HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 04/04/1991MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA APRIL 4, 1991
The Ames City Council met in special session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, 1991, in the City
Council Chambers of the City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Larry Curtis
presiding and the following members present: Brown, Campbell, Hertz, Hoffman, Parks, and Wirth.
AGREEMENT WITH MIDLAND HOMES, INC. - AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM:
Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Housing Coordinator, City Manager Schainker, and Mayor Curtis
summarized the important aspects of the City's 1991-1992 Affordable Housing Program for the
Council Members. They explained that an agreement has been reached with Midland Homes,
Inc. from Des Moines to build 15 single-family housing units in Ames using five different floor
planswith each costing under $65,000. None of the houses will have garages but each will have
a parking slab available for two cars with the space to build a garage on the property in the
future. The homes will be constructed along the south side of Ken Maril Road on property
purchased by Midland Homes, Inc. The City will provide $73,000 from Local Option Sales Tax
monies as incentives, some of which will be provided to the developer and some to the buyers.
The homes will be marketed entirely through the City. The City's greatest liability will be the
possible loss of a $10,000 initial good faith payment to Midland Homes, Inc. if the program
fails. Penalties will be enacted if a home is sold within the first five years after purchase by a
qualified buyer. It was announced that a lottery will be held Saturday, April 6, 1991, at 10:00
a.m. to determine the first 50 applicants to be screened to see if they qualify for the program.
Ground breakings for the first five houses will be held at noon on the same day.
Moved by Brown, seconded by Campbell, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 91-100 approving the
Project Agreement between the City of Ames and Midland Homes, Inc. in connection with the
City's Affordable Housing Program and authorizing payment of the $10,000 initial good faith
payment to Midland Homes, Inc. from the available balance in this fiscal year's budget.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
AGREEMENT WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS - AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAM: The highlights of the agreement that was negotiated with five local banks were
presented by Mayor Curtis, City Manager Schainker, and Ms. Baker-Latimer. They informed
the Council of the restrictions that will be placed on the home buyers by this agreement. They
also stressed that financial counseling sessions will be held with prospective qualified buyers
prior to purchase.
Moved by Campbell, seconded by Hoffman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 91-101 approving the
Financial Agreement between the City of Ames and Midland Savings Bank, Ames Savings bank,
First National Bank, American State Bank, and United Bank and Trust in connection with the
City's Affordable Housing Program.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
Mayor Curtis left and Mayor Pro Tem Parks took over the meeting.
ANNEXATION OF YARD WASTE SITE: Moved by Brown, seconded by Hoffman, to refer a
request for annexation of the Yard Waste Site at the Municipal Airport to the Planning and
Zoning Commission.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
HEARING ON ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE AT 307 ASH AVENUE: Mayor Pro Tem Parks
declared the hearing open. City Attorney Klaus explained the various options open to the City
in dealing with the clean-up of the fire debris on property located at 307 Ash Avenue, which is
owned by Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He said that the Council could proceed with hiring a
contractor to clean up the property now and place a lien on the property in hopes of recovering
the cost of the clean-up if they see a need for speed in this matter. However, he informed the
Council that First National Bank has stated their intention to clean up the property after June 5,
1991, if the property reverts to their ownership. He said that if the City is willing to wait until
after June 5th to have the property cleared, the chances of the City losing money as a result of
the clean-up will be reduced. He pointed out that in the meantime, liability for the property rests
with the fraternity and the bank.
Mike Flynn, First National Bank, told the Council that the bank is now in the process of
foreclosing on the subject property, which is fenced to keep the public out. He said that several
interested parties have contacted the bank about purchasing this property and he would foresee
clean-up occurring very shortly after ownership is obtained by the bank. There were no further
comments and the hearing was declared closed.
Moved by Hoffman, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 91-102 directing Staff
to wait until after June 5, 1991, to proceed with the abatement of the nuisance caused by a fire
at Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity on property located at 307 Ash Avenue.
Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and
hereby made a portion of these minutes.
Moved by Brown, seconded by Hoffman, to direct Staff not to proceed with a contract with
ConStruct, Inc. for clean-up of the property located at 307 Ash Avenue.
Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously.
AMENDMENT TO SOLID WASTE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Paul Wiegand, Director of
Public Works, explained the request received from Ames/Story Environmental Landfill
regarding an amendment to the Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan.
Moved by Brown, seconded by Wirth, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 91-103 approving the
requested amendment to the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, with the exception
for public facilities accepting bottom/fly ash, and the waiver of the separation distance
requirement between the City of Ames Landfill and the Ames/Story Environmental Landfill, to
allow a twenty foot separation distance. Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Resolution declared carried
unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby made a portion of these minutes.
COMMENTS: Council Member Brown asked Staff for an update on plans for the skateboard ramp.
It was decided to hold a joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission at 5:30 p.m.
on May 7, 1991. Council Member Hoffman asked Staff to investigate a huge heave in the street
in the 3300 block of Ross Road.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
_________________________________________________________________________
Nancy Dionigi, City Clerk Larry R. Curtis, Mayor