000. Coun. Parks asked the specifics on the access road originally agreed to by the DOT. Public Works Director Paul Wiegand said the Dayton Road contract with the DOT provided for a 2-lane, 24 ft. wide, roughly 2,000 ft. frontage road built to County road standards. Coun. Hoffman asked how much time was proposed between Phase I and II of the project. Ms. Carroll said 3-5 years was currently proposed between phases. There was discussion regarding whether there would be a tradeoff in savings by not using the other fields. Coun. Wirth said the proposal was very well planned, and she was glad to have this information. She said she had heard concerns that this project would move children out of the neighborhood parks. Ms. Carroll said she has heard similar concerns from residents, and noted the proposed complex would be used for game play, not team practices, so the turf is not overused. She said practices would be held at the more convenient neighborhood sites. Coun. Campbell expressed concerns about the perception of a "double standard" if the zoning requirement for a hardsurfaced parking lot were deferred. There was discussion about whether the Zoning Board of Adjustment had waived this requirement in other instances. City Manager Steve Schainker noted it was not required for the City to follow its own rule regarding parking lots, although it has always tried to set a good example by doing so. He noted other park areas where there were existing lots that were regraveled rather than paved. Mayor Curtis said there would be a commitment to hard-surface the lot in a reasonable time frame. Coun. Campbell said this issue would need to be carefully looked at, and Coun. Parks agreed. Earl Dowling, President of the Ames Little League Board of Directors, said he represented a coalition of Ames soccer, girls' softball, and Little League governing bodies. He said the coalition represented approximately 3,000 youths in the community, and urged the Council's support of the Youth Sports Complex for the following reasons: 1) The complex would allow neighborhood parks to become less crowded, easing traffic congestion and crowd noise, 2) Ames organized sports activities would have their own place, 3) the complex would show a commitment to the youth of the community, 4) the complex would enhance the community's economic development, bringing a large number of persons to town. He said the coalition is committed to the project and will support it with their labor and their wallets. He said they asked for no money from the Council, only their support. CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks 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 14 and 28, 1993 Motion to approve renewal of the following beer and liquor licenses: a. Class B Liquor - Best Western Starlite Village, 2601 E. 13th Street b. Class B Beer - B.T. Laundry, 4010 Lincoln Way c. Special Class C Liquor - House of Chen, 2508 Ferndale Motion to set January 25, 1994 and February 22, 1994 as Conference Board meeting dates RESOLUTION NO. 94-1 approving appointment of Judie Hoffman to the Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees RESOLUTION NO. 94-2 approving and adopting Supplement No. 14 to the Ames Municipal Code, 1990 RESOLUTION NO. 94-3 accepting release of real estate mortgages RESOLUTION NO. 94-4 approving final plat for Arbor on the Green Subdivision RESOLUTION NO. 94-5 approving 28-E agreement between City of Ames and Story County for Mutual Police Service RESOLUTION NO. 94-6 approving plans and specifications for box culvert at South 16th Street; setting February 2, 1994 as bid due date and February 8, 1994 as date of hearing and award of contract RESOLUTION NO. 94-7 approving plans and specifications for sanitary sewer and grading on SE 5th Street; setting February 2, 1994 as bid due date and February 8, 1994 as date of hearing and award of contract RESOLUTION NO. 94-8 approving agreements providing for the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act for IBEW employees Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolutions declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. PUBLIC FORUM: No one appeared for this portion of the meeting. HEARING ON SUBMITTAL OF EDSA FORGIVABLE LOAN REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL PLASTICS PACKAGING, INC.: Mayor Curtis declared the public hearing open. There being no one present wishing to testify, the public hearing was declared closed. It was noted the Staff report included reviews necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987. Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-9 approving EDSA application, and directing staff to submit it to the IDED with the condition of buying the building at 118 Alexander Avenue and additional land for parking and to construct parking by June 1, 1994. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-10 approving City of Ames EDSA/CDBG Revolving Loan Fund request from Commercial Plastics, Inc., with the conditions of the purchase of the building at 118 Alexander Avenue and the land adjacent by April 1, 1994, and the construction of the required parking lot by June 1, 1994, and the approval of the EDSA forgivable loan by the IDED. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made portion of these minutes. HEARING ON RELOCATION OF DAYTON AVENUE LIFT STATION PROJECT: Mayor Curtis declared the public hearing open. There being no one wishing to testify, the public hearing was declared closed. Motion by Wirth, Second by Hoffman, to report bids and delay award of contract. Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. PARKING PROHIBITING AT 327 HICKORY DRIVE: Assistant City Manager Bob Kindred said there may have been miscommunication between City Staff and Mr. Padgitt concerning this proposed parking restriction. He said after further discussion, both parties agree that prohibiting parking south of the driveway at 327 Hickory is the most acceptable option, rather than along the entire frontage as stated in the originally proposed ordinance. Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to amend the proposed ordinance to prohibit parking not at all points adjacent to Mr. Padgitt's property, but only to those points that lie south of the south line of his driveway. Vote on Motion to Amend: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman to pass on first reading an ordinance prohibiting parking at 327 Hickory Drive as amended. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Coun. Parks suggested that staff notify and meet with residents affected by a proposed ordinance change prior to the drafting of that ordinance. Traffic Engineer Scott Logan said residents are currently notified of proposed changes and asked to contact City staff with input. Coun. Parks said scheduling meetings might bring more responses from the residents. Mayor Curtis said there were bound to be isolated instances of miscommunication, regardless of the notification procedure used. He said he felt Staff's current procedure was generally effective. ORDINANCE SETTING PENALTY FOR PARKING BEYOND THE LIMIT AT A HANDICAP SPOT: Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to pass on first reading an ordinance amending the Municipal Code for the purpose of setting the penalty for parking beyond the limit at a handicap spot. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. ORDINANCE ADOPTING 1993 EDITION OF NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE FOR MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 7 SEC. 7.101: Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3253 amending the Municipal Code for the purpose of adopting the 1993 edition of the National Electric Code. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously. ORDINANCE SPECIFYING SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CROCODILES AND THEIR ALLIES: Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3254 revising the Municipal Code to specify security requirements for crocodiles and their allies. Vote on Motion: 4-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously. ORDINANCE REGULATING SUBDIVISION ENTRANCE SIGNS: Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 3255 amending the Municipal Code for the purpose of regulating subdivision entrance signs. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously. END LOADER PURCHASE: Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-11 waiving formal bidding procedures and directing Staff to negotiate end loader purchase with John Deere. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. AMENDMENT TO CDBG FLOOD GRANT: Motion by Parks, Second by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-12 authorizing Mayor to sign amendment to CDBG flood grant. Housing Coordinator Vanessa Baker-Latimer said the 14 properties sustaining 50% or more damage have been identified and acquisition prices and moving costs have been calculated. She said thus far, 13 of the 14 affected property owners have indicated they would accept a buyout or relocation offer from the City. Coun. Hoffman noted some individuals have already purchased another property and are now renting out their properties in the affected area. She asked the anticipated time frame of the buyout process. Ms. Baker-Latimer said there would be a certain amount of time for the property owner to accept or reject the offer, once it was made. She estimated a period of about 6 weeks from date of acceptance of the offer to the date of closing, and said there would be a 45 day period to vacate after closing. She said the renters have all received a letter notifying them of their rights. She said only pre-flood tenants would be eligible for relocation funding. Coun. Campbell asked that Council be supplied with a list of the 14 properties. Ms. Baker-Latimer noted FEMA had received an additional $13 million, and was now taking another round of applications for properties damaged more or less than 50% by flood waters. She said although the City had already sent in its application for its second tier of priorities, that application would be updated based on what was funded and what was left to be funded. She said there was a stipulation that the original CDBG fund allocation from Story County had to be used for emergency repairs. She said because Ames had no emergency repair needs that would cost $220,000, Story County was willing to write a letter to the State saying they would take over any emergency repair needs in Ames out of their allocation. She said therefore, the CDBG money can now be freed up to purchase homes in the floodway in the South Maple area. Coun. Wirth acknowledged Ms. Baker-Latimer's work with state and federal officials in this matter. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. REPORT ON LIBRARY PARKING LOT: City Manager Steve Schainker noted that in response to Coun. Wirth's request, Council members had received a report on the number of reserved spaces in the Library parking lot. He said a total of 22 spaces were reserved for long-term leases. Traffic Engineer Scott Logan said reserved spaces in the Library lot cost $15.00 compared with $20- $35 in most other City-owned lots. Coun. Wirth said that seemed like a low price for a prime location, but added it would be difficult to balance the needs of the lot's many users. Coun. Campbell noted the Council had set completion of a downtown development plan as one of its top priority goals for the next two years, and that a downtown parking study was to be a part of that goal. She said the Library lot issue should be included in that parking study. ORDINANCE CHANGING PRIVATE PARKING LOT REGULATION: Motion by Hoffman, Second by Wirth, to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance requiring owners of private parking lots to post adequate signage before police officers would ticket unauthorized vehicles. Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said Police officers are currently obligated to ticket any unauthorized vehicles parked in commercial, institutional or multi-unit residential parking lots when requested by the property owner or manager, regardless of whether adequate signage is visible. He said in these instances, the decision to tow a vehicle is not made by the Police, but because of the ticket, the vehicle owners complain to the Police if their vehicle is towed. He said many of these complaints revolve around the fact that there were no signs posted indicating parking restrictions. He said the proposed ordinance would require signs to be posted before tickets would be issued. He said property owners who didn't wish to post signage would still have a legal right to have vehicles towed from their property, but the Police would not be involved in those instances. Economic Development Coordinator Mark Reinig said both the Downtown and Campustown Betterment Associations had expressed opposition to the proposed ordinance. Coun. Parks said while it was an aggravation to have one's car towed, 85-90% of those that are towed know they are parking in a restricted area. He said he could sympathize with the staff's situation, and felt it was appropriate that if businesses or multi-unit residences want the Police involved, they would need to post adequate signage. He said there might be more support for the proposed ordinance if the City could provide a prototype sign. Chief Ballantine noted the proposed ordinance pertained to commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential parking lots. He said single-family residences and duplexes would not need to post signs. Vote on Motion: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION PAYMENTS FOR SOUTH DUFF WIDENING: Motion by Campbell, Second by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-13 approving Right of Way acquisition payments for South Duff Widening Project. City Manager Steve Schainker said staff was trying to amicably negotiate these right of way purchases, and said they may have to ask Council for authorization to initiate condemnation proceedings in the future. There was discussion about the amount needed from each of the remaining properties. Roll Call Vote: 4-0 Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. CLOSED SESSION: Motion by Parks, Second by Hoffman, to hold a closed session as provided by Section 20.17(3), Code of Iowa, to discuss collective bargaining agreements. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. The closed session began at 8:30 p.m. RECONVENE: Motion by Campbell, Second by Wirth, to reconvene the regular meeting. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. The regular meeting reconvened at 8:35 p.m. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-14 approving collective bargaining agreement with Ames Association of Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 625. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-15 approving collective bargaining agreement with International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234 (Blue Collar Unit). Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-16 approving collective bargaining agreement with Power Plant employees. Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-17 approving collective bargaining agreement with PPME, Local Union 2003 (Police Union). Roll Call Vote: 4-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. COMMENTS: City Manager Steve Schainker distributed copies of the recommended Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 1994/95 though 1998/99, and said copies were available in the City Clerk's Office and at the Library. He reminded Council of the CIP worksession scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., January 18, and said the approval of the CIP was scheduled for the meeting of January 25, 1994. Coun. Wirth said she thought the Council had planned to revisit the parking standards in South Campus area on Baker Street, and asked to be advised of that status. Coun. Hoffman said she had received a request for a 4-way stop at the intersection of Douglas and 5th Street. Couns. Wirth and Parks agreed that a stop would be appropriate at that intersection. Coun. Parks asked that staff investigate the possibility of eliminating the Right Turn on Red restriction at Kellogg and Main. Coun. Hoffman noted she had seen a truck double-parked on Lincoln Way in Campustown and interfering with traffic, rather than using the loading zone. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor