Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda June 9th, 2009

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This council meeting's agenda is relatively light this Tuesday. The Meeting starts at 7:00 pm.  The agenda includes:

• Item 34 --  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Ames has $544,000 of federal stimulus money to spend for Energy Efficiency and Conservation. Several of you have emailed me suggestions for these funds (thank you). The council will now work to narrow the possibilities down to one or two programs.
  
• Item 38 -- Gas Franchise Ordinance. Twenty-five years ago the voters of Ames approved a franchise agreement with Interstate Power and Light (then Iowa Electric Light and Power) to operate a natural gas utility within the City of Ames. That agreement is up for renewal. The City staff has been in negotiations with IPL for the last 3 months. City staff is asking Council for direction on some sticking points in the negotiations. Note the state legislature now allows for franchise fees and now does not require a referendum for approval (one may be initiated by petition).
  

Jim Popken
City Council At Large

Disclaimer: My intent of this communication is to give you a heads up on items coming to the city council. I may state some of my impressions and leanings here. I will, however, try to avoid staking out a position on issues before the council meeting occurs. I feel that I should avoid committing to any positions until I have heard and considered all the public input at the council meeting before a vote.

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