HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 09/08/1994MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA SEPTEMBER 8, 1994
The Ames City Council met in special session at 5:15 p.m., September 8, 1994, in Conference Room
235 in the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Curtis presiding and the
following Council Members present: Campbell, Hoffman, Parks, Tedesco and Wirth. Coun. Brown
arrived late.
AMENDMENT TO CITY OF AMES NOISE ORDINANCE: Economic Development
Coordinator Mark Reinig explained how the Downtown Betterment Association wished to use a
cannon periodically in various places downtown to produce noise that would frighten birds away.
He said they were proposing the cannon be used in a two-hour time period, approximately 7:00 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m.
City Attorney John Klaus explained there was currently no exception to the City's Noise Ordinance
prohibiting noise over 90 decibels. He said a proposed amendment would allow an exception to the
ordinance for any activities occurring on Federal, State, County, School District, or City property
when authorized by appropriate authorities for that jurisdiction.
Motion by Parks, Second by Campbell, to pass on first reading an ordinance
amending the Municipal Code with regard to noise permits.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Campbell, Second by Parks, to suspend the rules required for the
adoption of an ordinance.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
Motion by Hoffman, Second by Parks, to pass on second and third readings
ORDINANCE NO. 3292 amending the Municipal Code With Regard to Noise Permits.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously, signed by
the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
There was discussion regarding the DBA's requests. Mr. Reinig said the itemized costs were
submitted to show how the DBA was planning to handle this situation.
WORKSHOP ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN: City Manager Steve Schainker
noted a Downtown Development Plan was designated as one of the Council's Top Priority Goals at
their Strategic Planning Session in January of 1994. He said now that the Hospital Ownership and
Land Use Policy Plan goals are close to accomplishment, it was time to begin working toward the
accomplishment of this goal as well. He said the purpose of this worksession was to seek Council's
direction on the following:
A. A definition of "Downtown", i.e., determine the boundaries of the
study area
B. A list of issues that affect this area, from which a Request for
Proposals can be developed to hire a consultant to help with the Plan
C. Approval of membership of a steering committee of a broad business
person/citizen representation to work with Staff to further identify
concerns in the study area to be addressed by the Plan.
Coun. Brown arrived at 5:20 p.m.
DEFINITION OF STUDY AREA: City Manager Schainker referred to the diagram designated
Central Commercial District Development Plan, which identified the following four areas: Area #1-
Downtown; Area #2-Lincoln Way; Area #3-South 4th Street; Area #4-South Duff Avenue.
Coun. Parks expressed concern that the broader the study area, the longer the amount of time
required to alleviate the current downtown parking shortage. He suggested a two-tier Plan be
developed, first focusing on the parking in Area #1, then addressing the broader area.
Coun. Tedesco said he felt Areas #1 and #2 needed to be included as a minimum study area. He said
to focus only on Main Street would be short-sighted.
Coun. Hoffman agreed it was important to tie Areas #1 and #2 together, and to focus on parking
issues in both.
Coun. Wirth said she agreed with the 2-tier suggestion. She said the parking issue needed to be dealt
with early on.
Coun. Campbell said they should make certain any study of Area #4 was not counter-productive to
the Michael Freedman study of that area.
Planning and Housing Director Brian O'Connell noted the entire area would receive land use focus
from the LUPP study, but not design detail.
City Manager Schainker referred to a series of overhead diagrams designating the following
Commercial District Development issues for each of the four areas: Transportation; Land
Use/Development; Design/Ordinance; Image; and Other. He suggested the Council might direct
Staff to look at a broad area for the overall concept, then specific design plans may only concentrate
on Areas #1 and #2.
There was discussion regarding the time frame for the Plan's development, and City Manager
Schainker suggested the following tentative schedule:
Steering Committee formed by 10/30/94
RFP to Council by 12/1/94
Consultant hired by 1/31/95
Plan completed by 9/1/95
STEERING COMMITTEE: There was discussion regarding the composition of a steering
committee comprised of individuals with interests in the study area, and there was consensus that
a property owner and merchant from each of the following groups be considered:
Downtown Betterment Association, and one downtown business person who is not a member of the
DBA
Chamber of Commerce
South Duff Betterment Association
Lincoln Neighborhood
Old-Town Neighborhood
Major Retailers
Major Employers
Lincoln Way Representatives
Coun. Tedesco suggested a staff member of the DOT be considered as well. He said there were
often strong managers of properties with absent landlords, and said those managers might also be
considered.
There was further discussion of boundaries of the study areas, and the Councilors agreed tier 1 of
the Study should consist of designated areas #1 and #2.
There was discussion of issues involved in each of the designated areas.
Assistant City Manager Bob Kindred noted the issues addressed in the overall concept for Area #4
should mirror the LUPP recommendations for a Southern Growth Corridor.
There was discussion regarding the hiring of a consultant to help with the development of the plan.
Coun. Tedesco said he would like to see an Iowa-oriented consultant hired. Coun. Campbell said
she didn't believe geography should play as important a role as the ability to address the City's needs.
OUTREACH MEETINGS WITH PTA/PTO GROUPS: Public Relations Officer Pam Reinig
updated the Council on scheduling outreach opportunities with PTA/PTO groups, and said she
would send reminder notices to Council members.
COMMENTS: Coun. Hoffman said she'd received a request that the curb from 3830 Phoenix be
repainted west to the corner.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Sandra L. Ryan, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor