Former Ames Iowa Councilperson Jim Popken (2006-2009)

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda January 12th, 2010

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:06:04 +0000

Many of you have asked if the newsletter will continue. The newsletter will continue. I am in the process of transitioning the newsletter to a sitting councilperson. This transition should occur by the end of January or so. I will assist with the newsletter as needed for the foreseeable future.

This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 19 -- Staff report and Feasibility Study on 6th Street bridge over Squaw Creek. Report evaluating the possible replacement of the 6th Street bridge over the Squaw Creek (automotive bridge) .
Item 20 -- Motion providing direction to staff regarding donation of abandoned Union Pacific railroad bridge over Squaw Creek. Union Pacific has offered to give a bridge to the city (just south of the active RR bridge over Squaw Creek). This could serve as both historic preservation and as a safe access for bicycles to cross the creek as the 6th St bridge bike ways are too narrow for bicycles to meet.
Item 24-- Hearing on Major Site Development Plan for 2630 Stange Road. A proposal to develop the empty lot at the corner of Stange and Northridge Parkway.

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Dec 22, 2009

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:22:30 +0000

There is a reception for the out-going council members at 6:30 (before the meeting) this Tuesday December 22 at the council chambers. You are invited to attend. Please stop by if you are able.

Tuesday is my last council meeting as council memeber at large. Serving on the Ames City Council has been rewarding, challenging and demanding. I will miss it. Many of you have sent messages of thanks and kindness to me. Thank you for those words. I have made many new friends in the last four years and I value those friendships greatly. I thank the community of Ames for giving me the opportunity to serve them.

Many of you have asked if the newsletter will continue. The newsletter will continue. I am in the process of transitioning the newsletter to a sitting councilperson. This transition will occur over the next four weeks or so. I will assist with the newsletter as needed for the foreseeable future.

This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 17 -- Motion to accept/not accept donation of abandoned Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over Squaw Creek (postponed from 11/24/09). The UP has offered to give a railroad bridge to the city. Is the bridge an assest or a liability? That's the question the council needs to answer.
Item 18 -- Motion directing Historic Preservation Commission to proceed with listing the Ames Public Library on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Ames Historic Preservation Commission requested to be allowed to apply for National Register status for the current Ames Public Library building. The library board has requested that the council postpone action until the joint meeting between the library board and the council.
Item 20 -- Land Use Policy Plan Update (postponed from 12/08/09). The city council directed the city staff to provide a LUPP status update. The resulting report summarizes the growth of the city relative to the LUPP projections.
The plot below compares the projections of the LUPP relative to the life of the plan. That is, the city is through about 36% of the LUPP planning period. Thus the city should be at about 36% of the projected growth for employment, housing and population. Ames is ahead of the LUPP projections in employment, housing and population.

See the report for more info about the LUPP and the current growth of Ames.
Item 21 -- Staff report on sidewalk snow removal policies (postponed from 12/08/09). In past years there have been several sidewalks that are not cleared in a timely manner. This report outlines some options that the city staff could take to improve sidewalk snow removal. I believe that the vast majority of properity owners do a good and timely job of snow removal. However the city needs to address the minority of property owners that are chronically late in removing the snow. What I mean by chronically late are sidewalks that repeatedly have not been cleaned 5 to 7 days after a snow.
Item 22 - Resolution awarding contract to Coal Sales LLC (Peabody) of St. Louis, Missouri, for Coal Supply. It is interesting to note that most of the cost of fuel is the transportation cost, not the purchase cost of coal at the mine.

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Dec 8, 2009

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:30:01 +0000

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This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 15 -- Motion directing Historic Preservation Commission to proceed with listing the Ames Public Library on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Ames Historic Preservation Commission requested to be allowed to apply for National Register status for the current Ames Public Library building.
Item 16 -- Resolution approving NewLink Genetics Corporation Forgivable Loan Agreement. In September 2005, City Council approved a $200,000 forgivable loan to NewLink Genetics Corporation. The company has not used those funds and is now ready to move forward and is requesting minor modifications to the terms.
Item 21 -- Land Use Policy Plan Update. The city council directed the city staff for a LUPP status update. The resulting report summarizes the growth of the city relative to the LUPP projections. It's interesting to note that the highest growth rate for the city has occurred in the last 3 years (2006 through 2008).

The plot below compares the projections of the LUPP relative to the life of the plan. That is, the city is through about 36% of the LUPP planning period. Thus the city should be at about 36% of the projected growth for employment, housing and population. Ames is well ahead of the LUPP projections in employment, housing and population.

See the report for more info about the LUPP and the current growth of Ames.
Item 22 -- Motion directing City Attorney to draft ordinance revising snow route designations. This report reflects some adjustments in the Snow Route ordinance in order to more efficiently remove snow.
Item 23 -- Staff report on sidewalk snow removal policies. In past years there have been several sidewalks that are not cleared in a timely manner. This report outlines some options that the city staff could take to improve sidewalk snow removal. I believe that the vast majority of property owners do a good and timely job of snow removal. However the city needs to address the minority of property owners that are chronically late in removing the snow.

Ames Ward 3 Election Tomorrow

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:37:19 +0000

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If you live in Ames Ward 3 don't forget to vote tomorrow. You can find your polling location by ward/precinct or by address.

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Nov 24, 2009

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:29:41 +0000

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This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 17 -- Motion to accept/not accept donation of abandoned Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over Squaw
Creek. The UP Railroad has offered to give the city the old bridge on Squaw Creek south of 6th street. The city staff report points out several risks in accepting the offer. I support the report's alternative 2 of conditional acceptance. The bicycle crossings of Squaw Creek in this area have always been inadequate. As a bicyclist, I am always apprehensive meeting other bicycles and pedestrians on the 6th street bridge or the South 4th Street bridge (particularly with a younger bicyclist). The bicycle way is too narrow and has a drop off to the street on both bridges. This opportunity to construct a creek crossing that can comfortably accommodate two lanes of bicyclists should not be missed.
Item 18 -- Ames Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan and Plan Report. This item would adopt the historic report and the preservation plan.
Item 20 -- Fund-raising Feasibility Study for Public Library (report A and B). The library board is asking the council for additional money for a feasibility study. The study will assess the probability of a bond issue passing and investigate possibilities of private donations.
Item 24 -- Home School, Inc. is in the process of moving their headquarters to Ames. This is an economic development project for the city of Ames and the State of Iowa. They have increased the employment projections and are now committing to the creation of 130 jobs in Ames. They are also asking for a tax abatement (in addition to the forgivable loan the city has previously committed to).

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Nov 10, 2009

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:51:01 +0000

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This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 20 -- Staff report on Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Long-Range Transportation computer model.The is a good report from the city staff on the transportation model. This model is used to plan for future roads, streets, bicycle paths and bus services. Often times a traffic engineer brings forth a model with the built in solutions and presents it as complete. Then a city goes forward with very expensive road improvements. The report is clear that the model needs input from the policy makers as well as the technicians before it is complete and projects are deemed necessary.
Item 24 -- Hearing on Ames Police Shooting Range. The police shooting range has been closed for the past year or so. This expenditure is for the remodeling of the range for safe operation and is a must. This will allow our police to do firearms training safely and in a timely maner.
Item 25 -- First passage of Drug Paraphernalia Ordinance. I still have concerns about making normally legal items illegal. The city staff report states that the state law is similar in scope to the proposed ordinance and that the state law is based on a model ordinance. I would support adopting the state law as our ordinance (see the very end of the 10/13/09 report for current state law). It is certainly more succinct and likely has withstood the test of time in the courts across the state.

Support Miller for Ames City Council at Large

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:20:02 +0000

I am voting for Mike Miller for City Council at Large. Mike owns a small business in Ames. He is a council candidate who has actually created jobs in Ames. He has a long history of successful leadership on both city and community non-profit boards. Mike doesn't complain about change not happening --- Mike steps up and makes change happen. Mike has demonstrated that he can lead and that people will follow. Mike is independent of special interest PACs. He has the broad experience needed to lead the city through these difficult times. I invite you to vote for Mike Miller on November 3rd.

I was moved to announce my preference for the at large council seat after seeing the candidate's Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board reports.

I think it is instructive to see the amount of and where the candidates are getting their financial support. The Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board requires that all candidates file discloser reports by 10/29/2009. Peter Orazem's report indicated he raised $12,801.00. Mike Miller's report indicated he raised $4,898.12 .

The table below summarizes individual campaign contributions of over $300 for each candidate (for smaller contributions see Peter Orazem's report and Mike Miller's report.)

Peter Orazem
Iowa Realtors PAC	$1,500.00	McGee, Dorothy	$500.00
HBA (Home Builders of Ames) Build PAC	$800.00
Pike, Harold	$500.00
Hunziker, Dean	$400.00
Hunziker, Erben and Margaret	$400.00
Becker, Jeff	$400.00
Underwood, Roger C	$400.00
Total individual contributions over $300	$4,400.00		$500.00

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Oct 27, 2009

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:39:23 +0000

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Transportation Plan

This week's meeting starts at 7:00 in city council chambers. The agenda includes:

Item 21 -- Report on Northwest Growth Priority Area Sanitary Sewer Concept Study. The current land use plan has growth to the northwest. The council directed staff to study the cost of the sanitary sewer for that area. This report details those costs. There is a proposal for development in this area (Field Stone). The developer is asking for city financing of the sanitary sewer. Growth in the area will also require a railroad overpass on North Dakota Avenue to provide the required timely emergency services (ballpark cost of 5 to 7 million).
Item 22 -- Discussion of Targeted Growth Alternatives Study. The city's land use plan has a target growth policy. The idea being that it will save tax payers money by investing in infrastructure in designated areas versus growing infrastructure in all directions.
At the Special Meeting of the Ames City Council -- Sept 29th, 2009 council directed city staff to take steps to go forward with a settlement of the "Rose Prairie" (area just west of Ada Hayden) law suit (see motion to engage in settlement talks). I have always been skeptical of northern growth because of growth costs (see financial impact of northern growth) and environmental impact. Growing northwest compared north is less expensive.

At the Sept 29th meeting I stated that I would not support the needed steps for a settlement if the city's land use plan included growth in all directions. While growing north is more expensive than growing northwest, growing in both directions surely is a waste of tax payer's money. I expect to change the status of the northwest in the land use plan if this settlement is to go forward.
Item 23 -- Resolution approving Downtown Facade Grant for property located at 230-234 Main Street. This a facade grant application for the current Lazy M Shoe Store. It looks to be an improvement.
Item 26 -- Hearing on issuance of debt for Water Treatment Plant Project (design and land acquisition) in an amount not to exceed $6,249,000. The growth of Ames has out stripped the capacity of city's current water treatment plant. There are costs to growth and this is one of them. On July 14, 2009, the City Council decided to move forward with a new 15-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant. The plant will be financed by revenue bonds (rate payers).

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Oct 20, 2009

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:39:32 +0000

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The agenda includes:

Item 2 -- Presentation of the Impact of Climate Change on Cities by Professor Gene Takle. The council will have a presentation by Dr. Eugene S Takle on global climate change and how climate change affects Ames. Dr. Takle participated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
I expect there to be questions on what Ames needs to do to prepare for the coming climate change. What are the near term impacts? Will there be more freeze thaw cycles that will impact our streets? Are there more rain events expected that may impact our flood plains?

Also check out Ames 350.org International Day of Climate Action event taking place on the afternoon of Saturday, October 24, 2009, in the Council chamber room at City Hall and adjacent locations.

Please see the schedule and list of speakers giving very brief presentations.

Premeeting comments on Ames City Council agenda Oct 13, 2009

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:44:50 +0000

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Check out the web sites of council candidates.

The agenda includes:

Item 30 -- Motion directing City Attorney to draft ordinance revising composting regulations. Several people have talked with me about the fact that the composting of kitchen scraps in not allowed under current city code. The council (by my motion) directed staff to evaluate changing the code to allow composting of kitchen scraps. This is the resulting city staff report. I support allowing the composting of non-meat kitchen scraps.
Item 31 -- Motion directing City Attorney to draft a new Drug Paraphenalia Ordinance, I have a concern about making items with lawful uses illegal (like kitchen scales, sieves, spoons, coffee filters, etc).
Item 35 -- Resolution approving Downtown Facade Grant for property located at 426 5^th Street . Another grant to improve a historic downtown building (Moore's Dairy building).
Item 37 -- Hearing on amendment to Zoning Ordinance pertaining to solar energy systems and allowing such systems as accessory uses in all zones . The draft ordinance allowing for power generation in all zoning areas.

Next Tuesday (Oct 20th, 2009) the council will have a presentation by Dr. Eugene S Takle on global climate change and how climate change affects Ames. Dr. Takle participated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.