Voluntary Annexation in North Ames

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 26. Energy Audit for City of Ames buildings.
  One of the first implementation steps of the City's Climate Action Plan involves retrofitting municipal buildings. This agenda item involves hiring a consultant to help us determine which projects on City buildings can provide the most climate value for the cost. 
  
  
• 27. Resolution approving the reallocation of $11,250 towards Homelessness Outreach.
  Recently, Council had allocated $15k to go towards convening service providers and also conducting outreach with homeless populations. The City is now suggesting moving forward with an outreach team that consists of ARCH (Alternative Resources for Community Health), the Ames PD Mental Health Advocate, and a Mary Greeley Medical Center social worker. The $11,250 remaining from the original $15,000 will be directed to this purpose.
  
  
• 28. Staff Report on Community-wide Inclusion Plan Models.
  Staff have provided a review of other communities approaches to inclusion plans. At this time, staff recommend continuing to work on fostering deeper connections with underrepresented populations, but they suggest that hiring a consultant to do a further Study or Plan may not be needed at this time.
  
  
• 29. Request for Initiation of Voluntary Annexation Within North Ames of Multiple Properties Generally Between George W. Carver Avenue and Hyde Avenue.
  A large piece of land north of Ames is now requesting annexation, and Council will be asked to decide if the City should also pursue annexing non-consenting land as part of an "80/20" annexation. (In Iowa, up to 20% non-consenting property can be annexed as part of an annexation to prevent the creation of islands of county property within a City, and for uniform borders.)
  
  
  
• 30. Workiva Economic Development Agreement Employment Calculation.
  In 2013, the State of Iowa and the City of Ames provided an incentive to Workiva on the condition that they would create 700 jobs. Workiva is reporting the creation of 164 jobs within the state, well short of their initial pledge of 700. The original agreement with the City said jobs "in Ames", but Council is being asked to consider all jobs created within the state toward this total. Given this shortfall, Workiva will pay back $1.42 million in previously abated tax.
  
  
• 31. Animal Shelter Relocation Project Update.
  This is a very exciting development in the City's need for an updated Animal Control facility. Staff learned late last year that the former Eagle's Loft daycare building (north on Dayton) might be available for purchase. This building and site have a lot of potential, so a design consultant will provide an estimate to Council within the next month on the cost and process to relocate the Animal Shelter to this site.
  
  
• 33. Hearing on Text Amendments to Chapter 23 Conservation Subdivision Ordinance.
  Back in November, Council directed staff to bring back changes to the the ordinance that governs development in the Ada Hayden watershed. Most notably, a requirement for 80% of lots in a given development to abut open space was removed and the requirement for set-aside open space in developments was reduced from 25% to 10%. Staff recommend adding some language requiring stormwater management practices that reduce certain pollutants before they flow into Ada Hayden.
  
  
• 38. Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus Location Updates.
  Ames is moving forward with a plan to decommission the current Resource Recovery plant, and build a waste sorting, recycling, and transfer center. A few potential locations are listed by staff, and Council is being asked to consider them or suggest any other potential locations to pursue.

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

• EV charging stations .
  
• Ames-US30 ,
  
• Ames-I35 .
  
• Ames resolution request.
  

Ames City Council, Ward 1
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen

Special Meeting: Goal Update Session

Bronwyn's Council Preview

TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

Special Meeting of the Ames City Council: Goal Update Session

The Ames City Council meeting is on Saturday, January 11 8:30am at the Ames Water Treatment Plant East Conference Room 1800 E 13th Street. 

Every year, Council gets together in January to review goals set the previous year, measure progress, and update goals for the current year. The agenda will be linked to here when it is made available by the city.

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Electric Services Long Range Plan

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

 

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 15. FY 2024/25 Fall Downtown Facade Grants.
  Four applications were received and three are proposed to receive funding, for a total of $61,785.  The buildings affected include 220 Main St, 504 Burnett Ave, and 409 Douglas Ave. 
  
  
• 17. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Proposed Operating Budget 
  Staff are presenting their proposal for the FFIAC annual budget, including estimates for personnel, maintenance, and other costs such as utilities and other facilities expenses. Several charts are included in the staff report, such as costs for Furman, and how much both facilities might cost together, given some shared costs for both staff and maintenance.
  
  
• 18. Hearing on Amendment to the City-wide Urban Revitalization Area Designation and Plan.
  In an effort to encourage housing development that meets our Climate Action Plan goals, Council recently approved an incentive for all-electric houses built with solar installations at the time of construction. This agenda item amends our URA Plan to include this incentive.
  
  
• 24. Presentation on Electric Services Long Range Plan 
  Council and staff have been grappling with the future of our electric production, given the phasing out of burning RDF (refuse-derived fuel), among other factors. We also have old infrastructure at the power plant that needs eventual replacement. This staff report outlines the issues and how staff recommend we begin to navigate them.
  
  
• 25. Budget Guidelines
  This agenda item includes a review of the upcoming year's budget issues, such as local option sales tax projections, outside funding and ASSET requests, and input about budgeting priorities gathered from residents and groups. Council will be asked to give direction on ASSET, COTA, and outside funding allocations. 

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

• All electric homes. 
  
• Downtown Master Plan status.
  

Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Staff Report regarding Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

 

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 19. Resolution authorizing Public Art Commission to enter into agreements with artists for 2024/25 Ames Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition selections.
  Every year, the PAC selects a number of sculptures for display in downtown Ames. (Once sculptures have been on display, neighborhoods can apply to have the sculptures relocated to neighborhoods or other public areas.)
  
  
• 23. Zoning Text Amendment to allow Social Service Providers in the Single-Family Conservation Overlay (O-SFC) Zoning District with approval of Special Use Permit for certain Properties abutting Commercial Zoning.
  This ordinance first reading is back after the last Council meeting, when we directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would allow only one additional site to be used by a social service provider in the O-SFC zoning district.
  
  
• 27. Preliminary Plat for 4925 and 5299 Lincoln Way - Sunset Ridge Subdivision, 12th Addition
  Both this item and item 28 below relate to a subdivision in the Sunset Ridge area of west Ames. Just under 29.5 acres will be divided into one lot for a single-family home and outlots for future development of homes and church (the church would still require a special use permit from the Zoning Board of Adjustment). 
  
  
• 28. Final Plat for 4925 and 5299 Lincoln Way - Sunset Ridge Subdivision, 12th Addition.
  See above description
  
  
• 31. Solid Waste Management Strategies.
  Staff are asking Council to approve the concept of negotiating with the Carroll County landfill, since our contract with Boone County's landfill is set to expire.
  
  
• 32. 2024 City Boards and Commission Survey Results.
  In an effort to better understand how to involve more people in service on boards and commissions, a voluntary survey was offered to current board and commission members. The survey asked them about parts of service they enjoyed, didn't enjoy, what barriers they perceived to serving, and what else the City might do to involve residents on our boards and commissions.
  
  
• 33. Staff Report regarding Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center proposed facility schedule, survey, and fee schedule.
  Staff are presenting Council with a proposed schedule and fee structure for the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center (FFIAC). It is proposed that during the summer, when Furman Aquatic Center is open, the FFIAC would open on a more limited schedule, because staffing both facilities fully might pose a challenge. In inclement weather, if Furman closes, the FFIAC could potentially be open instead. 
  
  
• 35. Hearing on 2019/20 Storm Water Erosion Control Program (Ioway Creek - 6th to 13th St).
  This project will reshape a portion of Ioway Creek as it runs through Brookside. 

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

• Updating text message alerts.
• All way stop Kent and Aspen.
• Street light referral response.
  

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Steven L. Schainker Plaza Update

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

 

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 1. Motion setting December 10, 2024, as date of public hearing for amendment to the FFY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program.
  This AAMPO item is for a small amendment to the 2025 TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) in order to leverage federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funding.
  
  
• 7. Motion accepting the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Monthly Update
  Next step in construction is putting up the precast concrete panels, which is (always tentatively) scheduled to begin in early December. Staff will also bring back a proposed budget and fee schedule at the December 10th meeting, along with survey results from public input efforts. 
  
  
• 21. Zoning Text Amendment for Social Service Provider Use within the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District.
  Council visited this topic most recently on October 8th, and it is back on our agenda, with modified options. Input from a public meeting was included in the staff report, and Council has gotten many emails on this topic. The original request came from the Romero House, who would like to be able to offer day services (laundry, showers, shared meals, fellowship (both religious and otherwise) for those in need at their new property at 702 Clark Ave.
  After feedback received at the public meeting, the options presented by staff have changed slightly, with a limit that could allow the Romero house to continue in its present location but not allow for any further spread of social service providers. 
  
  
• 22. Request to Initiate a Text Amendment to Allow for a Temporary Events in the Agricultural Zoning District for a Renaissance Fair located at 1400 South Fourth Street.
  This item follows a request from the property owner of the old Haunted Forest location on S 4th St. This site was home to a renaissance festival in April, and they'd like to come back. The site is currently zoned agricultural, and no development is allowed because of its location in the floodplain. Staff present a few options if Council is interested in allowing special events through a review process in Ag Zoning. 
  
  
• 23. Preliminary Plat for 525 & 901 SE 16th Street.
  
  
• 24. Staff Report on Climate Action Plan Initial Implementation Steps to Incentivize Net-Zero-Ready New Construction.
  
  
• 25. Staff report on all-way stop study for Ada Hayden Road and McFarland Avenue Intersection.
  
  
• 27. Steven L. Schainker Plaza Update.
  
  
• 28. Hearing on preapproval of Industrial Tax Abatement for Wyffels Site Plan at 220 S. Teller Avenue.
  
  
• 29. Hearing on Ames Plan 2040 Future Land Use Map Designation Amendment from Employment to Residential Neighborhood-3 for 3200 and 3300 University Boulevard.
  
  
• 30. Hearing on Rezoning of 3200 and 3300 University Boulevard from "RI" (Research Park Innovation District) to "FS-RM" (Floating Suburban - Residential Medium Density) with a "PUD" Planned Unit Development Overlay and Master Plan / Major Site Development Plan.
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

•  Additional police patrol.
• LEED certified buildings insurance rates.
• Scenic Valley Neighborhood pedestrian light.
• Emails regarding zoning amendment O-SFC.
• Stonebrook Church traffic congestion.
• Extension request at 4008 Cochrane Pkwy.
• Crime in Ames.
• Kent Avenue.
• Recent traffic studies on Hyde Avenue.
• Speed concerns on Dotson Drive.
• Roosevelt Ave paving project concerns.
• Intersection alternative for 13th St And Grand Ave.
  

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

2024 Resident Survey Results, Voluntary Annexation, and Sanitary Sewer Extension

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

 

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 22. Presentation of the 2024 Resident Satisfaction Survey Results.
  Every year, residents are surveyed regarding satisfaction with a variety of City services and policies. The 2024 results show similar results to prior years, with mostly high satisfaction with City services. 
  
  
• 24. Final Minor Plat for Prairie View Industrial First Addition.
  This subdivision request will create 2 lots at 3700 E Lincoln Way. The applicant is requesting a 5-year deferral of the requirement to construct a sidewalk/path, rather than the more typical 3-year allowance for deferral.
  
  
• 27. Hearing on 2023/24 Ames Plan 2040 Sanitary Sewer Extension (S 500th Avenue County Line Road).
  
  
• 29. Voluntary Annexation of 142.95 Acres located in West Ames along Ontario Street, North 500th Avenue and Lincoln Way.
  This annexation request is from several property owners in West Ames, and is 100% voluntary (no non-consenting properties will be included in the annexation).
  
  
• 30. Hearing on Integrated Site Plan Subdivision, Major Site Development Plan, and Preliminary Plat for 1726 Collaboration Place.
  
  

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

•  E scooters.
•  913 Carroll Ave.
•  Text amendment.
•  Road rebuilding ISU Research Park.
•  Furniture Mart USA_
  
•  City Council request.
•  Downtown area.
•  Bike and Ped Master Plan next steps.

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1

Major Site Development Plan Within the Environmentally Sensitive Overlay

Bronwyn's Council Preview

 

YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AT THE FOLLOWING SITES:
https://www.youtube.com/ameschannel12
https://www.cityofames.org/channel12
or watch the meeting live on Mediacom Channel 12

 

Usually some of the agenda items will have a period where members of the public may briefly speak to Council.
TO REACH THE MAYOR AND ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL:
Send email to MayorCouncil@AmesCityCouncil.org
(Note that emails to elected officials are generally subject to Iowa Open Records requests)
 

MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL

The Ames City Council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The regular council meeting agenda includes the following. Note that you can generally click on individual agenda items below to get the full staff report or other explanation.

• 29. Resolution approving plans and specifications for Mini Pitch Court at Lloyd Kurtz Park (3710 Hyde Ave), setting October 23, 2024, as bid due date and November 12, 2024, as date of public hearing.
  A mini pitch court is a hard-surfaced, fenced in court for a variant of soccer called futsal. In February of 2024, Council directed staff to fund the installation of one mini-pitch court at Lloyd Kurtz Park at an estimated cost of $192,000 using the $150k of originally allocated funding plus $42k found in cost-savings from other parks projects. Now the estimated cost of the mini-pitch court and associated infrastructure is $338,401. Council is being asked whether to proceed with the installation, and how to fund the difference. Cost-savings from a handful of other completed Parks projects could cover some of the difference, getting us to $260,960 of the needed $338,401.
  
  
• 30. Request to Waive Infrastructure Requirements for Dayton Ridge Subdivision located within Rural Story County.
  This is a request from a property owner north of Ames on Dayton Ridge Parkway to divide their lot into 4 lots for rural residential development. They are seeking a waiver so they aren't required to install City-level infrastructure (paved roads with curb and gutter, sewer, etc.). This area is already designated as rural residential by Story County, and it isn't in a growth area of Ames, so staff recommend approving a conditional waiver.
  
  
• 31. Major Site Development Plan Within the Environmentally Sensitive Overlay at 1205 and 1399 S. Dayton Avenue.
  This Major Site Development Plan is being done after-the-fact. The owners of the property enlarged the pond (pictured below) without seeking any permits, even though it lies within the river's floodway and thus is subject to certain requirements. Upon review by staff and the engineers who enlarged the pond, it appears that all the requirements for approval of a Major Site Development Plan have been met, so staff recommend approval, but asked the property owners to please seek permits before doing work in the floodway. 
  
  
• 33. Hearing on Assessments for Snow/Ice Removal.
  After a snowfall, property owners have 10 daylight hours to remove accumulated snow/ice. If they fail to clear the snow and someone complains, the property owner is notified and given 24 hours more to clear the snow before the City will clear it for them and charge them. Some property owners then pay the charge, but others may not. In these cases, the cost of the service is assessed to the property owner. Council is being asked to approve a resolution assessing 4 properties the costs of snow and ice removal on January 25th and 27th, 2024.
  
  
• 34. Hearing on Assessments for Sidewalk Repair/Replacement.
  Similarly to snow and ice removal, sidewalk repairs are the responsibility of property owners in Ames. If the City receives a complaint about a sidewalk needing repairs, the property owner is notified and given a period of time to bring their sidewalk into compliance. If they don't, the City then hires the work done and may assess the charges back to the property owner. Because this work can be costly, city staff recommending spreading the payback period over 10 years. 

Communications to Council: The following items are requests and communications to Council that aren't published on the agenda, so we won't deliberate them substantially.This includes staff reports and communications or requests from constituents and developers. Typically, Council will ask city staff for more information, put the item on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action, or just accept the communication, taking no further action.

• Ride share electric scooters.
• 24th Street sidewalk.
• 2024 spring SPG final reports combined.
  

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
Ames City Council, Ward 1