Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 01/18/1994MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL AMES, IOWA JANUARY 18, 1994 The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:10 p.m. 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, Tedesco, Wirth. Council Member Brown arrived late. DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD: Mayor Curtis presented the Government Finance Officers' Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 1993 to the City of Ames Finance Department. Finance Director Alice Carroll and Budget Officer Carol Collings accepted the award on behalf of the Finance Department. Mayor Curtis noted this was the 8th consecutive year the City has received this award. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT AND SCOPE OF WORK FOR LAND USE POLICY PLAN AND ORDINANCE UPDATE PROJECT: Motion by Campbell, Second by Tedesco, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 94-18 approving professional services contract and scope of work between RM Plan Group and City of Ames for LUPP and Ordinance Update Project. Planning and Housing Director Brian O'Connell reviewed the project tasks and citizen participation process proposed for this 18-month study, noting the consultant proposed making five trips to Ames, with each trip lasting two to three days. He explained that the proposal included two community- wide meetings, with the first scheduled for January 26, 1994. He said in addition, meetings would be held with the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Planning Policy Committee, and the Technical Advisory Team. He said focus groups would also be utilized for input during the process. He noted Council had received a copy of Staff's recommendations for the Planning Policy Committee. City Manager Steve Schainker said this project required compressing a substantial amount of work into a relatively short time period. Coun. Brown arrived at 5:25 p.m. Mr. O'Connell explained the importance of having a consultant's help with this study. He said in addition to the considerable amount of time and expertise required, a certain amount of objectivity would be necessary to complete the study. He said the issues currently facing the City may be more significant than those faced in the past 20 years, and Ames was presently at a point where a new perspective was needed. Coun. Parks asked whether the revision of the zoning ordinance and subdivision law would precede the LUPP study, and City Manager Schainker said both projects would be done simultaneously due to the time constraints. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes. City Manager Schainker noted that during its recent goal-setting session, the Council had identified groups to be included in the Policy Planning Committee. He distributed a memo to Council regarding the Committee's membership, and asked the Councilors to respond with their recommendations by the end of this week. Coun. Parks said it might be appropriate to have the GSB appoint one member for the ISU student/tenant category. There was consensus that Council members would submit a name in each area, for approval at the January 25, 1994 Council meeting. WORKSHOP OF FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN: City Manager Schainker distributed an updated projection sheet for the City's bonding capacity, saying that while the debt per capita figure was lower than the State limit, the City was closer to that limit than in past years due to the aggressive nature of General Obligation bond financing. Finance Director Alice Carroll reviewed the projection sheet, noting the proposed bond issues in 1994-95 total $9,154,550, with an actual balance available of $20,301,144. Mr. Schainker began the discussion of the proposed CIP for 1994-1999 by discussing proposed projects in the Public Safety category. He reviewed the proposal to complete the new Animal Control Facility, noting it was a FY 94-95 priority. He said he was recommending the allocation of $25,000 in local option funds, in addition to funds already budgeted, in order to complete the project. He reviewed how the bids for site development came in over the $210,000 budgeted amount. Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said a new request for bids for site preparation and a scaled- down building should be prepared by early March. Mr. Schainker reviewed other proposed Public Safety capital improvements, such as the purchase of a 100 ft. aerial ladder truck with 1250 gallon per minute pump and ancillary equipment. There was discussion regarding how often such a truck was used. Coun. Parks asked Staff to consider investing in equipment that might significantly reduce development costs, i.e., a truck that allows for a tighter turning radius, before making this expenditure. Coun. Brown said she would like to make certain options such as a 15-year replacement policy have also been considered. Mr. Schainker and Public Works Director Paul Wiegand reviewed proposed Public Safety-Traffic projects, including U.S. Highway 69 Corridor improvements, long-range US 69 study, Scholl Road improvements, construction of bike paths, Central Business District sidewalk/street reconstruction, and South Duff Avenue intersection improvements. Mr. Schainker reviewed highlights of the proposed Utilities/Physical Environment capital improvement projects, including the ongoing Resource Recovery Plant renovations. He distributed a revised sheet of proposed Solid Waste Management Plan improvements. Water Department Director Tom Neumann reviewed proposed Water Treatment projects, including high service pump station control renovation, and the lime sludge disposal project. Under the Water Distribution category, he said it was proposed that an additional $100,000 in Water Utility funds be allocated for the system reinforcement of 4" supply lines to help with water pressure and rusty water problems in certain areas of the City. Mr. Schainker discussed proposed storm sewer projects, noting the proposed Plan included revenue to be derived from a separate Storm Sewer Utility Fund. He suggested the Council hold a worksession on this issue prior to the beginning of the budget hearings. He said the worksession could address the fund and other options, in addition to policy decisions regarding a level of service increase in handling runoff. Mr. Schainker discussed proposed Sanitary Sewer improvements, including increasing the annual commitment to the Footing Drain Program from $300,000 to $600,000, and the allocation of $150,000 in FY 94-95 for a consultant study of infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system. He said the proposed plans in this category were aggressive in response to citizen concerns heard throughout the past year. Water Department Director Tom Neumann reviewed two new projects in the Water Pollution Control category: the ongoing maintenance repair of WPC Plant equipment and the installation of one or more on-site wind generators to supplement the power requirements at the Plant. Electric Department Director Merlin Hove reviewed highlights of the proposed Electric Program capital improvements, including the Load Management Program involving utility controls to reduce peak demand by interrupting power to designated customer uses. Coun. Parks left the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Hove noted a revised page had been distributed regarding the Bloomington Road 69 kv transmission line relocation project. Mr. Schainker and Public Works Director Paul Wiegand reviewed the projects proposed under the Streets/Engineering category, including reconstruction of Hoover Avenue and 30th Street intersection, R-50 widening, Bloomington Road paving from Hoover East to Grand Avenue, and reconstruction of Hyland Avenue from Ontario Road to Lincoln Way. Mr. Wiegand discussed proposed street maintenance projects such as slurry seal and seal coating projects to prolong the life of the streets. Mr. Schainker said it had been determined that the Parking Fund will not have sufficient revenue to handle the proposed $65,000 parking lot rehabilitation projects. He said it would be a policy decision for Council whether to identify another funding source, delay the project, or consider raising meter rates to generate more revenue. He suggested the Council postpone a decision on this issue until the upcoming budget hearings. Cy-Ride Director Bob Bourne reviewed highlights of the proposed Transportation/Transit improvements, including the purchase of one residential lot for construction of a bus turnaround at the corner of California and Ontario, new bus acquisition, and installation of bus stop benches. He discussed the possibility of a joint meeting between the Council and the Transit Board in the near future to discuss policy direction issues, and the Council members indicated such a meeting might be scheduled once the February budget hearings were concluded. City Manager Schainker reviewed highlights of proposed Airport improvements, including the Airport Master Plan update, and apron and taxiway improvements. Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Carroll discussed highlights of the Parks and Recreation projects, including the construction of the Park Maintenance Facility, upgrades to security lighting systems, hardsurfaced walkways and handicapped accessible water fountains in parks, and playground equipment replacement. She said the proposed Homewood Golf Course improvements were derived from surveys of users, and new tees and greens were pinpointed as the highest priorities. She noted the proposed plan to provide handicapped accessible restrooms for Bandshell Park included working with neighbors and the Historic Preservation Commission for review prior to implementation. City Manager Schainker reviewed the proposed replacement of the Library's 1985 addition membrane roof, and phased replacement of the carpet in public areas of the Library. Mr. Schainker noted the proposed CIP included a recommended $50,000 undesignated local option tax funds to be allocated in FY 1994-95, 95-96, 97-98, and 98-99 to implement portions of the Ames Plan, such as entrances, villages, and linkages. Equipment Services Director Paul Hinderaker reviewed highlights of the proposed City Maintenance Facility Building improvements. City Manager Schainker thanked the Council for taking the time for this worksession. He said copies of the CIP were available at the Library and at the City Clerk's Office. He said there would be an opportunity for public input on the Plan at the January 25 Council meeting. Motion by Tedesco, Second by Campbell, to set 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 1994 as the date of a Special Meeting in order to hold a worksession on the proposedStorm Sewer Utility Fund. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. COMMENTS: Coun. Hoffman said she had received materials from a company that sells banners, which she would give to the Convention Bureau Board and encourage them to buy banners for the City. Coun. Tedesco noted he would be moderating the informational meeting on the City's Boards and Commissions, which was being sponsored by the League of Women Voters this Thursday, January 20. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor